Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/681807
38 CINEMONTAGE / Q2 2016 "The idea is that the audience wants to get back to Africa as much as Kunta does because it is a much more beautiful place, as opposed to the current situation Kunta was forced into." Night One ends with another iconic moment from the original: Kinte is forced to say that his name is "Toby." Night Two James Wilcox, Editor Agustin "Auggie" Rexach, Assistant Editor Mario Van Peebles, Director T he second episode picks up with Kinte in the United States ten years later. If Night One is about the tragedy of slavery and trying to hang on to one's identity, Night Two is about resilience, endurance and finding a reason to carry on. For editor Wilcox, "Night Two is an emotional rollercoaster. It is a first-hand look at what happens to Kunta Kinte when he gets to America and is forced to accept his fate as a slave." Director Mario Van Peebles brought his experience as an African-American father to Roots, which helped shape the relationship between Kinte and his daughter, Kizzy. Wilcox says they were "hell-bent" on showing the full experience of how one could bear this type of situation, and how humor would play a part in that. "As time goes on, Kunta Kinte has a larger, more profound reason to think beyond himself and to live — which is ultimately a family," he explains. Our movie shows Kinte marrying Belle, Dr. Waller's nursing assistant, and their daughter Kizzy growing up from childhood to young adulthood. There is much physical and emotional violence, but there is humor mixed in with the drama. "It's not silly, but there's some situational life stuff that comes up that allows you to laugh," Wilcox adds. "You'll also cry and be saddened, and then you'll feel a sense of triumph. There are small victories mixed in so there are a lot of different flavors." The editor describes the cutting style of Night Two as "messy drama," such as starting in the middle of scenes and getting rid of unneeded expository. "We wanted to show the audience early on that, wow, this is different; this is not your grandfather's Roots," he explains. "You are thrown into the middle of it; it's highly stylized, highly cinematic and it's got a lot of different gears to it. And it never slows down until the movie is over." Night Two also includes new historical information that has been uncovered since the original Roots, explains assistant editor Auggie Neil Mandelberg, editor, and Victoria Grimsley, assistant editor, Night Three. A scene from Roots. HISTORY