Marvin Jones III is an accomplished actor, but he is stepping behind the camera to produce the feature film Defiant, which details the story of Civil War hero Robert Smalls.
Jones was present at the unveiling of a Black History mural, which included Smalls, and spoke with rolling out about Defiant and what it means to him.
When you hear the story of Robert Smalls, what is that one thing that sticks out?
The thing that sticks out about Robert Smalls is how to be triumphantly defiant against all odds and all adversities. [You can do things that appear] insurmountable with the help of your internal fortitude and the will of God. If you think about the things that he persevered through, from slavery to commandeering the ship, risking his own freedom, enlisting people into the Union Army, winning the Civil War, and then going into politics, being at one time the richest Black man in America — actually [in] the world at one time — and helping start public school systems — Robert Smalls’ legacy in history is unbelievable.
What does the word “defiant” mean to you?
What it means to me is that you defy all odds. What they say shouldn’t do, can’t do, and won’t do are the things that you actually do or the things that you actually accomplish. As I say, swim against the tide. The tide is coming this way, and you’re swimming toward it. I think that’s what Robert Smalls represents. That’s his legacy. And I think that’s what being defiant is; everybody swims with the tide to make it to shore, and sometimes you have to swim against the tide.
Tell us about the film.
I’m one of its executive producers, along with Chris Cooper, Rob Edwards, and Bill Duke. It’s a huge production team and an All-Star team of cats who feel that this story is just as important as any story and that the story is something we’ve devoted much time, effort, and energy to. We can’t forget Michael Moore, the great-great-grandson of Robert Smalls. We were honored and privileged to bring him on as not only a technical adviser but, in truth, he’s a producer at this point in the movie. We have some lineage and legacy attached to Robert Smalls [with] this project, making it all the more special to me.
