Kendrick Lamar has Oscar hopes for a short film he created for his track with the same name, We Cry Together. Prior to the voting window for the 2023 Academy Awards next month, Kendrick and his manager Dave Free explained the project and the inspiration behind it. “So in writing, I say, ‘Okay, how can I make this feel personal, but also holding up a mirror as a collective concept, rather than just a personal concept,’ I wanted to bring that drama because, at the end of the day, whether we like it or not — the good, the bad and the ugly, the pros and cons — that’s what makes everything evolve.” The short film is directed by Free, Kendrick, and Jack Schreir and co-stars actress Taylour Paige.
Kendrick went on to say that, “It challenged me to actually live in what I was writing, and really be there and be present with Taylour [Paige], And I remember us going back and forth and feeling like, damn, I understand this character even more because I’m evoking the energy from it and the passion from it because it’s alive, and it’s direct.” Free added, “When we went into this project, Kendrick was telling me about how he wanted the room to feel thick, and the room to feel intense, He wanted to really address topics that we, as a society, kind of shy away from.”
Kendrick also stated, “Ultimately, the main thing is people that we can actually identify with, Not only from our culture but from cultures all around the world. So the environment plays a huge role, and that’s something we definitely wanted to bring to life along with the script. It was just as important as the individuals that were actually spewing out the insults.”
The film is six minutes long and arrived on September first, the film meets the criteria for the Best Live Action Short category at the upcoming Academy Awards. The voting for Oscar shortlists will occur December12th-15th, with the 10 films advancing to nomination voting being named on December 21st. The full list of nominations is going to be announced on January 24th.
—
Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com