Dave Chappelle's Unseen Doc: Letterman Gets Exclusive Peek! You Won't Believe Why It's Hidden
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Comedy icon Dave Chappelle recently screened his unreleased documentary, Dave Chappelle: Live in Real Life, at the 23rd annual Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival on August 8th. Among the privileged audience members was none other than David Letterman.
The film chronicles Chappelle’s renowned cornfield comedy shows that took place during the pandemic. Following the screening, attendees were treated to a rare Q&A session with the comedian and filmmakers.
Why is the Documentary Unreleased?
Originally titled Dave Chappelle: This Time This Place, the documentary initially premiered at Radio City Music Hall during the 2021 Tribeca Festival. However, its distribution was reportedly derailed following controversy surrounding jokes about transgender individuals in his Netflix special, The Closer. Chappelle responded by embarking on a special tour featuring both the documentary and a live comedy show. Despite this, the documentary remains unavailable to the general public.
Chappelle's Philanthropic Efforts
Chappelle's appearance at the film festival was part of his ongoing philanthropic efforts to raise money for his D.C. high school, the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. This is just one of several public events he's participated in this year, including receiving the President’s Award during the 56th Annual NAACP Image Awards in February.
Steven Bognar, who co-directed the film with his late wife Julia Reichert (both Oscar winners for American Factory), introduced the documentary to the audience. In typical Chappelle fashion, all phones were secured upon entry to maintain the exclusivity of the event.
Bognar recounted how Chappelle contacted them during the 2020 lockdown, initiating their involvement in the project. The film offers a unique glimpse into Chappelle's creative process and community engagement during a challenging time.