Tanya Mosley

That's a scene from Nickel Boys adapted by my guest today, Rommel Ross. And Rommel, this film and this scene in particular, it captures your attention and it demands your attention in the same way that you and I are sitting across from each other right now and you're staring in my eyes and I'm staring in your eyes.

That's a scene from Nickel Boys adapted by my guest today, Rommel Ross. And Rommel, this film and this scene in particular, it captures your attention and it demands your attention in the same way that you and I are sitting across from each other right now and you're staring in my eyes and I'm staring in your eyes.

These characters are staring into the camera, which means they're looking at us, which means we are them. How did you pull that off?

These characters are staring into the camera, which means they're looking at us, which means we are them. How did you pull that off?

These characters are staring into the camera, which means they're looking at us, which means we are them. How did you pull that off?

I think your collaborator, Joe Mofray, the cinematographer, called this process sentient perspective. How did you all come up with this technique?

I think your collaborator, Joe Mofray, the cinematographer, called this process sentient perspective. How did you all come up with this technique?

I think your collaborator, Joe Mofray, the cinematographer, called this process sentient perspective. How did you all come up with this technique?

Several years before this film. And that was your first documentary, which you were nominated for an Oscar.

Several years before this film. And that was your first documentary, which you were nominated for an Oscar.

Several years before this film. And that was your first documentary, which you were nominated for an Oscar.

And when you say make the camera an organ, like literally, what do you mean by that?

And when you say make the camera an organ, like literally, what do you mean by that?

And when you say make the camera an organ, like literally, what do you mean by that?

It's observational. It's anthropological.

It's observational. It's anthropological.

It's observational. It's anthropological.

Nickel Boys is an astounding story. And what makes it especially heartbreaking is that it is based on the truth. Take me to when you first read the book. What were the things that you saw on the page as you were reading it that you felt compelled, that you wanted to adapt this story?

Nickel Boys is an astounding story. And what makes it especially heartbreaking is that it is based on the truth. Take me to when you first read the book. What were the things that you saw on the page as you were reading it that you felt compelled, that you wanted to adapt this story?

Nickel Boys is an astounding story. And what makes it especially heartbreaking is that it is based on the truth. Take me to when you first read the book. What were the things that you saw on the page as you were reading it that you felt compelled, that you wanted to adapt this story?