Colman Domingo on the Bay, Boseman and Edith Productions
Colman Domingo returned to the Bay Area for Frameline Film Festival closing night, where Variety honored him with its Creative Conscience Award during the festival's 50th anniversary. In a wide-ranging conversation, the actor-producer reflected on his San Francisco years, Chadwick Boseman, and Edith Productions. He described the multi-hyphenate career he always wanted as a writer, actor, director and producer.
Key Takeaways
- Domingo lived in San Francisco from 1991-2001 and called Frameline "embedded in my heart."
- He received Variety's Creative Conscience Award at the Castro Theatre as Frameline marked 50 years.
- Domingo called Ma Rainey's Black Bottom a career turning point and Boseman's final film.
- He co-founded Edith Productions in March 2020 with his husband, Raul Domingo.
- Domingo urged artists not to wait to tell their stories and to take chances on themselves.
Why does Colman Domingo call the Bay Area home?
San Francisco's Frameline Film Festival has always held a special place in Colman Domingo's life. "It's embedded in my heart," he told Variety. Having lived in San Francisco from 1991-2001, he spent many summers at the festival, especially its short-film programming.
As Pride Month came to a close, Domingo returned to the Bay Area and the Castro Theatre for Frameline's closing night. He received Variety's Creative Conscience Award as the festival celebrated its 50th anniversary. Outside the theater, familiar faces from his regional-theater days gathered to greet him.
The Bay Area was also where Domingo met his husband, Raul Domingo, after spotting each other outside a Walgreens in Berkeley. Domingo later revealed they had briefly crossed paths in an elevator at his agent's office years earlier without realizing it.
What did Domingo share about Chadwick Boseman?
During the Frameline conversation with Variety senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay, Domingo reflected on Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, George C. Wolfe's adaptation of August Wilson's play. Domingo plays Cutler, a band member alongside Viola Davis's Ma Rainey and Chadwick Boseman.
Domingo called the film a turning point and said he was grateful it became Boseman's final project. He recalled a scene where Boseman's character questions God, describing how they filmed a fight sequence, then held each other in tears after George Wolfe called cut — not yet knowing Boseman was ill.
Domingo and Wolfe later reunited on Rustin, Domingo's first time as number one on the call sheet. He described playing civil rights activist Bayard Rustin as an extraordinary responsibility.
How is Edith Productions shaping his career?
Domingo said Hollywood now sees him as the multi-hyphenate he always wanted to be. "I've never wanted to just be an actor," he said. "I've always wanted to act, write, direct and produce." He co-founded Edith Productions in March 2020 with Raul Domingo.
Edith titles include Sing Sing, Dead Man's Wire, North Star and It's What's Inside. Domingo pointed to the animated short New Moon, adapted from his play A Boy and His Soul, as a window into the company's heart.
This year alone, his credits include Michael, Disclosure Day and Euphoria. Sam Levinson created Domingo's Euphoria character Ali with him in mind after they became friends while Domingo kept hustling during Fear of the Walking Dead hiatuses.
What advice did Domingo give aspiring artists?
Addressing the Frameline crowd, Domingo urged storytellers not to wait. "If there's somewhere else you want to go — don't wait. Just go," he said. He encouraged taking chances on yourself, trusting that audiences are waiting.
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