Cherish The Day: Oasis 2020
Cherish the Day
Season 1 - Episode 3
”Oasis”
Synopsis
It's three months into Gently and Evan's relationship, and Evan invites Gently to his parents' anniversary party. Just as Gently reluctantly agrees, she receives a concerning text about her mother. Later, at the anniversary party, Evan and his mother have a heated exchange about Gently. Gently is thrilled that Evan stands up for her, and they express their love for one another.
More Ava
The chance to work with Ava DuVernay was a dream the first time, and getting a second and third chance to direct a show of hers really put me on the path of creating a career in television that I am deeply proud of. In 2019, immediately after finishing my edit for “Queen Sugar,” Ava offered me two episodes of her brand new show, “Cherish the Day.” I loved the premise of the show, that each episode was a day in the life of a couple at pivotal moments in their love story, and their life together.
A Brand New Show
I felt so alive with momentum from directing “Queen Sugar,” and was thrilled to have more work to sharpen my experience and skills. Everyday on the way to set I was brimming with gratitude and enthusiasm, which carried me and the crew through all of the obstacles and rewards of building a new show from the ground up. I relished being a part of establishing “Cherish The Day,” and working intimately with Ava, seeing how she continues to create meaningful stories for Black audiences.
A Legend
It was an honor and a joy to work with the beautiful cast of “Cherish The Day.” And some of the most meaningful moments of my life were directing and simply watching the late great Cicely Tyson. This show was the last work she did before she passed away, and I count myself so unbelievably fortunate to have experienced her magic. Because that is what she was. Not only was she a legend, but she touched my spirit with her vitality, in a way that I felt was a profound life lesson for me as a woman. There was a scene in this episode where our wonderful lead played by Alano Miller dances with Cicely to Strawberry Letter 23 by The Brothers Johnson, playing on a record player. We were able to capture Cicely through these gorgeous prisms of light, as we moved the camera around her and Alano. It was movie magic, the images onscreen so beautifully reflecting Cicely and her magnetic presence. I will never forget it.
Painterly, Impressionistic Images
I loved getting to incorporate some of my signature stylistic choices to the show, like using long lenses and shallow depth of field that created painterly, impressionistic worlds, and intimate closeups that articulated an immediate and intense relationship for the audience with the characters. “Cherish The Day” is all about the relationships, and interconnectedness of the characters, and it was invigorating to work with DP Eduardo Mayén, on finding ways to shoot and elevate this dynamic.
