Top 10 Behind the Scenes Facts About Malcolm & Marie
#10: Filming Took Around Two Weeks
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To say that it was difficult to shoot a movie in 2020 would be an understatement. Delays were practically inevitable for any production that attempted to move forward safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why it’s so remarkable that “Malcolm & Marie” was filmed in such a short time period. The entirety of the movie was shot between June 17th and July 2nd. What makes this speedy production more impressive is that the movie has a runtime of 106 minutes. Knowing a nearly two-hour film was shot in just over two weeks during a pandemic is an incredibly incredible and inspiring feat. The creative team’s quick work on “Malcolm & Marie” showed everyone that you can still make films in the most difficult of circumstances.
#9: It Had a Small Cast & Crew
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It can take a small army just to shoot a short film. Yet “Malcolm & Marie” managed to get all the shooting done with a limited crew. The production was only allowed to have 12 people on set at any given time. Although the creative team did plenty of planning and meetings in advance, everything had to be handled by a dozen people while they were on location. Going into the project, most of the crew and the two lead actors knew they might have to take on more on-set responsibilities than usual. But despite having fewer people around than normal, the production crew managed to get through the daunting challenges and make a buzz-worthy film.
#8: There Was a Two Week Quarantine
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Before the cameras started rolling, the cast and crew had to spend a lot of time together. The team who worked on the project in person had to quarantine together in Monterey, California for two weeks. During this period, the crew made all their preparations, while Zendaya and John David Washington reportedly rehearsed their scenes in a parking lot. Based on the impressive trailer alone, their quarantine was very productive. It was also hugely instrumental in ensuring that everyone working on the project stayed safe and healthy.
#7: Director Sam Levinson Worked with Zendaya on “Euphoria”
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Although Zendaya has been praised for several of her film and TV roles, she’s gotten the most acclaim for playing Rue on HBO’s “Euphoria”. The popular show was developed by Sam Levinson. In addition to getting “Euphoria” off the ground, he's also written and directed several episodes. As he worked behind the scenes, Zendaya dominated the screen with a captivating and layered performance. She even became the youngest person to take home the Emmy Award for best actress in a drama. Seeing the talented performer team up with Levinson again is a good sign. If the film has “Euphoria’s” level of quality, Zendaya might be adding an Oscar to her shelf soon.
#6: The Film Was Set in a Unique House
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The raw drama of the film takes place in an absurdly gorgeous house. Officially known as the Caterpillar House and located in Carmel, California, this award-winning home was built to look luxurious while being environmentally friendly. Every design element, from its huge glass windows to big open spaces helps regulate things like temperature and airflow. As a bonus, the sheer square footage likely made it easier for the crew to socially distance during shooting. As excited as we are to see two incredible actors clashing against each other, we’re also hyped to see more of this spectacular house.
#5: Labrinth Composed the Music
Labrinth is a versatile musician with a tremendous list of accomplishments. His debut album reached number two on the UK albums chart, he co-wrote Beyonce’s “Spirit” for “Lion King” and has been nominated at the Grammys. One of Labrinth’s biggest achievements to date was his Emmy win for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for “Euphoria”. Shortly after that huge career win, it was announced that he’d compose music for “Malcolm & Marie.” Labrinth’s work on “Euphoria”, especially in the awe-inspiring season 1 finale, showed how perfectly his music can be weaved into a layered story. His incredible resume has us confident the movie’s score was in good hands.
#4: Cinematographer Marcell Rév Worked with Sam Levinson Before
One of the most striking things about the “Malcolm & Marie” trailer is its reliance on stunning black-and-white visuals. The cinematographer that helped bring this look to life is Marcell Rév. Before filming began on this project, he worked on two projects that Sam Levinson directed. Rév was the cinematographer for “Assassination Nation” and several episodes of “Euphoria”. Both projects feature breathtaking and unique shots. He can make a simple conversation feel as dynamic as a big-budget action scene. His visuals are typically composed so well that you can often pause the video, take a screenshot, and frame that picture on your wall. We’re always excited when Rév takes us on a beautiful visual journey.
#3: Netflix Bought the Rights For $30 Million
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“Malcolm & Marie” wasn't always going to be on Netflix. In 2020, the creative team showed off a portion of the film to different studios to see who was interested in purchasing the rights. Netflix beat out other streaming services like Amazon and HBO by paying a whopping 30 million dollars to acquire it. To put that in perspective, that's about twice the reported budget it took to make John David Washington’s “BlacKkKlansman”. Netflix clearly saw “Malcolm & Marie” as a project worth investing time and a lot of money in. Hopefully, their big gamble will pay off after the movie debuts.
#2: Kid Cudi Is a Producer
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Most moviegoers probably can't name the producers of their favorite films off the top of their heads. But the list of people funding this film is hard to forget. Director Sam Levinson as well as co-stars Zendaya and John David Washington also share producing credits. But the most surprising name on the producer list is Grammy-award winning rapper Kid Cudi. After mainly backing his own music videos, he’s stepping into the movie producing realm for the first time with his credit on “Malcolm & Marie.” He’s already shown a lot of enthusiasm for the movie on social media. If this project goes well, Kid Cudi may be producing a lot more films in the future.
#1: The Twisted K.C. Undercover Script Pitch
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While Levinson and Zendaya were talking about the script that would eventually become “Malcolm & Marie”, Levinson pitched a very...unique idea. From 2015 to 2018, the actress played a teenage spy on Disney’s “K.C. Undercover”. Levinson thought it would be interesting to write a script where Zendaya played a version of herself that still thought she was starring on the kid’s show. Her mindset would take a toll on her personal life while also being a horror/thriller. A movie where a performer becomes obsessed with a role sounds an awful lot like “Black Swan”. Although Zendaya probably could’ve crushed a role like this, we're glad Levinson stepped away from the Disney Channel concept before he wrote this film.
