By Mark Slane

I had the greatest of pleasures and good fortune in getting an interview with Flint city’s Marcus Davenport, teacher, mentor, and independent film maker. Marcus has brought us all into Flint, into the hood and around the court with his film Flint Star “The Motion Picture”. The film gives us a street-level view of life and the life of basketball in the city of Flint, Michigan, the third most dangerous city in America. The film examines and gives all of us a look into this unique city’s passion for the game of basketball. Meet the players, the contenders and the pretenders with Marcus as he takes you onto the courts, into the hood and onto the streets in his 93 Pontiac Grand Am complete with a bullet hole or two.

Marcus Davenport: First of all, I want to thank you for the opportunity to promote Flint Star “The Motion Picture” in your magazine. This film has been a daily part of my existence since 2000. I truly appreciate any chance to expose my film to a new audience.

ElevationMag: We all know that many NBA greats have come out of Flint but have any come back or given back to the community in any significant way?

Marcus Davenport: This is a question that is debated in my film. Many people in urban communities look at athletes and entertainers as people who are responsible for giving back to the community due to the massive money that some of them make and the lavish lifestyles that they portray. Many Flint athletes have summer camps and events for the children in the community. Mateen Cleaves (NBA Point Guard) and Robaire Smith (NFL Defensive Lineman) are a couple of players who I have known to give free camps and clinics for kids in the community. They often invite other professional athletes to their camps and make the events open to the public. Programs like this are exciting for the children because they can meet and interact with professional athletes that would not normally come to Flint, Michigan. Others athletes come home and throw a couple of parties and social events during the off season.

ElevationMag: We don’t hear much about players giving back, are the people of Flint frustrated with this?

Marcus Davenport: In my film some of the residents of Flint feel that athletes should do a better job of channeling their economic and social resources together to improve city conditions by building new homes, community centers, etc. The film also looks at this issue from the NBA player’s standpoint. It examines the fact that many of them become looked upon to rescue everybody from financial hardship due to their enormous contracts. Lastly, the film uncovers the resentment that many people feel toward all athletes who do not give back to the community. Flint residents question rather these individuals should be robbed when they return home do to a lack of financial community involvement. I feel this is a very serious issue since many national athletes are frequently in the news due to robberies and robbery attempts.

ElevationMag: As a community, what do you feel Flint has to offer these young people, besides an obsession with basketball?

Marcus Davenport: Flint breeds toughness. Flint is currently ranked as the 3rd most dangerous place to live behind St. Louis and Detroit according to MSN. Therefore, kids truly feel that if they can make it in Flint and make it out of Flint, they can make it anywhere in the world. There is an awesome amount of pride that comes from being a success story out of Flint. Flint is a city that was controlled by General Motors (Buick City) for generations. Therefore, the citizens of Flint are strong, hardworking, straight forward, blue collar people. As the factories closed, economic conditions got worse, unemployment increased, and crime shot through the roof, basketball became the ultimate outlet.

It’s more than an obsession with basketball in Flint, this sport allows many young children to stay off the street and do something positive with their life. Basketball has given some children hope out of a life of poverty. No basketball is not the only answer, but for many it is one of their few tickets to a free college education and a better life.

ElevationMag: We have lots of players that came out of the Bronx, Queens, and Harlem back here in NY, but they don’t feel a need to advertise it themselves nor do the communities they came from feel a need to claim a player. What makes Flint so different from the Bronx?

Marcus Davenport: I have never been to NYC. I really want to visit and see the real NYC. Not just the tourist spots, but I want to witness real neighborhoods and how the average person lives in the five Boroughs. Hopefully soon I will have a chance because NYC is a mecca of culture, hip hop, fashion, entertainment, and of course basketball.

I must disagree with you regarding this question. I feel that most urban individuals love to represent where they come from in general. You can’t tell me that guys from NYC don’t try to rep their respective hoods as hard as anyone else. If you saw “Through the Fire”, Sebastin Telfair represented Coney Island, Brooklyn to the fullest. The people in the community seemed to claim him and embrace him as “Coney Island’s Finest”. It’s the same situation for players from Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Philly, Baltimore, Oakland, etc. The only difference is that Flint is a small city 130,000 residents and shrinking. Therefore these players feel an extra need to represent and bring life back to a city that is considered dying. Without some of these athletes, many people would not know their hometown existed. The community feels the need to claim them because they are proud that someone from their hood is doing something positive with their life on a major platform.

ElevationMag: Does the success of the few that came out of Flint tend to help or hurt the soul of the community in your opinion?

Marcus Davenport: The individuals that make it out of Flint provide inspiration and motivation for many. Especially the people who attempt to come back and give back in some particular form. It motivates young people to see someone from their small hood make it to a major platform in their lifetime. People tend to think, if he or she can make it, so can I. Players from Flint are often seen back in their old neighborhoods. These players are accessible to young individuals. The average Flint athlete really loves their city and can be found back home quite often.

With all of the negative publicity associated with Flint, these individuals become the shinning stars of the community. Of course there are many more talented and intelligent individuals in Flint besides athletes and entertainers. However, we tend to promote athletics and entertainment on a major scale in poor environments as the only way out of the hood. This is not only a Flint thing; this is situation that takes place in every hood in America. I feel like it’s up to people like me to show kids that you do not have to use your entertaining or athletic ability to become economically powerful in this country. It is my goal to create more Fortune 500 executives than NBA athletes from our urban communities. Basketball player money is good but basketball team owner money is awesome.

ElevationMag: We’ve seen all the Flint tattoos in the NBA, but are they a sign of pride in the community or a badge of courage that one has been able to survive Flint and move on?

Marcus Davenport: The Flint tattoos are a clear sign of pride. It is a simple way of showing the world where you are from. Most are always placed on the shoulder, so it is easily visible wearing a basketball uniform.

ElevationMag: I hate to use the word as cliché as it is but what Flint Player is considered a role model for the youngsters there? Why?

Marcus Davenport: I feel like all of them are a role model to a certain extent. Kids grow up wanting to be like the guy from across the street that made it to the NBA. Also young women are now growing up looking to be like the females who have made it to the WNBA from Flint.

ElevationMag: In NY, Philly and Baltimore, most of the young and great players end up playing out their high school seasons at a fancy prep school in a nice part of town, out of state or in the country on a scholarship. Is this true for the better Flint players?

Marcus Davenport: Yes. No question. Some Flint athletes have gone away to prep schools to boost their exposure. However, most Flint players stay at home and compete again the tough Flint City and Michigan area competition. Also, some people actually move to Flint for their children to play basketball in Flint schools in hopes of added exposure for recruitment.

ElevationMag: Has too much emphasis been placed on basketball or football for that matter in Flint?

Marcus Davenport: Yes. Like I stated earlier in the interview, we tend to put far too much importance towards sports in the urban community. America as a whole is in love with athletes and athletes lifestyles. I work with urban kids daily and most of the males have dreams of being an athlete or entertainer. It is a hard cycle to break when they know that Lebron James was filthy rich before his high school senior prom and their teacher is 29 with a master’s degree and still on his daily grind.

Everybody knows that the chances are almost impossible, but in their eyes it is worth the effort. Just think we go to the Casino and know that the chances are we are going to lose, but we still roll the dice with the hopes of striking it rich. You keep that same belief until you lose your last dollar and then what? Money has a way of blinding us all.

ElevationMag: Does your film and the “PR” around Flint’s basketball history actually hurt the community by putting basketball out there as the way out of Flint?

Marcus Davenport: No. Not at all. My film gives a realistic viewpoint of Flint and the city’s love of basketball. It has provided more positive press for the city. Basketball is not the only way out. However, it has become one of a few positive avenues for many urban males. My film showcases real Flint residents; teachers, barbers, coaches, business owners, community members, social leaders, athletes, and young scholars. The film gives viewpoints from young and old, whites and blacks, male and female. I clearly gave the world what Flint gave to me. I did not water anything down, edited language or subject matter. It was my goal to keep my film as raw and real as possible.

ElevationMag: As a teacher and mentor, what advice do you give those great players, those players that live basketball, and that just aren’t good enough to make it in a D1 school let alone the pros?

Marcus Davenport: Great question! I always advise young people to use basketball and not let basketball use them. Going to the NBA is a lofty goal. It will not happen for almost everyone. Going to a D1 school is also a lofty goal, but there are over 300 schools that offer scholarships in Division 1. Division 1 basketball is a full time job. Those guys work all year round. The schools are using your talents to increase revenue and ticket sales. Therefore, you must make sure that you get your degree from that institution before your eligibility runs out. Use basketball and do not let basketball use you.

Now reality, the goal should be to first gain a guaranteed college education. You have division 1, division 2, division 3, NAIA, and junior colleges that offer scholarships or free financial grants to pursue an education. The goal is to receive an education and increase your chance of living a successful life after basketball.

ElevationMag: Have you seen many big let downs and if so how did you handle them?

Marcus Davenport: Life is full of letdowns. Doing an independent movie on a teacher’s salary with no other financial backing you learn to fight through letdowns. My motto is I fight through letdowns until they letup! I had to spend three years filming and editing footage for this film basically on my own. I have been on every street in the city of Flint. Hustled DVD’s is the best and worst areas with the goal of making my film known worldwide. No one really believed in my vision. I don’t know if I would have believed in a young skinny cat in a beat up 93 Pontiac Grand Am with a camera from Best Buy saying he is going to shoot a film in the city. I edited the entire film in my bedroom on an Apple G4 computer. I tried to get help from friends and associates, but no one wanted to put forth all of the grinding that it took to bring this project to life. In 3 years I spent 40 thousand dollars of my own money from savings and credit cards and hit the street with copies. I hit every street, mom and pop store, bus stop, barber shop, nightclubs parking lot, light pole, boarded up home, and liquor stores with flyers promoting the film. I paid for radio commercials in Flint and TV commercials that aired in 5 major cities in Michigan. I created and designed my own website www.bigthangsinc.com and learned how to go from the hand to hand Flint city hustle to global internet marketing. This process has been difficult and costly, but no one said living out your dreams was free.

ElevationMag: What’s the future of basketball in Flint look like to you?

Marcus Davenport: Bright! Always bright! The city will always produce great ball players due to the love of the game that the players are born with. The more players from Flint that make it, the more players will continue to desire to copy the same actions. I really believe that Women’s basketball will be the next major boom from Flint. Flint has some WNBA athletes and many more to come. The girl’s play with a great amount of passion, desire, and fire. You heard it first here!

ElevationMag: Are there any great players in Flint that we should be looking for in a big college jersey or with an NBA uniform on anytime soon?

Marcus Davenport: Yes! Watch the DVD bonus page of Flint Star and witness the future of Flint Basketball. There is a young ball player highlight page, a high school highlight page, and the pro-am highlight page. I have a section that contains children ages 6 to 13 playing the game that they love. Keep in mind that some of the footage is dated back to 2000, so some of these players are now the premiere male and female athletes in Flint. The DVD has a few surprises for true basketball fans. There are Michigan area athletes who are now in the NBA and NFL on the bonus footage page. I happened to answer your question and plug my film at the same time.

ElevationMag: In making the film did you get 100% support from the community?

Marcus Davenport: Let me say that I do not feel that many communities would have supported my making of the film like Flint. The city has so much pride and people wanted something that would continue to represent the city on a national scale and restore some sunshine. However, it was not an easy experience at first. Like I stated earlier, many people looked at me like you are not really going to shoot a movie with that little camera. I just continued to work hard and make things happen. After a few NBA athletes were interviewed people began to look at me as being more legit for having NBA athletes in the movie. The NBA guys are just a small part of the story. The real beauty of the movie is all the average Flint residents that are interviewed throughout the film. I have guys in the film that lost their lives shortly after being interviewed. I dug deep and filmed from the heart of the city. That is the reality that ESPN, NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox cannot give you. I shot a total of 72 hours of Flint footage to create a 1 hour and 30 minute film with a 50 minute bonus page. I love Flint for its support!

ElevationMag: What do you think is the best way to showcase the talented players from Flint?

Marcus Davenport: I feel that anything that promotes Flint’s talented youth in a positive way is always needed and appreciated.

ElevationMag: What’s next from Marcus G. Davenport?

Marcus Davenport: I am working with the artist who completed the entire Flint Star movie score at age 18 “Jon Connor”. We have released one hip hop album (The Calling) and a mixtape (Everybody Hates Connor) through the company website www.bigthangsinc.com. He is another Flint product. I’m excited about his future. He makes quality, meaningful, and intelligent hip hop music with a street edge. I have teamed up with Jon Connor and Jason Monk to run Avie Squad Records. We will continue to create and release great music for years to come.

I have also completed writing a movie based out of Detroit, Michigan called “Hood Rich” with Anthony Barnes and Douglas Peeples. This film is a comedy that will surely become a cult classic. In addition, we are in the process of writing another film based on a Baptist Preacher who finds himself at a spiritual crossroads. Our creative writing team will continue to produce new and cutting edge film concepts in the near future.

Lastly, in the spring I plan to begin work on the NFL based documentary film “Life in The League”. I will direct and produce this film with my cousin NFL Defensive Lineman Damian Gregory. The film will look at the NFL life is a unique and raw format that only Big Thangs Productions can give you.

Most importantly, I will continue to work with today’s youth. I will continue to provide inner city children with hope, pride, discipline, and direction. Films and entertainment are my chosen avenue to create economic cash flow to help my family and future children live a better life. I enjoy making realistic and authentic art. However, working with children is my passion. The ability to provide inspiration for America’s lost youth is a gift from God that I refuse to deny. I am proud of being a self made filmmaker who followed his dreams to create a movie out of nothing. But, being an educator is the most significant accomplishment in my life. I am honored to represent the people who work daily to leave a lasting impact on future generations throughout the world. I thank you for your time and consideration regarding Flint Star “The Motion Picture”.

ElevationMag: Marcus thanks so much for your time and your film!