Few films are more hard-hitting than movies based on impactful true stories.
She even appeared in Drake’s music video for his song “Nice for What.”
Giving June and Jennifer a voice
“The Silent Twins” is based on a true story.
How much research did you do on the story of June and Jennifer and their writing?
I did a year’s worth of extensive research myself and Tamara [Lawrance].
Every department had to read the book.
Everybody was very in tune with research for about a year, and then we made it.
Much of the film tackles mental health and the treatment of neurodivergent individuals.
Why do you think it’s so important to normalize and tell stories like these?
Why was it different?
That’s an incredible injustice that was done to them.
Our film dives deep into that.
That is a loaded question.
With our movie, we’re not trying to cast any judgment on psychiatric hospitals or mental health institutions.
That’s not our aim.
Our aim is to look at the society in which June and Jennifer grew up that failed them.
On top of the other things that took place, that all came together to put them away.
So our film is not a dig at any mental institution.
Our film is looking specifically at what [was] done to the twins.
What were those scenes like to film in getting into the headspace of that childlike wonder?
That was fun because it was like an interpretation of their imagination.
It was like a nod to them, like, “We see you.
The latter has way more money.
I enjoyed being Shuri and having a big set.
That’s always fun.
It shows how imaginative we can be with some good backing and finance behind us.
I learned so much from my brother Chad.
He’s very regal.
He actually is a king, unbeknownst to everybody else.
If you didn’t know this, now you know.
He’s actually a king.
He’s so regal in the way he carries himself.
I want to emulate that.
I want to emulate picking work that means something.
It’s difficult, but we are trying to take it one day at a time.
I’m excited for people to see the film.
Can you tease anything that we might expect from “Wakanda Forever” and Shuri’s role?
And what do you hope fans take away from that?
Okay, I’m about to give you the whole plot of the film.
I love how you laugh like you [don’t] believe I would do it.
We’re just that secretive.
I can’t give anything away.
Let me think about this.
Spider-Man, Miles Morales, and Peter Parker.
All three of us in a film I think it’ll be phenomenal, cool fun.
“The Silent Twins” is now playing in theaters.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
