Exclusive: Mack Wilds talks romantic film Really Love
Now playing on Netflix is MACRO’s romantic drama Really Love, which hits the streamer on August 25. The film was helmed by first-time feature director Angel Kristi Williams, who also co-wrote the script with Felicia A. Pride.
The cast includes Kofi Siriboe, Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing, Uzo Aduba, Mack Wilds, Naturi Naughton, Suzzanne Douglas, Jade Eshete, Blair Underwood, and Michael Ealy.
Set against the backdrop of a gentrifying Washington DC, Isaiah, an emerging black painter is on the brink of breaking out or giving up when he meets Stevie, an intriguing beauty with big brains.
They fall for one another, hard. Stevie quickly becomes one of Isaiah’s biggest fans and artistic muse. Isaiah’s creativity flows with her in his life, but his work remains overlooked by curators and collectors, bruising his ego. When Isaiah finally convinces a prominent gallery owner to take a chance on him, he pours himself into his work, neglecting Stevie. Isaiah’s first solo show catapults him into new artistic echelons, but it doesn’t leave much room for Stevie. Reluctantly, she accepts a dream job in Chicago, breaking Isaiah’s heart.
A year passes without communication, until Isaiah runs into Stevie at his group show in Chicago. Dormant feelings bubble to the surface. When Stevie returns to the district at Isaiah’s invitation, his life seems better; the art world has christened him as its new “it boy.” But Isaiah’s life isn’t what he imagined and he’s forced to face the truth: can he give Stevie what he knows she deserves?
For Mack Wilds, who plays Isaiah’s best friend, this is first film since he appeared with Malcolm Mays in the indie film Covers. His other film credits include the George Lucas produced film Red Tails, The Secret Life of Bees and Half Nelson. Notable TV credits include the Gina Prince-Bythewood series Shots Fired and VH1’s The Breaks.
BlackFilmandTV.com' correspondent Sidnee Michelle caught up with Wilds as he spoke his experience on the film.