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On this weeks episode, Randolph thankfully gets to do more than that.
So we talked and he went to great lengths to explain the world to me.
And there arent many TV directors who think in this way; his shows are like films.
And at that point, there were no scripts yet, right?Correct.
It was communicated like, Were also really open to developing and creating more.
I was told it would be a collaborative experience where wed be figuring it out together as we go.
What did that look like functionally?
Would she say something like this?
Yes, the script says this, but does that sound right?
Would she say something better?There was a lot of improv involved.
Ive never experienced something like that.
We truly found the character together.
And once things started to stick, we leaned into them.
I knew I wanted her to be othered.
Already shes a Black female, but I wanted there to be something completely different about her energy.
New York and L.A. music scenes are two completely different things.
I wanted to make her a bit of a disruptor.
So we talked about her drive, and we came up with: Shes the females champion.
Having experienced things herself, shell verify that nobody goes through anything on her watch.
Is she fully on Jocelyns side?
Its not always clear.It was sort of a psychological tightrope.
Shes a shape-shifter, changing who she needs to be for each person to get the job done.
Maybe Im biased, but I think Destiny is one of the few people Jocelyn can really trust.
I think for Destiny, she has to act accordingly to get results and see Jocelyn win.
Sometimes in a scene it would literally change line by line, my role to her.
It was maddening in a great way.
If Im honest, I dont usually get that challenged in my work.
Or is it the scripted stuff?Its a mix, 50-50.
I call this one the sleepover pool party.
A lot of that was kind of like, This is the given circumstance, this is a party.
And then wed zoom in on certain moments.
Id say a lot of the showdown of Tedros and Destiny by the firepit was improvised.
And all of my little bathroom phone conversations with Chaim were all improvised.
You specifically are so good at conveying humor with the smallest of gestures or expressions.
Can you talk to me about the tone youre striking?
Are you actively trying to make Destiny funny?
Inthe pilot,when shes like, Yeah!
Its cum on her face.
Lets keep it moving!
Shes like, Brush it off, onto the next.
Lets go, where everybody else is crying and falling apart.
And while this was all going on, Suzy was playing on a little keyboard.
Shed hum a little bit.
Mind you, I dont know if were still rolling or not.
Which would happen a lot, which is great; its so candid and real.
And at one point, she was like, Oh, this one part I have trouble reaching.
I actually stay very quiet about it.
Theres a lot of people singing on this show, and I was like, Im not sayingshit.
But she was having difficulty and I was like, Oh, try this.
And it got a bit better and she wasnt super-satisfied.
And I was like, What if you try it this way?
And it rang out!
And she loved it.
Again, I didnt know if we were taping or not.
But Sam was like, I love that.
Lets do more of that.
Can you show her?
I was like, Nooooo!
But I knew, in that moment:DaVine, this is what this scene needs.
You gotta do it.
But just once and itll be done.You gotta have a great working environment for that.
You gotta feel comfortable and solid and cared for in a space so that do that.
I would have been like, Get me out of here!
Im in my 30s!
I get it, rumors, blah, blah, blah.
Honestly, due to the subject matter, I think it was more sensitive.
The cast would have quit and left.
And I didnt observe that to be other peoples experience.
In this community-like ensemble shooting, I dont think I had any days off, really.
Maybe two or three, collectively.
So I think I have a pretty good gauge of the tone and the atmosphere.
Part two was done because they really wanted something good, and didnt want to just get it done.
I mean, we filmed it in the mans house!
Id never do that![Laughs.]
Yeah, thats wild.And to be honest, I was like, this is amazing press.
Its a lie, but fantastic.
there was still a message.
It was a warning to parents, like, Yo, check in with your kids.
You think little Johnny is going to soccer practice?
No, no, no, no.
I knew there was no way that a man who created that would just have a departure.
But I get it.
The first two episodes are set up a certain way …
But in three and then four, things really start to change.
Thats why I saidat Cannes in thepress conference, Youve only seen the first two episodes!
Theres no way its that obvious.
Sam always puts in the heart.
And he wants to hold up a mirror to real things that are going on.
As Abel says, its a cautionary tale.
Things hes seen and heard.
And those who didnt need it the A students always did the extra credit.
Its not for them right now.
The beautiful thing about TV and movies is you could always go back to it.
Im not expecting everyone to catch it in 40 minutes.
I was living with it for months, so of course I get it.
I think itll start to be understood once people see episode four and definitely five.
The goal is people sitting with it after episode five.
I dont wanna play with peoples intelligence.
I dont want to see or be a part of dumbed-down content.
This one will challenge you, but thats good.
But it was done so classy.
I know that sounds crazy, but I promise you.
It wasnt like, beating it into the ground and doing that specific part over and over again.
I got a lot to work against.
Thats where Destiny is gonna be fucked up morally.
Like, I frickin love this, but I shouldnt.
Do you think the show has been left open-ended for a season two?
Have you heard anything?I think intentionally, yes.
When you finish a project, its always like, Is there a possibility for season two?
And theyre always like, Yeah, for sure!
But I know it hasnt been, like, officially announced.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
