OSCAR WILLIAMS - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 10/10/1975 - HFSID 201867

OSCAR WILLIAMS
Blaxploitation filmmaker Oscar Williams signed this letter on his personalized stationery in 1975 regarding the marketing of his movie Hot Potato, saying that it should be aimed at school children and that "I hope you do not waste your money trying to get a black audience".
Typed letter signed "Oscar Williams". Black ink date stamps and black, red and blue ink notations, all in unknown hand. 2 pages, 8½x11, on Williams' personalized stationery. Oct. 10, 1975. Addressed to Mr. Myron Karlin, Warner Brothers, Inc., Burbank, California. In full: "Dear Mr. Karlin: Usually the area of film making and distribution are on separate sides of the same coin. Although both sides desire the same results - a successful, money-making film, they do not always work hand in hand. I think we have a money-making film in 'HOT POTATO'; therefore, permit me to unfold what I had in mind as director. Perhaps some of it may be usable. 1. That Jim Kelly be played not as black, but as Mr. America, superman, etc. And with his team, they become a contemporary Three Musketeers. Therefore, I hope you do not waste your money trying to get a black audience - they will come any way, via the action and Kelly's name. 2. The target audience then becomes that young group out there that buys rock music - from Elton John to the late Jimmy [sic] Hendricks [sic]. They range from high school age down to first graders. Presently, these kids have not contemporary hero. There is a vacuum. I am daily amazes at the amount of white youths who want to be like Kelly now that Bruce Lee is gone. Let us use this fact. Let us pump dollars out of it. For with each high school youngster that sees this film, we are sure to get his classmates and their class-mates...the school systems being a natural and captive grapevine. And with each primary schooler, we'll also get their accompanying parents or older chaperone as well. How can we screen this film for at least two classes in three popular high schools of each major city so that the word can spread the same way a new dance or vogue word does: first city-wide, then nationally. Can we bolster this with spots on soul Train, Midnight Special, or Saturday mornings, thereby catching this market at their watering hole? Can we suggest that 'HOT POTATO' is a 'PG' that the young ones can see! What I am suggesting is that we make 'HOT POTATO' a cult. Because if it has legs, we grown-ups will eventually get in to see it. Now I have made this note longer than I intended so let me end by saying I'm at your service if you ever need me, for my wish, like yours, is to make as many millions as I can at the Box Office, for it's there that we can truly measure success. Sincerely, OSCAR WILLIAMS OW/js cc: John Calley Sequoia Pictures, Inc."Williams was both screenwriter and director for the 1976 action flick Hot Potato. Williams, born in St. Croix, Virgin Islands in 1944, is known among B-movie fans for directing, producing and/or writing the blaxploitation movies The Final Comedown (1972) with Jim Kelly, Black Belt Jones (1974), Five on the Black Hand Side (1973) and Truck Turner (1974) with Isaac Hayes and Yaphet Kotto, as well as the Jim Kelly action flick Hot Potato (1976). He's also taught intermediate film production at the University of Southern California. Lightly creased. Signature is lightly haloed but legible. Staple holes in upper left corner. Folded twice and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition.