Kevin Coster Says Financing 'Black and White' Difficult

Kevin Costner Says He Paid For ‘Black and White’ Because Hollywood Wouldn’t

Racism may be a topic to approach cautiously, but as Kevin Costner found out, it’s also a topic that many in Hollywood won’t touch. Let alone finance.

During a question and answer session at the recent National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convention in Boston, the actor revealed his struggles to get his film Black and White made. Despite it not being as grand as many of Hollywood big budget tentpoles, Costner felt Black and White was worthy of the same treatment.

“I just thought it was an interesting movie…” he said. “I can’t speak for why [no one would finance it. I know a lot of people want to make these big, giant movies and I understand … But I thought this movie is just as valid as those movies. So that’s why I made it.”

Starring Costner and Oscar winner Octavia Spencer, Black and White centers on attorney Elliot Anderson (Costner) as he raises his biracial granddaughter Eloise with his wife.
When his wife is killed in a car accident, Elliott is drawn into a custody battle over the little girl, with her African-American grandmother Rowena (Spencer), who believes Eloise should be raised by her drug-addicted, biological father.

In addition to starring in Black and White, Costner produced the racially charged independent drama under his Treehouse banner. He screened it for about 200 journalists attending the convention. Despite being a two-time Oscar winner and established actor, Costner admitted that no studio in Hollywood would have anything to do with the movie.

“I said it 50 times that we should make this movie and at the end of the day, I had to pay for it,” said the entertainer, who said the Mike Binder-directed film was close to his heart.

Black and White also stars Anthony Mackie, Jillian Estell, Andre Holland, Bill Burr and Mpho Koaho. Spencer, who appeared at the Q&A with Costner, stated that a deeper look at the film reveals that important topics are addressed, like race in America, child custody issues and the importance of a strong family unit.

“We don’t like to discuss things that might be a little bit unnerving and uncomfortable … and ‘Black and White’ deals with a lot of issues,” Spencer said.

“Black and White” is expected to arrive in theaters later this year. The film’s next screening is at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.

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