Lakeith Stanfield and Tessa Thompson are the stars of Boots Riley’s directorial debut, Sorry to Bother You, a film that looks at race, capitalism, and activism through a fantastical lens.
In the film, Stanfield, who plays Cassius “Cash” Green, lands a job as a telemarketer that leads to a wild turn of events. Thompson plays his girlfriend Detroit, a care-free artist with what seems like a never-ending reserve of energy.
Through oddball humor that involves “white voices,” horse people, and the CEO of a conglomerate similar to the ones we encounter every day, Riley gives a sharp critique of the world we live in and the risks and struggles we all face when grappling with our own success.
ESSENCE spoke to Stanfield and Thompson who opened up about their first and worst jobs, having fun on the phone, and playing with voices.
Sorry to Bother You is in theaters now.