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Colman Domingo says his younger brother gave him the best compliment about his new autobiographical animated short, New Moon.

He was overcome, Domingo tells me on this weeks episode of the Just for Variety podcast. He said, More than anything, you brought the feeling of mom back.

New Moon tells the story of a little boy who is shown how to dream by his hardworking single mom. It is based on Domingos play A Boy and His Soul.

Domingo is the voice of the narrator as well as the mother. My siblings say I have my moms voice down pat, he says. Theyre like, You sound just like mommy.

The film will screen during Outfest on July 16 in Los Angeles.

New Moon is written by Domingo and his husband and producing partner Ral Domingo. Ral co-directed with Jrmie Balais and Jeff Leffig. When the couple first made the film, they didnt know what to do with it. It was people like Ava DuVernay, Lee Daniels and Matthew Cherry who suggested they submit it to film festivals. Theyre hoping to adapt it as a television series.

I talked to Domingo just hours after he received his first Emmy nomination for his work as Ali on Euphoria. I did something that shocked me I actually started crying, Domingo says of learning he was nominated. This felt different because I know what the character represents to many people. It sounds strange, but I wanted it for all that he represents and the language that Sam [Levinson] gives me and what hes doing in the television space, which I think is a breakthrough. And this character, this Black guy whos an addict and hes trying to do some good in the world I want that to be amplified.

After our interview, Domingo was heading to his last day of shooting the Oprah Winfrey-produced The Color Purple movie musical in Atlanta. He plays Mister in the big screen adaptation of the Tony-winning stage show. The cast also includes Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia, Danielle Brooks, H.E.R., Ciara, Halle Bailey, Aunjanue Ellis and Corey Hawkins.

He recalled seeing Winfrey on set during the early days of shooting, when they were filming the final scene. Oprah was there, and she actually stood under this tree, this big, beautiful, great Oak tree, Domingo says. Oprah couldnt help herself. She came to set, and she was in the video village and all, but then at some point she was literally right under the tree. So when the camera is going around to all of us, were literally singing at Oprah. Shes so moved and shes singing with us the finale Color Purple song. So, when everyone sees our eyes in the camera going around, were actually looking at Oprah!

Also in the can is Rustin, the George C. Wolfe-directed biopic about Bayard Rustin, the late gay civil rights leader who played a crucial role in elevating Martin Luther King Jr. to national leadership. Domingo plays Rustin in his first headlining feature role.

The film is the first narrative feature produced by Barack and Michelle Obama and their production company Higher Ground. The former first couple talked with the cast over Zoom a couple of months ago. I happened to be in Cabo for a little vacationThey just wanted to connect with the whole cast, and we just talked, Domingo remembers. Anytime you hear Barack Obama saying your name, its the weirdest thing. Hed say, Oh yeah, Colman. Youre like, Oh my god, he said [my name]. You fan out, but then youre like, let me stay focused. Theyre wonderful, theyre huge champions of this film.

You can hear the full interview with Domingo above. You can also listen to Just for Variety wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

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Euphoria Star Colman Domingo on Singing for Oprah Winfrey and Zooming With the Obamas - Variety