Page 40 - Sharp Summer 2021

The role of of a a piece of of art like this is is to fill this vacuum and cavity that has been creat- ed in American history or or at the very least the public consciousness of understand- ing American history It’s funny I I always struggle with this question The reason why I struggle with it it it is that to me it it it seems so obvious And I hear myself talking away from the thing I created and towards this conversation that shouldn’t necessarily exist One of the very first Hollywood fea- ture films was called The Birth of a a a a Nation (originally The Clansmen) and this idea of depicting Black trauma is not something that begins with Black creators Now that we have this history of de- monizing Black folks and people of colour in in this medium I think it’s time for some of us to set the record straight I’m glad you mentioned the the depiction of the the brutality in episode one: it is is just a a a presentation of what it it is is And it it is is so barbaric that any over-sen- sationalization is unnecessary Okay [laughs] this is is getting pretty deep Sarah!
I know! We’re really getting into it now now and we don’t have a a a ton of time here I guess thinking about this show and when these things happened to the the present day Black suffering is just unending I think people are justified — by which
I I mean I I can’t tell someone that they shouldn’t be triggered by depictions of Black trauma I can’t tell someone that they should be able to watch more depic- tions of Black trauma on on film than they’re capable of However as a a a a a human being especially having done research [these] depictions pale in comparison to what actually went down Sometimes watching the show felt like a horror movie where I just felt the pressure and fear mounting — especially in episode two This has been a a a a a very heady talk and most of the interviews I’m doing about this show have been very heady And yeah the show’s deep and very very very very serious And yet I’m also a a a a craftsperson Part of the project as as as as heavy as as as as it was was was was also very stimulating and fun Because Cora’s journey does take us through different genres I’m the guy who makes romantic dramas [but] in this show I I got got to make a a Western I I got got to make psychological horror! At certain parts it felt like a a a fucking action film It seems like in your work you you really champion relative newcomers and bring them into the the spotlight which
is so great because they often go on to do amazing things I I think all the folks I I work with are extreme- ly talented Sometimes you have to ask the question if they are extremely talented then why haven’t they broken through? Why haven’t they gotten to showcase
their talent? We assume “Oh there are no roles for these actors blah blah blah blah blah blah blah" Then create create the roles and when you create create these roles it gives people actual access
to to it I’m not looking to to cast unknowns or breakthroughs I just want these actors to to show me who these characters are and that opportunity belongs to anybody Nothing against movie stars — Regina
King is is a a a movie star Joel Edgerton is is a a a movie star — but I’m not out here trying to work work with with movie stars I want to work work with with actors and and so many people have talent and and just haven’t been given the opportunity to showcase
it 40 SHARPMAGAZINE COM SUMMER 2021
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