Dear Hill Harper:
You might not remember me but I am your biggest fan. No, probably not really. But we have met on several occasions. I just figured that would be a good way to open the letter. Although - I am definitely a fan. I enjoy your work and since you blew up (whatever that means right?) I kept saying that I would write you a letter. I never did. I enjoyed immensely your performances in the Visit, Get On the Bus, He Got Game and many many more. In fact, I dont recall ever seeing you give a performance that I was not excited about.
My only complaint is that you have been taking all my work. I have not seen you since we both worked on that Amiri Baraka play - The Toilet and The Dutchmen in Los Angeles. I often wonder - would I remember something like that once I blew up? When I blow up will I remember every single actor that has crossed my path in the course of my career? Why would I want to remember them? Why not? Im just asking - because I dont know what its like to blow-up since you keep taking a brothers jobs.
Now of course, I know I am not the first brother to accuse you of stealing his work but I think my claim is pretty strong. We are what they call in economics - substitute goods. You may recall, that coffee and tea or chicken and turkey are considered to be substitute goods for the purpose of certain economic models. As you may also recall, if you recall me at all, that we both studied public policy at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. Neither of us graduated - but I did attend for a year. I think you only attended for a summer. We both graduated from a top ten law school. If I recall correctly NYU Law School was not technically ranked higher than Harvard when we were in school, but everyone quietly agreed that it was a better school. I dont think you were as active in the National Black Law Students Association as I was - I was the National Director of Community Service. When I was in school we established the first annual Nelson Mandela Scholarship Dinner and provided six undergraduate students with scholarships for law school. So we have similar resumes - if you will.
In some ways we are different of course. Im taller - but people like you easier and faster. I remember you telling me once that you had never taken the bar exam but I am admitted to practice in California. Have you ever taken the bar exam? Will you ever take the bar exam? Im also surprised you have not written a book or a play
I know you must have some great stories to tell and I also know that you would tell them well. I just published my first book - notes of a neurotic - under my pen name, which coincidentally is Summer Hill Seven. Isnt that interesting? Since, I have also continued to act since we last met it is not uncommon that I have had occasion to have conversations about you.
In fact, one of your law professors is the best friend of one of my law professors. He suggested that I was making him look bad since I had not blown-up. Well, perhaps thats what I heard
he actually said - Did you know that Hill Harper was one of Trees students? Of course, I looked at him like he was crazy because he and I saw the Visit together (you made him cry with your portrayal). I enjoyed the performance but I couldnt get past that you-took-my-job factor. I know you know about that better than I do - by the way, I really really dug your performance in Andre Royos Big Scene or something like that
a short film that was in this past years Urban Film Festival. You were very scary. Usually, when I see you in tough guy roles - there is a credibility gap for me because our paths have crossed. I still remember you as the double ivy league dude.
Yet I always have nothing but positive things to say about you and your work (maybe I should say my work that I lent you). There is something to be said for being a decent person and a talented actor. I have not met a single person that knows you that doesnt think youre the most. We have plenty friends in common - or a couple of degrees away
like Victor Williams and Michael Jayce (I know you gotta know them); and in the educated Negro circles which Im sure I frequent less than you
it wouldnt take long for us to connect to a common and close friend. Yet you have blown-up and I cant get arrested in real-life or on TV. I cant even get casts in the most stereotypical role available to a black men - drug dealers, pimps, hustlers - you know the fun characters. Im kinda joking and Im kinda for-real. I know how hard you work to get your work and then to deliver a strong performance - so know that I only jest when I say that you stole my work. Im very proud of your work as a fellow artist and more importantly, I am inspired by your work.
Actually, I have nothing to complain about with respect to my art - I have been primarily trying to make you laugh - Im cast as Leonato in a production of Much Ado About Nothing at the University of Delawares Professional Theatre Training Program. Ive never done a production of a Shakespearean play, so Im really looking forward to tackling the bard as the white folks say. Im very excited about it - in fact I should be working on it now instead of writing this letter to you that you may never read.
The challenge in modern society is that communication is funny. I could send this letter to you at some address - I think your publicists address is where you receive your mail. You may or may not get it that way. I figure with the advent of the blog -why not work on two things at once - one of which I have absolute control over, viz. the writing of my memoirs and the other which I have no control over viz., whether you read my I knew you win letter. I love I knew you when stories - (hey, great idea for a reality show). I know people are fascinated by some of the crazy things that we actors do
especially guys like us (whatever that means) to pursue our art. I hope I get to hear or read some of your stories.
I dont know what type of juice you have in Hollywood
if you dont - dont worry, I have no doubt you will. I do know your name in a film means something to an audience. I imagine Hollywood is still taking you through hoops but as long as you are happy then keep doing it! Thats why I ultimately stopped practicing law and became a full-time artist because I got to the point where nothing else made me happy.
I want you to know that people love the characters that you make available to them. Of course there are a lot of people that you want to work with, but it would be a real treat for me to work with you cats whose path hasve crossed mine and whose work I really dig like, Victor Williams, Michael Jayce, Shabaka, Elise Neals, Alan Payne (his cousin was in my class at NYU) and then like you know some super-duper star - short list: Mr. Washington, Mr. Smith, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Deniro, Mr. Pacino. Naturally, as a writer I have at least three stories in three different genres that would know how to utilize a cast like that. So when Im in position to afford you - youll get a more direct communication - if you know what Im saying.
Because, I like nostalgia as much as the next guy, but um, Im about my paper too. My book sets out several different types of film scenarios in addition to the overarching theme of the book - which quite frankly is a story about a character that only you or I could really bring to life and find the depth and dimension. So if you have occasion to check it out and have some interest, holla at a brother. My favorite thing to do these days is to quote myself - I cant resist the opportunity to plug my book by concluding with a quote that I think summarizes what Ive been trying to say in this letter:
In the meantime
And the between-time
And down time
Ill be here in the back.
I aint worried. I can act.
I aint hurried. I can fight.
I can read. I can write.
Notes of a Neurotic!
Summer Hill Seven
Page 75.
AuthorHouse 2004
Do you remember we had to learn all that junk about how to cite a book properly in a brief and other types of legal documents? The Blue Book and the University of Chicago citation method. I made this cool short film that you would appreciate entitled A Poets Pilgrimage about a guy who drops out of law school to become a poet.
Well, if you are reading this letter you probably have figured out who I am and you certainly know how to get in touch with me. I have every intention of working with you. Just as soon as I can get to you to stop stealing my work.
Peace, love and continued success,
Summer Hill Seven
Sevin Akbar as Lincoln
