lead in film meant you could one day be a lead on television or be a lead in the political movement. all those things are possible if you can see yourself that way. and melvin helped us see us that way. i think although his vision was different than other people's vision, the vision of freedom was one that was super attractive to all of us. >> he paved the way for so many. i was speaking just today actually about your father and his legacy and what he did. i was speaking with lee daniels. everyone pays homage and, you know, when you bring up melvin van peebles, they bow down and say he was the king, the originator. your father rose to prominence with the release of his landmark film, but people may not know he did it all, directing, scripting, editing, scoring, marketing, financing, on and on. what did that movie mean for black cinema and independent f