Interview: Filmmaker Cord Jefferson Chats About the Universal Appeal of ‘American Fiction’

It’s fair to say that writer/director Cord Jefferson has pulled off something pretty unique with American Fiction. He set out to make a film that worked not just as a comedy but as a family story as well. Too many other filmmakers would end up focusing on either the satire or the family dynamics. Jefferson was able to balance both in the flick with aplomb, gaining Oscar buzz in the process. Yesterday, my chat with Tracee Ellis Ross went up here. Today, it’s Jefferson’s turn.

In my review of the movie (here), I had this to say about Jefferson’s filmmaking:

Filmmaker Cord Jefferson walks a very precarious tightrope here in his directorial debut. Had he leaned too far in the satirical direction, he would have blunted the impact of the family dynamics. On the other hand, had it been mostly character work, the satire would have seemed tacked on. In adapting the novel Erasure, Jefferson finds the perfect cinematic story here. When it’s funny, it’s very funny. When it’s emotional, it strikes a chord that anyone in the audience can relate to. He trusts the viewer to not just follow him on this journey, but to have a good time while doing so. I can’t wait to see what Jefferson does next.

Below, you can see my conversation with Jefferson. One of our focuses here is how Jefferson made a film meant for the masses to see. It’s not exclusionary in any way, shape, or form. By being specific, that cultural specificity led to a universality that’s made the movie what it is. American Fiction is a joy, made possible by the talents of Jefferson. If you haven’t see the film yet, you’ll almost immediately look at him as a major new directorial talent.

Here now is my interview with American Fiction filmmaker Cord Jefferson. Enjoy:

American Fiction is in theaters now!