The Color Purple is such a crucial piece of Black American history, how do you believe it equates to various Black cultures worldwide?
Danielle: All of us understand what injustice appears like, whether you originate from America or you’re British, you understand what injustice appears like. You understand what it is to be defending your rights and as females we are going to continue to go through the very same things whether you’re throughout the pond or not. To me, it’s a human story, it’s about mankind. If you have blood pulsing through your body, you have a heart beat going through your body, it’s for you, and I believe that’s simply what it is. Yes, it’s a particular story that we’re informing through the lens of Black Americans, however it’s not restricted to simply Black Americans.
Fantasia: Amen. I likewise believe it’s for females and guys since when we’re in our screenings and when individuals go to the theatres it’s males and females. I remember my partner talking with her other half and them powwowing about the film and what they eliminated from it. It is going to be for both males and females, young, old, Black and white.
Everybody can take something far from this story due to the fact that it resonates so deeply due to the styles provided. How do you immerse yourself into these characters that are going through a lot and not take that home with you? What were you doing to make sure that subjects were not continuously playing in your mind?
Fantasia: When I did it on Broadway in 2007, that was hard for me since my life was dark as hell. I did not understand how to detach from Ceilie. I took her home, and I got up with Celie. I would call my mother boo hooing stating “I do not like this sensation” however once again, that was due to the fact that my life remained in disarray. Now that I’m older, smarter, recovery, and still recovery to this day, I see it a little in a different way. Now, I had the ability to take advantage of those dark minutes and keep in mind those dark minutes. I had minutes where I would resemble, “You much better proceed woman, you made it through that, you go head, you a bad mom jama”. I still permitted myself to feel however in the end, I resembled “Girl you did that” which is something that I desire every girl to see, I have a child who is 22 now and I desire her to see that you are going to go through some things that’s life, however it’s how you make it through that counts. You do not need to forget it, you do not need to cover it up and you do not need to show absolutely nothing to no one aside from yourself that you made it. You can inform some other young lady “This is what I’ve been through, do it like this, do it like that” and we make, we conquer. We need to go through a test for a statement. I needed to go through a test, however it’s now our testament.
Danielle: For me, I did go to Juilliard, and they taught us at Juilliard how to shed the character off after doing an hour or 2 hours on phase however there are some things Juilliard simply can’t teach you. What we were doing to me resembled origins work, blood work is what I call it, spirit work. Contacting the forefathers for 70-plus days while we shot, was a lot and I felt really diminished after doing this.
A great deal of my time, when we would do tough scenes, would be hanging out in my trailer and hoping it out. Hoping it out and thanking the forefathers for providing me what I required and now I’m going to launch it by doing simply that. That’s how I sort of came out of it since it was truly difficult and a lot to handle. The prison scenes, the supper scenes, the White Mob coming at Sofia. There was a lot. Once again, there are some things that you simply got to find out on your own, and I found out how to detox a character.
Fantasia: I believe a great deal of ladies connect to Sofia and Celie due to the fact that they went through a lot, they went through a great deal. I’ll always remember that scene at the supper after Celie checks Mister and leaves. We both have a minute where we wake the hell up.
Strength in sisterhood, when you see somebody you look up to stick up for themselves and end up being a brand-new individual, you then end up being a more powerful individual.
Fantasia: YES. That was a huge minute. I inform him what I wish to inform him and Sofia is simply sitting there. Nobody at the table is utilized to that since we’re utilized to Sofia stating “Don’t keep me Harpo, do not keep me waiting” however after she sees her buddy come every day, visit her, feed her, buy her, she rises and states “there’s going to be some modifications around here, I like this, I’m back”. I believe every female requires to see that sisterhood, that strength and the truth that in some cases you will go through some things however it’s the procedure and it’s needed. If you rely on the procedure, then you’ll wind up the method we did.
The sisterhood in this movie is strong in between your characters, however if you needed to choose another character in this movie to play, what would you select?
Danielle: I would like to play Shug Avery guy.
Fantasia: Yeah due to the fact that you get to be sassy.
Danielle: No there’s simply something there when I check out the book I would enjoy to take advantage of to see where it goes. I’ve seen a great deal of performances of Shug that have actually been stunning however there are a couple of more things that I want to see if they would deal with the character. I believe it would be enjoyable due to the fact that she appears like an actually difficult character to find out.
Fantasia: I think I’m going to ahead and take Sof.
Danielle: haha she be relabeling the characters, she suggests Sofia.
Fantasia: You understand that’s what we carry out in a Black home, we label, Sof or Sofia. I’m going to take Sofia due to the fact that I appreciated Sofia’s character and she has something that I’ve constantly wanted I had, that I feel I’m entering into now. I’m a cancer and my birthday is June 30th, I would provide for any person before I provide for myself and I’m type of prepared to that around and resemble “The response is no … in love, I still enjoy you however hell no”.