The film “A Thousand And One” is set to hit theaters this Friday but has already got everyone talking. The new movie follows an unapologetic and fearless mother named Inez (played by the talented Teyana Taylor), who kidnaps her six-year-old son Terry from the foster care system. While trying to navigate through tough times in New York City with limited resources, Inez tries her hardest to raise her son to be the best man that he could be while keeping their big secret to themselves to avoid being separated again and sent to jail.
The trailer which dropped last month has still been making its rounds on social media with many already claiming it to be Oscar-worthy. One person tweeted, “Alright, time to start the 2024 Oscar campaign for Teyana Taylor! Wake it up!” Another said, “Way too early to be thinking or talking about next year’s Oscars but Teyana Taylor and Josiah Cross better stay firmly in the conversation in the coming months for A Thousand and One that’s all I’m going to say.” A third added, “If Teyana Taylor doesn’t receive her Oscar nomination, I hope all h*ll breaks loose.”
Now, Hollywood Unlocked attended the special screening of the new film this week with Taylor, incredible filmmaker A.V. Rockwell, producer Lena Waithe, well-respected actor William Catlett and the rest of the amazing cast and even caught up with them on the black carpet. Speaking with Taylor about the positive feedback it has already been receiving, she shared that it meant a lot to her especially after feeling underappreciated for a while and although an Oscar award does not define one’s success or true talent, she’s ultimately happy to be a part of those positive conversations:
“I honestly get so shy when people say that. But I love the manifestation, I love that we’re claiming it.” She continued, “honestly it feels really good because you guys are like my family, y’all been following my career for a long time and know that I’ve had a lot of highs and lows and known that I’ve been through a lot. So to once, at one point to feel unheard, unseen, and almost invisible, and unappreciated; you know getting so much love and support it feels good.”
Taylor went on to say, “I just stop at these random times of the day to just give thanks to God because it’s everything that I prayed for. That whole weight that I thought was punishment was really preparation for what was already written for me in God’s hands. So I’m just really, really excited about what’s to come next; even just being in Oscar talk it’s amazing and a blessing even if I don’t win.
“I’m a firm believer that we’re all winners.”
A Thousand And One hits US theaters on March 31!
Press Play Below To Watch The Trailer: