Jeymes Samuel on Working With Jay-Z & LaKeith Stanfield & More | Billboard News

Music

Jeymes Samuel , the director of The Book of Clarence, stopped by Billboard News to talk with Billboard‘s Executive Director of Hip-Hop and R&B, Gail Mitchell, about creating the movie, casting LaKeith Stanfield, working with Jay-Z, creating music for movies and more!

Jeymes Samuel:
When I open my eyes in the morning, the Lord says, “Action.” And the movie of my of my life begins.

Hey, everyone. I’m Jeymes Samuel, and this is Billboard News.

Gail Mitchell:
This is Gail Mitchell, executive director of R&B and hip-hop for Billboard magazine, and I’m here to chat with the director of the upcoming film The Book of Clarence, Jeymes Samuel.

Biblical epic, this one is. Before it was a Western epic with The Harder They Fall, your earlier film. So what is it about the word “epic” and “bold” that catches your attention and you go with it?

Jeymes Samuel:
I think for me, “epic” and “bold” are two of the words that define cinema. You know, it’s not often you know, in this day when every other movie is a superhero movie, you know, and I love those movies, but it’s really quite rare we get original storytelling in a cinematic experience, right? It’s usually with an IP we’re familiar with and or a sequel or something. I just love original storytelling like I love cinema. I love film. I love music and I love originality. So who better to bring those things than moi?

Gail Mitchell:
Exactly! So talk about the cast. You’ve got some great cast members. You’re working with LaKeith again.

Jeymes Samuel:
Yeah.

Gail Mitchell:
So talk about him. How was he? How does he define Clarence for you? What is it? What instincts did you see in him making The Harder They Fall that clicked with you and said, “This is my Clarence”?

Watch the full video above!