Laurence Fishburne and Jason Wilson of ‘The Cave of Adullam’ Discuss the Story of How They Connected to Make a Documentary: Q&A

produced by Lawrence Fishburn and directed by Laura Chekoway Adulam CaveA love letter to male vulnerability, premiered tonight at the Tribeca Film Festival and echoed by CAA Media Finance, ICM Partners and Paradigm. Cave leader Jason Wilson quotes Frederick Douglas as saying, “It is easier to raise a child than to mend a broken man.” Through martial arts, meditation, discipline, and emotional expression, she helps Detroit youth create a new way of life beyond the crime and gang culture.

His teachings make young people cry, upset, and disagree about expressing their feelings, which rejects the idea that black men should screw up their feelings because men don’t. The film tells the story of four young men as Wilson reshapes their understanding of masculinity and gives them problem-solving skills to break through the trauma of a generation of humanity.

Deadline spoke with Fishburne and Wilson about their joint efforts and why helping Black youth is important and how education helps them build a better future in a society that forces Black children to grow up too fast.

Deadline: What did you think? [Fishburne] Jason and director Laura Chekoway reunited Adulam Cave?

FISH BURN: This is interesting because I think my relationship with Jason started before I met him. He has a relationship with my work and some of the work I’ve done has been beneficial for what he’s done.

Wilson: I’ve been a fan of Lawrence forever, you know, especially the Boyz n the Hood and I’ve seen him as a father figure. But when he played Morpheus in The Matrix, I saw the last figure of his father. Part of Cave’s curriculum is based on the philosophy given in the movie. Like Neo (played by Keanu Reeves), I had to verbally retest myself with an abrasive father to add to the trauma.

In 2016 we had a video on YouTube called Breaking Emotional Barriers. When it went viral, I contacted three filmmakers, one of whom was Roy Bank. He kept in touch for years and I decided to continue with him. Fast forwards and Lawrence sees the wheel.

FISH BURN: Roy Jason caught our attention, telling us about himself, his program, his ideas and what he’s doing, and showed us some pottery. It fits perfectly with our mission and the way of life we ​​want to illuminate.

Deadline: Why was it important to you to create such a space? Adulam Cave?

Wilson: The Cave was born out of my desire for a man or father figure to train me on the path of humanity. I am looking for someone who will not condemn me or encourage me and approve of me when I feel weak. Even today, many young children fall prey to misleading mantras such as “No pain no gain” and “Big boys don’t cry”. It was necessary for me to create a space where children felt safe, where they could truly express what is going on, their toxic thoughts and emotional scars before they do anything harmful. I got into martial arts because it gave me a chance to truly express my experiences without threatening my future. It helped alleviate my anger towards my father, who was not very active in my life.

Deadline: You’re creating a new way for teens to function, without someone shouting in their face or yelling at them to get it.

Wilson: There were many boot camp programs that were starting to fail at an alarming rate. I joined about three of them before I realized I couldn’t directly bully a guy. Black kids in Detroit didn’t need him. They need recovery. I just went through martial arts and mentoring to start tapping into therapy and meditation opportunities for them and discussing what’s going on inside them.

Term: Women play an important role in this process. You (Jason) not only represent yourself as a father figure, you also respect mothers. Can you extend this?

Wilson: We help many single parent households where women are the sole providers but there is a mix. We have two single parents who enroll their children in a cave. We are trying to raise mothers as caregivers. Look, I’m a great babysitter, but even on my best day, I can’t stand my wife’s babysitter’s love. All too often there are many arguments between mother and child when it comes to the child and at the critical stage of transition to humanity. When they come to me, they let me show the discipline and courage they need from their father figures.

Timeline: This movie about black men is directed by Laura Chekoway, a white woman. The question always arises as to what makes it the best candidate for the Black Life Chronicle. What was the deciding factor in choosing Laura as director? Adulam Cave?

FISH BURN: Laura was chosen because she is an excellent documentary filmmaker. It has a cinematic sensibility and a doctor’s bed feel.’ It also makes it easier for someone to enter the private area as an observer and allows objects to be perceived naturally. Laura doesn’t impose her personality or energy on anything. She is based on her ability to see humanity and humanity in all the subjects she has filmed as a documentary director. And that’s why we chose it.

Term: The principles you teach in the cave have a universal sensibility. Do you think we can use this documentary as a lesson to children around the world? And are there plans to expand the cave behind the city of Detroit?

Wilson: On my Instagram account, I can say that over 70 percent of direct messages come from men of different ethnicities. In 2019, I wrote a book called. cry like a man. I thought this emotional incarceration was a dark thing until I started getting phone calls and letters from men all over the world who were tired of suppressing their emotions and toxic masculinity. The men were tired of keeping trauma under control. It destroys their lives and their families.

It’s not just a black issue, it’s a male issue. We’ve let ourselves be limited by the world’s definition of being human for so long that we don’t even know how to be. Many men and boys want to be free, to be human, and to be more than masculine. Adulam Cave’s documentary not only shows children how to express themselves, but also teaches them how to be better fathers, husbands and leaders in society.

When it comes to expansion, resources play an important role. We have a work plan. These are just a few of the goal setting sharing software you can use. I created a space in Detroit to fix the contraindications and eventually create a program framework to drive a larger scale. But if you can’t even get into the academy, we also have a podcast studio where we can do virtual training. This is the beginning.

Deadline: If you could go back and talk to your 14-year-old son about yourself, what advice would you give him in terms of what you know now?

FISH BURN: Sit down and stop kidding!

wilson: I’d say, “Jason, you’re good enough.”