Malcolm Washington on the 'Personal' Experience of Making The Piano Lesson with Dad Denzel and His Siblings (Exclusive)

Piano lesson it was a family affair for Malcolm Washington.

Denzel Washington’s youngest son makes his debut in his first studio feature film, Piano lessonat the Telluride Film Festival on Saturday, August 31st. He was joined by John David Washington, who stars in the film, and sister Katia Washington, 37, who is a producer.

Denzel is a co-producer on the Netflix film, which also stars Danielle Deadwyler and Samuel L. Jackson. The drama, which revolves around two siblings (Deadwyler and John David Washington) in conflict over a family heirloom, a piano engraved by an enslaved ancestor, is dedicated to Malcolm’s mother Pauletta before the closing credits: “For Mom.”

“This movie is so personal to me, and the people I got to shoot it with are the closest people in my life,” Malcolm, 33, tells PEOPLE in Telluride, CO. “My mom was at the center of it.”

Never miss a story — subscribe to PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up to date with the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

From L: John David Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Potts and Ray Fisher enter Piano lesson (2024).

David Lee/Netflix

Denzel Washington’s Four Children: All About John David, Katia, Malcolm and Olivia

Based on August Wilson’s 1987 play of the same name. Piano lesson several cast members from the final Broadway run in 2022 are returning, including Jackson, 75, and John David.

Although Denzel, 69, does not appear in the film, his association with Wilson’s work served as a tie-in for the production, Malcom says. A longtime advocate of Wilson’s work, Denzel has earned Tony and Oscar nominations Fences (in which he acted and directed) and brought Oh Rainey’s Black Bottom on screen as a producer in 2020.

“August Wilson is such a big part of his legacy and he feels so strongly connected to and supports the kind of respect and gives access to the stories of August Wilson,” Malcom tells PEOPLE. “So I think for my dad, throughout the whole process, his thing was like, ‘We’re just going to respect and protect and take care of Augusto.’ I think the weight of that was always there in every part of the production and it was always at the heart of what we were trying to do creatively.”

Keeping mostly out of sight during production, Denzel rarely appeared during filming Piano lessons an intense exorcism scene—which took place during a “crazy thunderstorm,” notes Malcom.

“I was on a few sets with him before he was growing up and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him have a moment like that,” says John David, noting “how moved he was by what they were doing.”

Deadwyler adds of Denzel’s approach as a producer, “I just found it wonderful and respectful. He allowed [Malcolm] just being everybody’s leader and it was the most peaceful experience that way.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler has arrived! How fast can you solve it? Play now!

Malcolm Washington, Danielle Deadwyler and John David Washington at a screening of the film Piano lesson during the Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2024 in Telluride, Colorado.

Vivien Killilea/Getty

Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington leap from stage to screen in Gripping Piano lesson Trailer

It was natural for John David to be directed by his younger brother. “I was looking at it more, I’m getting to work with a director that I really love. I love his work and I was waiting for – it was like he chose us,” he says.

The film features additional performances by Erykah Badu, Skylar Aleece Smith, Jerrika Hinton, Gail Bean and Corey Hawkins. The music was composed by two-time Oscar winner Alexandre Desplat. Michael Potts also appears in the Piano lessonafter starring in a Broadway revival.

Malcom’s twin sister Olivia also makes a cameo appearance, as does Pauletta.

The director says the elements of the film came together “piece by piece” — he’s been a fan of John David’s acting since watching him make videos in high school (“he’s like the person you looked up to as a boy”), and the partnership with his sister Katiom allowed him to tap into her deep production experience while managing his first studio effort.

“I knew coming in that I wanted to have a sense of community and family and that warmth,” Malcom tells PEOPLE. “Corey’s family, [and] Danielle became family within 20 minutes of talking to her on Zoom. It just happened piece by piece and organically. We’re trying to run this project with the intuition in your gut, and that’s what got us here.”Piano lesson is in select theaters on November 8th, then on Netflix on November 22nd.

The 51st Telluride Film Festival runs through Monday, September 2

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education