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    BLEX Media's Dot Saint-Fleur spoke with Danielle Brooks and writer-director Walter Thompson-Hernández for an intimate conversation about "If I Go Will They Miss Me," the Sundance 2026 drama that's being called one of the year's most tender portraits of Black fatherhood. Set in Watts and shot under the literal flight path of LAX, the film follows Big Ant (J. Alphonse Nicholson) as he tries to reconnect with his 12-year-old son, Lil Ant (newcomer Bodhi Dell), after being away from the family, while Danielle Brooks plays Lozita, the mother working to break a generational cycle. Thompson-Hernández, a former New York Times journalist, expanded the story from his own 2022 Sundance Short Film Jury Award-winning short into his feature debut, using Greek mythology as the lens through which a boy tries to make sense of an imperfect father. In this conversation, Brooks and Thompson-Hernández get into: -- Why the film leans on stillness and a "patient camera" instead of over-directing the moment -- How much of the film was actually improvised, including an unscripted apology scene between Brooks and her on-screen son -- Honoring the real woman who inspired Brooks' character, Lozita, without ever meeting her -- Casting 12-year-old Bodhi Dell and what Thompson-Hernández saw "behind his eyes" -- The 15-year friendship between J. Alphonse Nicholson and Thompson-Hernández, and how that trust shows up on screen --Why LAX flight paths, sound design, and white tees and denim are all doing quiet storytelling work -- The improvised courtyard scene between two real-life friends playing fathers, one of them holding his actual son -- Using Greek mythology to explain a father who can't yet be the hero his son needs -- What healing looks like on the other side of a story this personal "If I Go Will They Miss Me" opens in limited release in Los Angeles on September 11, 2026, before expanding to 30+ markets on September 18, 2026. #IfIGoWillTheyMissMe #DanielleBrooks #WalterThompsonHernandez #JAlphonseNicholson #BLEXMedia #DotSaintFlair #BlackCinema #SundanceFilm #BlackFilmmakers #BlackFatherhood #IndieFilm #FilmInterview #CultureCon #BlackHollywood #Watts #LosAngelesFilmWEBSITE: www.blexmedia.com INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/blex_media/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/blex_media TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@blex_media FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/blexmedia MERCH: https://blex-media.myshopify.com/collections/shirts --------------------- As a one-person team working hard to create quality content and celebrate the beauty and diversity of Black culture, I rely on the support of people like you. If you believe in what Blex Media stands for and enjoy the content I produce, please consider donating a cup of coffee. Your contribution helps me keep the site running will enable me to expand my team and improve Blex’s platform. Thank you for being a part of the Blex community! BUY ME COFFEE: https://ko-fi.com/blexmedia
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