For our last event of the year, we were thrilled to host Regina King in conversation with Beeban Kidron, about Regina’s debut film, One Night in Miami...
Together they discussed nailing the film’s visual tone, bringing her insights as an actor into directing, and finding the perfect cast.
If you weren’t able to make the event, you can catch up with all our live-tweets below.
We can't wait for tonight's member event! In just a moment, we'll be hearing the one and only @ReginaKing discussing her debut film "One Night in Miami..." with the amazing Beeban Kidron. Follow our live-tweets at #DUKmiami pic.twitter.com/8iJtx1Ixv2
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) December 16, 2020
Beeban starts by asking Regina about her acting career: "It wasn't until I was in college that I felt like it might be for me." She thanks her mother and her mother's love of education for getting her inspired. #DUKmiami
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) December 16, 2020
On working with John Singleton, Regina says: "Sometimes you're having an experience where you don't realise how impactful it is until later in life. That happened to me when I started working as a director." #DUKmiami
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) December 16, 2020
When they worked together on Poetic Justice, John shared his preparation process for production with Regina, from crewing up to writing. It wasn't until later that she realized he was planting the seeds she needed as a director. #DUKmiami
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) December 16, 2020
There wasn't a single moment where Regina knew she wanted be a director. "It was something that I always wanted to do, but I never said it out loud." #DUKmiami
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) December 16, 2020
Beeban asks Regina how she felt the first time she walked on set as a director. "The anxiety was huge - I could feel my heart beating in my stomach, chest and throat at the same time. I was grateful for my acting skills to help me disguise it." #DUKmiami
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) December 16, 2020
"But even as an actor, if I don't feel some kind of butterflies when I'm working on something, then it doesn't mean enough to me." #DUKmiami
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) December 16, 2020
Regina: "It's important for your crew to know that their craft is appreciated. I realized that through my career working with different directors." #DUKmiami
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) December 16, 2020
On One Night in Miami, Regina says: "I had never seen these characters portrayed with all their complexities and strengths, feeling their responsibilities - in Kemp Powers' play, the dialogue was the star." #DUKmiami
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) December 16, 2020
On the challenges of casting for such iconic characters, Regina says: "Kemp had done so much research, and his writing really humanized them immediately — I knew that the right actors would make the dialogue sing." #DUKmiami
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) December 16, 2020
#DUKmiami pic.twitter.com/W45KJf8RKN
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) December 16, 2020
Regina: "I think the conversations that were had on that night in Miami were happening in a lot places. That common feeling of marginalization was widespread." #DUKmiami
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) December 16, 2020
Regina: "The whole world saw the murder of George Floyd, and these are moments that the Black community have witnessed over and over. So now the whole world is watching, what are we going to do?" #DUKmiami
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) December 16, 2020
On the film's visual style, Regina knew there would be challenges because a large amount of the film is set in one room. "I think you need really open communication between the director, DoP, production designer + wardrobe. Make sure you're using the same Dropboxes" #DUKmiami
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) December 16, 2020
Regina: "I wanted the feeling in the camera to match the vitality of these men - I wanted the camera to always be moving, but for it to never be a distraction. In the room, everything was shot on the jib arm, so there was always a bit of energy in frame." #DUKmiami
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) December 16, 2020
Regina: "Women of colour don't get an opportunity to fail up. But we're succeeding and we're supporting each other while we're doing it, and there'll be more to come because we're having our conversations publicly, not privately." #DUKmiami
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) December 16, 2020
And that's a wrap! Thanks so much to @ReginaKing and Beeban Kidron for a fascinating conversation, and thank you to everyone who joined us! One Night in Miami... is coming to @PrimeVideo in the new year! #DUKmiami https://t.co/Cy1Rs1VKAH
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) December 16, 2020
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