Keke & Cast Break Down ‘I Love Boosters’: Power, Fashion & Morality | SXSW

Hey y'all, my new film I Love Boosters recently premiered at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. And I did a special episode of Baby This Is Kiki Palmer with my castmates. You may have seen online that during the taping, a person proposed to me and was eventually removed by security. I was definitely surprised, but my castmates and I did our best to respond with empathy in the moment. I know it was unexpected and concerning for many people in the room, and for those who have watched online since, so I truly appreciate everyone who has reached out and shared love and support. We live in a time where parasocial relationships are a very real part of being a public figure, and it's important that kindness and respect exist alongside personal boundaries and safety. I hope the emphasis of this episode stays on the conversations we're having about I Love Boosters because I'm so excited for y'all to see this new film. I will always appreciate you for having my back and caring about me. Thank you. Here's the trailer for I Love Boosters. What would be your biggest challenge in a job like this? I shop here, look, in the field, I should have it all. I just want to take it all home, eat it up, and shoot it out my eyes. I just feel like give it to me. It's mine anyway. That is such a good answer. What's a booster? Somebody that steals clothes from a store and sell it at a discount price? It's like a community service. I call it triple-edm, fashion, forward, philanthropy. I know how to spell philanthropy. Branding though. Together, we empty out every single metro design in the Bay Area. It's the velvet gang that they're boosting from my stores. As these people close, we exist. They take my **** and sell it because they're low-class urban bitches with all due respect to urban bitches. I'm an innovator making **** the art. Why are the nipples so big? [MUSIC] What is up, South by Southwest? I am so excited, guys, to be here with you. My new film, "I Love Boosters," directed by the brilliant Boot Riley, has just had the world premiere here in Austin. What did you guys think? Did you check it out? If you haven't seen it yet, the movie follows a team of professional shop lifters, engaging in what we call fashion, forward, philanthropy. Okay, stealing from a fashion mogul to send a message about power, money, and consumerism. But the best part of making this film was getting to work with some truly incredible women. And I am so excited to talk with them about this movie. So, please welcome Demi Moore, Naomi Ackie, Taylor Page, Poppy Lee-Eel, and Isaac Gonzalez. Oh my gosh, this outfit. Girl, I just live. Come on, Hat. We'll give another round of applause for these beautiful girls. Is everybody being like, let's switch. Sorry, they told us 17 times they're serious. We're not women. We like that. We have a lot of pressure with this movie since it's all about fashion. To really show up and show out. But you definitely did. You wouldn't be there without realizing it. I know. We tried coordinating and we could not make it happen. Oh my gosh. Like, we're not a group of artists and a group chat is not good for planning or organizing anything. And yet, it still happened because psychic. But we try. I'll be texting Taylor back, our group chat is crazy. You know, we did the best we could. How are you guys feeling after last night? Everybody got to see the movie with people. Like, we've watched it before, but it's different when you get to watch it with an audience, especially like one like South by Southwest. It's like the perfect audience. So, how do you guys feel after just getting that reaction? Oh, everybody's very wonderful. It was wonderful. I feel like it was really electric. I just don't think films come to life until you see it with an audience. It allows you to forget that you're on the screen. Which is a really, it's like really nice. It's just an easy, when you're watching yourself. No, but it was incredible to feel the response. And also to be part of a film that you want to see with an audience. You want the communal experience. You want to look to your neighbor and go, holy s**t. Yeah. Yeah, I felt the exact same way. I was just waiting for everybody in the theater to get to that Likith scene. Me too. That was me the whole time, like, just wait to y'all see. Boost by those teeth on the big screen. The dripping teeth. Yeah, the dripping teeth. It kind of had multiple. I feel like our movie has multiple movies in it. Like, because when people hear me talking about it, they're like, I thought this movie was about boosters. That's what you think. There's so much more going on. Okay, Boots Riley doesn't just make movies, right? He builds worlds. I mean, they're creative and they're surreal. What drew each of you to this story? And what's the statement you feel like the movie is making? Well, they all close to turn around. Well, I know that working with Boots has been like a bucket list career dream. And so when I was first on this script, I was ecstatic. And Boots and I had a Zoom. And, you know, it's a complicated world. Some scripts you read and it's very intuitive, like, what's going on. He kind of had to, like, say the vision. Even when we were filming it, I feel like a lot of it is a fever dream and Boots is mind and until you're sitting there and seeing the final product, it was sort of like, oh my god, that's what he was envisioning the entire time. So anyways, we talked to the character and everything. And I did my tape afterwards. I remember just thinking that I was like, even if I don't get this role, I was like, I already feel so happy that I got the chance to talk to him. That I got to read the script. I was like, it's making, it's reminding me that the right creative collaborators are out there. And it just gave me a feeling of hope and then I did get to do it with him. And that was such a dream come true. I had just finished filming Welcome to Dairy, which was a complete lead. By the way, that show is great. Girl, congratulations on that. Thank you, Momel seriously. But it was, that's obviously really dark and tour. And so this came in and y'all were already attached. And I thought, this will be really fun. But I also really wanted to work with Boots like you. And so the minute my agent said, Boots Riley has a new foot. They couldn't even finish the sentence. I was like, send it now. And we met. And then I didn't hear anything. And then I was pregnant. And so then when he, when they, when they said, you know, you're doing it, I'm like, oh, wait to tell them when I get to you. Okay, that's like a job and keep a job. And we went to dinner, remember? And I go, guess what, y'all? And Boots, I saw his panic. Like, okay, well, I guess he was like, your character Mariah could be pregnant. We were trying to figure it out. But I feel like the conversations that I had with you in the beginning of the movie, like I thought that I got the movie, but also talking to you made me get the movie even more. Yes, because just I remember us, the first thing that we shot was the opening, one of the opening scenes of the movie. It's when you wake me up. You got me working, working, working. And I was just like, I remember you said something like, it's like the Wizard of Oz. You remember when you, oh, look, I have mom brain right now. So I don't remember anything. No, that's on my phone. So insightful. And then the whole shoot, Taylor kept trying to be like, and you're the lion. Yeah, no, no, no, no, you're the ten man. And you're the. And I'm a photo. You can totally agree that I thought you were scarecrowed. So does that mean you're the wizard or a wizard? You're the wizard. You're the wizard girl. You know what I mean, but I love the idea of playing with the archetypes and bringing it. You know what I mean? Just it was just interesting the way that you were literally indexing the movie backwards. Wow, thank you. Thank you for reminding me to remember that for this run, that word. I love boosters has been called a Robin Hood story, right? Grappling with the idea of, well, that technically the velvet gang are criminals. But culturally they're making a difference. So how did this film make you look at that, you know, that moral gray area? Hmm, I, you know what, I think the thing that stood out for me about this film and that attracted me was the idea. Oh, sorry. Is this serious? What's happening? I can't marry you. I don't know you. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, sir. No, it's okay. What's going on? Is this a prank? No. Yeah, I'll tell my no. Well, I guess we got to get this settled in. Oh my god. Oh my goodness. I just love the shock in your face. You're like, wow. Is your heart beating really fast? My heart's beating really fast. I wish this happened to me all the time like you. That's amazing. Well, you have your boyfriend that brings your flowers. Is it guys? Are you doing it? It's okay. It's okay. But thank you. We just need to keep going. You just have to say no. It's okay, honey. No, that's very sweet. Oh, I'm so sorry about that. Sorry, guys. Well, let's just take a deep breath. Let's love to you, brother. All right. All right. So let's get back into this. We had hard times. We're a second. I was like, oh, yeah. And then I was like, no, I am. Please. Now it's not time for nuance. Shut it. Always on that one time. Well, Larry will never forget this moment. Yeah, that was yeah. We got lots of chitchat about. Deep breath. It takes you to like, wow, something real all of a sudden. Yeah, but not. Kind of like the movie. Yes. Yes. I don't like the movie. No, it's a question. Keeks. That's right. Who's behind the projects? Yeah. I know. You were talking. Right. I'm surprised. I'm surprised you didn't hit him with the sorry to this man. I think I was just in shock. I kept thinking I was like, oh, they bring a punk back. You know me like, I you know what I mean? I was like, I get it. It took a year of the South by South. That was crazy. No, no, no. Yeah, I don't even know. Yeah, we're back. We're back. We're back. We're back. Babe, what was the question? Let me get my light back about what? We're just the moral, great area of the film. We have the girls. They're essentially criminal. Right. But culturally, you know. So I think the thing is is that like I remember obviously I'm not from the States, right? And we didn't call it boost in back home, but we're from Stone Market at school time or lunch time or whatever. We go down the market and you're seeing high-end stuff on the market stalls that literally were in the shops next door. Which is crazy. But like it was the thing that we could afford. It was the thing that gave us an access to a world that we didn't have. And yeah, it's grey, but it's also community. It's also like it feels like someone's sharing something with you that you can aspire to and you can have a little bit of to create your own vision of yourself, which kind of leads to power in a way. And there's something so special as well. And even though it's grey, yes, about how you can take little bits of everything and you turn it into a culture. And that is what is special about working class, being of a marginalized community. You take little things and you collect them and then you make them into your own. And it's something that's actually really inspiring. And the cost from the big man isn't as big. It's not that big. They take more than we get. So I think it's a gist if I had. Yeah, girl, preach. Okay, the thing that in watching it last night with the audience that really moved me was seeing the shift from a singular focus for one self versus the collective focus of people coming together. And the impact we can make when we're not just working for our own self. Yes. And that, for me, was, you know, it was deeply moving. I remember last night when I saw you at dinner, it had a greater impact than I even realized by seeing it with an audience. Yeah. And the importance of that. I really love the mirroring that happens between Kristi Smith and Corvette. Because there's this idea that just that, you know, Kristi is the bad guy. And that could be true in many ways. But you also see Corvette go on this journey where what would it be like if she had a chance to be on top? And she has to look around. And she has to go through that transition in a movie where she's looking up at this person that she's mimicking and that she wants to be like. Correct. She has to have success. But at the same time, she's slowly forgetting the people around her. They're now just, they've now just turned it into the background to her foreground. And so we get to see this reality that I think is so important that, you know, no matter what, where you're standing from, integrity is something that you have to be consciously thinking about having. Where are you on the top? Where are you on the bottom? And the people around you, they're not just here to support you, but they heard it exist alongside you. So that's what I love that Corvette finds. And that really was hitting, touched me the more that I watched the movie. You know what it really hit to me when I was watching your performance was the concept of we are conditioned as a society to idolize these people while still having a moral compass, right? She is completely and morally balanced human being of who she is. But somehow we are all trapped in this vortex of, you see her when she talks about her like her eyes glistened. And it's, she has an identity of her own. She knows who she is. Yet somehow she's like, you know, like a fly to the light. And I think it really encompasses the world we live in because it is, I find myself, especially with social media now and seeing all these kids and us, including us adults. You know, we kind of hate it, beloved, but hate it, beloved. We all live in this dimension of this duality. And I think it does capture that because you're not just villainizing her. And I think it, I have to say it owes to the performances as well that everyone brings. It's very nuanced. It's not linear like she is the villain we hate her. I want to be her. But why do I want to be her if she is this version that I hate and I'm fighting. But yet I still want to be her. And I think we can all see ourselves in those moments throughout life. It's the real human experience. And I think what boots is really good is understanding society. He does social commentary about society. And he's always on point. And he's quiet, man. He's not like, you know, he's on set. And he's just observing, observing, observing. And then he just plasters it on art. I think people will watch this movie and rewatch it and get so much more from it because these are very fundamentally balanced women yet still being swayed by the one thing they hate. And we can all relate to that, I think. Well, we all have a sense that it doesn't have to be this way. And we've all, we all are victims of it, but also benefit from it. I mean, we critique America, but we all benefit from being here also. The world is, it's going to continue to spin and we're going to continue to want to wear clothes and have nice things. And, you know, your car system, your transportation, your options. We have options. You know, it's like, I don't really like bananas. I actually would prefer this. And most of the world doesn't live like that. Most of the world doesn't have options. Most of the world has one pair of shoes. You know, and so it gets really, it is this kind of the big clover. I think that awareness is very important. You spoke to the duality of it. And that is the duality because the moment that Corvette meets Tian Hue, did I pronounce her right? Yeah, you did. Because I kept acting like John Hughes. Because like my accent wasn't correct. So, Tian Hue, you know, the first thing after. What about the chickens, John Hughes? Yes. Well, so my name is Tian Hue. But, you know, you're on set. Everyone's. Can John Hue come to. We need John Hue, so they became John Hughes, which turned into John Hughes. And then now I'm John Hughes. And so I have raised chickens. And so one of my chickens is now John Hughes. She's a gorgeous silky. I think she's also autistic. Fabulous. And also, but she was also, you know, like. I think she's now becoming a bit of a bully. It's a whole thing. She's kind of bullied, isn't she? And you see, like, the cycle of violence, her people, her people, her chickens, her chickens. That's John Hughes. That's what I was also boosters. So, you know, poppy everybody. This was on. This was that poppy with her. It's stand up, nonstop. I just like. I think it's so iconic that like. I mean, we have a whole sequence where we're fully injured. China. And I feel like this entire movie works without us having to go to China. I keep saying that boosters, to me, feels like it's a movie that is trojan-horsing a story about class solidarity and class struggle. And you could have kept it just here. There's enough between the velvet gang, between Christy Smith, about the value of material goods, what option someone has given the choices in front of them, et cetera, et cetera. But he took it all the way back to like, okay, we're talking about clothes, talking about choices, where is that coming from? Who is making that? Because we're all the star of our own story, and we're all on one side of the same country. That goes both ways. Because the moment that Corvette Corvette, I like that Corvette isn't just the underdog. The moment that she meets Janu, she's talking about, yeah, that's good. This is what we're going to do for me. That's what she pulls a Christy Smith. At that time, we watched the whole four-head movie, it all goes down. We see John Paul's storyline. And the first thing Corvette says is, that's great. Give me the machine. I got some stuff I'm trying to do, but it's not until I see your character where we actually, the whole movie, she popping out the window, she's saying, hey, y'all, message. I'm here to tell you that finally, Corvette gets it. We all, we all of the star of our own movie. We all got to struggle. We're all the villain in somebody's world. And we all have a vision. We're just trying to bring the life. And I think that awareness is what helps us. It doesn't change everything, but it can at least help us to see each other more fully, you know. That's why it's profound when Christy says, you're just fighting yourself. I will say that I do think that in her heart, that Janu is a revolutionary because I've always thought, think about it. She gets her hands on a teleporter and instead of being like, I'm going to rob a bank or like whatever, or even just take these clothes and try to resell them and do whatever. She says, we're going to use these clothes as a bargaining chip for labor rights and for us to unionize. Absolutely fabulous. You know, I was like, oh, this girl isn't thinking in terms of capitalism. She's actually like thinking in a human-centric way. And I feel like that twist is like, like you were saying, one Corvette, here is about this. Her first thought is to do a exchange. It's to perform capitalism totally. And so, who is like, I want to make sure that like my family members stop dying from the, like, you know, the San boss's denim. Your great point, Taylor. You know, everybody has a different vantage point from what is around them and what they know. That's why I do feel like it's such a great power when we can't create art that impacts or moves the way that people think and reaches us from different vantage points. We go online. We can see somebody else's world. We can see somebody's perspective. I mean, I take it back to my space. Tom just wanted us to see somebody's space. Tom. He just said, because if you see that space, you might understand things differently. God bless Tom. He didn't foresee it. He's sitting sideways, Tom. Tom. You know, we love Tom. He just taught us a code. He's like, on an island somewhere probably. Okay. Out of the way. Right. All right. I'm an island. Boots always holds up a mirror to society. And there's a lot that he's showing us with this movie. But what do you think he's saying about the moment that we're living in right now? And I know he said a lot of it here, but maybe in a few words, what would you say he's trying to, trying to say? I think he's saying that borders are not real and that the thing that unites us all is class struggle and that it needs to be a global international movement person. Yeah. And as she said, everyone's their own sort of revolutionary. And I think that we can connect as a society. I mean, it does blow my mind because we did film this movie how long ago? Two. And the timing couldn't be more exact. Like, in this moment, it feels like he filmed it two weeks ago and he was like, this is the time to drop it. And that, I think it's, I mean, obviously it's a foreshadowing. I think we've all been seeing where we're heading towards slowly, but surely. But I think, you know, again, I go back to, he's a person of the people. He makes movies for people, for audiences. Boots is not someone who's like bothered and flustered about what Holly would want clearly as he watched that movie. And, you know, I think that's what I appreciate about him as a filmmaker is this man who has something really important to say outside of the system. And the point is to criticize the system within being in the system. It's quite meta. And he's like, but if the system, and this is what it's at, and this is a patriarchy, and this is how it sets. And this is, and by the way, the fact that, I mean, I don't like to go gender specific, but most of these revolutionary characters are women. I don't know. Like he's, he's a father. He's a partner. He gets it, man, in a deep cellular way of what's this world looking like. And I think that last moment in the movie, I mean, we were talking about it and moves you. It hits you deep with turning on the news and what's going on in the world. And I think when you watch characters like this, going through these journeys, it makes you believe, damn, man, my life has purpose. Even if I'm in this small place, or in a big place, like my desires, my dreams, what I look for, I can go for it. Whatever that looks like. And I just got to push. Don't let the system brainwash you because it's, it's designed for us to just be completely drawn by it. And so we are getting to a place where like, I think as everything, the pendulum swings so far right and so far left. And now people are like, nah, nah, nah, nah, not anymore. We're pushing back. And I think that's very motivating. We see it with the strikes on the streets. We see it with, you know, it started all with like in the middle of COVID and Black Lives Matter. And like, we're just like, no, the system doesn't dictate anymore. And I think in a world that feels so bleak, this feels like a ray of sunshine. Yeah. Yeah. Do you think he's saying that there is a sweet demon trying to suck the life out of us somewhere? I'm still wrapping myself around the conelingus demon. I've been around a few of them. I mean, I'm wondering, you know, one day is going to write their PhD on what the symbolism of that, you know, kind of lingus demon is doing. And I want to read it. And I will say there, I mean, to what Asa was saying, there is an irony about a film which, you know, I feel like fundamentally is about class being told through Hollywood. And I feel like that irony is like really not lost on any of us. But I think that's also what makes this special because it's not just the kind of art that Boots makes. Part of my excitement about working with him is also about who he is as a person. And, you know, his level as a director and where he is in Hollywood. He has never shied away from like being politically outspoken regardless of the repercussions. He was one of the first, I think that was I was spoken about Gaza and Palestine and the genocide. And he has never wavered at all. And I think he did that knowing that there would be a cost and not knowing what. So I feel like that, that plays into the miracle that like he has gotten all the support and this film has gone all the support. And, you know, sometimes I struggle to with like artists. So I feel like I'm doing a lot of important storytelling with their art. But then in their personal life can't follow that moral code or, you know, take the same kind of risks. And I just feel like Boots is like a just he is not a performance. It's not at all. Yeah. In the end of the day, I admire that a lot about him. I do too to work with him. I do too. Because the truth is the truth. It's always be the truth, whether you acknowledge it or not. And that's how he lives his life. He's just speaking his truth. And so how could you be mad at somebody that has that knows their POV and stick it to it, you know. And Boots, but Boots is I feel his baseline is still all with an open heart. So we have these conversations and we could disagree or he could and there's still just this openness. And I wonder what that would be like. If all of us have different brains and different upbringings and different perspectives and the way we see we're not supposed to see it the same. I mean, we're diverse in the way that we think and the way that we profess and what we like and what we gravitate toward. But what would it be like to sit with that with an open heart? Like, what would the world be like? It's like, I don't really agree, but I'm going to open my heart to you. And now you open your heart to me. We could do something with that. That's community something. You know your girl loves to travel. Some of my favorite trips have been with my fam to far off places like Rome. But this spring we're eyeing a more local spot like South Carolina because our non-negotiables are delicious food and a beach where we can have fun but also get some much-needed R&R. And when I'm planning where we're going to stay, I'm not only thinking about logistics like where is everyone going to sleep, but also how can I really experience the place I'm visiting? That's why I book a stay on Airbnb for family trips. We get to stay in neighborhoods where locals actually live and really connect with the city through authentic experiences. Plus, everyone can spread out with separate bedrooms like my son's bed time, doesn't have to be my bed time, and we've got a real kitchen to cook some meals together if we end up staying in. It's also way more cost-effective than booking multiple hotel rooms. We all get there. our own space but still come together to create those genuine memories. For that kind of trip, hotels just don't give us what we need. Find a home for your next family adventure on Airbnb. I mean, you guys can see my next question was, what were the vibes like all set? You could see this what the vibe was like. We were always talking, having some, and honestly, it could have been about pizza. It could have been about the state of the union. It could have been anything across the board, but we were always having dialogue and it felt really good. We were also excited when Demi came. We were like, "Which I think she gonna be like?" How do you think she go? I can't see what she wear. What did she go kick? Is she going to talk to her? She came, right? Sit down in the middle of the floor. She was like, "Hey, girls." We're her little pup. How's it going? I'm so hyped for the movie. And we just would get into it. I mean, do you guys have a favorite moment or a favorite day that you remember on set? See you on me looking back. They blur into one day. But fun memory, it was kind of, sorry, I can't share what was shared, but you shared a story, and then you shared a story, and we all collapsed on the talk about boys. I don't remember. We don't need that. We got back to town. No, it was the tea. It was the tea that it was a tea date. What did it look like? Is that Asa's tea date? But also, because I was pregnant, babies pushing, I peed on myself in the hallway. Why is it in this film? Once on set and once in the hallway, I was like, "You guys were crazy." We were collapsed on the floor. I can't understand from how to be like. I don't have a pelvic floor. If you only knew what was being talked about. I do feel like this doesn't happen often, but I do feel like we were telling each other our business on this job. You don't y'all know at your job, whether you're on set, whether you're in an office wherever you are. These are my colleagues. But then they'll come a moment where it's like, "These is my f***." You know what I mean? We were kidding. I know so much about my job. We were getting into it. I loved it. And by the way, you were pregnant on set. You now have your baby. This is incredible. He's in the movie. That is an amazing story. Do you guys remember when the doctor came and made us hear the heartbeat? The doctor came. The set nurse. The set nurse. She also happened to be a doula and midwife, and she let me hear his heartbeat all the time. And there was once where we were looking for it, because I'd get a little panicked. And the girls would start talking and all of a sudden. I just say I'm not being funny right? I've met him too. Why? No. Oh and I was there for when you were in Labour. You both sent me a video right before I was, I was in LA and I was like hey can I come round I want to see you. Yeah you want me to. I tell you I was like yeah sure sure yeah no I think I'm in Labour but like to really come round. I was in Labour. I was Humpty Dumpty. It was, it was Humpty Dumpty. I was Humpty Dumpty girl. I was about to roll down that hill right? Yeah that's you. My biggest memory of this movie is Taylor and that like big titty onesie. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. I have a million photos of her on my phone with those people. And yesterday I was going through and I just have your titties there. Not her two made that. Not her her titties. Which I would love but it wasn't that. No it was that suit it is so funny like the idea of boosters is Taylor and that onesie walking around like rubbing her belly. It was giving me a it was letting me you know get used to the idea of being you know more womanly more voluptuous or more ariola. How do you feel about that time now you know looking back at the movie how it's impact you know the work we were doing but also like in your now new new mind because you do I mean anybody in the audience with kids moms you know you're not the same person you were before to baby you know what I mean. And so how do you feel about that time and you know compared to now? I'm so grateful to all of you. I feel you raised him in there because I laughed so much and he's so happy. It makes me cry because he's so happy. He's so healthy. He's so beautiful. Really. And it really birthing him initiated me into this life that I've always wanted for myself and I just feel I'm finally living inside my life but you guys being there with me it was just so amazing. We just laughed so much. I mean I think my belly he was in there probably like okay yeah you were happy. It's really funny like I want to sleep now you know but he's so that's how he is today. He's always in on you know I'm laughing and he just starts giggling. It's just incredible. It's incredible. Kids do have this really incredible power. You just said something quick and I want to pull it out because just make sure everybody heard it is that now you're living inside your life. You know what I'm saying like kids really especially when we're in our kind of industry and look in our kind of world or in our kind of country whatever where you know you're working you're working you know everybody's hyper functioning and trying to do it right and get it done and be the one and get the job you know what I'm saying you end up just like who am I because you're just the thing now you're just the product you're the you're not a human being you're a human doing you know what I mean it's so I know for me that was really big would have my son of just like because my son he's just being so then you start being like well damn I want to be like you yes my son would be like no it's so true I had to turn that damn balls baby off he was learning too much from that baby walking around acting like Ali Baldwin there was like he'd be like absolutely not but it helps you it reminds you you know it's true you you're looking at this baby and they're on an acid trip all day they're like wow the sky my feet so I'm like filling the bottom of my feet I'm like here I am in this moment wow my feet wow my hands you know everything his belly button his a lemon he's like this lemon you know like all these amazing things being alive is so cool it really is yeah to love and to be alive and to love people to love people around you to love your baby it's just like it's incredible I completely agree with you was there a moment you guys what you felt like I know for me I'll say this because the question is about when we knew our chemistry was working I remember when we did that first read if y'all remember it was like before we started filming the movie and we were in there and uh boost was it's like just just talk you know just do the lines just do it and we were this is our first session or whatever like that and I could I'm a very rhythm person I don't care if it's comedy I don't care if it's drama I don't care what the material is I'm just always hearing the voices as like beats you know it's like music in my ear and we're we're doing the lines and I was like this beat is sick come on I want to take a ride in a disco stick I was I thought you were going there but I was like how did you know we were going to sound like this not even how did you know we were going to act like like like how did you know we were going to sound like this because we were like pink it's just like now it's like pink thing boom boom and that's when I knew oh this is boots is not just like a great writer you know director but like this casting like we met yeah that's when I saw it was there a moment or a scene where you guys felt that well because we didn't even do a chemistry read beforehand and the thing about this rehearsal in quotes and heavy heavy quotes is that it was three three to four hours long I think we went through the scene two times maximum and the rest of it one thing I admire about boots is that he takes up like zero space as a man which is like one of the most endearing qualities ever for real he'd be he really let us go we and like well just be like yapping and I'll just turn around and boots is right he's just observing us yeah that's just like with a huge smile on his face like but like this rehearsal it was just us like yapping and he was just sit back and at the end of it we were like do we need to read the scene more and he was like no he was like I think that's the rehearsal and we're like okay you know he has this quality of seeing people and that's not easy and we see it obviously their directors that have vision and some that follow the pattern of what the industry tells them and they're like she's the cool girl or that's the cool person or she's what people are gonna be like thumbs up and he just doesn't care he's just like who are you what's your deal and I felt that like when I watched all of you perform you know he sees you he's not trying to pose into you he's just letting the collaboration exist and you see it like it's not it's I really want to highlight this it's not a casualty that most of the performances are good that's not a casualty that's not oh my god everyone's amazing because a lot of these actors go onto other movies and they don't get the chance to get these performances why is that because you have a director who's imposing into you and not a director that is want to collaborate with you and that is a ginormous difference because you see I mean who the hell would think of me as a golf like physicist knowledgeable like nobody there is yeah and then he's like I see something you're you're fighter and and I feel that way in the inside I feel it but no one sees me that way no one sees like you like that you know they're like she can really bring this layer into a hollard and that is just a blessing it's like the most like when you leave the set and you go home and you watch this movie and whatever the movie does amazing and hopefully it does amazing because you're all gonna go watch it when it opens but okay because you're gonna pay and bring all your friends but but my point is like you're just like god thank you for giving us a direct that sees me and sees, "What is my voice wanting to say as an artist, as an individual, as a moral compass?" And that man is like, "Gold!" And in every movie, you see, you see, sorry to bother you, you see obviously, there is a magical performance, as this is a man watching you, listening to you and saying, "Bring it on." To that point, what about your characters do you relate to the most? Or what were you zering in on in their story that allowed you to have empathy, compassion, and bring them to life? Baby, it's this geeky poem, yeah. Y'all, I have questions about everything. What should I cook tonight? Is it jacket weather or am I overthinking this? Should I take that opportunity? And I've been using Claude. It's changed how I make decisions, because here's the thing. Most AI just gives you information and that's it. Claude actually helps you decide, think things through, fully, and take action, like when I'm prepping for guests or trying to figure out whether something I read is legit. I'll go back and forth with Claude and it won't just hand me some surface level answer. It pushes back and asks me what I mean. It treats the question like it deserves more than 30 seconds. I also love that you can now connect your health data to Claude through Apple Health. And when I'm trying to figure out if my sleep is off, Claude helps me see the batters. Try Claude for free at Claude.ai/kiki-pomer and see why problem solvers choose Claude as their thinking partner. For me, I'm ever the realist. I think Shade has a kind of, she's extremely grounded. And I think that was the thing that I was like, oh, I understand that. Maybe it comes with age and stuff, but there's this sense for me of what you see is what you see. I'm a very say what you see type person and I know the truth. And if it's evident, then I do it. And I think Shade has a grounding energy in the film, but especially for Claude. It's such a special thing ambition and it's such a special dream, such a special thing to have dreams. But that has to be grounded in reality. That has to have a sense of what does this not just do for me, but what does this do for everyone. Even wanting to be an actor and at first it was like, I want to be a star. Oh my god, the recapit and all of that stuff. And then you go, oh wait, no, this is a service. I'm providing a service that potentially, if I do my craft right, opens people up to empathy, opens people up for discussion. And that is the richness of the thing. In a way, bringing it even back to the film, it's like this scar. I don't know what it's made of, let's assume it's silk, right? This came from a worm. Someone's hands were on it. It transported on a cargo ship or a van. And then someone took their hands and they sewed it and they thought about how to cut it. And then I'm wearing it right now. All of those things are so important. And I think when you're grounded, do you have a sense of where everything comes from? Where it should be going, you can have a real access to the world as it actually is instead of an illusion. Yes. Yeah. You're really good at this. And I want to hear what everybody says. But I do feel like the reason why I ask this question is because I see all of you in your characters. Now, you guys are all acting boots down. You know, you created a different reflection of this. It's not like you went to work and you were being yourselves. And I see that quality in you. You are so grounded. And you were grounding for us all on set. I know you probably would side us leaning up on your shoulder. Yeah. Because you are very much that person that just gets it. And you don't say everything you know. Yeah. But you know what I mean. That is her. Because you only want to put that on nobody. But it's like when it's time, like Shadei in the movie, when it's time to get real. Because hey, you need to wake up. She'll say that. And that you do have that soulfully grounding energy where it's like, I'm a chill. When I need to speak up, I must speak up. You know? And we saw that side of you in this role. Yeah. Thank you. Anybody else? I mean, for me, I feel like he gave me a chance to play somebody who is so not me. And that was the, like, the excitement of this exploration of then being able to take this kind of extreme narcissist. And find a way to bring a thread of humanity that I believe we all come from that sometimes gets lost. As we're in the pathway of struggling. Like Christy, you know, really does believe in what she's saying. It's, and has lost sight of others. But I think really cares. But the idea that he actually saw me, one to be able to do something that was comedic, that was just so out of the box, was what the joy and excitement of this for me. That it so wasn't me. The part that I will say is similar to you to Christy is you're brilliantly gifted. Watching you act is a gift. Oh, my God. Because, no, I'm so serious. Because like that moment when they're like, Christy, when he does the Christy Smith breakdown, and she was a mad scientist. And that's how I was watching you act. Your subtleties, the way you shift your eyes, the way you brought up your gestures, your attitude and movement with Christy Smith. All of them. That was all mathematical. I mean, if sure for you, this is just what you do, this is what you see and what you know. But when people are observed, when we're observing you, it's able to be like, you see that? You went off. You know, like that was so cool. I love that she added that this nuance. So that, it's that. It's like, you know, when you do something so effortlessly good, like you have for so many decades, sometimes people don't know how hard it is. That's it. She has that commanding thing without trying. Yeah, and that's the part that's the Christy Smith element is that no, no, no. She's doing something that's not easy to do. Yeah. I remember Demire last monologue when you are being like right before you're taken away by the guards. When they turned the camera around and it was me, Taylor, and Kiki watching you doing. The three of us were just like jaw open. Like we weren't even being good scene partners really. It's like, and the feeling I had was I was like, I was like, there are people that are talented and that are stars. And this is a star. It's it. You're not. Yeah, totally. It is what it is. Well, I will say, I came in, you guys had already been shooting, and I came into like an open door of welcoming that gave me permission to also be more brave. And to take more risk because you guys were all so loving and kind and warm that it made it really easy. There was no ego that I came into. It was all just open heart. And it makes a huge difference. It goes. Yeah, it goes back to Kiki too, because I have to say it becomes a domino effect. It's really interesting what happens on a set, right? If someone's having fun, then the next person's having fun, then you get into the door. Oh my God, everyone's having fun, and then it just becomes an environment. And that's to you, girl, too, because you really, hey man, you're such a ball of welcome and light and joy. I get y'all the money for saying this. Yeah. You're like, keep going, y'all need good. But we all dumped in deep dives, immediate, immediate personal deep dives in between. They had to pull us out, like, you guys need to go work. All the PAs, and they were like, these four PAs, right? It was like Flashback. But it's true, number one on the call sheet, always the two of us makes the vibe of the set. Even if everyone else is amazing, you have number one on the call sheet is like, you can't, it can't be fixed. And you set that tone, Kiki, and it was very, very special. Yes, you did. I really, really appreciate that. What do you find similar to Corvette? Girl, I thought you never asked. I really relate to Corvette being wrapped in her vision. I've always known what I wanted to do. Who I wanted to be. Girl, you a superstar. You a superstar, girl. I've always felt like, I wanted to do this, and I wanted to do this. And you've done it, mama. You've done it. She really has. My shot there says, Naomi always says, every time she sees me, she touches my leg. And she says, how are you doing? And it doesn't sound like much. But what she's saying is, now Kiki Palmer, how is Lauren Kiana Palmer doing? That I relate to Corvette. Just like Corvette, I just want to do what I, it started from, I want to do something that I can enjoy, and also help my family you know and then you become something yeah and then it's like You got to always make sure that you know this is why I did it. This is what it doesn't feel like that anymore. I don't want to do it anymore. When it doesn't feel like community, when it doesn't feel like me, I got my velvety gang, they all in the audience. When it don't feel like that, then there's no point to do it. And so I really relate to Krovet, what you were saying in the beginning, like we are all in this world trying to make it, and we got to always make sure that our integrity is always maintained on that fight, on that rise, to be able to do what we're trying to do before our community. The community still has to maintain the core. And so that, I really relate to that. To Krovet, want to be great, but not wanting it to cause her her ethics or learning what it means for it not to. Yeah, that's important. So, yeah. You guys, we can go straight to the game 'cause I only got one minute. I wanted to hear briefly with your connection to y'all characters. I think Mariah, I always think that things could be better and that we should be having fun. And to love your friends and those around you. And I think Boot said it. But something my husband said to me a few weeks ago, he's like, you know, one of my favorite things about you. And I'm like, what? I'm scared. And he was like, you know, every time you look at your phone or you say something, I always feel like you're gonna tell me something good. You always have something. But it's true. Actually, I'm like appreciating my heart lately. 'Cause I'm like, it's actually true. I'm like, I do do that. I do feel that I look up. I'm always looking up. I'm always like, it could be better. It could be better. We could be better. It's gonna work out. And I really believe that. I have faith. I do have faith. I find the glass half full. I do. Or I'm even just like, whatever. But you also, well, we all drink out of a faucet. What we get to see in this movie is, you're really, really funny. Yeah, she's so funny. You know what I'm saying? Like, you're really funny. I think sometimes we're all, you know, it's this thing, like with comedy or whatever. You feel like, okay, what do I do? And like, you're naturally very, very funny. Yeah. And I'm happy that people get a chance in this movie to really see you flexing that. Because there was not a moment that you didn't say something with an audience who was alkaline. And I know you was outside with the babies. I don't know if you saw. But like, girl, it was so funny. And that's how it feels being with you. You always crack at some type of joke. Without trying, too. Without trying. So funny. Oh, thank you. Yeah. Poppy? Ah. Well, okay. Well, first, I need to wrap up one more thought about Demi. Because I need to say this on the record. I told her this in person already. But I did tell her that Demi has a chokehold on Asian aunties. Oh, my God. Okay. No body in Hollywood that they love more than our girl Demi Moore. Yeah. My mother has never been more proud of me or my career than knowing that I was in a film with Demi. And that is what you want to know what the WeChat aunties are saying in Minnesota right now that Kylie Quinn's daughter isn't a movie with Demi. She has never once talked about any other job I've gotten. Anything at all. And it's, I don't know why. I mean, obviously, or a star, but it's just like, like for some reason, through the cultural ether or whatever, there's only a couple of people that have broken through. Yeah. And it's a short list. She unoblacks aunties too. Yeah. Same in Mexico. I call aunties. I call aunties too. I call aunties too. I call aunties too. I call aunties too. I call aunties too. What's the haircut? Oh, what's the name of the haircut? The-- Okay. My mom and the audience talking about, I go back to J.R. Hospital. Oh, God. I love you, Dara. Like, my soundtrack going up was, oh my love. I'm about weeping. Weeping. But, yeah, so, you know, Asian aunties, you would crush an Asia. A rush. I'm going to add it to my bucket list. Yes. Okay. Right. My-- Yeah. I feel very connected to her. I think that we both have a heart that cares very much about social justice. And I really feel like the journey that Dara who goes on through the course of the movie is a little bit the emotional journey I went on, maybe like in my adulthood through my 20s to now, where, you know, she starts off very idealistic. And she's-- And I think she has this belief that, like, that we can change the system from within. We can use bargaining chips. Yeah. And we can use our power to-- and that's true. And also, she gets to a point in the film right before we go into the fashion show where she says, like, Christy Smith, like, let's-- kill her. You know? And it's like, that's not like where I'm-- but, like, you know, but like, it's-- she reaches a point where she was like, oh, actually, the system can't be changed. Some things need to be burned down. Yeah. And I think I-- I had a moment, too, where, you know, and I think I'm still grappling with it and wondering, but, like, you know, like, empires fall. Yeah. Yeah. Especially when they not-- And we're right. Yes. And sometimes they have to. Well, you're not doing right. Again, the truth is the truth. No matter what day or week you decide to acknowledge it or not, coherence is the center. If you're not moving coherently, things will collapse. Yeah. Or maybe your building is built sideways. OK. And I can't set up straight. We in a decaying tower like this. Trimming you. Trimming you. Because you didn't want to respect the rules. Not to respect the rules of life. Really? Things will break. You have to respect it. Yes. And I think that, like, at least for myself, I think when I went through that, there was a moment of hopelessness and hopelessness of being like the thing that ideals I held on to before. I don't know if those things can change. But, like, I think someone who, like, she finds her fire again, where she was like, OK, I'm going to let this motivate me. Like, let's, like, let's take this down. And I feel like you really see that with, like, you know, I think, you know, when Corvette has, like, a shared-- they have a shared thread of being, like, you know, Corvette wants to play the game, wants to be the Chrissy Smith, you know, who wants to bargain with Chrissy Smith, wants to, like, ask-- at one point, they're just like, no, actually, I think we need a, like, the dictator needs to fall. Yeah. And the system doesn't-- I know they want me to leave. OK. Damn. I heard it. It literally says, please write it. Like, please. It's a different bold color. It's crazy. They highlighted it. They changed it. I love boosters. It's fun. Please write us rebellious. And full of ideas about power, fashion, and who really gets to control the story. It was an incredible experience making this movie with these amazing women and boots, Riley. Let's hear it one more time for Demi Moore, Naomi Acky, Taylor Page, Poppy Lee-Ew, and Isaac Gonzalez. Thank you, Southby Southwest. Thank you for coming. You're welcome. Thank you. And make sure to check out I Love Boosters, May 22nd, y'all. Let's run it up. Thank you. See you at the theater. Bye-bye.