SXSW 2021 Exclusive: Filmmakers Kelley Kali & Deon Cole Talk "I'm Fine (Thanks for Asking)"
One of the eight narrative feature films in competition at SXSW 2021 is I'm Fine (Thanks for Asking) from directors and co-writers Kelley Kali and Angelique Molina & producer Deon Cole.
Danny, a recently widowed hairdresser, and her 8-year-old daughter Wes are houseless. Shielding Wes from the truth, Danny pitches a tent and convinces Wes that it’s a fun camping trip. As Danny works to find permanent housing, Wes grows increasingly tired of weeks in the heat, so Danny promises her that they will go home by the end of the day. With clients lined up, Danny is confident that she will have the final cash she needs to secure an apartment, but a series of mishaps threatens to derail her plans. Under mounting pressure, and with roller skates as her only means of transportation, she has to somehow manage to get the money she needs in order to keep her promise to her daughter.
Kali, one of the breakout talents in Hollywood, won the 2018 Academy Award for Best Film for her narrative short, Lalo's House. This is her debut narrative feature which she stars in, co-wrote, co-produced and co-directed. For Cole, best known from "Black-ish," "Grown-ish," this is a film he was happy to co-sign as a producer. He and Kali are writing partners. BlackFilmandTV.com’s Wilson Morales caught up with Kali and Cole as they spoke about putting this film together.
