Podcast Summary: All Of It with Alison Stewart

Episode: Zoë Kravitz on Directorial Debut, 'Blink Twice'
Original Air Date: August 21, 2024
Host: Alison Stewart (WNYC)
Guest: Zoë Kravitz

Episode Overview

In this episode, Alison Stewart sits down with Zoë Kravitz to discuss her directorial debut, Blink Twice, a psychological thriller debuting on August 23, 2024. The conversation covers Kravitz’s creative process—from writing and structuring the story, through casting and directing choices, to the film’s resonance with current cultural conversations around power and gender. The discussion is rich with insights about storytelling, symbolism, trauma, and women’s experiences, both in the film industry and in society at large.

Main Themes

• The Making of Blink Twice: Insight into Kravitz’s writing and directing process, with a focus on story structure, casting, and thematic approach.
• Power Dynamics and Gender: Exploration of how the film flips traditional narratives of female empowerment, delving into more complex questions of power.
• Symbolism and Sensory Storytelling: Discussion of color choices, sound design, and how memory shapes the narrative experience.
• Cultural Context: The film’s creation during the rise of the #MeToo movement, and its dialogue with real-world issues of abuse, trauma, and intuitive intelligence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Writing and Structure (04:41–05:45)

• Script Development:
  Kravitz co-wrote the film with E.T. Feigenbaum, initially in a linear fashion to understand the story, then embraced non-linear storytelling in editing to reflect the film’s themes of memory and perception.

  "When we wrote the Film. We wrote it in a very linear way, mostly so that we, the writers, could really understand what's going on here, what story are we telling. And then once we understood that part of it, especially in the edit, I decided to kind of rip the whole thing open and play with time."
  — Zoë Kravitz [05:01]

Casting Choices (05:45–06:51)

• Priorities in Casting:
  Channing Tatum needed to be charming and familiar to the audience, making Frida’s trust in him believable. Naomi Ackie was chosen for her expressive face and emotional range.

  "Naomi Acke has one of the most expressive faces I've ever seen in my life."
  — Zoë Kravitz [06:46]

Characterization and Subverting Expectations (07:04–07:50)

• Frida's Arc:
  Started as a classic “nose pressed up against the glass” Cinderella figure but transforms into someone discovering her real, deeper power.

  "I love the idea of trying to take a Cinderella story and flip it on its head... she really has to dig a little bit deeper and find her real power."
  — Zoë Kravitz [07:09]

Thematic Depth: Power vs. Empowerment (08:23–09:21)

• Frida’s Motivation:
  It’s not about “getting the guy,” but about wanting to be the person with influence.

  "Even though it might seem like it's Slater King that she wants, what she really wants is to be Slater King... This is a movie or a story about power, not about empowerment."
  — Zoë Kravitz [08:31]

Social Isolation & Technology (09:39–10:49)

• Cell Phone Surrender:
  The act of giving up phones is both a plot device and a commentary on our dependence on technology as security blankets.

  "As a storyteller, I just wanted that, you know, that device away from the characters. But, you know, it really is... There's our security blankets in this way."
  — Zoë Kravitz [10:12]

The Setting (10:50–11:16)

• Location:
  Filmed in the Yucatán, seeking a non-coastal, “claustrophobic” feel that enhances disorientation and isolation.

Symbolism in Sound and Color (13:05–14:48)

• Sound:
  Designed to evoke a sense of memory, heightening some elements over others to reflect subjective recall and growing unease.

  "I wanted this movie to be sensory... You highlight the things that impacted you, and that's what you remember."
  — Zoë Kravitz [13:21]

• Color Red:
  Used throughout the film to symbolize power, danger, and the blending of innocence with violence.

  "Red is the color of power... what happens when those dresses are now covered in red... melding grittiness and violence with purity and innocence."
  — Zoë Kravitz [14:48]

Portrayal of Female Relationships (15:55–17:10)

• Alliance Over Competition:
  Initially, female characters compete for male approval, but ultimately unite against shared threats.

  "I wanted to explore the way that women are taught to compete against each other and what can happen when we stop doing that."
  — Zoë Kravitz [16:49]

Trauma, Intuition, and Believability (17:10–18:13)

• Exploration of Intuition:
  Focus on the subtle, “invisible” games and cues that women recognize and live with daily.

  "A lot of this film is also about intuition... there's unease here, and I can't put my finger on it, but I feel it."
  — Zoë Kravitz [17:23]

Cultural Context: #MeToo Inspiration (18:39–20:34)

• Timing and Influence:
  Started writing just before the public exposure of Harvey Weinstein—found resonance with the larger cultural reckoning around abuse and power.

  "I just felt... there wasn't really a place to put all of this anger I was feeling. And so I started to write the story and then... the conversation escalated... I believe in collective consciousness."
  — Zoë Kravitz [18:49, 19:37]

Lessons in Directing (20:34–21:35)

• Biggest Lesson:
  Staying creatively flexible amid crisis, and finding better solutions in response to unforeseen challenges.

  "How to stay creative in a crisis. Because nothing is ever going right when you're making a film... when something did go wrong... it almost always led me to something more interesting than I had originally planned."
  — Zoë Kravitz [20:41]

Decision-Making and Sticking to Intentions (21:40–22:43)

• Pivotal Choices:
  Stressed her commitment to casting and to not softening the film’s themes for comfort.

  "I stuck to my guns in terms of, you know, having it be fun, having it be playful, but also not being afraid to make people, you know, feel some things that may be uncomfortable."
  — Zoë Kravitz [22:30]

Experiencing and Portraying Gaslighting (22:43–24:24)

• Personal Reflection:
  Draws directly from her experiences of subtle harassment and gaslighting; aims to highlight the “normalized” but damaging dynamics women endure.

  "I've been in a lot of situations where the inappropriate behavior or the scary behavior is so subtle and yet so loud that I have felt frozen..."
  — Zoë Kravitz [22:57]

What to Watch for in the Film (24:24–25:36)

• Silent Games:
  Viewers should look for the unspoken, silent negotiations and “games” characters are playing—the invisible rules, microaggressions, and moments of solidarity.

  "I do hope that people leave asking themselves, you know, what is the part that I play in this game, and how can I be more aware of that?"
  — Zoë Kravitz [24:36]

Memorable Moments

• Cameo Alert:
  Alison points out a cameo by Kravitz’s father, Lenny Kravitz, prompting a lighthearted exchange.

  "And the quick cameo of your dad."
  — Alison Stewart [25:41]

  "Yeah, that's a fun moment. That's a fun moment."
  — Zoë Kravitz [25:45]

Notable Quotes

• "This is a movie or a story about power, not about empowerment."
  — Zoë Kravitz [08:31]

• "I wanted to explore the way that women are taught to compete against each other and what can happen when we stop doing that."
  — Zoë Kravitz [16:49]

• "It becomes kind of hypnotic and then it becomes... it gives you anxiety...
  — Zoë Kravitz on sensory storytelling [13:29]

• "I've been in a lot of situations where the inappropriate behavior or the scary behavior is so subtle and yet so loud that I have felt frozen."
  — Zoë Kravitz [22:57]

• "How to stay creative in a crisis. Because nothing is ever going right when you're making a film..."
  — Zoë Kravitz [20:41]

• "I do hope that people leave asking themselves, you know, what is the part that I play in this game, and how can I be more aware of that?"
  — Zoë Kravitz [24:36]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:41] – Writing structure and process
• [05:55] – Casting and character choices
• [07:04] – Character development, Frida’s layers
• [08:23] – Power vs. empowerment
• [09:39] – Phones, isolation, and narrative logic
• [10:50] – Filming location, visual disorientation
• [13:05] – Sound design and sensory approach
• [14:48] – Symbolism of the color red
• [15:55] – Female rivalry and alliance
• [17:23] – Intuition and subtle trauma
• [18:39] – Origins of the story & #MeToo context
• [20:41] – Lessons from directing
• [21:45] – Casting as key decision
• [22:57] – Gaslighting and normalized microaggressions
• [24:36] – The invisible games and rules in the film
• [25:41] – Discussion of cameo and memorable moments

Tone and Style

The conversation is thoughtful, direct, and rich with both artistic insight and social commentary. Kravitz is candid about both the challenges of directing her first film and the real life experiences that inform her work. The tone movingly oscillates between wry humor, creative enthusiasm, and earnest reflection.

This episode offers a compelling glimpse behind the scenes of Blink Twice, serving as both a cultural critique and a celebration of emerging voices in contemporary film. Listeners come away with nuanced perspectives on creativity, power, trauma, and what it means to tell women’s stories today.