By Jake Coyle, Film Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --Nate Parker's attempted comeback will begin at the Venice Film Festival with the premiere of his first film since a rape allegation from Parker's past derailed the release of his Nat Turner biopic "The Birth of a Nation."
The Venice Film Festival announced Wednesday that Parker's "American Skin" will debut in its "Sconfini" section. Parker's new film also carries Spike Lee's backing. "American Skin" is touted as a Spike Lee presentation. In a statement, Lee called Parker his brother and declared the film "a brave tour de force."
Parker has been little heard from since his breakthrough as writer-director-star in 2016. After the lauded debut of "The Birth of a Nation" at the Sundance Film Festival fetched a record $17.5 million purchase, the newfound attention around Parker resurrected a 1999 rape allegation against him from when he was a student at Penn State University.
Parker has maintained his innocence. He was acquitted in a 2001 trial, though his college roommate, Jean Celestin (who helped create "The Birth of a Nation"), was initially found guilty of sexual assault. That conviction was later overturned when the accuser declined to testify for a retrial. The alleged victim killed herself in 2012.
"The Birth of a Nation" ultimately made little impact at the box office and its once promising Oscar campaign fizzled. Whether the reception will be any better for Parker's latest film remains to be seen. In the time since, the #MeToo movement has swept over the movie industry, putting new scrutiny on men accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault.
"American Skin," which Parker wrote, directed and stars in, is about a black Iraq War veteran seeking justice for the shooting death of his teenage son by a white police officer. It co-stars Omari Hardwick, Theo Rossi and Beau Knapp.
The Venice Film Festival opens August 28.
“Scandal” cast will reunite for online script reading for hurricane relief in western North Carolina
The cast of ABC's hit political drama "Scandal" may need to brush up on their snappy, speedy delivery known as "Scandal-pace," because they're reuniting for a good cause. Its stars including Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young will take part in a live virtual script reading on Nov. 17 to raise money for hurricane relief in western North Carolina.
Beginning Friday, fans can go online and donate to reserve a spot for the online reading. Proceeds will benefit United Way of North Carolina. Everyone who donates will be able to take part in a virtual pre-event with the cast and Shonda Rhimes will give an introduction.
Additional guest stars will also be announced. The online fundraising platform Prizeo is also holding a contest where one person who donates online via their site will be selected to read a role from the script with the actors. The winner should not worry about the "Scandal"-pace, assured Young over Zoom.
"Whomever the lucky reader is can read at whatever pace they want," she said.
Young, who played Mellie Young, the first lady and later Republican presidential nominee on "Scandal," was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She came up with the idea for the effort with a friend and took it to her fellow "Scandal" actors, who all jumped on board. Young said this is the first script reading the cast has all done together since the show ended after seven seasons in 2018.
Which episode they will be reading has not been announced yet.
Young said it's "been devastating" to see so many parts of her hometown badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged western North Carolina one month ago.
To research the best use for donations, Young spoke with numerous political leaders, including North... Read More