Tuesday, we continue our documentary series with hip-hop poet Lemon Andersen and the directors of a film about his life and art. Lemon grew up on the streets of Brooklyn and by 15 had lost both of his parents to drugs and AIDS. He was serving time in prison when he discovered poetry and made the improbable journey from three-time felon to Tony Award-winner. But when the lights went down, he was soon back to the hustle. LEMON chronicles his struggle to leave the past behind and stage a comeback.
- If you missed our screening of LEMON - you can watch it on PBS stations around the country on Friday, October 19th. It will air on KUED Channel 7 at 9:00 p.m. Click here for more information.
- The film will be available on DVD October 16th. Order your copy here
- Lemon Andersen's memoir County of Kings is available in paperback and for Kindle.
RadioWest and the Utah Film Center will present a free screening of LEMON on Wednesday, October 10 at 7:00 p.m. at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in downtown Salt Lake City. For more information, click here.
LEMON the Movie - Official Trailer from Dandelion Films on Vimeo.
Guests:
Lemon Andersen is a poet/performer. He won a Tony Award in 2003 for Def Poetry Jam. His autobiographical memoir County of Kings was produced by Spike Lee at the Public Theater. It has since been staged across the US and in Europe and South Africa.
Laura Brownson and Beth Levison produced and directed LEMON. The documentary is their first collaboration together - though they have a combined three decades of filmmaking experience.
Music from Today's RadioWest:
- Talib Kweli, "Too Late" from Reflection Eternal
- Lord Finesse, "Hip 2 Da Game" from The Awakening
- Aloe Blacc, I Need A Dollar (Instrumental)
