Arsenio Hall & Michael Jai White "Blaxploitation Saved Hollywood"

Black Dynamite interview with Michael Jai White and Arsenio Hall on BlackTree TV

SYNOPSIS

When The Man murders his brother, pumps heroin into local orphanages, and floods the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor, BLACK DYNAMITE is the one hero willing to fight all the way from the blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky House. Michael Jai White (The Dark Knight) stars as BLACK DYNAMITE, a gun-toting, nunchuck-wielding, ladies man and soul brother. Written and directed by Scott Sanders (Thick as Thieves), BLACK DYNAMITE also stars Tommy Davidson, Nicole Sullivan, Bokeem Woodbine, Arsenio Hall and John Salley.


LONG SYNOPSIS

Black Dynamite is the baddest cat to ever hit town. He puts his finger in the ground and turns the whole word around. This ex-CIA commando rules the streets with a 44-Magnum in one hand and nunchucks in the other. With his soul brother brand of Kung Fu, he strikes fear into the hearts of suckers and chumps on both sides of the law, and with his super cool style, keeps the ladies begging for more.

When Black Dynamites brother Jimmy is mysteriously killed, the CIA calls Black Dynamite back into action. Tracing a bullet casing left at the scene of the crime, Black Dynamite finds himself battling pool hall thugs, pimps, pushers, and monsters.

In the process of solving his brothers murder, Black Dynamite uncovers a bigger plan by The Man to pump dope into the local orphanages and flood the ghetto with malt liquor adulterated to weaken the Black Mans most fundamental power source.

Upon meeting and romancing the beautiful, socially-minded orphan activist Gloria, Black Dynamite decides to clean up the streets, declaring war on the scourges of the ghetto.

Flanked by a team of militants, including his trusted friend Bullhorn, a rhyme-talking club-owner, and the smooth talking hustler Cream Corn, Black Dynamite takes his crusade from the blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky House
MICHAEL JAI WHITE/ WRITER/BLACK DYNAMITE
Michael Jai White first garnered audience and critical attention with his portrayal of controversial boxing giant Mike Tyson in the HBO special, Tyson. With more than two decades years of experience as a martial artist, he holds a black belt in six Karate styles and over 26 titles, including U.S. Open, North American Open, and New England Grand Champion. His well-honed skills have been employed to choreograph complex stunts in films such as On Deadly Ground.

In addition to Tyson, his feature credits include Spawn, in which he played the title character based on the Todd McFarlane comic books, 2 Days in the Valley, Breakfast of Champions with Bruce Willis, Thick As Thieves with Alec Baldwin, Universal Solder: The Return with Jean Claude Van Damme, Exit Wounds with Steven Seagal and Quentin Tarantinos Kill Bill.

Television credits include the NBC movie Mutiny, based on factual events during World War II in which he played the lead character. The film was directed by Kevin Hooks and produced by Morgan Freeman. He also appeared in the TNT original movie Freedom Song, starring and executive produced by Danny Glover; the short lived NBC drama Wonderland; and episodes of NYBD Blue, JAG, Living Single, and Renegade.

Most recently, White has starred in Undisputed 2, The Dark Knight, the box office smash Tyler Perrys Why Did I Get Married, and the upcoming Black Dynamite, which Michael wrote, and co-produced. White was born in Brooklyn and as a pre-teen was relocated to Bridgeport, Connecticut. At age 14, he was mostly on his own; and at six feet tall and weighing in at 190 lbs, he was easily mistaken for an adult. Having started karate lessons at age eight, he was a black belt by age 12, and later taught karate at the local YMCA in Bridgeport.

He graduated high school with honors and went on to college without a clear idea of the direction he wanted to steer his life. He jumped from university to university and major to major (political science, communications, engineering) while also squeezing in an acting class or two—at the HB Studios in NY, Yale University, and Howard University but never had considered acting as a career choice. White discovered he had a gift for reaching troubled children when he taught grades five, six, and seven at a junior high school for three years. That experience is what he says is his proudest achievement. Though reluctant to follow acting, he felt he had to get it out of his system. He began auditioning for roles in nearby Manhattan. He eventually landed commercials, theater roles, and bit parts on soap operas. Faced with the difficult decision to leave teaching, he finally did so with the blessing of his students. In 1992 he moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting.

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