Keke & Cast Break Down ‘I Love Boosters’: Power, Fashion & Morality | SXSW

Summary

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Baby, This is Keke Palmer

Episode Title: Keke & Cast Break Down ‘I Love Boosters’: Power, Fashion & Morality | SXSW
Date: March 31, 2026
Host: Keke Palmer
Guests: Demi Moore, Naomi Ackie, Taylor Paige, Poppy Lee, Isaac Gonzalez

Episode Overview

In this SXSW special, Keke Palmer gathers the core cast of her new film “I Love Boosters” for a lively, reflective, and revealing roundtable. The conversation dives into the film’s themes—power, fashion, and morality—along with glimpses into the creative process, cast chemistry, and insightful exploration of class, consumerism, and the nuanced “Robin Hood” dynamics at the heart of the story. The episode is also punctuated by an unexpected on-stage proposal, which the cast navigates with warmth and empathy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: The Meaning Behind “I Love Boosters”

• Introduction to “Boosters”
  • Demi Moore asks, “What’s a booster?” (01:26)
    • Keke Palmer: “Somebody that steal clothes from a store and sell at a discount price.”
    • Cast riffs: “Fashion Forward...Philanthropy.”
• Film Summary:
  • Keke: “The movie follows a team of professional shoplifters... engaging in what we call fashion-forward philanthropy. Stealing from a fashion mogul to send a message about power, money, and consumerism.” (02:27)
• Director Boots Riley’s Vision
  • Keke: “Boots Riley doesn’t just make movies, right? He builds worlds…they’re creative and surreal.” (06:01)

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2. Cast Reflections on the Movie’s Message

• Boots Riley’s Complex Worldbuilding
  • Demi Moore: “Working with Boots has been like a bucket list career dream... it was sort of like, oh, my God, that’s what he was envisioning the entire time.” (06:29)
  • Taylor Paige: “The minute my agent said Boots Riley... send it now.” (07:38)
• On Archetypes & Storytelling
  • Keke and Taylor relate scenes to “Wizard of Oz” archetypes (08:34):
    • Taylor: "And I'm Toto!”
    • Keke: “You being Toto is crazy. I thought you were the scarecrow.”
• The “Robin Hood” Question
  • Keke: “I Love Boosters has been called a Robin Hood story... the Velvet Gang are criminals, but culturally, they’re making a difference.” (09:29)
  • QUOTE – Naomi Ackie (14:10):
    “You take little things and you collect them and then you make them into your own... it’s something thats actually really inspiring… they take more than we get—so I think it’s justified.”
  • Poppy Lee (17:09): “We’re all trapped in this vortex...You’re not just villainizing her...I want to be her, but why do I want to be her if she is this version that I hate and I’m fighting…?”

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3. Unexpected Interruptions & Cast Camaraderie

• The Proposal Incident (09:57–11:19)
  • Unplanned proposal from an audience member; the group handles it with composure and humor.
    • Keke: “I’m so sorry, sir. No, it’s okay. No, it’s okay, honey. No. Thank you.” (10:34–10:57)

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4. Moral Gray Areas & Class Solidarity

• Collective vs. Individual Focus
  • Isaac Gonzalez: “Seeing the shift from a singular focus for oneself versus the collective... the impact we can make when we’re not just working for our own self.” (14:16)
• Mirroring Between Characters
  • Keke on character arcs: “No matter where you’re standing from, integrity is something you have to be consciously thinking about...The people around you, they’re not just here to support you, but to exist alongside you.” (15:01)
• Boots Riley's Social Commentary
  • Demi Moore: “Boots, to me, feels like a movie that is Trojan horsing a story about class solidarity and class struggle... He took it all the way back to, okay...who is making that?” (19:53)
  • Poppy Lee: “He’s a father, he’s a partner. He gets it in a deep cellular way…It feels like a ray of sunshine in a world that feels so bleak.” (24:39)

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5. On Borders, Power & Global Themes

• Globalization & Revolution
  • Demi Moore: “I think [Boots] is saying that borders are not real and that the thing that unites us all is class struggle and that it needs to be a global international movement.” (23:23)

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6. Behind the Scenes: Chemistry & Community

• Cast Bonding & Support
  • Taylor Paige: “I peed on myself in the hallway twice in this film. Twice!” (31:21)
  • Naomi Ackie: “She also happened to be a doula and midwife, and she’d let me hear his heartbeat all the time.” (32:24)
• Keke on Cast Vibes: “We don’t always get these kinds of sets…it was like, ‘These are my people now.’” (32:03)
• Chemistry in Action
  • “I’m a very rhythm person…this beat is sick. And it’s coasting…That’s when I knew. Oh, this is…we match.” (36:38-37:26, Keke)

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7. Art Reflects Artist: Characters & Personal Stories

• Relating to Roles (41:43–56:27)

  • Naomi Ackie (Sade): “She’s extremely grounded…ambition has to be grounded in reality. That has to have a sense of what does this…do for everyone?” (41:43)
  • Isaac Gonzalez (Christy Smith): “It gave me a chance to play someone so not me…an extreme narcissist and find a way to bring a thread of humanity…” (44:42)
  • Keke Palmer (Corvette): “I really relate to Corvette being wrapped in her vision…When it doesn’t feel like community, when it doesn’t feel like me, I don’t want to do it.” (48:59)
  • Taylor Paige (Mariah): “I always think that things could be better… to love your friends and those around you.” (50:52)
  • Demi Moore (Jiang Hu): “We can change the system from within…some things need to be burned down… empires fall.” (55:08)

• Magic of Boots Riley’s Direction

  • Poppy Lee: “He’s not trying to impose into you; he’s just letting collaboration exist…The fact that most of the performances are good is not a casualty—it’s Boots.” (38:15-39:53)

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8. Memorable and Notable Quotes

• Demi Moore (on class struggle): “Borders are not real and…the thing that unites us all is class struggle.” (23:23)
• Keke Palmer (on integrity): “No matter where you’re standing from, integrity is something you have to be consciously thinking about having…” (15:01)
• Poppy Lee (on social media and duality): “We all live in this dimension of this duality...not just villainizing her. I want to be her, but why do I want to be her…?” (17:09)
• Taylor Paige (on optimism): “I’m always looking up. I’m always like, it could be better. I have faith.” (51:33)
• Demi Moore (on Jiang Hu): “She reaches a point where she’s like, actually, the system can’t be changed. Some things need to be burned down.” (55:08)

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9. Powerful Segment Timestamps

• 00:00–03:00: Setup, film description, cast intros
• 05:08–07:54: Cast’s first reactions to audience premiere & working with Boots Riley
• 09:29–12:28: Moral ambiguity and the Robin Hood question
• 14:10–17:56: Discussion on community, class, bootstrapping, and culture
• 19:29–22:29: Discussion expands to globalization, labor, and ethics
• 23:23–26:08: On power, borders, gender, revolution
• 31:02–35:52: On-set camaraderie, pregnancies, set anecdotes
• 41:43–56:27: Cast members connect themselves to their characters; reflections on growth, transformation, community

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Notable & Memorable Moments

• The On-Stage Proposal (09:57–11:19):
  Keke is abruptly, publicly proposed to by a stranger. She gracefully declines, the cast supports her, and the conversation shifts back to the film:

  • Keke: “I can’t marry you. I don’t know you. I’m so sorry, sir. No, it’s okay. What’s going…is this a prank?”
  • Taylor Paige: “She wants to say yes. Oh, my God!”
  • The moment is handled with empathy and good humor.

• Keke on Boots Riley:

  • “He builds worlds... I love the mirroring between Christy Smith and Corvette... integrity is something you have to be consciously thinking about..." (06:01, 15:01)

• Hard-Hitting Social Commentary

  • Poppy Lee: “He is a person of the people. He makes movies for people, for audiences. Boots is not someone who’s, like, bothered and flustered about what Hollywood wants, clearly…” (24:39)
  • Demi Moore: “He has never shied away from being politically outspoken, regardless of the repercussions... it’s not a performance. It’s who he is.” (27:56)

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Conclusion

This SXSW episode transcends typical film promotion, giving listeners an inside look at the creative and ethical minds behind “I Love Boosters”. From on-set laughter to deep discussions on morality, class struggle, and revolutionary empathy, listeners gain a raw and intimate sense of both the film’s themes and the profound connections linking the cast and their work. The episode’s warmth and candor advance Boots Riley’s reputation for art that holds up a mirror to society—nuanced, subversive, and always human.

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Episode Highlights by Timestamp

| Timestamp | Highlight | |---------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:26 | Defining “Boosters”; light banter on “fashion philanthropy” | | 05:08–07:54 | Cast reactions to audience premiere; first impressions of Boots Riley’s vision | | 09:57–11:19 | The unexpected proposal; cast’s supportive reactions | | 14:10–17:56 | Discussions on class, consumer culture, and seeing yourself in the “bad guy” | | 19:29–22:29 | Labor, global supply chains, moral challenges, and character mirroring | | 23:23–26:08 | Big ideas: borders, patriarchy, current events, and revolutionary women | | 31:02–35:52 | Set camaraderie: pregnancy tales, bonding, and building a trusting creative environment | | 36:38–39:53 | Chemistry reads, Boots Riley’s collaborative directing style | | 41:43–56:27 | Cast reflecting on their characters’ resonance with their real lives; growth and transformation|

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Final Takeaway

“I Love Boosters” emerges from this episode as much more than a heist movie: it’s a prism for thinking about who shapes culture, how power performs, and why empathy, nuance, and collectivity matter—in both art and reality. The cast’s revelations and effusive chemistry ensure that both film and podcast linger long after the credits roll.

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Transcript

[Keke Palmer]

Hey, y'. All. My new film, I Love Boosters, recently premiered at south by Southwest in Austin, Texas, and I did a special episode of Baby this is Keke Palmer with my castmates. You may have seen online that during the taping, a person proposed to me and was eventually removed by security. I was definitely surprised, but my castmates and I did our best to respond with empathy in the moment. I know it was unexpected and concerning for many people in the room and for those who have watched online since. So I truly appreciate everyone who has reached out and shared love and support. We live in a time where parasocial relationships are a very real part of being a public figure, and it's important that kindness and respect exist alongside personal boundaries and safety. I hope the emphasis of this episode stays on the conversations we're having about I Love Boosters because I'm so excited for y' all to see this new film. I will always appreciate you for having my back and caring about me. Thank you. Here's the trailer for I Love Boosters. What would be your biggest challenge in a job like this? I shop here a lot and I feel like I should have it all. Just want to take it all home, eat it up, and shoot it out my eyes. I just feel like, give it to me. It's mine anyway. That is such a good answer.

[Demi Moore]

What's a booster?

[Keke Palmer]

Somebody that steal clothes from a store and sell at a discount price.

[Naomi Ackie]

It's like community service.

[Taylor Paige]

I call it Triple M Fashion Forward.

[Poppy Lee]

Philanthropy.

[Taylor Paige]

I know how to spell philanthropy. Branding, though.

[Keke Palmer]

Together we empty out every single metro designer in the Bay Area.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

It's the Velvet Gang. They're boosting from my stores.

[Taylor Paige]

Missy Smith knows we exist.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

They take my and sell it. Cause they're low class urban bitches. With all due respect to urban bitches, I'm an innovator making art.

[Taylor Paige]

Why are the nipples so big?

[Keke Palmer]

No matter what we doing in the car, Just chilling. Pop on Amazon music, sit back and listen. Life, love, sex, science, covering it all, especially the bad. Cause money always evolved. No matter what it is, we gonna make it make sense. Nothing else to do but kick it with the homies and kings. So grab you a drink and a snack you enjoy and get into the vibe that only you know it's your girl. This is Kiki, baby. This is Kiki Palma. Yeah, what is up south by Southwest? I am so excited, guys, to be here with you. My new film, I Love Boosters, directed by the brilliant Boots Riley, has just had the world premiere here in Austin. What did you guys Think. Did you check it out? If you haven't seen it yet, the movie follows a team of professional shoplifters engaging in what we call fashion forward. Philanthropy. Okay. Stealing from a fashion mogul to send a message about power, money, and consumerism. But the best part of making this film was getting to work with some truly incredible women. And I am so excited to talk with them about this movie. So please welcome Demi Moore, Naomi Acke, Taylor Paige, Poppy Lil, and Isaac Gonzalez. Oh, my gosh. This outfit. Girl, I just live.

[Demi Moore]

Hello.

[Keke Palmer]

Hey, boo. Come on, hat. Hi, booky boo. Yes. Give another round of applause for these beautiful girls. Is everybody being like, let's switch?

[Poppy Lee]

Sorry. They told us 17 times our seat.

[Demi Moore]

We're not.

[Keke Palmer]

I do like that. I do have a lot of pressure with this movie, since it's all about fashion to really show up and show out, but you definitely did.

[Poppy Lee]

We kind of coordinated without realizing.

[Keke Palmer]

I know.

[Demi Moore]

We tried coordinating, and we could not make it happen.

[Keke Palmer]

Oh, my gosh.

[Demi Moore]

Like, we're not a group of artists in a group chat is not good for planning or organizing anything. And yet it still happened because. Psychic.

[Keke Palmer]

But we tried. I be texting Taylor back and forth. Our group chat is crazy, y'. All. You know, we did the best we could. How are you guys feeling after last night? Everybody got to see the movie with people. Like, we've watched it before, but it's different when you get to watch it with an audience, Especially, like, one like south by Southwest. It's like, the perfect audience. So how do you guys feel after just getting that reaction? Everybody's friend.

[Naomi Ackie]

It was wonderful. It was wonderful. I feel like it was really electric. I just don't think films come to life until you see it with an audience. It allows you to forget that you're on screen, which is a really nice thing.

[Keke Palmer]

It's an easy.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

When you're watching yourself.

[Keke Palmer]

Exactly.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

No, but it was incredible to feel the response and also to be part of a film that you want to see with an audience. You want the communal experience. You want to look to your neighbor and go, holy.

[Poppy Lee]

Yeah.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes. I felt the exact same way. I was just waiting for everybody in the theater to get to that lakeith Sc.

[Poppy Lee]

Me, too.

[Keke Palmer]

That was me the whole time. Like, just wait till y' all see,

[Isaac Gonzalez]

you know, bootstrap those teeth on the big screen. The dripping teeth?

[Poppy Lee]

Yeah, the dripping teeth.

[Keke Palmer]

It kind of had multiple. I feel like our movie has multiple movies in it, like. Cause when people hear me talking about it, they're like, I thought this movie was about boosters that's what you think. There's so much more going on. Okay. Boots Riley doesn't just make movies. Right. He builds worlds. I mean, they're creative and they're surreal. What drew each of you to this story? And what's the statement you feel like the movie is making? Well, they all push you turn around.

[Demi Moore]

Well, I know that working with Boots has been like a bucket list career dream. And so when I was first sent the script, I was ecstatic. And Boots and I had a zoom. And, you know, it's a complicated world. Some scripts you read, and it's very intuitive, like, what's going on? He kind of had to, like, say the vision, even when we were filming it. I feel like a lot of it is a fever dream in Boots mind. And until you're sitting there seeing the final product, it was sort of like, oh, my God. That's what he was envisioning the entire time. So anyways, we talked through the character and everything, and I did my tape afterwards. I remember just thinking then I was like, even if I don't get this role, I was like, I already feel so happy that I got the chance to talk to him, that I got to read the script. I was like, it's making. It's reminding me that the right creative collaborators are out there. And it just gave me a feeling of hope. And then I did get to do it with him, and that was such a dream come true.

[Poppy Lee]

Yeah.

[Taylor Paige]

I had just finished filming welcome to Derry, which was a completely.

[Keke Palmer]

By the way, that show is great, girl. Congratulations on that.

[Taylor Paige]

Thank you, Mama.

[Keke Palmer]

No, seriously.

[Taylor Paige]

But it was. That's obviously really dark and it's horror. And so this came, and y' all were already attached, and I thought, this will be really fun. But I also really wanted to work with Boots like you. And so the minute my agent said, boots, Riley has a new fit, they couldn't even finish the sentence. I was like, send it now. And we met, and then I didn't hear anything. And then I was pregnant. And so then when they said, you know, you're doing it, I'm like, I'll wait to tell them when I get to.

[Keke Palmer]

Okay, I've book a job and keep a job.

[Taylor Paige]

And we went to dinner, and I go, guess what, y'? All. And Boots, I saw his panic. Like, okay, well, I guess he was like, your character, Mariah could be pregnant. We were trying to figure it out.

[Keke Palmer]

But yes, I feel like the conversations that I had with you in the beginning of the movie, like, I thought that I Got the movie. But also, talking to you made me get the movie even more.

[Taylor Paige]

Really?

[Keke Palmer]

Yes. Because just, I remember us. The first thing that we shot was the opening. One of the opening scenes of the movie. It's when you wake me up. You got me working, working, working. And I was just like. I remember you said something like. It's like the wizard of Oz. You remember when you.

[Taylor Paige]

Oh, look, I have mom brain right now, so I don't remember anything. That sounds so insightful.

[Demi Moore]

And then the whole shoot, Taylor kept trying to be like, and you're the lion. No, no, no, no. You're the Tin man, and you're the.

[Taylor Paige]

And I'm Toto.

[Keke Palmer]

You being Toto is crazy. I thought you were the scarecrow.

[Demi Moore]

Swear to God.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

So does that be the wizard or the Wizard?

[Taylor Paige]

You're the wizard.

[Poppy Lee]

You're the wizard, girl.

[Keke Palmer]

You know what I mean? But I love the idea of playing with the archetypes and bringing. You know what I mean? Just. It was just interesting the way that you were literally indexing the movie backwards, like you were.

[Taylor Paige]

Wow. Thank you. Thank you for reminding me. I have to remember that for this run that we're doing, I Love Boosters

[Keke Palmer]

has been called a Robin Hood story. Right. Grappling with the idea of. Well, that technically, the Velvet Gang are criminals, but culturally, they're making a difference. So how did this film make you look at that? You know, that moral gray area.

[Naomi Ackie]

You know what? I think the thing that stood out for me about this film and that attracted me was the idea of. Sorry,

[Taylor Paige]

Is this serious?

[Keke Palmer]

What's happening? What? How'd this happen? I can't marry you. I don't know you. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, sir. No, it's okay. What's going. Is this a prank?

[Demi Moore]

No.

[Keke Palmer]

Y' all talking about. No. Well, I guess we got to get this settled then.

[Taylor Paige]

She wants to say yes. Oh, my God.

[Poppy Lee]

Oh, my goodness. Oh, my goodness. I just love the shock in your face.

[Keke Palmer]

You're.

[Demi Moore]

You're like, wow.

[Taylor Paige]

Is your heart beating really fast?

[Demi Moore]

My heart's beating really fast.

[Poppy Lee]

I wish this happened to me all the time, like you. That's amazing.

[Keke Palmer]

I keep waiting for somebody.

[Demi Moore]

Well, you have your boyfriend that brings you flowers.

[Keke Palmer]

Isaac. Guys, are you doing it okay?

[Demi Moore]

It's okay.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

It's everything but.

[Naomi Ackie]

Thank you.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

We just need to keep going. You just have to say no.

[Keke Palmer]

It's okay, honey. No. Thank you.

[Poppy Lee]

That's very sweet.

[Keke Palmer]

Aw. So sorry about that. Sorry, guys. Well, let's just take a deep breath, you know? Much love to you, brother. Okay, all right, all right. So let's get back into this. You know, we in hard times.

[Naomi Ackie]

For a second I was like, oh, yay.

[Taylor Paige]

And then I was like, naomi, please.

[Demi Moore]

I can't

[Keke Palmer]

now. It's not time for nuance.

[Taylor Paige]

Sade always on that booth.

[Keke Palmer]

Sade always on that.

[Poppy Lee]

Remember that one time,

[Taylor Paige]

Larry, we'll never forget this moment.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah, that was. Yeah. We got a lot to chit chat about.

[Taylor Paige]

Okay. Yeah, debrief.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

It takes you to like.

[Keke Palmer]

Wow.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

Something real all of a sudden.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

But not.

[Demi Moore]

Whoa.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

Kind of like the movie.

[Taylor Paige]

Woo.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes, yes. Kind of like the movie.

[Poppy Lee]

What was the question? Keeks.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah, right. Boots Riley projects. Did we answer those? Oh, no. Oh, we actually didn't. You were talking.

[Taylor Paige]

Right. Community. But I'm surprised you didn't hit him with the sword to this man.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah, I think I was just in shock. I kept thinking, I was like, oh, they bringing punk back. You know what I mean? Like I. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know what I mean? I was like, I get it. It's a premiere of the south by Southland. That was crazy.

[Taylor Paige]

No, no, no.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah, I don't even know. Yeah, we're back, we're back. We're back in the back,

[Naomi Ackie]

Babe. What was the question again?

[Keke Palmer]

Let me get my life back. About what? Well, just the moral gray area of the film. We have the girls, they're essentially criminals, but culturally, you know.

[Naomi Ackie]

So I think the thing is, is that like I remember, obviously I'm not from the States. Right. And we didn't call it boosting back home, but Wolvenstow Market, at school time or lunchtime or whatever, we go down the market and you're seeing high end stuff on the market. Stores that literally were in the. In the shops next door. Which is crazy. But like it was the thing that we could afford. It was the thing that gave us an access to a world that we didn't have. And yeah, it's great, but it's also community. It's also like, it feels like someone sharing something with you that you can aspire to and you can have a little bit of. To create your own vision of yourself, which kind of leads to power in a way. And there's something so special as well. And even though it's gray. Yes. About how you can take little bits of everything and you turn it into a culture. And that is what is special about working class being of a marginalized community. You take little things and you collect them and then you make them into your own. And it's something that's actually really inspiring. And the cost from the Big man isn't as big. It's not that big. They take more than we get. So I think it's justified.

[Keke Palmer]

Okay.

[Poppy Lee]

Yeah, girl. Preach. Okay.

[Keke Palmer]

Anybody want to add to that? I mean, she really did eat it.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

You know, the thing in watching it last night with the audience that really moved me was seeing the shift from a singular focus for oneself versus the collective focus for. Of people coming together and the impact we can make when we're not just working for our own self.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

And that, for me, was, you know, like, it was deeply moving. I remember last night when I saw you at dinner, like, just, like, it had a greater impact than I even realized by seeing it with an audience.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah. I really.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

The importance of that.

[Keke Palmer]

I really love the mirroring that happens between Christy Smith and Corvette, because there's this idea that just that, you know, Christy is the bad guy. You know what I mean? And that could be true in many ways. But you also see Corvette go on this journey where what would it be like if she had a chance to be on top and she has to look around and she has to go through that transition in a movie where she's looking up at this person that she's mimicking and that she wants to be like. Because she aspires to have success, but at the same time, slowly forgetting the people around her. They're now just. They've now just turned it into the background to her foreground. And so we get to see this reality that I think is so important that, you know, no matter what, where you're standing from, integrity is something that you have to be consciously thinking about having in every city, whether you're on the top or whether you're on the bottom. And the people around you, they're not just here to support you, but they're here to exist alongside you. So that's what I love that Corvette finds. And that really was hit. Touched me the more that I watched the movie.

[Poppy Lee]

You know what really hit to me when I was watching your performance was the concept of we are conditioned as a society to idolize these people while still having a moral compass. Right. She's completely a morally balanced human being of who she is. But somehow we are all trapped in this vortex of. You see her when she talks about her, like, her eyes glisten, and it's. She has an identity of her own. She knows who she is, yet somehow she's like, you know, like a fly to the light. And I think it really encompasses the world we live in because it is. I find myself, especially with social media now and seeing all these kids and us, including us adults, you know, we kind of hate it beloved, but hate it beloved. We all live in this dimension of this duality. And I think it does capture that because you're not just villainizing her. And I think it's. I have to say, it owes to the performances as well that everyone brings. It's very nuanced. It's not linear. Like, she is the villain. We hate her. It's. I want to be her, but why do I want to be her if she is this version that I hate and I'm fighting, but yet I still want to be her? And I think we can all see ourselves in those moments throughout life. That is the real human experience. And I think what Boots is really good is understanding society. He does social commentary about soc, and he's always on point, and he's quiet, man. He's not like, you know, he's on set and he's just observing, observing, observing, and then he just plasters it on art. And I think people will watch this movie and rewatch it and get so much more from it because these are very fundamentally balanced women, yet still being swayed by the one thing they hate. And we can all relate to that, I think.

[Taylor Paige]

Well, we all have a sense that it doesn't have to be this way. And we've all. We all are victims of it, but also benefit from it. I mean, we critique America, but we all benefit from being here. Also, the world is. It's going to continue to spin, and we're going to continue to want to wear clothes and have nice things and, you know, your car system, your transportation, your. Your options. You have. We have options. You know, it's like, I don't really like bananas. I actually would prefer this. And most of the world doesn't live like that. Most of the world doesn't have options. Most of the world has one pair of shoes, you know, and so it gets really. It is this kind of the big.

[Keke Palmer]

I think that awareness is very important. You spoke to the duality of it, and that is the duality, because the moment that Corvette meets Tian Hu. Did I pronounce it right? Yeah, you did, because I kept acting like John Hughes. It was like my accent wasn't correct. So Tian Hu, you know, the first

[Demi Moore]

thing after one of my chickens. John Hughes. Yes. Well, so my name is Jian Hu, but, you know, you're on set, everyone's. Can John Hu come to. We need John Hu. So then it became John Hugh, which turned into John Hughes. And then now I'm John Hughes. And so I have. I raised chickens. And so one of my chickens is now John Hughes, period. She's a gorgeous, silky. I think she's also autistic.

[Keke Palmer]

Fabulous.

[Demi Moore]

Yes. And also. But she was also, you know, like, I think she's now becoming a bit of a bully. It's a whole thing. She was kind of bullied as a young chick. And you see, like, the cycle of violence hurt people, hurt people. Hurt chickens, hurt chickens. That's John Hughes and that's also boosters. So, you know, But Poppy, everybody.

[Keke Palmer]

This was us on set with her. It's stand up nonstop.

[Demi Moore]

I just, like. I think it's so iconic that, like, I mean, we have a whole sequence where we're fully in China. And I feel like this entire movie works without us having to go to China. I keep saying that Boosters, to me, feels like it's a movie that is Trojan horsing, a story about class solidarity and class struggle. And you could have kept it just here. There's enough between the Velvet Gang, between Kristy Smith about, you know, the value of material goods, what options someone has given the choices in front of them, et cetera, et cetera. But he took it all the way back to like, okay, we're talking about Chloe, talking about choices. Where is that coming from?

[Keke Palmer]

Yes.

[Demi Moore]

Who is making that?

[Keke Palmer]

Because we're all the star of our own story. And we're all on one side of the same contradiction that goes both ways. Because the moment that Corvette. I like that Corvette isn't just the underdog. The moment that she meets Yanhoo, she talking about, yeah, that's good. This what we gonna do for me, right? That's what she. She pulls a Kristi Smith. They're at that table. We watch the whole Forehead movie. It all go. We see Keon Cool's storyline. And the first thing Corvette says is, that's great. Give me the machine. I got some stuff I'm trying to do. And it's not until Isa your character where we actually. The whole movie, she popping out the window. She's saying, hey, y', all, message. I'm here to tell you that finally Corvette gets it. We all. We all are the star of our own movie. We all got a struggle. We're all the villain in somebody's world. And we all have a vision. We just trying to bring to life. And I think that awareness is what helps us. It doesn't change everything, but it can at least Help us to see each other more fully, you know, that's why

[Taylor Paige]

it's profound when Christy says, you're just fighting yourself.

[Poppy Lee]

True.

[Keke Palmer]

I love when we get a Ooh.

[Demi Moore]

I will say, though, I do think that in her heart that Jiang Hu is a revolutionary, because I've always thought. Think about it. She gets her hands on a teleporter, and instead of being like, I'm going to rob a bank or like, whatever, or even just take these clothes and try to resell them and do whatever she says, we're going to use these clothes as a bargaining chip for labor rights and for us to unionize.

[Keke Palmer]

Absolutely fabulous.

[Demi Moore]

You know, I was like, oh, this girl isn't thinking in terms of capitalism. She's actually, like, thinking in a human centric way. And I feel like that twist is like. Like you were saying. When Corvette hears about this, her first thought is to do an exchange is to perform capitalism.

[Poppy Lee]

Totally.

[Demi Moore]

And Jiang Hua is like, I want to make sure that, like, my family members stop dying from the, like, you know, the sandblasted denim.

[Keke Palmer]

Your great point, Taylor. You know, everybody has a different vantage point from what is around them and what they know. That's why I do feel like it's such a great power when we can create art that impacts or moves the way that people think and reaches us from different vantage points. We go online, we could see somebody else's world. We could see somebody's perspective. I mean, I take it back to my space. Tom just wanted us to see somebody's face. Tom, he just said. Cause if you see their space, you might understand things differently.

[Taylor Paige]

God bless Tom.

[Keke Palmer]

He didn't foresee our sitting sideways. Tom, you know, we love Tom. He just got us out of cold

[Taylor Paige]

and bound on an island somewhere, probably.

[Keke Palmer]

Okay.

[Taylor Paige]

Out of the way, Right?

[Keke Palmer]

All right. On an island. Boots always holds up a mirror to society. And there's a lot that he's showing us with this movie. But what do you think he's saying about the moment that we're living in right now? And I know we said a lot of it here, but maybe in few words. What would you say he's trying to say?

[Demi Moore]

I think he's saying that borders are not real and that the thing that unites us all is class struggle and that it needs to be a global international movement, personally.

[Poppy Lee]

Yeah. And as she said, everyone's their own sort of revolutionary, and I think that we can kind of, as a society. I mean, it does blow my mind because we did film this movie. How long ago?

[Naomi Ackie]

2.

[Poppy Lee]

And the timing couldn't be more exact. Like this moment. It feels like he filmed it two weeks ago and he was like, this is the time to drop it. And that. I think it's. I mean, obviously it's a foreshadowing. I think we've all been seeing where we're heading towards slowly but surely. But I think, you know, again, I go back to. He's a person of the people. He makes movies for people, for audiences. Boots is not someone who's, like, bothered and flustered about what Hollywood wants, clearly, as you watch that movie. And, you know, I think that's what I appreciate about him as a filmmaker is this man who has something really important to say outside of the system. And the point is to criticize the system within being in the system. It's quite meta.

[Keke Palmer]

And yes, I live for the meta.

[Poppy Lee]

And he's like, but f. The system. And this is what it's at. And this is a patriarchy, and this is how it sets. And this is. And by the way, the fact that, I mean, I don't like to go gender specific, but most of these revolutionary characters are women. I don't know. Like, he's. He's a father, he's a partner. He gets it, man. In a deep cellular way of, what's this world looking like? And I think that last moment in the movie, I mean, we were talking about it, it moves you. It hits you deep with turning on the news and what's going on in the world. And I think when you watch characters like this going through these journeys, it makes you believe, damn, man. My life has purpose, even if I'm in this small place or in a big place, like my desires, my dreams, what I look for, I can go for it, whatever that looks like. And I just gotta push. Don't let the system brainwash you because it's designed for us to just be completely drawn by it. And so we are getting to a place where, like, I think as everything, the pendulum swings so far right and so far left. And now people are like, nah, nah, nah, nah. Not anymore. We're pushing back. And I think that's very motivating. We see it with the strikes on the streets. We see it with, you know, it started all with, like, in the middle of COVID and Black Lives Matter. And like, we're just like, no, the system doesn't dictate anymore. And I think in a world that feels so bleak, this feels like a ray of sunshine.

[Naomi Ackie]

Yeah.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

Do you think he's saying that there is a sweet demon Trying to suck

[Demi Moore]

the life out of us somewhere.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

I'm still wrapping myself around the cunnilinga demon.

[Keke Palmer]

I've been around a few of them.

[Demi Moore]

I mean, I feel like wondering one day is going to write their PhD on what the symbolism of that, you know, cunnilingus demon is doing. Oh, my God. And I want to read it. And I will say there, I mean, to what Asa was saying, there is an irony about a film which, you know, I feel like fundamentally is about class being told through Hollywood. And I feel like that irony is, like, really not lost on any of us. But I feel like that's also what makes us special, because it's not just the kind of art that Boots makes. Part of my excitement about working with him is also about who he is as a person and, you know, at his level as a director and where he is in Hollywood. He has never shied away from, like, being politically outspoken, regardless of the repercussions. He was one of the first, I think, that was outspoken about Gaza and Palestine and the genocide, and he has never wavered at all. And I think he did that knowing that there would be a cost and not knowing what. So I feel like that plays into the miracle that, like, he has gotten all this support and this film has gotten all this support. And, you know, sometimes I struggle, too, with, like, artists who I feel like are doing a lot of important storytelling with their art, but then in their personal life, can't follow that moral code or, you know, take the same kind of risks. And I just feel like Boots is like a just. He is.

[Keke Palmer]

It's not a performance. It's who he is.

[Demi Moore]

Not at all. Yeah.

[Keke Palmer]

And at the end of the day,

[Demi Moore]

I admire that a lot about him, and I'm proud to work with him.

[Keke Palmer]

I do, too. Because the truth is the truth. It's always be the truth, whether you acknowledge it or not. And that's how he lives his life. He's just speaking his truth. And so how could you be mad at somebody that has. That knows their POV and is sticking to it, you know, And Boots.

[Taylor Paige]

But Boots is. I feel his baseline is still all with an open heart. So we have these conversations, and we could disagree or he could, and there's still just this openness. And I wonder what that would be like if all of us have different brains and different upbringings and different perspectives and the way we see. We're not supposed to see it the same. I mean, we're diverse in the way that we think and the way that we. Profess. And what we like and what we gravitate toward. But. But what would it be like to sit with that, with an open heart? Like, what would the world be like? It's like, I don't really agree, but I'm going to open my heart to you. And now you open your heart to me. We could do something with that.

[Keke Palmer]

That's community.

[Taylor Paige]

Something.

[Demi Moore]

Got you,

[Keke Palmer]

baby. This is Iki Palma. Yeah. You know your girl loves to travel. Some of my favorite trips have been with my fam to far off places like Rome. But this spring, we're eyeing a more local spot like South Carolina, because our non negotiables are delicious food and a beach where we can have fun but also get some much needed rr. And when I'm planning where we're going to stay, I'm not only thinking about logistics, like where is everyone going to sleep, but also how can I really experience the place I'm visiting? That's why I book a stay on Airbnb for family trips. We get to stay in neighborhoods where locals actually live and really connect with the city through authentic experiences. Plus, everyone can spread out with separate bedrooms. Like, my son's bedtime doesn't have to be my bedtime. And we've got a real kitchen to cook some meals together if we end up staying in. It's also way more cost effective than booking multiple hotel rooms. We all get our own space, but some still come together to create those genuine memories for that kind of trip. Hotels just don't give us what we need. Find a home for your next family adventure on Airbnb. I mean, you guys could see my next question was, what were the vibes like on set? You could see this, what the vibe was like. We were always talking, having some. And honestly, it could have been about pizza. It could have been about the state of the union. It could have been anything across the board. But we were always having dialogue and it felt really good. And we were also excited when Demique came. We were like, what y' all think she gonna be like? How you think she go, I can't wait to see what she wearing. What she think she gonna kick? Is she gonna talk to us? She came right sit down in the middle of the floor. She was like, hey, girls, with her little pup. How's it going? I'm so hyped for the movie. And we just would get into it. I mean, do you guys have a favorite moment or a favorite day that you remember on set? Naomi, looking back, I'm like, they blur into one.

[Taylor Paige]

I Have a fun memory. It was kind of. Sorry, I can't share what was shared. But you shared a story, and then you shared a story, and we all collapsed on the.

[Keke Palmer]

Talking about. Brilliant.

[Demi Moore]

I don't remember when we got back.

[Keke Palmer]

No, no, it was the tea. It was the tea that. It was a teenage in a pink look.

[Demi Moore]

Is that Asa?

[Keke Palmer]

How.

[Taylor Paige]

But also because I was pregnant. Babies pushing. I peed on myself in the hallway twice in this film. Twice. Once on set and once in the hallway. I was like, you guys.

[Poppy Lee]

We were collapsed on the floor.

[Taylor Paige]

I don't have a black. A pelvic floor.

[Demi Moore]

Please.

[Poppy Lee]

If you only knew what was being talked about.

[Keke Palmer]

I do feel like this doesn't happen often, but I do feel like we was telling each other our business on this job. Like, we don't like you. Don't you. Y' all know at. At your job, whether you're on set, whether you're in the office, wherever you are. These are my colleagues. But then there'll come a moment where it's like, these is my. You know what I mean? We were Kenny in I know so much about Kiki. Y' all know so much about my life.

[Taylor Paige]

We were getting into it.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah, I loved it.

[Naomi Ackie]

Really was.

[Keke Palmer]

Oh, my. And by the way, you were pregnant on set. You now have your baby.

[Poppy Lee]

Yeah.

[Keke Palmer]

This is incredible.

[Taylor Paige]

He's in the movie.

[Poppy Lee]

That is an amazing story. Do you guys remember when the doctor came and made us hear the heartbeat? The doctor came.

[Taylor Paige]

Our set.

[Naomi Ackie]

The set nurse.

[Taylor Paige]

The set nurse.

[Poppy Lee]

Yes.

[Taylor Paige]

She also happened to be a doula and midwife, and she'd let me hear his heartbeat all the time. And there was once where we were looking for it because I'd get a little panicked, and the girls would start talking, and all of a sudden, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.

[Naomi Ackie]

Can I just say, I'm not being funny, right? I've met him twice now. Oh, and I was there for. When you were in labor.

[Taylor Paige]

You both sent me a video right before. I was.

[Naomi Ackie]

I was. I was in la, and I was

[Taylor Paige]

like, hey, can I come around?

[Naomi Ackie]

I want to see you.

[Taylor Paige]

Yeah, you saw me, too.

[Naomi Ackie]

Yeah, sure, sure.

[Poppy Lee]

Yeah.

[Naomi Ackie]

No, I think I'm in labor, but, like, totally come around.

[Taylor Paige]

I was in labor. I was Humpty Dumpty. It was Humpty Dumpty. I'm a Humpty Dumpty girl. I was about to roll down that hill, right? I was like, you a huge.

[Poppy Lee]

My biggest memory of this movie is Taylor in that, like, big titty onesie.

[Keke Palmer]

Oh, we love that.

[Poppy Lee]

I Have photos of her on my phone the other day. I was going through. And I just have your titties there. Not her titties.

[Demi Moore]

Who made that?

[Poppy Lee]

Not her. Her titties, which I would love. But it wasn't that. No, it was that suit. It's so funny. Like, the idea of boosters is Taylor in that onesie walking around, like, rubbing her belly.

[Taylor Paige]

It was giving me a. It was letting me, you know, get used to the idea of being, you know, more womanly, more voluptuous, more Areola.

[Keke Palmer]

How do you feel about that time now? You know, looking back at the movie, how it's impact, you know, the work we were doing, but also like in your now new mind, because you do. I mean, anybody in the audience with kids, moms, you know, you are not the same person you were before the baby. You know what I mean? And so how do you feel about that time and you know, compared to now?

[Taylor Paige]

I'm so grateful to all of you. I feel you. You raised him in the. In there. Because I laughed so much. And he's so happy. It makes me cry because he's so happy. He's so healthy. He's so beautiful, really. And it really birthing him initiated me into this life that I've always wanted for myself. And I just feel I'm finally living inside my life. But you guys being there with me, it was just so amazing. We just laughed so much. I mean, I think my belly. He was in there probably like, okay, yeah, you were.

[Poppy Lee]

All right.

[Taylor Paige]

It's really funny. Like, I want to sleep now, you know, but he's so. That's how he is today. He's always in on, you know, I'm laughing and he just starts giggling. It's just incredible. It's incredible.

[Keke Palmer]

Kids do have this really incredible power. You just said something quick and I want to pull it out because just make sure everybody heard it. Is that now you're living inside your life, you know what I'm saying? Like kids, really, especially when we're in our kind of industry and look in our kind of world or in our kind of country, whatever, where, you know, you're working, you're working. You know, everybody's hyper functioning and trying to do it right and get it done and be the one and get the job you can, you know what I'm saying? You end up just like, who am I? Cause you just the thing now. You're just the product. You're not a human being. You're a human doing. You know what I mean? And so I Know, for me, that was really big. Would have my son of just like. Cause my son, he's just being.

[Taylor Paige]

That's right.

[Keke Palmer]

So then you start being like, well, damn, I want to be like you.

[Taylor Paige]

Yes.

[Keke Palmer]

My son will be like, no.

[Taylor Paige]

It's so true.

[Keke Palmer]

I had to turn that damn boss baby off. He was learning too much from that baby. Boss baby walking around acting like Alec Baldwin. Sit your ass down.

[Taylor Paige]

Seriously.

[Keke Palmer]

He'd be like, absolutely not. But it helps you. It reminds you. You know it's true.

[Taylor Paige]

You're looking at this baby, and they're on an acid trip all day. They're like, wow, the sky. My feet. So I'm, like, feeling the bottom of my feet. I'm like, here I am in this moment. Wow, My feet. Wow. My hands. You know, everything. His belly button, his lemon. He's like this lemon, you know, like, all these amazing things. Being alive is so cool. It really is.

[Poppy Lee]

Yeah.

[Taylor Paige]

To love and to be alive and to love people, to love people around you, to love your baby, it's just like. It's incredible.

[Keke Palmer]

I completely agree with you. Was there a moment, you guys, where you felt like. I know. For me, I'll say this because the question is about when we knew our chemistry was working. I remember when we did that first read, if y' all remember. It was like before we started filming the movie.

[Taylor Paige]

Oh, my God.

[Keke Palmer]

And we were in there, and Boosie was just like, just. Just talk, you know, just do the lines. Just do the. And this is our first session or whatever like that. And I could. I'm a very rhythm person. I don't care if it's comedy. I don't care if it's drama. I don't care what the material is. I'm just always hearing the voices as, like, beats, you know, it's like music in my ear, and we're doing the lines, and I was like, this beat is sick. Come on. I want to take a ride. And it is coasting. No, I'm kidding.

[Naomi Ackie]

Yes.

[Taylor Paige]

I thought you were going there, but

[Keke Palmer]

I was like, how did you know we were gonna sound like this? Not even. How did you know we were gonna act like this? Like, how did you know we were gonna sound like this? Because we were like, ping. It's just like, now it's like, ping, ding, pong, tungsten. And that's when I knew. Oh, this is Boots is not just like, a great writer, director, but, like, this casting. Like, we match.

[Poppy Lee]

Yeah.

[Keke Palmer]

That's when I saw it. Was there a moment or a scene where you guys felt that well.

[Demi Moore]

Cause we didn't even do a chemistry read beforehand. And the thing about this rehearsal in quotes and heavy, heavy quotes is that it was three to four hours long. I think we went through the scene two times maximum. And the rest of it. One thing I admire about Boots is that he takes up, like, zero space as a man, which is, like, one of the most endearing qualities ever.

[Keke Palmer]

Oh, for real. He really let us go.

[Poppy Lee]

True.

[Demi Moore]

And, like, we'll just be, like, yapping, and I'll just turn around and Boots,

[Keke Palmer]

his right hand side.

[Poppy Lee]

He's just observing us.

[Demi Moore]

Yeah, he's just, like, with a huge smile on his face, like him. But, like, this rehearsal, it was just us, like, yapping, and he would just sit back, and at the end of it, we were like, do we need to read this scene more? And he was like, no. He was like, I think that's the rehearsal. And we were like, okay.

[Poppy Lee]

You know, he has this quality of seeing people, and that's not easy. And we see it. Obviously, they're directors that have vision and some that follow the pattern of what the industry tells them. And they're like, she's the cool girl, or that's the cool person, or she's what people are gonna be like, thumbs up. And he just doesn't care. He's just like, who are you? What's your deal? And I felt that, like, when I watched all of you perform, you know, he sees you. He's not trying to impose into you. He's just letting the collaboration exist. And you see it, like, it's not. It's. I really want to highlight this. It's not a casualty that most of the performances are good. That's not a casualty. That's not. Oh, my God. Everyone's amazing. Because a lot of these actors go on to other movies and they don't get the chance to get these performances. Why is that? Because you have a director who's imposing into you, and not a director that is wanting to collaborate with you.

[Taylor Paige]

Preach.

[Poppy Lee]

And that is a ginormous difference. Because, you see, I mean, who the hell would think of me as a goth? Like, physicist, knowledgeable, like, conspiracy theories.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Poppy Lee]

And then he's like, I see something. You're a fighter. And I feel that way in the inside. I feel it. But no one sees me that way. No one sees, like, you like, that. You know, they're like, she can really bring this layer into a halter. And that is just a blessing. It's like, the most, like, when you leave the set and you Go home and you watch this movie and whatever the movie does amazing. And hopefully it does amazing because you're all going to go watch it when it opens. But.

[Keke Palmer]

Okay.

[Poppy Lee]

Because you're going to pay and bring all your friends. But. But my point is, like, you're just like, God, thank you for giving us a director that sees me and sees. What is my voice wanting to say as an artist, as an individual, as a moral compass. And that man is like gold. And in every movie you see, you see. Sorry to bother your. You see, obviously, Virgo, there is magical performances. This is a man watching you, listening to you and saying, bring it on.

[Keke Palmer]

To that point, what about your characters do you relate to the most? Or what were you zeroing in on in their story that allowed you to have empathy, compassion, and bring them to life? Baby, this is Icky Palma. Yeah, y'. All, I have questions about everything. What should I cook tonight? Is it jacket weather or am I overthinking this? Should I take that opportunity? And I've been using Claude. It's changed how I make decisions. Because here's the thing. Most AI just gives you information and that's it. Clawd actually helps you decide, think things through fully and take action. Like when I'm prepping for guests or trying to figure out whether something I read is legit, I'll go back and forth with Claude and it won't just hand me some surface level answer. It pushes back and asks me what I mean. It treats the question like it deserves more than 30 seconds. I also love that you can now connect your health data to Claude through Apple Health. And when I'm trying to figure out if my sleep is off, Claude helps me see the patterns. Try Claude for free at Claude AI Kiki Palmer and see why problem solvers choose Claude as their thinking partner.

[Naomi Ackie]

For me, I'm ever the realist. I mean, I'm ever the realist. I think Sade has a kind of. She's extremely grounded. And I think that was the thing that I was like, oh, I understand that. Like, I'm. I. Maybe it's with. Maybe it comes with age and stuff, but there's this sense for me of, like, what you see is what you see. I'm a very say what you see type person. And I know the truth, and if it's evident, then I do it. And I think Sade has a grounding energy in the film, but especially for Kuwait to bring, you know, this. So it's such a special thing, ambition, and it's such a special dream. To such a special thing, to have dreams and. But that has to be grounded in reality. That has to have a sense of what does this not just do for me, but what does this do for everyone? Like, I remember even wanting to be an actor, and at first it was like, I want to be a star. You know, oh, my God, the red carpet and all of that stuff. And then you go, oh, wait, no, this is a service. I'm providing, a service that potentially, if I do my craft right, opens people up to empathy, opens people up for discussion, and that is the richness of the thing. And so, in a way, bringing it even back to the film, it's like this. This skirt, I don't know what it's made of. Let's assume it's silk, right? This came from a worm. Someone's hands were on. Transported on a. On a cargo ship or a van. And then someone took their hands and they sewed it, and they thought about how to cut it. And then I'm wearing it right now. All of those things are so important. And I think when you're grounded and you have a sense of where everything comes from and where it should be going, you can have a real access to the world as it actually is, instead of an illusion.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes.

[Naomi Ackie]

Yeah.

[Poppy Lee]

You're really good at this.

[Keke Palmer]

And I do. I want to hear what everybody says, but I do feel like the reason why I asked this question is because I see all of you in your characters now. You guys are all acting boots. You know, you created a different reflection of this. It's not like you went to work and you were being yourselves, but I see that quality in you. You are so grounded, you know what I mean? And you were grounding for us all on set. I know you probably would side us leaning up on your shoulder because you are very much that person that just gets it. And you don't say everything, you know, but you know. You know what I mean?

[Poppy Lee]

That is her.

[Keke Palmer]

Cause you don't even want to put that on nobody. But it's like when it's time. Like Sade in the movie, when it's time to get real. Cause hey, you need to wake up, she'll say that. And that. That you do have that soul fully grounding energy where it's like, I'm a chill. When I need to speak up, I'm a speak up, you know? And we saw that side of you in this role.

[Naomi Ackie]

Yeah. Thank you.

[Keke Palmer]

Anybody else?

[Isaac Gonzalez]

I mean, for me, I feel like he gave me a chance to play somebody who is so not me. And that was the, like, the excitement of this exploration of then being able to take kind of extreme narcissist and find a way to bring a thread of humanity that I believe we all come from that sometimes gets lost as we're in the pathway of struggling. Like, Christy really does believe in what she's saying and has lost sight of others, but I think really cares. But the idea that he actually saw me one to be able to do something that was comedic, that was just so out of the box was what the joy and excitement of this for me, that it so wasn't me.

[Keke Palmer]

The part that I will say is similar to you, to Christy, is you're brilliantly gifted. Watching you act is a gift.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

Oh, my God.

[Keke Palmer]

Because just. No, I'm so serious. Because like, that moment when they're, like, when he does the Christy Smith breakdown, and she was a mad scientist and blah, blah, blah, that's how it was watching you act, your subtleties, the way you shift your eyes, the way you brought your gestures, your attitude and movement with Chris, Christy Smith, all of them. Yes. That was all mathematical. That was all mathematical, you know, But I mean, sure, for you, this is just you, what you do, this is what you see and what you know. But when people are observing, when we're observing, you, me and Taylor would be like, you see that you went off, you know, like, that was so cool. I love that she added that, this nuance so that it's. That it's like, you know, when you do something so effortlessly good, like you have for so many decades, sometimes people don't know how hard it is.

[Poppy Lee]

That's it. She has that commanding thing without trying.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah. And that's the part. That's the Kristy Smith element, is that. No, no, no. She's doing something that's not easy to do.

[Poppy Lee]

Yeah, yeah.

[Demi Moore]

I remember Demi, your last monologue, when you were being, like, right before you're taken away by the guards, when they turned the camera around and it was me, Taylor and Kiki watching you doing. The three of us were just like, jaw open, like, we weren't even being good scene partners, really. Because they were just like. And the feeling I had was I was like. I was like, there are people that are talented and that are stars, and this is a star. That's it, you know?

[Keke Palmer]

That's it.

[Poppy Lee]

Yeah, totally. Star.

[Keke Palmer]

It is what it is, you know?

[Isaac Gonzalez]

Well, I will say I came in, you guys had already been shooting, and you and I came into, like, an open door of welcoming that gave me permission to also be more brave and to take more risk, because you guys were all so loving and kind and warm that it made it really easy. There was no ego that I came into. It was all just open heart.

[Poppy Lee]

And it does, and it makes a huge difference. Yeah, it goes back to Kiki, too, because I have to say, it becomes a domino effect. It's really interesting what happens on a set, right? If. If someone's having fun, then the next person's having fun. Then you get into the door, you're like, oh, my God, everyone's having fun. And then it just becomes an environment. And that's to you, girl, too, because you really came in.

[Taylor Paige]

You're such a ball of wisdom. You're welcome and light and joy.

[Keke Palmer]

I give y' all the money for saying this after you're like, keep going. Y' all do good.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

But we all did. We all dumped in, did deep dives. Immediate, immediate, personal deep dives in between. They had to pull us out. Like, you guys need to go work.

[Keke Palmer]

Those poor PAs, man, they were like, these poor page.

[Demi Moore]

But it's true. Number one on the call sheet always determines the vibe of the set, even if everyone else is amazing. If number one on the call sheet is like, it can't be fixed. And you set that tone, Kiki. And it was very, very special.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

Yes, you did.

[Keke Palmer]

I really, really appreciate that.

[Taylor Paige]

What do you find similar to Corvette?

[Keke Palmer]

Girl, I thought you never asked. I really relate to Corvette being wrapped in her vision. I've always known what I wanted to do, who I wanted to.

[Poppy Lee]

Girl, you a superstar. You're a superstar, girl.

[Keke Palmer]

I've always felt like I want to do this, and I want to. I want to have this.

[Taylor Paige]

And you've done it, mama's.

[Demi Moore]

You have.

[Taylor Paige]

You've done it.

[Poppy Lee]

She really has.

[Keke Palmer]

But like my saddain says, like Naomi always says, every time she sees me, she touched my leg and she say, how you doing? And it don't sound like much. You know what I mean? But what she's saying is, how are not Keke Palmer. How is Lauren Kiana Palmer doing that? I relate to Cravette because just like, Cravette, like, I just want. I just want to do what I it started from. I want to do something that I can enjoy, and I can also help my family, you know? And then you become something, and then it's like, you got to always make sure that, you know, this is why I did it. This is what. It doesn't feel like that anymore. I don't want to do it anymore. When it doesn't feel like community. When it doesn't feel like me. I got my velvet gang. They all in the audience. When it don't feel like that, then there's no point to do it. And so I really relate to Corvette. What you were saying in the beginning, like, we are all in this world trying to make it, and we got to always make sure that our integrity is always maintained on that fight, on that rise to be able to do what we're trying to do for our community. The community still has to maintain the core. And so that. I really relate to that, to Corvette, wanting to be great, but not wanting it to cost her her ethics or learning what it means for it not to. That's important.

[Naomi Ackie]

So, yeah.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah, you guys, we can go straight to the game. Cause I only got one minute. I wanted to hear briefly your connection to y' all characters.

[Taylor Paige]

I think, Mariah, I always think that things could be better and that we should be having fun and to love your friends and those around you. And I think Boots said it, but something my husband said to me a few weeks ago, he's like, you know one of my favorite things about you? And I'm like, what?

[Demi Moore]

I'm scared.

[Taylor Paige]

And he was like, you know, every time you look at your phone or you say something, I always feel you're gonna tell me something good. You always have something.

[Keke Palmer]

Aw, that's scary.

[Taylor Paige]

But it's true. I'm, like, appreciating my heart lately because I'm like. It's actually true. I'm like, I do do that. I do feel that.

[Naomi Ackie]

I look up.

[Taylor Paige]

I'm always looking up. I'm always like, it could be better. It could be better. We could be better. It's gonna work out. And I really believe that. I have faith. I do have faith.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

Find the glass half full.

[Keke Palmer]

I do.

[Taylor Paige]

Or I'm even just like, whatever.

[Keke Palmer]

But you also.

[Taylor Paige]

I'll drink out of the faucet.

[Keke Palmer]

What we get to see in this movie is you're really, really funny.

[Poppy Lee]

Yeah, she's so funny.

[Keke Palmer]

You know what I'm saying? Like, you really. I think sometimes we're all. You know, it's this thing, like, with comedy or whatever. Like, you feel like, okay, what do I do? Like, you're naturally very, very.

[Poppy Lee]

Yeah.

[Keke Palmer]

And I'm happy that people get a chance in this movie to really see you flexing that. Because there was not a moment that you didn't say something on the screen where the audience was cackling. And I know you was outside with the baby. So I don't know if you saw, but, like, girl, it was so funny. And that's how it feels being with you. You always is cracking some type of joke, you know what I mean?

[Poppy Lee]

Without trying, too.

[Keke Palmer]

Without trying.

[Poppy Lee]

So funny.

[Taylor Paige]

Oh, thank you.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah. Poppy.

[Demi Moore]

Well, okay, well, first, I need to wrap up one more thought about Demi, because I need to say this on the record. I told her this in person already, but I did tell her that Demi has a choke hold on Asian aunties.

[Keke Palmer]

Oh, my God. Okay.

[Demi Moore]

There is nobody in Hollywood that they love more than our girl Daimy Moore. My mother has never been more proud of me or my career than knowing that I was in a film with Demi. And that is what you want to know what the WeChat aunties are saying in Minnesota right now that Tyler Quinn's daughter is in a movie with Demi. She has never once talked about any other job I've gotten anything at all. And it's. I don't know why. I mean, obviously you're a star, but it's just, like, for some reason, through the cultural ether or whatever, there's only a couple that have broken through.

[Poppy Lee]

Yeah.

[Demi Moore]

And it's a short list.

[Keke Palmer]

She on the black aunties, too.

[Poppy Lee]

Same in Mexico.

[Taylor Paige]

Black aunties. It's true.

[Keke Palmer]

My mama love you.

[Demi Moore]

D. What's the haircut?

[Isaac Gonzalez]

What's the haircut?

[Demi Moore]

It's the ghost. It's the ghost.

[Keke Palmer]

Of course it is ghost, you baby. But that ghost role. But that's a ghost role.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

Oh, and what's the name of the haircut?

[Demi Moore]

The.

[Keke Palmer]

Okay, my mom in the audience talking about, I go back to General Hospital.

[Demi Moore]

Love you now, like, my soundtrack growing up was. Oh, my love, my.

[Keke Palmer]

With my mom weeping.

[Demi Moore]

Yes, weeping. But yeah. So, you know, Asian aunties you would crush in Asia.

[Poppy Lee]

Crush.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

I'm gonna add it to my bucket list.

[Demi Moore]

Yes. Okay. But.

[Poppy Lee]

Right.

[Demi Moore]

My Dian. Huh? I feel very connected to her. I think that we both, like, have a heart that cares very much about social justice. And I really feel like the journey that Jiang Hu goes on through the course of the movie is a little bit the emotional journey I went on maybe, like, in my adulthood through my 20s to now, where, you know, she starts off very idealistic, and she's. And I think she has this belief that, like, that we can change the system from within. We can use bargaining chips. We can, like, use our power to. And that's true. And also, she gets to a point in the film right before we go into the fashion show where she says, like, Kristy Smith, like, let's Kill her, you know? And it's like, that's not, like, where I'm at, but, like, you know, but like, it's. She reaches a point where she was like, oh, actually, the system can't be changed. Some things need to be burned down.

[Isaac Gonzalez]

Yeah.

[Demi Moore]

And I think I. I had a moment too, where, you know, and I think I'm still grappling with it and wondering, but, like, you know, like,

[Poppy Lee]

empires fall. Yeah.

[Keke Palmer]

Especially when they not doing right.

[Demi Moore]

Yes. And sometimes they have to when you're

[Keke Palmer]

not doing right again. The truth is the truth. No matter what day of the week you decide to acknowledge or not. Coherence is the center. If you're not moving coherently, things will collapse.

[Taylor Paige]

Or maybe your building is built sideways.

[Keke Palmer]

Okay. And now you can't stand up straight. We in a Decadian Tower like this. I'm messing with you because you didn't want to respect. Respect the rules. You got to respect the rules of life. You don't, things will break. You have to respect it.

[Demi Moore]

Yes. And I think that, like, at least for myself, I think when I went through that, there was a. There's a moment of, like, hopelessness and helplessness, of being, like, the thing. The ideals I held onto before. I don't know if those things can change, but, like, I think somewhere to Jiang, who, like, she finds her fire again, where she was like, okay, I'm gonna let this motivate me. Like, let's, like, let's take this down. And I feel like you really see that with, like, you know, I think Dian Ho and Corvette have, like, a shared. They have a shared thread of being like, you know, Corvette wants to play the game, wants to be the Chrissy Smith Dion who wants to bargain with Chrissy Smith, wants to, like, ask. And at one point, they're just like, no, actually, I think we need a.

[Keke Palmer]

Like, yes.

[Demi Moore]

The dictator needs to fall.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah. And the system doesn't. I know. They want me to leave. Okay. Dang. I heard you.

[Poppy Lee]

They're like trees in different bold colors. They highlighted it.

[Keke Palmer]

They changed different tones. I love Boosters. It's funny. Stylish, rebellious, and full of ideas about power, fashion, and who really gets to control the story. It was an incredible experience making this movie with these amazing women and boots. Riley. Let's hear it one more time for Demi Moore, Naomi Ackee, Taylor Paige, Poppy Lee, EW And Isa Gonzalez. Thank you, south by Southwest. Thank you, Austin. And make sure to check out I love boosters. May 22, y', all, let's run it up.

[Poppy Lee]

See you at the theater. Bye.

[Keke Palmer]

Bye. Baby, this is. This is Kiki. Baby, this is Kiki Palace.