CJ– So when you guys are creating and you're talking about getting to that point, what kind of things internally go on in your head to get you prepped to get to that point of being present?
PG– I don't know, I think the first look is kind of a trial, so I feel like me, and Sam kind of do this silent dance almost. It's like a vibe dance, where we're figuring each other out but it's not verbally always. So I think that part is always kind of my way of seeing how it's gonna end up. I remember when Sam and I were doing that it was very, very gentle. Very, non-judgmental, and just focused on being present. And how does it feel? How does it look? How does it translate?
SC– I feel like the space itself helped with that because we were in a pretty small space. So I feel like a lot of times between the talent and the lens, there's inherently this distance and this single perspective that you're looking through. And we couldn't really do that. We literally were dancing around each other where you were standing up, and I would have to get on my hands and knees to get underneath. It's so funny zooming in on that moment, seeing what's in the frame, and falling in love with this singular moment. All of a sudden when it snaps, and suddenly you're like, "Oh, this is so stunning. This is exactly where I want to be with this." And then when the lens comes down and you go back into the full chaotic field of view, that is the space that you're creating. And for me, that's so funny, the moment of coming out of it. We're like, "Wait, where are we right now?"
CJ– What was the inspiration behind these looks, this concept, and everything? Did you guys come up with it together?
SC– Maleeka definitely drove the creative vision from the beginning of this world that we wanted to build out. She was very interested in doing something that had a lot of green in it and I am an artist who comes from a VFX background. So I always love working with green screen and building out these worlds. And using what we capture as just the single element that then is going to get expanded upon for the final version of the thing. But I was really interested in the idea of shooting on green screen in this small space, but knowing that the final image was still going to live within this green environment, and it wasn't going to be fully stripped and placed into something new. So from there, it was really like, if we know that we're going to work within these limitations, and oftentimes, they're the limitations that are used to remove all limits. What are the things that we can find interesting in that space and to tell the story? When she sent through some of the pieces, it really informed what I was imagining for the environments. You have these images that just have these green backgrounds so a lot of the feeling of each of the frames was fully just inspired by what Princess was doing and the characters that she was creating. Also, the way that she was playing to camera and the energy that she was giving and then you see this frame and the whole thing makes sense. I felt like I knew right away where I wanted to go with it.
CJ– Princess, how was your voice amplified in this project?
PG– Before showing up to the shoot, I wasn't involved in any of the creative and that's partially because I just trusted each person. We're all very creative, so I think a lot of times when that trust isn't fully there, or your vision is a lot stronger, that kind of creates different dynamics. I knew that once I got there, it was really just embodying all the outside things. I can't even put it to words, really, it's something that happens. And I think that Sam would know, or have felt my energy shift and how when the camera’s off, I'm different and then when it's on, I'm possessed, or something. In each look, it's something different. Maybe some of the looks, there could be some similarities, but I really do feel like a spirit possesses me and I snap into a character, which is like an extension of myself. So I think in that way, it felt really safe and really fun to be able to do that. I trust that Sam is going to get the image and I know she's going to set it up for success. I know Maleeka is a great storyteller through her clothing, and everything else, her art direction is amazing. So there's no reason for me to challenge that, or add to it in any way. And same with our makeup, and beauty team. So I just knew that everyone was going to come so strong, and all I had to do was come really correct and strong in myself internally so that I could really match everyone's levels. I think that's the beauty of a team like this where there is that underlying trust.
SC– I also feel like these types of self-initiated projects and collaborations are so special, because the whole thing feels so much more like a conversation between each person. Katie gets to be like, "This is kind of what I'm thinking for this makeup." And then Malcolm's like, "Oh, that's really fire. This is how I would play off of that." We're all kind of cooking together in real time and everyone feels a lot of trust and permission to bring the ingredients that they're the most excited about. And no one is going to hold them back in any way and it's so amazing. Especially when you get to do that and there aren't any egos, or people trying to take up too much space in that environment.
PG– It was amazing that everyone had dedicated their weekend to it. This was a very chaotic time when things opened back up. People were just booked day after day working nonstop, including myself. We all somehow found a Saturday that worked for everyone and if it wasn't that day, it wouldn't have happened. So that was another reason I remember going to that shoot, I think the night before I was like, "Oh my gosh, I'm so tired. I wish I could just sleep in the next day." And then I was like, "No, I'm gonna show up." And it was the best thing.
SC– It felt really rejuvenating to me, I felt like I really needed that space with that dose of just uninhibited creativity and imagination. And I remember the high and coming off of it for the next few weeks. I was just feeling super, super stoked that we've gotten to do that together. I got the benefit of getting to constantly revisit that feeling as I was editing the images.
PG– It was really hard for me not to like hit you up every week and be like, so…