Sometimes a meme about history wakes people up. When Legion M executive David Baxter talked about that in our conversation, I remembered seeing the photo of Robert Smalls and the bullet points of his accomplishments. And yes, I wondered why isn’t this a movie?
Thankfully, Legion M decided that Robert Smalls should get a film (maybe two) that uncovered more of his story. When a publicist asked if I wanted to talk to anyone about it at WonderCon, I jumped at the chance.
Baxter has worked on films as diverse as Jay and Silent Bob Reboot to the recent drama My Dead Friend Zoe. Along the way, he’s also been a cosplayer, casually mentioning a Darth Vader costume he hasn’t worn in a while. But we’re focusing on what he got into filmmaking to do: tell stories that matter.
It’s clear that while all of a producer’s output should be passion projects, the Robert Smalls project Defiant has sincere passion behind it – not just from Baxter but from everyone involved. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Derek McCaw: How did you come across this story?
David Baxter: We have a very active Facebook group at Legion M and people talk about the films they think that we should pursue. For the most part, those have been fantasy, horror, thrillers because a lot of our base investors were Comic-Con enthusiasts. They wanted superhero movies, things like that.
What surprised us was there was a meme going around during Black History Month about Robert Smalls and they brought it up. They said there have been, you know, 9 Spider-Man movies, 10 Fast and Furious. Why isn’t there a movie about Robert Smalls? And they just went through the bullet points: enslaved ship’s pilot. Steals ship, saves family, saves friends, saves their families, gets through the Union blockade, meets Frederick Douglass, meets President Lincoln. Helps establish the original regiments of black soldiers in the Civil War, then goes on to be in 17 naval battles. The first black captain in the Navy runs for Congress, starts our template for our public school system.
It was mind boggling. And we just took it as a mandate that we have to find a way to do this. I had gone to school and was friends with Rob Edwards, who wrote The Princess and the Frog, and now Captain America: Brave New World. We weren’t sure of the best way to do this, whether we try to do a movie or not. We actually had acquired a script that that really just focused on the heist. But his story was so big.
Derek McCaw: It’s almost too big, really, for one film.
David Baxter: It was almost two. Almost. What we decided to do was talk to Rob. His advice was what about doing a graphic novel to start? That could tell his whole story and then compress and figure out how we could do that as a feature film. And so that’s been the focus of our attention over the last couple of years. We did a Kickstarter which was extremely successful, raised over $150,000. So we knew that the audience was there for this, and there’s been a history of educational graphic novels that have done very well, critically acclaimed things like Maus.
We assembled the team, we got the first issue underway, and then we brought in Sebastian Jones and Stranger Comics, which is one of the best independent publishers around. Beautiful stuff. And Sebastian’s a good friend. So, it was a bunch of friends working with each other, all passionate about telling the story of Robert Smalls. Rob had a great take on it, and we’ve got it to work. The last two issues are now being colored. And the graphic novel will come out Juneteenth. It’s kind of perfect. And then of course, then we have, you know, San Diego Comic-Con coming up right after that.
We fully expect to make some big announcements about the transition from graphic novel to film at that time. There have been a lot of people talking to us. We haven’t had anyone who hasn’t on some level responded. But it all starts with the script. And so that will be the next focus for Rob is getting the screenplay done.
Derek McCaw: I think you’re making a really good point. We’re sort of in a golden age of recovering “lost” history, I think.
David Baxter: Remember it was buried. I mean, you have to understand that after Reconstruction, with the rise of Jim Crow, you know, there was a vested interest in not telling stories about successful black Americans because that was a threat to a large group of people. The fact that he lived his life, did all the amazing things that he did, and died in his bed — you know, it’s pretty amazing in and of itself. But there are many stories. It’s not just Robert Smalls.
We think his story is particularly important and we hope that by pursuing this and getting this story out there, other stories will come to light and go from there. It’s because of information. Finally, there are ways for people to find out.
Derek McCaw: And it’s very clear that we have an administration that’s trying to hide this information again.
David Baxter: It creates a very strong impetus for us to work. I mean when you get up in the morning going holy cow, the same thing that happened after Reconstruction is starting to happen again!
This is a cautionary tale, and the way that Rob has approached doing the storytelling is with Robert speaking to his grandson. And it’s very — there’s the guy who wrote Princess and the Frog, he knows how to tell a story — and this is a child (Robert Smalls’ grandson) who grew up with privilege because of what Robert accomplished and what he was able to do during Reconstruction. There was that sort of moment when people who otherwise were not in a position to do things, you know, like become doctors or lawyers. And then they did.
So it’s exciting for us. It’s extremely motivating. And you know, he should be a Republican hero. This guy is amazing. A different kind of Republican…
Derek McCaw: They don’t like when we explain that switch…
David Baxter: This is a real opportunity. I grew up in Detroit and lived through the race riots. In my childhood, most of my friends were black. And then suddenly I was sort of whisked away into this other environment. So, this idea of being erased cuts deep for me. This is a story that has to be told.
Derek McCaw: Especially under the current, I’ll say it, regime.
David Baxter: It doesn’t matter, even if we were in a completely different government this story has to be told.
Derek McCaw: I agree. Are you worried about pushback? Disney’s getting investigated (for internal DEI commitment), right?
David Baxter: Am I worried about it? There’s no point in being worried about it. In life there’s always going to be obstacles to things that are important, and it has to do with, you know, what are you willing to do? I mean, what was he (Robert Smalls) willing to do?
He should be a shining example. As I think I’ve said before, I want to see kids cosplaying Robert Smalls here at WonderCon. That’s my goal.
Derek McCaw: I would love to see that. Thank you for the conversation.
You can purchase the first two issues of Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls at the Stranger Comics website, as well as pre-order the full first volume. For more information on Robert Smalls, consider Be Free or Die: The Amazing Story of Robert Smalls’ Escape from Slavery to Union Hero. Check back later this week as I’ll have a conversation with producer/actor Marvin Jones III…
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