SCAD TVfest 2024 hosts screening of Genius: MLK/X in Atlanta.
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) hosts SCAD TVfest, which brings together students, industry talent and experts, plus the general public, for a rich and curated offering of events celebrating television. Day 4 of the festivities on February 10 included a screening of the National Geographic series Genius: MLK/X. The series delves into the lives of historic figures Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. The wives of the two leaders are also prominently featured in the biopic that shares the gentlemen’s lives in parallel.
The main cast was on hand for interview including Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.), Weruche Opia (Coretta Scott King), Aaron Pierre (Malcolm X) and Jayme Lawson (Betty Shabazz). So Many Shows had the opportunity to speak with the cast posing the same inquiries to each. We wanted to find out if there was a particular touchstone that each actor grasped to facilitate their portrayal. We also wanted to know what each actor thought made this storytelling unique from others about MLK Jr. and Malcolm X.
Weruche Opia
Weruche Opia offers a compelling portrayal of Coretta Scott King. We get to see the onset of the relationship between Coretta and Martin while both pursue studies in Boston. Weruche Opia bears a striking resemblance to Mrs. King in the series. We asked the actor for some insight on capturing the essence of Coretta Scott King.
Weruche shared that many things facilitated her portrayal giving special acknowledgement to the costume department. In fact, there was one piece of clothing that was particularly impactful. Of all things, it was the period accurate brassière (bra) that served as a vivid reminder of the strong woman she was bringing to life. The garment impacted her posture and literally pulled her shoulders back reminding her in those moments on set that she was transformed into Mrs. Martin Luther King Jr.
Ms. Opia also commented on the unique opportunity that the Genius series gives viewers to see the influence of the wives of MLK and Malcolm X. The production offers viewers the chance to see the impact of these women at several different stages of life.
Kelvin Harrison Jr.
Kelvin Harrison Jr. was also on hand to share his thoughts on his portrayal of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and what the Genius series uniquely offers regarding the life of MLK . We were able to capture these thoughts on video in the clip below. Click on the video to hear what Mr. Harrison had to share about working with a dialect coach, a specific physical implement that he found useful and thoughts on a unique aspect of the series.
Stay tuned for interviews with Aaron Pierre and Jayme Lawson who play Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz, respectively.
Four episodes of Genius: MLK/X are currently available with episodes 5 and 6 premiering on Thursday, February 15. The final 2 episodes will arrive February 22 on National Geographic. Episodes can also be streamed next day on Hulu and Disney+. Thank you to SCAD TVfest for shining light on the gripping tale of the lives of MLK and Malcolm X during its twelfth festival run. Students, faculty and the public also enjoyed the opportunity to hear from the cast in a Q&A session hosted after the episode screening.
SCAD, dubbed “The University for Creative Careers” has a global presence with over 17,000 students studying across 100 different degree programs including both undergraduate and graduate studies. Learn more about the university at SCAD’s website.
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