The Tribune

AN exhibition at the Museum of Modern Arts (MOMA) in New York City on the late Bahamian actor Bert Williams, which has gotten rave reviews, may be duplicated in Nassau soon.

The exhibition at MOMA titled “100 Years In Post Production: Resurrecting a Lost Landmark of Black Film History” began on October 24 and will continue until March next year.

Williams is the first Bahamian actor ever to be captured on film.

Williams, along with his partner George Walker, pioneered integrated silent films and Broadway musical comedies in the early 1900s.

His performances earned him a Tony Award.

The exhibit includes screenshots, a screening of a lost film and a behind the scenes look at the film in which Williams is seen working with Caucasian directors at a time when integrated films were almost nonexistent.

After the first public screening of the untitled film on November 8, Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna Martin described the film as “stunning”.

“It was absolutely stunning because it was 100 years ago, almost an all-black cast and you saw a degree of creative freedom, which was not consistent with the era,” she said.

“Bert Williams, though an incredibly gifted actor, faced struggles. He was an all-around artist – he acted, he wrote plays, he recorded and he was an incredible comedian. No one hardly knows his name but in watching the film what you do see is that he had an incredible influence on comedians coming after him.”

She added: “It highlights the necessity that we have to record our history to make a record of our achievements or otherwise they may get lost. I think that whatever we can do to ensure maximum access of our people to view this piece of work I would encourage it.”

Director of the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation (AMMC) Dr Keith Tinker said he would make a special effort to bring Williams’ story to Nassau.

“I am very fascinated by the story of Bert Williams. It’s almost inconceivable for anyone to imagine that a Bahamian could be such a trendsetter in the film industry,” he said.

“Most Bahamians don’t know about it. Part of my job as director of the national museum is to hopefully bring that story back to the Bahamas. It could be probably in the area of a travelling exhibit or if we can bring excerpts of the entire exhibit back that would be perfect. Bahamians have to know the story because it is on the shoulders of Bert Williams that the African American film industry lies.”

General Manager of the Bahamas Film Commission Clarence Rolle agreed that the story should be told in the Bahamas.

“We have known about Sir Sidney Poitier, but even before him – four or five decades before – Bert Williams was re-charting a course and making a way forward for what (Sir Sidney) would do later on,” he said.

“What we have to do is make sure that our stories are known and our stories are told. Because Bert Williams, as important as he was, is not a very well-known figure and so Bahamians should capitalise on this film now coming to life and we should let the world know that this man who impacted us in arts and entertainment had his beginning in the Bahamas.”

Earlin Williams, one of the descendants of Bert Williams, spoke about what this film meant to him and his family.

“As a Bahamian, it is a wonderful feeling. As a family member it is a fantastic feeling. I would like the Bert Williams legacy in Broadway, theatre and film to say to young Bahamians, there is an opportunity; there is a chance. Become good at your craft. Get excellent at it. Mediocrity has no place. Believe in yourself and you could be the next Bert Williams,” he said.