Dreaming in Color: Elevating Untold Narratives to the Silver Screen

Summary

Dreaming Whilst Black is a witty and surreal show that tackles the struggles of life in the arts and the Black experience in the UK.

Adjani Salmon, the creator and co-writer of the series, also shines as the ambitious director Kwabena, while guest stars deliver exceptional performances.

With the goal of appealing to a worldwide streaming audience, the show was adapted from an acclaimed web series and co-produced by A24 and Big Deal Films.

Dreaming Whilst Black, a critically acclaimed web series originally from the UK, is set to air on Showtime. The show explores the challenges faced by artists and the Black community in the UK through a clever and delightfully surreal lens that captivates viewers. Created and co-written by Adjani Salmon, who also portrays the aspiring director Kwabena, Dreaming Whilst Black boasts an impressive cast including Rachel Adedeji, Dani Moseley, and Demmy Ladipo, as well as captivating performances by guest stars like Peter Serafinowicz.

Co-produced by A24 and Big Deal Films, Dreaming Whilst Black maintains the essence of its award-winning web series while adapting it for a wider streaming audience. Leading this endeavor is Executive Producer Dhanny Joshi from Big Deal Films, whose own journey mirrors that of the show's main character, Kwabena. Joshi played an instrumental role in shaping the tone and ensuring the realization of Dreaming Whilst Black's television adaptation.

Dhanny Joshi On Dreaming Whilst Black

Screen Rant: My first question for you is just how you found your way here. Did you kind of stumble across the web series?

Dhanny Joshi: Big Deal Films, our production company, was founded approximately 10 years ago. Prior to that, I worked as a talent manager and spent a significant amount of time in a call center. In essence, I had experiences similar to Kwabs in real life. The main purpose behind starting the production company was to provide a platform for talented writers and on-screen individuals who had compelling stories that were yet to be depicted on the screen. That's why, when we came across Dreaming Whilst Black almost five years ago... actually, it was around the time when Trump was in power, society was highly polarized, and naturally, we wanted to delve into these polarizing conversations.

Our intention was to contribute to conversations that were already taking place, and Dreaming Whilst Black was a show that desperately needed to be on the screen. Adjani, the talented individual behind it, was also someone who deserved recognition on screen but hadn't received it yet. We asked ourselves, "How can we assist you? What platform can we provide? What resources do you require?" We fought alongside him, relentlessly pitching the show to networks and streaming platforms. Initially, every opportunity was turned down. We persistently knocked on doors, spoke to people, and desperately tried to gain a foothold. It was a constant struggle. However, eventually, we managed to reach where we are today, even though the beginning was far from easy.

Dhanny Joshi explained that instead of overtly pointing fingers or portraying blatant racism and corporate wrongdoing, the decision was made to depict the microaggressions and differences in a subtle manner. The aim was to show that many people experience racism in small, subtle ways that they may not even be aware of. The show intended to highlight the intelligence in the comedy and in portraying these microaggressions.

In the office scene, there is this moment where he is eating his stew peas, and she tells him that cooked food is not allowed in the office, even though everyone else is eating it. Later, he goes to the kitchen and sees a South Asian lady also enjoying her meal. These experiences have influenced us in how we wanted to deliver our message. We asked ourselves, how can we effectively convey our point without being forceful? How can we make the message feel like medicine, but taste like honey? Our goal was to present the lesson in a way that is easily understandable and enjoyable, where viewers don't even realize that they are absorbing something significant.

I was curious about the part in the series regarding political impartiality in schools. As someone from the US, I researched and discovered that it is indeed a real issue. How did you approach incorporating those moments into the series? I noticed there was even a presentation about it.

Dhanny Joshi: When that bill was passed around the same time we received the green light to produce the show, we felt the need to incorporate it. We wanted to highlight how absurd it truly is. In the UK, discussing our history is a significant challenge. Our country has a dark and troubled past, and we must acknowledge that we are not the benevolent beings we claim to be. It was crucial to portray this in the show, and we had to do it in an obvious way. The advertisement you see—without revealing anything—had to be exceptionally bold and ridiculously exaggerated. I believe that whether it is the UK or even the US, you will always encounter individuals who perceive themselves as true patriots trying to justify these atrocities and constantly seeking the positive aspects. Thus, we had to make it as overt as possible to highlight its senselessness.

Regarding the casting process, I understand that you have Adjani from the web series and Dani from the previous series. What excited you the most about bringing new actors and fresh faces into this television production?

Dhanny Joshi: Many talented individuals were eagerly awaiting the production of the show. They were yearning for a role that didn't rely on stereotypes and allowed them to portray ordinary humans. Dani, in particular, had been waiting for this opportunity. She had showcased her skills in various web series and now she deserved to shine in this one. And let's not forget Vanessa, she was absolutely outstanding, especially in that final scene of the pilot.

We deliberately aimed for a realistic approach with regular actors playing regular roles. We didn't want everything to be exaggerated and overly dramatic. The office staff, including the bosses, portrayed their roles exceptionally well. The feedback we received about the casting was overwhelmingly positive. The casting felt truly authentic and genuine. These were characters that people could relate to, characters that we encounter in our everyday lives, and they were portrayed flawlessly. There were no eccentric or peculiar characters; instead, we depicted a world filled with ordinary individuals, which was our intention.

About Dreaming Whilst Black

Don't miss our other interviews for Dreaming Whilst Black:

Director Koby Adom

Producer Nicola Gregory

Dreaming Whilst Black streams September 8th on Showtime, and airs on the same channel September 10th.