SZA says she wants to continue acting after “One of Them Days —” under this one condition

SZA is ready to make her mark in Hollywood — if only she could send an S.O.S. to pal and costar Keke Palmer.

The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter makes her movie debut in One of Them Days, having previously appeared on the small screen in a 2020 episode of Insecure. "It was wild, but I learned so much," the artist, real name Solána Rowe, tells Entertainment Weekly of the experience in a joint interview alongside costar Palmer and producer Issa Rae. "I definitely need to build my confidence as an actor. But the way that I got to look at myself from another lens that had nothing really to do with my personal expression — but still had everything to do with my personal expression — that was cool."

She's now open to more movie roles, but under one condition: "As long as Keke can coach me, then I'll consider it," says SZA of her costar, an industry vet who began her career as a child actor.

Related: The 15 best Keke Palmer movies and TV shows, ranked

But, according to Palmer, her costar needs no coaching. At their chemistry read, she was blown away by what the artist brought to the table. "It was shocking, actually," says Palmer, also an executive producer on the project. "She's so naturally talented. I was like, 'Are you in drama school?' Because she could naturally get into it. She's a free person. That freeness that she brings to her music was also what she brought creatively to this, and I think that's why it turned out so good."

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Directed by Lawrence Lamont in his feature film debut, the buddy comedy centers on best friends and roommates Dreux (Palmer), a Type A waitress with bigger ambitions, and Alyssa (SZA), a free-spirited aspiring painter and artist. When Alyssa's slacker boyfriend steals their rent money, the girls race against the clock to get the funds back to avoid eviction from their dubious landlord, embarking on a series of chaotic escapades across Los Angeles.

The dynamic casting was announced after Palmer and SZA's memorable 2022 Saturday Night Live linkup as host and musical guest. "I feel like you didn't even see that," Palmer quips to Rae of the episode, to which she responds, "I did! I saw it later." Adds the producer, "The SNL pairing was just icing on the cake. I've always been a fan of Keke, and SZA was my muse for Insecure, especially the second season. So to have this all come full circle [was] a blessing."

Katt Williams, Janelle James, and Maude Apatow round out the cast, with the latter playing one of the first white residents at Dreux and Alyssa's apartment complex. The comedy is very much a love letter to South L.A., offering pointed and amusing commentary on gentrification. "It was definitely a conscious decision, 100 percent," Lamont tells EW of highlighting those changes in the city. (Note: these interviews were conducted before the devastating L.A. wildfires.) 

Related: SZA on SOS, the story behind her SNL bop 'Big Boys,' and her favorite Kill Bill character

"Mainly because of this housing crisis and what's happening; inflation is through the roof, but wages are not increasing," the director adds. "So it was very much in the forefront and very intentional." Infusing humor into the struggles faced by many Angelenos was paramount. "I'm from Detroit, [but] I grew up in the Detroit version of this area," Lamont continues. "I felt like I knew these characters. These are my cousins, my aunties, my mom. And a lot of times, we would use laughter to ease the pain. Humor is so healing."

The crew ultimately wanted to create a movie that "L.A. could be proud of," says Rae. They filmed across the bustling city to capture that authenticity, including on Crenshaw Boulevard, which resulted in occasional disruptions from thrilled locals. "When you have two superstars, people get excited," Rae notes. "There was honking, there was excitement. It was just love." One such filming day occurred after Palmer performed at the 2024 BET Awards as part of its tribute to Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Usher. "Somebody stopped in the street in the middle of a take [and said to Palmer], 'I loved you on the BET Awards! Girl, keep going!'" recalls Lamont.

Above all else, it was important to make something fun and joyous — "something we haven't seen at this scale, with two Black female leads," says Palmer. "When we got that final draft, we knew this was perfect."

One of Them Days is in theaters Jan. 17.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly