Outrageously hilarious, Little sends a positive reminder that children are our future!
Jordan Sanders [Regina Hall] is living her worst nightmare as she is magically transformed to a 13 year old version of herself. For the overbearing, sassy, domineering boss this unexpected mishap couldn’t have happened at a worse time. While little Sanders [Marsai Martin] struggles to adjust to life in her new, little body, she has to put her trust in her insecure assistant [Issa Rae] to save the day. Little will have you laughing from start to end as it reminds adults, to not forget the little kid in each of us. The Knockturnal had an exclusive interview with lead actress and the youngest producer in Hollywood’s history, Marsai Martin. Read below as Martin discusses the process of becoming an executive producer, growing up in the public eye and what she looks forward to in the near future.
The Knockturnal: Many people know you from your role as Diane in Blackish, so what were the major differences in filming a movie as opposed to a tv series?
Marsai Martin: The script takes a longer time and the whole process is more fragile to be honest. It’s a film so it does take a longer process. Also, it’s different because I am an EP (executive producer) on something for the first time so I got to experience the behind the scenes and also being in front of the camera at the same time too, so it was like a totally different adventure from Blackish.
The Knockturnal: What made you interested and want to produce this film?
Marsai Martin: I didn’t see it as being an EP is important, I saw it more as proving that I could do it because a lot of people underestimate kids like us and kind of stereotype who we are as a person because we’re just learning or just came out the womb or something and we don’t know anything. So, I feel like that’s how people see us so I just wanted to do something where I’m not just an EP on something, but I can create something that can be just as big as any other film. So, it was more like proving a point than actually getting a title.
The Knockturnal: What do you think is something that adults can learn from the younger generations?
Marsai Martin: I think just to listen to kids and be open minded to anything. I feel like adults make films that are for the wide space but not make it relatable which I think most people want to engage. I think that’s why most people want to be engaged with the film more because it is relatable. But I think they could just learn to talk to their kids whether they’re a parent or just want to get into the mind of a kid, just listen to us because even though we’re learning, we still know some things.
The Knockturnal: You get to play a little Jordan Sanders and she’s super sassy and funny and fashionable, so what was your favorite part of playing this character?
Marsai Martin: My favorite part of playing the character was probably just acting like an adult. I don’t hit adulthood till four years, oh wow, just being legal. But for me, I’m in an industry where there are so many adults that I look at and see often so I kind of got a few tips from that and brought it into the character of Jordan.
The Knockturnal: You don’t have any scenes with Regina Hall because you’re playing her, so was there a process of trying to learn Regina Hall’s nuances and what she does as an adult? Did you have to study her?
Marsai Martin: No, I actually didn’t have to study her because I felt like we already knew what we wanted. I did talk to Regina because she’s also an executive producer too in the film, so I did talk to her for a little just to figure out what we wanted Jordan to be like and I didn’t get any tips from her because Regina’s like that cool auntie and I already worked with her on Blackish so I already knew how she was as a person. I watched her scenes and she would watch mine, so we would get a few tips from Jordan, what we would do in the future.
The Knockturnal: Adult Jordan Sanders had problems when she was younger, getting picked on and people not accepting her for who she is. For you, you grew up a bit differently, you grew up in the public eye so what are some struggles you have had, growing up with everyone watching?
Marsai Martin: In the beginning it was definitely friends. There were some people where they would just see me as an actress or even if they didn’t even know what I was on, they would see me as a person that was famous or someone that they could get clout from. But I feel like now, having some great friends, having my wonderful best friend that’s with me, but yeah, I think having struggles just being a regular kid and just adjusting to something like this was pretty difficult at the time but now I’m more mature and know my surroundings so, I’m good now.
The Knockturnal: You have a little bit of time before you’re actually legal and 18 so is there anything you’re excited to do when you become a legal adult?
Marsai Martin: Drive, but that doesn’t really count because I drive this year. I drive this year because I turn 15 and get my permit. I can vote! I can definitely vote and be a part of something that’s so big like politics. Not that my opinion doesn’t matter now but I don’t know if I’m ready for that to be honest. I haven’t thought about this yet even though it’s really close.
Little is in theaters April 12, 2019.
