001 - Issa, I Love You But…
I guess we’re doing this?!
Hey! I not only want to welcome you to my first blog post but also thank you for checking it out. As a twenty-something navigating life, creativity, and career shifts, I often find myself with a lot to say. As a creative pushing myself to get out of my comfort zone, I wanted to dive into something different, hence the birth of "AusThoughts"
This blog has been something I’ve thought about for a while, but I truly didn’t know how to go about it. I’m a firm believer that there’s no better time to start than now, so I decided to stop making excuses and just dive in. You may be wondering, “Austun, why are you blogging? What makes you qualified?” Maybe I’m projecting because I’m currently asking myself the same question! But to put it simply, as a creative, I like to explore different creative mediums, and in 2025, I’m pushing myself to step outside of my comfort zone. Not only do I want to challenge myself creatively, but as someone building a career as a writer and producer, I want to keep sharpening my skills. So, duh—let’s write.
Before I get into today’s thought, I want to start by talking about the fires out in Los Angeles, which have been insane! My heart truly goes out to everyone affected by this tragedy—it’s been such a scary situation. I currently live in LA, but since I’m in the city rather than the hills, I was fortunate not to have to evacuate. Still, I was encouraged to stay inside due to the smoke and the air quality index being over 300.
As someone who grew up on the East Coast, I’ve never had to deal with fires, and I truly can’t imagine losing everything in a matter of seconds, like so many families have. Of course, things like shoes and clothes are replaceable, but I think about items that can’t be replaced—family pictures, original documents, collectibles, and so much more. It’s going to take years and billions of dollars to rebuild these communities. With the Olympics coming to Los Angeles in 2028, I can’t help but wonder how these fires and the city’s rebuilding efforts will affect everything.
The city of Los Angeles has really banded together, and there are so many resources available to help those impacted. Click here to see a resource list.
On a lighter note, I had the privilege of attending an early screening of Issa Rae’s new film, One of Them Days, starring Keke Palmer and SZA. Back in 2024, when I saw the Deadline announcement that Issa Rae was developing a new “buddy comedy” with Keke Palmer and SZA, I was so excited. At first, I thought it was going to be a series, but as news developed, it was announced as a film. I’ve been a huge fan of Issa, Keke, and SZA for years, so you already know I was going to support it!
When I got the invitation to attend the official LA premiere on January 13, 2025, I was thrilled—but unfortunately, it was canceled due to the fires. Luckily, a few select theaters in LA held early screenings, and I got to see it this past Saturday. MAN, it was such a great film! Issa Rae definitely delivered with this one. Between the storyline, cameos, and the chemistry between Keke and SZA, I was laughing the entire time in the theater.
Now, while this was a GREAT film, I do have some thoughts. Issa, I love you but I wish the marketing had been better, and the timing of the release felt a little off. This being Issa Rae’s first film, I expected the promo and marketing to be stronger. Honestly, the main reason I knew about the film was because I follow Issa on all platforms. I’ve been keeping tabs on the project since it was announced and saw trailers for it in theaters, but that’s about it. A few people I spoke to didn’t even know the film was coming out so soon.
I’m no expert in film marketing, but as someone with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and experience in the Film/TV industry, I feel like I know a little something. The marketing team could’ve used Keke’s podcast, Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, to promote the film—imagine her hosting SZA and Issa as guests to chat about it! Issa could’ve tied in her Prosecco line, Viarae, with some fun promotional events. And with SZA recently dropping the deluxe version of her Grammy-winning album SOS, she could’ve done interviews to talk about both her music and the film.
As for the timing, I think this would’ve been a better late-spring/early-summer release, which could’ve added to the promo. There’s so much more they could’ve done, but overall, those are just my thoughts on the marketing. Regardless, it was a fantastic film, and I encourage everyone to check it out in theaters on January 17, 2025!
I wanted to keep it light today, but be sure to tune in weekly for new posts. To keep up with all things Aus, follow me on all platforms @austunreid. Everyone stay safe, have a great week, and thanks for reading!
Until next time,
Austun
