Chris Rock’s fourth film as a director, Misty Green, is a character study set in Hollywood, following an actress who has achieved some success but struggles to make progress. Rosalind Eleazar plays the title character, while Anna Kendrick appears as her friend. Rock says he sees parts of himself in every character in the film.
The movie presents the entertainment industry through the difficulties Misty faces, including the consequences of her own decisions. Rock describes it as a smaller, more personal project, in keeping with his interest in stories about people trying to understand themselves and their struggles. His previous directing feature, Top Five, also explored the highs and lows of show business.
Rock connected the film’s themes to his own experiences, including his divorce and the time he spent trying to put his life back together. He said the period involved extensive stand-up work and therapy. He also discussed receiving a diagnosis of nonverbal learning disorder and working with both a specialist and a therapist.
The comedian said that being famous can make it harder to change public perceptions of what he is capable of. He believes reinvention is particularly difficult when audiences already think they know an artist, and noted that he receives more directing offers than acting roles. With Misty Green, he is continuing to build a body of work focused on characters and the complications of their lives.
Sources: GQ.