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Its been quite a summer for Naomi Osaka.
So much of my work has come to fruition from having preexisting relationships with my community and with people.
I was very much out of my comfort zone working with somebody Id never met before.
Its not just physical.
Tennis is so much of a mental sport, as she says herself.
It was actually really exciting.
Thats sort of your sensibility.I guess it is, yeah.
That allows us to feel like were really with a person as opposed to me chasing after them.
But then how Im moving through those spaces changes from one project to the next.
Did you have to establish any ground rules with Naomi?
I dont believe, as a filmmaker, that the film comes first.
I think the person always comes first.
Not everyone feels that way.
Anyone can watch the match and see what happened.
Anyone can read the drama that ensued afterwards in the press and go on Wikipedia.
What is it that they cant look up, right?
What is it that wont necessarily be there in preexisting material?
So it wasnt to dismiss the reality of that match.
It was to offer something that we hadnt seen yet.
Obviously, theres been a lot of dialogue around Naomis approach to the media since then.
What has impressed me about her is that its not that she doesnt want to give answers.
I think her answers are actually very thoughtful and that shes really absorbing whats being asked of her.
Im wondering what your impression is of her in those situations.Yeah, I think thats exactly right.
I think that Naomi is certainly bringing that to her own sphere.
I think that all we have in life is our voice.
When we want to use it is so crucial to the core of who we are.
Thats what I figured.
She says herself, there are some things that nobody can prepare you for.
Her environment was so crucial to understanding what was prompting her own inquiry about life.
Maybe theres a better way of doing this.Thats exactly right.
Its about imagination, which is what creates change.
Did Naomi sit down and watch the whole, completed series?Yeah.
It was actually really difficult.
Im really grateful for her trust and being able to get us there.
What did she say after she watched it?She said, It was intense to see myself on-camera.
[Laughs]Youll have to ask Netflix about that.
Ive just been so honored to be able to spend time with her at this moment.
