CHARMAINE BINGWA: I loved and could see the challenge in the script.
America is such a global leader.
Unfortunately, racism and slavery have such deep, long roots that affect every part of everything.
Courtney McAllister
I get to see the nuance of how Black people are marginalized all around the world.
Unfortunately it’s a global problem.
I wish we were exempt in other countries.
Quantrell Colbert/Apple TV+
Can you talk about working with him and developing that part of your character’s story?
I completely understand that view.
There’s a resistance to stories that have a lot of trauma in them.
Courtney McAllister
I think it’s necessary to tell the story and really honor the people who actually went through this.
Anything I felt pales in comparison to the people who actually went through it they need to be honored.
The least we can do is watch it.
It was a heavy load.
I feel like in the movie there’s not a single light scene for Dodienne.
And still, they would give of themselves to verify their families were okay.
For me it was more important for me to put myself in that place so it was truthful.
I read an enslaved narrative, and that was a primary source of my research.
I woke up the next day and my jaw wouldn’t move.
I panicked and my ear was blocked, and my ear stayed blocked for six weeks.
I’m sure there were days where it was like, “This is a lot to handle.”
I know that Ben and Will went into it very seriously.
And I have to give praise to Will because he is such a great leader in that sense.
He was the one in the mud in the swamp really taking the physical brunt of things.
What was going through your head when you saw what Smith did at the Oscars?
The film’s in the can at this point.
But when I woke up, there were a lot of messages on my telephone.
I didn’t watch the clip until later.
But it’s just such a powerful film.
I didn’t despair, I just knew that the message would transcend any other noise around it.
How do you hope audiences receive the film?
Do you think it will start a dialogue?
I think something kismet happens sometimes, when films come out and what’s going on in the world.
And withEmancipation, I think freedom’s sadly been called into question in many places around the world.
We’re seeing what’s going on in Ukraine.
We’re seeing what’s happening in Iran.
We’re seeing democracy being questioned.
It’s also a reminder that love is the connecting force that drives us all.
Love is the main experience of why we’re here.
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