Some folks believe what you don’t know won’t hurt you. But when it comes to creeping and living a secret life, director/actor Bill Duke challenges such wayward thinking. His controversial thriller, Cover, examines the “down-low” or “D.L” phenomenon and how it affects the Black community through the lives of one young Black family. When southern belle and commercial photographer Valerie Maas (Aunjanue Ellis) agrees to uproot her family and lucrative career by relocating from Atlanta to Philly to support her psychiatrist-hubby Dutch’s (Rad Adoti) new promotion, things fall apart as her growing suspicion of Dutch’s infidelity comes to light. However, it’s the magnitude of those lies and deceit that challenge the sanctity of her marriage, faith and hope, making her doubt everything she’s ever known to be true—including her husband’s devotion.
Unfortunately, Valerie Maas’ plight has become a familiar trend among Black women who are often unknowingly involved with Black men leading duplicitous lifestyles—publicly living as heterosexuals yet closeting their same-sex affairs. And recent studies suggest that this growing epidemic has augmented the alarming percentage of Black women infected with HIV and AIDS. It’s this harsh reality that inspired Duke’s cinematic vision. “AIDS is a preventable disease. Its impact on the men, women, and children in our community is tragic and devastating,” says Duke. “We must collectively and individually begin to take this epidemic seriously, so that our children will not have to face the tragic consequences of our neglect.” ESSENCE.com caught up with a few of the cast members to find out why this film is so poignant in today’s Black community.
AUNJANUE ELLIS (Valerie Maas)
“The core themes of Cover—religion and family values— are universal, because in every corner of this planet these issues are what prove to be the most binding and divisive.”
RAZ ADOTI (DUTCH)
“HIV/AIDS is a universal pandemic that does not discriminate and affects all races and nations. I hope the movie will promote a sense of responsibility and tolerance that will foster an environment where lives can be saved.”
Credit: Courtesy of Bill Duke
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VIVICA A. FOX (ZAHARA MILTON, VALERIE’S GIRLFRIEND)
“This story is enlightening and eye-opening and kind of scary, but it makes you think. And that’s what we are hoping. It’s a subject that has been a little taboo in the African-American community. What I hope that Cover does for African-American women is [inspire them to] educate themselves, practice safe sex, not to [turn a blind eye] because the bills are being paid and to always be inquisitive and follow your first [instinct]. If your [female intuition] tells you something ain’t right, girl check it out.”
LEON (R&B SENSATION RYAN CHAMBERS)
“We talk about how devastating the disease is in Africa, but we haven't
really dealt with it in the United States and that's why this film is so important. It has been shown that the African-American community has the highest rate of sexually-transmitted diseases. The consequences are frightening. We need to talk more and do what we can to protect our sisters who unknowingly contract this disease.”
MYA HARRISON (CYNDA, RYAN CHAMBERS GIRLFRIEND)
“This film is extremely important to see, not only in the Black
community but globally, and for many reasons. Cover effectively addresses the severity of truth, awareness and personal responsiblity in an effort to save millions of lives.
ROGER GUENVEUR SMITH (KEVIN WILSON, DUTCH’S COLLEGE BUDDY)
“Bill Duke is the quintessential ‘actor’s director.’ In Cover, he’s challenged us to mine the full range of the human psyche—from faith to deceit—to create both an effective entertainment and an internationally-relevant public service announcement.”
PHOTOS: Get an exclusive sneak peek of scenes from Cover »
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