Director’s Spotlight
By Carol West
The ladies of “The Dish Now” recently dropped in on the National Book Club Conference here in Atlanta only to find the extraordinary talent, Gary Hardwick, hard at work. He has directed box offices smashes like “The Brothers” and “Deliver Us From Eva”, but this weekend we found him basking in another one of his many accomplishments as novelist. Gary’s followers loved his earlier mysteries such as “Color of Justice” and “The Executioner’s Game”. However, after listening to an excerpt from his soon to be released “Dark Town Redemption”, faithful fans and newcomers alike will be in for a treat.
His latest novel as he describes it is ‘a nifty little thriller’ that brings together a grand murder mystery set around the uproar of the Vietnam era in Detroit, Michigan. A white rookie, racist cop is set on a collision course with a black soldier (based in part on Hardwick’s own brother) who returns from the Vietnam War only to encounter the brutal murder of his brother. The volatile nature of what was occurring historically in America at that time placed alongside this juicy murder mystery is a recipe for something well worth the read. “Dark Town Redemption” is currently slated for release February 2011.
Additionally, I had an opportunity to sit down with Hardwick and find out just how he came to be this powerful screenwriter, director, and author. He also reveals what he is up to next and how he stays motivated to do all that he does.
Gary Hardwick has been writing since he was a tween growing up in Detroit, Michigan. He was interested in writing at an early age and thought he might consider it as a career some day, but the timeline sped up when at the tender age of eleven, he came across a frightening statistic that said African American males living in his city had a life expectancy of 25 years. To that he calmly retorted “I guess I had better get started then.”
Eight novels, countless screenplays, and television shows later, he is ready to begin shooting another feature film! That’s right people, Hardwick is currently scheduled to begin shooting a romantic comedy, “The Showdown” right here in Atlanta this fall.
For those of you wondering how to achieve even a fraction of the success Hardwick has attained in the world of screenwriting, he offers the following, “Screenwriting is more a discipline than an art. I’m pretty good at understanding what Hollywood wants.” He clearly delivers on that understanding and Hollywood has given a resounding nod of approval.
At the end of all this, I really wanted to know what made this guy get up every day and keep writing and cranking out these successful works of fiction. In an understated, yet intellectual fashion all his own, he smiles and divulges, “I get to create happy endings. It all turns out right because I say so.”
Say so Gary. Say so.
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