Backlot
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 100 OCTOBER 16, 2019
HO
DGE
:^ AP
PH
OTO
/JO
HN
BA
ZEM
OR
E.^ S
ILV
EST
RI:^ J
OH
N^ L
AM
PAR
SKI
/WI
REIM
AGE
. MA
CDO
NA
LD:
JIM
SP
ELL
MA
N/G
ETT
Y^ IM
AGE
S.^ W
ILD
E:^ L
ARS
NIK
I/GE
TTY
IM
AGE
S^ F
OR^
TH
E^ A
CAD
EM
Y^ O
F^
MO
TIO
N^ P
ICT
URE
AR
TS^ &
SC
IEN
CES
.^ KA
LUY
A:^ A
ARO
N^ J
. TH
OR
NTO
N/W
IRE
IMA
GE.
JA
ROM
E:^ G
REG
G^ D
EGU
IRE
/GE
TTY
IM
AGE
S.^ C
LEM
ENC
Y:^ C
OUR
TES
Y^ O
F^ LO
ND
ON
FIL
M^ F
EST
IVA
L.^
Festival
Preview
‘ We Can’t Shy Away’ Aldis Hodge
explores both sides of the American
justice system with Clemency and
City on a Hill By Sharareh Drury
A
ldis Hodge’s latest projects in film and
television take on opposite ends of
American justice.
In the prison drama Clemency (which won
the top prize at Sundance in January), Hodge’s
Anthony Woods maintains his inno-
cence while facing the death penalty
after being convicted of shooting a
police officer during a convenience
store robbery. On Showtime’s City on
a Hill, Hodge plays a district attor-
ney who comes to Boston in the ’90s
during the “Boston Miracle,” an initiative
between cops and community leaders to lower
the youth homicide rate.
For his work, the versatile 33-year-old
actor, who will next be seen in the Disney+
film Magic Camp and Universal’s thriller The
Invisible Man, will be honored at the SCAD
Savannah Film Festival with the Discovery
Award. Ahead of the festival in Georgia (which
will screen 159 films and feature a documen-
tary filmmaker panel moderated by THR’s
Scott Feinberg), the North Carolina native
who studied at Pasadena’s ArtCenter College
of Design spoke to THR about the contrast-
ing nature of his recent roles, the many faces
of justice and what advice he might offer his
college-age self.
What about portraying an inmate in Clemency
did you find most challenging?
I had to figure out how to humanize Anthony.
Oftentimes we’re looking at inmates through
their situation, not actually seeing them as
you and me. So the most challeng-
ing thing was to get the audience to
see him as a human being first, and
figure out how they felt about him
and not about his situation. When it
comes to the audience, we don’t really
give them a direct answer [about
whether Anthony is guilty or innocent]. We
allow them to figure it out.
Has your experience with the film influenced
your own feelings about the death penalty or the
prison system?
Generally, I do disagree with [the death pen-
alty]. Where my clarity lacks is that generally,
yes, I’m against it — but if it was my family
STANDOUTS LANDING IN SAVANNAH
A veteran composer and a slew of fresh faces will be honored during the fest
SCAD
Savannah
Film Festival
Oct. 26-Nov. 2
Savannah
College of Art
and Design
Neon
will open
Sundance
winner
Clemency
in theaters
Dec. 27.
member who was killed and I had to be on
the other side of how I feel about somebody
who killed them getting the death penalty,
I can’t really say what I feel because I’m
human. There needs to be a massive amount
of prison reform, but when it comes to certain
criminals and certain transgressions, we
as a society are not in the position to take
the life of someone simply because they also
took a life. I’ve made a rule for myself since I
was a little boy: Don’t become that which you
despise the most, meaning don’t become the
monster that transgresses against you.
City on a Hill touches on themes of race, munici-
pal corruption and justice, all within the era of
the “Boston Miracle.” What was appealing to you
about being part of this story?
The idea of justice. Being a black man, I’ve
been on the opposite side of what some people
might call justice, where I am suffering the
consequences of somebody else’s suppos-
edly right choice because of my demographic,
because of where I live, where I grew up,
because of what I look like. When it comes
to the justice system, we say it’s the “just us”
system. What we have to do in order to correct
that is we have to be involved, integrated. We
can’t shy away from calling out issues and
we have to continue to aspire to build up this
true idea of justice, not one that just favors a
particular culture.
SCAD is a university-run festival. You attended
the ArtCenter College of Design. What advice
would you give to your younger self?
Probably be a little bit more disciplined. I
tend to lose focus easily with certain things
because of piling up too much. I guess com-
partmentalize and prioritize your time and
your obligations.
Interview edited for length and clarity.
ALAN SILVESTRI
The two-time Oscar
nominee known for
composing the music
for Forrest Gump and
a number of Marvel
films will be honored
with the lifetime
achievement award
for composing.
DANIELLE
MACDONALD
The rising star
honoree broke out
in Sundance film
Patti Cake$ before
starring in Dumplin’,
Bird Box and
the Netflix series
Unbelievable.
OLIVIA WILDE
The rising star
director award goes
to this actress turned
helmer whose debut,
Booksmart, was a
critical smash. She’ll
next helm period
thriller Don’t Worry,
Darling for New Line.
DANIEL KALUUYA
The Oscar nominee
for Get Out, who also
appeared in Black
Panther, will receive
the Spotlight Award.
He’ll next be seen
in the Bonnie and
Clyde thriller Queen
& Slim, out Nov. 27.
JHARREL JEROME
The When They See
Us Emmy winner will
join fellow Breakout
Award honorees
Beanie Feldstein,
Kaitlyn Dever,
Mena Massoud and
Camila Morrone for
an Oct. 30 panel.