Jade

Chapter 22

Asante was seated in a plush chair under the bright studio lights, his posture relaxed as he waited for the cameras to roll. He been going from set to set for hours, running through back-to-back interviews for the Blood Bound press tour.

Across from him, Kelly, a well known Variety journalist got mic'd up and her makeup touched up. The cameraman and sound operator worked seamlessly around them making sure everything was seamless before they officially got started.

The Director's Cut was Variety's renowned intimate deep-dive segment with some of Hollywood's most exciting voices. Asante was honored when he got the call, having always imagined himself in that space he worked so hard to reach.

"Asante, you've been at this all day, but you don't look tired at all," Kelly said, starting the interview on a casual note after all the introductions were made.

"That's because I love what I do. I love talking about film, art, storytelling... I could go all night," he replied with a grin. "But after this, I'm shutting my phone off for the rest of the week."

Kelly chuckled before moving on to the next question.

"Let's talk about the film. What was the inspiration?"

"The story was inspired by a book called Allegiance, written by an anonymous author. It's loosely based on a true story that delves deep into themes of betrayal, family, and loyalty within a powerful Black family. When Miles and I came across it, we were immediately intrigued. It's rare to see narratives that explore the complexities of Black families in positions of power, especially ones with such a rich and tumultuous history. Usually, stories like this are centered around Italian families or other groups, so bringing this perspective to the forefront was both refreshing and necessary."

Kelly nodded, clearly captivated. "It sounds like a compelling narrative that offers a fresh lens on familiar themes."

"Exactly," Asante agreed. "We felt like this story in particular gave a unique perspective to the genre and especially wanted to shed more light on the book itself since it's been out for a while and never really got the recognition it deserved."

"That brings me to my next question. As far as representation in Hollywood, where do you think we stand today?"

"I'm not gonna sit here and say it's all bad, because it's not. We're further than we were ten years ago, but that doesn't mean the work is done...what I want to see is authorship. Not just actors on the screen, but decision-makers behind the camera. Writers, directors, execs—people in power who get it. Cause when we're not in the room, that's when you get the same recycled narratives. The same struggle stories, the same stereotypes. We are not a monolith. We deserve variety in our storytelling. And until that's the standard, not the exception, there's definitely more work to be done."

The interview wrapped up shortly after, and Asante stood, stretching slightly as he thanked the crew. As he made his way toward the building's entrance, he noticed, through the glass doors, a small crowd had gathered outside. At the center stood two LAPD officers, their presence unmistakable.

Asante's eyes narrowed as he pushed open the door, stepping onto the sidewalk.

The officers turned to him immediately. "Mr. Ivory?" one asked, his expression unreadable.

"What's this about?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

The second officer pulled out a notepad. "We need to ask you a few questions about your film. There are some concerns that it might be linked to an ongoing investigation."

"I need my lawyer present before answering any questions," he said in a calm tone.

The officers exchanged a glance. "We're just looking for some clarity."