Michael Jai White talks Outlaw Johnny Black, follow-up to Black Dynamite

It’s been a long road for fans of Black Dynamite Since the Blaxploitation comedy exploded onto our screens in 2009, we have seen a lot of changes. And it’s been an even longer road for star and co-writer Michael Jai White, who has spent much of the intervening decade and a half pulling together the movie’s long-awaited spiritual sequel, Outlaw Johnny Black.

The trailer was released in 2018. Filming began a year after. Outlaw Johnny Black It has been a long time coming. But it’s finally here: The comedy opens in theaters this weekend, and it isn’t like anything else at the movies this year. As a teaser released in May put it, “As faith-based Western Black exploitation kung-fu action romantic comedy dramas go, it’s right up there with the rest of ’em.”

White wore many hats on this production, on top of the black cowboy hat he wears as the movie’s title character. He also co-wrote the script with friend and Black Dynamite White collaborator Byron Minns Outlaw Johnny Black Jaigantic Studios, his production company. White was interviewed by Polygon on video. They discussed the long process it took to make the movie, as well as the current state of action comedy, Monty Python’s influence, Sidney Poitier’s, and many other topics.

The interview was edited to make it more concise and clear.

How long ago did you decide to create this film? What was the process of making it? Why did you release the trailer five years ago, for example?

Michael Jai White What I’ve done Black DynamiteWe always planned to do three films in the Blaxploitation style. This was the second movie we were going to do, and it was a homage to Buck and the PreacherIt’s a kind of West-ploitation, right? It’s kind of West-ploitation, right?

The trailer was shot in one day, as I first designed it on paper and then shot my vision. The campaign to get the funding for the movie was launched, using crowdfunding and then private money. The crazy part is that many people thought the film was already done after seeing the trailer. This caused some confusion amongst the public. Even people in Hollywood and WME said that. Yes, I would like to watch this film. I’m like, The movie’s not done. There’s, like, no main actors in it. That’s like a one-day shoot.This was the final push to get the funds for the movie. The pandemic also threw a wrench in the works, as we had always envisioned this being something that an audience could share.

When did the filming take place?

This was shot in 2019.

How’s that wait been for you? I’m sure you’ve been wanting people to see it.

It was frustrating. But, honestly, fortuitous. I mean, it’s the craziest thing, because now that we’re post-pandemic, the audience can see it as it was intended. And if it wasn’t for the pandemic, I wouldn’t have been able to edit the movie like I really was able to.

We expected the music to be completed when we started. [by] maybe a composer, but it gave me time — I had such a bed of amazing music given to me by the musical director, David Hollander. It was amazing how much Italian spaghetti-western music he had collected. The music was there, but I had to start orchestrating and composing it. It would seem that it was composed afterward — traditionally, it would be done [that way]. It took me so long to get used to the music that I began to develop similar melodies for the movie.

Image: Samuel Goldwyn Films

You can find a wide variety of genres in Outlaw Johnny Black. Did this project include that from the beginning?

It’s exactly how I felt when I wrote it. The idea was to tie everything together. I’m a child of Monty Python and physical comedy, and in my writing, if you really pay attention, there’s a lot of influence from Monty Python in Black DynamiteEven in this film. These layers were present in every movie. There’s the political layer, there’s the silly layer, you know, there’s the physical comedy layer. I can’t help but draw from what influenced me.

On this, too, I am a huge fan. [1970s] moviemaking. Movies like I grew on them. Buck and the PreacherYou can also find out more about the following: Uptown Sunday NightSidney Poitier did some movies which had a moral. They’re movies the whole family can watch and feel good about. It was my goal to make that happen for another generation.

I think it’s much like the Duffer brothers did with Stranger ThingI’m using the history of filmmaking from that era to allow people of my generation and older to revisit the films, then younger audiences can find out about them. There was something really amazing about storytelling and moviemaking in the ’70s, which I think is the best time for movies in general, and also music. I’m a tough critic of myself, so it had to be something that would impress me. Then I did it.

The genre of action comedy is currently in an odd place, as big blockbusters have taken over what was once a small genre. What’s your thought on the status of action comedies today?

The ones I like best are those that don’t play for comedy. Midnight RunYou know those movies are my favorites. With these tones you can be very poignant. Comedy is still effective, but it’s on a different level. So it’s about maintaining that kind of tone that I really understand. And the fact that I’ve been a schoolteacher, and I’ve been an acting coach, I feel pretty confident that I can extract the performances I need from my cast. These people were incredible. It felt as if I had cheated.

Image: Samuel Goldwyn Films

Was this your first choice to direct?

Oh, absolutely. There are some things I’ve directed and not gotten credit for, which is fine with me, because I’m all about the collaborative effort. So I don’t care where I am. Whether I’m an actor or director, producer, I want it to be something everybody is going to be proud to be a part of. So I feel like it’s such a blessing to be able to do this.

What was so different about directing this film as opposed to directing, say, the Never Back Down films?

Something I’m very much about is that you can entertain and actually tell stories. The thing I’m really excited about is that the test audiences have walked away saying they haven’t seen a movie quite like this, and that the stories and messages have been reading loud and clear to them. That’s something I’ve been happy about, because when I write or direct something, I don’t fall in love with it. The message is important, but I also hope the people will get it. And I’ve been happy that people have been getting the message and the fact it’s a movie about redemption and forgiveness, but disguised as a revenge film.

Juel Taylor, Director of The Cloned TyroneFew weeks ago. His listing Inspired by that film, Black DynamiteHe was the one who brought it up first. You’ve seen it? What are your thoughts about hearing this from another filmmaker?

It was a great honor. I was contacted by him about using something from my website. Black DynamiteThe fact that I had been chosen to be in the film was something for which I felt a deep sense of pride. He did a great job. It was incredible.

Image: Samuel Goldwyn Films

The casting of Native American actors by non-Natives may cause some controversy when the movie is released. What’s your perspective on it?

Well, it’s about authenticity, isn’t it? So being authentic to ’70s moviemaking is, What was the casting of Native Americans like? Parody is making fun of something, or making a statement. You may notice someone playing the role of a Native American who is not Native American. [it’s]Authentic to the time period. There were plenty of Native Americans playing Native Americans on the screen, including in the same shot. They might even be glaring daggers at the Anglo. [laughs]It would not be authentic if I cast someone Native American for that part.

To the movies you’re playing off of and parodying?

Yeah. So there’s certain ways you make your political statements. You’re right. This movie was extrapolated by the Tulsa MassacreThis is the foundation of Black Wall Street, as well as other similar things. You know, the basis is Black Wall Street and things like that — these catastrophes that happened to these thriving Black communities. And if I’m able to put this in a different context, I think other people can understand my methods of storytelling, and making these statements.

One of the strengths to me is specifically the blond, blue-eyed kid who’s playing one of the first Native American characters you meet in the film. It’s so obvious that’s what you’re going for.

Many people are outraged by being insulted. They search for the outrage and they make themselves look silly when they don’t get it, when their desire to be outraged trumps their desire to look and discover the whole point. I’m Making a DifferenceThat’s the point. I’m trying to tell that story. We can still laugh about it.

Image: Samuel Goldwyn Films

Monty Python films and Blaxploitation movies are some of the influences you mentioned. you’ve mentioned Billy JackAs another influence on the film. Any other influences that come to your mind?

There’s so many that I want the audience to discover. You’d be surprised at how many I have to tell you. But I don’t want to give that away. I’d like the audience to find them. And that’s a fun process when people know I’ve actually used dialogue from this particular gem. There’s a lot of things for the lover of Westerns. They’re gonna see things that are gonna remind them of a lot of classics. You can tell some things right away. Some tell you right away. [iconic actor]Terence Hill sees things as you. Blazing Saddles, and there’s certain things even in the trailer. There’s a lot of things within the movie itself that the Western lover is going to pull out.

Blazing SaddlesThe obvious jumped out to me. Punching the Horse.

And then there’s the intermediate audience — they’re going to recognize that probably the most celebrated jiu-jitsu master in the world [Rigan Machado]The person who punches the horse is the one doing it.

It’s all coming full circle. The same stars in two movies.

Right! So there’s things that are put there to entertain [those audiences]. That’s why I enjoy watching it in a theater, where you’ve got a smattering of an audience that’s going to be laughing about things that are going to go over the head of another segment. Then they’re gone. What am I missing? You know, that’s what’s fun about it.

Outlaw Johnny Black The movie is in the theaters now.