Barry Jenkins, director of the award-winning film Moonlight, shares the origins of the film and its LGBTQ legacy. They also discuss the original ending involving sharks and the significance of the character Juan. The creation of the central character and the emotional journey of a dinner scene are explored. The motif of water and the shore and the moment of betrayal are also discussed.
Moonlight is a groundbreaking LGBTQ-themed film that explores the journey of a young boy grappling with his identity and sexuality.
Barry Jenkins' personal connection to the story and his intense writing experience contributed to the fluidity and authenticity of the script.
The construction of Act 2 in Moonlight reflects the emotional depth and authenticity of the original play, showcasing the intense friendship between Chiron and Kevin and the performances of masculinity.
Deep dives
Coming of age and identity journey of the main character
Moonlight is a mesmerizing coming-of-age film about Chiron, a boy grappling with his identity and sexuality. The movie takes the audience through three distinct stages of Chiron's adolescent life, portrayed by different actors. The film explores themes of nurture, the influence of environments, and the performance of masculinity. Chiron's journey is emotional and evocative, leaving a lasting impact on viewers.
The impact and legacy of Moonlight
Moonlight, written and directed by Barry Jenkins, made history as the first LGBTQ-themed film and the first film with an all-black cast to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. The film continues to resonate with audiences, particularly young people who relate deeply to Chiron's journey. Moonlight's success and critical acclaim have cemented its place among the greatest films of the century so far, and its influence on cinematic depictions of identity and adolescence is significant.
The creative process and personal connection of Barry Jenkins
For Barry Jenkins, writing Moonlight was a transformative experience that helped reignite his passion for filmmaking. The script was written during a solo trip to Europe, and Jenkins found echoes of his own life in Terrell Alvin McCraney's unpublished play that inspired the film. The personal connection and deep emotional resonance with the material fueled Jenkins' creative process. Moonlight allowed Jenkins to explore themes of self-discovery and ultimately paved the way for his subsequent success, including adapting James Baldwin's novel, 'If Beale Street Could Talk.'
The intimate storytelling in Moonlight
In Moonlight, the director, Barry Jenkins, intentionally leaves certain events and character developments open for interpretation, allowing the audience to engage with the story on a personal level. By not explicitly explaining what happens to the character Juan, the audience is encouraged to infer and understand his fate based on their own experiences and knowledge of the neighborhood in which the story takes place. This intentional storytelling choice creates a shorthand for those familiar with the characters' world, while allowing others to catch up and engage with the narrative. Jenkins's personal connection to the story and his intense writing experience contributed to the fluidity and authenticity of the script. The visceral portrayal of the characters' journey is complimented by recurring motifs of water and the beach, which symbolize spiritual transference and transformation throughout the film.
The construction of Act 2 in Moonlight
Act 2 of Moonlight, which is mostly faithful to the original play by Tarell Alvin McCraney, reveals the brutality of school life and the performances of masculinity. The intense friendship between Chiron and Kevin, which ultimately leads to a heartbreaking betrayal, is central to this act. Director Barry Jenkins emphasizes the proximity to the characters, particularly Chiron, to provide a deeper understanding of his journey and inform the audience about his later development in the story. The construction of Act 2 reflects the emotional depth and authenticity of the original play, with elements like the demanding scene between Chiron and his mother being influenced by McCraney's personal experiences.
Adapted from an unpublished play by Tarell Alvin McCraney, Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight was a mesmerising three-part journey through the young adult life of Chiron, a boy grappling with his identity and sexuality, played by three different actors representing different stages of his adolescence. The movie was the first LGBTQ-themed film to win Best Picture, the first with an all-black cast to win Best Picture, and is regularly voted among the greatest films of the century so far. Barry wrote Moonlight’s first-draft on a solo trip to Europe, after discovering echoes of his own life in Tarell’s story. Like the playwright, he had grown up in Liberty City, raised by a mother with drug dependency issues. As he explains in our fascinating and at times emotional chat, Barry didn’t know where his life and career were leading before this screenplay spilled out of him on that trip, putting him on a path to Oscars glory. Here’s Barry – and an incredibly well-behaved puppy he adopted before lockdown – on the origins of Moonlight, the LGBTQ legacy of the film’s success, and why his original ending for the film might have resulted in the actor Alex R. Hibbert being eaten by sharks. Script Apart is a podcast about the first-draft secrets behind great movies. Each episode, the screenwriter behind a beloved film shares with us their initial screenplay for that movie. We then talk through what changed, what didn’t and why on its journey to the big screen. All proceeds go to Black Minds Matter UK, the NHS Charities Covid-19 Appeal and the Film and TV Charity. Script Apart is hosted by Al Horner and produced by Kamil Dymek, with music from Stefan Bindley-Taylor. You can follow Script Apart on Twitter and Instagram. You can also email us on thescriptapartpodcast@gmail.com.
