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On a rainy Monday afternoon, a flock of people gathered at the AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9 theater for the premiere of A Thousand and One. As you climb up the escalator, you can hear a roaring applause of people with their phones out, eagerly waiting behind a velvet rope. A few steps from the crowd was the black carpet where dozens of journalists and reporters anxiously waited for the cast to dish on the highly-anticipated film starring the Black Mecca’s princess, Teyana Taylor.
Alicia Keys, Joey Bada$$, A$AP Ferg, and more artists came out to support A.V. Rockwell’s feature film debut. Fashion icon Bevy Smith was also in the building “to see my Harlem niece shine.” Speaking on the importance of the movie, Smith said, “It takes the story of a marginalized mother who people have counted out. Who people have disregarded and felt like she was unfit. We get to see the story behind that and we get to see that her love is just as strong as a suburban mother’s love.”
The Sundance Film Festival, Grand Jury prize winner is described as a “love letter to mothers,” and Two Bees TV asked attendees, “What’s the craziest thing your mother has ever done out of love for you?” The film’s writer and director, Rockwell, shared that her mother took money from her retirement savings to put her through film school. It’s unclear if A Thousand and One would’ve ever seen the light of day without Rockwell’s mother’s selfless act, but the Queens native wanted “honor the experiences of people come through the foster care system.” She said, “I was hoping to end this movie in a way that would be a beginning. The beginning of a conversation that people can have is about themselves and how they relate in their relationships to other people. How they relate to their communities, how communities relate to each other. There’s a lot to unpack and a lot for us to discuss collectively as a society.”
The movie is backed by Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad production company, which has built a reputation for championing first-time filmmakers. Waithe clarified who she chooses to collaborate with isn’t selected strategically. But based on creators who have something to say, and Rockwell checked off that box. “The Chi” creator said, “She had a really great idea for a film, which was a story about a mother and a son and a city that’s changing very quickly. But we’re really just sort of drawn to people’s vision. She has one, a very strong vision and her vision brought us all here together.”
The woman of the hour arrived 15 minutes before the red carpet closed with her two daughters and stylist, E.J. King. Teyana’s festive ensemble was the highlight of the entire carpet. Her pixie haircut was embellished with a headpiece made out of name chain plates. The “Bare Wit Me” singer sported a cropped blazer accessorized with Bamboo earrings on the breast pocket. The light washed Levi jeans fell perfectly over her Timberland Premium Waterproof Boots, better known as Butters. King strutted across the carpet with the girls, presumably to claim their seats in the theater while mommy shark got to work.
With ten minutes to spare, Teyana graciously allowed each reporter to ask one question. Miss2Bees asked the question of the night: “What’s the craziest thing your mother has ever done out of love for you?” Teyana recalled when her mother quit her job to become her manager after inking her first music deal. Teyana responded, “I came back from having a meeting with Universal and Pharrell officially wanted to sign me … My mom quit her job immediately. She quit without explanation.” She continued, “What was in her heart is she has my best interest. You know what I’m saying? And even though neither one of us knew anything about the business, it was just a faith walk that she was willing to take with me.”
The star-studded red carpet was followed by an advanced screening with complimentary popcorn and soda. A Thousand and One is out now and follows an “unapologetic and free-spirited Inez who kidnaps her 6-year-old son, Terry, from the foster care system. They set out to reclaim their sense of home, identity, and stability in a rapidly changing New York City.”
