‘It’s impossible to be vulnerable’: how Moonlight reflects beg a black gay man the US | Moonlight | The Guardian

Contents:

• "MOONLIGHT" DIRECTOR BARRY JENKS ON BEG A STRAIGHT MAN MAKG A GAY FILM: "I HAD SOME TREPIDATN""I THK THERE ARE SOME STORI THAT N ONLY BE TOLD OM A FIRST-PERSON PERSPECTIVE.”{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MOVIBY CHRISTOPHER RUDOLPHOCTOBER 25, 2016/2:12 PMBY CHRISTOPHER RUDOLPHOCTOBER 25, 2016 / 2:12 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"\"MOONLIGHT\" DIRECTOR BARRY JENKS ON BEG A STRAIGHT MAN MAKG A GAY FILM: \"I HAD SOME TREPIDATN\"","DATEPUBLISHED":"2016-10-25T18:12:15.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2016-10-25T18:12:15.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"CHRISTOPHER RUDOLPH","ARTICLESECTN":"MOVI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MOONLIGHT IS BEG HAILED AS ONE OF THE BT MOVI OF 2016, AND AN STANT LGBT FILM CLASSIC. NATURALLY, MOST DIENC WOULD ASSUME THAT THE DIRECTOR OF MOONLIGHT, BARRY JENKS IS GAY, BUT HE'S ACTUALLY STRAIGHT. IT WAS WH THE HELP OF A GAY PLAYWRIGHT HE FELT THAT HE ULD DO THIS STORY JTICE EVEN IF HE WASN'T GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I HAD SOME TREPIDATN ABOUT AT THE BEGNG, ONLY BEE I THK THERE ARE SOME STORI THAT N ONLY BE TOLD OM A FIRST-PERSON PERSPECTIVE," HE TOLD VULTURE A NEW {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I HADN'T LIVED THIS ASPECT OF THE CHARACTER'S INTY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I HAD SO MANY OTHER THGS MON WH CHIRON THAT I THOUGHT, IF THERE'S EVER GOG TO BE A SPACE WHERE I N TLY EMPATHIZE WH A CHARACTER WHO HAS A RE ASPECT OF HIS INTY THAT I DON'T SHARE, 'S GOG TO BE THIS SE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT WAS WH THE HELP OF OUT PLAYWRIGHT TARELL ALV MCCRANEY, WHO WROTE THE PLAY IN MOONLIGHT BLACK BOYS LOOK BLUE— WHICH THE FILM IS BASED ON—THAT JENKS REALIZED HE ULD STILL TELL THIS STORY EVEN IF HE WASN'T GAY LIKE THE MA CHARACTER, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"ALSO, TOO, TALKG TO TARELL THROUGH THE WRG PROCS, I REALIZED HOW ALIGNED WE WERE. I REALIZED THROUGH THAT PROCS THAT I ULD PRERVE TARELL'S VOICE AND MELD WH MY PASSN AS AN EMPATHETIC ALLY FOR LGBTQ STORI. THE BATN OF THOSE TWO THGS ULD GIVE ME THE ROOM AND BREADTH TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO TAKE THORSHIP OF THIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHAT I SAY IS THAT MOONLIGHT ULD NOT HAVE ORIGATED WH ME. IT HAD TO ORIGATE WH TARELL. I THK BEE DID, I FELT VERY FORTABLE TAKG ON THE ISSU. I MEAN, THE MOVIE'S VERY TERSECTNAL. THERE'S SO MUCH GOG ON WH CHIRON, AND THAT'S ONLY ONE PART OF HIS INTY. BUT I DID FEEL BEE 'S A RE ASPECT OF THE MATERIAL AND A RE ASPECT OF ALL OF TARELL'S WORK THAT I ULD DO ."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SO DO MOST PEOPLE WHO SEE THE MOVIE ASSUME THAT HE'S GAY? "THEY DO! ALL THE TIME." REPLIED {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MOONLIGHT IS NOW PLAYG SELECT THEATERS AND OPENS NATNWI NOVEMBER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}H/T: {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• HOW MOONLIGHT’S CREATORS MA A UNIVERSALLY ACCLAIMED WDOW TO GAY BLACK INTYHOW MOONLIGHT’S CREATORS MA A UNIVERSALLY ACCLAIMED WDOW TO GAY BLACK INTY
• REVIEW: BARRY JENKS’ MAGIL, MAJTIC ‘MOONLIGHT’ IS A STUNNG PORTRA OF YOUNG, BLACK GAY LIFE
• MOONLIGHT IS A BETIFULLY NUANCED GAY G-OF-AGE TALEMOONLIGHT IS A BETIFULLY NUANCED GAY G-OF-AGE TALE
• IN 'MOONLIGHT,' GROWG UP BLACK, GAY AND POOR IN 1980S MIAMI
• ‘IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO BE VULNERABLE’: HOW MOONLIGHT REFLECTS BEG A BLACK GAY MAN THE US
• MOONLIGHT REVIEW – VASTATG DRAMA IS VAL PORTRA OF BLACK GAY MASCULY AMERI
• IN 1980S MIAMI, THE TRIPLE CRISIS OF GROWG UP BLACK, GAY AND POOR

"MOONLIGHT" DIRECTOR BARRY JENKS ON BEG A STRAIGHT MAN MAKG A GAY FILM: "I HAD SOME TREPIDATN""I THK THERE ARE SOME STORI THAT N ONLY BE TOLD OM A FIRST-PERSON PERSPECTIVE.”{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MOVIBY CHRISTOPHER RUDOLPHOCTOBER 25, 2016/2:12 PMBY CHRISTOPHER RUDOLPHOCTOBER 25, 2016 / 2:12 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"\"MOONLIGHT\" DIRECTOR BARRY JENKS ON BEG A STRAIGHT MAN MAKG A GAY FILM: \"I HAD SOME TREPIDATN\"","DATEPUBLISHED":"2016-10-25T18:12:15.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2016-10-25T18:12:15.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"CHRISTOPHER RUDOLPH","ARTICLESECTN":"MOVI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MOONLIGHT IS BEG HAILED AS ONE OF THE BT MOVI OF 2016, AND AN STANT LGBT FILM CLASSIC. NATURALLY, MOST DIENC WOULD ASSUME THAT THE DIRECTOR OF MOONLIGHT, BARRY JENKS IS GAY, BUT HE'S ACTUALLY STRAIGHT. IT WAS WH THE HELP OF A GAY PLAYWRIGHT HE FELT THAT HE ULD DO THIS STORY JTICE EVEN IF HE WASN'T GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I HAD SOME TREPIDATN ABOUT AT THE BEGNG, ONLY BEE I THK THERE ARE SOME STORI THAT N ONLY BE TOLD OM A FIRST-PERSON PERSPECTIVE," HE TOLD VULTURE A NEW {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I HADN'T LIVED THIS ASPECT OF THE CHARACTER'S INTY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I HAD SO MANY OTHER THGS MON WH CHIRON THAT I THOUGHT, IF THERE'S EVER GOG TO BE A SPACE WHERE I N TLY EMPATHIZE WH A CHARACTER WHO HAS A RE ASPECT OF HIS INTY THAT I DON'T SHARE, 'S GOG TO BE THIS SE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT WAS WH THE HELP OF OUT PLAYWRIGHT TARELL ALV MCCRANEY, WHO WROTE THE PLAY IN MOONLIGHT BLACK BOYS LOOK BLUE— WHICH THE FILM IS BASED ON—THAT JENKS REALIZED HE ULD STILL TELL THIS STORY EVEN IF HE WASN'T GAY LIKE THE MA CHARACTER, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"ALSO, TOO, TALKG TO TARELL THROUGH THE WRG PROCS, I REALIZED HOW ALIGNED WE WERE. I REALIZED THROUGH THAT PROCS THAT I ULD PRERVE TARELL'S VOICE AND MELD WH MY PASSN AS AN EMPATHETIC ALLY FOR LGBTQ STORI. THE BATN OF THOSE TWO THGS ULD GIVE ME THE ROOM AND BREADTH TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO TAKE THORSHIP OF THIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHAT I SAY IS THAT MOONLIGHT ULD NOT HAVE ORIGATED WH ME. IT HAD TO ORIGATE WH TARELL. I THK BEE DID, I FELT VERY FORTABLE TAKG ON THE ISSU. I MEAN, THE MOVIE'S VERY TERSECTNAL. THERE'S SO MUCH GOG ON WH CHIRON, AND THAT'S ONLY ONE PART OF HIS INTY. BUT I DID FEEL BEE 'S A RE ASPECT OF THE MATERIAL AND A RE ASPECT OF ALL OF TARELL'S WORK THAT I ULD DO ."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SO DO MOST PEOPLE WHO SEE THE MOVIE ASSUME THAT HE'S GAY? "THEY DO! ALL THE TIME." REPLIED {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MOONLIGHT IS NOW PLAYG SELECT THEATERS AND OPENS NATNWI NOVEMBER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}H/T: {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

Naturally, most dienc would assume that the director of Moonlight, Barry Jenks is gay, but he's actually straight.

It was wh the help of a gay playwright he felt that he uld do this story jtice even if he wasn't gay himself. "It was wh the help of out playwright Tarell Alv McCraney, who wrote the play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue— which the film is based on—that Jenks realized he uld still tell this story even if he wasn't gay like the ma character, Chiron.

HOW MOONLIGHT’S CREATORS MA A UNIVERSALLY ACCLAIMED WDOW TO GAY BLACK INTYHOW MOONLIGHT’S CREATORS MA A UNIVERSALLY ACCLAIMED WDOW TO GAY BLACK INTY

"So do most people who see the movie assume that he's gay? ”Moonlight is a g of age story three parts that tells the story of Chiron, a young, gay black boy growg up very poor a rough part of Miami.

“The film dtry I work is not homogeno. Wrer-director Barry Jenks based the film on Tarell McCraney’s tobgraphil play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue, which follows a gay black character through key moments boyhood, adolcence, and adulthood.

But I will also say that the muny we grew up , there were other people who intified as queer or gay.

REVIEW: BARRY JENKS’ MAGIL, MAJTIC ‘MOONLIGHT’ IS A STUNNG PORTRA OF YOUNG, BLACK GAY LIFE

Moonlight was adapted om Tarell Alv McCraney's playIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue and tells the story of a black boy named Chiron livg the poor Liberty Cy neighborhood of Miami g to himself and his gay inty a world that ref to allow him to do eher wh ease. ) Jenks took this foundatn, which uldn't be filmed, and turned to Moonlight, and though he is not gay, he was able to nvey and mata the most timate parts of McCraney's story. Wrten and directed by Barry Jenks and based on an unproduced play by Tarell Alv McCraney, “Moonlight” creat such an exceptnal level of emotnal honty universaliz a very specific g of age experience, that of a gay black man growg om child to adult startg the 1980s crack e epimic years the tough Liberty Cy area of McCraney, wner of a MacArthur Foundatn fellowship, is gay and Jenks, whose prev film was 2009’s well-regard “Medice for Melancholy, ” is not, their backgrounds are remarkably they did not know each other as children, both men grew up a block om each other the same Liberty Cy neighborhood and went to the same elementary and middle schools.

” Superb filmmakg and an exceptnal level of emotnal honty universaliz a very specific g of age experience, that of a gay black man growg om child to adult startg 1980s Miami’s crack e epimic years. Like Carol and Brokeback Mounta before , Moonlight nveys the pa of the ntug social stigma around homosexualy, the search for eedom and love, and the nstant stggle to munite and drop personal barriers.

MOONLIGHT IS A BETIFULLY NUANCED GAY G-OF-AGE TALEMOONLIGHT IS A BETIFULLY NUANCED GAY G-OF-AGE TALE

Moonlight rembl Brokeback Mounta and Carol s lh stagg, tensely ternal performanc, and treatment of the gay experience a very specific i.

IN 'MOONLIGHT,' GROWG UP BLACK, GAY AND POOR IN 1980S MIAMI

Hibbert as Chiron, a young black man growg up gay an impoverished part of Miami Moonlight.

‘IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO BE VULNERABLE’: HOW MOONLIGHT REFLECTS BEG A BLACK GAY MAN THE US

It's an thentic, timate portra of a young, gay black man whose mother is a crack addict.

MOONLIGHT REVIEW – VASTATG DRAMA IS VAL PORTRA OF BLACK GAY MASCULY AMERI

He was not gay, and he played football.

Barry jenks on 'moonlight, ' black inty, and homosexualyadvertisementreadwatchfashnphotographyartculturefilmtvactivismnewsmipnbetystraight upsmonth photos7 inic looksmagazei-D asialegalabout storentactvice media privacy policyaccsibilyterms© 2023 i-D magaze. Moonlight was a g-of-age story of a gay Florida youth who, over the urse of 16 years, disvers “the nature and meang of manhood.

Dpe renewed lls for people to judge the film on s own importance, the distrsg accatns of rape agast Parker – s star, as well as wrer and director – have meant s red-rpet-to-awards glory is lookg nsirably ls no movie was perhaps ever more sorely required to prevent another #OsrsSoWhe than Moonlight: Barry Jenks’s drama trackg a black gay man at three stag over his film has had an extraordary embrace on the tumn ftival circu; s brilliance has left few stumblg out of the cema unmoved.

IN 1980S MIAMI, THE TRIPLE CRISIS OF GROWG UP BLACK, GAY AND POOR

It is a sentiment that, oddly, echo that of Parker, who claimed he would never play a gay character bee of the need to “prerve black masculy”.

”In the film, Chiron regulat his behavur orr to prevent people om knowg he’s gay, but the bulli at school and his cel mother are aware of his sexualy and persecute him as a rult. I don’t have a first-person perspective on what means to be a gay black man Ameri, but Tarell do.