Sir Sidney’s latest honor: A film school in his name

Arizona State University (ASU) is naming its new film school, The Sidney Poitier New American Film School, after Cat Island native Sir Sidney Poitier for his contribution to the world through his roles is a well-deserved honor, according to Bahamian filmmakers Kareem Mortimer and Maria Govan.

“I love Sir Sidney, and it’s long overdue,” said Mortimer. “His contribution to the world through his roles, and through his directorial work has been inspiring for not only me, but every filmmaker and actor around the world, so it would make sense to name a film school after him, because he’s opened so many doors for black actors.”

Poitier, who is now 93, was the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor, receiving the honor in 1964 for his performance in the 1963 film “Lilies of the Field,” which was set and filmed in Arizona.

Michael M. Crow, president of the university, said the decision to name the school after Poitier is about much more than his achievements and legacy, but because he “embodies in his very person, that which we strive to be – the matching of excellence and drive and passion with social purpose and social outcomes, all things that his career has really stood for”.

I think it’s appropriate, long overdue and well-deserved,” said Mortimer who is known for such films as “Chance” (2005), “The Eleutheran Adventure” (2006), “Float” (2007), “I Am Not A Dummy” (2009), “Children of God” (2010), “Wind Jammers” (2010), “Passage” (2013), “Cargo” (2017).

The school naming was revealed during a celebration video released on Monday, January 25, featuring remarks by the ASU community, film industry icons and three of Poitier’s six daughters.

The university, which is expanding its existing film program into its own school, said it has invested millions of dollars in technology to create what’s intended to be one of the largest, most accessible and most diverse film schools.

The school will move in the fall of 2022 to a new facility in downtown Mesa, Arizona, seven miles from the university’s Tempe campus. It will also occupy the university’s new center in Los Angeles.

Poitier was also the first Black actor nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award for the 1958 movie “The Defiant Ones.”

Govan who also spoke about her love for Poitier, described him as “amazing.”

“I’m so thrilled he’s being honored,” said Govan.

She shared with The Nassau Guardian one of her favorite stories she has of him.

“Somebody sent him a copy of ‘Rain’ [her first narrative feature film], and I didn’t know – and as much as ‘Rain’ is celebrated, I as the filmmaker see the cup as half empty and I was hard on the film when it was released. I got a call from Sir Sidney on my phone … I was in Brooklyn at the time – it was an unknown number but I took the call and a deep voice on the line said ‘Is this Maria Govan?’ I said yes. He said it’s Sidney Poitier, and I just watched your film and if you have a minute, I would like to speak to you about it.”

Govan said the conversation ended being more than a minute and more like an hour.

“I walked about the block in Brooklyn, talking to him about the film and he was so supportive and helpful.”

Govan said she spoke to him about all the flaws she saw in her final product, and of Poitier telling her that a singular project would not determine her, but that the tapestry and body of her work would. She said he told her the only thing a first film needs to accomplish is alert the world to her allowing her to make a second one. And she said he told her she had done that.

“It was healing to hear him – someone who mattered to me, and has a real eye for the work I was doing, and I was invested,” she said.

She said Poitier’s advice to her was to focus on the bigger picture, keep focusing on the work and that she deserved to make a second film.

Govan’s second feature “Play the Devil” premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June 2016. In 2018 Govan was hired to direct an episode of “Queen Sugar,” a television show produced by Ava Duvernay and Oprah Winfrey.

Govan said she visited with Poitier one time in Los Angeles, and they had tea.

Poitier’s other films include “No Way Out,” a 1950 film, as well as “To Sir with Love,” “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and “In the Heat of the Night.”

Films he directed include “Uptown Saturday Night” and “Stir Crazy.”

His daughter Beverly Poitier-Henderson told The Associated Press her father was “doing well and enjoying his family time,” and considered it an honor to be the namesake of the new film school.

Poitier-Henderson and two of Poitier’s other daughters described in interviews how the film school’s emphasis on inclusivity and access aligned with their father’s long-held ideals.

“If it has my dad’s name on it, it has to be inclusive, because that’s the foundation of who he is and what he stands for,” said Anika Poitier, who like her father is a filmmaker. “And it’s important to not only have inclusion but to have diversity, and to give people the opportunity to tell their stories. I think it’s imperative to cast a wide net and allow anyone who’s called to tell their story to learn how to do that.”

Sydney Poitier Heartsong, the actor’s youngest daughter, noted that the two most important things to her father as she grew up were education and the arts.

“Those are the two tracks that run throughout his life, that define what he has contributed and defined what he felt was important to his kids,” she said. “The arts were also a form of education. He wanted to pass that on to all young people but specifically young people of color.”

Steven Tepper, dean of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts said the ASU film production programs now enroll 700 students, but that the number is expected to double over three to five years.

Poitier served as non-resident Bahamian ambassador to Japan from 1997 to 2007. The western bridge which connects New Providence to Paradise Island is named in honor of Poitier.

Poitier was born on February 20, 1927, in Miami, Florida. He arrived two-and-a-half months prematurely while his parents were visiting Miami. But as soon as he was strong enough, Poitier left the United States with his parents for The Bahamas, where he spent his early years on his father’s farm on Cat Island. When he was 15, Poitier’s father sent him to live with one of his brothers in Miami. While still a teenager, Poitier traveled to New York City where he worked menial jobs to support himself, until he found his life’s passion.

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