At CT screening of Netflix's 'Rustin' producer Bruce Cohen credits his Yale education

Academy Award-winning producer and Yale alum Bruce Cohen returned to his alma-mater to screen his new film, "Rustin," last week. The film will be released in theaters nationwide this Friday before streaming on Netflix Nov. 17.

Cohen was visibly excited, busily working the room, alongside former classmates while fielding questions from those attending the ivy league institution before the scheduled Q&A even took place. 

Cohen said the Netflix movie allowed him to combine his passion for film and activism. The movie is about the openly gay, Black civil rights leader, Bayard Rustin. “The architect of 1963’s momentous March on Washington, Bayard Rustin was one of the greatest activists and organizers the world has ever known,” according to the film’s synopsis. “He challenged authority, never apologized for who he was, what he believed, or who he desired. And he did not back down. He made history, and in turn, he was forgotten.” 

At the screening Cohen credited former Yale president Bart Giamatti with helping him find his way into film. 

"Something that I heard Bart say in his freshman address changed my life and is the reason why I'm here tonight. He said some version of 'I want you to think about why you're here at Yale, about what you hope to accomplish in your four years here, and think about why your parents want you here, and about what they hope you accomplish during your four years at Yale. And now, I want you to throw all that away. I want you to spend these next four years to find your personal way that you are going to connect to the world, potentially even change it. Find your calling, and go do it.'” 

“Those words blew my mind. They gave me chills when I heard them. They're giving me chills repeating them now,” he said. “During my sophomore year I was walking by Mory's and I literally remember stopping and saying out loud, 'I'm having my Bart Giamatti moment. I want to make movies.'" 

That dream came true fairly quickly. Within two years of graduating from Yale, Cohen was a DGA trainee on "The Color Purple," directed by Steven Spielberg. By 1988 he was the second assistant director on the sequel to the hit Ron Howard film "Cocoon." By 1991 he was the associate producer of "Hook,” starring no less than Robin Williams and Julia Roberts. "Rustin" finds him mining terrain similar to 2008's "Milk," a biopic about Harvey Milk and how he became one of the first openly gay elected officials. 

"There are definite similarities," Cohen said to Hearst Connecticut Media. "They both actually have a lot in common. They both deserved to be icons."

Rustin corralled Martin Luther King Jr. and others into organizing the 1963 March On Washington. He is played in the film by Colman Domingo, and this year marks the 60th anniversary of the March On Washington. The film also stars Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Jeffrey Wright, and Audra McDonald. It's directed by five-time Tony-winner George C. Wolfe and produced by Cohen, as well as Tonia Davis and George C. Wolfe of Higher Ground, the production company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama, who are among the film's executive producers.

"Our film isn't a biopic," Cohen explained. "I mean, it is and it isn't. He's a real guy, and this is a real story. But we're only covering a very short period in Bayard's life, even while we're very focused on Bayard's life while doing it. It is not a traditional birth to death biopic."    

Reception to the film was on par with reception to Cohen's arrival itself; both prompted applause from the entire room. Immediately following the screening, Cohen joined co-chair of design and Yale Repertory Theatre resident costume designer Toni-Leslie James, and professor Crystal Feimster for a conversation and audience Q&A. Many of the questions revisited Cohen's opening remarks, from just before the house lights dimmed. This prompted him to revisit his Yale years and those words uttered by Giamatti.

"My hope was that that love of film would translate someday into making President Giamatti somewhat prouder, or at least happy, that at least one kid had answered his call,” he said “The joint goal of making film and activism has been my passion for the past 40 years."