The time is finally here! Real television has returned to our screens. Industry, HBO’s finance drama following a group of young bankers dealing with sex, drugs, and more money than most of us will see in our lives, premiered its third season on August 11th.
On Wednesday, January 10, 2024, Netflix’s THE KITCHEN held a special screening in New York at The Roxy Cinema.
The screening was followed by a conversation with co-director Daniel Kaluuya and lead star Kane Robinson and was moderated by Jasmine Simpkins from Hip Hollywood. Other attendees included Dave East, Maino, Brian “B Dot” Miller, and Elliott Wilson.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 10: (L-R) Kane Robinson, Daniel Kaluuya and Kela Walker speak onstage during a special screening of ‘The Kitchen’ hosted by Daniel Kaluuya and Kane Robinson at The Roxy Hotel on January 10, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for NETFLIX)
For his directorial debut, Daniel Kaluuya and co-writer Joe Murtagh decided to tell a story set in dystopian London about Izi (Kane Robinson) a member of a community called The Kitchen. The Kitchen is one of the last social housing neighborhoods remaining where the residents refuse to leave despite the constant threat of being forcibly moved. Unlike many of his neighbors, Izi can’t wait to leave and has plans to move to a different neighborhood and leave behind his past. His plans are interrupted, however, when he one day meets 12-year-old Benji (Jedaiah Bannerman) who is looking for family and connection.
Despite his reluctance, tough and brooding Izi forms a bond with sweet, idealistic Benji as the days count down to Izi’s plans to leave The Kitchen. Their relationship is tested by raids on their neighborhood, Benji’s friendship with a local group of kids, and Izi’s desire to remain isolated. It all culminates in an ending that everyone is surely going to be talking about.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 10: L-R) Kane Robinson and Daniel Kaluuya speak onstage during a special screening of ‘The Kitchen’ hosted by Daniel Kaluuya and Kane Robinson at The Roxy Hotel on January 10, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for NETFLIX)
The Kitchen is a strong debut for Kaluuya and feature debut for co-director Kibwe Tavares. It’s filled with exciting world-building that mixes current influences that audiences can immediately recognize, a soundtrack that infuses all the genres that represent London, and performances that connect to audiences. Soccer (or football to some) fans will be delighted by the appearance of Premier League legend Ian Wright who plays the role of “Lord Kitchener”, a selector who runs the radio station in The Kitchen and gives voice to the community’s resistance. When I asked Kaluuya how he managed to get the football icon in the film, he simply said, “He auditioned.” Of course, fans of another popular Netflix title, Top Boy, will enjoy seeing Kane Robinson in this new role. He portrays the stoicism and detached nature of Izi with ease but knows when to pull back and convey Izi’s softer side, showing a depth to his character that helps audiences understand his sometimes frustrating motivations.
However, the star of the show and the heart of the film is Jedaiah Bannerman whose emotional, yet joyful performance as Benji, proves he’s a natural. During the Q&A, Kaluuya and Robinson spoke about the young actor’s performance and why he was chosen for the role.
Kaluuya: His aunt told him that there was an audition and told him ‘You should go up for it’. He sent in a tape and he was the best kid. It was so interesting because he’s the one that hadn’t done anything, and acted before, and he just had it. He just still had himself. What I was really surprised by and grateful for was how much depth he had emotionally and what he could just tap into. He already knew about emotional memory. I learned that at sixth form, but he just knew that. He has a high level of empathy for a 13-year-old. It was really impressive to see him work and to see what he gave to us.
Robinson: It’s just a true performance. A lot of actors that have been trained in that way, they end up acting how actors act. They’re doing performances that they’ve seen before on TV rather than- I have no references, everything is just instinct. It’s like rappers. Some rappers act like how rappers act. It’s things that they’ve heard before just through growing up in this field. When you get someone who is completely fresh it’s like- there’s no blueprint. They’re rolling on complete instinct. I think that’s partly why his performance is so beautiful.
The Kitchen is a dystopian sci-fi thriller set against the backdrop of London made in the vision of its directors. It’s a story about community, family, resistance, faith, fear, trauma, and above all love; both for the people that touch your life and for the places you come from. The Kitchen has a lot to say about the relationships we form with the people around us and the importance of connection, especially in a world where the systems that prevail would rather we be isolated and remain individualistic. And that ending… you’ll just have to watch the film to see what it is.
The Kitchen begins streaming on Netflix starting January 19th.
While the return to the stage post-pandemic has been occurring for some time now, my first experience in a theatre in years took place a few weeks ago. And what an outstanding return to the theatre it was…
The 20th-anniversary production of Susan Lori-Parks’ Pulitzer-winning play, “Topdog/Underdog” premiered at the John Golden Theater on October 20th. Lori-Parks is one of America’s foremost playwrights, also known for “Venus” and her directorial work on films Native Son and The United States vs. Billie Holiday. Her play, Topdog/Underdog follows the story of older Brother Lincoln and younger brother, Booth in “a darkly comic fable of brotherly love and family identity. [The brothers’] names [are] given to them as a joke by their father. Haunted by the past and their obsession with the street con game, three-card monte, the brothers come to learn the true nature of their history.”
Upon entering the theatre, the audience is guided to their seats by a playlist of hip-hop/rap songs. One that sticks in my head still is Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright”, the words to which I mouthed as I made my way to the lower-level bathrooms. The songs set the perfect stage (pun intended) for the magic that ensues for the following two hours or so.
The show begins with Booth, played by Emmy-winner Yahya Abdul Mateen II (Watchmen, Candyman, The Matrix: Resurrections) alone in the apartment pretending to hustle people at three-card monte. He’s shortly joined by Lincoln played by Tony-nominee Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton, In the Heights, 24: Legacy) dressed as, you guessed it, Abraham Lincoln. The brothers get into discussions about their lives, childhood, financial struggles, womanly woes, and sibling rivalry in moments that are equally hilarious, poignant, and sometimes devastating. Hawkins’ performance is absolutely electric. I found myself both completely entranced by him, believing him to be Lincoln and marveling at the fact that I was witnessing an actor completely in his element. He reaches depths and sadness within that character that pin the audience to their seat, breathless and emotional. One of my favorite moments of his performance in Act One includes a beautiful moment where Hawkins serenades the crowd with an offhand blues song. And man, can that guy sing. Where Hawkins brings the emotional gravity of Lori-Parks’ work, Mateen brings the more comedic moments. As the cocky and entitled, yet deeply wounded younger brother, Lincoln, Mateen uses his ineffable charm to make such a difficult character personable. His syrupy-smooth delivery of such sharp and biting dialogue lends a softness to Lincoln, who so often likes to portray himself as hard. His and Hawkins’ chemistry as adult brothers is felt from the moment they both take the stage, to the haunting final scene.
To avoid “spoilers”, I’ll refrain from telling you exactly how the show ends (although if a story is 20 years old, can telling you the end truly count as a spoiler?). With outstanding performances from both lead actors and dynamic direction from Tony-winning director Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun, American Son, The Wiz! Live) “Topdog/Underdog” shouldn’t be missed!
“Topdog/Underdog” is showing at the John Golden Theaterfrom now until January 15, 2023. Get your tickets before then!
Last Friday, I had the opportunity to attend a special advanced screening of Sony’s The Woman King hosted by Black Girls Rock!. The Woman King directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love and Basketball) and starring Viola Davis, John Boyega, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, Thuso Mbedu, and Hero Fiennes Tiffin, is “the remarkable story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a fierceness, unlike anything the world has ever seen. Inspired by true events, The Woman King follows the emotionally epic journey of General Nanisca (Oscar®-winner Viola Davis) as she trains the next generation of recruits and readies them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life.”
When guests arrived at the screening, which took place at the AMC Theatres on 34th Street, they were checked in and given special wristbands brandishing the hashtag #IAmAWomanKing. We were then guided upstairs to a lounge area. The lounge area had a photo booth station, operated by two photographers, that helped guests show off their best warrior poses. Once the cameras flashed, the photos were printed, and we were sent on our way to enjoy the rest of the lounge area. Around the photo booth, were some stills of the screen. One of General Nanisca (Davis) and King Ghezo (Boyega) overlooking their village, one of Izogie (Lynch) staring off into the distance, and another of the Agojie walking into battle, led by General Nanisca.
Guests of the Black Girls Rock! screening were also treated to an array of delicious appetizers, free popcorn and soda, and free drinks. You could enjoy all of these while mingling with the lovely and friendly cater waiters and other guests of the screening. On our way into the theatre, we were treated to a red-carpet experience where photographers were at the ready to take pictures of us posing with the backdrop of the film’s poster. There was a short introduction from Black Girls Rock! Founder Beverly Bond and a guest speaker helped set the tone for what I found to be an enjoyable film.
The Woman King premieres in theatres September 16th.
It’s been two years and it’s a new dawn at Pierpoint and Co. There’s been a global pandemic and our graduates are no longer new but are still struggling to make their way in the competitive world of banking and investments. Industry, Succession’s more serious younger cousin and companion show of sorts, comes back to our screens today and we couldn’t be more excited. The show, written and created by Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, is a sexy and edgy, yet realistic look at classism and power dynamics in the workplace. This season Harper (Myha’la Herrold), Yasmin (Marisa Abela), Rob (Harry Lawtey), and Gus (David Jonsson) are back and facing new challenges and old distractions as they grapple with where their careers are headed now that they have permanent positions at Pierpoint. We also meet new characters, Celeste (Katrine de Candole), Venetia (Indy Lewis), and Danny (Alex Akpobome), and are reacquainted with familiar faces like Eric (Ken Leung), Felim (Andrew Buchan), and Rishi (Sagar Radia). What ensues this season is more of the twisted relationships we hated to love and the backstabbing in business we loved to hate.
I got the opportunity to speak with the main cast members Myha’la, Marisa, David, and Harry and we spoke about new hair choices, the show’s relationship with drugs, being a woman in a male-dominated field, and what it means to earn your spot versus being given it. Watch the full SPOILER FREE interview on YouTube.
Industry premieres August 1st at 9 pm on HBO and HBO Max. New episodes release each week.
Two years have passed, but tonight we are finally getting a new season of HBO’s Industry. The show, created and written by Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, followed a group of young graduates as they vied for a spot at a prestigious bank in London, Pierpont. Much like its sister show, Succession, Industry deals with business, sex, money, drugs, and everything that comes with the territory at working at a major company. This season, the show has expanded to include a new cast of characters, to join our main cast, who are no longer graduates, but full-time employees at Pierpoint. We meet Celeste (Katrine de Candole) one of the show’s few female execs who takes a liking to Yasmin, Venetia (Indy Lewis) a new graduate at Pierpoint not afraid to challenge the status quo, and Danny aka DVD (Alex Akpobome), an employee from the New York office here to make changes at Pierpoint London, although no one really understands his true intentions.
I got the opportunity to speak with newcomers Katrine, Indy, and Alex, as well as creators Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, and writing executive producer Jami O’Brien ahead of the premiere and they gave me the dish on how these new characters are shaking things up, what it was like to join the cast this season, what to make of the dynamic between Harper and Eric, and what it means to earn your spot versus being given it. Watch the full SPOILER FREE interview on YouTube.
Industry premieres August 1st at 9 pm on HBO and HBO Max. New episodes release each week.
Beba tells the story of Rebeca Huntt through the eyes of Rebeca Huntt.
This past Wednesday, the Tribeca Film Festival hosted the Tribeca X event, co-sponsored by Roku, at the Indeed Theater at Spring Studios.
Netflix, a streaming platform once best known for its original series, is slowly becoming an immense library of documentaries.
Following the success of the first season, Hillman Grad Productions and Indeed partnered up again to launch Season Two of their Rising Voices filmmaker initiative at Tribeca Film Festival.
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