Podcast Summary: All Of It (WNYC)
Episode: NAACP Image Award-Nominated 'Story Ave' is an Ode to the Bronx
Date: March 15, 2024
Host: Alison Stewart (with Kusha Navadar as substitute host)
Guests: Aristotle Torres (Director/Writer), Asante Blackk (Lead Actor)
Overview:
This episode highlights the NAACP Image Award-nominated film Story Ave, focusing on its authentic portrayal of the Bronx, the creative journey of making the film, and the deep emotional connections central to its story. Co-host Kusha Navadar introduces Alison Stewart's in-depth interview with Bronx-born director Aristotle Torres and lead actor Asante Blackk, exploring themes of culture, grief, resilience, and artistic integrity.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Capturing the Bronx’s Essence
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Authenticity and Stereotype Subversion
- Aristotle Torres, who grew up in the Bronx, aimed to honor its vibrant culture and counter persistent negative stereotypes.
- Quote:
"Some of the most talented, influential artists have come from the Bronx, but on the other end, there's a lot of negative stereotypes about the Bronx. So I just wanted to represent a place that I think is beautiful, the people that inhabit it are beautiful, and make that as authentic as possible."
— Aristotle Torres [02:46]
-
Representing Real Experiences
- Though Torres never partook in crime, he deeply relates to themes of loneliness, aspiration, and seeking acceptance as an artistic youth in a tough environment.
- Quote:
"I understand what it's like to feel alone. I understand what it's like to feel like you're meant for something greater than what's in front of you, but you don't know where to begin."
— Aristotle Torres [03:27]
2. Depicting Trauma, Empathy, and Grief
-
Kadir’s Emotional Landscape
- Asante Blackk connects to his character, Kadir, through shared human feelings—loss, sadness, guilt—emphasizing that drawing from genuine life experience and empathy is at the heart of acting.
- Quote:
"You're not a good artist if you're not able to look yourself in the mirror and everything that you've been through...the sadness that Khadir was going through in that movie is something that I very much so related to."
— Asante Blackk [04:29]
-
Mother-Son Relationship
- Kadir’s fractured relationship with his grieving mother amplifies his sense of abandonment, driving him toward the graffiti crew.
- Quote:
"It's almost as if they kind of have to separate to go on their own journeys of rediscovering who they are individually so that they can come back together and kind of start fresh in a way, plant a seed for a new relationship..."
— Asante Blackk [05:58]
3. Luis (Luis Guzman) – Kindness & Complexity
-
Guardian Angel Archetype
- Luis, the MTA worker (played by Luis Guzman), shows immediate warmth and kindness despite Kadir’s actions.
- Quote:
"The way I perceive Luis is he's a guardian angel with dirty wings. He has his own trauma...as we question why Kadir and why Luis decided to do this, we're also simultaneously learning more about him and his intentions."
— Aristotle Torres [08:14]
-
On Working with Luis Guzman
- Asante Blackk praises Guzman's humility and deep sense of service, informing both the character and the actor’s approach.
- Quote:
"He has a true sense of manhood by way of service, by way of knowing that in order to be an upstanding man, you have to understand how to practice compassion and caring for other people."
— Asante Blackk [08:53]
-
Casting Story
- Torres wrote the role specifically for Guzman and pursued him persistently, with eventual success through a personal connection on social media.
- Quote:
"There were 18 months...trying to contact his people...A mutual friend posted a photo. I DMed... 48 hours later, I was FaceTiming with Louis and he was crying, saying, I have to do this script…"
— Aristotle Torres [10:47]
4. Kadir’s Transformation & Letting Go of Guilt
- Coming to Terms with Loss
- Luis helps Kadir process the death of his brother, urging him to let go of guilt and move forward, echoing a broader message about resilience.
- Quote:
"Luis is almost like a transitionary angel...it's okay to cross into this next phase...If you don't let this go, let that guilt go, you know, because it's not your fault..."
— Asante Blackk [12:22]
5. Filmmaking Choices
-
Visual Style & Aspect Ratio
- The film uses a narrow aspect ratio to portray both the emotional claustrophobia of the character and elevate the visual representation of Black and brown faces.
- Quote:
"I wanted to shoot Black and brown faces like old Hollywood...these characters look up, they don't look side to side...Kadir is feeling some sort of claustrophobia with his own emotions…"
— Aristotle Torres [14:21]
-
Stretching as an Actor
- Asante jokes about learning to "smoke on camera," then earnestly describes immersing himself in the world of graffiti—a new artistic world for him.
- Quote (humorous):
"Smoking on camera is hard. I gotta be real, yo. Everybody in old Hollywood makes it look so sexy. I'm over here, like, coughing my lungs out..."
— Asante Blackk [15:52] - Quote (serious):
"...Really being able to dive into a whole different world of artistic expression when it comes to graffiti...that was a world that I wasn't really familiar with, and one that had a lot more depth to it than I had realized..."
— Asante Blackk [15:52]
6. Local Flavor and Easter Eggs
-
Aristotle mentions scenes that will resonate with Bronx natives, such as eating a Cuban sandwich at Caridad.
- Quote:
"Getting a Cuban sandwich at Caridar is a standard chef's kiss...for our experience.”
— Aristotle Torres [17:04]
- Quote:
-
Asante, new to Cuban sandwiches, becomes a convert during the shoot.
- Quote:
"Yo, I had never had a Cuban before this movie, and now I am obsessed. Yo, they are so good."
— Asante Blackk [17:23]
- Quote:
7. Advice for Aspiring Filmmakers
- Torres offers candid and tough wisdom:
- Quote:
"Movies are miracles. So you need a very high level of confidence in yourself and the ability to bypass rejection. There were one hundred and seven nos before I got one. Yes, one hundred and seven. So it's, you know, I think to make a movie, it's something you need to do, and it can't be something you want to do…But I would say more than anything is really studying writing. You know, I think the ability to write a script gets you into rooms that you normally couldn't because it's the hardest part."
— Aristotle Torres [17:48]
- Quote:
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On the Bronx’s beauty:
"I just wanted to represent a place that I think is beautiful..." — Aristotle Torres [02:46] - Empathy in acting:
"You're not a good artist if you're not able to look yourself in the mirror and everything that you've been through." — Asante Blackk [04:29] - Luis as 'guardian angel with dirty wings':
— Aristotle Torres [08:14] - On humility from Luis Guzman:
"...a true sense of manhood by way of service..." — Asante Blackk [08:53] - Advice for filmmakers:
"Movies are miracles. So you need a very high level of confidence in yourself and the ability to bypass rejection." — Aristotle Torres [17:48]
Key Timestamps
- [02:46] Aristotle Torres on portraying the Bronx
- [04:29] Asante Blackk on channeling sadness and empathy
- [05:58] Blackk discusses Kadir’s relationship with his mother
- [08:14] Torres and Blackk on the character of Luis (Luis Guzman)
- [10:47] Story of casting Luis Guzman
- [12:22] Kadir learning to release guilt
- [14:21] Torres on visual style and aspect ratio
- [15:52] Blackk on graffiti and acting challenges
- [17:04] Bronx Easter eggs—Cuban sandwiches
- [17:48] Torres’s advice for aspiring filmmakers
Conclusion
This episode of All Of It offers an intimate look at Story Ave, blending personal reflection, filmmaking craft, and love for the Bronx. Aristotle Torres and Asante Blackk share both the hardships and the hopes embedded in the film, offering listeners a window into its emotional core, creative process, and cultural significance—while inspiring future storytellers to persist through obstacles, honor their origins, and tell authentic stories.