Although Zoë Kravitz long had the hunger to write and direct, the actual process of creating “Blink Twice” was led by fast instincts.
For this new project set to be released by Amazon MGM Studios, Kravitz had a clean slate.
It was not so much about surrounding herself with familiar faces as it was finding people who could understand her vision.
It looks like your working relationship even predated when you two collaborated on “High Fidelity.” Zoë Kravitz: Yeah, exactly.
We both live in Brooklyn, so I knew him from the neighborhood, and he wanted to get into writing.
I like having someone to bounce ideas off of when I’m writing scenes and dialogue specifically.
Maybe this idea of already having that inside look at Hollywood really highlights for you all what stories are missing.
What kind of behind the scenes input did he have, given how he himself had just gone through the experience of making his directorial debut?
The actual process of making “Blink Twice” was guided by quick instincts, despite Zoë Kravitz’s longing to write and direct. She admits to IndieWire over Zoom, “I didn’t have a plan.”. “I felt the emotion behind the story, so I just wanted to write it,” the author said. “Writing down these thoughts and emotions she was processing was therapeutic, even though she did not initially realize she was writing a screenplay.”.
Kravitz couldn’t look back at it until it was finished and realize, “Oh, that’s what I was saying, and this is what I was talking about.”. That implies exactly that. This serves as a metaphor for it. But the thing about art is that it’s so magical that you never really know what you’re doing. All you can do is navigate it with your feelings. After it’s done, you can comprehend it. “.
Between the popularity of “Big Little Lies” Season 1 and the emergence of the MeToo Movement in 2017, a seven-year journey to the big screen began. Although the latter phenomenon is thematically similar to Kravitz’s directorial debut, which is focused on a woman named Frida (Naomi Ackie) who is taken by billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) on an island vacation before she gradually spirals into madness, Kravitz disputes the notion that it was the inspiration for her film. It addressed a topic that isn’t discussed enough. And I believe that every woman who starred in that program was merely content to have such amazing roles and something so intimate, sensual, and essential,” the actress remarked.
Kravitz had a blank canvas for this new project, which Amazon MGM Studios is set to release. Finding people who could share her vision was more important to her than trying to surround herself with familiar faces. “Usually, I would just bring a script to someone to ask them what they thought, and the people who answered would always have such passionate responses. “And those who failed to grasp it, simply failed to grasp it,” she remarked. I was just too scared to hand the film off to someone else to direct because I had such a clear vision for the plot, the setting, and the entire film. I took great care of it. “.
Here, Kravitz explains the concepts behind “Blink Twice” and the contributions made to the project by Tatum, her partner, Geena Davis, and her mother Lisa Bonet.
The interview that follows has been truncated for length and clarity.
IndieWire: How did you get in contact with your fellow author, E? T. Feigenbaum? Your collaboration on “High Fidelity” appears to have preceded even that. “.
That’s right, Zoë Kravitz. Eric and I shared friends, so that’s why. Since we both reside in Brooklyn, I was familiar with him from our neighborhood, and he had a desire to pursue writing. I thought, “He’s got a really cool voice and he’s talented,” after he sent me a couple of scripts he had written, but that was not his primary job. And because I enjoy working with others, as I was writing this story, I simply thought, “Well, I’d love to write this with somebody.”. Having someone to bounce ideas off of is nice, especially when I’m writing dialogue and scenes. I then wrote this absurd novella story in a stream of consciousness using this location, Frida and Slater, and other characters. I sent it to Eric and told him, “This is crazy.”. “I was trying to get this thing out, but do you think there’s something here and do you want to basically fuck around with this thing?” the voice asks, “Throw up on a page.”.
We then began writing together. I would visit his home on a daily basis, and we would simply sit at his kitchen table with our laptops open next to each other and write endlessly. Afterwards, I was producing “High Fidelity” when it came out. And by then, I had been writing with him for almost a year. He said yes when I asked, so it was cool that he came along and we completed the show together. We had already had such a great shorthand and learning experience.
It feels like there is a history of Black actors (Jordan Peele, Regina King, Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, etc.) in particular making audacious and successful directorial debuts; this could be bias. Could you add anything to that? Perhaps the idea of already having that behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood makes it clear to you all what stories are lacking.
That is intriguing. Yes, obviously any minority, but I’m sure Black folks think, “Okay, I get it. I have to make it if I want to see the thing we need. Compared to simply saying, “I want to make something.”. Usually, there’s a need for something and a place for it, and you’re providing it for both of us. Indeed, there is a certain level of hunger present. That is logical. Additionally, I believe that Black people must put in a lot of effort to succeed. We put a lot of care and effort into our work. additionally soul. Their entire body of work exudes such soul. That is undoubtedly something that Black people possess in such a lovely way.
Given that you are embarking on a seven-year journey, was the script altered in any way to take into account events such as the MeToo discussions that took place in late 2017 or the 2020 racial conversations, etc.? ?
The way the script changed was really cool. It’s incredibly humorous. The topic is power, the subjugation of women, and it is so old. These are the world’s most fundamental things. Even though I’m starting from the very beginning—I’m talking about the Serpent of Knowledge and the Garden of Eden—it feels surprisingly relevant today, which is fascinating. Which may be the reason I thought a post about this was appropriate. Nonetheless, when writing about a subject that is still so relevant that it is always evolving, you have to be flexible with the characters, the culture, and what behavior is now considered acceptable. You also have to consider what the character’s consciousness is telling you, such as, “Girl, don’t get on that plane with that guy.”. It was therefore cool to have to keep up with the times. “Have you not read the news lately?”.
Nothing was changing at the same moment. As soon as these people become the subject of stories, everyone wants to appear shocked. And my entire point was, “You’re shocked that powerful men are abusing their power? This is shocking to you?” It’s crucial to emphasize that this isn’t directed towards any one person in particular. Additionally, it’s problematic to reduce the subject matter of this movie to just two persons.
Yes, I have read that you were unaware of Jeffrey Epstein and the controversy until after you had started work on the movie. I wonder if claiming that Slater isn’t specifically inspired by anyone opens up possibilities for him to depict more monsters that the general public isn’t as familiar with.
Yes, and all of this is symbolic. It isn’t quite so literal. Hence, not even halfway through writing [“Blink Twice,”] that [Epstein] circumstance, that specific location and person, that documentary, or whatever it was, emerged. I wanted to isolate the characters and let them deal with this, which is why I again placed this on an island. Once more, the Garden of Eden and “Lord of the Flies” came to mind, and I’m not just talking about extremely strong men. Perhaps your spouse is the one. That person following you home might be the man across the street. It might be a family member or your supervisor. Different levels of power exist, as does the abuse of power on various levels. Many relate that to particular things, but that’s not how it was thought about, if that makes sense, so how do you distill this big idea into particular characters and try to find a way to make it relatable?
It’s also been stated that you wrote from your own point of view. Why not take on the role of Frida yourself?
Considering that I tell this story more effectively when I’m behind the camera. I couldn’t have been more thrilled to give way and assist yet another amazing performer. In addition, I have this inexplicable feeling that I’m actually in the film. My experience is depicted in the film, albeit in a different manner. And rather than concentrating on just one character, I truly wanted to tell this entire story.
Although Channing is a producer on the movie, you’ve mentioned wanting him to play against type by starring in it. Considering that he had recently made his directorial debut, what kind of behind-the-scenes involvement did he have?
Indeed, Chan is a fantastic businessman. He is an expert in film and production, with a thorough understanding of the industry and the workings of the studio system. It’s truly incredible, as I’m new to all of this, having recently evolved into an actor who is more involved in the shows I do.
His experience allowed him to see issues before they materialized. Additionally, he had excellent power usage abilities. Because of his background and character, he was also able to ensure that we were safeguarding the narrative and our mission. Considering that our line of work frequently involves diluting standards in order to appease everyone. Additionally, he was constantly preoccupied with keeping the story safe.
Given the number of films you’ve been in and the questions they’ve asked (like, “Why wasn’t there more for Zoë to do?”), I wonder if you made a special effort to give each member of your ensemble their own moment.
Absolutely, and for a variety of reasons. I don’t want filler characters because I’m the writer. I’m curious about these people’s backgrounds and motivations for being here. I want to experience something when you kill someone or fall in love. Therefore, it’s crucial that you give the characters more depth. Additionally, scheduling makes it extremely difficult to give each character their due in ensemble films. However, you can accomplish a lot in a short amount of time if you prepare more and are more clear. Additionally, it’s crucial for an actor to understand and sense the purpose of their presence. Everyone also has a ton of amazing ideas. Additionally, I hired people that I want to see succeed because they are people I admire. It is my responsibility to ensure that this is the case with the final product.
The film delves into heavy topics, and I really enjoyed Geena Davis’s portrayal of the character who is aware of the work her Institute does. Her portrayal also highlights how generational differences can affect an older person’s reaction to a given situation.
Though it’s still very new, I’ve seen a wide range of women from various generations react in incredibly creative ways. “I brought my mom,” a guy said to me during our interview yesterday. We were first thinking, “Oh my God, how’d she take it?” but then I understood that this was for her. Your mother may understand it better than you. I have a lot of sympathy for Geena’s character, so the whole thing with her is really metaphorical.
And that’s being killed is a metaphor. That is no longer a need for us to consider. Deal with it because you’ve been conditioned to accept this as the way things are. And once again, I am filled with such empathy for that generation—or any generation prior to it—that lacked the support system and voice to declare, “Hey, me too.”. “Fuck this, let’s talk about this,”. The fact that Geena agreed to play this role and her extensive background of supporting women made me feel incredibly honored.
You said, “My mother, my champion, and inspiration,” as you concluded your thank-you notes at the premiere. Is there any way she was able to support you during this?
She was a huge assistance to me. My mom is the world’s greatest friend. She is not only the person who raised me and helped shape who I am, but she is also one of the most genuine individuals and artists I have ever encountered. That is why I am grateful to have someone in my life with her level of taste, care, and persistence in seeking the truth. She spent two weeks at the set simply to be with me, and I consider her to be the most important woman in my life. So she has served as this beacon of guidance constantly. Thus, the narrative is mine, told through and for her.
On Friday, August 23, “Blink Twice” from Amazon MGM Studios will be released in theaters.
