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By Alicia Powell
Bowl Crystal, from Long Beach, returns to the chairmanship of the director after 20 years to Here today, in which he also plays a well-known comedy writer who unexpectedly bonds with a street jazz singer.
Tiffany Haddish portrays artist Emma winning lunch with veteran writer Charlie Burnz, although he doesn’t know who he is. Despite some initial setbacks, a friendship develops and she quickly assumes a prominent role as Burnz deals with the onset of dementia.
In a joint interview with Reuters, Crystal and Haddish spoke about the dramatic comedy, which was released in the United States on Friday.
Below are edited excerpts for length and clarity.
Q: You said you only choose projects that make you feel things, what did this script make you feel?
Haddish: “First Bowl spoke to me about it and I said to myself: “ I am, it’s you, you don’t have to sell me for that ”. And then I read it and was there completely because my grandmother is going through this now.
Q: How did you find the line of safety in making a funny dementia movie?
Crystal: “Having dealt with a parent who was struck by the same type of appearance Charlie has in a movie, I just wanted to be respectful of that and respectful of those who come in contact with him. It’s a delicate line and I think finding the humor and making it entertaining and emotional has been the journey.
Q: What was it like directing again after 20 years?
Crystal: “You come on set as a director, you have to answer all the questions everyone has. So I was super prepared and super ready for anything and enjoyed the chance to tell a story.
Q: In one scene, Emma’s ex-boyfriend meets Charlie after a performance. Did Bowl allow you to improvise a lot?
Haddish: “Being outside in the Meatpacking District (in New York) and singing in front of a group of people and not being silly and silly about it was so uplifting and fun and a little, I don’t mean nervous, j was excited.
And just like “oh, don’t ruin this, but if you’re wrong, have fun anyway”. And Bowl let me go and it was so awesome.
(Reporting by Alicia Powell; Writing by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
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