One of the privileges and obligations of running a joint is providing employment opportunities for creative people trying to survive in New York until they make their big break. “If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere” often depends on finding a nighttime cocktailing or bartending gig that allows you to audition during the day. I have employed a thousand actors, many way past the time when they used that term to describe themselves. Unfortunately, many now just answer to ‘bartender’ after a thousand dead-end tryouts have made their point. New York clubs have been the starting point or the survival point for so many stars. Among them: Bruce Willis, Keith Haring, Debbie Harry, RuPaul, Vin Diesel, Chazz Palminteri, and Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, who, of course, performed in small joints around town before she made us all go Gaga. Clubs allow newbie acts to develop into superstars, rock stars, or movie stars. I've even employed Olympic hopefuls while they trained for the big games. As is my tradition, I watch the Academy Awards among friends, and once I jumped up and spilled the pop corn and yelled “I know that guy” as a ex-employee was honored. I caught up with former clubber, employee, and friend Roger Ross Williams, winner of the 2009 Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject for Music By Prudence. He is, as far as I know, the first Oscar winner to come out of my system, and according to Wiki, he's “the first African American to win an Oscar for directing and producing a film short or feature.”

Normally we forget these “little” Oscars, but no one will ever forget Roger’s. He was sharply shoved aside, the mic grabbed from his hand in the middle of his acceptance speech. A billion people world-wide saw him behave graciously when so many others might not have. I told him a few days later that because of the incident, more people would know about his work than if he got to recite his speech. I caught up with gentleman Roger Ross Williams as his Music By Prudence DVD hits stands.

First off, we all know you as that guy who got shoved aside while accepting the Academy Award. Tell us about making the film, getting it out there, and the award. What was in your mind up there? There is nothing that really describes the feeling of winning an Oscar, but I will try. When my name was called it was as though I had won a new car on The Price is Right. ‘Come on down!’ was all I could think as I raced to the stage. When I arrived on stage I felt the weight of the moment, the silence, the pressure, the incredible spotlight that was on me. I also felt grounded and ready to speak from my heart. My desire was to tell the world about this amazing girl and her band Liyana, and how I was so happy that everyone could finally know and love them like I had grown to know and love them. Most importantly, I was there to honor Prudence. She was in the audience that night, and I had worked hard to get her there from Zimbabwe, secure her a seat, and make sure the cameras were in position and ready to film her if we won. Of course, that speech didn’t happen. As I was interrupted, I first felt shock, then horror, and then I quickly realized that I needed to turn the focus back to Prudence, who deserved more than anything to be acknowledged and recognized there at the Kodak Theater. Thankfully, I managed to get in the last line, mentioning that she was there, and that the Oscar was for Prudence. My crack Internet team back at the hotel had a copy of my acceptance speech and they reacted very quickly, and posted it online within ten minutes of the interruption. Our website got hundreds of thousands of hits—so many people got to read what I had to say and there was such an outpouring of love and support that I was totally in awe of the kindness of humanity. In the end, it brought more attention to the film than anything I could have ever said.

How did you come to Prudence? I had been working in non-fiction television for many years and wanted to take the leap into independent documentary. I heard about Prudence and her band Liyana, and started writing to one of the heads of the school she attends in Zimbabwe, called King George VI. The school sent me some footage of Prudence and Liyana, and short stories written by all the band members about their lives. When I read them and saw the footage, I knew this was something special, and I was determined to make the film. I will never forget that first trip to Zimbabwe; I spent thousands of dollars of my own money and two weeks filming Prudence and the band. That original interview with Prudence is still the most poignant moment in the film, when she talks about spending years neglected lying under the mango tree left with nothing more than her own hopes, dreams, and her music. Tell me about your club experiences, the influence, connections, and how it changed you? When I first came to New York in the early 80s, I was this wide-eyed kid from a small town in Pennsylvania. The club scene was where I found myself. I met such interesting people there, incredibly talented artists, who became my new role models. I learned that there was a whole big world out there to explore. It was an exciting time, the New York nightlife and art scene were so alive with clubs like Dancenteria, Area, and The Palladium—it became my new home. I was transforming and becoming an artist, and the possibilities seemed endless.

How long have we known each other? I got up and yelled, 'Hey I know that guy' when I saw you win the Oscar. When did you decide to follow your dreams? We have known each other since the early 80s. I met you at Dancenteria, where you were throwing cutting-edge fashion shows and events. I started working for you handing out invitations in boutiques, restaurants, and galleries downtown. I have to admit I was a little intimidated and in awe of you. For me, you were the smartest, coolest, most connected guy in the city. I was determined to someday be successful like you! I was an NYU student and I think around that time I changed my major from pre-law to journalism and film. I knew I wanted to do something exciting and creative.

Tell me about Sundance this year? I just got named a Fellow of the Sundance Institute’s Documentary Film Program for my new project in East Africa. This means that, in addition to financial support, The Sundance Institute has invited me to the festival this year to meet with potential funders and pitch my new project. Making a documentary film is expensive, and we have to spend a lot of time raising funds. That is not my favorite part of the job, but with the generous help and support of organizations like Sundance, it makes the process a lot easier. I used to cover the festival for the Sundance Channel years ago and it's an amazing experience for filmmakers. I am looking forward to going to Park City this January with my new project. Tell me where we can see your Oscar Winning film Music by Prudence? Music by Prudence was just made available on DVD this week. In addition to the actual film, there's 40 minutes of deleted scenes and music videos of the band, 25 minutes of concert footage of Liyana, and a commentary by Prudence and myself. People can pre-order it on our website right now and from Amazon after January 1st. Everyone in need of a little inspiration and a lot of great music should rush to our site and pre-order it now!