Jordan Peele is on a high right now.
His debut film Get Out, which he wrote and directed, is a critical and box-office hit. And he told The Hollywood Reporter in an extensive interview that it shouldn’t be a surprise that Black storytelling can be good.
“I think the lesson is that when you give Black voices a platform and the opportunity to tell our story, we will tell good stories just like anybody else,” he said. “The power of story and the power of a well-crafted film or television show is really all you need to speak to people. I think Hollywood is sort of catching up to that. We’re at the beginning of a renaissance where people are realizing Black films can not only work at the box office, but they can work because there’s been a void. Get Out is fresh and novel and new because at the base level it has a Black, male protagonist in a horror movie.”
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He added: “It is no mistake that the iconic image from this movie is Daniel’s face with tears streaming down his cheeks. We haven’t seen that before. Usually in horror movies — as in Blair Witch — it is the white girl’s crying face.”
As for what’s next, Peele wants to focus his attention of writing, directing and producing films.
“I’ve been in Hollywood for 14 years — 14 years of closed doors and the grind. So to feel the energy coming from inside the industry, let alone from the country, is just one of the best feelings,” he said. “I love writing, so I’m not in any rush. I am a huge fan of Quentin Tarantino, who takes time to figure out what his next movie is.”
We already have our ticket money set aside when you’re ready, Peele!