No Identity Crisis: A Father and Son's Own Story of Working Together

Vulgar self-promotion dominates this autobiographical account in which the making of the film Identity Crisis becomes subordinated to the personalities of the Van Peebles pere and fils. Mario was a budget analyst until he realized ``it was cruel of him to go on denying the moviegoing public any longer'' and entered show business. Melvin's charm is displayed when he tries to pick up some women who attract his sons' notice: ``My chicken-shit sons over there think you're fine. Now are you going to give them some play or not?'' Continuing in this vein, the two describe in alternating narratives how they assembled the project: Melvin as producer/director and Mario as writer/star. There are several contributions from others who worked on the film, including the costume designer and production assistants, who discuss themselves, their jobs and their employers' qualities. One staffer seriously assures the reader that Sir Alec Guinness is as good an actor as Mario Van Peebles. Melvin Van Peebles wrote The True American. Photos not seen by PW. (July)