WEBVTT - Ep22 - Barry Jenkins / "Moonlight" 0:00:22.640 --> 0:00:26.320 Welcome to Playback, a Variety podcast. I'm your host, Variety 0:00:26.320 --> 0:00:29.040 Awards editor Chris Tapley. On today's show, we talked about 0:00:29.080 --> 0:00:32.000 the SAG Awards, where Denzel Washington and Hidden Figures came 0:00:32.000 --> 0:00:34.519 away with surprise wins. A little bit later, I'll be 0:00:34.520 --> 0:00:37.680 talking to Moonlight writer and director Barry Jenkins. So stick 0:00:37.720 --> 0:00:51.839 around all right, everyone, here we are and it's post 0:00:51.920 --> 0:00:54.960 Screen Actors Guild Award. Hold on, I'm just finishing an email. 0:00:57.960 --> 0:01:01.800 It's very important, I promise you. Sorry on your time. Yes, 0:01:02.520 --> 0:01:05.399 because there's nothing more interesting than listening to a podcast 0:01:05.440 --> 0:01:09.720 of somebody sending an email. You can make it work. Yes, 0:01:10.120 --> 0:01:15.120 SAG Awards. So big surprise to me was less Denzel 0:01:15.200 --> 0:01:17.680 Washington than Hidden Figures. I know you had been mentioning 0:01:17.760 --> 0:01:20.920 Hidden Figures and it is an ensemble that's picked up awards, 0:01:21.000 --> 0:01:23.360 but I just it beat some heavy hitters. The only 0:01:23.360 --> 0:01:26.959 reason I didn't ultimately pick Hidden Figures as the ensemble 0:01:26.959 --> 0:01:29.520 winner was because I had heard they didn't send screeners, 0:01:29.840 --> 0:01:32.240 they only sent digital and I was like, well, Moonlight's 0:01:32.240 --> 0:01:34.520 been out for a while, they sent screeners. I went 0:01:34.560 --> 0:01:37.759 with Moonlight, but I mean everyone has seen Hidden Figures 0:01:38.000 --> 0:01:39.880 and it's got everyone, and I mean you've got Jim 0:01:39.920 --> 0:01:42.200 Parsons from The Big Bang Theory, You've got Kevin Costner, 0:01:42.440 --> 0:01:47.360 you know, aside Kirsten Duns. That's like it every somebody. 0:01:47.680 --> 0:01:51.080 That movie has everybody's favorite actor and it's somewhat true. Yeah, 0:01:51.280 --> 0:01:53.600 so not a surprise to me. Also not a surprise 0:01:53.640 --> 0:01:56.360 considering that they really kind of spread the wealth, you know, 0:01:56.440 --> 0:01:59.880 someone from Moonlight one, two people from Fences. Um, I 0:02:00.000 --> 0:02:01.880 it's the only thing that really went home empty was 0:02:01.920 --> 0:02:05.720 Manchester Chesse, which had more nominations than anyone. I can't 0:02:05.760 --> 0:02:08.400 remember how often that's happened where the movie nominated for 0:02:08.440 --> 0:02:12.120 A four has gone home without any award, but maybe 0:02:12.160 --> 0:02:15.000 it's happened frequently. I don't know that was surprising. But 0:02:16.120 --> 0:02:17.440 then at the same time, you're talking about like a 0:02:17.520 --> 0:02:22.040 hundred and fifty thousand people. So a big broad quote 0:02:22.080 --> 0:02:25.040 unquote populist performance like what Denzel gives, which I think 0:02:25.080 --> 0:02:27.040 is you know, right up there with Casey's. I'm not 0:02:27.080 --> 0:02:29.359 sure knocking it at all. Well, you and I have 0:02:29.480 --> 0:02:32.960 always thought that Denzel what could win this. Yeah, I 0:02:32.960 --> 0:02:35.560 mean from the beginning I thought he was going to 0:02:35.680 --> 0:02:39.919 just because and I'm talking Oscar now because Casey gives 0:02:39.919 --> 0:02:42.680 such an internal performance and that can be harder to 0:02:42.760 --> 0:02:45.280 get everyone to say, yeah, that's the best performance. But 0:02:45.320 --> 0:02:47.640 then Casey dominated to the extent that he did. And 0:02:47.680 --> 0:02:51.280 I know we all say critics are not Oscar voters 0:02:51.320 --> 0:02:53.919 or SAG voters, but when something like that happens, it's 0:02:53.960 --> 0:02:56.320 like wow. It's strange to me though, that even now 0:02:56.360 --> 0:02:58.720 people are still saying Denzel isn't the front runner, you know. 0:02:58.760 --> 0:03:00.560 I mean, Casey could still win. Don't get me wrong, 0:03:00.600 --> 0:03:02.960 I think Ryan Gosling could still win, but I mean 0:03:03.120 --> 0:03:05.200 we have to acknowledge that Denzel is the front runner 0:03:05.240 --> 0:03:08.440 with SAG, because if you're gonna call something a front 0:03:08.520 --> 0:03:10.799 runner based on, you know, the kinds of people who 0:03:10.800 --> 0:03:13.840 are voting, then sure, but that's the last award he's 0:03:13.880 --> 0:03:15.400 going to be able to win, right. He's not up 0:03:15.400 --> 0:03:18.960 for the BAFTA, which is very strange. BAFTA awards happened 0:03:19.000 --> 0:03:21.799 the day before the Oscar ballots go out. If Casey 0:03:21.840 --> 0:03:24.440 doesn't win BAFTA, that's a bad sign for him. But 0:03:24.480 --> 0:03:26.799 I think he's going to win DAFTA. Although again I'm 0:03:26.840 --> 0:03:31.840 telling you, I'm keep an eye around Goslin certainly Emma 0:03:31.880 --> 0:03:34.000 Stone obviously one. Yes, that was. I think it was 0:03:34.040 --> 0:03:36.240 a very tight race between her Natalie Portman because a 0:03:36.280 --> 0:03:40.120 lot of SAG actors really love Natalie's performance. But yeah, 0:03:40.160 --> 0:03:42.200 I think I think Emma has this sewn up at 0:03:42.240 --> 0:03:45.120 this point, and in lieu of a an ensemble nomination 0:03:45.240 --> 0:03:48.600 for the film, yes, which again I think people could 0:03:48.960 --> 0:03:51.280 put too much on. I don't think it's I don't 0:03:51.280 --> 0:03:53.320 know if people really vote that way. Like people will 0:03:53.320 --> 0:03:55.640 say things like, you know, Denzel one, because he'd never 0:03:55.680 --> 0:03:58.000 won a SAG Award before, and I was like, most 0:03:58.040 --> 0:04:00.280 people vote for the person they want to out for, 0:04:00.720 --> 0:04:03.120 and they don't like parse out things. I always think 0:04:03.160 --> 0:04:06.280 of Birdman, like everybody said, well it won't win, give 0:04:06.280 --> 0:04:09.240 screenplay to Boyhood, or they'll give director to Boyhood. No 0:04:09.400 --> 0:04:12.400 Birdman one pictures start checking off movies. They're just like 0:04:12.520 --> 0:04:15.360 chick Chick, Chick chick. Which is why Ryan is a possibility, 0:04:15.600 --> 0:04:18.440 which is why you know, I don't quite get the 0:04:18.560 --> 0:04:21.279 urge to assume La La Land is not going to 0:04:21.320 --> 0:04:25.040 win screenplay, which we've talked about. That's ridiculous, Like why 0:04:25.040 --> 0:04:28.200 would it not. It could win all top five. I 0:04:28.200 --> 0:04:30.000 guess the first movie to do that. In Silence of 0:04:30.000 --> 0:04:32.400 the Lambs, there's only three that have done it. It 0:04:32.480 --> 0:04:35.520 happened one night, and what's the other one's of course 0:04:35.640 --> 0:04:37.679 only three. Yeah, it's kind of one of those Oscar 0:04:37.760 --> 0:04:39.840 stats that ever all the Oscar hounds, I feel like 0:04:39.960 --> 0:04:42.320 we're going to happen again. It could happen. Yeah, Well, 0:04:42.360 --> 0:04:46.360 we were due for a record tying nomination slate, which 0:04:46.400 --> 0:04:49.479 we got out of the fourteen nominations, and we could 0:04:49.520 --> 0:04:51.680 be due for a record tying win slate. I mean, 0:04:51.720 --> 0:04:53.400 I still think that that's a movie that can win 0:04:53.400 --> 0:04:57.440 eleven Oscars because it doesn't have competition throughout these fields, 0:04:57.440 --> 0:05:01.000 and who were I don't see them pick like Allied 0:05:01.120 --> 0:05:04.640 for costumes or Fantastic Beasts for production design or something 0:05:04.720 --> 0:05:07.920 like maybe a rival can grab something like production design, 0:05:08.000 --> 0:05:11.480 but I don't think so. Like I just think, especially 0:05:11.480 --> 0:05:13.559 with the expressionistic elements at the end of this film 0:05:13.600 --> 0:05:15.560 while I'll end, and the way that sets it put together, 0:05:15.600 --> 0:05:17.920 and I just see them checking it off pretty much 0:05:17.960 --> 0:05:20.520 down the line. And then maybe the two songs can 0:05:21.120 --> 0:05:23.080 cancel each other out or something. Yeah, but even I 0:05:23.120 --> 0:05:25.640 don't think that's happening. I think it's winning song too, 0:05:25.839 --> 0:05:28.800 you think it's winning sound editing that I don't know. 0:05:28.920 --> 0:05:31.640 I mean, I don't know. Do musicals usually win in 0:05:31.680 --> 0:05:35.039 that category never get nominates, So it's like an uncharted territory. 0:05:35.160 --> 0:05:39.200 So who knows? Well, uh at the SAG Awards, Mahrschel 0:05:39.279 --> 0:05:44.720 Ali just hershela. We need like a theme whenever we 0:05:44.800 --> 0:05:48.800 say Mihrschel's name to just talk. Right before he wont, 0:05:48.839 --> 0:05:50.599 I was like, if he wins, watch out for the speech. 0:05:50.800 --> 0:05:53.560 And that speech brought the house down in his way. 0:05:53.640 --> 0:05:57.039 I mean, he's such a quiet, like just soulful good 0:05:57.440 --> 0:06:01.599 soul was a great word. He's just humble and kind, gracious. Yeah, 0:06:01.839 --> 0:06:05.520 and looked really good and he does and he spoke 0:06:05.600 --> 0:06:09.560 directly to something without really bringing it up. Yeah, you know, 0:06:09.640 --> 0:06:11.680 I mean, I I just it was a very political night, 0:06:12.520 --> 0:06:16.120 and there were there were explosions regarding that, you know, 0:06:16.279 --> 0:06:20.360 like from Julia Lee Dreyfuss or you know, more pointed 0:06:20.400 --> 0:06:22.840 from the Oranges it's a new black cast and then 0:06:22.960 --> 0:06:27.560 me Herschel I gave a more personalized kind of addressing 0:06:27.560 --> 0:06:30.719 of that situation, which I thought was very interesting. It 0:06:30.800 --> 0:06:36.800 was very people were very active on the red carpet things. Well, yeah, um, 0:06:36.839 --> 0:06:38.800 I mean I don't think everything everything I did on 0:06:38.839 --> 0:06:41.440 the Red Carpet got put online, but enough of it 0:06:41.480 --> 0:06:44.120 for you to get a sense of it. Yeah, and 0:06:44.320 --> 0:06:46.880 uh yeah, people people do not hold back, you know. 0:06:46.960 --> 0:06:50.200 Brian Craston was very diplomatic, and he translated over to 0:06:50.200 --> 0:06:52.320 his speech where he was like, you know, I'm really 0:06:52.920 --> 0:06:54.920 He didn't say he was rooting for Trump, but he's like, 0:06:55.360 --> 0:06:58.679 you know, I want this to work because we're screwed otherwise. 0:06:58.680 --> 0:07:03.760 I don't think anyone wishes for the failure that he's 0:07:04.160 --> 0:07:09.159 charging towards charging towards I think yeah. And also Cranston 0:07:09.200 --> 0:07:10.960 had a lot to say about Trump last year too, 0:07:10.960 --> 0:07:14.360 when he was yeah, like he he had, of course, 0:07:14.400 --> 0:07:17.000 if we're asking him about it, a lot, and uh, 0:07:17.200 --> 0:07:18.920 you know, he probably got tired of talking about it, 0:07:18.960 --> 0:07:21.239 so now he's just yeah, he sees that question coming. 0:07:21.480 --> 0:07:23.160 Is like I told you that, Um, I finally got 0:07:23.160 --> 0:07:25.280 to meet John to Tuo on the Red Carpet and 0:07:25.320 --> 0:07:29.200 he was having none of my nonsense. No, he was. 0:07:29.280 --> 0:07:32.240 He was very nice, but you know, he's a serious actor. 0:07:32.280 --> 0:07:35.720 He probably isn't prone to sound bites. And uh, you 0:07:35.720 --> 0:07:37.920 know I was, I was you know, a little jokey 0:07:38.040 --> 0:07:39.559 and you know how you get on the red carpet. 0:07:39.560 --> 0:07:42.160 It's a very different type of interview that I'm sure 0:07:42.200 --> 0:07:44.680 he's used to. And he was just very He was 0:07:44.720 --> 0:07:47.520 funny because he was so serious, you know what. I'd like, 0:07:47.520 --> 0:07:49.080 try to talk to him about a foot x amount. 0:07:49.080 --> 0:07:51.160 He'd be like, well, it's a very serious problem. And 0:07:51.200 --> 0:07:52.760 I was like, I mean maybe he was. He could 0:07:52.760 --> 0:07:56.400 have been joking. He's a brilliant comic mind, so very dry. 0:07:56.440 --> 0:08:00.200 But um, that was a surprising category because but John 0:08:00.200 --> 0:08:03.400 Tatur and rizam Ed nominated against each other, might have 0:08:03.440 --> 0:08:08.120 canceled each other out. Sterling K. Brown nominated against Um 0:08:08.320 --> 0:08:11.040 Courtney Bevan, Yeah, might cancel each other out. And people 0:08:11.040 --> 0:08:15.880 love Brian Cranstjohn that's one Cranston Yeah, oh yeah, yeah 0:08:15.920 --> 0:08:18.680 for all the way. The Crown people are really fun 0:08:18.720 --> 0:08:20.800 to talk to about what they think of American polidays. 0:08:20.800 --> 0:08:23.880 I bet yes. I stopped Matt Smith and Claire Foy 0:08:23.960 --> 0:08:25.400 and I was like, so, how do how are we 0:08:25.400 --> 0:08:27.320 coming off to you guys over there? And they you 0:08:27.440 --> 0:08:29.080 got to see their faces. I think it's I think 0:08:29.080 --> 0:08:33.400 it's up on variety because they're like, not good guys. Well, look, 0:08:33.800 --> 0:08:38.280 they certainly had their moment a few months ago with Brexit, 0:08:38.400 --> 0:08:42.000 so exactly. Say, Guy Lodge on our staff was here 0:08:42.000 --> 0:08:44.600 over the weekend. We we caught up and U we 0:08:44.600 --> 0:08:46.920 were talking about that everybody. He said that over there, 0:08:46.920 --> 0:08:49.439 it's more like it's it's less like people are like, 0:08:49.480 --> 0:08:51.480 oh god, what's wrong with the Americans and what's wrong 0:08:51.520 --> 0:08:53.840 with the world. I mean, yeah, we see it about 0:08:53.880 --> 0:08:56.040 to happen with France too. I mean it's yeah, I 0:08:56.080 --> 0:08:59.080 should specify that, Matt and Claire, We're not saying America 0:08:59.120 --> 0:09:03.800 doesn't look good. They were just saying, you know, so 0:09:03.920 --> 0:09:09.080 to speak. G A obviously big shocker. Okay, tell me 0:09:09.120 --> 0:09:11.280 the truth. Did you pre write your story about La 0:09:11.400 --> 0:09:14.679 La land winning hours before it was announced? I had 0:09:14.720 --> 0:09:17.720 it ready to go. I had it ready to go. 0:09:18.520 --> 0:09:21.319 I did. I mean, because come on, and what he's 0:09:21.320 --> 0:09:23.560 got to win the d g A right, like I think, 0:09:23.600 --> 0:09:25.679 so unless it's Berry Jenkins at the end of that 0:09:25.760 --> 0:09:28.480 nine hour nine I'm sure he will win. And can 0:09:28.520 --> 0:09:31.360 I just use this opportunity to reiterate something I have 0:09:31.400 --> 0:09:33.520 to say every year, which is that ensemble does not 0:09:33.559 --> 0:09:37.679 equal picture and yes, hidden figures one ensemble I mean, hey, 0:09:37.720 --> 0:09:40.160 it could win Best Picture. I'm not ruling anything out, 0:09:40.520 --> 0:09:43.560 but don't think that because it one SAG ensemble. What 0:09:43.640 --> 0:09:47.439 it did was provided an opportunity that Tag nailed exactly 0:09:47.600 --> 0:09:49.719 and I could see it, you know, just like with 0:09:49.760 --> 0:09:52.720 the Golden Globes effect, like gathering some steam from voters 0:09:52.720 --> 0:09:55.199 saying I think I want to I wish Oscar voting 0:09:55.240 --> 0:09:57.680 was still open, and then maybe Taragi could have gotten 0:09:57.679 --> 0:10:00.920 a nomination the way Meryl's Globes speed truly sealed the 0:10:00.960 --> 0:10:05.400 deal for her. Yeah. Um. And also you know, one 0:10:05.400 --> 0:10:09.319 of my favorite SAG wins is a bird cage. Also 0:10:09.440 --> 0:10:13.520 to your point, not the Best Picture contender. But yeah, 0:10:13.559 --> 0:10:17.040 and so that's this weekend, DJs, this weekend and a 0:10:17.240 --> 0:10:20.800 s C. The cinematographers Santa Barbara Film Festivals gearing up 0:10:20.800 --> 0:10:24.280 and they bring all the nominees in to have tributes 0:10:24.320 --> 0:10:26.880 and whatnot. So that'll be happening. Did you go to 0:10:27.000 --> 0:10:30.080 the Editing Awards? I did not go to the ACE Awards. 0:10:30.200 --> 0:10:34.560 Um arrival one there, yes, which you have said, you 0:10:34.559 --> 0:10:37.360 know you think I think, yeah, just the structure, you know, 0:10:37.400 --> 0:10:40.080 I mean, it's the editing is on display, so I 0:10:40.120 --> 0:10:43.439 could see that happening. But again, you have to be 0:10:44.800 --> 0:10:46.680 and it's right down the line on that movie. So 0:10:48.280 --> 0:10:51.080 the backlash is naturally on schedule with La La Land. 0:10:51.240 --> 0:10:56.120 Here it is, you know, the jazz. The dubious angles 0:10:56.160 --> 0:10:58.760 regarding how it handles jazz has been have been flying 0:10:58.800 --> 0:11:01.520 around and I'm just like, what so threatening about this movie? 0:11:03.080 --> 0:11:05.160 How can I you know, if it's not your thing, 0:11:05.200 --> 0:11:07.880 that's fine. But people who have decided they hate this movie, 0:11:08.400 --> 0:11:13.000 I'm like, how can you hate something that is about joy? 0:11:13.720 --> 0:11:17.000 You know, we're at this We've reached what it is 0:11:17.320 --> 0:11:21.760 I think is we've reached the spot where in a 0:11:21.880 --> 0:11:26.720 year of such diversity an inclusion represented in the nominations, 0:11:26.920 --> 0:11:29.559 that a movie like La La Land Winning, which is 0:11:29.600 --> 0:11:34.680 granted about white people with champagne problems. Uh, somehow flies 0:11:34.679 --> 0:11:38.040 in the face of that. And I don't know, I 0:11:38.080 --> 0:11:40.360 have a hard time. Wait, is an Ma Stone half Hawaiian? 0:11:40.600 --> 0:11:43.880 Oh No, that was a different movie. Sorry, oh man 0:11:43.920 --> 0:11:47.200 deep cut Hey, she made fun of it herself on 0:11:47.200 --> 0:11:49.120 Saturday Live. You've got to give her credit for that. 0:11:49.440 --> 0:11:51.240 Speaking of did you see the Saturday Night Live sketch? 0:11:51.360 --> 0:11:54.359 Was it this weekend or last weekend? Disease I'm sorry. 0:11:54.800 --> 0:11:56.360 I think we might have already talked. We did talk 0:11:56.360 --> 0:12:00.760 about that, yeah, which was a very affectionate yeah. Ready, yeah, 0:12:01.080 --> 0:12:03.800 But that that is where I think this backlash is 0:12:03.840 --> 0:12:06.920 coming from, Like it is a travesty if a movie 0:12:07.000 --> 0:12:09.560 like Moonlight doesn't win, or if a movie like Hidden Figures, 0:12:09.559 --> 0:12:13.040 which is about you know, dispelling our divisions and for 0:12:13.120 --> 0:12:16.640 the for a common good. Granted, Land has always been 0:12:16.880 --> 0:12:20.160 I'm totally previewing my column next week. Laoland has always 0:12:20.160 --> 0:12:24.480 been this effervescent thing. It's not important capital I like 0:12:24.880 --> 0:12:28.959 in that way. Um, And you know, someone said something like, 0:12:29.400 --> 0:12:32.319 if it wins, it's like while the world burned, Hollywood 0:12:32.320 --> 0:12:36.560 was singing and dance come on. That often happened where 0:12:36.600 --> 0:12:40.720 you turn to like a bit of escapism and you know, 0:12:40.920 --> 0:12:44.760 unsure times. But like, I don't know, I just hate it. 0:12:44.800 --> 0:12:47.400 Every year something has to be compounded like this, and 0:12:48.520 --> 0:12:51.280 I just think it's people caring about the oscars too much. Well, 0:12:51.320 --> 0:12:54.240 it's also interesting people bring their own baggage to it. 0:12:54.320 --> 0:12:56.240 I don't know if if we're allowed to get into 0:12:56.320 --> 0:12:58.079 spoilers here, but the movie has been out for a while, 0:12:58.320 --> 0:13:00.320 but so many people I talked to when you asked 0:13:00.360 --> 0:13:02.960 them about the ending. They read so much into certain 0:13:03.000 --> 0:13:06.040 things like who she ends up with, like they have 0:13:06.080 --> 0:13:08.920 a whole backstory. Me you can, I just say. I mean, 0:13:08.960 --> 0:13:10.959 if anyone hasn't seen La La Land, first of all, 0:13:11.000 --> 0:13:13.959 I'm shocked you're listening to this. Secondly, you know, she 0:13:14.160 --> 0:13:16.400 winds up with Tom Evert Scott, and there's some people 0:13:16.440 --> 0:13:19.439 who are like, she's trapped in a loveless marriage and 0:13:19.600 --> 0:13:21.319 you can see she's looking to get out and he's 0:13:21.320 --> 0:13:24.120 a bad guy. And I'm like, you don't cast Tom 0:13:24.120 --> 0:13:27.280 Everett Scott in a quick role like that to make 0:13:27.280 --> 0:13:29.960 people think he's a bad guy. Like this is you know, 0:13:30.040 --> 0:13:32.800 this is These are people who I learned long ago 0:13:32.960 --> 0:13:35.520 that because the relationship doesn't work out, it doesn't mean 0:13:35.520 --> 0:13:38.319 it's a failure. You know, I've I've felt from the beginning. 0:13:38.360 --> 0:13:41.079 I asked, I asked Damien and Emma this question at 0:13:41.840 --> 0:13:44.120 tell you right, And I was like, I think some 0:13:44.160 --> 0:13:48.200 people see this as a as a downer and and 0:13:48.320 --> 0:13:51.080 my view is these people came into each other's lives 0:13:51.080 --> 0:13:53.559 exactly when they needed to, got each other that next 0:13:53.600 --> 0:13:56.839 step in their life, and exited stage left. It's melancholy, 0:13:56.880 --> 0:13:59.800 but it's not sad. It's beautiful. Yeah that way. I mean, 0:13:59.800 --> 0:14:03.319 it's like I don't know and yeah, and I feel 0:14:03.360 --> 0:14:05.880 like she looks like she's very happy in her marriage 0:14:05.880 --> 0:14:08.240 with her child, and we don't know what's going on, 0:14:08.360 --> 0:14:11.439 what's going on, very happy for each other exactly, that's 0:14:11.480 --> 0:14:13.560 what's happening, and like it is. It is shocking to 0:14:13.600 --> 0:14:16.360 me how some people are just like they've created this 0:14:16.440 --> 0:14:19.360 whole other scenario where she's sold out for stardom and 0:14:19.400 --> 0:14:21.280 now she's trapped in a loveless marriage. And I'm like, 0:14:21.320 --> 0:14:24.520 please go to therapy. To your point about baggage, they're 0:14:24.520 --> 0:14:28.200 bringing something into that. Well, this week we've got Barry Jenkins. 0:14:28.240 --> 0:14:31.640 Wonderful Barry Jenkins. I have not talked to this man 0:14:31.720 --> 0:14:35.080 all year, really, not even in passing on Twitter. You've 0:14:35.080 --> 0:14:37.960 talked to on Twitter. That's it. And uh, you know, 0:14:38.200 --> 0:14:41.600 partly by design, because I just I wanted the right moment, 0:14:41.640 --> 0:14:44.160 and it feels like the right moment. He's so wonderful. 0:14:45.240 --> 0:14:46.560 I'll tell you a funny thing that happened on the 0:14:46.640 --> 0:14:50.080 Red Carpet. Um I met Jaden and Alex, the two 0:14:50.120 --> 0:14:53.680 young boys who play Um Kevin and Shyrone in the 0:14:53.680 --> 0:14:56.680 first part of Moonlight, and I asked Alex Hibbert. I 0:14:56.760 --> 0:14:59.000 was like, so you know, based on this movie, you're 0:14:59.000 --> 0:15:01.160 going to grow up to look like Trevante Rhodes. How 0:15:01.160 --> 0:15:03.280 do you feel about that? And he said, that's great, man, 0:15:03.280 --> 0:15:07.080 because I'm getting all the girls totally. He's right at 0:15:07.080 --> 0:15:10.040 the gym. Here's a funny story about Trevante. Actually at 0:15:10.040 --> 0:15:14.040 the Independent Spirit brunch. Uh, I went to the bathroom 0:15:14.080 --> 0:15:16.320 and he was washing his hands and I was like, 0:15:16.320 --> 0:15:18.840 hey man, great work in the movie. He's like, thanks man. 0:15:18.840 --> 0:15:21.880 He goes out. He's as he's leaving, I go Predator. 0:15:22.360 --> 0:15:26.840 He goes Predator. You're gonna see baby Shane Black. Yes, 0:15:27.840 --> 0:15:30.280 So can I follow that up with one more Trevante story? 0:15:30.600 --> 0:15:32.440 Right after that, he came to the bath to tea party, 0:15:32.920 --> 0:15:34.880 and I think our column had come out that week 0:15:34.880 --> 0:15:37.440 where we had said, like, people, you should consider who 0:15:37.480 --> 0:15:41.320 haven't you know been in the Oscar conversation? And I had, 0:15:41.400 --> 0:15:43.400 you know, prefaced it by saying, of course my Herschelali 0:15:43.520 --> 0:15:46.800 is going to win, but you should not overlook Trevante Rhodes. 0:15:47.200 --> 0:15:49.240 So I saw him and I was going to introduce 0:15:49.280 --> 0:15:51.520 myself to him, and he walks up to me and says, 0:15:51.960 --> 0:15:55.520 I know who you are, like completely left the ability 0:15:55.560 --> 0:15:59.440 to speak. I was like, you know who I am? 0:15:59.560 --> 0:16:04.640 And amazing and he's cool. He's the best, the whole 0:16:04.720 --> 0:16:07.920 this whole crew is cool. Anyway. I have a really 0:16:07.920 --> 0:16:36.240 good chat with Barry. So right after this, who is 0:16:36.320 --> 0:16:49.520 your shal home on time? So notmember trying to you 0:16:49.600 --> 0:16:54.320 know what all songs. At some point you got to 0:16:54.360 --> 0:16:57.400 decide for yourself who you don't. Can't let nobody make 0:16:57.440 --> 0:17:03.680 that decision. H you are? Tell him why the other 0:17:03.680 --> 0:17:11.240 boys keep your gass all the time? Who's found? I've 0:17:11.320 --> 0:17:22.960 seen the need for the last time I saw you 0:17:23.400 --> 0:17:29.520 only I'm the only How about no? No, no to whom? 0:17:29.760 --> 0:17:38.119 Huh to you? Who is your I ain't seeing you 0:17:38.160 --> 0:17:45.760 in like a decade. It's not what I expect? What 0:17:45.880 --> 0:17:54.399 is your respect? Welcome back everyone, I'm here with the 0:17:54.400 --> 0:17:57.760 writer director of Moonlight, Barry Jenkins. Barry, thanks for doing 0:17:57.800 --> 0:17:59.600 the show man, Thanks for having me. As I was 0:17:59.600 --> 0:18:01.600 saying before, r Hannah, I've kind of kept my distance 0:18:01.640 --> 0:18:06.120 a bit this year out of reverence because you guys 0:18:06.400 --> 0:18:08.200 have been hit with a lot of press on this movie, 0:18:08.280 --> 0:18:10.159 like it's it's been fantastic to see, but I just 0:18:10.160 --> 0:18:12.600 didn't want to get lost in the clutter. Yeah. Yeah, 0:18:12.600 --> 0:18:14.600 it's been Uh, it's been a lot, you know, which 0:18:14.640 --> 0:18:16.520 which is great. You know that. I think there's there's 0:18:16.560 --> 0:18:18.639 no way the voice of this film would have carried 0:18:18.720 --> 0:18:21.600 us far um as it did without you know, critics 0:18:21.640 --> 0:18:24.440 and the press and things like that. But it's interesting though, 0:18:24.520 --> 0:18:27.240 when when the Spirit Award nominations came out, When any 0:18:27.240 --> 0:18:29.120 nominations come out, I always realized I'm like the only 0:18:29.160 --> 0:18:31.520 director who's on Twitter. Um, So, so it does take 0:18:31.560 --> 0:18:34.200 an effort to maintain a distance because you're pretty active 0:18:34.240 --> 0:18:36.440 on Twitter. I guess we both are. Well. Now we've 0:18:36.480 --> 0:18:38.440 we've come together of our shared love of Deep Water 0:18:38.480 --> 0:18:43.320 Horizon on Twitter, We've talked about fantastic film, and uh, 0:18:43.359 --> 0:18:45.320 now we finally can talk about Moonlight. We're sitting across 0:18:45.320 --> 0:18:47.040 from each other for the first time this year. So again, 0:18:47.040 --> 0:18:49.920 thank you for coming up. Um. I want to start 0:18:49.920 --> 0:18:52.520 by talking about to tell you right experience, because it's 0:18:52.720 --> 0:18:54.800 obviously very special to you, and I'm sure you've talked 0:18:54.840 --> 0:18:57.440 about this a lot this year, but you know you've 0:18:57.720 --> 0:18:59.639 I've been going for seven or eight years. I know 0:18:59.680 --> 0:19:03.080 you're very well. You're always up there presenting the films 0:19:03.080 --> 0:19:05.440 and you've been programming there for a number of years, 0:19:05.920 --> 0:19:08.359 so this year must have been incredibly special to premiere 0:19:08.400 --> 0:19:11.640 the movie there. So tell me about that experience. Yeah, 0:19:11.800 --> 0:19:14.240 it was kind of like an out of body experience, 0:19:14.240 --> 0:19:16.960 you know, until we actually got there, it didn't seem like, 0:19:17.160 --> 0:19:19.199 UM like it was true. You know, I've been there 0:19:19.240 --> 0:19:21.200 since two thousand two. You know, it's a long time, 0:19:22.040 --> 0:19:24.679 uh to go, and you kind of get set and 0:19:24.720 --> 0:19:26.600 with the festival feels like what the festival is gonna 0:19:26.640 --> 0:19:29.119 be like? And and this year was was quite different because, 0:19:29.200 --> 0:19:32.480 as you said, I had a piece of work UM, 0:19:32.680 --> 0:19:35.159 and I think to to introduce the movie to the 0:19:35.200 --> 0:19:38.280 world UM in such a safe space to be really honest, 0:19:38.280 --> 0:19:39.960 you know, I think there were so many people there 0:19:40.000 --> 0:19:42.880 who were rooting for the film, you know, just people 0:19:42.880 --> 0:19:46.280 who have worked with UM that it was it was 0:19:46.440 --> 0:19:49.280 it was undoubtedly the best way UM to do it, 0:19:49.320 --> 0:19:51.200 and I think it kind of kind of teat everything 0:19:51.280 --> 0:19:53.560 up for the rest of the year. Yeah, definitely. I 0:19:53.600 --> 0:19:56.439 saw it at the second screening the afternoon after the 0:19:56.440 --> 0:19:59.520 premiere at the Galaxy. Yeah, that that was my favorite 0:19:59.520 --> 0:20:01.400 screening I've and tell you I have to be honest 0:20:01.400 --> 0:20:03.760 with you. Peter Seller set you up to fail. I know, 0:20:04.640 --> 0:20:07.719 I know. I was the theater director. It gave the 0:20:07.720 --> 0:20:12.120 most glowing, uh just preview of this film just right 0:20:12.160 --> 0:20:16.000 before setting it up, and I was mortified. I was like, 0:20:16.040 --> 0:20:19.320 this movie is not going to live up to what 0:20:19.400 --> 0:20:23.480 this guy just said. And it did. Let me lay 0:20:23.520 --> 0:20:26.200 that out there immediately. It did. But man, I was worried, 0:20:26.240 --> 0:20:28.720 I have to say, but it was. It was. It's 0:20:28.840 --> 0:20:30.919 a staggering piece of work from you. And I just 0:20:30.960 --> 0:20:33.040 want to start by buttering you up by saying, yes 0:20:33.119 --> 0:20:36.560 that it delivered on everything he said. And uh, that 0:20:36.600 --> 0:20:40.000 caught me by surprise. It was just such a breathless yeah, yeah, 0:20:40.040 --> 0:20:43.159 it was. You know. After that, it's like I was, 0:20:43.440 --> 0:20:45.560 you know, because you know it's, um it's a very 0:20:45.600 --> 0:20:48.720 intimate piece. It's a very very small piece in a 0:20:48.840 --> 0:20:51.959 in a certain way. UM. But I think what happens 0:20:52.119 --> 0:20:54.680 is the smallness of it, the specificity of it kind 0:20:54.680 --> 0:20:57.919 of takes you by surprise and and and being small 0:20:58.280 --> 0:21:00.359 and by which I should say specific could be comes 0:21:00.920 --> 0:21:03.080 this this larger thing for people, I believe, and I 0:21:03.160 --> 0:21:04.800 like for it to be like a sneak attack. You know, 0:21:04.880 --> 0:21:07.639 my favorite viewer as someone who walks in knowing nothing. 0:21:08.080 --> 0:21:09.840 So if someone tells you before you sit down to 0:21:09.880 --> 0:21:13.359 watch a movie, this movie is going to move mountains, 0:21:13.640 --> 0:21:15.919 you know you're like, no, it's not. You know you 0:21:15.960 --> 0:21:18.560 already go into a believing that it's not. But um, 0:21:18.600 --> 0:21:21.440 but you know people, uh, you know when the lights 0:21:21.440 --> 0:21:23.679 go down that they see the work for what it is. 0:21:23.800 --> 0:21:26.520 And so yeah, when when when he said it, I 0:21:26.560 --> 0:21:28.160 was standing off to the I think I came right 0:21:28.200 --> 0:21:30.960 on and I said immediately, now once you push off 0:21:31.040 --> 0:21:34.720 those things like like like out of sight, out of mind. 0:21:35.359 --> 0:21:38.760 But even Peter, you know, it came from a place 0:21:38.760 --> 0:21:40.720 of love. I think he had been moved by the 0:21:40.760 --> 0:21:44.240 movie as well. So, um, so I was fine with it. 0:21:44.280 --> 0:21:46.240 But yeah, I had the same thought in my head. 0:21:47.000 --> 0:21:48.800 The fact that the film was born there as well 0:21:48.840 --> 0:21:50.480