BLOOMINGTON— WTIU Public Television will host a preview screening of Stanley Nelson and Nicole London’s new film We Want the Funk! at the IU Cinema (1213 E. 7th St., Bloomington, Ind.) on Sunday, April 6 at 1 p.m. The event is free but ticketed. Tickets are available through the IU Cinema’s website at cinema.indiana.edu or in person at the IU Auditorium Box Office (1211 E. 7th St., Bloomington, Ind.).
We Want the Funk! traces funk music’s African and gospel roots, from James Brown to Parliament-Funkadelic and beyond. A syncopated and star-studded voyage through the journey of funk music, the film delves into the genre’s influence on contemporary music, fashion, and freedom of expression as well as its role in the rise of hip-hop.
Distinctly rooted in joy, funk music reflected a post-Civil Rights Movement sensibility, We Want the Funk! examines the symbiotic relationship between the explosion of funk music out of the Midwest and the political and racial dynamics in 1970s inner-city America. At the heart of the film are the first-hand stories, recollections, and experiences of the people who created and defined funk: George Clinton of Parliament-Funkadelic; Fred Wesley of The J.B.’s; Robert “Kool” Bell from Kool & The Gang; Marcus Miller; Nona Hendryx of Labelle; Kirk Franklin; David Byrne of the Talking Heads; Prince Paul, DJ and producer for De La Soul; along with additional perspectives from Questlove and Thomas DeFrantz. The film also features archival interviews with musical icons, including James Brown, Elton John, David Bowie, and more.
Watch a trailer and learn more about We Want the Funk! at pbs.org/independentlens/documentaries/we-want-the-funk.
Following the screening, the film will premiere on WTIU on Tuesday, April 8, at 9 p.m. and will be available to stream for free on the PBS app.
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