Director Shaka King and Trae Harris talk NewlyweedsBy Wilson Morales
Coming out this week is the independent film ‘Newlyweeds,’ which is directed by Shaka King and stars Amari Cheatom and Trae Harris. Also featured in the film are Tone Tank, Colman Domingo, Isaiah Whitlock Jr., Hassan Johnson, Adrian Martinez, Diane Neal, Anthony Chisholm, Sharon Hope, and Tonya Pinkins.
For King, a 33-year-old Brooklynite and NYU film school grad who’s making his film debut, it’s been a journey taking what was his thesis project to Kickstarter to Sundance and now into theaters; and for Harris, who also works as performance artist, this also marks her film debut.
Lyle (Amari Cheatom) and Nina (Trae Harris) are in love—with each other and with getting high, but not necessarily in that order. Wafting through aimless days in New York smoking weed whenever possible, Lyle makes his living repossessing rented furniture from the destitute before heading home to be with his girl. Though caught in a loop of self-medication, Nina yearns for more. When mistakes in judgment escalate out of control, the happy couple find the life they have built is quickly evaporating, and the hole they have dug for themselves is growing beyond repair.
Released by Phase Four Films, Newlyweeds will play at Film Forum theaters in New York City for a 2-week run.
In speaking with Blackfilm.com, both King and Harris talked about the film from a director and actor perspective.
