The Detroit Historical Museum and the Motown Museum were stops for the cast of the drama about the 1967 Algiers motel killings.
Three actors from « Detroit » who play members of the Dramatics visited the Motown Museum on Sunday to talk about the soon-to-be-released movie.
The last time they were inside historic Studio A, it was decorated to look like 1967 for the filming of a scene.
This time, it was a setting to address the goals of the dramatization of the real-life Algiers Motel killings of three African-American youths during the 1967 riot in Detroit.
« We always say we just want to educate people with the film, and then we want to get empathy as well, » said Algee Smith, who grew up in Saginaw and plays one of the key survivors of the horrific incident.
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The visit was part of a series of appearances that the cast and filmmakers will continue to do Monday in advance of Tuesday’s invitation-only world premiere of « Detroit » at the Fox Theatre.
At 11 a.m. Monday, some cast members plan to hand out 316 free hot dogs at the downtown American Coney Island in honor of Detroit’s 316th birthday.
On Sunday afternoon, Smith, Joseph David-Jones and Leon Thomas III dropped by the Motown Museum on West Grand Boulevard. A few hours before that, Smith was joined by Oscar-winning screenwriter Mark Boal and actors John Boyega (of « Star Wars » reboot fame) , Will Poulter, Laz Alonso and Jason Mitchell for a discussion at the Detroit Historical Museum.
The panel was moderated by Marlow Stoudemire, the project director for the massive Detroit ’67 effort under way to commemorate and explore the anniversary of the five days of violence that left 43 people dead and more than a thousand injured.
The cast stressed the importance of telling the truth about the past and learning from it.
Alonso, who portrays a young U. S. Rep. John Conyers in the film, said, « It’s so important to inform the world about a moment in history that is not taught in schools to our kids. »
The actors spoke candidly about the responsibility they felt while re-creating the tragic occurrences and the prayers that they shared before scenes.
As Smith put it, « We understood the weight of this project. »
There were lighter moments, too, like when Boyega, describing his affection for Detroit, revealed that his current favorite rapper is the Motor City’s own Tee Grizzley.
When asked about the reason for the title « Detroit, » Boal described it as a marketing decision. He said he understands concerns about attaching the city’s name to a film about such a horrific event, but he does think there is an upside.
« The movie is an opportunity to talk about what’s different in the city today, » Boal said.
Contact Julie Hinds: 313-222-6427 or jhinds@freepress.com
