Earlier in the summer, Paul Schrader mentioned he had written a screenplay, titled “Three Guns at Dawn,” and that he wanted Antoine Fuqua to direct it.
The script, set in Los Angeles’ South Central, concerns three brothers — a dirty cop, a serial killer, and a drug dealer — who hate one another.
There’s now an intriguing update on “Three Guns at Dawn.” Fuqua, who is also the producer, sold the script to Netflix, and seems to think Schrader should direct. The problem is that Schrader fears he’s going to get accused of “cultural appropriation” if he directs a film concerning three African-American brothers in an all-black neighbourhood.
Schrader’s suggestion to resolve this problem? That he co-directs the film with a black man. You can’t make this up …
“I wrote it during the strike,” Schrader tells Le Monde. “I had my doubts. Is this cultural appropriation? Antoine Fuqua reassured me that it wasn’t. He took my script and sold it to Netflix and now he wants me to direct it.” He adds, “As far as I’m concerned, I’m torn […] it would be better if I could co-direct it with a black filmmaker”.
It does look as though Schrader does want this to be his next film, but his fears of “cultural appropriation” are getting the best of him. Just direct the damn thing, Paul.
He goes on to rant about the current socio-political discourse …
“When I started my career, gays couldn’t find gay roles. Today, it’s the opposite. Bradley Cooper is getting some heat for playing a Jewish Gay man [in “Maestro”]. When Shakespeare wrote “Othello,” men were playing female or even black characters. Why wasn’t it a problem then?
It shouldn’t be a problem, Paul. You’re allowed to make a film about black men. Even Fuqua is giving you his blessing. Just direct the damn thing.