Changes

A successful film version was released in 2013. It was directed by Steve McQueen, written by John Ridley, and starred Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup. Principal photography was completed in the summer of 2012 in the [[New Orleans]] area. The film was nominated for nine [[Academy Award]]s, winning three: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress.  

A successful film version was released in 2013. It was directed by Steve McQueen, written by John Ridley, and starred Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup. Principal photography was completed in the summer of 2012 in the [[New Orleans]] area. The film was nominated for nine [[Academy Award]]s, winning three: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress.  

In his acceptance speech, director McQueen thanked Eakin: "I'd like to thank this amazing historian, Sue Eakin, whose life, she gave her life's work to preserving Solomon’s book." Eakin discovered Northup's narrative when she was twelve years of age and again when in college. In time, she pushed the project to fruition after many years of work.<ref name=oscarwinner>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20140304/NEWS01/303040012/Central-Louisiana-historian-Sue-Eakin-s-work-gets-Oscar-mention|author=Jodi Belgard|title=Central Louisiana historian Sue Eakin's work gets Oscar mention"|date=March 4, 2014|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=March 4, 2014; no longer on-line}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/12-years-a-slave-brad-pitt-and-steve-mcqueens-best-picture-oscars-acceptance-speech-in-full-9165040.html|title=''Twelve Years a Slave'': Brad Pitt and Steve MoQueen's Best Picture Oscars Acceptance Speech in Full|publisher=independent.co.uk.|author=Jenn Selby|date=March 3, 2014|accessdate=October 26, 2019}}</ref>​

In his acceptance speech, director McQueen thanked Eakin: "I'd like to thank this amazing historian, Sue Eakin, whose life, she gave her life's work to preserving Solomon’s book." Eakin discovered Northup's narrative when she was twelve years of age and again when in college. In time, she pushed the project to fruition after many years of work.<ref name=oscarwinner>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20140304/NEWS01/303040012/Central-Louisiana-historian-Sue-Eakin-s-work-gets-Oscar-mention|author=Jodi Belgard|title=Central Louisiana historian Sue Eakin's work gets Oscar mention"|date=March 4, 2014|publisher=''A[[lexandria Town Talk]]''|accessdate=March 4, 2014; no longer on-line}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/12-years-a-slave-brad-pitt-and-steve-mcqueens-best-picture-oscars-acceptance-speech-in-full-9165040.html|title=''Twelve Years a Slave'': Brad Pitt and Steve MoQueen's Best Picture Oscars Acceptance Speech in Full|publisher=independent.co.uk.|author=Jenn Selby|date=March 3, 2014|accessdate=October 26, 2019}}</ref>​

==Background==

==Background==