Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
SPIN's Sarina Bellissimo caught up with the cast of Netflix's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.
The movie marks Chadwick Boseman's final role before his passing in August.
The movie follows the tensions that rise over an afternoon recording session in 1920s Chicago.
A band of musicians await the arrival of trailblazing performer, the legendary, 'Mother of the Blues,' Ma Rainey.
Late to the session, the fearless, fiery Ma engages in a battle of wills with her white manager and producer over control of her music.
The band waits in the studio’s claustrophobic rehearsal room.
Cornet player Levee (Boseman) has an eye for Ma’s girlfriend and is determined to stake his own claim on the music industry.
He spurs his fellow musicians into an eruption of stories revealing truths that will forever change the course of their lives.
George C Wolfe
Sarina asked George what it was like working with Chadwick Boseman.
He described it as, "joyful," adding that he, "loved working with the entire cast."
"I loved every single actor. I loved them all. They were all so generous with one another."
"And so hard working," he added.
"And no cr*p got in the way whatsoever, it was just joyful."
George recalled how Chadwick would hang around at the end of every rehearsal.
He said, "He would linger after a little bit and then he'd ask a question or he'd talk about something he was thinking about."
"He would do that with me privately."
George said, "I think it was him sharing the private journey that he was going on with the character as well."
Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman & Michael Potts
Sarina asked Colman how Chadwick influenced him on set.
The actor replied, "I think a lot by his humour and his grace, he was a funny guy."
"He had an extraordinary work ethic."
"He was constantly working, and working a scene, and working a process."
"I really admire him, especially now, knowing in the aftermath what he was struggling with."
Chadwick had been silently battling colon cancer for four years.
He added that all the men in the interview with Sarina are, "able bodied men."
And despite that fact, "It was taxing," on them.
So for that reason, Colman said he can't even imagine Chadwick's struggle.
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is out on Netflix today.
