You Want a Piece of May
Contents inside include: Q & A with "Judas and the Black Messiah" cast, Mental Health Awareness Month, and More
The early months of 2021 felt extremely overwhelming with familial issues by day and night; I was doing my writing and hustling for a publication that I’d eventually outgrew professionally. Nevertheless, back in March, I had an opportunity to partake in an American Cinematheque Zoom Q & A with moderator Jacqueline Coley and Judas and the Black Messiah cast.
Being able to escape and watch director Shaka King and stars Dominique Fishback and Daniel Kaluuya discuss such a film was a delight. Then I secretly realized how integral taking time for yourself is. Without realizing the behind-the-scenes extent of my question, I asked, “how difficult was the dichotomy of bringing Chairman Fred Hampton to life while also retelling such a traumatic story— when Black trauma is often exploited on film?”
Dominique Fishback: Being able to bring that level of authenticity from my spirit, my DNA, to this story is an honor from when something like this happens.
[The assassination scene coincidently filmed on the 50th anniversary of the tragedy.]
Daniel Kaluuya: It was just kind of like an understanding, ok, LaKeith was going through it. LaKeith was really going through it that day [of filming], you know what I’m saying? There was a take when, correct me if I’m wrong Shaka, but when I was off camera when I did the speech and give the money to Doc, uhm, I think I give it all to LaKeith when it was a close-up of LaKeith, I give it all to LaKeith— Daniel notices Shaka pointing and visually remembering. DK: Go on Shaka, what were you saying?
Shaka King: You definitely did. I told you to you to give it all to him because I knew he was going to melt down and he did. He melted down. He melted down that day in that moment, he was done.
Daniel Kaluuya: Shaka really supported us on that day, if I’m being real [chuckles]. I’m being real, it was hard to make decisions, it was hard to be a ‘shop’ as you’d want to be in a scene in general. Because you’re having these emotions that no other emotions in a scene, there just ‘you’ emotions and you still have to be a professional within it, you know. It was a day that I felt the most weight of what was happening. Even coming out of the trailer dressed as Chairman Fred on the 50th anniversary is a very surreal experience. LaKeith did all that he could to help me in those scenes and it wasn’t, that day wasn’t a joke.
Shaka King: You could hear, I remember when LaKeith gave you or rather offered to bring you a glass of Kool-Aid, you can hear how loud his heart ‘blowing up.’ It was ‘blowing up’ in our headphones, to hear his heartbeating insanely rapidly. He was really, I’ve never seen anything like that. From the morning that he, as he— I got a call from Sian Richards [Professional Makeup Artist] that morning, she said LaKeith is throwing up in his trailer already, you know, and that was the whole day, for that guy.
We often forget that actors feel the same overwhelming and debilitating tricks our minds play on us. Hearing about LaKeith’s experiencing after some of my terrible breakdowns and emotional toil due to holding my grief was striking to me to continue to seek help.
Attaining and maintaining an emotional balance isn’t always the easiest for someone navigating through the labyrinth of mental health. There are days where it’s all chill and carefree; then there are days where I’m cynical and immobilized with self-doubt. The most important, crucial thing I’ve learned through trial and many errors is that in the most heartbreaking moments where you think it’s perhaps end all and be all— well, it’s not. We’ve all experienced our fair share of extreme undeserved traumas, so I’m fortunate to continue making strides to get past them. Now, if only my anxiety and depression got that same memo, then it’d be genuinely over for those hoes.
⚡ Here’s a lightning round of the latest celebrity news because who isn’t nosy.
Multiple suspects were arrested and charged in the attempted armed robbery of Lady Gaga’s French Bulldogs. This unfortunate event seemed like a movie plot; hopefully, this doesn’t get spoken into existence.
Willow Smith opens up about being polyamorous. Good for her, meanwhile I can’t get a text back.
Elliot Page sat down with an emotional interview with Oprah since he first bravely told his story.
Florence Welch collaborated with composer Thomas Barlett, playwright Martyna Majok, and director Rebecca Frecknall on the new Broadway-bound ‘Great Gatsby’ Musical. I’m not one for musicals, but I am one for Florence and her Machine.
I’m always fascinated with Francesca Scorsese trolling her dad Martin on social media. Her latest addition.
Speculative, but imagine Bennifer 2.0 nearly twenty years after a whirlwind courtship that was inescapable back then. My condolences to ARod and his peculiar break-up shrine he decided to share.
J. Balvin stars in Amazon’s latest musical documentary. Image courtesy of Amazon Studios. Amazon Prime Video has released the latest trailer for their newest documentary focusing on award-winning Colombian reggaeton singer J Balvin returning to his hometown for a sold-out stadium solo concert. I had the pleasure of viewing this insightful artist documentary early; a review is coming soon.
As a kid who loved Marvel, this is awesome. As an adult, it is what it is. Image via Nerdist. When things over at the MCU were getting quiet, chaos erupts on social media with Marvel’s new teasers for their phase IV. Although the film teasers are crumbs, the hype makes it all the more real now that we see first glimpses of Eternals from Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao, fresh from her Academy Award win for Best Director and Picture for Nomadland.
Ewan McGregor as Halston. Photo Cr. ATSUSHI NISHIJIMA, image courtesy of Netflix©. Netflix released a trailer for the upcoming limited series, which stars Ewan McGregor as the titular American fashion designer set in New York City in the ‘70s/’80s. Halson premieres on May 14th via Netflix subscription.
As of late, I’ve been finishing my O.C. rewatch; season four is just so strenuous to finish. I’m also revisiting Gossip Girl, so basically, I’m enjoying reliving the dramas of my youth thanks to Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage's written/produced surreality. Although I’m curious about the reboot (premiering on HBO Max in July) because HBO will go where cable network, The CW, cannot. Until then, I’m enjoying my rewatch, currently on the Armie Hammer/Gabriel arc of season two— I couldn’t help but wonder, since the parallels continue beyond the screen, this further proves that there may be a glitch in the simulation.
Lastly, I’ve been MIA on all social media, primarily because of endo pain but also because I’m prepping for an upcoming interview. To combat my anxiety, I like to be overly prepared, another coping mechanism to offset the fluttering butterflies that terrorize my stomach and make me panic. In reality, it’s just nerves because I did my research, and I got this. You’ll see these interviews, and hopefully more, very soon.
With love, your noughties girl 💘
