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In 2004,Justin Simienstarted writing a movie calledDear White People.
By 2014, the film was premiering at Sundance and in theaters across the country to accolades and controversy.
Then, last month, U.S. demand for the show suddenly increased by329 percent.
Its folks who didnt think it applied to them realizing that maybe it does, Simien says.
The first thing I want to ask you about is Ingmar Bergman.
Hes a clear influence in the episodes you directed for season three.
You got to showcase a lot of individuality, but so did the directors you brought on.
Same for Sam Bailey.
Its just like I give a shot to do for myself.
Ive been following Sam Baileys work since her web seriesYoure So TalentedandBrown Girls.
Ive always considered her to be an amazing young director.
I was so excited to watch her season three episode.
It didnt feel like any other episode of TV Ive ever watched.Right!
Who am I to speak for Black women?
The first day, I remember she put that damn camera in the washing machine …
Yes, that scene!And it was so great.
Its so peakDear White People, and I never wouldve come up with it.
That is all Sam.
Theyre masters at the craft.
Theyre just lovely people and they get the voice of the show.
It makes for complex Black storytelling.
Something likeSuccession,people delight in parsing out all of the reasons to love it.
But when its Black and the reasons to love it are more complicated and nuanced, people freak out.
Theres a queer element toDear White Peoplethat I think is singular.
Im a queer artist, so my art has a queer sensibility to it.
I have to think that might be part of it too.
There are episodes like the Barry Jenkinsdirected episode in season one about Reggie, which is incredibly masculine.
Its about being a Black man.
And then there are episodes where we go to a gay sex club for the first time with Lionel.
Theres been an increase in viewership since protests started around the country.
Its interesting thatDear White Peoplehas become somewhat timeless as these other shows deal withblackface episodes.
Im not on that tip, because I want the conversation to be more nuanced.
They should, ifDear White Peopleis doing its job.
To me, thats the whole point of art.
So Im not worried about it.
You have to haveMAS*Hin order to get to the next stage.
But a lot of these instances are awkward.
Especially with the blackface stuff.
I remember seeingTropic Thunder.I remember seeing theblackface episode in30 Rock.
I remember those references and at the time feeling like they were inappropriate.
It was just an excuse to get a blackface joke in.
Theres a pattern of Netflix renewing shows just to give them a last season.
For me, as an artist, I need to move on.
I need to tell other stories.
I need to find a new president for Winchester University.
But I actually think thatDear White Peopleworks as a franchise, so I would love to see that continue.
If I were in charge of those things, I would do that, but Im not.
So I will happily take this fourth season.
Its actually a great relief to know when the show is ending.
With this final season I wont have to thread that needle, which is actually really great.
With the industry paying more attention to Black creators, aDear White Peoplefranchise makes sense.
At the same time, though, something about this attention feels temporary.
Do you get that feeling?I think any marginalized group of people understands this feeling.
A fire has started, but how long is it going to burn?
How far is it going to reach?
I think we are keenly aware of how deeply corrupted the systems that perpetuate racism are.
Just looking at human history, weve seen these things come and go before.
Were all just being smart, frankly, to recognize these things do have a timeline.
At least were able to hold networks more accountable.
Theres a lot of stuff that isnt making it to Twitter or to the news.
We have not reached the promised land, but at least were moving in a direction now.
Theres a dedication to givingBad Hairits moment in the culture that excites me.
Thats the thing that were all looking for.
We dont wanna just be on the shelf.
We want what the white shows get; we want what the white movies get.
Ive been really encouraged by that so far.
LikeAstronomy Club: So many people didnt know about it and it got canceled.
Is that still a barrier for Black shows?
I started in publicity.
The first thing I ever did, I worked on theBrokeback MountainOscar campaign.
I did that before I actually got my break into film.
Its because of that experience I know what questions to ask and how to follow up on a promotion.
And like you mentioned before, it is very difficult in a show like ours where its an ensemble.
This is a show that requires you to lean into the writing, the various performances.
I just need it to be a concern for folks as much as it is for me.
Black things do not get that.
You see it all over the place.
Its not just our show.
Why the hell hasntInsecurewon an Emmy yet?
Its doing it from a Black point of view, but its still universal.
These stories can still strike a nerve around the globe if you treat them as if they can.
Yeah, theres no reason why someone like Anna Kendrick should be seen as more relatable than Marque Richardson.Absolutely.
That conversation has never happened.
Which, by the way, is a substantial amount of people who are not being marketed to well.
The fact that you just cut yourself off from doing anything else is very frustrating.
Its so entrenched and its so expected that it just happens without anyone thinking about it.
It is a struggle, and our show gets decent treatment compared to shows that were not talking about.
Theres a reason why my side eye is always cocked.
