Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story
Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story is an American biographical musical drama film directed by Denise Dowse and written by Ericka Nicole Malone. The film stars Ledisi as gospel singer and activist Mahalia Jackson. Also starring Columbus Short, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Janet Hubert, Vanessa Williams, Corbin Bleu and Keith David. It premiered at the 2022 Pan African Film & Arts Festival in Los Angeles in April 2022. The film later premiered on Hulu on September 20, 2022.
The film received three NAACP Image Awards nomination at the 54th NAACP Image Awards: for Outstanding Independent Motion Picture, Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture, and won Outstanding Breakthrough Creative .
Production
Development
On January 9, 2021, Deadline Hollywood reported that Ericka Nicole Malone had written a script about Mahalia Jackson. The online new site also announced that respected actress Denise Dowse had signed on to direct the film for Ericka Nicole Malone Entertainment. Malone also served as executive producer along with Phillip E. Robinson. Vince Allen and Reshaun Frear came on board as producers along with Frear's production company Re'Shaun Frear Productions.Troy "Big Riff" Taylor and Tracey Baumert signed on as first assistant directors, and Chris Jackson, Curtis Case, Allie Tolman, Nikki Hoard, and Chris Wayne were second assistant directors for scenes that needed to be reshoot.
Casting
Casting decisions were made by Phaedra Harris. On January 9, 2021, Deadline Hollywood announced that Ledisi, Columbus Short, Janet Hubert, and Wendy Raquel Robinson were cast in the film. In the same article, Deadline Hollywood announced Ledisi had been cast as the lead role Mahalia Jackson, a role she reprises from the historical drama film Selma. Short was also announced to be cast as Martin Luther King Jr.Ledisi originally declined the offer to reprise the role but ultimately accepted the role. In preparation for the role, Ledisi was required to gain at least forty pounds. She also further studied Jackson's singing, personality, and her relationship with Martin Luther King Jr. Ledisi stated, "I hung out with a few pastors to understand the purpose of 'Jericho' and studied the Bible a little more. Preparation was really going into deep study of the spiritual work because she was anointed. She could have easily done R&B and other styles of music. And she loved Bessie Smith. Her phrasing was like jazz music, the way she sang. I really studied her technique, and it was very hard to figure out all of that."
Columbus Short commented "It's truly a great honor to portray a man that has made such an indelible impact on society and to all of ours lives."