Happy Sad Confused - Colman Domingo

Episode Date: February 10, 2025

Colman Domingo hustles. Always has, always will. And lately he's been hustling more than ever, delivering 2 Oscar nominated performances in 2 years while balancing loads of other jobs. The man is in high demand and that means it's taken a while for him to visit the podcast but the time is now. UPCOMING EVENTS! Maya Hawke -- February 10th in NYC -- Tickets here! Nathan Lane -- March 20th in NYC -- Tickets here! Watch Jack Quaid in The Movie Cabinet! SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Quince -- Go to Quince.com/happysadco for 365 day returns and free shipping! Check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Happy Sad Confused patreon here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! We've got discount codes to live events, merch, early access, exclusive episodes, video versions of the podcast, and more! To watch episodes of Happy Sad Confused, subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh's youtube channel here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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greet me very warmly, even if it's for a character that they hate it, like if it's like Victor Strand or Exenzola or the Color Purple or something, people are really affectionate to me. And I think I get a thing that I don't think a lot of people get because some of my colleagues, they said something about that saying, you know, people want to hug you all the time. I'm like, yeah, they do. People are like, oh, my gosh, can I have a hug? And so whatever that is, whatever that connection is, that feels good. So I'm getting more hugs out in the world, which is kind of awesome. Prepare your ears, humans. Happy, sad, confused begins now. Hey guys, Josh here. Welcome to another edition of Happy Sad, Confused. This week, we have Oscar nominee,

make that two-time Oscar nominee, Coleman Domingo. He is on the show talking Sing Sing and his extraordinary career as a star of stage and screen. One of the best out there, and he's finally on the podcast, and he more than lived up to all my expectations. So, That is the main event coming up in just a second. But first couple reminders. Patreon.com slash happy, say I'm confused. We have so much going on. We have live events, autographed posters, merch, early access.

What more can I give you? Check out our Patreon for all the goodies. Supporting us there lets us make more stuff for everybody. So check it out if you're so inclined. Speaking of stuff we're making, I missed doing comedy sketches. For those of you have followed my career years back, a lot of my early stuff actually was scripted comedy

for MTV and Comedy Central. And I lately have been having a real itch to do some of that again. So we did it. We made a really fun sketch with Jack Quaid, Jack Quaid, one of our faves. It is a parody of the Criterion Clause. It is called The Movie Cabinet. We're going to put the link in the show.

notes if you haven't checked it out yet check it out because if a lot of people watch this hopefully we'll be able to make more of these and i was so proud of what we made of what jack performed killed it what my editor did what our shooter did uh it was a real team effort and labor of love and it is a a loving homage parody of the criterion closet which i adore so hopefully the criterion folks don't hate me hopefully Jared leto and the morbidist team doesn't hate me be sure you see it you'll get it um so yeah so that's that's one thing to mention um there are live events coming up we're going to announce them very very soon but there's a lot cooking so if you're in the new york area good good things are coming uh if you're on the new york area there are also some good

things coming so stay tuned for all the announcements remember again go over to the patreon that's where you first get those early um announcements okay this is coleman domingo we cover a lot in this we cover sing sing we cover his beginnings in philadelphia as a shy kid we talk about the long up and down career he had before kind of clicking into another gear in recent years with fear the walking dead and euphoria we talk about the future of euphoria his upcoming directing effort with sidney sweeney working with stephen spielberg on his upcoming film excited for that one and edgar wright he just shot a part in the running man uh that's just the tip of the iceberg there's a lot in this conversation enjoy it this is me and one of our greats

working today. He is Coleman Domingo. Enjoy. Mr. Coleman Domingo, I don't even know how to introduce this gentleman. He's an actor. He's a playwright. He's a two-time Oscar nominee now, a recipient of an Emmy and so many awards, Tony nominee. He's one of the best in the business that I've been trying to get him on this podcast for some time. I'm so glad it's happening now. Coleman, thanks for being on the show, man. I appreciate it. Oh, thanks, Josh. Good to be here. Good to be here. Um, so a lot to talk about. First of all, big congrats again to Oscar Dom's in a row, uh, Rustin and now sing, sing.

Um, it's funny. I, I've been listening and watching a lot of conversations you, you've given over the last few years. One back in 2018 you gave, you said, you know, in about six years, I might not even be doing this. I might be teaching. I might, I might have a shift coming. Well, I don't know. I mean, I was going to say, you didn't, you didn't, things didn't quite. like go according to plan in the best possible way.

How do you explain yourself? I even became a professor at USC. I really thought, I mean, it was wild. I was really on that path of teaching or doing something else. And I think the universe had other plans for me. You know, so I guess you stick around long enough. You, you know, suffer the slings and arrows and go through the ebbs and flows of this industry. And sometimes, you know, the sun shines on you.

And that's a blessing. How do you, I mean, rationalize in your. brain where you're at now. I mean, you've been a great actor for a long time. And for those in the know, you've been a great actor and you've performed, whether it's on big or small stages in different forms for over many years. And yet, you know, the last five, six years, you are being celebrated on a different level. So I guess I'm wondering, how in your brain do you rationalize that? Because you're not necessarily, I would imagine, thinking you're a better actor than you were 15, 20 years ago. And yet you're being received in a much different way.

I think the only way I can rationalize it is thinking that is that everything takes time, I guess. And I guess I've just been sort of, I've sort of been meeting the moment when it was time for me to meet it, whether and sort of, I guess with this sort of amplification, but I've always been doing the work. So I guess that's maybe for others it's different. For me, it just feels like, it feels very gradual. It feels like I know the work that I've been putting in and I've been, you know, whether I've been creating work for myself as a lot. the writer or directing and finding different paths to create. So I feel like now it's like my colleagues would say this, you know, the world is caught up to me because I've been doing this stuff,

but under the radar and just doing it because I've constantly been shifting because I had to actually, I think. I had to find ways to have agency in this industry, you know, especially when the door, you know, no one was knocking on the door and or the phone wasn't ringing. I had to figure out how to create. And so I don't know. For me, the way I rationalize it is that I know, I'll say this.

A lot of people can attest to their success by like, oh, these things happened or people are like, well, where was that breakthrough moment? I just don't see it that way. I feel like my breakthroughs have always been about me building work and building work that I believed in and trusting. that journey and I do see that where I am now is because a lot of hard work and a lot of not only hard work that I put in myself but hard work I don't know to just keep rebuilding and build friendships and community whether it meant San Francisco or New York or London or whatever but I feel like that's the way I rationalize it I hope to answer your question

no it makes sense and I would imagine also equating success not necessarily with an external view of it because that's out of your control and hopefully like finding success and satisfaction from the actual process and the collaboration. I mean, that's that's that's that's that has to be a shift early on in your career when when any actor or creative type realizes I can only control what I can control. Yeah. And I'm blessed that I learned that early on. And I'm always telling people as you know, people are like, oh man, I'm looking for opportunities. I'm like, you got to create the opportunities. You can't. You can't. complain about lack.

You can only complain when you've been doing everything you possibly can in some ways you perform. But I'm like, you have to rethink how you're going to be engaging in this industry. I didn't naturally, I don't think I went into it wanting to be a director, writer, producer, but out of necessity, I became those things. Right. You know what I mean? Right, right.

So I always had different, and on many different platforms, you know, I know that the reason why I write musicals or plays or screenplays, I just had to keep shifting and shifting my talents and find out where I could be in service and do some work where I can survive in this industry to be on it. For you, especially again in these recent years where your stash, your profile has been elevated, it must be fascinating to walk through the world because you are so many different things to different people. Like you can walk down the street and to a teenage girl, you are, oh, my God, that's the guy from Euphoria, and then there's a Walking Dead fan over here,

and then there's a theater nerd over here. That must be thrilling and discombobulating in the best possible way. It is. Well, now it's like, it's funny. I've noticed, even in the last few years, that I used to be able to figure out exactly where a person knew me from by the demographic,

you know? But now I just can't because, you know, I've been on more of these world platforms, and I just have my fan bases every color, hue, gender, sexuality, background, you name it. But the one thing that is common, which I just really love,

is that people greet me very warmly. Even if it's for a character that they hate it, like if it's like Victor Strand or Exenzola or the color purple or something, people are really affectionate to me. And I think I get a thing that I don't think a lot of people get because some of my colleagues they said something about that saying,

you know, people want to hug you all the time. I'm like, yeah, they do. People are like, oh, my gosh, can I have a hug? And so whatever that is, whatever that connection is, that feels good. So I'm getting more hugs out in the world, which is kind of awesome. Well, it's about the breadth of the work.

I mean, if I'd only seen you in Zola, yeah, maybe I'd be a little scared of you, but I've seen you as the most, the warmest characters. Or titillate it. You never know. No judgments. Yeah, yeah. I feel like Christoph Waltz isn't being welcomed.

with hugs around the world. People are seeing him. Exactly. Yeah, they see him and run. I don't know. Let's give some love to Sig, Sig. I mean, what a beautiful story. Congratulations, man.

And a story that, look, I know this has been a long road. You've been talking about this way longer than you actually shot the film, like 18, 19 days, shot a few years back. And, you know, the fact that we're now talking about a film that's nominated for three Academy Awards. and is back in theaters and still is just connecting with people. I don't know, just give me a sense of how meaningful that is to you as we sit here today. It's very meaningful. I think even the way we created it was with so much care and respect and love towards these men who were, they found theater to be their salvation and transform their lives.

and so just being a part of creating that and creating it with them has been extraordinary and then for it to be received as such it's been being received I think with the intent that we poured into it you don't make a film like this to make money you make a film like this to be in service to humanity and to sort of change people's minds

about something that affect them and so I know that you know people are just well-eastern up with emotion at the end of the film, but it also feels actionable, like they want to do something. They, they learn, they want to learn more and figure this, figure this out, this whole system of the prison industrial complex that I think a lot of times people don't think about. So, for me, it helps, you know, if I could be a part of something that actually does some real change, you know, that's, you know, I'm not naturally somebody who's drawn to anything that's, like,

inherently political or anything right but it is to change people in some way and change their minds and also change uh you know and it advocacy for people like you know that jj one of my castmates was um was exonerated from his crime you know he was wrongly accused of a crime just about a couple months ago and i do i have to believe that the amplification of the film helped that out so yeah i mean to actually do some real change it's huge i mean like i i remember we were talking before when you hopped on the Zoom about your roots and spending some time in Northern California, my aunt as a photographer actually in Berkeley

and did this amazing exhibit when I was growing up in San Quentin and documented these amazing, these prisoners taught photography in San Quentin, and I remember seeing that as a kid and even that humanizing, de-otherizing, whatever the word is of these folks that we are sadly often conditioned not to throw away the key. These are not human beings.

Exactly. And that is what this film, I think, I mean, really spoke to me about, and I'm sure speaking to many people. I have to say this because I think it's not said that often, but a lot of this big open heart of this film belongs to Gray Quedar, my director. He cares so much as he's learned.

by being a volunteer at Sing Sing about these men and telling their stories and being in service to their stories. And that's why he invited every single one of us when he invited me to be a part of this and help create it from the ground up. I knew that was the task. I was that, oh, we're going to be open-hearted

about this work, which is not always the case when making a film. You know, but we're going to be feeling, but we're really going to mean what we say and say what we mean and create this beautiful, loving gift to humanity and then not to mention i think folks know by now but to refresh like the way you shot this you're working with these men who have had this lived in experience who lived

versions of these lives that are being portrayed and for you what a challenge and what a unique opportunity um i mean they can call you they can call bs to your face if they if they had the opportunity i mean are you are you were you was that on your mind like did you almost ask them to check you yeah that was i didn't ask them to check me but that was my own own internal terror where I knew as I was navigating this territory, I didn't want to feel performative. I didn't want to feel like I was acting their experience in any shape or form. So I had to find who Divine G was in me and bring a bit more of Coleman to the role to become that sort of every man that I sort of envision Divine G to be and just from what I gleaned from

ma'am. So I know it called on something different so I wouldn't be called out and like bullshit. I needed to fold myself in with them as they needed to sort of find their way with me as a person who knows how to navigate a film set. And I think so we knew we were creating sort of this hybrid and I know I needed some touchstones in order to do the work like casting Sean San Jose who plays Mike Mike. He's my very best friend of 30 years or Sharon Washington who plays. plays the parole board hearing officer, who's like my sister or Paul Racy, I needed sort of these anchors so I could be as vulnerable and as open as possible. So there's no sort of polish to the work, but more of a grit and a rawness and a bit more unmasking that I think

what was required. Yeah, I've heard you describe this as kind of your most raw performance for, you know, like, and I guess I'm wondering, in practice, like, what is it? just being stripped away? What are you, like, what, are you, what consciously are you trying not to do? Is it, is, is, can you act in opposition? I mean, try not to act. Isn't that always the task? You don't want to see that. I've anyone, well, that's the hardest task. That's the hardest task for any actor. And I feel like everyone arrives at it, you can arrive at it in your own unique way. But I think because, I mean, listen, all the, all these exercise do you do when you're a young student or in theater school or a practitioner of it, it tries to get you to just do

the thing that is actually very honest, which is to listen and respond, to actually be a human being in space. That's actually hard, actually. It's really hard. Shut out all the noise and be in the moment and act like a, yeah. Yeah, and it's hard to trust that you're enough. That's actually, it's something psychologically to know that you're the, this is somebody who's been doing this work over 30 years is that I had to trust that Coleman was enough or into this character. Not I was going to find and dial all these interesting things and research materials and on and build a character out, but I had to trust that my source material was inside of me, was my lived experience, was my experience in the theater and loving

Shakespeare and all these things that I found similar with Divine G. Whitfield. I just had to put myself in the circumstances of a prison and these extraordinary circumstances he was in, but while he's still holding on to his humanity and light and joy. So for me, I had to navigate that, and that required a different way of building than I ever was offered to build. I usually, you know, people know, I play things of size. I can play, or I could build a character out, you know what I mean, with a backstory and a history. And this one, I was like, no, this one's different. This one is, um, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the,

it's more common than ever imagined. Yeah. And the irony, as you're alluding to is, like, that's when you feel most exposed, when, when you're not hiding behind an accent or something big or broad or whatever, it's when you're just like presenting a version of yourself, like, oh, shit, this is me. Like, this is kind of a version of me. They're playing versions of themselves.

So I played a version of myself. And literally, I just, I've only watched the film. I've watched the film in its final cut once because it was too much for me because I feel like it's too emotionally connected to me. There's something, a visceral thing that you feel that's still in your body. and I knew it was too much for me to watch and then go out and do a Q&A. I'm like, I just can't do it.

My castmates, well, let's watch some before we go out. I'm like, I can't do it. Yeah, I hear you. I hear you. During the Volvo Fall Experience event, discover exceptional offers and thoughtful design that leaves plenty of room for autumn adventures.

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To deliver a quality product at a fair price, while paying your people what they're worth, too. So your business can stay unfazed. Learn more at SAP.com slash uncertainty. Okay, if you'll indulge me, I know you've talked a lot about your background, but for those that don't know, Philly Kid, introverted, as I understand it, shy, are these the right What was your safe space as a kid? Like, were you in the library? Were you watching TV?

What was, where were you at? My safe space was the West Philadelphia Public Library on 52nd and Chestnut Street, where I would go to every day after school, I would go straight to the library and stay there until dinner time. So my mother always knew where to find me. And my stepfather, too. Somebody, my sister would come and pick me up usually and go home and have dinner. but that was my safe space. It was a, I love books.

I love the smell of books. I love, I, the library was the most peaceful place. And there's a place where I can go and I can imagine everything outside of West Philly. It was always in the books, you know, ancient Egypt and Rome and all the places I would travel and see. So it was already impressing upon me a great imagination. And I would do, I remember we had this on, you could do film strips. And it's funny, I tell people about it. this. And they're like, what are you talking about? We used to, they used to give us these film

strips. You used to draw little scenes on each film strip. And so you put in the projector and you would tell what the story is. So you're making sort of your own film, but like maybe six frames, which is cool. So I don't know. I feel like all that kind of stuff probably sort of, you know, planted some seeds into being in this industry more than I even knew. And obviously, it took you a while to kind of like discover this was going to be what you were going to pursue you go to temple you pursue journalism at first but like growing up like were there were there actors or filmmakers that you were aware of that like really caught your eye that like you internalized that were resonant to you or did that come later that all came later

i think my whole education when it comes to film listen i you know the most that i the exposure i had was television like anyone else i watch you know bob newhart and as a kid which is funny I just love Bob Newhart when I was like eight. But I watched the Flintstones and the Brady Bunch and, you know, Alice and things like that. So I watched a lot of television. I didn't know that they're like that, that I could become one of those people. Those people who lived on the screen, they live somewhere in this magical place called Hollywood. Some place that I don't know where that is, but it's not within my reach.

So I didn't know that I could have. have a path to become an actor or director, writer, anything. I had no idea. Because, you know, I grew up in a very, you know, as a working class neighborhood in Philadelphia. And the dreams of our parents was for you to go to college and for you to do better than they did and get a job. It was about a job. I don't think I heard anybody having a career, right? You know, whatever, the thing that you did, you weren't supposed to enjoy. You came home. You came home. home from it and tired. Yeah.

That's what it seemed like. It seemed like a career. You mean somebody who enjoys what they do? Can't even fathom the idea of enjoying what you do. Did you, did you? Because so many years were spent, again, succeeding and then, you know, going back and forth from big successes, Tony nominations, then back to bartending, this crazy kind of dichotomy of like highs and then just back to reality.

What was your, you mentioned your parents. I know you talk about your mom a lot. She's, her name's on your production company. Were your parents worried about you? At what point did they stop worrying? Did they know it was going to work out for you? They didn't know it was going to work out, but they knew that my mother always believed I had a good head of my shoulders.

And my dad too, my stepfather, they always believed that like, I'm going to be all right. even when I moved to San Francisco to pursue the theater literally my parents always just said do what makes you happy because they had jobs. They were like, we want you to actually be happy. So figure

that out for yourself. And so of course I think my parents would be worried like anyone else, but my dad was a very, you know, blue collar guy who sort of was like he trusted you. I had to build myself to be

him the man that I needed to be. So he trusted wherever I was navigating. He just wanted me to be a man of my word and do what I do what I say and be a good and be a good person. And my mom was, she was the one who was always, she wouldn't worry, but she would be my, my hype man, my, my dream backer. You know, she was just like, you know what? Because she would do think, look, I've said this before, but she would write to Oprah all the time. time. Right. And I'm like, what is that? What is that going to do? So I was maybe a little cynical, but she, I think that her letters reached Oprah because Oprah is dearly in my life now. So my mother had to dream it. And she had to actually, she, you know, sometimes I think that you need somebody else to dream for you. Because sometimes she just can't see vision. And I feel like that's what I think as, as I'm in that old age of 55 years old, I I can see that now. I can see they're like, okay, sometimes, you know, it's not even about

what you dream. It's about what someone else dreams for you. And even if that was like embedded in your heart and sort of quiet, it did affect you. And you did think about that, you know, you weren't that cynical, you know. So I alluded to this. So you always, I hear you always talk about the side hustles you've always had throughout your life and career like you, you bar to have one. I know. What's the current side hustle? What are you working on? Jobs. I just have a lot You do have a lot of jobs. I've noticed. We've all noticed. Save some for the rest of us, man. Come on. I'm impressed with how much I work. I'm like, oh, my God, that's right. Even my people are like, oh, so what do you have going on? I'm usually like, oh, nothing, a couple things. And then we go out on the list. Oh, it's crazy. It's staggering. But it's because I know I have a good work ethic and I like what I do. So I guess that's it. My side hustles are just a lot of jobs. So good continue. I was going to say, here's one that. I haven't heard you talk about you, but you mentioned in passing.

So, yes, bartending, a headshot photographer. I want to hear about dancing at bar mitzvahs, being the guy that gets everybody on their feet. Because that was the gig. That was the gig in New York, man. That was my gig. I found that because I think I just, it was like, I think literally it was like in backstage magazine

because they knew where to find the people who could dance and hype people up. So I answered that. I worked for this company. I felt like it was called Metropolitan or something. But they would, they would test me out. And there's the, there's the host, there's the DJ, and then there's the dancer. She's just a core of like four to six dancers, depending on how big the Bat Mitzvah was.

Now, I'd never been to Bob Mitzvah's, and I didn't realize they were like as big as a wedding. And like, whether there was the video projections and the money that was spending, oh, my God, this is incredible for that kid. That kid is, like, living. And then the thing is, with Dan, I became, because I was a good dancer. I was always the dancer at my college parties and stuff. So I would get, you know, all somebody's Bubby up dancing and you get the, you get Bubby up. Everybody's on the dance. Right.

Because they're like, you want to see, you want to see 85 year old woman dance. Everybody's suddenly like, oh. With this 21-year-old black guy. They're like, oh, my God, Bubby is killing it. And I'm like, doing like, it takes two or, you know, the kid in the play or something. And we're tearing it up. And so everybody gets to the dance floor. And then the best thing is, is that if you're popular at one by mitzvah,

oh, you have the friend group, the parents all, they, oh, you had, they were already, they were throwing, you know, especially, you know, the sexy older women, were also throwing their numbers, like, oh, my God, you've got to come, you know, I have, you know, my daughter, terrible New York, not so bad. I'm going to go, my daughter, she's, hers is in the next month, we got to get you, we got to. So, you know, like, yeah, all right, cool. Then you negotiated your fee a little higher. Oh, yeah.

I mean, it's like for a couple years, and I became a really highly paid jiggle-out. No, Dan, Seth, for, uh, for, you and Paul Rudd. Rudd did this, too. You guys need to compare notes. Of course he did. That makes a lot of sense, actually. Yeah. Yeah.

Well, I just went, my two nieces just had a double bat mitzvah. So I wish I'd known this prior. I would have called upon your. So they had a double Bob Mitzvah and did they, was it supersized? Was it like really? I mean, I had not been to one, like, this was exactly what you're saying, but on steroids. I want to know, I'm going to get a ballpark of how much these things are costing people. I mean, I can get my, you want me to zoom in my sister because it's been on her mind a lot.

It's like, yeah, it's a cost. And they would have like high end celebrities performing there too, which was awesome. One day they had Taylor Dane. performing. I was like, what? And this wasn't too far after, like, tell it to my heart. She was like, I'm here for the gig. And I was like, I respect you, Taylor. Look, if things take a turn, Coleman, you can always go back to the Bat Mitzvah Circuit. Listen, you know, the end. They don't even need to take a turn. You know, I told you, I like jobs. I could just do one on a Saturday. No problem. He's available. It's really not available, but he's available, apparently.

You know, sometimes you need that number. You get the number up. I might be able to do it. speaking about good gigs this is a good segue into something that did change the course of your career which was Fear of the Walking Dead talk to me a little bit about your attitude

going into that and how quickly it might have shifted like did you have a little bit of like this is not my this is not going to be for me I was a snob yes I was a theater snob

I was like absolutely not and I just moved over to the agent that still represents me at Elizabeth Reader's sign and she literally said oh my God there's a show

it's the precursor to walking dead and i was like what's that they were like you don't know the walking dead it's just a huge show on amc i'm like i don't watch tv and so i i know i really had an attitude when she was like i'm going to see the script i think you would really like this and i was like immediately i thought obviously this person does not know me because she's going to send me some genre thing or some tv thing i'm not interested she sends me the the sides and it was fantastic it was everything i thought I was like, oh, I didn't know TV could be like this. It was rich.

It was great storytelling, a really provocative character. And I thought I had a take on the character. So I sent that tape in without even thinking about it. And then literally a couple of days later, I got an offer just from a self-tape to be a series regular in the fear of walking dead. Apparently, I had a good take on it. And that's a legit game changer. I mean, that changes things. I mean, we always like to say.

It literally did change my entire career because I thought. Like just before that, I thought that I had achieved what I was supposed to achieve, and I was kindly ready to step away from the old industry because things were not just progressing the way I thought that made sense. I wasn't booking, I was working, I had no access or agency, and I was entering my mid-40s. And I was like, I can't sustain this. I need to, you know, get a real job, at least a job that makes sense, you know, that where I actually see. how it's going to support me and maintain because the life of the artist was just too rocky for me at that time and you know i was trying to make a decision that where i wouldn't be bitter or or hardened by this industry and i wanted to step away why i still loved it um but then

for the walking day gave me footing back in the industry in a new way it's funny when i look at your career and i hear you talk about it and and the and the long road it's been i think it's somebody that's come up a lot in in your conversations you worked with them a couple times as Chadwick Bozeman, who I had the privilege of knowing a bit too. And, you know, for those they don't know, Chadwick was working a while before it kind of all clicked. He was, he was kind of under the radar doing theater, doing small stuff. And I mean, how far back, when did you and Chadwick connect? I wish I can give you the exact year, but I'd like to say it was around 2005 or six. So this is way before 42, like you guys. Oh, way before 42 and everything.

Chadwick and I did a reading of a play together. And we just really liked each other. We were like, we were like, okay, this is, it was just a good vibe. And then I was able to do the movie 42. I had a couple of scenes and then they cut the whole character. So it's funny. That's always in my IMDB, but I'm like, I'm cut out of the movie. But we had a great time together.

And he was just like, we just always, he just always had a twinkle in a smile on his eye with me because he knew that we could sort of spar together. So by the time we got to Samara and he's Black Bottom, that was full out. It was, I loved working with him. I loved that company, but I remember the first day I saw him. He was like, oh, Coleman, I can't wait to dance with you. And so for me, because he liked, he liked that sparring, like, with another actor.

And we would challenge each other with our musicianship by learning our instrument. So everything about it was like, because we respected each other so much. And we're like, I like, oh, okay, I see what you doing with that instrument. Okay, now I'm going to practice mine even more. So kind of a friendly spar, which is great. I miss him. And I feel like you two both share also. I mean, he talked a lot openly about like, you know, the importance of representing culture and pushing culture and kind of like being at the center of culture as a black man today.

Like what he did in the short time, he was kind of like elevated to that kind of center status and film. is such an inspiration. I think what a great thing to say. I think as I'm thinking about it right now, I think Chad and I, we always felt like, I know he did because he was.

I never just thought of him as an actor. I always thought he was so much more. I mean, watch him deliver like a commencement speech or the way he navigated the industry and the way he was a musician, even the way he walked through spaces. the way he wore his hat or the way he wore his clothes.

He was just concerned with being I don't know such a bigger person than it just wasn't an artist. It was so much more. I think that's how we sort of saw each other. We saw each other like, you know, we're not limited and just like, we're not just actors

trying to get a gig, but we're trying to do something with this sort of responsibility that we have as tourators, as to engage with culture. in society. And we both, we don't take it lightly. I do feel, it's funny. I thought about this actually a while ago,

because I thought Chad was such my, I'll tell you a story. Chad said, I remember the night before, the night before party, and he was being fetid around town for Black Panther. And I see him at the, at the night before party

and he's surrounded by a bunch of like, I feel like they were like CA agents or something but there was a whole team of people around him and I had no team around me. I was just this guy came in from New York once in a night before party. Very happy to be there. And I hadn't seen him since 42

and I saw this evolution of him. And I was saying, I stepped up and I hate Chad. I don't know if you remember me. I'm going. He's Coleman Domingo. I was like yeah, hey Chad, how's it going? I said it's fun to congratulate you on our success for a Black Panther. And he just looked at me.

And then he turned to his whole team of people, being like, this one right here, that's the truth. That one. Keep your eye on him. Keep your eye on him. And I was like, oh, well, thank you so much. He said, no. And literally he's grabbing somebody.

He said, that one right there. And so that explains Chad. He had enough for everybody. He never believed he was challenged by anything. If anything, he lifted another person up, especially, you know, it's difficult sometimes in this industry, believing that there's enough, especially when you, you know, if you're standing in spaces that are pretty limited.

Right. But then you have somebody who says who's never, literally he was like that all the way through of being an advocate for fellow brothers. Yeah. No, I mean, in an industry, when sadly, like for a long time, arguably it's like, we're going to have like two black actors. be leading men right now at a time yeah that's that's our quota right now and he was he was he was never challenged by me and of course I always wanted to just lift him up as well

so I feel like we we shared that we literally share we were born a day apart different years but we're both Sagittarians we both love the fact that we're both born a day apart so we felt like we were very kindred you can get you can get you can get you can get you can get you can get you protein at home. Or a protein latte at Tim's. No powders, no blenders, no shakers. Starting at 17 grams per medium latte, Tim's new protein lattes, protein without all the work, at participating restaurants in Canada. Summer's here, and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days, delivered with Uber eats. What do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well-groom lawn delivered, but you can get a chicken parmesan delivered. A cabana? That's a no, but a banana, that's a yes. A nice tan, sorry, nope. But a

box fan happily yes a day of sunshine no a box of fine wines yes uber eats can definitely get you that get almost almost anything delivered with uber eats order now alcohol and select markets product availability may vary by regency app for details here's a connection i'd like to make and this has been tried to secret into the universe for a while we need to get you into the mccu man has this have we got have we come close you know what i am now well you i yes You want the live action You want the live action I want the full car

I need the full comin You have full body Coleman I'm trying to give you a little bit of Norman Osborne No I like it And I've been liking it You're liking it

I'm enjoying it What's it what's it been like To be an iconic An iconic villain I'll be it in It's cool But I do want to get the live action out too Wouldn't that be kind of cool

Right I mean I would love to tear that up On the big screen But I'm having a great time Actually love I love the animation I love the idea of playing Norman Osborne

and then you'll see his evolution to the Green Goblin in coming seasons, which would be very cool. Amazing. So, I mean, I know you were made aware because people kept asking you about all the Kang rumors and everything. Like when you heard about that, like, oh, they're going to recast it with Coleman,

do you initiate conversations with, like, your folks say, like, can I talk to somebody at Marvel and see if there's something to talk about? Listen, after a while, when it was constantly in the press and on places like, you know, Twitter, I started, I was like, wait a minute. Is this true? Am I being talked about? Forget. So I literally called up my team and said, are you guys having conversations that I don't know anything about? They're like, no, I don't know. And then I was like, are you guys being KG or what? And they weren't. I don't think so. But I think that there were, there had been conversations of me coming into Marvel in some way. So we did follow up with a, uh, a down meeting with the heads of Marvel. So I did do that. And we talked openly about the landscape of Marvel or even like the Kang Rumors. And I personally knew that like, listen, I'm just all about energy and I just want to like do things that make sense and brings gentle energy. But I feel like

I want a role to be mine, whatever that role is, whatever I develop. I don't want to, Something didn't feel right of me like, oh, would I replace someone? I say, no, I want to build something from the ground up that's my own. So I feel like that was never a conversation from my point of view. You know what I mean? If I was discussed, I still don't know if I was discussed. But I just know that I would want to build something from the ground up. So there's still talks.

Okay. Speaking of talks, euphoria seems a little more real now for the next season. Can I put money on this? you guys are actually going to get before the cameras. You're going to shoot another season of Euphoria. Are you feeling confident? Cameras are up. Yes.

Yeah, we're in production right now, yeah. Oh, you are? We are. I didn't realize that. Okay. Okay. So you shot footage of the new season? I haven't shot yet, but we are shooting now.

Yes. Oh, amazing. I'm so excited to hear this. So can you demystify this a little bit for me? Because I had a long conversation recently with Lily Rose Depp about Sam. She loves Sam Levinson. Oh, I've spoken to a bunch of actors

that love Sam Levinson. And yet there's this kind of like, I don't know, this aura of like chaos that surrounds like euphoria and the idol. And yet I know you love. You've spoken very beautifully about this collaboration with Sam. What are people not getting?

Like, what's the disconnect on the Sam Levinson production from? I wish I knew what other people were thinking or how they thought about it or where this chaos comes from. And I'm being very sincere about it because I've never had any of those experiences on set or in development or around my friend Sam.

Sam's a good man, he's got a good heart. In my whole experience, he would hand me the pen and say, well, what do you think about the character? He really wants to be a collaborator, and he runs a pretty calm set. I just think that there's, you know, film skyrocketed into the zeitgeist and and my friend sam does not speak well and speak in press and so people try to put things on it because they can't they want to put something on it

when whether it's based on the work and the material and they want to assume many things that's what i think it is because it's it's hot in the zeitgeist and um i know that sam's just very concerned about doing the work and creating good story more than anything and not the noise i think that that's actually what i think okay no i appreciate the honesty in such a succinct way but i think that's exactly i think the the the the the noise will will be noise because the show is so huge in the zeitgeist yeah people will put on it whatever they want to put on it you know all right i want to hit up a few more things and then i promise to let you go because you do you have so many side hustles going so speaking of

Speaking of Euphoria, I love Sidney Sweeney, and I love that she's the one that came to you with doing this film about Sammy Davis and Kim Novak. By the way, new fan of David Johnson, great casting there. This guy has the goods. That's amazing. So is this on the docket for later this year? You're trying to get this in production? It is on for later this year.

Our plan is to shoot it after Euphoria. Yeah, I plan going into prep before Euphoria ends. So my goal is to at least in the fall be shooting this with Sydney and David. Amazing. Do you connect with Sydney on that kind of like side hustle thing? Because I feel like she is a hustler in the best possible way. She is, she wants it all. Yeah, she likes a lot of jobs.

I think Sydney is one of the smartest young actresses, I think, of modern times. She really, she knows where she is in this industry and then where she would like to be, you know. I think she's not afraid of hard work and she's very kind and, um, and she's really smart. You know, she reminds me of like, people underestimate her at their own peril. They, I think she is not. Well, they underestimated, um, manor Monroe, didn't they? And Marilyn Monroe had a profession company. Yeah. She was and, um, but you know, I'll, you know, Lucille Ball. I feel like she's stepping into that church or even what like Sandra Bullock has done for herself. I think Sydney in line with these women. Uh, it must be a nice phone call. Uh, it must be a nice phone call.

to get from Stephen Spielberg many years after a nice, juicy, small little role in Lincoln, and that to get, presumably, I imagine this is a juicier role in a big, old UFO. We know that that's at least somewhat the subject matter of the next Spielberg directing effort. What's it like to know that you're going to be front and center with Stephen pretty soon? It's so lovely because Stephen is such a good man, a great collaborator. we've had great phone calls and he's just very easy and I can't say it enough he's very kind and he'll send you information to digest and he says you know he can always call me anytime so he's that true collaborator he says literally you want me to call you at any time when I have a

question yeah that's what I want so I feel like um whatever seeds that were planted years ago when I even auditioned for Stephen in New York and he walks through Bernie Telsie casting office with a baseball cap on and a, I think a Diet Coke in his hand. And he goes, hello. I'm like, it's Steven Spielberg. I still feel that way. But now I know it's Steven, my friend who, I don't know, he can't be more affectionate. He's so affectionate and kind.

And he just wants to still do good work. And I think he works as if he is doing it for the first time. He always feels, I feel like he feels inventive like he's just getting started. I mean his west side story was one of the best films I think he's made in his career and just to see that he's still operating on that level amazing yeah so I'm excited we have a beautiful cast I look forward to working with all of them and so yeah we'll get started on that soon so we're on the spectrum of alien movies is it more close encounters or war of the worlds what's what's the vibe I think it's something new okay I think it's

I'm new crew and different. But I tell you one thing it has. It has so much heart. And it has a, I feel like it's a love letter to our humanity. And he co-wrote this one. And he doesn't do that often. He doesn't, you know. No, he co-wrote this one.

Because so I feel like this is, this is very Steven Spielberg. It's probably more Steven Spielberg than Steven Spielberg. Amazing. Well, I'm hyped already. Now I'm more hyped. Okay. The only other one I want to mention that I think, I think you've shot already, big Edgar Wright fan.

Running, man. Yeah, how is that? So you're Richard Dawson territory. I know it's a much different take. That movie was its own thing. This is more true to the book, I know it. Edgar's hands, my God, I had such a good time. I had a, I was like shot out of the cannon.

If I had a blast, especially with Glenn Powell and Josh Brolin and Lee Pace, they're all great dudes. We had a great time. And Edgar's mind is so vast And you just want to get inside his brain And you're like It's it's The film itself is like Sort of this

Dystopian chaotic world Where murder is The Game Show Right And it feels It feels timely You know It feels

It feels like I have such a pulse I'm excited for people to see it You know. All right. I'm going to let you go on this. We end every episode with the happy, say I confused, profoundly random questions. A little rapid fire for you, buddy. Are you a dog or a cat person?

My dog or cat person? I'm a cat person. Okay. There are no wrong answers. All good. Do you collect anything? Do I collect anything? Yes, I collect architecture books.

Nice. Okay. Were you ever a video game, a game person? Do you have a favorite video game of all time? Pac-Man. Classic. Can't go wrong. Can't go wrong. Here's a provocative one. Would you rather be four feet taller or four feet shorter? Four feet shorter.

I don't know. I feel like being that tall, I'm like, that's going to be really awkward in spaces. I don't know. It feels very uncomfortable. So I get it. I'll go for smaller. What's the wallpaper on your phone? What's the wallpaper on my phone? That's boring. California.

Oh, well, okay. You know, maybe that's so I know where I am, because sometimes I travel somewhere, I have no idea where I am. It's a good reminder. It's the least exciting thing about you. Everything else is exciting, the wallpaper doesn't have to be. It's so boring.

is the last actor you were mistaken for does ever happen oh yeah um adrease elba okay i'll take that though that's fine i mean come on uh worst note a director has ever given you um i'll see this is a terrible thing because i feel like when they give me a bad note i just look at them like they're crazy like they grew three heads and i just don't take it that's okay doesn't change that the note's bad maybe that's it maybe i i don't know i just i just give a glare It makes people feel like I'm going to incinerate them on the spot. Get away from me with your bad notes. Yeah.

And in the spirit of happy, sad, confused, who's an actor you always see on screen that makes you happy. You see them and you're immediately in a better mood. Daniel Day Lewis. Gold standard. A movie that always makes you sad. It's a wonderful life. And finally, a food that makes you confused, Coleman. You don't get it.

Why do people eat that? Barada. What? I can't even compute that. Why? Barat, what does it taste like? Nothing. It's creamy deliciousness. It's not creamy or nothing. It tastes like a paper. It just tastes anything. You got to put olive oil and basil or something on it. You've got to make it something. But it has zero flavor and zero purpose. And people are always trying to pull out a barata salad.

You're like, I don't understand it. I don't get it. Wow. Someone wronged you. Someone gave you the wrong barata because Somebody jacked me up with brawada. I don't like it. I don't want it. Don't you ever give me braada. No barata for this man, but more nominations, more acclaim. It's all coming your way.

Well deserved. Everybody check out Sing Sing. If you haven't already, it's a beautiful performance, a beautiful film. Have a blast at the Oscars. You're regular now. They just have that seat waiting for you. Good. Thank you.

This was really a pleasure, man. I want to do this one for a while. So thank you for everything today. It's a blast. Thank you so much, man. And so ends in other addition of happy, sad, confused. Remember to review, rate and subscribe to this show on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm a big podcast person. I'm Daisy Ridley and I definitely

wasn't pressured to do this by Josh. The Old West is an iconic period of American history and full of legendary figures whose names still resonate today. Like Jesse James, Billy the kid and Butch and Sundance, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse. and Geronimo, Wyatt Earp, Batmasterson, and Bass Reeves, Buffalo Bill Cody, Wild Bill Hickok, the Texas Rangers, and many more. Hear all their stories on the Legends of the Old West podcast. We'll take you to Tombstone, Deadwood, and Dodge City, to the plains, mountains, and deserts for battles between the U.S. Army and Native American warriors, to dark corners for the disaster of the Donner Party, and shining summits for achievements like the Transcontinental Railroad.

We'll go back to the earliest days of explorers and mountain men and head up through notorious Pinkerton agents and gunmen like Tom Horn. Every episode features narrative writing and cinematic music, and there are hundreds of episodes available to binge. I'm Chris Wimmer. Find Legends of the Old West, wherever you're listening now.