What is your style of directing?
I am always trying to immerse myself in story, always asking myself, “What is the truest thing about this scene? What is the intention?” If I walked on set and nothing’s going right, what is the one thing that I know I need to achieve in each of these scenes? I know my story and I want to be able to collaborate with whoever I need to at any moment throughout that day on set, to best tell that story.
What was your practice as you directed this film?
Tupac was such a fascinating character, cultural icon, creative genius, and beautiful writer. I think what makes him special for me is the way he made us feel. It’s like people to this day still feel like Tupac grew up with them. And I thought, if I can evoke even a sliver of the passion Tupac fans feel, I’ll consider that a success. How does he best tie into the story we’re telling about a family? This is an intimate film about a family navigating grief. The grief is the anchor. How do we express grief? How are we unable to express grief? And how does the grief of a losing cultural icon make me better understand the grief of losing a family member that is so deeply close to me.
