Chloe Bailey’s Darkest Role Yet: Inside The Making Of Strung

Summary

---

Podcast Summary: The Breakfast Club

Episode: Chloe Bailey’s Darkest Role Yet: Inside the Making of Strange
Date: June 25, 2026
Host: Lauren LaRosa (The Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartPodcasts)
Guests: Chloe Bailey (Lead Actress), Malcolm D. Lee (Director)

---

Episode Overview

This special episode celebrates the premiere of the thriller film Strange, starring Chloe Bailey and directed by Malcolm D. Lee. Recorded in front of a live audience in New York, the episode features an in-depth Q&A about the film's creation, Chloe Bailey’s challenging role, the nuances of Black representation in thrillers, the collaborative energy on set, and memorable behind-the-scenes stories.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Bringing “Strange” to Life: Director and Star Perspective

• Initial Excitement & Script Appeal

  • Malcolm D. Lee describes being gripped by the script and his readiness to explore a new genre.

    “I was very much reading the script as if it was a page turner... Here’s my opportunity to try a different exercise, a different muscle.”
    (Malcolm D. Lee, 05:00)

  • Chloe Bailey shares her gratitude and passion for thrillers, as well as the appeal of using musical instruments as weapons within the story.

    “I love thrillers. I love suspense, and I loved how, like, the instruments were used as weapons.”
    (Chloe Bailey, 06:13)

• Casting Chemistry

  • The pair met on the set of another film (Fight Night), sparking the creative partnership.

    “When I got the script, I was so enamored by it... and I just gravitated toward it.”
    (Chloe Bailey, 06:13)

---

2. Balancing Tone and Emotional Range

• Directing Emotional Nuance

  • Malcolm discusses the importance of establishing tone and allowing characters “to breathe,” diverging from his comedic roots.

    “It was nice to not have to cut to the joke on this movie, just let the characters breathe and let a rhythm be established.”
    (Malcolm D. Lee, 07:56)

• Actor’s Process: Improvisation & Collaboration

  • Chloe highlights the collaborative approach, where ad-libs and natural reactions were woven into the character.

    “A lot of them would be kind of mumbled under my breath... because I got that lost in the scene. And when we did ADR, Malcolm was like, ‘okay, I love what you’ve said there, but I want the audience to hear it.’”
    (Chloe Bailey, 09:21)

  • Notable Quote:

    “She didn’t want to say, ‘what the fuck?’ I had to pull that out of her.”
    (Malcolm D. Lee, 09:41)

---

3. Black Women in Thriller: Breaking Stereotypes

• Range of Representation

  • Chloe celebrates the diversity and complexity of Black women portrayed in Strange: from matriarchs to nurses, aspirational to flawed.

    “There was not one stereotypical black woman... I love how it explored that in every way and dynamic.”
    (Chloe Bailey, 14:47)

  • Malcolm and Chloe both discuss the moral ambiguity, rooting for characters who are multidimensional and evolve over the story.

    “A lot of the characters live in the gray area. Clearly there are villains... but you can understand them and synthesize, like, okay, she’s trying to protect her own.”
    (Malcolm D. Lee and Chloe Bailey, 15:43–16:05)

• Cultural Authenticity

  • Malcolm emphasizes that these characters were written as Black and not adapted from a white-centered script. The aspiration and upscale setting are deliberate but the story remains deeply accessible.

    “These characters were inherently written... to be African American.”
    (Malcolm D. Lee, 17:36)

---

4. Crossing Over into Thriller Genre

• Director’s Challenge

  • Malcolm shares his uncertainty stepping into thriller, the delicate balance of music use, and letting the audience’s reaction guide edits.

    “With a comedy, you know what you’re gonna get... with a thriller, you just kind of, like, are feeling how the audience is feeling. And are they with you? Are they with the characters?”
    (Malcolm D. Lee, 19:42–19:52)

  • Music as Narrative Heartbeat

    • Score and music are fundamentally tied to plot and character depth.

    “Music is always important to me in a movie and in a movie like this where music is so at the forefront... it was not an easy thing to do because you have so much on-screen performance.”
    (Malcolm D. Lee, 21:41–22:59)

  • Chloe’s Musical Dedication

    • Chloe relearned the violin in just over a week, refusing to “fake” her character’s musicianship.

      “I really put a lot of pressure on myself as a musician, and I’m happy that I had a little bit of musicianship in my back pocket.”
      (Chloe Bailey, 23:48)

---

5. Action, Stunts, and Physicality

• Stunt Work

  • Chloe describes her delight in performing her own stunts (except the most dangerous falls), likening physical sequences to dance choreography.

    “When they teach you, like, the stunt choreography, it’s almost like dance choreography... I’m an adrenaline junkie, so I was ready.”
    (Chloe Bailey, 30:17)

• Emotional and Physical Demands

  • Malcolm praises Chloe’s all-in approach: “She has to be physical, she has to be violent, she has to be sexy, she has to be innocent, she has to be emotional... she had no days off.”
    (Malcolm D. Lee, 30:51)

  • Chloe highlights Lynn Whitfield’s work ethic as deeply inspiring:

    “Even when the camera was not on her... she was giving it 100% just so she could feed you what you needed.”
    (Chloe Bailey, 33:25)

---

6. On-Set Culture and Memorable Behind-the-Scenes Moments

• Community and Positivity

  • Both guests describe the film set as a family, with energy and positivity flowing from both cast and crew.

    “It was such a community, family effort, and we really put our all into that film. And I’m happy that you can tell and see it, because not one person was, like, lacking. Everyone gave their all.”
    (Chloe Bailey, 32:48)

• Favorite BTS Story

  • A tricky late-night car door/blood splatter scene tested everyone’s patience and ultimately led to a more authentic on-screen emotion.

    “That was real frustration that was on the 30th hit that really helped add... by the time... And that’s one of my favorite memories.”
    (Chloe Bailey, 39:19–40:13)

---

7. Audience Reception and Favorite Moments

• Live Audience Reactions

  • Malcolm notes the thrill of sharing the film without spoilers and watching surprise at twists—especially the big Marcus reveal.

    “One of my favorite parts of the process [is] watching audiences enjoy the movie and not knowing what they’re about to step into… when we find out that Marcus is the husband, that’s a great moment for the audience.”
    (Malcolm D. Lee, 40:38)

• The Ask: Spread the Word

  • The episode closes with a plea to support the film’s rollout and generate buzz online and via word of mouth.

    “We really counting on you to, like, just get the word out about the movie... if you liked it, put it on social media and tell them to tune in on Friday.”
    (Malcolm D. Lee, 42:05–42:21)

---

Notable Quotes

• Chloe Bailey on pushing herself:

  “I was just ready to go really drown myself in this experience. And I constantly want to be challenged and pushed so that I can continue to grow and be better.” (29:03)

• Malcolm D. Lee on character diversity:

  “A lot of the characters live in the gray… you’re rooting for her and also feeling sorry for her.” (15:43–16:05)

• Chloe Bailey on set energy:

  “Everyone gave their all. I kind of shared this earlier, and I think I was so enamored by this because it taught me that no matter how high you get, you still have to put your all into everything. It was Ms. Lynn Whitfield… just so she could feed you what you needed.” (32:48–33:25)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro and Movie Premiere Setup: 02:21–04:44
• Casting and Creative Partnership: 04:50–06:44
• Balancing Tones & Improvisation: 07:02–09:41
• Black Female Representation: 14:39–16:55
• On the Culture and Genre: 17:36–19:52
• Music as Heart of the Film: 21:22–23:48
• Violin Training & Musicianship: 23:17–24:10
• Physical Demands & Stunts: 29:49–31:10
• On-Set Energy and Inspiration: 32:27–33:46
• Behind-the-Scenes Story (Blood Splatter): 38:42–40:13
• Audience Reception & Marcus Reveal: 40:27–41:49
• Conclusion & Call to Action: 41:59–42:39

---

Closing Thoughts

This episode offers an intimate look into the making of Strange, underscoring not only Chloe Bailey’s personal and professional growth but also the importance of nuanced, diverse representation in genre films. Malcolm D. Lee’s directorial flexibility and the electric community energy of the production are palpable, making this Q&A as entertaining as it is insightful for listeners—especially anyone interested in the intersection of Black culture, cinema, and creative collaboration.

Transcript

[Lauren LaRosa]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

[Tony Ayo]

This is Tony Ayo from the Real Report with Tony Ayo and Uncle Murder. You ever notice how everything keeps going up? Rent, streaming, even extra Sosa at your favorite burrito spot. But with Boost Mobile, you don't have to play the Willis Go up soon game. Boost Mobile offers an unlimited talk, text, and data plan at a price that'll never go up. It's the same price you'll pay for Life. Switch now for unlimited wireless at a price that'll never go up. Only at boost mobile. After 30 gigabytes, customers may experience slower speeds. Customers will pay $25 a month as long as they rem active on the Boost Unlimited plan.

[Fernanda Echavarri]

It's that time to put on your jersey and wave your flag, whoever you root for.

[Unknown World Cup Fan]

Why do I watch the World Cup? That's like asking me why do I breathe?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

And it's beautiful.

[Lauren LaRosa]

The guys are young and cute and fit.

[Unknown Soccer Culture Commentator]

It's not just a game. It's your culture.

[Chloe Bailey]

I like watching it with my dad.

[Lauren LaRosa]

It's a connecting force.

[Fernanda Echavarri]

From Futuro Studios, I'm Fernanda Chavarri, and this is is American Football, a show about soccer culture in the US and its underdog roots. Listen to American football on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Drink Champs Host]

June is Black Music Month, and on the Drink Champs podcast, we're speaking with the hottest names in the culture, like Swae Lee. Do you realize how legendary you are?

[Swae Lee]

I appreciate that I be seeing it, but I'm like, man, I still got, like, so much more to do. Like Prince, he dropped like, 30 albums. We dropped like five right now. That's the rate we gotta be going.

[Drink Champs Guest]

Yeah, that's a good attitude.

[Drink Champs Host]

No matter the era, Drink Champs brings you the biggest names and the most unfiltered conversations. Listen to Drink Champs from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Keith Giamanca]

Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life?

[Family Member Reacting]

That is not the look of an innocent man. Is everyone lying to me about who they are?

[Keith Giamanca (Desperate)]

I felt such desperation. I felt it was what I had to do.

[Keith Giamanca]

Listen to Deep Cover the Family man on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Unknown Speaker]

Let's get to it.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Time to do it.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I'm the homegirl that knows a little bit about everything and every bond.

[Drink Champs Guest]

You know, she don't lie about that.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Corn came in hot all right, y', all, we're here in New York. We're at the Strong premiere in New York. Where are y' all going? Somewhere else after this?

[Chloe Bailey]

No.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Okay. Because this is the hotel room. This is the best stop. Like, this is the best place you'll take the movie.

[Drink Champs Guest]

I don't.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I don't argue with that. Because New York, baby.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Exactly. And because I'm here and because you're here. Thank you, guys. Yes. So we're gonna be doing a Q A.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

And thank you for doing it.

[Lauren LaRosa]

No, thank y' all for having me twice. I know literally y' all saw me before and after sleep.

[Chloe Bailey]

You look amazing.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Don't. Four AMS ain't no joke. I had to Uber in this morning.

[Chloe Bailey]

You look good. You look good.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Let me get that.

[Chloe Bailey]

You look good.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Okay. Y' all heard that.

[Akilah Hughes]

Period.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So we about to go do this premiere, and people already have seen the movie by the time we walk in, right?

[Family Member Reacting]

Yes.

[Swae Lee]

Oh, yes.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Okay. Are you excited for the reaction?

[Chloe Bailey]

Of course.

[Drink Champs Guest]

Always.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

It's always been.

[Unknown Soccer Culture Commentator]

It's. It's.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

It's a crowd pleaser.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Do you get to watch the react like, you know, like, you get to listen to them like, oh, ah, we did in Miami.

[Chloe Bailey]

That was the most excited, exhilarating experience

[Lauren LaRosa]

at that black film festival.

[Fernanda Echavarri]

Yes.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

American Black Film Festival.

[Fernanda Echavarri]

Yes.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yep. Okay. All right, well, we gonna see what New York is giving. We. We up for. I heard that the American Black Film Festival was a time, so.

[Tony Ayo]

It was.

[Unknown American Football Commentator]

It was.

[Lauren LaRosa]

New York will be good, I'm sure.

[Unknown Speaker]

No question.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So let's go on in now. Alrighty. While they're figuring out the mic situations, I'm Lauren LaRosa. How you guys doing tonight? So we are here to celebrate something really, really, really special. You know, Malcolm D. Lee and Chloe, and as you guys saw in the movie, they worked really hard to put this together and really hard to tell the story and enter into a space that is like. I mean, it's like everybody wants thriller and suspense and scary right now, but I love to see us doing it. So we are going to have great conversation, great community today, and I'm going to get into their business a little bit. Y' all ready for that?

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

All righty. So I'm going to bring out the amazing guest of the evening, Mr. Malcolm D. Lee, director of the film, and Ms. Chloe Bailey, our superstar lead actress, Chloe Mailey. Yes. Still no mics? No, not working right now yet.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

My voice can carry.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yes. All righty, y'.

[Unknown Speaker]

All.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So let's get into the conversation.

[Chloe Bailey]

Let's See, I'll just project.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Okay, you'll project?

[Chloe Bailey]

Yep. Well, I'll project.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Okay, here we go.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So what were you guys most excited about when, when bringing this story to life?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I don't know. Like, listen, I, I, I read the script. I thought it was really forward leaning. Oh, here we go. I, I was, I was very much reading the script as if it was a page turner. And I just, you know, I kept trying, you know, you don't always do that when you're, when you get a script that somebody says, oh, we want you to do this, or whatever. Sometimes it can be very boring. I've been part of those experiences, so this script has kept me intrigued and I thought, okay, let's, here's my opportunity to try a different exercise, a different muscle. And so that's what I really wanted to do. And, you know, I knew that I needed to have somebody who would be a strong leading lady. And, you know, I met Chloe on the set of Fight Night and I was just like, I was in love with her. I thought she was so, so, she's

[Lauren LaRosa]

so sweet, so nice.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

And then I looked at some of her work. I was like, oh, she'd be a great lead for this, you know, and then she just, she, she loved the script. So I was like, let's make it happen.

[Chloe Bailey]

I'm so grateful that we got to do it together. First of all, thank you, everyone for coming this evening and watching the film. It means so much to us. Thank you, Lauren, for being here with us so we can talk.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I would be nowhere else but here.

[Chloe Bailey]

Thank you, Malcolm, for directing an amazing film. I am so thrilled to be a part of it. And I still remember that day when we met on the set of Fight Night. It was still dark in the warehouse and I was like, oh, he's really cool. And when I got the script, I was so enamored by it. I love thrillers. I love suspense, and I loved how, like, the instruments were used as weapons. And I was really intrigued by that and I just was, I gravitated towards it. So I'm happy we were able to pull it off. And it's now out into the world now.

[Lauren LaRosa]

The movie is a wild ride, right, y'? All? Yeah, y' all was in here like, uh, girl, what? Right? So it's a very wild ride. Talk to me about how you guys juggle all of the different tones throughout. So for you, you know, being on camera as leading actress and getting into that and then as director, how did you balance?

[Chloe Bailey]

I think Malcolm did a really great job at keeping us on track and helping us tell the story that we wanted to tell. Especially when, you know, when we're filming all the scenes and emotions are all over the place. It's nice to have someone like, okay, let's keep it afloat and, you know, guiding us to where we need to be. But I think it's also a testament to his directing because he allowed it to be a collaborative effort where we were also able to pour our hearts and souls into the character. And I remember even at the dinner table scene, it was on the iconic Ms. Lynn Whitfield's coverage and she nailed it. She ate it down. And Malcolm was like, okay, do something crazy. You know, feel it. Completely go above and beyond. And, you know, just gave her a fun take. And that's what he let us do, you know, feel it and never really get stapled to one emotion or feeling. And I think that's what really pulled the best out of us.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Yeah, I would say, like, you know, that scene in particular, like, you know, Chloe was just so amazing, you know, in having to just display all those emotions because, I mean, that could have been a very, like, boring scene. You're, you know, you know, talking about the plot of the movie and what they were up to, but, like, the way she reacted, you know, and the covers were for the rest of the actors really made the thing sing. I mean, so I, you know, listen, it was again, a different genre for me, but, you know, I approach every movie the same in terms of, like, establishing tone first. Like, let's make sure that, like, I'm very clear about the tone I'm trying to set. And it was nice to not have to cut to the joke on this movie, to this, like, let the characters breathe and, you know, let a certain rhythm be established with it. And, you know, it's, you know, it's a.

[Unknown Speaker]

It's.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

It's a thriller. It's a little bit of a, you know, a coming of age story, you know, somewhat to it to a degree as well. So just wanted to try my hand at it.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Chloe, when I hear you say that Malcolm let you guys not be stapled to the script in script and how coming into it it was set up to be, I'm wondering, were there any moments that we saw on screen that were just you naturally, I guess you would call it improv too, even though it's not comedy. But things you added that weren't in the script at the moment that made it to the final cut?

[Chloe Bailey]

It did. And even during ADR A lot of them would be kind of mumbled under my breath. Like, almost like how I would react in the moment, because I got that loss in the scene. And when we did adr, Malcolm was like, okay, I love what you've said

[Lauren LaRosa]

there, but I want the audience to

[Chloe Bailey]

hear what you said. So I would go over and overdub it in ADR and things like that.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

She didn't want to say, what the fuck? I had to pull that out of

[Lauren LaRosa]

her because I know the final scene where you guys are at the table and you're like, they're trying to get the information out of you drinking the water. I was like, she acts like that in real life. Like, I could just see you react in that way. So when I heard you say that, I was like, I wonder if that was your just her natural reaction in the moment. Now let's talk about the film and how compelling of a spectrum it paints for black women. Right? So you go from, like, the matriarch of the family all the way down.

[Fernanda Echavarri]

I love the sounds, the buzzing from the stadium, the chanting from the fans, the announcers calling the place soccer, football. It's home.

[Unknown World Cup Fan]

Why do I watch the World Cup? That's like asking me, why do I breed?

[Fernanda Echavarri]

I inherited that fandom from my mom.

[Chloe Bailey]

I like watching it with my dad.

[Lauren LaRosa]

It's a connecting force.

[Fernanda Echavarri]

From Futuro Studios, I'm Fernanda Echabarri, and this is American Football, a show about soccer culture in the US and its underdog roots. We go beyond the game to the people and the stories that make it great.

[Unknown Soccer Culture Commentator]

A soccer game is a fun festival is not just a game. It's your culture.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I took an elbow to my head, which cracked my skull.

[Unknown American Football Commentator]

It is an American game. The Brazilians don't like hearing that, though.

[Fernanda Echavarri]

Are they the only ones that don't like that?

[Unknown American Football Commentator]

Nobody likes that.

[Fernanda Echavarri]

As we get ready for the Men's World cup this summer, listen to American Football as part of the Mikeultura Podcast network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Drink Champs Host]

June is Black Music Month, and on the Drink Champs podcast, we're speaking with the hottest names in the culture, like Swae Lee. Do you realize how legendary you are?

[Swae Lee]

I appreciate that I be seeing it, but I'm like, man, I still got, like, so much more to do. Like Prince, he dropped, like, 30 albums. We dropped, like, five right now. That's the rate we gotta be going.

[Drink Champs Guest]

Yeah, that's a good attitude.

[Drink Champs Host]

You also hear stories from industry legends and hip Hop pioneers like Fab five Freddy.

[Unknown Speaker]

I directed one of Nas's early videos.

[Drink Champs Guest]

Which one?

[Unknown Speaker]

One Love.

[Tony Ayo]

Wow.

[Unknown Soccer Culture Commentator]

Yes.

[Unknown Speaker]

I literally filmed in his apartment in Queensbridge. His moms was still up in that apartment. Nas was just beginning to take off. His pops used to live near me in Harlem. His dad introduced him to a whole lot of, you know, conscious stuff, and he made a young prodigy.

[Drink Champs Host]

No matter the era, Drink Champs brings you the biggest names and the most unfiltered conversations. Listen to Drink Champs from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Keith Giamanca]

Keith Giamanca seemed like a mild mannered suburban dad, but secretly he became someone else, a master of disguise who went on a crime spree. At the time, did it seem like a crazy idea?

[Keith Giamanca (Desperate)]

It seemed very crazy, but I felt so desperate that I felt it was the quickest, easiest way out.

[Keith Giamanca]

Did you allow yourself to think about how it could go wrong and what

[Unknown American Football Commentator]

that might look like?

[Keith Giamanca (Desperate)]

No, I didn't want to manifest that. I was trying to manifest success.

[Keith Giamanca]

Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life?

[Family Member Reacting]

That is not the look of an innocent man. This is going to change my life and my family dynamic forever. Because everything that had existed prior in my reality is now untrue.

[Keith Giamanca]

Listen to Deep Cover the Family man on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Akilah Hughes]

Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier than it getting a new one put up in its place.

[Unknown Speaker]

As long as there's a politics of race in America, there's going to be a politics of remembering the Civil War.

To get to school, I had to go down Robert E. Lee Boulevard. To get to the grocery store, I had to go down Jefferson Davis Parkway.

[Lauren LaRosa]

If you're a historian and you leave out half of what the history is, you're not doing your job.

[Akilah Hughes]

I'm Akilah Hughes and Rebel Spirit Season 2 goes deep on both of those things. The fights, the politics, the people who won, and my personal campaign to add something to the Kentucky State House that's actually worth the wall space.

[Unknown Speaker]

We are more than our bodies. We contain essence. We contain spirit. How do you represent that?

[Chloe Bailey]

They are just fueling a fire that is really catching.

[Akilah Hughes]

You'll see what I mean. Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get Your podcast.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Let's talk about how did exploring those different identities shape the emotional core of the story and the different dynamics between the characters?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Oh, boy. That's a deep question mark.

[Lauren LaRosa]

You wanna break it down? You wanna go one after the other?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

No.

[Swae Lee]

Yeah.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I mean, you wanna try.

[Chloe Bailey]

What I love about this film and all of the characters is that there was not one stereotypical black woman. And it showed all of us in all shapes and forms and levels. You know, Layla, she was broke. She had aspirations when she was broke. Then you had Ms. Lynn and Imani and Marcus, you know, they were at the top of their game, so successful then. I loved how it showed Coco. You know, she was a nurse, and it showed us in all shapes and forms, and I really loved that no one was really a villain, like, even Leila. She. You really were rooting for her. But then you also were like, what the hell is your problem? And I loved how it showed how raw we are as human beings and how, yes, we might be good one moment, but we also have some faults and some moments where it might not be so tasteful. So I love how it explored that in every way and dynamic.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Yeah. I would say that a lot of the characters live in the gray, you know, area. You know, clearly there are villains. I mean, you know. You know, what's her name? What is Lynn's character's name? Audra.

[Chloe Bailey]

But she's protecting something that she works.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I was gonna say.

[Chloe Bailey]

Yeah, you can. You can, like, understand her and synthesize like, okay, she's trying to protect her. Her throat.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No doubt, no doubt. I mean, like, you know, it's very interesting. Like, you know, the. The dynamic of the audience when they. When they're what? You know, they're. They're, like, looking at Layla like, what are you. Why are you doing that? And, I mean, I can't believe it. And then when, you know, you know, she gets the big reveal of the violin at the. At the baby shower, and, you know, you know, Imani smiles, like, triumphantly. We've had some audiences, like, clap, like, yeah, that's what you get, Layla. And then, you know, then she starts to attack, like, oh, my God, what are you doing? So then you. But then. So I think there's a lot of ebbs and flows with Layla's journey. And, like, you know, with that, we're rooting for her and that we're also, like, feeling sorry for her, you know, and obviously, by the end, you're like, oh, beyond said, she's made some mistakes. You Know, just as all younger people do, you know, it's part of the journey of, you know, coming of age.

[Lauren LaRosa]

When I watched it, throughout the different characters, I did go from like, oh, like, how crazy are you? How stupid are you right now? To I get it, you're just doing what you gotta do to get by. Even if I wouldn't do that, like, you know what I mean? And I think, I know for me as a black woman watching it, I was like, I got women in my family that did some crazy things, but they will always say it was. They thought it was the best idea that they had at the moment, just doing what they knew to do. It's like when you figure out your parents are actually people and not just your parents right now. Talk a little bit about with this being a black LED cast, which was very powerful, how that brought a distinct energy and how it shaped the film and the characters to move throughout the thriller in a certain way.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

You know, the script was. Was written. Alan McElroy was the writer of the script and he wrote, I thought, a really good script. And, you know, I don't think it was like, it was.

[Tony Ayo]

It was.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Certainly had its DNA in. In blackness and also African American, African culture. And, you know, I wanted to. I, like, I really appreciated that about the script. And so it wasn't like, oh, like, these characters were white and we made them and we just, you know, cast it. Cast of black, you know, characters. You know, these characters were inherently, you know, written in the movie to be African American. You know, this happened to be aspirational, upscale and what have you. So to me, it's just, you know, kind of the. In the same vein of what the movies that I've done in the past in terms of, like, characters being again, aspirational, educated and. But. But in some ways accessible. Certainly Layla is very accessible character. She's the every woman in this movie. Whereas, you know, Lynn and Lucien are a little bit more like, oh, they're a little more hoity toity. But, you know, I think that's just the way the script was written and wanted to embody that. It's funny too, because even though it's a Blumhouse movie, that is not a Blumhouse house. You know, a lot of times the Blumhouse houses are very, very creepy looking. And I was like, we ain't got that. We ain't got the, you know, Gilded Lily on that. We could just like, let it be. It was, it was creepy in its own way in this kind of antiseptic Way, you know, everything was very clean, had its place or whatever. So, you know, it's different than, like, what a creepy house. You just had a creepy kid inside.

[Lauren LaRosa]

No, that chandelier in the bathroom. The bathroom scene. I was like, oh, they are. I mean, they're going through some craziness, but they living. They're having a good time. Okay, now talk to me a little bit. Malcolm. I know that, you know, this going into the thriller lane, a little bit different for you. What was one of the things that you learned from this film that you'll take back into the other genres that you're most comfortable in?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

You know, I'm comfortable in this one, too. I mean, I think it's. It's interesting the whole time, and I go through this on every movie and, like, is this working? Is this.

[Unknown Speaker]

Is this.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Is this. Like, how does this. What is this thing about, like. Like, is this.

[Fernanda Echavarri]

Is this.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Is this communicating? And with this one, I was. I was probably more unsure than any movie I've done in a long time.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Oh, wow.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I'm just like, well, I haven't done this in, like, you know, with it. With a comedy. You know what you're gonna get. If you. If you set up a laugh, Boom, they're laughing, right? With a drama or like a psychological thriller, you just kind of, like, are feeling how the audience is feeling. And are they. Are they with you? Are they with the characters? So, you know, I. Well, one thing I have to know that, like, you know, Blumhouse has their own, you know, rules and the way they, you know, make their movies, and they're like, well, like, for instance, one of the things they said was, you know, don't. Don't use so much music. And I was like, yeah, but I'm trying to establish some tension or whatever. The actors are doing so much.

[Tony Ayo]

Doing so great.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I'm like, okay, I'll try. And I tried it, and it was totally against my instincts, and I was. And it didn't work. You know, the audience was. And one thing we will admit, you know, that the audience is always right. Because the audience is always right. They are. Especially in a genre movie like this. They're always looking anything that's, like, slightly smacks of a clue, they're like, what does that mean?

[Lauren LaRosa]

I was doing that to y' all earlier. I talked to them earlier at the Breakfast Club, and it was so many things after the interview, I was like, wait. Cause did this mean something? I was like, no, not at all.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

But, you know, you have to, like, they're Very delicate movies, comedies and movies like this. Very delicate. So like the slightest, like, you know, like overplaying of something or underplaying of something, you'll lose the audience or the audience will be ahead of you. And you don't want the audience to be ahead.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Okay.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

You want them to be like, trying to figure it out, but at the same time be reeled in.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Let's talk a little bit about the music in the film. Because, I mean, it's literally like the heart of the story, essentially. Right? So you said that, you know, you decided to go back to making sure that there was a lot of the music in the film.

[Unknown World Cup Fan]

Yeah, yeah.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

You know, like, when I talk about that, I'm talking about the score.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah, the score.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Songs in the movie that were inherent to like, like for instance, like when. When Chloe and. And I'm sorry, when Layla and Marcus first meet, you know, like those songs were written into the movie, although not all of them were, but they were at least. At least that the set sequence was. And that was like their love language. They're both, you know, music lovers. And that's how he got her to like, you'll be intrigued or what have you. And then, you know, we had Ali Shahid Muhammad and Adrian Young do the score and they did just this phenomenal job with just, you know, the tones and the, you know, the. Everything about. About, you know, the tension that I wanted to feel. And some stuff was just like a little offbeat. Like, you know, even some of the piano chords they were playing were like a really out of tune piano. And I was like, oh, why? Why that? And. But it just worked, right? You know what I mean? So music is always important to me in a movie and then movie like this where music is so, you know, at the forefront, which is, you know, how Layla copes and how Layla communicates. You know, it was. It was not an easy thing to do because you have. When you're doing a movie that has so much music in it that's on screen performance, there's a lot of pre recording that has to be done and they're right.

[Chloe Bailey]

Correct.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

And so like, it was. It was a lot of pressure on. On Chloe. I'm just like, okay, here's the Mendelssohn. The song we're going to play with the opening song and we're going to. The discussion is on day one. And so you'll learn the violin. You'll be fine. When did you learn the violin? In fifth grade. You'll pick it up.

[Chloe Bailey]

Oh, yeah, that was A challenge. But we did it, and it turned out really well, and I'll forever be proud of it.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Well, you got to let the people know what you're talking about. The fact that you went and you did lessons again because you hadn't played since the fifth grade. How long did you. Did you have to go back and do the lessons and everything to prepare for this film?

[Chloe Bailey]

I had a week and a half to prepare before we shot the first scene in Cape Town.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Y' all give it up for that. Cause she played that violin. Okay.

[Chloe Bailey]

I would panicking.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I would text Malcolm.

[Chloe Bailey]

I would call Malcolm, Malcolm.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I don't know if I could pull this off. I'm really trying for you, so you'll be fine.

[Chloe Bailey]

Yeah. Because I'm the type of person who watches the movie, and I'm like, okay, this is off. This isn't matching. And I was like, chloe, you cannot be a musician in a film about music. And not doing the violin properly, like, that is just not okay. So I really put a lot of pressure on myself as well as a musician, and I'm happy that I had a little bit of musicianship in my back pocket.

[Tony Ayo]

Oh, yeah.

[Chloe Bailey]

Because it definitely helped me.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Not a little bit.

[Fernanda Echavarri]

I love the sounds. The buzzing from the stadium, the chanting from the fans, the announcers calling the place soccer, football at home.

[Unknown World Cup Fan]

Why do I watch the World Cup? That's like asking me, why do I breathe?

[Fernanda Echavarri]

I inherited that fandom from my mom.

[Chloe Bailey]

I like watching it with my dad.

[Lauren LaRosa]

It's a connecting force.

[Fernanda Echavarri]

From Futuro Studios, I'm Fernanda Echabarri, and this is American Football, a show about soccer culture in the US and its underdog roots. We go beyond the game to the people and the soccer stories that make it great.

[Unknown Soccer Culture Commentator]

A soccer game is a festival. It's not just a game. It's your culture.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I took an elbow to my head, which cracked my skull.

[Unknown American Football Commentator]

It is an American game. The Brazilians don't like hearing that, though.

[Fernanda Echavarri]

Are they the only ones that don't like that?

[Unknown American Football Commentator]

Nobody likes that.

[Fernanda Echavarri]

As we get ready for the Men's World cup this summer, listen to American football as part of the My Cultura Podcast network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Akilah Hughes]

Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier than it getting a new one put up in its place.

[Unknown Speaker]

As long as there's a politics of race in America, there's going to be a Politics of Remembering the Civil War.

To get to school, I had to go down Robert E. Lee Bow, get to the grocery store. I had to go down Jefferson Davis Parkway.

[Lauren LaRosa]

If you're a historian and you leave out half of what the history is, you're not doing your job.

[Akilah Hughes]

I'm Akilah Hughes and Rebel Spirit Season 2 goes deep on both of those things. The fights, the politics, the people who won, and my personal campaign to add something to the Kentucky State House that's actually worth the wall space.

[Unknown Speaker]

We are more than our bodies. We contain essence. We contain spirit. How do you represent that?

[Chloe Bailey]

They are just fueling a fire that is really catching.

[Akilah Hughes]

You'll see what I mean. Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Drink Champs Guest]

Mainstream media is full of crude depictions of the unhoused. Stories that shame and blame and paint the unhoused as a monolith. We the Unhoused is the podcast that's changing that. I'm Theo Henderson, creator and host, and for years I've created a space where the unhoused and their advocates can tell their own stories. In the last few months alone, I've interviewed unhoused parents, immigrants, mutual aid organizers, veterans, the LGBQTIA community, and the policymakers who make the laws that impact the unhoused existence. We Unhouse is a two time Webby and Signal award winning show with many exciting guests on the horizon. Tune in this week for my interview with Dr. Jill Wichorek, a street doctor turned influencer whose work with the unhoused community has made a huge impact online and in her community. Listen to we the unhoused on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Drink Champs Host]

June is Black Music Month and on the Drink Champs podcast, we're speaking with the hottest names in the culture like Swae Lee. Do you realize how legendary you are?

[Swae Lee]

I appreciate that I be seeing it, but I'm like, man, I still got like so much more to do. Like Prince, he dropped like 30 albums. We dropped like five right now. That's the rate we got to be going.

[Drink Champs Guest]

Yeah, that's a good attitude.

[Drink Champs Host]

You'll also hear stories from industry legends and hip hop pioneers like Fab five Freddy.

[Unknown Speaker]

I directed one of Nas's early videos.

[Drink Champs Guest]

Which one?

[Unknown Speaker]

One Love.

[Tony Ayo]

Wow.

[Swae Lee]

Yes.

[Unknown Speaker]

I literally filmed in his apartment in Queensbridge. His moms were still up in that apartment. Nas was just beginning to take off. His pops used to live near me in Harlem. His dad introduced him to a whole lot of, you know, conscious stuff, and he made a young prodigy.

[Drink Champs Host]

No matter the era, Drink Champs brings you the biggest names and the most unfiltered conversations. Listen to Drink Champs from the Black Effect podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Talk a little about that for both of you guys, though, because another, like, just sitting here talk, listening to you guys talk about the music aspect of. I'm like, it's, you know, God does this thing where everything that you do aligns for, like, this one. Next thing you're going to do, and you don't even know what's happening. Right. So you being able to learn that violin like that in about a week. We've watched you master music and instruments for years now, so, I mean, you probably could have did it in your sleep, but as you're mastering that within that week, is there any point where Chloe's like, okay, I see what you were doing here, because now I'm walking into this role, and I could do it effortlessly.

[Chloe Bailey]

1. I received that, and I thank you for that kind compliment. I think for me, I was just ready to go really drown myself in this experience. And I constantly want to be challenged and pushed so that I can continue to grow and be better. And I can definitely say I'm a better actress after filming this movie than I was coming into it. And I think because I was stretched, like, in all directions, that I now have all these different tools and notes and things that I picked up on that I could just, you know, attach to my tool belt. So I definitely think God was like, ha, ha, ha. He always has those little moments. And I'm grateful that I was able to pull from a little bit of experience for this.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah, well, you did an amazing job.

[Chloe Bailey]

Thank you.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Now talk to me, Chloe, a little bit about the action sequences.

[Chloe Bailey]

My favorite.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Ate them down. And you did all your own stunts?

[Chloe Bailey]

Yes. But there was a stunt double who did, like, the extra hard falls or, like, you know, the actual hitting of the ground or things like that. But other than that. Yep, it was me.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So what was the preparation? You were so crazy. Yeah, it was me. What was the preparation like, for that? Because that was new for you as well. Like, you've acted before, but this is intense.

[Chloe Bailey]

I had done stunt work a couple of times in the past, and I'm an adrenaline junkie, so I was ready. That's the most exciting part for me. And when they teach you, like, the stunt choreography, it's almost like dance choreography. Same with boxing. It's like you're learning a dance step. So we had stunt practice for about a week before we shot in Cape Town. And then it was go, go, go. And I had a time, like, of course, it was freezing on the beach.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

And I was like, oh.

[Chloe Bailey]

But then once the camera went on, I was like, yeah, so those are my favorite. I'm an adrenaline junkie. For real.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

No, I will say that Chloe, like, she runs the gamut of emotions in this. In this movie, you know, like, she has to be physical, she has to be violent, she has to be sexy, she has to be innocent. She has to be emotional. So, you know, and she's worked every day. You know, she had no days off.

[Chloe Bailey]

So did you.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Well, that's expected, right? But I mean, like, you know, there was. And so we went.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I gave her a warning.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I said, this is.

[Chloe Bailey]

Oh, yeah. I was like, I got this.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

But. But every day she was like. I was, okay, we're gonna enforce your call. You got to come in a little bit earlier. Then she'd be like, oh, really?

[Unknown American Football Commentator]

Okay.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

All right.

[Unknown American Football Commentator]

Good morning.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

How's everybody doing? Like, always a bundle of positivity. And I really love that about her. And, you know, she was really. She's very much ride or die. Like, really just kind of gave it her all the whole time.

[Lauren LaRosa]

How important was that energy for the rest of the cast, though, with her being, like, number one on the call sheet and kind of that tone?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Listen, you know, I. I think, you know, Chloe's a great example. She had a great, you know, a great scene partners, particularly with Lynn Whitfield, you know, who was like a veteran and. And. And, you know, you know, a great scene partner for her. You know, the same thing with. With. With, you know, Lucy and was like a. Just also, you know, just Mr. Positivity, right? Even though he, you know, he has to be kind of mean and violent in this movie. He's like, you know, like, every time he breaks character, he's like, oh, you know, like, just like a sprite, you know, like, just jumping around the set. So, I mean, you know, like, Chloe, you know, had. Had the most to do, but, you know, everyone. We had a really, really great cast. I'm very thankful for all of them.

[Chloe Bailey]

And I do think you also have to give credit to yourself for putting together an environment of positive people as well, because it wouldn't run the way it did without the production and the crew. And I wouldn't have ran the way I did without my manager. Shermet with me. She was there with me every step. Oh, my gosh.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I would go home like, you got this.

[Chloe Bailey]

Yes, you got this. So I definitely. It was such a community, family effort, and we really put our all into that film. And I'm happy that you can tell and see it, because not one person was, like, lacking. Everyone gave their all. And I kind of shared this earlier, and I think I was so enamored by this because it taught me that no matter how high you get, you still have to put your all into everything. It was Ms. Lynn Whitfield. Like, even when the camera was not on her, when the coverage was not on her, she was giving it 100% just so she could feed you what you needed to properly bring what the scene needed.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I love that.

[Chloe Bailey]

And that was incredibly inspiring to me because other sets I've been on, other great actors I've been next to, I hadn't seen. Seen that.

[Unknown Speaker]

Right.

[Chloe Bailey]

So she, like, she still has the passion and the fire in her eyes for acting, and that was really cool to see, especially with her being such a legend in the game.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Right.

[Chloe Bailey]

So that was. That was really inspiring for me.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Icon. I love that you get to experience that in real time. I think that that's, like, the best teacher, but also the best. Like, it inspires you. Like, even as a. Like watching Ms. Lynn Whitfield navigate her career all these years as a woman, a businesswoman, a titan, that she is getting to see that up close, probably. You walked away feeling like, okay, here's the things I need to make sure that I. You know what I mean?

[Fernanda Echavarri]

I love the sounds, the buzzing from the stadium, the chanting from the fans, the announcers calling the place soccer, football. It's home.

[Unknown World Cup Fan]

Why do I watch the World Cup? That's like asking me, why do I breed?

[Fernanda Echavarri]

I inherited that fandom from my mom.

[Chloe Bailey]

I like watching it with my dad.

[Lauren LaRosa]

It's a connecting force.

[Fernanda Echavarri]

From Futuro Studios, I'm Fernanda Echadarri, and this is American Football, a show about soccer culture in the US and its underdog roots. We go beyond the game to the people and the stories that make it great.

[Unknown Soccer Culture Commentator]

A soccer game is a festival. It's not just a game. It's your culture.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I took an elbow to my head, which cracked my skull.

[Unknown American Football Commentator]

It is an American game. The Brazilians don't like hearing that, though.

[Fernanda Echavarri]

Are they the only ones that don't like?

[Unknown American Football Commentator]

Nobody likes that.

[Fernanda Echavarri]

As we get ready for the Men's World cup this summer, listen to American Football as part of the Mikeultura Podcast Network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Drink Champs Host]

June is Black Music Month, and on the Drink Champs podcast, we're speaking with the hottest names in the culture, like Swae Lee. Do you realize how legendary you are?

[Swae Lee]

I appreciate that I be seeing it, but I'm like, man, I still got like, so much more to do. Like Prince, he dropped like 30 albums. We dropped like five right now. That's the rate we got to be going.

[Drink Champs Guest]

Yeah, that's a good attitude.

[Drink Champs Host]

You also hear stories from industry legends and hip hop pioneers like Fab five Freddy.

[Unknown Speaker]

I directed one of Nas's early videos.

[Drink Champs Guest]

Which one?

[Unknown Speaker]

One Love.

Wow.

[Unknown Soccer Culture Commentator]

Yes.

[Unknown Speaker]

I literally filmed in his apartment in Queensbridge. His moms were still up in that apartment. Nas was just beginning to take off. His pops used to live near me in Harlem. His dad introduced him to a whole lot of, you know, conscious stuff, and he made a young prodigy.

[Drink Champs Host]

No matter the era, Drink Champs brings you the biggest names and the most unfiltered conversations. Listen to Drink Champs from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Akilah Hughes]

Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier than it getting a new one put up in its place.

[Unknown Speaker]

As long as there's a politics of race in America, there's going to be a politics of remembering the Civil War.

To get to school, I had to go down Robert E. Lee Boulevard, get to the grocery store, I had to go down Jefferson Davis Parkway.

[Lauren LaRosa]

If you're a historian and you leave out half of what the history is, you're not doing your job.

[Akilah Hughes]

I'm Akilah Hughes, and Rebel Spirit Season 2 goes deep on both of those things. The fights, the politics, the people who won, and my personal campaign to add something to the Kentucky State House that's actually worth the wall space.

[Unknown Speaker]

We are more than our bodies. We contain essence. We contain spirit. How do you represent that?

[Chloe Bailey]

They are just fueling a fire that is really catching.

[Akilah Hughes]

You'll see what I mean. Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you you get your podcasts.

[Keith Giamanca]

Keith Giamanca seemed like a mild mannered suburban dad, but secretly he became someone else. A master of disguise who went on a crime spree. At the time, did it seem like a crazy idea?

[Keith Giamanca (Desperate)]

It seemed very crazy, but I felt so desperate that I felt it was the quickest, easiest way out.

[Keith Giamanca]

Did you allow yourself to think about how it could go wrong and what that might look like?

[Keith Giamanca (Desperate)]

No, I didn't want to manifest that. I was trying to manifest success.

[Keith Giamanca]

Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life?

[Family Member Reacting]

That is not the look of an innocent man. This is going to change my life and my family dynamic forever. Because everything that had existed prior in my reality is now untrue.

[Keith Giamanca]

Listen to Deep Cover the Family man on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Talk a bit about. I mean, you guys are in Cape Town. I'm sure that there's a lot of behind the scenes moments. You just talked about the amazing community that Malcolm D. Lee puts together. Together. What were some of your favorite behind the scenes moments or stories that you're like, I'll always remember that.

[Chloe Bailey]

Can I share?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Go right ahead. I don't know if you want to

[Chloe Bailey]

share this one in the moment was frustrating, but it's one of my favorite memories from filming. Remember when I had the car with the door, so we had to get the shot with the blood splattering on me, Right. And it was going to be. It had to be like the one, because we didn't really have the time to clean myself up or whatever. It was like 3am Right? It was almost like the last.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

And it was cold.

[Chloe Bailey]

Yeah. Almost the last shot or second to last shot of the night. So I'm like, okay, I'm ready. I'm pumped up. You know, I'm like, my boxing prepared me for this. To slam a car door with the fake head and, you know, the blood splattering and they said it would taste sweet like candy, so I wasn't too worried. I kept doing it.

[Unknown Speaker]

No blood.

[Chloe Bailey]

Malcolm's like, what the hell's going on? Yet again. What's happening? And I'm like, guys, what's going on?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

[Unknown Speaker]

You hear that? You hear that high?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

But, guys, what's going on? No, she was like, what the. What's going on? Can we get this straight, please? Get it straight. Okay, I've had enough. I was like, okay, y' all better

[Lauren LaRosa]

make some blood come from somewhere.

[Chloe Bailey]

I had to get.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Keep the fire. Yeah, she was. She was serious. Because, you know, I was. I'm like, outside of the, you know, the shot, you know, the camera far away and like, you know, you call things out, but when things are happening rolling the cameras, you say, okay, now. And like, they didn't. Did he say now, you know. You know, the special people are supposed to, like, hit the. You know, the blood splatter.

[Chloe Bailey]

But I think it worked in our favor by the time.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Oh, that was real frustration that was on the 30th.

[Chloe Bailey]

Hitman really helped add. And that's one of my favorite memories.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Drink Champs Guest]

That was.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

That was tough. That was tough. She came through.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So let's talk about, like, you know, we're here with an audience. I asked you guys, you know, when you're out and getting to see people enjoy the film, what's your favorite part about that?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I tell you, like, it's like, one of my favorite parts of the process of watching audiences enjoy the movie and not knowing what. What they're. They're about to step into. Like, you know, the moment for me that, you know, I mean, one of them is. Is certainly when we find out that Marcus is the. Is the. Is the husband. Like, that's a great moment for the audience because they're like. They're like, okay, I know I'm gonna see this guy again somewhere sometime. But then you forget about. It's like, oh, gives us that creepy kid. And no, she said she's got to do all this work with this family, and. And, oh, she's settling in. Oh, no, the little girl is actually not so creepy. She's actually like, okay, all right. And then there's Marcus. Marcus Waka. Oh, it's him, right? So, like, I love that. And of course, the other Marcus moment is when Lynn's putting her hands on his waist, and people are like, oh, oh. Oh, hell no. And for me, like, when I read that in the script, I was like, oh. I was like, I cannot wait to do this movie. I have to do this and show this, because people have got to go nuts.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Well, I'm glad you have. You guys enjoyed the conversation. I'm glad you guys gave New York a moment to enjoy the film. I enjoyed the film thoroughly. Congratulations.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I'm so glad.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yes.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

We worked really hard on it. It's coming out Friday.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yes. On Peacock.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Peacock exclusively. So please tell your people, get the word out. We really counting on you to, like, just get the word out about the movie and, like, just, you know, if you liked it, telling. You tell folks you liked it, put on social media and tell them to tune in on Friday.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yes.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

And, you know, like, let's get. Let's get some watch parties going and put some stuff out on social media. Let's go.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Let's give another round of applause for Malka Denny and Chloe Bailey. This Friday, Strung is on Peacock exclusively. You, like you said, make sure you tell everybody to go out and watch it. And thank you guys for joining us today.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[Lauren LaRosa]

You so nice, girl, you're the best.

[Fernanda Echavarri]

It's that time to put on your jersey and wave your flag, whoever you root for.

[Unknown World Cup Fan]

Why do I watch the World Cup? That's like asking me, why do I breed?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

And it's beautiful.

[Lauren LaRosa]

The guys are young and cute and fun.

[Unknown Soccer Culture Commentator]

It's not just a game. It's your culture.

[Chloe Bailey]

I like watching it with my dad.

[Lauren LaRosa]

It's a connecting force.

[Fernanda Echavarri]

From Futuro Studios, I'm Fernanda Chavarri, and this is American Football, a show about soccer culture in the US and its underdog roots. Listen to American football on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Chuck from Stuff You Should Know]

Hey, this is Chuck from Stuff youf Should Know, and we're submitting our most science Y episodes for your peer review with our new Stuff youf Should Know Doing science playlist out now. You want to know about Occam's Razor? The simplest explanation is usually the right one. We got you covered. Wondered what chaos theory is ever since the first time you saw Jurassic Park. Well, come on down. So distill a nice pot of tea, everybody. Turn down the gas on your Bunsen burner and slip into your most comfortable lab coat and listen to the stuff you should know. Doing science Playlist on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Keith Giamanca]

Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life?

[Family Member Reacting]

That is not the look of an innocent man. Is everyone lying to me about who they are?

[Keith Giamanca (Desperate)]

I felt such desperation. I felt it was what I had to do.

[Keith Giamanca]

Listen to Deep Cover the family man on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Drink Champs Host]

June is Black Music Month, and on the Drink Champs podcast, we're speaking with the hottest names in the culture, like Swae Lee. Do you realize how legendary you are?

[Swae Lee]

I appreciate that I be seeing it, but I'm like, man, I still got, like, so much more to do. Like Prince, he dropped like 30 albums. We dropped like five right now. That's the rate we gotta be going.

[Drink Champs Guest]

Yep, that's a good attitude.

[Drink Champs Host]

No matter the era, Drink Champs brings you the biggest names and the most unfiltered conversations. Listen to Drink Champs from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Lauren LaRosa]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.