The Lexingtonienne
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  • July8th

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    The Help

    In case you live under a rock (I’m not judging if you do – home is where the heart is), The Help is a New York Times Bestseller by first-time author and Jackson, MS native Kathryn Stockett. The fictional tale follows three women in 1960s Jackson, MS, who form an unlikely bond when 22-year-old Skeeter, a white woman of privilege, endeavors to publish the real, untold stories of the town’s black housekeepers who work for the white families. While working on the clandestine project, Skeeter becomes close with Aibileen, a wise, kind, and patient black maid now caring for her seventeenth white child, and Aibileen’s best friend Minny, whose short temper and tendency to speak her mind to her bosses has cost her yet another job.

    Different chapters are narrated by Skeeter, Aibileen, Minny, and others — so you really feel like you know each character — and it’s the kind of book that sticks with you long after you read the last chapter. Because I was so sad when I finished it, I was thrilled to learn that Dreamworks is producing it as a movie, which will hit theaters next year.

    But you don’t have to wait til next year for this special treat, blog readers! A great friend of mine whom I have known for many years, Octavia Spencer, is actually starring in the film, and she has oh-so-graciously agreed to talk to us about the book and about her character, Minny Jackson.

    octavia

    The Lexingtonienne: The Help has obviously struck a chord with readers across the nation. What resonated with you or affected you most about this book?
    Octavia Spencer: Even though it takes place during a time in our nation’s history where race relations were less than stellar, three women of different ethnicities banded together to take a stand against social injustices. The Help is a story about the complexities of relationships and a prime example of the frailties of the human condition. In my opinion, Aibileen, Minny and Skeeter were heroes.

    TL: You are listed in the thanks from the author! How did you get yourself on that coveted page?
    OS: I was fortunate to be one of the few allowed to read the manuscript before it was published. I loved it so much and read it so fast, that I was able to point out the one or two inconsistencies that I found. And, I also think Kathryn was just extremely generous to include me.
    TL: So you are friends with Kathryn Stockett?
    OS: I’d heard about her over the years via Tate [Tate Taylor, Octavia’s best friend and the screenwriter/director/producer of the film], but we’d never met.  Tate introduced us while we were on a brief vacation in New Orleans. We didn’t know each other well at the time that she was researching and writing the book.

    TL: For those who haven’t read the book, how would you describe the character of Minny?
    OS: Minny is the one person who actually says what other people are perhaps thinking. She’s no-nonsense, opinionated, sharp-tongued, judgmental, but extremely loyal.

    TL: Minny was my favorite character. What appeals to you about her? What do you not like about her?
    OS: What I like the most about Minny is the dichotomy of her personal and professional lives. She lives in a constant state of bravado. But while she often speaks her mind and constantly defends herself to her employers, she is unable to do the same in her personal / domestic life.

    TL: If you could spend an afternoon with Minny, what would you want to do together?
    OS: I would beg her to teach me to cook!

    TL: What do you think is going to be the biggest challenge for you as an actor?
    OS: The biggest challenge I am facing in playing Minny is the fact that she distrusts anyone who isn’t like herself: poor and black. My collage of friends crosses all racial and socioeconomic boundaries. Also, dealing with the domestic abuse will be a challenge, as it is outside of my frame of reference.

    TL: What research are you doing for this role?
    OS: I’ve spent countless hours watching documentaries filmed during that time period. It’s been a humbling experience.

    TL: I know a lot of the details about the film are hush-hush at this point, but what CAN you tell us? Can you tell us when and where it shoots? Who else is starring? Surely you can tell me a little bit about the director…
    OS: The film stars Viola Davis [as Aibileen Clark], Emma Stone [as Skeeter Phelan], and Bryce Dallas Howard [as Hilly Holbrook] and is set to begin shooting this month in Greenwood, MS. Tate Taylor [the film’s director, who is also a friend of The Lexingtonienne – hey, Tate!] is a native of Jackson and is an accomplished actor, writer, and an award-winning director. He is also an AMAZING cook! Most of my favorite meals have been at his dinner table. He’s one of the reasons I have this beautiful rotund physique! This film is lucky to have him. On weekends, I’m praying that he will fire up the grill!

    TL: What do you hope the film might accomplish?
    OS: More than anything, my hope for the film is that it will resonate with viewers as well as the book does with readers. I also hope it “cleans house” at the box office!

    Best of luck to Octavia, Tate, and producer / FOTL (Friend of the Lexingtonienne) Brunson Green… and MANY THANKS to Octavia for so kindly chatting with us!

    You can buy the book on Amazon, and you can check out more details about the film here. 🙂

    xoxo,

    Hannah

  • June28th

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    Hi guys!

    A quick post about subscribing. If you enjoy reading The Lexingtonienne, you can help me turn it into a business by becoming a subscriber. It will never cost you a thing to read the blog or to subscribe to it — but the more subcribers I have, the better my chances are of being able to sell advertising on the sidebar of the site. Basically, this would mean that everything stays just like it is, except I’d get to turn this super fun hobby into a little side business. I keep writing, you keep reading, and I might rake in enough spare change to treat myself to the occasional latte. 😉

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    Oh, and in case you are wondering how I eat so much and don’t weigh 300 pounds, here’s the big secret:

    I run and walk about 3 to 4 miles, a few times a week.

    I go from Marina del Rey, through Venice, down to Santa Monica, and back. I’m not saying I have a six-pack or anything, but it keeps little incidents like peach crumbles from turning into dietary catastrophes, and that’s enough for me. Oh — and I wear a boatload of sunscreen. I hope you do the same. 🙂

    I also torture myself with a little Bar Method… but more on that later.

    Thanks, y’all!
    Hannah