Swope Health announces a new edition of its podcast, One-on-One with Swope Health, featuring Shawn Edwards, Kansas City’s FOX 4 News film critic.
Eric Wesson, founder and publisher of The Next Page KC, a newspaper focused on the Black community, hosts the show’s conversations with Kansas Citians about issues of importance to the community’s health and wellbeing.
In this episode, Shawn and Eric have a wide-ranging and laugh-filled conversation covering the cultural impact of movies, favorite movies, and the restoration of the Boone Theater, the future home of the Black Movie Hall of Fame.
In honor of Black History Month, the Black Archives of Mid-America is hosting a free exhibit and book, “The Life of a Film Critic: As Told by Shawn Edwards.” There’s also an event of the same name, 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 28 at the Archives, 1722 E. 17th Terrace, Kansas City, MO. Tickets to the event start at $50
Shawn, a native of Kansas City, talked with Eric about growing up in Friendship Village in the 1970s, recalling how he and the neighborhood kids spent most days outside, from sun up until the streetlights came on. Kids played kickball, baseball, tackle football and raced skateboards. “It was a beautiful time to be alive as a kid in Kansas City,” he said. “I enjoyed every single second. I have no regrets about my childhood. Growing up was beautiful.”
Other memories included how a dollar could supply enough candy for a week, how much kids socialized with each other – not playing video games or spending time on a mobile phone. He laughed remembering the landline phones of the era, with their lack of privacy.
He also recalled his earliest interest in movies and moviemaking – a result of going with his mom to the movies every weekend. He asked his mom how to make movies, and that led them to the library to learn. He bought his first camera, an 8 mm, and started experimenting on his own.
His interest developed further in television production and creative writing classes at Lincoln Middle School and Lincoln Academy High School, with hands-on learning at the nearby American Cablevision studios.
While in high school he participated – and a couple of times won – a national NAACP competition in filmmaking. Shawn attended Morehouse University, and there began working as a film critic for school and local media.
As a film critic at Kansas City’s FOX 4 television station for 25 years, he has built a strong network throughout the country, including in film industry capitals of New York and Los Angeles. In 2003 he co-founded the African-American Film Critics Association. Beginning in 2006, the organization hosted a celebration of Black filmmakers. He later moved the gala to Los Angeles, where it has now become a national event honoring Black filmmakers and actors. This year’s event, the Critic’s Choice 8th Annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television, featured Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan, Spike Lee, and the cast of Sinners, is now available on Starz.
The Boone Theater’s reopening as the home of the Black Movie Hall of Fame in the historic 18th and Vine district is the next milestone for Shawn. He looks forward to showing uncut films on the big screen, reinvigorating the theater experience and exposing Kansas City to the world of Black films. Part of the job of the Black Movie Hall of Fame, he noted, is to debunk a lot of false narratives and stereotypes.
Listen to the full conversation to hear Shawn’s all time No. 1 favorite movie and much more.
