“They were struggling but there was still beauty in everything around them”: Lawrence Lamont, Patrick Cage and Dewayne Perkins on One of Them Days

Baldwin Village crackles with tension, colour and heat in One of Them Days, Lawrence Lamont’s frenetic feature debut, penned by Insecure writer Syreeta Singleton and produced by Issa Rae. Following best friends Dreux (Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) as they scramble to save their home after their rent money disappears, the film is both a riotous, high-stakes comedy and a tribute to a disappearing but tightly knit community. As the duo barrels through a neighbourhood on the brink of gentrification, the movie blends social commentary with chaotic energy, capturing the defiance, absurdity and tenderness of life lived on the edge.

Ahead of its home release, Lamont spoke with The Upcoming about how he knew this was the right story for his feature debut. He discussed his collaboration with cinematographer Ava Berkofsky in capturing the beauty of Baldwin Village, even as the girls were struggling, and shared how the on-screen chemistry between Keke Palmer and SZA confirmed they were perfect for the roles. He also revealed how Friday (1995) served as a key inspiration for the film.

Perkins and Cage, who play Dreux’s mysterious love interest, Maniac, and the neighbourhood hair stylist, Jameel, reflected on their initial impressions of their characters, the film’s treatment of gentrification, and the ways in which the geography of certain neighbourhoods has changed over the years, drawing from their perspectives as a native and a long-time resident of Los Angeles.

Christina Yang

One of Them Days is available to buy and rent on digital on 6^th May 2025. Read our review here.

Watch the trailer for One of Them Days here: