1 00:00:00,417 --> 00:00:03,587 My entire career, I feel like, is due to black women. 2 00:00:03,629 --> 00:00:05,959 You know, whether it's Beyoncé in music videos, 3 00:00:06,006 --> 00:00:08,466 Issa Rae with television, Lena Waithe with film. 4 00:00:08,509 --> 00:00:11,299 So black women have supported me and made me who I am. 5 00:00:11,345 --> 00:00:13,345 I wouldn't be here without them. 6 00:00:21,396 --> 00:00:27,026 If I were a bird 7 00:00:27,069 --> 00:00:30,029 My next guest is Miss Melina Matsoukas. 8 00:00:30,072 --> 00:00:33,872 She is the creator of all things cool 9 00:00:33,909 --> 00:00:35,789 and black girl magic, if you ask me, 10 00:00:35,827 --> 00:00:38,157 in my humble opinion. 11 00:00:38,205 --> 00:00:42,245 We're gonna be exploring to see what her spirit flower is. 12 00:00:42,292 --> 00:00:43,502 I didn't wake up like this. 13 00:00:43,544 --> 00:00:46,094 I've been through hair and makeup for about five minutes. 14 00:01:09,611 --> 00:01:10,451 You're late. 15 00:01:11,613 --> 00:01:13,823 To be early is to be on time. 16 00:01:13,866 --> 00:01:16,326 - To be on time is to be late. - Be late. 17 00:01:16,368 --> 00:01:18,038 And to be late is unacceptable. 18 00:01:18,078 --> 00:01:19,998 I'm getting fired. I'm already fired... 19 00:01:20,038 --> 00:01:20,908 - Well... - And we haven't even started. 20 00:01:20,956 --> 00:01:23,206 If it was my set, yes. But since it's yours... 21 00:01:23,250 --> 00:01:27,420 And now let's take a journey to the center. 22 00:01:28,881 --> 00:01:30,921 I'm wanting to know... 23 00:01:30,966 --> 00:01:33,886 How did we discover each other? How did this happen? 24 00:01:33,927 --> 00:01:37,137 I found you at our dear friend Melody Ehsani's house. 25 00:01:37,181 --> 00:01:38,721 And suddenly there was this figure 26 00:01:38,765 --> 00:01:40,975 on the dance floor with a huge fan. 27 00:01:41,018 --> 00:01:43,898 And you were twirling around the place 28 00:01:43,937 --> 00:01:45,857 as one does, of course. 29 00:01:45,898 --> 00:01:48,108 And then I discovered your artistry. 30 00:01:48,150 --> 00:01:49,820 And I was really impressed. 31 00:01:49,860 --> 00:01:51,820 And I wanted you in my tribe. 32 00:01:51,862 --> 00:01:54,622 I love this idea about tribe because 33 00:01:54,656 --> 00:01:59,116 your tribe is all the different types of people that you work with. 34 00:01:59,161 --> 00:02:02,121 My parents raised me with this, like, deep sense of community. 35 00:02:02,164 --> 00:02:06,004 Our unity, especially as black people, is our greatest weapon against oppression. 36 00:02:06,043 --> 00:02:07,923 - You're very clear. - Yeah. 37 00:02:07,961 --> 00:02:10,011 And you have such a strong point of view. 38 00:02:10,047 --> 00:02:12,877 - Thank you. - But you're also so collaborative. 39 00:02:12,925 --> 00:02:15,465 I believe in, like, creating a safe space 40 00:02:15,511 --> 00:02:19,141 where, like, we can all create together and be our best selves 41 00:02:19,181 --> 00:02:22,181 and challenge each other to lengths that are unimagined. 42 00:02:22,226 --> 00:02:25,476 Bridging together and coming together of different ideas, 43 00:02:25,521 --> 00:02:27,441 like, is what's gonna make this phenomenal. 44 00:02:27,481 --> 00:02:29,111 Yeah. It's like the Harlem Renaissance. 45 00:02:29,149 --> 00:02:31,529 - 100%. - Where we could support each other 46 00:02:31,568 --> 00:02:34,318 and thrive off each other and inspire each other 47 00:02:34,363 --> 00:02:37,123 in a way where we all make our best work. 48 00:02:38,992 --> 00:02:40,952 And now let's go deep. 49 00:02:44,373 --> 00:02:46,673 You got the checklist. Lighting cue. 50 00:02:47,709 --> 00:02:50,919 - Barbecue or black tie? - Barbecue. 51 00:02:51,839 --> 00:02:56,469 - Black or with milk? - Well, I'm obviously with milk. 52 00:02:59,012 --> 00:03:00,222 But I prefer it black. 53 00:03:00,264 --> 00:03:02,474 Straight up. 54 00:03:03,684 --> 00:03:06,734 Stilettos, pumps, in da club 55 00:03:06,770 --> 00:03:09,520 Or we knuckin', we buckin', we ready to fight 56 00:03:09,565 --> 00:03:11,975 Knuck if you buck, knuck if you buck 57 00:03:14,027 --> 00:03:16,777 Okay, so... 58 00:03:16,822 --> 00:03:18,372 I have one more question for you. 59 00:03:18,407 --> 00:03:20,697 - You're a director. - I am. 60 00:03:20,742 --> 00:03:22,832 - You're a creator. - Yes. 61 00:03:22,870 --> 00:03:25,370 - You're an artist. - I try to be. 62 00:03:25,414 --> 00:03:26,924 My question to you... 63 00:03:26,957 --> 00:03:30,497 if you were to create a movie based off of... 64 00:03:30,544 --> 00:03:33,094 - This face. - Who would you cast to play me? 65 00:03:33,130 --> 00:03:37,090 I just love Daniel Kaluuya, and I think he can really embody anybody. 66 00:03:37,134 --> 00:03:38,974 - He's hot, too. - I love him. 67 00:03:39,011 --> 00:03:40,391 You're the best. Shall we? 68 00:03:40,429 --> 00:03:42,309 We shall. Take a stroll? 69 00:03:42,347 --> 00:03:44,057 - Yes, hello. - Yeah, okay. 70 00:03:44,099 --> 00:03:46,389 Thank you. We'll see y'all in a little bit, okay? 71 00:03:53,609 --> 00:03:57,109 Girl, it's time to process. 72 00:03:57,154 --> 00:03:59,624 One of the things I absolutely love about Melina 73 00:03:59,656 --> 00:04:02,826 is her unique ability to draw people in. 74 00:04:02,868 --> 00:04:06,788 She has mastered the art of manifesting her community, 75 00:04:06,830 --> 00:04:08,460 which is no easy feat. 76 00:04:08,498 --> 00:04:11,418 She has a way of celebrating our complexities 77 00:04:11,460 --> 00:04:14,460 and the everyday worlds of our blackness. 78 00:04:14,505 --> 00:04:17,465 My centerpiece for Melina celebrates the beauty 79 00:04:17,508 --> 00:04:20,928 and black specificity and connectivity, 80 00:04:20,969 --> 00:04:23,849 which, to me, is the perfect expression 81 00:04:23,889 --> 00:04:27,939 of how Melina illustrates her love for the community that defines her. 82 00:04:35,984 --> 00:04:39,494 I just, like, wanted to, like, get your vibe, your essence, 83 00:04:39,530 --> 00:04:44,030 your, like, energy, your cool, your, like, swag, your, like... 84 00:04:44,076 --> 00:04:46,286 Ready for the party, that I wanted to set a scene for you. 85 00:04:46,328 --> 00:04:47,448 - Okay. - How about that? 86 00:04:47,496 --> 00:04:48,866 You've done it before. 87 00:04:48,914 --> 00:04:51,124 - So let's see if you've outdone yourself. - Cue the curtain! 88 00:04:55,462 --> 00:04:58,882 Okay, what the fuck? This is amazing. 89 00:04:58,924 --> 00:05:01,134 This is, like...you said "barbecue." 90 00:05:01,176 --> 00:05:03,096 - Yes. - You got the old-school car. 91 00:05:03,136 --> 00:05:04,426 - You got speakers. - Come in, come in, come in. 92 00:05:04,471 --> 00:05:06,641 We're, like, on the right path, so... 93 00:05:06,682 --> 00:05:07,812 See? 94 00:05:07,850 --> 00:05:10,060 Can we take this in, please? 95 00:05:10,102 --> 00:05:12,312 Take this in? 96 00:05:12,354 --> 00:05:13,484 Can I take it home with me? 97 00:05:13,522 --> 00:05:14,862 I'm very much into brown. 98 00:05:14,898 --> 00:05:16,438 - You know, yes. - I'm brown. 99 00:05:16,483 --> 00:05:17,733 Who knew? 100 00:05:17,776 --> 00:05:19,896 The one thing I loved about this was, 101 00:05:19,945 --> 00:05:22,815 I just thought it was, like, a nice representation of 102 00:05:22,865 --> 00:05:25,485 how, when we have barbecues, when we have get-togethers, 103 00:05:25,534 --> 00:05:27,414 like, it brings people together. 104 00:05:27,452 --> 00:05:28,872 - It feels like home. - Yeah. 105 00:05:28,912 --> 00:05:29,792 It feels like community. 106 00:05:29,830 --> 00:05:32,000 With an explosion of flowers. 107 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,590 I just thought it was, like, this interesting hybrid 108 00:05:34,626 --> 00:05:36,706 of showing your coolness. 109 00:05:36,753 --> 00:05:39,093 - I love it. - Showing your sense of community. 110 00:05:39,131 --> 00:05:42,131 You know, now that we got these rose burgers... 111 00:05:42,176 --> 00:05:43,426 And grapes. 112 00:05:43,468 --> 00:05:45,468 ...on this grill, 113 00:05:45,512 --> 00:05:47,352 let's dance. 114 00:05:47,389 --> 00:05:48,889 DJ Pauli! 115 00:05:49,641 --> 00:05:50,931 Hey! 116 00:05:50,976 --> 00:05:53,056 Kitty cat, kitty cat... 117 00:05:53,103 --> 00:05:53,943 Ready. 118 00:05:58,775 --> 00:06:01,895 Come on, come on, come on, family! 119 00:06:03,488 --> 00:06:05,618 Five, six, seven, eight! 120 00:06:07,451 --> 00:06:08,541 All day 121 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:27,640 Bring it in! Bring it in, bring it in! 122 00:06:27,679 --> 00:06:30,309 - Thank you, family. - Thank you, guys, for my centerpiece! 123 00:06:30,349 --> 00:06:31,479 And we out!