The Knockturnal sat down and to have a chat with Heidi Arnesen, who happens to be the producer of the Oscar-nominated short LGBTQ+ film ‘Night Ride’.
Power couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie wrote the film Somebody I Used to Know, which will be released globally on Amazon Prime Video on February 10th.
The Knockturnal got the chance to chat with Dominique Thorne, who plays Ironheart in the latest MCU Black Panther movie, about joining forces to provide the gentlest touch with Puffs to meet with the worldβs fiercest superheroes at Childrenβs Healthcare of Atlanta.
Β The opening night of Netlfix documentary: “Pamela, A Love Story” was this week at The Paris Theater.Β
Brett Smith is the writer and director of his latest film βFreedom Pathβ and The Knockturnal was able to sit down with him and talk about his work on the project.Β
The accolades continue. Last week de Armas was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress. Although thereβs already been controversy over the nominees in that category, none of that has revolved around de Armas, whose nomination was expected and well deservedΒ
A powerful and emotional historical drama that tells the true story of Jan Karski, a Polish resistance fighter during World War II, and his efforts to bring the atrocities of the war to the attention of the Western world. It is a powerful and impactful film that highlights the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought against tyranny during the war.
Hip Hop pioneer and Public Enemy founder Chuck D is helping to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip hop by joining with PBS and BBC Music for a docuseries called Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed The World. The four part docuseries examines not only the history of hip hop, but also how the music genre helped change the world.
2023 was an interesting year for the festival.Β
Kenya Barris stepped in front of a red curtain. Behind him, lights reflected the words βYou People.β With another spotlight on him, he discussed the new feature’s production. For him, this process started with cast member Jonah Hill’s collaboration. New York Cityβs glamorous Paris Theater screened his movie.
In an exclusive interview, Barris discussed his new romance film βYou Peopleβ (2023). Within the feature, a new couple and their families figure out contemporary love. Obstacles include generational differencesΒ and societal expectations. Netflix distributed the movie. Barris wrote, directed, and produced the comedic film
Interestingly, Barris revealed that he did not plan on writing a feature. However, screenwriting offered him a different opportunity Barris could write stories through his authentic perspective. He expanded, saying that he βloved the culture.β The screenplay expressed a love for Los Angeles.
The feature served as a LA time capsule. Barris compared it to films set in Manhattan. He looks into the audience and expresses jealousy for metropolitan character portrayals. Through his own characters and plot, he hoped to expose LAβs beauty and parallels Barris explained, βIβm in the hood, but Iβm twelve minutes from Hollywood.β The film becomes a product of collaboration.
Barris discussed his close relationship with Jonah Hill. He met Hill in the early 1990s. The pairβs early conversations pertained to the entertainment industry. Eventually, their dialogue shifted to projects. According to Barris, βhe liked the way we were talking.β The pair wanted to create a feature together. Of course, they had to decide on the genre.
According to Barris, Hill wanted to create a comedy. Barris wondered about the emotional versatility of a comedy. Then, he listed βthe best actors, today:β Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, and Robert Downey Jr. He said that todayβs top actors got their start from comedies. Barris agreed to a romantic-comedy feature.
He noted what the collaboration looked like. Both Barris and Hill brought each other drafts. Both brought aspects of their own cultural traditions. Hill made revisionary notes and added in jokes. In the interview, Barris said, βheβs brilliant when it comes to character stuff.β A pivotal production meeting used a similar structure.
The thirty-minute meeting turned into three hours. The pair discussed the dynamics of multicultural couples. Hill was once engaged to someone of a different cultural background. Within the interview, Barris noted that βthe people around them were unwelcoming.β Soon after, the partners decided on a story involving a biracial couple and their family. He expands, βwe wanted to do something like βlove overcomes all.β Such became ‘You People’s’ storyline.
Netflix wanted to add a cultural consultant to the team. Quickly, Barris rejected the idea. Both he and Hill grew up in the film’s respective cultures. Both experienced various cultural traditions. In the interview, Barris said, “there’s a difference between researching and witnessing it.” Both a rabbi and imam attended ‘You People’s’ production for religious accuracy.