Within the Oscar-season finale of The Envelope video podcast, we sit down with Colman Domingo, lead actor nominee for “Sing Sing.”
Washington: Hey and welcome to the season finale of “The Envelope.” Kelvin Washington, Mark Olsen, Yvonne Villarreal. Trying ahead to this. We’re going to have some Oscar conversations right here, in fact, to get to that. And with that, I’m going to begin with you, Mark. We all know there are issues that sort of lead as much as it, that we will say there’s a development. There are some, you already know, predictors the place we will sort of see the place this factor goes. What are we? What’s the newest?
Mark Olsen: Properly, it’s attention-grabbing. As a lot as this has been felt like an unsettled, unsure yr, we have now had some, like, precursor awards, and I feel issues have positively began to settle a little bit bit. Considerably unusually, each the Administrators Guild and the Producers Guild gave out their awards on the identical evening so that individuals had been hustling from one present to the subsequent and the movie “Anora” gained at each of these awards. Sean Baker, the director, gained on the Administrators Guild after which the movie, additionally produced by Sean Baker, gained on the PGAs. It’s humorous. Again in September, when you made a listing and mentioned, “What do you think is going to win?” You’ll have mentioned, “Oh, probably ‘Anora,’ I think ‘Anora’s’ looking good.” After which we confuse issues. We get all topsy-turvy, and also you get on the curler coaster of awards season, and we make it extra sophisticated than it must be. And we’ve now ended up again at “Anora,” the place we had been within the first place.
Washington: Simply go proper again to the place we began. I swing to you, Yvonne. These are the precursors Mark was speaking about. What about simply your dream situation? Perhaps it’s a movie, perhaps it’s a director, perhaps it’s an actor, actress that you simply simply say, “I would love for them to get a win here.”
Villarreal: I’m going to go outdoors the primary classes, if that’s OK.
Washington: Sure! That is your dream.
Villarreal: It’s my dream. I really feel for Diane Warren. This lady has been nominated 16 occasions. Granted, I’m not a music particular person, so I can’t actually inform you this music actually stands out greater than the others. However she’s nominated for the sixteenth time for her music “The Journey” on Tyler Perry’s “The Six Triple Eight.” And I simply really feel like give her the due.
Olsen: She did get an honorary Oscar for a number of years in the past, so she has a statue.
Villarreal: It’s my dream, Mark, so lay off! OK. Who’s yours?
Olsen: I feel mine truly could be Edward Norton, supporting actor for “A Complete Unknown,” taking part in Pete Seeger. As a result of doesn’t Edward Norton look like a type of folks that ought to have an Oscar? And he doesn’t. He’s been nominated earlier than. And likewise, personally, I’m an enormous fan of the movement image “A Real Pain.” I just like the actor Kieran Culkin in “A Real Pain.” I get irritated when folks win an excessive amount of and it will get locked in too early, and we’ve seen him give the enjoyable speech and every part. And so I feel the shock of Edward Norton, I would really like for him to have an Oscar — I feel that’s the place I’m going.
Villarreal: I additionally felt like that efficiency, it was so calm and understated, and he made me go away that movie being like, “I need to be like that more.”
Washington: Have you ever been doing that?
Villarreal: No.
Washington: We’ve obtained time. It’s early within the yr.
Villarreal: After the podcast is over. Season finale, I will be calm once more.
Washington: For me, you all went a little bit off the crushed path, if you’ll. Mine is tremendous chalky, however Cynthia Erivo as a result of —
Villarreal: Oh!
Washington: Maintain on.
Villarreal: I’m in settlement!
Washington: twentieth particular person to win an EGOT. I believed that’d be superior.
Villarreal: I’m pondering, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Washington: I’ll stick with you. You’ve, in fact, Colman Domingo, “Sing Sing.” Obtained an opportunity to communicate with him after we did a roundtable earlier. He’s nice. He’s superior. That is sort of an amazing season for him.
Villarreal: The movie follows a bunch of males enrolled in a jail theater program, and Colman is up for lead actor for his efficiency as Divine G, a person that was wrongfully convicted and actually takes on this management position within the theater program. He’s very very similar to I used to be as a child: When there’s a bunch venture, you wish to be the chief and actually information folks. And he comes into a little bit little bit of resistance there. Nevertheless it’s a very nice efficiency. It’s his second nomination for lead actor. The final one was for Netflix’s “Rustin” final yr, the place he performed civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. So it was a very enjoyable dialog. I’ll say we each wore black, and considered one of us wore it higher than the opposite. And I feel you may guess who that was.
Washington: You probably did it.
Villarreal: No. Not me. Not me. The person can put on — what’s it, the Canadian tuxedo? Is that what it’s known as? Does it nonetheless apply when it’s black denim?
Washington: I don’t know. I really feel prefer it’s usually blue. However don’t ask me.
Villarreal: Properly, he’s creating one thing else as a result of it appears to be like actually good. Nevertheless it was a enjoyable dialog.
Washington: He can do no fallacious with style. Right here he’s, Colman Domingo with “Sing Sing” and Yvonne speaking to him.
Colman Domingo with Clarence Maclin in “Sing Sing.”
(A24)
Villarreal: Colman, thanks a lot for becoming a member of us.
Domingo: It’s good to be right here.
Villarreal: I sort of really feel like we’re on a “Real Housewives” reunion. I do know you watch “Real Housewives.” Don’t suppose I don’t know that.
Domingo: [Laughs] I’m ready for “[Real Housewives of] Atlanta” to come back again as a result of I feel it’s a type of belongings you like to look at simply because there’s at all times some drama. There’s at all times some she mentioned, she mentioned. And I don’t know. It’s just a bit senseless.
Villarreal: Look, I lengthy for the day the place you get the inspiration to develop considered one of their tales right into a movement image, as a result of I do know you write and direct.
Domingo: Hear, there’s sufficient materials. There’s at all times materials. There’s materials that you simply want they didn’t have. You’re like, “Save yourself,” you already know?
Villarreal: Properly, congratulations are so as. That is your second consecutive yr being nominated for greatest actor. That is in your efficiency in “Sing Sing,” final yr it was for “Rustin.” Have been there any classes discovered from final yr that you simply utilized to navigate, or perhaps take pleasure in, the method this yr? Like, “I’m going to take up space” or “I’m going to go up to Meryl Streep if I see her.”
Domingo: Nothing like that. However I feel that I simply naturally attempt to be current and benefit from the second and the place I’m and never let or not it’s in regards to the precise award. The concept of being feted for the work that you simply care about and being within the second, being current. I really feel like that’s one thing I navigated fairly nicely final yr, and this yr I feel I’m much more aware about ensuring that I relaxation. I get up early within the morning.
Villarreal: 4 a.m., guys.
Domingo: 4 a.m. That’s “me” time. So earlier than I come on to all these things, I obtained to only have the ability to get up early. I like watching the dawn. I am going for a little bit stroll round my property.
Villarreal: You break down your packing containers to recycle.
Domingo: I broke down my packing containers to recycle immediately. They had been all stacked up since Christmas, so I used to be simply reducing packing containers, probably the most mundane stuff. But in addition, once you try this, it’s like you have got one thing to do at house. I finished by a nursery and acquired ferns as a result of I wished to plant some ferns. I didn’t get an opportunity to plant them but, however they’re there. I do issues like that.
Villarreal: Do you journal?
Domingo: No, I don’t journal.
Villarreal: I at all times am curious — typically I take into consideration the work that I do and the people who I meet, and I’m like, “Why am I not documenting this?” And I feel for you, to have a look at all of the work you’re doing, the folks you’re collaborating with, do you ever suppose, “I should maybe write some of this down?”
Domingo: My supervisor says I ought to hold a journal and write this stuff down, however I feel I’ve a very good reminiscence. And now beginning to perceive why I’m not maintaining a journal is as a result of I wish to be within the second, be current, which is why I’m not somebody who paperwork loads of issues with loads of pictures both. I’ll suppose, “Aw, I should take this and capture this,” however I simply wish to be current, be there and type of take snapshots with my thoughts. And I feel, and I hope, that I can bear in mind every part once I resolve to ultimately write all these things down and these experiences. As a result of I’m a playwright. I just like the lens of trying again at a second and it changing into your individual in technicolor, and your individual perspective, and never the way in which it felt once you’re truly feeling it.
Villarreal: Is there a second that stands out from these previous few months within the lead-up to the Oscars? For me, it’s seeing the friendship developed between you and Kieran [Culkin]. I don’t know if there’s one thing else for you that stands out.
Domingo: Hear, that’s a spotlight. I really feel like attending to know Kieran and attending to know Demi [Moore], Mikey [Madison]. That’s the enjoyment of this — all the brand new comrades that you simply meet and also you admire their work. Earlier than we did any of the roundtables, I made positive I watched everybody’s movies so I can truly, once I see them within the room, I can speak about them. And in order that’s been the enjoyment. But in addition the friendships that I established even earlier than, like with Bradley Cooper, the individuals who come out and stand for you and amplify your work. Bradley, Andrew Garfield. I’ve made some actual good brothers and sisters on this business. And it’s good to see after they step up and so they simply say, “Hey, I want to tell everybody about your work in the film.” That feels good. So you are feeling such as you’re doing it with a neighborhood and never simply by yourself.
Villarreal: That’s good. Properly, I do know with “Sing Sing,” there wasn’t precisely a script that they approached you with.
Domingo: No, there was no script.
Villarreal: Greg Kwedar, the director, got here to you and mentioned, “Read this Esquire article,” or perhaps you requested for it. What that’s like? I learn the article and I do know what spoke to me. And I’m wondering for you, as not solely an actor however a author and director, what’s that course of like for you?
Domingo: Properly, we made it in a really natural method. I learn the article and it actually spoke to me, particularly the person tales about these males and the way they got here to theater and the way theater was doing one thing for them that was providing some catharsis and a few moments of change and true rehabilitation in some ways. I used to be fascinated by that. And I wished to assist inform this in a movie setting, particularly after we drilled down that it’s nearly a friendship greater than anything. It’s not this jail drama, it’s not struggling, all these tropes. It’s one thing distinctive and actually displaying the opportunity of the human spirit once you pour artwork and love and humanity and lightweight into it. So, I simply thought that was nice.
We did loads of work on Zoom, truly. We truly obtained collectively on Zooms, and we talked about what we had been considering. They set me up with Clarence Maclin, my co-star, and we talked about what’s attention-grabbing to us as males, in regards to the course of, about loving Shakespeare. Greg and Clint [Bentley, the film’s screenwriter] would go off and write and are available again and current some scenes to me. We’d learn them, speak in regards to the scenes, speak about battle, speak about how we have to dial issues up. Clarence would share issues from his lived expertise of being incarcerated. And I’d share what I do know as an artist and as a maker of movie, tv and theater. We created this hybrid and simply gave every part that we may. The cool factor is I used to be requested to convey extra than simply the position of actor, however to convey all of the multihyphenate elements of me to the method. It’s been a program that was established to assist the inhabitants with administration expertise, and it’s became one thing a bit extra, I don’t know, great, as a result of it helps folks get extra in contact with their emotions and capable of course of and really transfer via and actually get some rehabilitation.
Villarreal: Did you discover any parallels or similarities to what introduced you to theater with what introduced these males?
Domingo: Yeah.
Villarreal: Inform me about that.
Domingo: I used to be at all times a shy child and never in style. I come from a really working-class household. And when I discovered theater once I was 19 years outdated at Temple College, simply taking an performing class as an elective, it gave me a voice. As a result of I, truly, I don’t suppose I had a voice there. And it gave me some function. You’re making a neighborhood, and also you’re doing one thing and constructing collectively. [There were] all these expertise that I noticed I used to be drawn to. And likewise, I like the analysis facet of it. I like historical past. I like the deep dive. And so I felt like I discovered a spot for me to belong. And I feel loads of these males discovered that — too lots of them say that they discovered it a lot later than they hoped or wished as a result of it wasn’t supplied to them after they had been youthful. They usually mentioned that maybe some missteps, some errors could not have occurred. So that they had this basis. And that’s precisely what I do know. Theater can appear trivial to folks, folks standing onstage and emoting ultimately, but it surely does a lot for an individual.
At any time when I’d train, I’d ask college students to come back in and present me their monologue, after which I’d redo their monologue with them. And I’ve had so many breakthroughs as a instructor. I had this younger lady are available, and I’d say, “Give me some monologues.” And he or she’s like, “Yeah, I’m going to do this monologue from Neil LaBute’s ‘Fat Pig.’” Nice. And he or she was massive lady. However I met her earlier than, and he or she was vivacious and humorous and attention-grabbing. And I used to be like, “Huh, why did you choose that monologue?” And he or she mentioned, “I think that’s the way the industry would see me.” And I mentioned, “That’s interesting because I see you as a queen. I see you as playing Juliet. I see you as all these things.” And he or she cried. I cried. All of us cried. And I mentioned, “You have to dictate who you are and find your voice and not let other people tell you who you are.” As a instructor, I’d inform my college students, “If I give you skills to be an actor, that’s great. But if I give you skills to find your voice, that’s even better.”
Villarreal: What was that have like, taking that performing class as somebody that [is shy]? I’m painfully shy. I used to cover behind my mother [when I was little] at each household operate. However once I do my work, speaking to folks such as you, I really feel like I’m carrying a masks, like I’m a superhero and permits me to do it. What do you bear in mind clicked for you in that class the place you’re like, “This is unlocking something for me”?
Villarreal: That’s nonetheless me.
Domingo: I really feel like I’m a reformed introvert. I really feel like I understand how to do it. However at house, I’m fairly quiet, truly. I’m at all times in my workplace and studying and doing different issues, as a result of that’s the introvert. However I understand how to decorate it up and get on the market now as a result of I knew that’s additionally one thing I wanted to study to do. My greatest is once I’m in a big surroundings and simply being one-on-one with anyone and I really feel extra like myself. Nevertheless it’s nearly like a masks that it’s a must to placed on to navigate this world. It’s helpful.
Villarreal: It’s bizarre too, as a result of folks will suppose, “Is this really you then, when we’re out doing what we’re doing, or is this a facade?” However it’s only a completely different aspect of you.
Domingo: Folks at all times suppose that I wish to be out on a regular basis. And truly, I don’t.
Villarreal: You wish to be house watching “Housewives.”
Domingo: I feel I’ve a restricted bandwidth for lots of —
Villarreal: Chaos?
Domingo: Yeah, perhaps that’s it. Folks don’t even know. I can go to a celebration and be the middle of that get together. However they don’t even know that I’m solely there for 10 minutes. However I am going in there, and I make an amazing impression, and I do the factor, and I dance about round room. After which I pull the Irish goodbye and I’m out. Folks by no means know once I go away. I’m often like, “I’ve got to go take this call at … home.” And I am going.
Villarreal: In “Sing Sing,” you play a prisoner at Sing Sing Correctional Facility who’s actually taking over a management position on this theater program. [The film] incorporates the lives of actual prisoners. Your character is predicated on an actual alumnus of this system, John “Divine G” Whitfield. What was that have like? What questions had been they asking you? What questions had been you asking them? And the way did it enrich you as a performer when that point was over?
Domingo: The gorgeous factor is that all of us decided to make it very natural. I feel we had been enriching one another simply from the leap from our Zoom conferences. I believed it was so admirable what they had been doing and the work that was specified by that Esquire journal article. And once I obtained to satisfy them, I simply wished to satisfy them the place they had been. I didn’t wish to ask what they did or how their lives had been inside — that wasn’t truly vital to me. I wished to know: Who’re they now and what are they prepared to share simply by attending to know me? And I really feel the identical method. I informed them what we had been considering, simply the way in which we’d get if obtained collectively after we first have a espresso, and we simply speak and get to know one another. So I really feel like we simply shaped a brotherhood and a bond fairly shortly.
And I knew that I needed to set up an surroundings the place they’ll thrive. These are grown males who’re being thrust into this movie surroundings, who’ve had minimal expertise on this, however they’ve a love and keenness for theater. And so I wished to put a basis for them to say, “You can play, and this can be whatever you want it to be. And all it requires is what the program required of you, which is to be vulnerable and be open and — something that I was very clear about — to be tender.” These guys wouldn’t say tenderness was part of their evolution. Nevertheless it was. When it’s a must to stand and be naked in your soul and cope with previous trauma, placing your self and your story into one other particular person’s story, it requires a way of vulnerability and tenderness. Particularly once you’re in a really harmful container, like a maximum-security jail. So, I feel it enriched all of us.
I do know that I invited my greatest pal, Sean San José, to be part of the movie. He performs Mike Mike. And my different greatest pal, Sharon Washington, performs the parole board listening to officer. I knew that I wanted love within the room so I will be as susceptible as potential. I knew that they might affect the remainder of the solid, in addition to Paul Raci [who plays Brent Buell] — these are the one skilled actors in there. And we had a chance to share what we all know and share it with individuals who might be nice beneficiaries of it. And I do know that we’re beneficiaries of what they shared with us. I did this due to their work. I didn’t do that for myself. I did it for them, as a result of I wished to inform their tales and spotlight what good work is feasible to the people who find themselves incarcerated once you discover packages that provide help to and provide help to heal, whether or not it’s gardening or pictures or artwork.
Villarreal: Being on the entrance strains of the wildfires.
Domingo: Precisely. It’s wonderful to me. I really feel like every part is in live performance with each other. I like the truth that their tales are being informed, like, “Hey, do you know who’s fighting these wildfires, who is helping us out?” These are of us that most individuals have put away and out of their thoughts. They usually’re truly those who’re on the market to do the work. And now we simply must make it possible for they’re correctly compensated. And there’s a pathway after they get out.
Villarreal: How transformative is that have, particularly for you? You’re on this actual second in your profession, and to be working with people who strategy their work for such pure causes. How illuminating was that for you, remembering why you do what you do?
Domingo: What an amazing query. I can’t overlook, as a result of I feel I come from a really humble place, and I simply at all times imagine once you do nicely, you maintain others as nicely, and also you move it on. It’s not only for me. It’s for all of us. I do know that I signify many communities and many individuals have poured into me so I will be precisely who I’m. And I don’t overlook that in any respect. I’ve established grants and awards and alternatives, manufacturing firms, as a result of I wish to make a distinction. And I do know I make a distinction standing as an actor and a author and director, I could make a distinction as a producer and even simply as an individual. What we do daily is essential to me. I feel that was instilled in me by my mother and father, which is to make it possible for life was a lifetime of service. I attempt to encourage different folks to know that that’s what it’s about. Particularly younger folks making an attempt to navigate or people who find themselves me now who would really like a profession like mine. I’d say, “Hey, get that word ‘networking’ out of your system because it’s not about networking. It’s about getting to know people and looking after each other. And if you’re looking after somebody and they’re looking after you, you all win.”
Villarreal: One thing that’s loopy to me, and I hesitate to say this out loud with my editor inside earshot, however you shot this throughout 18 days in between “The Color Purple” and reshoots for “Rustin.” And I can’t think about that sort of schedule and depth. Was the tempo of that one thing thrilling and thrilling or scary?
Domingo: It was scary. It was scary as a result of I’d by no means performed something like that earlier than. I feel I’m a fairly measured, pragmatic particular person. Often, I wish to have a correct quantity of prep time, as a result of I really feel like that helps me do the work so I can truly be liberated within the work. However the schedule simply wouldn’t enable [it]. And it wasn’t even my suggestion. It was the suggestion of my director as a result of we obtained to a very good draft of the script after which they mentioned, “Well, when can we shoot it?” And I mentioned, “Well, that’s a whole other story. I don’t know, maybe next year.” They usually had been like, “Oh, man. Because we really think we can get this done and we can do it in a great way.” I mentioned, “I don’t know, man. I just, I don’t know what to tell you.” And Clarence Maclin, my co-star, actually smiled at me on the Zoom and mentioned, “Come on, man, we can do it.” And, so, with that type of harmless “Come on, man, we can do it” and that invitation, I simply mentioned sure. I threw warning to the wind. I mentioned sure, let me. I’m not afraid of exhausting work and I’ll determine it out. And I’m not prepped the way in which I feel I wish to be. However I additionally was up for the problem that perhaps this wanted to be completely different and it wanted to assist me course of my work and be part of the work otherwise, which is why I do know it’s in all probability a few of my extra threadbare work — as a result of I leaned into that. I’m coping with males who’ve had the lived expertise, so subsequently I can’t have any gloss or sheen over my efficiency like I in all probability had with “Rustin” or “Color Purple,” the characters with extra dimension and polish, in a method. And I believed this requires extra grit and requires extra of me, to be sincere.
Villarreal: Within the movie, the group of actors are engaged on a time-traveling musical comedy, which actually appears to be like somewhat enjoyable.
Domingo: And insane.
Villarreal: And insane. So when you had been introduced with “Breakin’ the Mummy’s Code,” which can also be only a sensible title, would your curiosity be piqued as Colman Domingo? And what character would you wish to play? Would you wish to be the Gladiator or Hamlet?
Domingo: I really feel like I’d wish to — I’ve at all times straddled my profession with being a personality actor and a number one man, and I really feel just like the character actors have much more enjoyable. Main males have a very good time too. You’ve obtained a distinct weight in your shoulders, however the characters who are available and hit it and do some wild stuff after which roll out, it’s sort of enjoyable too. So I’m undecided. I really feel like I wish to play each.
Villarreal: Don’t be grasping. You proceed to be a busy man. You’ve obtained the upcoming Tina Fey comedy, [a remake of “The Four Seasons”]. I do know that you’re taking part in Joe Jackson in Antoine Fuqua’s upcoming Michael Jackson biopic. What intrigued you about taking part in Joe and exploring that troubled legacy that he has?
Villarreal: Joe is such a formidable particular person, and I used to be very privileged to play him. I wished to essentially unpack: Who is that this man who actually gave up loads of himself, to be sincere, to pour into his kids as he acknowledged their musical expertise and so they wished to begin a bunch? And the dialog was, “You want to start a group?” As a result of Joe was a musician as nicely. They usually had been like, “Come on, Dad, help us with that.” He mentioned,”I’ll train you that, however it’s a must to have self-discipline.” And he went on that journey with them. He’s at all times somebody in our minds who’s sort of villainous ultimately, form or type. However I feel that additionally I wish to simply look at the person totally and all his complexity, the place he got here from, being a blue-collar man, being a household man. There are issues that I at all times wish to look at with each character. One is how he liked his household and the way he protected his household. That’s the place I led with Joe, to seek out all these instincts of this man, to make him a really complicated character and never type of lean into any type of tropes from the courtroom of public opinion about him.
Villarreal: Do you are feeling like that’s probably the most you’ve remodeled bodily for a job?
Domingo: Sure, as a result of I’m carrying prosthetics, and I imagine my make-up might be tinted just a bit fairer than mine. And Joe had blue eyes. I look very completely different. I look very completely different.
Villarreal: Sending selfies to folks should have been putting.
Domingo: No, I used to be simply doing FaceTime to my husband infrequently.
Villarreal: How about “Euphoria”? Is it again in manufacturing but? It was presupposed to be.
Domingo: We’re again in manufacturing. I finished by the studio yesterday.
Villarreal: Inform me every part.
Domingo: I can’t inform you something.
Villarreal: You’ve learn a script lastly, although, proper?
Domingo: I can inform you that we’re in manufacturing, and it’s going to be incredible.
Villarreal: How was it to be again on set? You’ll be able to inform me that.
Domingo: It was lovely, truly. It was good. It was truly very calm and type. And I caught up with Z [Zendaya] for a bit. I caught up with Sam [Levinson, the show’s creator] and it was simply beautiful. I felt like I went again into a stunning workday.
Villarreal: Did you are feeling such as you needed to reacquaint your self with the character, or did it’s a must to rewatch? It’s been about three years.
Domingo: I truly wasn’t on but, so I simply popped in to say, “hi.” We’ve actually been a household, and it’s enjoyable to pop in and examine on my household when the cameras are up.
Villarreal: As a result of proper after you wrap on that’s once you work begin work by yourself movie, “Scandalous,” proper, with Sydney [Sweeney]?
Domingo: Sure. However earlier than that, I do a film with Steven Spielberg.
Villarreal: What the heck?
Domingo: Yeah. I obtained to shoot this film with Steven Spielberg, and it’s a ravishing solid — Emily Blunt and Colin Firth.
Villarreal: And also you’re not maintaining a journal weekly?
Domingo: No, I’m too current. I really feel like I simply wish to be within the current.
Villarreal: I wish to have your thoughts, as a result of I really feel like I’d overlook every part in, like, two years.
Domingo I feel perhaps that’s additionally my problem. I really feel like folks at all times wish to doc it. I really feel like I identical to being in it. I wish to be in it.
Villarreal: Properly, such a vital element to your job has change into the red-carpet component and, Colman, the way in which you present out on crimson carpet persistently — among the finest dressed round. That’s why I used to be apprehensive coming right here immediately. I used to be like, “I won’t even try.”
Domingo: Have a look at me, I’m carrying easy … It’s black denim and a few Oxfords and a easy shirt.
Villarreal: Have a look at the way in which you put on black and the way in which I put on black. However you talked earlier about being an introvert and a shy child. What has this component to the job unlocked for you? Do you see it as working at the side of the way in which you current your self onscreen, or is it a very completely different aspect of your creativity?
Domingo: It’s completely at the side of it as a result of I really feel prefer it’s all storytelling. I feel it’s a method to specific your self. I grew up carrying my older brother’s and older sister’s hand-me-down garments. So I feel that there was one thing about that, that when I obtained my first job at McDonald’s and I wished to purchase my very own issues, I [thought]: “What is my sense of style? How do I wear clothes? How does this body feel out in the spaces?” For me, it’s a part of that dressing up that introvert [so he] can inform a narrative together with his physique.
Villarreal: What was that first merchandise of clothes with that McDonald’s paycheck that actually had you want, “I got this.”
Domingo: Two-tone denims. Oh, yeah, as a result of they had been sizzling then. We’re speaking in regards to the ’80s. I bear in mind they had been stone wash on one aspect and blue on the opposite.
Villarreal: Good. You are able to do that once more. Have you ever began desirous about —
Domingo: Perhaps I’ll rock one thing like that for the Met Gala.
Villarreal: OK, I used to be going to ask you [about that]. You’re co-chair. They only introduced the theme. You wish to speak a little bit bit about being part of this and the theme itself?
Domingo: Sure, “Superfine: Tailoring Black [Style].” It’s incredible. It’s actually trying on the historical past of Black male tailoring, which is superior. It’s by no means been performed earlier than and I’m simply very excited. I’m enthusiastic about all of it. I’m working proper now with Valentino; I’m a home ambassador for Valentino, so Alessandro [Michele, the creative director] goes to design one thing actually particular for me to put on. I really feel like I wish to do a pair outfits, and we’ll see what occurs.
Villarreal: Have you ever began desirous about the story or emotion you wish to evoke along with your red-carpet [look] for Oscars?
Domingo: I’ve, truly. I thought of a colour. I gained’t inform you the colour since you’d be stunned. However one thing about it, I simply can’t cease desirous about. I’m making an attempt to think about historical past. There’s so many moments, iconic moments in historical past — it might be like 18th century London or it may be just like the Forties and zoot go well with or it may be like some Dapper Dan fashion or one thing like that. However I really feel like I would like it to signify many individuals and lots of issues. As a result of even once I went to the Met Gala final yr for the primary time, I referenced André Leon Talley and Chadwick Boseman. I at all times wish to convey — perhaps that’s it — I at all times wish to convey different folks with me.
Villarreal: You’ll be able to convey me.
Domingo: That is my lesson for shy folks. In the event you suppose there’s extra folks with you than simply you, then it’s not about you anymore. Maya Angelou says one thing like that — it’s not simply me, it’s all my ancestors, all these different folks giving me energy and braveness to talk.
Villarreal: Properly, now I’m actually trying ahead to what you’re going to ship on that crimson carpet.
Domingo: It’s going to serve.
