Danielle Deadwyler, Malcolm Washington, John David Washington, Erykah Badu and Tyler the Creator attended “The Piano Lesson” premiere in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington, parents of John David Washington, Katia Washington, and the film’s director Malcolm, were also in attendance. The film, based on the play of the same name by August Wilson, premieres on Netflix on Friday, November 22.
Malcolm Washington makes his directorial debut and his father, Denzel, co-produced the film.
Malcolm said his late grandfather inspired his decision to direct the project.
“A big part of [The Piano Lesson] was based on my grandfather,” he told Deadline, referring to Pauletta’s father, who “passed away when I was 8 years old. But as you can imagine, he was a big influence on my mom.”
Pauletta “always talked to me about [her father] and how I reminded her of him and that his qualities live in me. When I think of what I want to be as a man, I think of him even though we only shared my first eight years of life together,” Malcolm told Deadline.
“In this way, he is guiding me,” Malcolm said of his grandfather.
See more photos from the premiere below.
Tyler the Creator
Pauletta Washington and Danielle Deadwyler
Kolleen Gipson Wright and Erykah Badu
Nika King
Gail Bean
Erykah-Badu
Dacia James Lewis
Cookie Johnson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson
Erykah-Badu
