Director Barry Jenkins On Unpacking Narratives For The Screen And Negotiating How To Tell Stories About Black Pain

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 10: Director Barry Jenkins after a screening of "If Beale Street Could Talk" with NAACP Legal Defense Fund on January 10, 2019 in Washington City. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Annapurna Pictures)

Barry Jenkins, who directed “Moonlight,” has a new project: The limited series “The Underground Railroad,” adapted from Colson Whitehead’s novel about two escaped slaves.

Barry Jenkins, who directed “Moonlight,” has a new project: The limited series “The Underground Railroad,” adapted from Colson Whitehead’s novel about two escaped slaves. It’s a story filled with magical realism: The Underground Railroad is an actual subterranean train network.

KPCC’s John Horn sat down with Jenkins outside at his house in Los Angeles to talk about negotiating stories of Black pain and the process of adapting novels for the screen. The new limited series is available on Amazon Prime Video.

With guest host John Horn

Guest:

Barry Jenkins, director of “Moonlight” and “If Beale Street Could Talk,” he directs the new limited series “The Underground Railroad”