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Spike Lee has invited a few famous friends over to watch movies and the guest list includes Questlove, John Turturro and Bryan Stevenson. The gathering is a little bigger than your average living room can handle: Playback: The Brooklyn Watch Party takes over BAM on November 6 and 7 with screenings, conversations and a free block party outside.
Lee will open the buzzy new festival Friday night with Crooklyn, his 1994 portrait of a Brooklyn family. The screening will be followed by a talkback with cast members Alfre Woodard, Zelda Harris, Cinqué Lee and Joie Lee. Before the film, the curators will join a celebratory procession into BAM.
Then comes the fun of seeing what everyone else picked. Questlove is bringing Soul to Soul, Denis Sanders's 1971 concert documentary, as well as Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy. Stevenson, the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, chose Salaam Bombay! and City of God; director Mira Nair will join him for a conversation about the former. And Turturro’s selections include The Battle of Algiers and Divorce Italian Style.
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The curators will discuss their respective choices around the screenings, including what the films have meant to their lives and work. It’s also a lineup with plenty of range: you can go from a concert in Ghana to Scorsese’s uncomfortable comedy to Italian satire without leaving Fort Greene. The selected films will screen later Friday and throughout Saturday.
On Saturday afternoon, Playback and The Soapbox Presents are hosting a free block party outside BAM, with music from Soul Summit and Bring Your Own Vinyl, work by artist Katie Merz, games, food and drinks. You don’t need a ticket to join that part of the festivities.
Lee is co-hosting the new festival with Clara Wu Tsai, owner of the New York Liberty and Brooklyn Nets. Filmmaker Nicholas Ma is producing it in association with BAM. More guest curators and programming details are expected in the coming weeks, so the watch party’s guest list may yet grow.
Tickets go on sale to BAM members today, September 29, and to the general public on October 1. If Crooklyn with Spike Lee and its cast sounds like your ideal Friday night, you know when to set the reminder.