Kasi Lemmons to receive Michael Schultz Award

This week, Milwaukee Film will honor actress, director, and screenwriter Casey Lemons. Lemons is set to receive the Michael Schultz Award on Saturday. Now, she's known for her career in front of the camera, appearing in TV shows like The Cosby Show and movies like Candyman. But she's also worked behind the scenes as well, directing films and the Netflix documentary Whitney Houston, I Want to Dance with Somebody. And Harriet, let's not forget, another great movie she made. And Gino, you actually had the chance to talk to her and learn more about the Michael Schultz Award. Yes, I was able to interview Michael Schultz last year. I mean, he is something special. It's an annual award that's presented by Milwaukee Film to a distinguished black filmmaker whose work embodies the artistic excellence, cultural impact, and visionary spirit that defines Milwaukee native Michael Schultz's remarkable career. So let's hear from Casey. Let's do it. I was able to talk to Michael Schultz last year, the inaugural award named after him. And, you know, so amazing. And at his age, as vibrant and as perfect as a young man, what does it mean to you getting this award? Well, it means so much because of Michael, just because of what his movies meant to me, what he as a person and as an artist has meant to me over the years. I mean, I was a teenager. Those movies were, um... Amazing and really groundbreaking, you know, we just didn't have that many black directors that we could look to who were really presenting such a varied portrayal of kind of African-American life and different characters and not being afraid of any kind of character, not passing judgment on them, just kind of letting them be, you know, wonderful, wonderful. And of course, the use of music and those movies were so cool. And so really, I look at him as part of my cultural inheritance. He definitely is. So many of us artists, kind of our foundation, were built on filmmakers like Michael. And, you know, there were many others, but he was very, very important to me. Of course, as inspiring as Michael Schultz was to her, this is always so cool to me. You have to imagine that she now has that same impact on younger filmmakers. Yeah, that's right. Now she's made great movies and she's also a teacher. Do you realize that you're that to some people, that that your work, that your life has been inspirational to others? I guess I do because I teach, you know, and I and so I talk to young filmmakers a lot and I really appreciate that. I mean, there was a certain point at which I was intentional about my choices, for instance, my choice to. To not be afraid to be a mother and a filmmaker, to let other women know, you know, young filmmakers coming up that they could have a life and that they could do it, that they could have a life and a husband and a family and be a filmmaker and do whatever they wanted, you know. So, I mean, there was some intentionality about it, but of course, I mean, it's very... Flattering and moving and I'm very inspired by them. I'm so inspired by the new generations of filmmakers. Well, of course, we need to celebrate Lemon's career and her work. Milwaukee Film has a few events planned. There is a screening of Candyman at 9 p.m. on Friday, a screening of Talk to Me at 2 p.m. Saturday. The award presentation is at 7 that evening, and that will be followed by a screening of Eve's Bayou. And all of this is going to be at one of Gino's favorite places, the Oriental Theater. Exactly right. And Michael Schultz himself will be there. He's a legend. You're going to meet two legends that night. And if Gino's there, Three legends. I don't, I pale in comparison. All right, all right. We've got more wake-ups coming up for you right after this.