Older sister, Katia and father Denzel Washington are producers.
Did Virgil Williams approach you first?
So, I approached him with a take that I thought was interesting.
John David Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Potts and Ray Fisher in ‘The Piano Lesson’.Cr. David Lee/Netflix
Then, I worked on it privately and linked up with Virgil.
I brought everything I had been thinking about, and we just clicked and took off from there.
DEADLINE: Talk about the motifs in your version of the film.
Danielle Deadwyler as Berniece and John David Washington as Boy Willie in ‘The Piano Lesson’.David Lee/Netflix
WASHINGTON:Wilson during this time was in dialogue with Toni Morrison.
Its a theme woven through culture and artistry.
Its a tradition that I wanted to pay homage to here.
All these things are tied together through wind, earth, water and fire.
Its not a monolith.
DEADLINE:Samuel L. Jacksonstarred in the original 1987 stage play as Boy Willie.
Now hes the elder Doaker three decades later.
Was it a no-brainer to get him involved in the film?
I was like, Hey, heres what I want to do with this.
Are you OK if I take this ride?
Can we go together?
And he was down.
I feel like any iteration ofThe Piano Lessonhas to go through Sam Jackson because hes the most experienced person.
Of anybody on earth, theres nobody with more lived experience ofThe Piano Lessonthan Samuel L. Jackson.
DEADLINE: Do you think if he said no, your dad would have called him?
WASHINGTON:First of all, nobody can make Sam do anything.
If you look at his work, theres so many young filmmakers that hes put his name beside.
Like Paul Thomas AndersonsHard Eight, early Quentin Tarantino… he was part of their upbringing, their rise.
DEADLINE:He has that entertaining monologue where hes divulging the history of the piano.
Talk about the construction of that scene.
WASHINGTON:That moment is the whole pivot of the movie.
Its a scene where the movie unlocks itself.
Its a 10-page monologue, but he was already super familiar with the dialogue and the journey hes telling.
I consider that section of the movie a short film, so thats how I approached it.
On the stage, you dont have any idea who is what.
Filming that day was like watching Michael Jordan have shooting practice.
Thats Samuel L. Jackson, and hes Samuel L. Jackson for a reason.
The way he ends that monologue and hits that last line, a chill goes down your spine.
DEADLINE: What was it like directing your brother John David on set?
Was anyone on set playfully jealous wondering why he probably got less takes than anyone else?
But you know what?
A lot of it is also contemplating whats present in the space right now.
What is the actor giving you?
Looking into their eyes, what do you see?
Each actor that we had required a different language.
They required a different amount of takes and collaboration.
As the youngest sibling, I feel that.
DEADLINE:Danielle Deadwyler does some incredible work here.
Can you talk about the process of working with her?
WASHINGTON:Shes so gifted and talented.
Ive been a fan for a while.
DEADLINE: Why was this the right time for you to make this film?
WASHINGTON:I had many things happen at once that made this film possible.
I was having those identity questions of who I am now.
Who am I as an adult?
Not in terms of my profession, but of me as a man.
Who are the women that I come from?
And what does that mean for me ultimately?
How do I identify myself in terms of them?
So, I snapped into focus and wrestled with these types of questions.
DEADLINE:What do you know of your familys legacy beyond your parents?
Is there anything that stays with you?
WASHINGTON:A big part of this was based on my grandfather.
My moms dad passed away when I was eight years old.
But as you’re free to imagine, he was a big influence on my mom.
My mom always talks about her idea of what love really is and what the beauty in it is.
Its based on her parents relationship, her idea of masculinity, and what a man is.
Its strength and tenderness; its empathy and compassion.
Its curiosity and patience.
In that way, he became a marker of all those things for me.
One day, I found them and started watching them.
I cut them together on Fathers Day into a little clip and sent it to her.
