The film, titled "Origin," is about Isabel Wilkerson's (played by Ellis-Taylor) journey across multiple continents, delving into the role of caste in perpetuating racism across various cultures. Even though the film received critical acclaim, both for DuVernay's career and its distributor, Neon, missed out on major awards recognition.
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Ellis-Taylor confessed that she has yet to receive any feedback from the author herself and admitted that she isn't eager to hear it either. In an interview with TODAY.com, Ellis-Taylor said,
"I would be fearful of her thoughts. I prefer remaining oblivious."
Director Ava DuVernay had numerous interviews with Wilkerson over a period of 15 months to gain a deeper understanding of her book "Caste" and the author's personal journey in creating it. Ellis-Taylor did the opposite and only connected with the author through the research she conducted. Ellis-Taylor analyzed videos of Wilkerson's interviews, cross-referencing them to observe any variations in her demeanor or perspectives. Additionally, she drew inspiration from Wilkerson's TED talk, using it as a valuable source of information to guide her performance.
Although DuVernay didn't directly address Wilkerson's disinterest in the film, she did offer some words about Wilkerson's character:
"Isabel Wilkerson, the real person, exudes elegance and possesses a quiet strength. Occasionally, it may seem like she is reserved, but I believe she simply conserves her energy, pouring it all into her words and her writing. It's a delicate balance."
Source: Yahoo