It’s funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real
when you watch them on a screen. – Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange
#AllAboutFilm
In 2020, as lockdowns and social distancing became a global phenomenon, we learnt how limited our lives could become — how drab a life without friends, travel, events, and exploration could really be. But as time passed, a suspicion grew within us that these dark days could spark unprecedented creativity — that all these new limitations could inspire genuinely great and innovative works.
As you’ll see from the talented teams we’ve assembled for this issue of Schön!, we’re happy to humbly say that we were right! Taking cues from the movies and television shows we’ve endlessly binged over the past months, this issue brings together stars from all around the world in celebration of the stories and performers that have kept us laughing, crying, thinking and smiling, both in the present crisis and over the course of our lives.
Spotlighted on our cover is the fabulously talented Letitia Wright. Not only is Wright a rising star with growing success ahead of her but, in our interview, she expresses the exact idea that motivated this issue: the captivating magic of cinema.
We also speak to Gigi Goode about breaking down stereotypes as she razzle-dazzles us through an unforgettable Los Angeles excursion.We then cut to Erin Moriarty, one of the leads from Amazon’s superhero drama The Boys, who let us in on her isolation thoughts while giving us some intriguing insight into Season Two.
Also gearing up for a second series is Darren Barnet, who discusses being catapulted to fame following the release of Netflix’s Never Have I Ever. Rupert Friend is another star of the small screen — albeit a reluctant one, as we discover in our interview — who hops on a phone call to regale us with stories about smuggling cigarettes and failing career placement tests.
Shifting to the world of music, neo-Grunge sensation Beabadoobee talks YouTube tutorials and her DIY aesthetic while teasing her new album. UK rapper Octavian opens up about his journey from sofa surfing to stardom while sitting beside a Virgil Abloh-designed statue of himself.
Finally, Ivor Novello Rising Star Award winner Griff discusses Pop music reinvention and a love of Taylor Swift as she trades a non-stop schedule for some introspection.
Returning to film, Kelvin Harrison, Jr. reminds us of the importance of self-care as he talks about The Trial of the Chicago 7and his range of controversial characters. Actress Fan Bingbing details how she found mainstream Hollywood success with films like the upcoming 355 while continuing a career in Chinese art house cinema. For our final act, Victoria Pedretti prepares us for the scares of The Haunting of Bly Manor as she explains her unique approach to on-screen acting.
We’re not ashamed to say we hit some stumbling blocks in the process of compiling this issue — anyone who has tried to manage a calendar in recent months understands what we mean. But overcoming these challenges has only made us stronger, and today, we’re immensely proud of this film-inspired issue of Schön!.
The best films are the ones that remind us of the diverse beauty of our world. With this issue, we hope to inspire you to rediscover that beauty — and if you can’t find it, make some beauty of your own.
Behind every great film is a story. It’s time to tell yours.
After switching distribution exclusively to Amazon in an effort to be more sustainable, Schön! 39 reaffirms our commitment to going green; with all issues being printed on FSC certified paper from responsible resources.
