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The Next Best Picture Podcast

Interview With "New Moon" Directors and Writers, Colman & Raul Domingo

The Next Best Picture Podcast

The Next Best Picture Podcast

Tv & Film

4.2542 Ratings

🗓️ 17 January 2023

⏱️ 20 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Known for his Emmy-winning work on "Euphoria," and films like "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" and "Zola," Colman Domingo took on a new role with the animated short film "New Moon." Adapting a segment from his one-man show "A Boy and His Soul," Colman and his husband Raul set out to bring the words of Colman's mother to life. "I'm very much a mama's boy," Colman says. "For me, this is a testament to my mother's imagination." In "New Moon," Colman narrates the story of J.J., a young boy who is hearing about a special ritual from his mother. "I remember that moment so very well, of her teaching me about the New Moon and this ritual that I've had for years. The moment you see the New Moon, you just hold your hand wide open, hold your purse open, and whatever you're seeking, it will come to you." It's a joyous expression of love and positivity between a mother and son, all brought to life with surreal animation by French directors Jérémie Balais and Jeff Le Bars. If "New Moon" manages to score a nomination for Best Animated Short, the pair would be the first LGBT couple nominated in the same year. Raul describes what it was like to work together: "We see the best in each other. And I think we always encourage the best in each other. Because out there you can just step out, and you'll be just ripped to shreds for whatever and however and whomever." Raul and Colman co-wrote the screenplay for the film, while Colman played all of the parts, and Raul directed him for the rotoscope. "I trust his critical eye," Colman says of Raul. "And so we already trust each other somewhat creatively. He holds me accountable." In a recent conversation with Daniel Howat from Next Best Picture, Colman and Raul Domingo shared the heart behind their animated short film, memories of Colman's mother, and what they hope the legacy of this work will be.   Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/nextbestpicturepodcast iTunes Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

You are listening to The Next Best Picture podcast, and this is Daniel Howitz interview with the writers and directors of the animated short film New Moon, Coleman and Raul Domingo.

0:11.3

JJ, keep a song in your heart, and you will always find your way.

0:25.6

Coleman and Role, thank you so much for taking time to talk with me.

0:28.6

It's so good to meet you.

0:29.6

Appreciate your time.

0:30.6

Thank you.

0:32.6

I loved New Moon.

0:33.6

So good.

0:34.6

It feels so personal and joyous. It just feels really special. Of course,

0:41.7

this is one of your stories from your play, a boy in his soul. She wrote Coleman and performed

0:46.4

a number of years ago. Why was this the story that you all pulled out to make this short?

0:53.2

This story has always been sort of the centerpiece, I think, of the whole show.

1:01.1

And I think, you know, when we were sitting around at the top of the pandemic,

1:06.4

and people are marching for George Ford's murder,

1:13.6

we were just at home thinking of creative ways to put some joy in light into the world.

1:16.6

Honestly, I think that's what we do as the artist,

1:18.6

and we feel like that's our job, that's our calling.

1:20.6

And Raoul came up with this idea of adapting this short story

1:25.6

in particular because he said it was so magical and it was doing all

1:30.9

the things that we wanted to do and put out into the world, whether it's images about

1:34.9

black women or young black boys. It's about love. It's about inspiration. It's for everybody.

1:41.7

It's for people who love their mamas, people who need some hope in the world.

...

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