Zendaya on ‘Malcolm & Marie’ and that toxic relationship

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When Zendaya began production on “Malcolm & Marie,” the Netflix-made lockdown drama in which she stars starring John David Washington, she never imagined it would generate both heavy criticism and a season-long buzz. rewards.

The widespread interest shouldn’t have been such a surprise: last year, the 24-year-old became the youngest winner of the Best Actress Emmy for her captivating performance as Rue, a teenage girl. struggling in the HBO drama series “Euphoria”. She is now in the running for a Critics Choice Award for Malcolm & Marie.

After “Euphoria” season 2 production was suspended due to the pandemic, Zendaya and series creator Sam Levinson wanted to see if they could make a movie during quarantine last year. The result was “Malcolm & Marie”, shot in a Northern California home while doubling for Malibu, by a cast and crew of 22 members (most of whom worked on “Euphoria”), in just two weeks.

“You know, it’s funny, if you told us there would be a conversation around, you know, rewards or whatever, it’s crazy!” We were all finding out together, ”Zendaya said.

In the film, written and directed by Levinson, a filmmaker named Malcolm (Washington) and his girlfriend, Marie (Zendaya), have an argument all night after the premiere of his film. Their sometimes abusive back and forth, heavy with monologues imply, among other things, that he forgets to thank her for her contribution to his project, which centers on a recovering drug addict a bit like Marie.

The script for the film was shot extensively and sparked several discussions on social media about the age difference between the stars (Washington is 36), a story with black characters written by a white filmmaker, and the toxic romance. characters.

“None of us who made the movie think they’re, like, in a healthy relationship, you know what I’m talking about?” Zendaya said. “I think it was to explore those insecurities and dark things about ourselves that I think relationships can sometimes bring out of us.”

The actress, who also served as a producer on the film, spoke via a video of Atlanta, where she is filming the upcoming “Spider-Man,” reactions to the film, and her hopes of becoming a filmmaker who creates more roles for. black women. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.

What was the driving force that ultimately motivated you to produce and star in a movie during the pandemic?

I think it’s often forgotten because obviously we were able to sell it to Netflix, but it really started out as this very, very little thing that we were doing.

And that was the first time that I didn’t really have my 9 to 5 [consistent schedule], which I have since I was 13 years old. The last project I technically did before “Euphoria” was “KC Undercover” [that Disney Channel series ended a few months before the HBO show was given the green light]. So this was the first time I was without – because I never had to know who I am without my job.

I talked to Sam a lot and couldn’t wait to get creative in some form and get my goal back. And I was like, what if we just shoot something, you, me and Marcell [Rév, the cinematographer who worked on the movie and also on “Euphoria”]? And if there was a world where we made something that we were proud of and could sell it and hopefully get everyone to pay and take care of our team that way, that would be the ultimate goal. victory for all of us.

There have been criticisms of the portrayal of toxic relationships in the film and Sam Levinson writing about a black couple as a white man. Was there room for you and John David Washington to collaborate and provide input on different aspects of the black experience?

Yes, of course. What’s interesting is that I think a small part of our agency has been cut. Like it’s just some kind of Sam spitting things through us without realizing that we’re not just actors in it, but we’re co-financiers and producers with PGA brands. You can’t get them unless you actually do the job.

I think that also reflects the plight of Mary a little bit, doesn’t it? It’s as if Marie said the whole movie [Malcolm’s film] is also mine. But actually, in real life, we got the credit, it’s ours, and John David, me, and Sam own this movie as well. It’s not like it belongs to someone else and I just got thrown in. He wrote it for us too, and I think if you want to write something you have to recognize the experiences of the [Black] character you write. I thought a lot of the conversations I had had with Sam had taken place.

There was also a lot of debate about the age difference. But we have the impression that the difference corresponds to the context of the film. How do you deal with certain expectations placed on you as a former child actor?

It’s interesting that it has become such a thing because my parents are about 13 years apart. But I also try to look at myself from the outside, and I realize that I’ve been playing a teenager since I was a teenager. I still play a 17 year old on TV and in movies. I’m thankful my Black doesn’t crack so I can keep doing it.

Some people grew up with me, they see me on Disney Channel, I’m like their little sister or their best friend. And I am grateful for it. I’m Marie’s age, and I think this dynamic, their age difference, is part of their story: she met him when she was recovering. [at] 20 years. She never really loved anyone or thought someone loved her the way they loved her. And it plays in his frustrations [about] not receiving the recognition that she thinks she deserves and maybe also unwrap something [about] she is young and vulnerable. So I totally understood, from an external point of view, because I play teenagers, but I am an adult.

Is there something you hope people who might relate to parts of the movie take away from it?

There is no specific message. It’s more of a room to open a dialogue. You are the fly on the wall. You watch codependency, narcissism, the ups and downs of something that is very toxic. This triggers different people in different ways, as they find themselves connected to different parts of the characters. If there’s anything to take away, it’s this idea of ​​gratitude [for] people in our lives who make it happen. For any youngster going through any kind of relationship and something like toxicity or whatever, I think a huge thing is to understand your worth.

Who had the idea of ​​choosing boxed macaroni and cheese as a late-night snack that Marie makes when they get home?

She has an immense amount of control and a need for control. And I think she knows she’s just stalling. Like, I’m gonna do [him] some bland mac and cheese. And I don’t do it because I love it. I do it because I’m pissed off and I wait for him to ask me why. Mac and cheese was just the classic thing that is in everyone’s pantry. So yeah, Sam wrote it in there.

I noticed on your social networks that you are posting pictures that you have taken. Are you professionally interested in photography or cinematography?

Extremely. I mean, I wish I could be a filmmaker. I don’t know when this will happen. Sam always tells me, I’ll give you a year until you do something, and I’m like, okay, that means you have a year to teach me. So I don’t know what it looks like personally, but I really enjoyed being a producer. And I love this idea of ​​hoping that someday I can do the things I want to see, the roles I want to see for black women. It would be exciting and one of my goals.

Interesting habits or new activities that you developed or started during the pandemic?

I had a piano so I could learn on my own. I still sit sometimes, I’m not home right now, but I’ll try to find the YouTube video of a song I like and see if I can learn it. hunter [Schafer, her “Euphoria” castmate], who is one of the closest people to me, she is an amazing artist. Before leaving for Atlanta, she bought me a sketchbook and some watercolor paints. I will feel that if it is not, like the Mona Lisa, I will demean myself. So all with this diary sketchbook is just starting to do something. Don’t try to control it.

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