The press has been buzzing over the recently released trailer of Teyana Taylor’s upcoming film A Thousand and One. And it is for a good reason.
The Multi-talented Teyana Taylor
The word renaissance man gets thrown around a lot. However, if there were ever a perfect caricature of a renaissance queen, it would be Teyana Taylor. When it comes to the entertainment industry, she is fierce. Her hats are numerous. Taylor has credits as a songwriter, choreographer, singer, model, director, and actress. She does it all and does it well. No matter what capacity she holds space, she commands it. And now she’s set to command the big screen in her new role.
A Thousand and One
A Thousand and One is a nail-biting drama about a mother, freshly released from prison, to find her six-year-old son is not where she thought he’d be. But when she discovers his whereabouts, she takes matters into her own hands. As Collider notes, “Together (she and her son) must keep an explosive secret while they attempt to reclaim their sense of home, identity, and stability.” And if the synopsis sounds like the intro to a high-intensity drama, it should. The film is heralded as a heartwarming feature that will take fans on an intensely emotional journey.
Familiar Terrain For Teyana Taylor
Taylor is not new to the silver screen. Many may recognize her from such projects as the long-awaited sequel of Coming to America, Coming to America 2, and The Afterparty. Despite the credits under her belt, this will mark the first time she has nabbed a leading role. But expectations are high. Viewers of the trailer are already applauding Taylor’s brilliant and authentically moving performance. It doesn’t hurt that the film’s win at the Sundance Film Festival already indicates an impending success.
A.V. Rockwell: The Director
A.V. Rockwell serves as the director of the inspired piece. And she’s had no qualms about opening up about that inspiration. In speaking of her inspiration, Rockwell told IndieWire, When creating the piece, “She was thinking a lot about the people she grew up with and mourning the home they had — feeling pushed out.” And so, as she continued, “She wanted to speak to that experience and talk to New York’s relationship not only to the community she represents but also to itself.”
Rockwell Chooses Taylor
It was Rockwell who chose Taylor. While she admitted initially she wasn’t sure about casting the multi-talent, Taylor won her over. The director told Collider that she got to see the authenticity she sought. She felt that through her performance, [Taylor] knew the character that she plays in real life or was able to convince Rockwell that she [Taylor] is the human being in a way that she [Rockwell] needed an actress to connect to the work.
Prediction of Success
Although the feature film is due for release on March 31, it has already received some critical acclaim. According to Vibe, the jury citation after the final Jury decision at the Sundance Family read, “Never have I seen a life so similar to my own rendered with such nuance and tenderness. I walked out of the theatre weeping in front of people I barely know,” which reads as a most-high accomplishment.
Conclusion
So, whether to support Taylor, check out Rockwell’s inspirational work, or enjoy a wonderful film, take some time to plan to see One Thousand and One coming soon to theatres nationwide.
