Q&A with Filmmaker Lee Daniels on his anticipated new film, “Precious”
The most anticipated movie of the fall season, “Precious,” is this generation’s “The Color Purple.”
Taken from the novel, “Push” by Sapphire, executive producers Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry have embraced this film and are helping to make it the talk of Hollywood and beyond.
From genius filmmaker Lee Daniels (“Monster’s Ball,” “Shadowboxer”), “Precious” is full of emotional hurdles and tells the redeeming story of a teenage single mother challenged by obesity and sexual abuse. It stars first-time actor Gabourey Sidibe as Precious who just may take a stroll down the red carpet during the upcoming Oscar season.
Daniels is comfortable with controversy; however, in this turn at bat, he seems humbled by the outpouring of love and support that “Precious” is receiving.
Cameron Bailey, Co-Director of the Toronto International Film Festival says of this film, “The story is uncompromising, the filmmaking is unmatched and it’s the product of a uniquely African American vision.”
Daniels had this to say about his “Precious” journey --
Q: Lee, Sapphire’s novel is a book that people really embrace, they love it and they know it; what did it take to make this book into a film.
Lee Daniels: It’s hard to describe but I loved it so much I slept with the book under my pillow; so, I just knew that I had to tell the story. I just kept on and kept on pushing until it happened.
Q: A few years ago you said that your mother asked you why weren’t your movies more like Tyler Perry films because she wanted her church members to come and see them. With “Precious,” you get a chance to work with Tyler and this is nothing like a Tyler Perry film. Can you talk about the two of you coming together to work on this project?
Daniels: After “The Woodsman,” which is [my film] about a pedophile, my mother said to me, ‘Miss Maybelle down at the church tried to figure out what I did to you.’ Laughter. Then she says, ‘Because you just keep … where did you come from that you … and why can’t you make movies like Tyler Perry?’ I go, ‘well mom, I’m trying to.’ She says, ‘I need to feel good when I go to church.’ Laughter. So, I know for sure that my mother will love this film and I am so happy that he (Perry) is a mouthpiece for this film because it brings over an audience that … that’s my mother and her friends.
Q: In the opening of “Precious,” the film, it reads, “everything is a gift from the universe.” Tell me what that means to you.
Daniels: You know, we take so much for granted; I take so much for granted. I take the fact that I can read for granted. I take the fact that I am breathing for granted, that I am healthy for granted and I’m grateful [for all of it]. Precious’ story makes me glad to be alive because there are so many people who don’t have what I have --and I’m always complaining about what I have or what I don’t have-- so that’s what that’s about.The most anticipated movie of the fall season, “Precious,” is this generation’s “The Color Purple.”
Taken from the novel, “Push” by Sapphire, executive producers Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry have embraced this film and are helping to make it the talk of Hollywood and beyond.
From genius filmmaker Lee Daniels (“Monster’s Ball,” “Shadowboxer”), “Precious” is full of emotional hurdles and tells the redeeming story of a teenage single mother challenged by obesity and sexual abuse. It stars first-time actor Gabourey Sidibe as Precious who just may take a stroll down the red carpet during the upcoming Oscar season.
Daniels is comfortable with controversy; however, in this turn at bat, he seems humbled by the outpouring of love and support that “Precious” is receiving.
Cameron Bailey, Co-Director of the Toronto International Film Festival says of this film, “The story is uncompromising, the filmmaking is unmatched and it’s the product of a uniquely African American vision.”
Daniels had this to say about his “Precious” journey --
Q: Lee, Sapphire’s novel is a book that people really embrace, they love it and they know it; what did it take to make this book into a film?
Lee Daniels: It’s hard to describe but I loved it so much I slept with the book under my pillow; so, I just knew that I had to tell the story. I just kept on and kept on pushing until it happened.
Q: A few years ago you said that your mother asked you why weren’t your movies more like Tyler Perry films because she wanted her church members to come and see them. With “Precious,” you get a chance to work with Tyler and this is nothing like a Tyler Perry film. Can you talk about the two of you coming together to work on this project?
Daniels: After “The Woodsman,” which is [my film] about a pedophile, my mother said to me, ‘Miss Maybelle down at the church tried to figure out what I did to you.’ Laughter. Then she says, ‘Because you just keep … where did you come from that you … and why can’t you make movies like Tyler Perry?’ I go, ‘well mom, I’m trying to.’ She says, ‘I need to feel good when I go to church.’ Laughter. So, I know for sure that my mother will love this film and I am so happy that he (Perry) is a mouthpiece for this film because it brings over an audience that … that’s my mother and her friends.
Q: In the opening of “Precious,” the film, it reads, “everything is a gift from the universe.” Tell me what that means to you.
Daniels: You know, we take so much for granted; I take so much for granted. I take the fact that I can read for granted. I take the fact that I am breathing for granted, that I am healthy for granted and I’m grateful [for all of it]. Precious’ story makes me glad to be alive because there are so many people who don’t have what I have --and I’m always complaining about what I have or what I don’t have-- so that’s what that’s about.
Q: Is this story primarily about race or is it primarily about poverty and do any of you have any concern about how this story may stigmatize the Black community?
Daniels: It’s a universal story. I am a black filmmaker so the film is from a black perspective and it happens to a black girl, but, this story is universal. I’ve been around the world with the film and I’m continually shocked and surprised at little women from Japan and Australia that are sixty and seventy and eighty years old feeling like they are ‘Precious’ …
Q: Is this story primarily about race or is it primarily about poverty and do any of you have any concern about how this story may stigmatize the Black community?
Daniels: It’s a universal story. I am a black filmmaker so the film is from a black perspective and it happens to a black girl, but, this story is universal. I’ve been around the world with the film and I’m continually shocked and surprised at little women from Japan and Australia that are sixty and seventy and eighty years old feeling like they are ‘Precious’ …
