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PEOPLE & ARTS Thursday 2 February 2017
Laurence Fishburne calls Nelson Mandela role ‘life-changing’

MARK KENNEDY good Marshall and Ike signment as he was doing
AP Entertainment Writer Turner — but Mandela is in a special tour of the Nelson
NEW YORK (AP) — There a special class. Mandela Foundation in Jo-
are a handful of roles that “There’s Christ. There’s hannesburg before filming
every good actor is more Gandhi,” he said, listing op- began.
than honored to play. So tions. He was looking though
when Laurence Fishburne “A couple of Shakespear- Mandela’s letters and arti-
was asked to portray Nel- ian kings and queens, if you facts when he spied a bust
son Mandela in a new mini- will. Popes. of Thurgood Marshall — the
series, he didn’t hesitate. At Some Roman emperors. same kind of bust he had
first. And perhaps a few gods, been given by the Thur-
“I was offered the part. some Olympian gods.” good Marshall Foundation
I said ‘yes’ immediately, Producer Lance Samuels to celebrate his opening
was completely honored reached out to Mandela night playing the Supreme
to be asked. And then, 15 to get his blessing almost Court justice on Broadway
minutes later, panic set in. I eight years ago. The only in 2008.
was like, ‘What are you do- directive Mandela had “I think, ‘OK. I’m good.
ing?’” recalled the Emmy- was he wanted the film to Somebody gave him the
and Tony Award-winner. explore the less well-known same kind of award they
Fishburne put aside his fears figures in the anti-apartheid gave me,
when he learned he’d be struggle, like Walter Sisulu so I’ll be OK. I should be
filming exclusively in South and Oliver Tambo. able to pull it off,’” said Fish-
Africa with South African “The fact that we have the burne. “When I saw that, it
actors helping tell the story six hours to work with gives was like the silent wink.”
Mandela told in his own au- us a much larger canvas,” In a twist, Fishburne’s BET
tobiographies. said Fishburne. movie will not only be
“Our storytelling is really “We can introduce people competing with his lat-
about the man, more so to the audience who were est movie — “ John Wick:
than the myth. We’ve tried instrumental not only in This image released by BET shows Laurence Fishburne as Nelson Chapter Two” — but also
Mandela in a scene from, “Madiba,” a six-hour miniseries pre-
to reveal how the man be- bringing apartheid down miering on Wednesday, Feb. 1. with his turn as the crotch-
came the myth,” he said. but also people who very Associated Press ety Pops Johnson in ABC’s
“It was a life-changing ex- influential in Nelson Man- “black-ish,” which he said
perience.” dela’s life — people who actress has played Winnie which the imprisoned Man- he’s loving.
The result is “Madiba,” a six- helped to guide him, shape Mandela. “South Africans dell learns his son has died. “I am in the grandpa chair
hour film broadcast over him, counsel him, oppose finally have a voice in this “I was at the monitor when and I’m loving the grand-
three nights on BET start- him, challenge him.” South African story,” said I said, ‘Cut!’ I had to com- pa chair,” he said.
ing Wednesday. It takes its Orlando Jones, who plays Jones. pose myself because I was “I get to show this side of
title from the clan name of Tambo, noted that the Director Kevin Hooks, near tears,” said Hooks. “I myself that’s been in the
Mandela, vast majority of the cast in who directed Fishburne in was speechless because it background, not really at
who became one of the “Madiba” is South African, “Fled,” put the actor at the was just so powerful. That’s the forefront. It’s nice be-
world’s most beloved plus it marks the first time an top of his list when it came when I knew that it was a cause I like change.
statesmen. African-American director to casting. home run for me.” I don’t want to always
The star of “The Matrix” and has helmed a story about Hooks knew he made the Though daunting as an do the same thing. I don’t
“Man of Steel” has played Mandela’s life and also the right choice while film- acting task, Fishburne knew want to be predictable. I
real people before — Thur- first time a South African ing Fishburne in a scene in he could handle the as- want to mix it up.”q

PBS’ ‘Nova’ seeking periodic-

table fans to fund TV special

LYNN ELBER dar, WGBH’s vice president project for crowdfunding?
AP Television Writer of national programming. Because it has a vocal fan
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Geeks “What really excites us is the base, Bredar said in an in-
of America, PBS’ “Nova” opportunity to team up di- terview. After the original
wants you to open up your rectly with ‘Nova’ fans and program aired, WGBH be-
minds and wallets for a se- science lovers,” Bredar said gan hearing from teachers
quel to its sleeper 2012 hit in a statement about the and others asking, “’Hey,
film on the periodic table. campaign tagged “Make when are you going to do
A Kickstarter campaign for Science for All.” another show on the peri-
$1 million to finance “Be- “Hunting the Elements” odic table?’” he said. This undated image released by WGBH shows David Pogue from
yond the Elements” from gave viewers a closer look “Once we got over the NOVA’s “Hunting the Elements.” NOVA is partnering with Pogue
public TV station WGBH at the elements of the pe- fact that there was this in a Kickstarter campaign that invites fans and science lovers
to take part in the production of “Beyond the Elements,” a new
Boston launched Tuesday. riodic table. The sequel seemingly loyal group of cross-platform project that explores how molecules make up
The follow-up to “Hunting shows how those elements people we were hearing a our entire known universe.
the Elements” will bring combine to form the mil- lot from” and then added Associated Press
puckish tech reporter Da- lions of substances in the in Pogue’s own following,
vid Pogue back as host. world. Bredar said, WGBH decid- raised, additional goals experience and free distri-
Money alone isn’t the goal Why was a subject that’s ed the show fit the model can be met including inter- bution of copies of the two
for the drive at novakick- the dread of many a high for a successful campaign. active classroom materials, shows to all U.S. public high
starter.com, said John Bre- school student the right If more than $1 million is a 360-degree virtual reality schools, WGBH said. q