Danielle Moné Truitt – Junebug

By: Dana Jacoviello

Q) First, was there anything specific that drew you to this role?

A) The overall story of a daughter and her love for her toxic Father and his for her drew me in. I could relate to that dynamic in many ways. I loved that Junie didn’t judge her Father, but wanted to portray him based on the love that she felt for him in her heart.

Q) Did you find any part of it difficult to play?

A) No, I very much connected with Junie from the beginning. I think a technical aspect of having to dance to music that wasn’t playing was probably the most difficult part. [laughs]

Q) Junebug seemed to adore her father, even through his alcoholism. Why was her adult relationship with him nonexistent?

A) As Junie became an adult, she realized that the relationship was toxic and she had to make the best decisions for herself emotionally. The love never died; she just couldn’t be in relationship with him in the same way.

Q) In your own thoughts, why was Junie having so much trouble putting her thoughts to a page?

A) I believe that when people mean a lot to you, you are able to see them with compassion and empathy. But people outside of your relationship are rarely able to do the same. I think she wanted to make sure whatever she wrote was truthful and didn’t depict him in a way that wasn’t truly authentic to who he really was to her. Also, I believe the child in us is still very much alive. So, there were tons of mixed emotions present inside of her. She wanted to relive those moments as a child, but she also knows the reality of their present relationship.

Q) Do you believe as an adult she still had a deep love for her father?

A) The music she would listen to and remember playing with her father seemed to help her but also cause her conflict. Yes, I believe she loved him very much. Human emotion is so nuanced that we can feel many things for a person and feel them deeply.

Q) As a little girl when her father left and there was nobody else around. What exactly did Junebug do when her father disappeared?

A) Well, I imagined that in those moments Junebug developed a love for music and writing. When I experienced trauma as a child I turned to creativity as a way to escape my day to day experience. When I was singing or dancing I didn’t have to think about my home life. I can imagine Junie writing elaborate short stories that paint the world she wanted and not the one she was living in.

Q) What was your favorite part in doing the film?

A) The cast and crew were amazing. Everyone was so talented and so committed to bringing this story to life. It was truly an inspiring experience. After I did my day of shooting, I went to set and supported Calah Lane (Young Junie) and Terrence Terrell (Davis). I didn’t know them beforehand, but I wanted them to know that I respected them as my fellow castmates.

Q) This movie touched on addiction in a very subtle way. He seemed more unhappy and broken than he did drunk most of the time. What is the main focal point you want viewers to get from this film?

A) Life is hard. Everyone is struggling with something and we are all doing the best we can in any given season we may be going through. Love as much as you can. Forgive. And release yourself and people from your expectations of what should have or could have been.

Q) At the end Junie seemed to have found peace. What do you think ultimately was her way of breaking through her blockage and sadness of writing her book?

A) Just accepting him as he was – the good, the bad, the ugly. I think she also had a breakthrough when she realized that she was a lot like him. He gave her the best parts of himself.

Q) Do you believe Junie was going to try to contact her father as the boyfriend suggested, or that she did in fact want a relationship with him as an adult even though we didn’t see it?

A) I think her journey with writing the book has the potential to lead her to seeking a relationship with him again. Creating art makes you face yourself in many ways so I think she will seek him out.

Q) What do you hope viewers take away from watching Junebug?

A) I hope that they are able to see it and then confront or worth their unique experiences with their parents. I hope it inspires forgiveness and acceptance. I hope that it affirms the fact that black fathers love and care for their children.

“Junebug is currently screening in the Milwaukee Film Festival through October 29th and will also screen in the HollyShorts Film Festival November 9th-15th. To keep up with the latest on Junebug, follow @Junebugfilm on Instagram and visit winterdunn.com/film for updates. WATCH the Junebug trailer here.”