New Featurette on the Ensemble of Malcolm Washington’s ‘The Piano Lesson’ (Exclusive)

In The Piano Lesson, the cinematic adaptation of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony Award-nominated play, history, emotion, and artistry converge to create a film that has resonated deeply with audiences worldwide. At the heart of this unforgettable experience is an ensemble cast whose performances are as profound and moving as the story itself. 

This widely-celebrated cast, who recently received the Gotham Tribute for Ensemble Performance, brings together a constellation of talented, award-winning actors whose seamless interactions and shared energy drive the film’s narrative forward, captivating viewers with every scene. In his review for AwardsWatch, Ryan McQuade said “Each member of this team helped [Malcolm] Washington build an inviting, exciting, haunting experience that features standout moments lifted by an all-star cast.”

Enjoy this exclusive behind the scenes look as the ensemble cast that includes Academy Award nominee Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Danielle Deadwyler, Ray Fisher, Corey Hawkins, and Michael Potts along with director/co-writer Malcolm Washington and producer Denzel Washington as they discuss making the film and their performances.

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Erik Anderson

Erik Anderson is the founder/owner and Editor-in-Chief of AwardsWatch and has always loved all things Oscar, having watched the Academy Awards since he was in single digits; making lists, rankings and predictions throughout the show. This led him down the path to obsessing about awards. Much later, he found himself in film school and the film forums of GoldDerby, and then migrated over to the former Oscarwatch (now AwardsDaily), before breaking off to create AwardsWatch in 2013.

He is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, accredited by the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and more, is a member of the International Cinephile Society (ICS), The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA), Critics Choice Association (CCA), San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) and the International Press Academy. Among his many achieved goals with AwardsWatch, he has given a platform to underrepresented writers and critics and supplied them with access to film festivals and the industry and calls the Bay Area his home where he lives with his husband and son.

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