Director Joe Robert Cole’s film stars Ashton Sanders, Jeffrey Wright, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.
Landing in prison beside his father, J.D.
The film costars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II fromWatchmenand is written and directed by Joe Robert Cole.
Matt Kennedy/Netflix
“I think storytelling starts with empathy,” says Cole.
I wanted to really embrace the crime movie while staying true to that humanity."
Cole’s previous credits include cowriting the Marvel superhero blockbusterBlack Pantherwith directorRyan Coogler.
Matt Kennedy/Netflix
Read the pair’s discussion below.
RYAN COOGLER: So, how are you doing first of all?
JOE ROBERT COLE:Im hanging in, Im hanging in.
Im doing well, hunkered down in this time.
Yeah, I was blessed to have the opportunity to work with him.
So, for me, I’m hunkered down.
Yeah, same thing, here in the Bay Area, not far from where you shot the film.
You met some of my family when you were shooting.
Everybodys just shut in their place.
This is an intense time.
I think its actually being released at a time thats profound.
How do you feel bringing a movie like this out at this time?
Yeah, its interesting, man.
And I think the circumstances are exacerbated in underserved communities whenever theres stresses in the world.
It allows us to talk about health care and other issues that plague underserved communities.
So, yeah Im excited about it.
How did you wind up spending time in the Bay and what that as like for you?
And we shot across the street from people you know.
Just that idea of family and how amazing that is, the history of the city.
Also while I was there I saw the struggle.
It was a formative time for me and shaped who I am in a lot of ways.
It was an easy decision to want to set the film there.
So it was very interesting and very authentic in terms of the situation the kids find themselves in.
The film has a lot of layers to it.
But also systemic issues and the cyclical nature of those issues.
Do you want to talk about that?
Because I thought that was a really strong presence in the film.
I speak to some of it in the voiceover that we put together for the film.
Those specific issues have been around for generations.
Im sure youve had the opportunity to do a lot of things things in the industry.
That’s a good question.
Weve talked about this, right?
I view that as a gift because of the perspective those experiences gave me.
The film is violent and unflinching at times but theres also a level of hope there as well.
How important was that to you?
Im glad you say that.
The film is tough by design, it asks a lot of the audience.
What I didnt want to do, though, was create false hope.
I wanted to really embrace the crime movie genre while staying true to that humanity.
You need really strong actors to do that.
We saw some folks in some quite different roles.
I’m thinking about Jeffrey and Yahya particularly.
Yahya and I actually knew each other as kids.
Youre playing with time in the film.
It has a mystery element where you find out the motives over the course of the film.
A Prophet influenced me, I know youre a big fan of that movie.
Theres an Italian crime movie that I love calledSuburrathat was a big influence in terms of style.
Obviously,Boyz n the Hood,Menace II Society,Clockers.
Patty JenkinssMonsterwas also a film that I looked at.
I tried to look at a lot of things.
So excited for folks to see this movie.
And I cant wait to see you in person after the dust settles on this awful situation.
Im so sorry to hear about your collaborator.
You say he passed away two weeks ago?
Yeah, a couple of weeks ago.
He was a legendary hair stylist.
Hed been working for decades.
It was a big loss, man.
But I appreciate that and I appreciate you taking the time to chat with me.
All Day and a Nightarrives on Netflix May 1.
Exclusively watch the film’s trailer above.
