Actor Mamoudou Athie and director Prentice Penny are as obsessed with Tiger King as you.
Not every black story on screen has to be about black trauma.
Some are about becoming wine experts.
Netflix
PRENTICE PENNY: I wasnt a wine drinker before I wrote this movie.
The idea came when I was in Paris for a wedding.
Id never been to Europe.
I thought that if I was ever gonna understand wine, itd be in Paris.
He made it not intimidating to learn about wine.
I needed a scene that made the audience understand wine the way that guy made me understand it.
Look, the movie is about people of color, so what artists would go with what wine?
And I also needed to write-in artists we knew would still be around I wrote this script in 2015!
How did you decide what music would go into this film?
Also, when you typically see a wine movie, youre gonna [hear] classical music.
Thats like syrup on a Pop Tart.
I wanted something fresh, interesting, something to cut against it.
This is a black man living in this world.
When hes doing it, hes listening to hip-hop.
The salty and the sweet.
And theres the history of Stax Records, Sun Records, in Memphis.
And conversely, when Elijah went to Paris, I only wanted French hip-hop playing.
Emotionally the character is opening himself up, so thats what hes hearing.
What did you want this movie to be and whatdidntyou want it to be?
We have our issues and our own small stories.
Because those movies are about the human condition and not just about trauma.
People have other families issues besides race its not like You looked at me funnybecause of slavery.
It feels like our movies have to be about the worst possible thing to be considered for an Oscar.
We just need more movies about us being human.
When race is involved, you immediately have to go to caricatures of things.
Those stories are important but were also nuanced as people.
Thats what I was trying to show, these two black men with their issues.
A lot of times with movies about black families, the father isnt around.
That wasnt my issue inmyfamily.
That wasnt a lot of my friends issues with their fathers.
You also never get to see black men’s vulnerabilities on screen.
Mamoudou, what were films that inspired you to join the acting world?
ATHIE:Life Is Beautifulleft a crazy impression on me as a kid.
I remember watching it over and over.
I took it to school and lost it!
Sorry dad!Gladiator!
I remember wondering where I was in all this.
Black actors didnt have opportunities to play wonderful nuanced characters.
They existed but very few and far between.
But I will tell you:Do the Right Thing.
I remember watching it, I was so bro-o-oke.
It was hot as hell.
The fan fell off my bed and the propellers broke.
And then I turned onDo the Right Thing.
I felt like I was in the movie.
I felt like I was Mookie.
Speaking of, Spike Lees next movie [Da 5 Bloods] will be on Netflix.
How have streamers specifically changed the way you watch movies?
PENNY: This makes me think of how grandfathers talk about how things were back in the day.
A lot of people remember a time when Netflix didnt exist.
But a kid today doesnt know a world without it.
But there are stories that dont have to be that way.
I dont think theyd makeThe Godfathertoday.
Whats also great is people of color to make movies without worrying about the box office.
I remember telling friends about black movies like, This is like a secret black meeting.
verify everyone go the first weekend or else theyre gonna pull it from the theater.
Thats a horrible feeling, to feel like races have to galvanize behind an opening weekend.
This is opening weekend for your film on Netflix.
What should people eat and drink along with watching this?
PENNY: Any food that makes you think Im not gonna worry about the calories.
Todays not the day.
PENNY: Fried chicken.
And I love champagne.
ATHIE: You love that salty champagne.
Drink all the champagne you want… at home.
PENNY: I dont have a choice because of the government, ha!
ATHIE: Im just gonna be Netflix and chillin.
What movies or TV shows are you binging besides?
ATHIE and PENNY: [Simultaneously]Tiger King.
