Dale: Welcome everyone to the 16mm Film Crew Podcast. I'm Dale, and today I'm joined with a special guest on this special Christmas edition of the podcast. I want to welcome my sister Allison.
Allison: Hi.
Dale: Go ahead and introduce myself.
Allison: Okay, well I'm Allison, I'm Dale's little sister, and I also have my podcast called
Allison's Corner, which we are going to start season four in January. So check it out.
Dale: Check it out. She's wise beyond her years though she's younger than me. She also has many knowledgeable guests on her show, who offer amazing help and advice as well.
We're here to talk about Color Purple, I took Allison to the advanced screening last week. Syndi has mentioned many times how I usually see a lot of movies in advance before they come out. And I kind of hold myself on to talking about them until everybody sees them. But, in this particular movie, we felt it was important to get the word out.
So, Allison how was it? Did you enjoy the experience?
Allison: It was fun and different. There were a lot of industry people and crew. They were talking about what they did on set and it's interesting to see like behind the scenes of a movie. You know like a lot of crew members and staff are involved, but I didn't know to what extent.
Dale: So you usually see the credits and never really thought about the people who work on the project until you saw them?
Allison: Yeah
Dale: They were hyping up all their different departments. Like locations, props, and costumes. I noticed you were caught a little off-guard, wondering what was going on.
Allison: Yeah because like everyone was shouting. I asked one of the guys next to us if they were in or worked on the movie and, he said ‘Nah, he was there with a friend’. Just like me, he was there as a plus one.
Dale: When I get the chance, I try to bring someone with me to these events. But you kind of did clown me when we met Lou Gossett Jr.
Allison: Oh, we have to talk about that. Okay, so we met Lou Gossett Jr. Who, as you know, is a legend in Hollywood. I was kind of nervous and awkward about talking to him. But Dale went straight up to him and he was like, “Hello Mr. Gossett.” He was fangirling, and his voice sounded like the little boy who said, “I'm sorry I lied to you Martin.” like, oh my gosh.
Dale: I mean, come on. He's one of the few black Oscar award winners, So, whenever you get the chance to meet people like that, it’s a unique experience.
Allison: Atlanta is like a black Hollywood type of city, But I feel like Lou Gossett Jr. is on another level.
Dale: So let’s get into the movie. I know a lot of people have seen the original Color Purple starring Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey but with this version, Oprah was the executive producer on this project. You got Fantasia, Coleman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, Danielle Brooks, and Taraji P. Henson, so what did you think of the movie?
Allison: I loved it. I was actually kind of skeptical at first to see it. Because the original Color Purple is such a classic. How are you gonna top the original? Or at least make the original work for a modern-day audience?
What I liked is, that Danielle Brooks was in the play. Fantasia was also in the play. I think it was Taraji in the Color Purple play at one point. I don't remember but I know at least Danielle and Fantasia were in the Color Purple play and I would like the fact that they were in the movie So they knew the background of the characters beforehand.
Dale: A lot of people were kind of skeptical about the cast. They kind of knew Fantasia with her singing background and people like questioning because she hadn't done that many movies. But people forget she's made her career mostly on Broadway post-American Idol so I knew she would be amazing. I’ll be honest I wasn't expecting something like this from Danielle Brooks though.
Allison: Really? She has a whole EP out. I have it downloaded on my phone.
Dale: I mostly know from her acting in Orange Is the New Black and Peacemaker. I did know Cory did some acting on Broadway though.
I think it's cool now that a lot of black Hollywood is being able to find roles on Broadway. Taraji is speaking on that now, about how they're not getting the opportunities they should be given talent-wise. She talked about how post Empire, people werent giving her opportunities to act. I'm happy to say Broadway is an avenue for black actors to still be able to work and still be seen by people.
Allison: Yeah, even before Empire, in the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, she was nominated for a whole fricking Oscar. I feel like after that, that's when her career took off because black people knew her from Baby Boy and other stuff, but I feel like her being in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was when the white audience got to know her.
But even after doing that, and Empire, she's still not getting like even a cut of what she should, which happens to black people in white spaces all the time.
Dale: Same with Coleman Domingo. We've seen his work in projects like Rustin, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, his stuff on Euphoria, and his other projects, he's purposely deciding not to audition for roles because he knows he has a large breadth of work where he shouldn't have to diminish as an actor to audition for roles.
Although this is a performance that I did not expect from him.
Allison: Really?
Dale: It was very, it was very multi-layered in a way. Especially near the end after he gets cursed and his pride falls he kind of becomes a lot gentler, and softer, whereas, during the whole movie, he is aggressive the whole time.
You get to see a character arc from him. You understand why he is the way he is when we see scenes with Lou Gossett Jr playing his father. In most of his roles, the audience doesn't get the chance to see his characters change or grow.
Allison: I feel differently. I feel like Coleman Domingo, is one of those actors that like has the range.
So his playing this character, didn't surprise me. I knew he would kill it. that made sense. When he is going to play a certain character, expect a certain level of craftsmanship when he does it. So, his acting in it didn't surprise me.
Dale: You know that scene in the movie was a pleasant surprise with Whoopi.
Allison: Oh yeah! She was the midwife. I like that little cameo. I thought that was cute. It was like a little full circle moment, kind of like delivering the baby, you know? I was.
Dale: I was expecting Oprah, herself to pop up somewhere as well. Because you know, she played the same character Danielle Brooks plays.
Allison: No, I didn't think it would be appropriate if Oprah popped up, only because she was a producer.
Dale: This is true. But that never stops Tyler Perry.
Allison: Well, that's Tyler.
Dale: But, yeah, really enjoyed, that part. We spoke before, I think the only part that felt kind of weak to me a bit was the scene where Fantasia's cursing him.
It felt subdued to me, if you listened to the podcast before, I've always talked about how I love it when actors emote and express themselves physically instead of vocally. I think you say so much more with your body language than you do vocally and, to me, she came off as very timid.
Whereas with Whoopi, you saw a quiet intensity that was there, and I didn't think I got that from Fantasia. Considering that she just tried to kill the man at the dining table.
Allison: I disagree. When I saw that scene, I felt like, number one, it's an iconic scene. That's number one and number two, I feel like her version of playing Celie worked for her in that moment for her to be that, Celie is a quiet, muted character in the way that she expresses herself. Of course, Whoopi did an amazing job in the original, but when it comes to Fantasia, I feel like playing it that way because that's how she interpreted the role.
Because sometimes you say things and you say it offhandedly, but it's serious. I feel like she said it in a way that was just straightforward.
Dale: I think you hit the nail on the head. Because when anybody thinks of The Color Purple, they do think of Whoopi and that scene. And it's really kind of hard because, at the end of the day, she was always going to be compared to Whoopi in that moment. And I think that's why also they chose not to include that scene in the marketing for the movie.
Allison: What do you think about the younger actresses who played, Nettie and Celie at the beginning of the movie? Like Halle Bailey.
Dale: Oh, I think Halle did a wonderful job. That was given,, I think her role was more on the musical side than anything else. Of course, both she and her sister are still developing as actresses in Grown-ish. I can't remember the name of the young lady who played Ceile.
Allison: Um, Phylicia Pearl [Mpasi]. I can't say her last name, I apologize.
Dale:. She did an amazing job. She played Ceile, very vulnerable, soft, and, broken, much like the way you said Fantasia did.
You know being in a situation like that where you are, hoping and praying for more, I do wish in the movie we got a few scenes showing her mental state a bit more. I know for me and we have spoken about this, but in those moments you sometimes still view ourselves as our younger selves. A good artistic touch to me would have been in those scenes, where she would probably see herself as the child, which would be for Phylicia to be interacting with her older castmates over Fantasia.
Scenes like, where Fantasia's talking to Taraji about how she doesn't have confidence in herself. I think something like that would have a big emotional impact. Or where Fantasia and Ciara singing at the end, showing Phylicia and Hallie singing together would have been a full circle moment.
I meant I can't even speak on sister bond like you can like the one you have with Felicia.
Allison: Now you have to tell them about Felicia.
Dale: OK you are right, so we have a younger sister named Felicia. But back to my point, those sister or sibling bonds are important. I wanted them to highlight how strong that bond was even after years of not seeing or talking to each other.
Allison: Honestly I was kinda shocked seeing Ciara at the end.
Dale: How? We hear her voice and see her picture.
Allison: Because it went from Halle speaking when she writes Celie letters. She was doing a voiceover of what's being said in the letters, you hear her voice and then as years go on you start to hear an older version of Halle. I didn't hear Ciara maybe I'm just slow. But would you see a movie with Ciara? I could.
Dale: I can. I think it depends on the role
Allison: I don't know. I was thinking about that and would I ever watch a movie where Ciara was one of the main characters? I don't know. Like, maybe she could do something Aaliyah-esque.
Dale: I could probably see her probably do more acting. But you know whose performance kind of blew me out of the water? David Alan Grier.
Allison: Oh, I love David Alan Grier, I wasn't expecting him either.
Dale: Like he's made most of his career in the early 80s and 90s as a comedic actor.
Allison: He was in The Wiz too right?
Dale: Yeah, but another actor I was shocked by was Deon Cole as the father.
Allison: It took me a very long time. I was like, who is this dude? He looks familiar. And also Tamela Mann. I didn't expect her, even though she played a very minor role, but I was kind of shocked to even see her in it, too.
Dale: I mean it’s Tamela. But we know she can act, too, because of stuff she's done with Tyler Perry. But, Deon Cole? I was like, who is this dude? I've said it before I say it again. I think comedic actors are probably some of the best when they're given a chance to play serious roles they kill it.
Allison: You know, that reminds me, going back to like Empire when Chris Rock was on. He had a couple of episodes where he was in jail with Lucius. Go back and watch a couple of those episodes, everybody was so shocked that Chris Rock was playing this serious character because he's so used to being funny. I thought he did an amazing job. So your making reference to the fact that comedic actors do a really good job in serious roles is true.
Because even Steve Carell, he's now transitioning into more drama with his latest projects.
Dale: Yeah. Jim Carey, in Truman Show, and Eternal Sunshine. You have mentioned Chris Rock. When Adam Sandler decides to be serious, get stuff like Uncut Gems. Even Will Smith, even though was a rapper, starting his roles were very comedic. But then you see him in stuff like Pursuit of Happiness and Seven Pounds.
Allison: They knock it out of the park. So, what did you think of the music?
Dale: You know you're the musical one. Allison's a wonderful singer. So I want to hear what you think of the musical arrangements.
Allison: I liked it. Well, I'm a musical person, I love watching musicals.
Dale: We have a thing we all have in common thanks to Mom.
Allison: I love a good musical. Some people don't like musicals. I love a good musical and I kind of expected a pure drama like the original but this had more of a musical component.
Dale: It went from book to movie to Broadway back to movie. So I expected the production to have more musical pieces from the Broadway musical.
Allison: They had Broadway actors, so that makes sense, which I did like. I loved Fantasia. Of course, we know she can freaking sing. Oh my goodness, I can't remember the title of the song, but it’s the end when she starts to own her power and she owns the shop. I loved it, it almost made me cry. I think Fantasia did a beautiful job, interpreting that feeling and the emotion coming into yourself and finding your own. Just overcoming all of that hardship, she did a beautiful job and it almost made me cry. Well, I almost cried several times watching the movie but that's just me being sensitive.
Dale: It's weird because you always want to compare things like this to the original versions but, I do think this one is probably better than the first.
Allison: I think I prefer this one more, maybe because of the musical, and like I said, I'm more of a musical person. But, I also like Steven Spielberg, he directed the first one and he's involved with this one.
Dale: His company Amblin Entertainment produced this film.
Allison: And I think bringing in a different director this time around gave it a better feel overall, A little more modern, while still keeping it classic. If Steven had directed this, it wouldn't have felt the same way. It would have been like watching the same movie twice.
Dale: Oprah was probably more hands-on and spent a lot of time on set. We can see it from her interactions with the cast in all the promotional stuff. I feel like Steven just took a backseat to, help them get produced and stuff.
Allison: Kinda loaned his name.
Dale: The role, I was not surprised with was Taraji, but I didn't know she could sing.
Allison: You need to watch, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, and she's a nightlife singer, and that's the first time I ever heard Taraji P. Henson sing.
Dale: Well, I heard her sing in Hustle Flow. But that was kind of like a small thing. She also sang with Three 6 Mafia on the Grammys. But I'm not thinking that's singing, singing you know. I wasn't expecting this from her.
Allison: She went to Howard and she got a BFA. Chadwick Boseman, Felicia Rashad, and a lot of black actors went there and now seeing them in the industry. So that's probably why I wasn't surprised. and, uh, when it comes to their When it comes to their fine arts department at Howard, produces good quality talent. So knowing her background and having heard her sing before I knew she was gonna kill it.
Dale: Danielle and Corey mentioned kind of each other for a long time and met they met at Juilliard. So I was expecting that their pairing was always going to work well on screen. But I do think the cast, from top to bottom, in all their interactions, you can tell they enjoyed being around each other. And see that not just in the press run but it speaks in their performance. You can tell that there's a lot of camaraderie between all of them.
Allison: That's true. Yeah, and you can tell probably being on set was so fun. I was watching the Vanity Fair interview when they asked each other questions, and they would call Fantasia, Tasia. Which is a cute little nickname you would give your friend, and I thought that was super cute, you can tell they have some type of closeness.
Dale: Yeah, that interview was hilarious, but I didn't realize, how Southern Fantasia was.
Allison: Yeah, she's from North Carolina. She was like, oh, what did I steal from set, and everybody's thinking like the wigs and other projects. She was like, nah, she took slips She was so grandmotherly. That is so old.
Dale: So old, down south, southern, black lady.
Allison: But I also, speaking to that, Fantasia's from North Carolina, Danielle Brooks is from South Carolina, Taraji grew up in D. C., Coleman Domingo grew up in New York, and Corey Hawkins grew up where?
Dale: I think Chicago, I'm not sure.
Allison: Well, they grew up in really very different parts of the country.
Dale: And different aspects of black culture as well.
Allison: Yeah, and I feel like that, I mean, and even Oprah, Oprah is originally from what, Tennessee, Mississippi?
She then went to Chicago and started her show. With all of those little caveats, I feel very interested in playing, a black film, It's even more interesting when I think about it now, knowing that Fantasia is from the South, and she's playing in The Color Purple and it's based on black woman in the South. It's kind of coming back to your roots and stuff.
Dale: Yeah, even though there are different aspects of black culture, no matter which region or country you're from, or your background, there are some commonalities, in the stuff we all do.
Allison: Yeah. enjoyed it, that was interesting.
Dale: I mean, did you have a fun recording with me? I know I did one of your podcasts.
Allison: Yeah, Dale did one of my episodes. He did a really good job. This was fun because I always told Dale don't invite me to one of these things if it's a movie I would never go and watch in theaters myself.
So this is the one I was like, oh, I have to see it.
Dale: She knows I'm an artsy “person of color”. And she knows the type of movies I usually watch.
Allison: He's very Roger and Ebert-esque. I can't do all that.
Dale: I think took Dad to a movie once with William Dafoe. I was like, are you sure you want to come? It's not one of those movies you like. He was like “Let's go”.
Allison: He's more of an action guy.
Dale: Yeah, and he was just bored the whole time. He needs more action, like blowing things up and shooting at people.
Allison: That's Dad's type of genre. I had fun with you watching The Color Purple.
Dale:. It was fun. Even though you made fun of me for fanboying, I enjoyed seeing you being caught up in the experience of it being kind of a screening.
Allison: Yeah! Cause it was my first. You watch movie premieres on the internet or TV and finally going to one, it's like, “Oh, okay wow”.
And I guess knowing the little knowledge, I know from you on what it takes to deal with a movie. Plus, it being kind of shot in Georgia, it gave me a little bit of pride slightly.
Dale: I guess when I watch movies it’s one of the few times where ever I see Atlanta, and pride does kick in.
Allison: I always rep Atlanta.
Dale: Miami for me but I will give always Atlanta props when it shows up in movies.
Allison: They filmed at Tybee Island. I went to Georgia Southern, and when I was watching it and they showed coastal Georgia, it took me back to college because my school was an hour outside of Tybee and everything.
I remember going to Savannah and seeing these big, beautiful willow trees everywhere, seeing coastal Georgia gave me, a small flashback back to my college days.
Dale: Well that's it. Hope you enjoyed this Christmas edition of the podcast with me. And remember, to listen to Allison’s stuff on her podcast.
Allison: Yep it’s Allison's Corner. Season 4 starts in January. You can listen to us on all podcast streaming platforms. We drop our episodes every other Sunday and, you can always follow us on Instagram @allisonscorner. If you ever want to email us, you can email us at allisonscornerpod@gmail.com. Yeah, I'm happy to do this episode. I feel so cool.
Dale: If ever I find a movie that piques your interest, I will bring you with me again.
Allison: It's also working with your schedule because I am a busy lady.
Dale: Well, that's it from the 16mm Film Crew Podcast. Don't forget to visit our website at 16mmFilmCrew.com and check us out on all social media platforms. Signing off once again, Happy New Year and Merry Christmas.
Allison: Bye. Bye