Rage is the hit music video director behind Pitbull, Nicki Minaj, Pitbull, Ice Cube, and Guns N’ Roses, and he discusses his new controversial series pilot.
He warns the visuals will be hard to see for some but he feels its necessary. “People need to experience the brutality of racial oppression,” he explained. “The problem with learning history from books is we don’t have any connection to it. Americans today need to feel the dirt and rocks on our backs as we are dragged by horses and the hot burn of a tight rope around our necks as we are strung up to hang while our loved ones scream in horror.”
According to Rage, if he can inspire one young Neo Nazi, KKK or Skinhead to pause and think for a moment about the cruelty and harm that has been inflicted on black people through the years, he will have done his job. The director explained more.
What inspired Cracka?
“The film was conceptually intended to be an abstract visual and artistic mash up of racism and history seen through a provocative and extremely disruptive lens. I saw it as a show piece for me to push the limits of myself and my actors. But, as the film was coming to life, Trump happened and Charlottesville happened and, all of a sudden, certain hate groups in America became emboldened. When Trump did not denounce the horror of it all, I decided to use Cracka as an outlet to show America, especially White America, what it looks like by holding a mirror to its face. If rappers can rap about being a ‘product of their environment’ and if rockers and pop stars can sing about ‘their problems with drugs’ then I should be able to use my art, filmmaking, as a way to get my message out.”
How would you explain the story of Cracka?
“Cracka takes elements of our nation’s sordid history and flips it on its head. Think Django Unchained meets Lost with the incredibly sobering realism of The Passion of the Christ.”
What’s the message of the film?
“That’s the best part: there is no message. I guarantee you that different people will draw different conclusions. Some will become enraged while others are enlightened. We are all so divisive these days, I’ll be happy if people are provoked to think about racism in ways they’ve never thought before.”
Are you ready for a fight?
“They don’t call me Rage for nothing.”
How did you get that name?
“I earned it as a filmmaker when I was fighting my way through the nepotism and politics to land the big budget hip hop videos that I’ve become known for. It was extremely competitive and I fought for every opportunity. We never had a budget and I was always screaming my head off like a lunatic to get heard and one day someone called me Rage and the name stuck.”
Are you concerned about backlash?
“Absolutely not. We need backlash! We need a new response, a new voice, and a new arena, if we ever truly expect to save some people. We need change! America is about to capsize itself.”
When will you release Cracka?
“Before the end of the year. We are getting personal calls and texts from well known actors and artists that want to be involved.”
For more information on Dale “Rage” Resteghini, visit his official website.
