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