KU News Release

KU professors' film on Confederate States of America to premiere in NYC

Kevin Willmott, left and Matt Jacobson

LAWRENCE — “CSA: The Confederate States of America,” a satirical movie by University of Kansas film professors that examines life after the South wins the Civil War, premieres in New York City on Wednesday, Feb. 15, and Friday, Feb. 24, in Boston, Chicago, three California cities and Kansas City, Mo.

Kevin Willmott wrote and directed “CSA,” and Matt Jacobson was cinematographer. Both are assistant professors of theatre and film at KU. The producer was Rick Cowan of Kansas City, Mo., who worked with Willmott on his award-winning 1998 movie, “Ninth Street.”

IFC Films and Spike Lee will release “CSA” in 19 cities during February and March. In Lawrence, the film premieres at Liberty Hall on March 10 and is scheduled to be shown in Salina on March 30.

Described by critics as a mind-bending mockumentary with a sci-fi twist, “CSA” assumes slavery is accepted practice in modern society. Willmott has described his satire as probably the most controversial film absent of sex, nudity or violence, because of the topic — slavery.

“In many ways the South did win the Civil War. The North adopted the Southern way of life. When slavery was ended, then segregation took its place,” Willmott said. “It was the new way that black people were controlled.” Slavery was not unique to the South; it began in the North, Willmott noted.

“What we try to show in the film is that this was an American problem and in many ways still is an American problem. And by looking at it in terms of the CSA winning the war it puts a new perspective on things,” Willmott said.

Satire and dark humor, Willmott said, allow audiences to laugh at the absurdity but leave theaters with a lot to think about.

Inspired by his belief that Americans, including himself, know too little of the history of slavery and racism, Willmott reconstructs U.S. history through a British TV documentary. The faux broadcast is peppered with commercials featuring products for a society practicing slavery such as a Home Shopping Network for slaves and electronic shackles.

Willmott noted that products are marketed today with images that have their origins in slavery — such as those of a friendly black aunt or uncle used to sell a product.

“I think the film (allows) you to see things that you see everyday, but you don’t really think about the origins of them,” Willmott said. He said he hopes “CSA” prompts viewers to ask more questions.

As a child growing up in Junction City, Willmott remembered his father’s shock when his son proudly brandished a Confederate flag. Later a college student at Marymount College in Salina during the 1970s, Willmott wondered how it was that Kansas, a free state, had practiced segregation into the 1950s. As a professor in Lawrence, a town established by abolitionists, Willmott questioned how it was that racial segregation was practiced in the community and the university.

When he began selling film scripts to Hollywood producers, Willmott learned slavery was not box-office material. Producers reminded him that “ ‘Beloved’ didn’t do well. ‘Amistad’ didn’t do well.”

IFC Films bought “CSA” when it was shown at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, drawing large crowds for its showing, and Spike Lee offered to lend his name as executive producer.

Producer Cowan says the film has been edited since its Sundance debut. “It looks and sounds better than something anyone has seen. We feel it was drastically re-cut to help build to the climax.”

Much of the film was shot in Humboldt, Lawrence and the Kansas City area with local talent including KU students. President Lincoln is played by a retired Bethel College professor, Arlo Caspar of Newton. Rupert Pate, a history professor at Benedictine College in Atchison, portrays the historian for the South. Evamarii Johnson of Kansas City, Mo., plays the black historian for the North, who is from the University of Montreal in the script. Another Kansas City area resident, Larry Peterson, plays John Ambrose Fauntroy V, the only fictional character in the film. Willmott created the Fauntroy family to provide a Southern political dynasty similar to the Kennedy family.

A full list of cast and crew who originally worked on the film is available online at www.news.ku.edu/2003/03N/FebNews/Feb11/csacast.html.

More information about “CSA” is online at www.csathemovie.com.

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