American Fiction - Percival Everett - Author of "Erasure" / Executive Producer | Interview

In Select Theaters December 15
AMERICAN FICTION is Cord Jefferson's hilarious directorial debut, which confronts our culture’s obsession with reducing people to outrageous stereotypes. Jeffrey Wright stars as Monk, a frustrated novelist who’s fed up with the establishment profiting from “Black” entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes. To prove his point, Monk uses a pen name to write an outlandish “Black” book of his own, a book that propels him to the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain.
Written for the Screen and Directed by: Cord Jefferson
Based upon the novel ‘Erasure’ by: Percival Everett
Genres
Comedy/Drama
Rating
R for language throughout, some drug use, sexual references and brief violence
Starring
Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams, Adam Brody, Keith David with Issa Rae and Sterling K. Brown
Directed By
Cord Jefferson
Produced By
Ben LeClair, p.g.a., Nikos Karamigios, p.g.a., Cord Jefferson, p.g.a., Jermaine Johnson, p.g.a.
Executive Produced By
Rian Johnson, Ram Bergman, Percival Everett, Michael Bowes
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[@mybocks3]

This movie spoke to me. As someone who grew up in the inner-city, but was from a middle-class Black family, I rarely see art that speaks to *me as directly as this.* I will be buying all of Percival Everett's books tonight seeing as I sadly didn't know about him before this movie.

[@Gaverny]

Well said. Finally have some showings in my area. Going to see it Friday 👍🏻

[@atomic_wait]

I love his work. The main character in God's Country is such an amazingly awful son of a bitch.

[@conservativeneurologyb4999]

....Author Terry McMillan gave us some of the 'sibling support' history in her novels that were made into films also. Great author. Maybe some of Mr. Everett's other books will translate as well to the big silver screen? Thanks for postiing. Viewing in 2024.

[@XandateOfHeaven]

The movie and book was very odd for me to experience because the character Monk has a remarkably similar family to mine, experiencing a lot of the same problems of skeletons in the closet, similar traumas no one talks about, the struggle with taking care of aging parents etc. But as Everett said, that's not often shown to be the experiences of black Americans.

[@dianewiegel7136]

We just saw American Fiction and it was excellent, so good my husband and I want to see it again

[@billyonthewheels75]

Can't wait to see it. Good to see another slice of Black American life rather than the same old tired stories.

[@KarlaWillis]

I'm reading the book now and I love it. I come from a college educated Black family from Detroit. It shows the truth about our culture, like our complexions there are so many forms of "Blackness", none of them above the other. However, I love that all versions of us are allowed to be seen in the book.

[@blahblah4129]

Superb film!

[@akeredun]

Mr. Everett: BRILLIANT author!!

[@xGMOx]

The ending made this a 4th wall breaking movie but in a weird, new way. It's like the writer writing the ending to the movie I just watched. The dramtized author of the movie was like "that was good story telling huh?". Then, he just drives away. Such a crazy way to end a movie.

[@atomic_wait]

From the sound it they found ways to make the structure of the movie reflect the structure of the book, looking forwards to watching it.

[@kirbyl.4646]

Brilliant, intelligent man. And humble.

[@RubaiatGoesToInternet]

I am so glad this has happened! Maybe now it'll be easier to find his books. I read Erasure randomly from the library back in 06/07 I think. Since then I have been trying to read his work and the only obstacle is finding them. I bought one in an old books store, one from USA, and one in India! Always looking :D

[@mrpicky1868]

so nice seeing the prototype XD

[@gnosis6040]

I thought the film pinched some of the most narrow corners of our minds, particularly middle class blacks, who normally aren't depicted as collective. Middle- class blacks have a rich history and story of upward mobility which is the foundation of most blacks social and economic climb here in America. But, their stories are usually tied in with white power and white supporters to be considered fully functioning / safe black folk to their white counterparts. I thought the film had great seasoned actors who exemplified each character well. It took us away from the notion that all blacks think, move, and promulgate fears, without the slimiest difference. Jeffery , was too unafraid not to act on his understanding of what white writer's and white reader's' wanted to know about black colloquialisms and culture, so they could somehow feel connected to the experience of everyday black folk. White servility, if you ask me. The opposite is depicted here. Boldness, bluntness, blackness, fullness, freedom of expression did 'monk' show in this role as a black writer. Thank you for sharing your story Mr. Everett.