arts &
life
Michigan native
Mike Binder
discusses his
I
did:' Binder says.
Suzanne Chessler
Contributing
"I'll keep
Writer
because I
doesn't go with what's in vogue or
what's expected, and I've learned a
experienced a
family dynamic he
wanted to adapt into a film. The
writer-director, a Michigan native,
thought about dramatic elements
that could distinguish a movie
from the reality he knows.
lot from that"
Similarly, Binder tries to be a
role model for others. Members of
family have benefited from
on-the-job training: Both daughter,
Molly, and son, Burton (with wife,
his
Binder, among many relatives
White production
his
fictitious story, opens in theaters
Jan. 30. It will debut locally with
a
private, red -carpet screening
presented by Binder and actor
Anthony Mackie, cast as a lawyer.
"Black
or
White feels like
a
brave film to me:' Binder says
in a phone conversation from
California, where he now is based.
"I think Selma and 12 Years
Slave
are
a
great movies, but this
shows two sides of a situation.
"We tried to be very fair and
playing out the
of the girl's
both
sides
of
feelings
I'm
and
proud that we
family,
even-handed in
did it:'
In the
acter is
film, Kevin Costner's char
raising his beloved 7-year
old granddaughter (Jillian Estell).
Her mother has been dead since
childbirth, and the girl's father has
Top:
Jillian Estell and Kevin
Costner star in Black
or
evaded parental
responsibility.
The drama begins just after the
White.
wife of Costner's character is killed
Center: Filmmaker Mike Binder
on
set with Costner.
girl's black
grandmother (Octavia Spencer)
in
a car
accident. The
wants the child to
move
in with
own
Diane), worked on the Black or
expressing love and caring toward
orphaned biracial nephew,
developed a story about a biracial
girl at the center of a custody battle.
Black or White, the resulting
really like working with
him. I like his work ethic. He
ike Binder, for many
years,
newest film.
writing for him
headed by
team
Binder and Costner.
"My brother Jack didn't work on
her and
goes to court.
Further
New York City.
complicating the situation is
the return of the
"I think this is very much a piece
about judging people for who
they
what they are:' says Binder,
56, whose entertainment career
launched in
Binder often writes with
missing father
(Andre Holland).
are, not
Sept.
11, 2001, terrorist attack on
Michigan as the setting. A strong
Tigers fan, he keeps up with hap
penings through his mom, Judy
been working for me
Binder, who lives in Oakland
County's Beverly Hills.
team. If they don't
"I try to do movies that aren't
Michigan as a standup
comedian. "I learned that in my
home state and learned more about
that when I moved to California:'
Binder, who attended Seaholm
High School and went to services
at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield
Township, has built a long career in
acting and filmmaking.
He attributes his discovery and
preparation for both small and big
screens to famed producer Norman
Lear, who placed him in a short
lived TV series.
Binder's writing credits range
from Indian Summer (which
he also directed), building on his
anything:' says
come togeth
er during weekday mornings at
pigeon-holed
as
Binder, whose ideas
the computer.
"They are just stories that I
want to tell. They can have a lot
of drama or a lot of comedy. I
try to tell stories that people care
about with actors that people like
to
They have to help the
help the team
or enhance it, they can come to the
premieres or visit the sets:'
Binder, whose TV projects have
included creating and acting in the
series The Mind
of the Married
Man, has recently been taking a
respite from the team approach by
developing novels.
"I try to keep very busy and pro
ductive:' he says. "I really believe
that a writer writes. I don't believe
sitting around talking
They must just sit
One of those actors is Costner,
about writing.
appeared in Binder's film The
Upside of Anger, a story about
suburban neighbors, in Michigan,
down and do if'
who connect when their lives
thriller set in London, the book
tells the story of an American from
who
to
be
seem
going downhill.
man's recovery from loss after the
rang the bell for him until this
Ontario camp
well.
work hard.
in writers
experiences
with a strong Jewish presence, to
Reign Over Me, examining one
an
as
"Whoever works for me has to
watch:'
"Since then, I've written four or
five scripts that I thought Kevin
at
this movie, but he has worked on
many of my movies:' Binder says.
"My cousin's son, Bryan Binder, has
and I could do
together, but none
one
His first
novel, Keep Calm, is
slated to be published next fall. A
Detroit who, while
England,
vacationing in
is framed for
a
bomb that
goes off. Adds Binder, "I think I'll
turn it into a movie:' D
January 29
•
2015
79