American Society of Magical Negroes Interview: Justice Smith, David Alan Grier & Kobi Libii
9After workshopping the script at the Sundance Labs, writer-director Kobi Libii just brought his finished product to the festival. Set to be released by Focus Features, The American Society of Magical Negroes just celebrated its world premiere screening at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
Marking his feature directorial debut, in The American Society of Magical Negroes, Libii puts the spotlight on Justice Smith's character, Aren. As explained in the film's official synopsis, he's "recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people more comfortable." For a period of time, Aren is in awe of the powers he gains by joining the Society, but he soon comes to question the organization as he realizes it requires him to use these supernatural abilities to do something he's felt pressured to do his entire life.
While in Park City for the film's premiere screening, Libii, Smith and David Alan Grier who plays Roger in the movie, Aren's mentor in the Society, visited the Collider interview studio brought to you by Film.io to revisit their experience bringing Libii's vision from script to screen. Smith recalled finding a particular "issue" with his character while participating in the Sundance Labs, Libii pinpointed his break story moment with the concept, and Grier explained why he didn't feel any need to improvise on set. Hear about that and loads more in this American Society of Magical Negroes interview!
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