The Knockturnal attended the red carpet premiere of NETFLIX’s “Roxanne Roxanne”, firmly based on the life of rapper Roxanne Shante. See below.
The Knockturnal: What steps did you take to make this film feel more 1980s?
Michael Larnell (Director): Yeah, the clothes are important. Like, the wardrobe and the lingo. They got different slang kind of incorporated in there. And the music, those too. And the production design; like the way the apartments were and all that stuff was important.
The Knockturnal: How did you come to learn about Shante?
Michael Larnell (Director): Well, I was around in the ’80s. So I was a little kid, but I knew about her and then – I just always knew about her. They approached me with the idea of doing this project. So they send me a music video of Roxanne’s Revenge, and I saw that; instantly I was immediately drawn to it. Just watching that video with strong character.
The Knockturnal: So what was the hardest part of making the film?
Michael Larnell (Director): I mean, like you said, getting the ’80s down-pat – we did this 2016, so it’s 2016 versus 1984 so it doesn’t look the same, you know? It doesn’t feel the same. So that was the hardest part.
The Knockturnal: What did you think you brought to the role?
Chante Adams: I think I brought my “Shante” to the role. Me and Shante always said that it’s a Shante thing and that I was born for this role and everything like that. So, just bringing myself and just trying to be as authentic to her and myself as possible.
The Knockturnal: Your favorite part about the film?
Chante Adams: Oh, hard question. Just the amazing team I got to work with, honestly. I got the best set of producers I could ask for; the best cast, clearly. I mean, I’m just starting this business working with Nia Long and Mahershala Ali. How much of a lucky girl am I?
The Knockturnal: What did you find difficult about your performance?
Eden Smith: One of the harder parts for my role was my character, Latifa, she’s very secluded, she’s very closed off. I didn’t have many lines, but I had a lot of face to give, you know? A lot of attitude to portray.
The Knockturnal: What made you love the role?
Eden Smith: The fact that I was playing a young, Black girl from Queensbridge projects. I mean, I’ve never had a role like that where I just had to be like, raw. And I’m from Brooklyn so being a girl from New York – one of my dream roles is to be a regular, hard-bodied real girl from New York. So definitely why I wanted the role was to portray that.
The Knockturnal: Any projects on the way?
Eden Smith: I don’t have any projects coming right now. I’m in college, so yeah. I’m a physics major. So I’m trying to get through, get that degree. I’m definitely auditioning.
The Knockturnal: Hardest part about your role in the movie?
Taliyah Whitmaker: I think the hardest part was the rain. Because actually, when we shot it, rain just started pouring down. So we were like “okay, we gotta do the scene – but gosh it’s so cold!” But other than that, I think the director and the cast just made it so much easier. And the part that I was playing was such a great part. I don’t think there really was a hard part. I mean, you know how weather is, but besides that, I don’t think there was a hard part.
The Knockturnal: Your favorite part of the movie?
Taliyah Whitmaker: My favorite part of the movie.. I think it’s when me and Nia Long are walking down the strip and the projects and stuff and we’re just talking and she’s kinda like yelling at me and just like, the whole view and everything. And seeing the people dancing in one corner, and then oh, how could I forget: the part where I’m about to start rapping, and I’m going against this guy and everybody’s huddled up in a circle – that was definitely my favorite part. When everybody’s like “get in the circle!” like, “yeah, I’m ready to fight!” Yeah, it was really hype. So that was the part – that was my favorite part right there.
The Knockturnal: Was there a particular scene in the film that made you have to bring out the raw emotion?
Nia Long: Did you see when I sat at the table and I couldn’t believe my husband left me and took the money? That scene was like – I had to think of a super-duper painful moment. I had to think of a really painful moment in my own life, which, I don’t really have that many, Thank God. But you have to dig deep and be vulnerable and willing to just shut down and be raw.
The Knockturnal: What was that moment?
Nia Long: Oh, that’s personal.
Roxanne Roxanne is now available on Netflix.
