Intellectual Scum: Jason Corder Channels Cultural Quandries to the Extreme
The short film Intellectual Scum is set to premier on April 2nd and one thing is possible to foresee, that it will not go down easy. The subject matter is abrasive, controversial and utterly impossible to tear your eyes away from. Based on an article of the same name from 2012, it’s the story of a world weary white man letting his views fly to an African stranger (played by Patrick Oketch) with no regard for feelings and cultural sensitivity. The man behind the mind-slapping character is Jason Corder, an American artistic jack-of-all-trades who has beefed up his acting credentials since his arrival in Kenya seven years ago with big roles in shows such as Mali and Stay. UP Magazine sat down with Corder to talk about what it takes to channel such negativity onto the screen.
So, how did you guys go about filming Intellectual Scum?
We actually filmed some of it on an airplane at Wilson airport, but that was just one of the days. We actually did all of it in three shooting days. That one at Wilson we were really pressured for time though. We had all sorts of constraints, they wanted to kick us out by three pm whereas it took hours just to talk our way in to shoot. That was a hard one; I had like ten minutes of dialogue, an intense speech with so many lines and only a tiny clip of time to get it.
Was it difficult interacting with Kenyan actors while saying such twisted lines?
Man, being in that confined space in the plane, to do those scenes was a tall order. Planes aren’t big, so I was saying all of these things right into this great actor’s face. It was a bit uncomfortable, that scene was really difficult to shoot. I was basically haranguing him and saying these super offensive things, but the way the script is, my character Walter has most of the dialogue. The other character in the plane scene has almost no lines, so he has to just sit there and watch.
Was Walter based on anybody you know in Kenya?
Maybe unconsciously yes. Being here so long you meet people and some of them have some out-there views on stuff. I’ve always enjoyed watching foreigners come to Kenya; there is great comedy and drama in it. You watch them have their ideas changed up and things don’t work out the way they thought. It’s an interesting thing observing them. I have met people that are as much of a dick as Walter; they complain about Africa and locals to you, it happens a lot.
Have people in Nairobi ever assumed your opinions?
There is some of that, and I think being white people think that I automatically agree with them. It happens everywhere; even back in the states a lot people also do that to me. That’s one of the strange things about Walter, while he’s on this plane basically haranguing this guy he’s also trying to be chummy chummy with him. It’s almost like he assumes he’ll agree with his outlandishness.
Is Walter only a prick?
Well, I’ve never met anyone as extreme in his views as Walter. He’s a very bitter and kind of deluded guy. His redeeming factor I think is that he isn’t a racist he’s just a total jerk. Deep down I think he cares about Africa, what happens to it and it really does affect him. He’s not a racist, just a complete brutal asshole. He’s travelled around Africa for years and I think some part of him really does understand it, he is just world weary. He just goes about his opinions all wrong, very arrogant. There’s something kind of deranged about him.
How will people feel after they’ve finished watching Intellectual Scum?
I think it will ultimately wind up as a debate about him (Walter). Is he a racist asshole? Or does he have a point? That will be the main thing people will talk about. Maybe people on the street will see me and say ‘that’s the guy get him!’
Check out the teaser trailer for Intellectual Scum
If you want to have your night wind up in a heated debate and want to know more about viewing Intellectual Scum, check out the Facebook page for more information and read the original article for a bit more background ‘You Lazy African intellectual Scum’ by Field Ruwe.
