- Welcome to Independent Lens.
I'm Pete Schwaba, host of PBS Wisconsin's Director's Cut.
Before Oprah Winfrey and Arsenio Hall, there was Soul!
It was called America's first Black Tonight Show
and it aired right here on public television
in the late 1960s and early 70s.
Soul was created to showcase something African Americans
had not seen on television in America before...
Black culture.
It was created and hosted by Ellis Haizlip,
who is the subject of tonight's film, Mr. Soul!
After graduating from Howard University,
Ellis Haizlip made a name for himself
in the New York theater scene
before launching Soul! on PBS.
Through Soul! Haizlip provided an on-air home
for black writers, poets, artists, and politicians
to express themselves and connect with viewers.
Director Melissa Haizlip, Haizlip's niece,
uses archival footage and interviews
to tell her favorite uncle's story.
She says that when it comes to her uncle's career,
what she is most proud of is his commitment
to promoting Black women and giving them a voice.
This is reflected in the fact that Melissa
used an all-female production staff on the film.
She calls her Uncle Ellis a 'Afro-futurist'
and throughout the film shows that
he was truly ahead of his time.
Haizlip says when Soul! was airing
she was too young to remember
being around so many notable guests
or bouncing playfully on James Earl Jones' knee.
However, upon Ellis Haizlip's passing in 1991,
Melissa knew it was up to her
to become the keeper of Ellis' stories
and tell his story.
Now sit back and watch this passionate filmmaker's
documentary directorial debut as she pays homage
to her trailblazing uncle,
who once said, "There is no alternative to Soul."
Mr. Soul! starts now
on PBS Wisconsin, your home for independent film.