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July 12, 2012

National

Directed by Spike Lee Protégé Michael Pinckney, the Short Film Mulatto Saga Prepares to Make TV Debut

Juliette Fairley and Comedian Tony Rock at a 2012 BET Music Awards celebration in Hollywood. Photo Courtesy: Cision

Source: Cision

New York — A private screening will be held on Wednesday, August 1, 2012, in Los Angeles for the short film Mulatto Saga, which is based on a scene from the acclaimed stage play Mulatto Saga directed by filmmaker Charles Burnett. The film will premiere on national television from August 4^th, 2012 to September 29^th, 2012, highlighting the controversial issue of interracial relationships. Written and produced by Juliette Fairley, Mulatto Saga was directed by Spike Lee’s assistant director Michael “Boogie” Pinckney who has worked with Lee on Inside Man, 25th Hour, Bamboozled and many other 40 Acres and a Mule feature films over the years. Starring Fairley, the long awaited short film educates viewers about the ups and downs of interracial relationships and the sometimes, tumultuous life experiences of adult bi-racial people as it relates to their interracial childhood. NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX and the CW TV networks will air Mulatto Saga on rotation as part of an African American Short Films showcase syndicated by Badami Productions from August 4^th, through September 29^th, nationally. Sponsors include Halle Berry and Kimora Lee Simmmons’ perfume company Coty. The short film Mulatto Saga is excerpted from a larger 90-page feature film script that is based on a true story about Fairley’s Caucasian French mother and African American military father who met in France during the Nazi occupation and the impact of their interracial relationship on Fairley’s own romantic life. A flashback scene in the 7-minute film features 8-year-old Cassidy Knight (portraying Miss Fairley as a child) along with Kaylee Souther as a snippy wedding planner and Gary Fletcher and Sara Visser portraying Fairley’s interracial parents. “Growing up with a white mother and a black father had its challenges. I share them with the world so that I can help other bi-racial people know that they are not alone in these difficulties,” said Fairley. Continuously working on new film endeavors that she stars in, Fairley recently wrote and completed a second short film called Juliette Fairley’s Mulatto’s Dilemma (JFMD). Fairley is currently casting her third short film Juliette Fairley’s Diary of a Mulatto Bride, which is also based on a scene from the larger stage play Mulatto Saga. Pinckney is known for his assistant directing work on the Academy Award winning film Precious as well as Brett Ratner‘s Tower Heist starring Eddie Murphy. His feature film You’re Nobody Til Somebody Kills You (YNTSKY) was acquired for DVD release by Lionsgate this year. Burnett is known for directing Halle Berry in the Wedding, Danny Glover in both Namibia and To Sleep With Anger.