Director Yann Demange discusses White Boy Rick

September 27, 2018

DGA Q&As in Los Angeles and New York

A young police informant crosses the line into the lucrative world of drug dealing in Director Yann Demange’s new crime drama, White Boy Rick.

Set during the height of the crack epidemic and the War on Drugs in 1980s Detroit, Demange’s film tells the true story of Rick Wershe, Jr., a teenager who was convinced by Federal agents to become an undercover drug informant in exchange for keeping his gun dealing father out of prison. But he gets in too deep and seduced by the lure of easy money, he ultimately becomes a notorious drug dealer himself.

Following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles on September 15, Demange sat down with Director John Singleton (Snowfall) to discuss the making of White Boy Rick. Demange also spoke about the film in a conversation moderated by Director Mary Harron (Charlie Says) following the DGA membership screening in New York on September 26.

In addition to White Boy Rick, Demange’s credits include the feature film '71; episodes of the series Top Boy, Criminal Justice and Secret Diary of a Call Girl; and episodes of the mini-series Dead Set. Demange has been a DGA member since 2016.

You can listen to Demange's Q&A by clicking the podcast episode embedded below. You can find more DGA podcast episodes here.

Pictures

Event photos by Byron Gamarro (Los Angeles) and Marcie Revens (New York) - Print courtesy of Columbia Pictures.

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Director Yann Demange speaks about the making of his new crime drama, White Boy Rick, following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles.

Richie Merritt as Rick Wershe, Jr. and Matthew McConaughey as Rick Wershe, Sr. in Director Yann Demange’s White Boy Rick.

Director Yann Demange speaks about the making of his new crime drama, White Boy Rick, following the DGA membership screening in New York.

Director Yann Demange speaks about the making of White Boy Rick with Director Mary Harron (moderator) following the DGA membership screening in New York.

Rory Cochrane as FBI Agent Byrd, Jennifer Jason Leigh as FBI Agent Snyder, Richie Merritt as Rick Wershe, Jr. and Matthew McConaughey as Rick Wershe, Sr. in Director Yann Demange’s White Boy Rick.

Director Yann Demange (right) speaks about the making of White Boy Rick with Director John Singleton (moderator) following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles.

Director John Singleton (moderator) asks Director Yann Demange a question about the making of Demange’s new crime drama, White Boy Rick, following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles.

RJ Cyler as Rudell ’Boo’ Curry, Richie Merritt as Rick Wershe, Jr. and Jonathan Majors as Johnny ’Lil Man’ Curry in Director Yann Demange’s White Boy Rick.

Director Mary Harron (moderator) asks Director Yann Demange a question about the making of Demange’s new crime drama, White Boy Rick, following the DGA membership screening in New York.

Directors John Singleton (moderator) and Yann Demange pose for a photo following the Los Angeles DGA membership screening of Demange’s new crime drama, White Boy Rick.

Bel Powley as Dawn Wershe and Richie Merritt as Rick Wershe, Jr. in Director Yann Demange’s White Boy Rick.

Directors Yann Demange and Mary Harron (moderator) pose for a photo following the New York DGA membership screening of Demange’s new crime drama, White Boy Rick.

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