The Top 10 Movies Scenes of 2023 and ‘American Fiction’ With Cord Jefferson
Dec 22, 2023
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Cord Jefferson, director of 'American Fiction', joins Sean to discuss the challenges of directing a film as a writer and the movie's remarkable cast. They also talk about the state of family dramas and satires, and Cord shares his future projects. Sean and Amanda start the show by sharing their top 5 movie scenes of 2023, and later discuss 'American Fiction' as a refreshing mix of genres.
Core Jefferson's passion for the source material and belief in his vision helped him transition from TV writing to directing American Fiction.
American Fiction successfully blends satire and family drama through the influence of directors like Robert Townsend and Nicole Holofcener.
Advocating for oneself is crucial in the filmmaking industry and played a significant role in getting American Fiction made.
The director aimed to create a cohesive narrative in American Fiction by balancing biting satire with thoughtful family drama and drawing inspiration from directors who excel at blending genres.
Deep dives
The Journey to Directing American Fiction
Core Jefferson shares the process of transitioning from TV writing to directing American Fiction. He discusses how his passion for the source material and his belief in his vision helped him take the leap into directing.
Balancing Satire and Family Drama
Core Jefferson discusses the challenge of balancing satire and family drama in American Fiction. He cites influences like Robert Townsend and Nicole Holofcener and explains how he aimed to blend humor and intimate character studies in the film.
Advocating for Yourself
Core Jefferson emphasizes the importance of advocating for oneself in the filmmaking industry. He shares his experience of standing firm in his vision and how it played a crucial role in getting American Fiction made.
Navigating the Two Halves of American Fiction
Core Jefferson discusses the process of navigating the two halves of American Fiction: the biting satire and the thoughtful family drama. He draws inspiration from directors who excel at blending genres and discusses how he aimed to create a cohesive and engaging narrative.
Exploring the Tone and Themes of the Film
The filmmaker wanted the movie to feel like real life, maintaining a consistent tone throughout. The juxtaposition of the frustration of a black protagonist with the complexity and nuance of a black family challenges stereotypical narratives. The film aims to showcase stories beyond slavery and civil rights, highlighting the importance of diverse storytelling. By humanizing black characters, the film confronts issues of representation in Hollywood and the need for more authentic stories.
Updating the Portrayal of Hollywood and Creativity
The director discusses how the portrayal of Hollywood in the book was more predatory and exploitative, representing an older Hollywood culture. In the film, the Hollywood producer is presented as someone with good intentions, wanting to empower and center black voices. The updated portrayal reflects the evolving conversations around diversity and inclusion in the industry. The director highlights the ongoing blind spots and inherent challenges in Hollywood, even as progress is being made.
Balancing Satire and Real-World Relevance
Amidst a fast-changing world, the director reflects on the challenges of creating satire when reality itself can seem absurd. The film seeks to provoke thought rather than directly change minds, presenting a story that resonates with a broad audience. By addressing themes of race, identity, and sexuality in a relatable way, the film aims to bridge cultural divides and encourage conversations. The director acknowledges the overwhelming nature of the industry and online criticism but emphasizes the importance of staying focused on personal artistic intentions.
Sean and Amanda open the show by talking about their five favorite scenes of the 2023 movie year (1:00), before digging into one of the most exciting directorial debuts of the year: Cord Jefferson’s ‘American Fiction’ (24:00). They talk about the state of family dramas and satires as genres and how ‘American Fiction’ succeeds as a refreshing mix of the two. Then, Sean is joined by Jefferson to talk about the expected and unexpected challenges of directing a film when you have a background as a writer, the movie’s deep and wonderful cast, what kinds of things he’s gravitating toward working on next, and more (38:00).
