SZA will continue to perform after ‘One of Them Days’ as long as Keke Palmer trains her

On By Littum

SZA is ready to make her mark in Hollywood — if only she could send an SOS to friend and costar Keke Palmer.

The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter makes his film debut in One of these dayswho has previously appeared on the small screen in an episode from 2020 Uncertain. “It was crazy, but I learned so much,” says the artist, whose real name is Solána Rowe Weekly entertainment of the experience in a joint interview with costar Palmer and producer Issa Rae. “I definitely need to build my confidence as an actor. But the way I came to see myself from a different lens that didn’t really have anything to do with my personal expression – but still had everything to do with my personal expression – it was cool.”

She’s now open to more film roles, but on one condition: “As long as Keke can coach me, I’ll consider it,” SZA says of her costar, an industry vet who began her career as a child actor.

But according to Palmer, her co-star needs no coaching. At their chemistry reading, she was blown away by what the artist brought to the table. “It was actually shocking,” says Palmer, also an executive producer on the project. “She’s so naturally talented. I was like, ‘Are you in drama school?’ and I think that’s why it turned out so well.

Keke Palmer and SZA in ‘One of Them Days’.

Courtesy of Sony Pictures


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Directed by Lawrence Lamont in his feature film debut, the comedy centers on best friends and roommates Dreux (Palmer), a Type-A waitress with bigger ambitions, and Alyssa (SZA), a free-spirited aspiring painter and artist. When Alyssa’s slacker boyfriend steals their rent, the girls race against the clock to get the money back to avoid eviction from their dubious landlord, embarking on a series of chaotic escapades across Los Angeles.

The dynamic casting was announced following Palmer and SZA’s memorable 2022 Saturday Night Live linkup as host and musical guest. “I feel like you didn’t even see it,” Palmer tells Rae in the episode, to which she replies, “I did! I saw it later.” Adds the producer, “The SNL pairing was just the icing on the cake. I’ve always been a fan of Keke and SZA was my muse for Uncertainespecially the second season. So it was a blessing to have it all come full circle.”

Katt Williams, Janelle James and Maude Apatow round out the cast, with the latter playing one of the first white residents of Dreux and Alyssa’s apartment complex. The comedy is very much a love letter to South LA, offering pointed and hilarious commentary on gentrification. “It was definitely a conscious decision, 100 percent,” Lamont tells EW of highlighting these changes in the city. (Note: these interviews were conducted before the devastating wildfires in LA.)

Director Lawrence Lamont, producer Issa Rae and star Keke Palmer filming ‘One of Them Days’ in Los Angeles.

Courtesy of Sony Pictures


“Mainly because of this housing crisis and what’s going on; inflation is through the roof, but wages aren’t going up,” the director adds. “So it was very much at the forefront and very deliberate.” Adding humor to the struggles many Angelenos faced was paramount. “I’m from Detroit, (but) I grew up in the Detroit version of this area,” Lamont continues. “I felt like I knew these characters. They’re my cousins, my aunts, my mom. And a lot of times we used laughter to ease the pain. Humor is so healing.”

Ultimately, the crew wanted to create a film that “LA could be proud of,” says Rae. They filmed across the bustling city to capture this authenticity, including on Crenshaw Boulevard, resulting in occasional disruptions from excited locals. “When you have two superstars, people get excited,” Rae notes. “There was booing, there was excitement. It was just love.” One such recording day took place after Palmer performed at the 2024 BET Awards as part of its tribute to Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Usher. “Someone stopped on the street in the middle of a take (and said to Palmer), ‘I loved you at the BET Awards! Girl, keep going!'” Lamont recalls.

Above all else, it was important to make something fun and joyful — “something we haven’t seen on this scale, with two black female leads,” says Palmer. “When we got the final draft, we knew this was perfect.”

One of these days is in theaters January 17.