Parker, cast argue for 'Birth of a Nation' despite scandal

TORONTO -- In a carefully stage-managed press conference at the Toronto International Film Festival, Nate Parker and the cast of his Nat Turner slave-revolt drama "The Birth of a Nation" argued passionately for focusing on their film and not on the years-old rape allegation against Parker that has enveloped the film in a scandal from the past.

Parker was facing a roomful of reporters for the first time since the details of a 1999 rape allegation against Parker surfaced.

Though Parker directed, wrote, produced and stars as Turner in the film, he urged "The Birth of a Nation" to be viewed outside of himself.

"I've addressed, and I'm sure in different forms I'll address it more. The reality is no one person makes a film," said Parker, noting hundreds worked on the film. "I would encourage everyone to remember, personal life aside, I'm just one person."

Parker bounded cheerfully into the press conference, exclaiming, "Good morning!" and taking a seat at the end of a long table of cast members.

The much-watched event was orchestrated to take the spotlight off Parker's past.

A question wasn't taken from the media until about 40 minutes in. It was nearly an hour in before Parker took a question directly about the incident.

"This is a forum for the film," said Parker. "This is a forum for the other people sitting on this stage."

Parker declined to address whether he should have been more sensitive to the now-deceased rape victim, or whether he feels his past transgressions have been more scrutinized than similar incidents have been for others in Hollywood.

He said he believes Fox Searchlight, the film's distributor, is moving ahead with a planned promotional tour to churches and college campuses before the movie's October release.