Ep. 74: Boots Riley on the Long Road to Making 'Sorry to Bother You'

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This week on</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TIFF Long Take</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, Rob and Geoff sit down with filmmaker Boots Riley. Although he is perhaps better known as an activist and the front man for the popular political hip-hop group The Coup, Riley has recently focused his talents on filmmaking, writing, and directing the critically adored '</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sorry to Bother You'</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, starring Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, and Armie Hammer.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Riley talks about the six-year battle to get</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sorry to Bother You</span></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">made, why he wanted the screenplay to read more like a novel than a film script, and how a previous job working at a call centre helped to inspire the film’s plot.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He also discusses how he reconciles his socialist beliefs with working in the inherently capitalist film business, how he assembled such a phenomenal cast for his debut film, and his talent for directing grounded performances within absurdist plot-lines.</span></p>