This past Sunday night, Moonlight amazed viewers by taking home the award for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. (After a major Oscar mix-up left many of us confused yet entertained). Moonlight is also the first queer-themed film to win the award, which makes it an even sweeter victory.
The film, from 2016, explores budding sexuality in the black community.
Specifically, it follows Chiron during three different stages of his life (childhood, teenage years, and adulthood) and the different identities and personas he took on during those times. It also takes a look at the influences of violence and drugs while growing up in an impoverished part of Southern Florida.
To celebrate the award, Calvin Klein released a new campaign for its Spring 2017 season. What’s great is that this campaign stars four of the film's major actors. First, there was Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders, and Alex Hibbert, who all played the role of the main character during the different stages of his life. Rounding out the group was the recent Supporting Actor winner Mahershala Ali.
The brand for the new campaign is fitting for Moonlight and is called “Revelation,” and Willy Vanderperre was the photographer for the shoot.
Calvin Klein posted an article, to go with the campaign, which described the theme and title. “[H]ow radical an act it is to reveal oneself to another so candidly, so clearly, that it strikes a nerve. When so much out in the world would threaten us — bodily, psychologically, scaring us inside of ourselves to seek shelter within — merely showing oneself, unguarded, can be heroic.”
The article doesn’t just talk about the underwear or even the film, but also focuses on actors before and after shooting Moonlight.
In regards to the lessons he took away from shooting the film, Mahershala Ali said, “You get older and you think you have some things figured out, but [these younger guys] reminded me of the power of exploring. They reminded me that it’s okay to not know everything about life.”
While Ali has been working nearly 20 years in the business, breakout star Trevante Rhodes is new to the game.
n regards to the lessons he took away from shooting the film, Mahershala Ali said, “You get older and you think you have some things figured out, but [these younger guys] reminded me of the power of exploring. They reminded me that it’s okay to not know everything about life.”
While Ali has been working nearly 20 years in the business, breakout star Trevante Rhodes is new to the game.
As for Ashton Sanders and Alex Hibbert, they remain awed at the film and the opportunities it has created for them. “I’m an artist,” said Ashton, “All my friends are about raising our artistic consciousness. I just wanna do dope stuff with dope people, man.”
It’s safe to say that the careers of these four men are on the up. The article already hinted at Ashton signing on for an upcoming project and the others are sure to follow.
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By: Devin Randall
