Exclusive: Sanaa Lathan on her feature directorial debut On The Come Up
Currently playing on Paramount+ is the original film, ON THE COME UP, which is based on the New York Times’ #1 best-selling novel by Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give).The film is the feature directorial debut of Emmy-nominated actress Sanaa Lathan and recently had its World Premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.
Starring newcomer Jamila C. Gray, ON THE COME UP is the story of Bri, a 16-year-old gifted rapper, who attempts to take the battle rap scene by storm in order to lift up her family and do right by the legacy of her father – a local hip hop legend whose career was cut short by gang violence. But when her first hit song goes viral for all the wrong reasons, she finds herself torn between the authenticity that got her this far and the false persona that the industry wants to impose upon her.
The coming-of-age film also stars Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Lil Yachty, Mike Epps, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Justin Martin, Titus Makin, Michael Cooper Jr., GaTa, Sanaa Lathan and Cliff “Method Man” Smith.
For Lathan, who’s been acting for over 20 years with credits that include Blade, The Best Man, Catfish and Blackbean Sauce, Love & Basketball, Brown Sugar, Something New, The Family That Preys, The Best Man Holiday, and Native Son. For her recurring role as Lisa Arthur on Season 3 of HBO’s Succession, she received an Emmy nomination for Guest Actress in a Drama Series. On stage, Lathan's performance in the Broadway revival of A Raisin in the Sun, earned her a nomination at the Tony Awards for Best Featured Actress in a Play. She’s performed well on all platforms and now she’s ready for another venture, but from behind the scene.
Blackfilmandtv.com’s Wilson Morales spoke with Lathan on her experience directing On The Come Up.
