AFRO.COM: Salli’s Soliloquy
March 08, 2011
by Kam Williams
Born in Chicago on November 23, 1967, Salli Richardson-Whitfield burst onto the silver screen in 1993 in Posse, an African-American western directed by and co-starring Mario Van Peebles. Her resume’ reveals extensive work since then in television, film and theater.
Salli starred opposite both Denzel Washington and Will Smith, playing their wives in the films Antwone Fisher and I Am Legend, respectively. And she happily juggles such big studio assignments with interesting independent features like Black Dynamite, Pastor Brown and We the Party.
On TV, she currently portrays Dr. Allison Blake on the SyFy Network's hit series "Eureka," for which she was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Her other television credits include a starring role as attorney Viveca Foster on "Family Law "and recurring roles on "CSI: Miami", "Rude Awakening" and "NYPD Blue." In addition, she guest-starred on the critically acclaimed series, "House," and voiced the character of Elise for the animated series "Gargoyles."
Salli resides in Los Angeles with her husband, actor Dondre Whitfield, and their two children, Parker and Dre. Here, she talks about her new film, I Will Follow, an ensemble drama directed by Ava DuVernay...
... KW: Attorney Bernatte Beekman asks: What role did the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (AFFRM) and its grassroots distribution play in your decision to participate in the project? Would you like to produce, direct?
SRW: I didn't know about AFFRM before I made the film. I learned about it after. I think it’s brilliant and much needed. AFFRM is a new way to distribute black movies - not just for our film, but for other quality Black indie films. They've gathered the nation's finest black film organizations together to release a first-run film simultaneously in theaters nationwide. AFFRM's I Will Follow is the first grassroots national theatrical release powered completely by community organizations. It’s a game changer, and I'm proud to be involved somehow.
As far as directing, yes! I am directing already. I helmed an episode of my show “Eureka” that will air this coming season and I'll be doing another next season. I love it and plan to direct much more...
To see the trailer for I Will Follow, visit: http://vimeo.com/19588453
Or: www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3UMxpUm56w
Eureka returns with NEW episodes to Syfy (US) Summer 2011
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