Tony Winner Matthew López Strikes a Chord at Prime Video's Exclusive Event

In a recent exclusive event, stage and screen luminary Matthew López, renowned for capturing the Best Play Tony Award in 2020 for his groundbreaking drama The Inheritance, made a remarkable stance at the BFI Imax theater in London’s Waterloo. Thursday's gathering was an exclusive preview - a premiere in all but title - of Prime Video's romantic comedy feature, Red, White & Royal Blue, which he directed and adapted from Casey McQuiston's best-selling novel.

López, a proud member of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), set up base in a secluded room inside the building, away from the glare of the red carpet for an intriguing reason. He claimed, "I'm on strike as a screenwriter but not as a playwright and not as a director."

His two stars, Nicholas Galitzine (Purple Hearts, Cinderella) and Taylor Zakhar Perez (The Kissing Booth 3, Minx), were notably absent, since as members of SAG-AFTRA, they are on strike. López took a moment to acknowledge their absence, underlining, "They’re not here, of course, because they’re on strike (…) and you’ll see how irreplaceable they are by AI."

López, while backstage, lamented the pitiful condition of a director being present "without actors and screenwriters." He emphasized the urgency of resolving the strike, attaining a fair deal from the studios, and resuming work. While he stressed the need to get back into action, he was crystal clear that he wouldn't push the envelope until a fair deal is struck. "In the meantime," he quipped, "I am a playwright."

Unusual as it might seem, López declined to have his portrait taken at the event, asserting that he made a personal decision to avoid any photo-op at the premiere. "I’m keeping a low profile," he said, "I’m here as a director and I want to support the film and I have an obligation to support the film as a director, but I am first and foremost a writer."

Despite the unusual circumstances and lack of thespian presence at the Imax, the theater was a mixed bag of emotions and excitement. People from diverse background, including critics, fans, influencers, heads of department, film creatives, and executives from Amazon and Concorde Media, filled the venue.

Despite the prevailing complexities, Red, White & Royal Blue shows promising dynamic. The film weaves a tale of a romantic friendship between a British royal, Prince Henry (Galitzine), and Alex (Perez), the son of a U.S. president (Uma Thurman).

Now enough with the facts, time to let the critic in me have a breather.

In the realm of the zeitgeist-gripping phenomenon called "strikes," Matthew López shows Hollywood how it's done - with grace, style, and a dash of wit. The strike is not just the latest buzzword thrown around in Tinseltown. It's a stand, a hope, a call for a fair deal. Lopez, rather than acting as a mere bystander, has declared himself a participant in this storyline unfolding off-screen. He pays respect where it’s due and does so with dignity.

The absence of Galitzine and Perez was palpable, but the spectacle unveiled the harsh reality of the industry - AI's impressive strides notwithstanding; nothing can replicate the charisma, the charm, and the sheer brilliance of the performers.

Strikes may not be the most 'Hollywood' thing to occur on a cool London evening, but it’s certainly refreshing to see a staunch advocate like López staging his strike with firm conviction. If you are looking for drama, it seems that López never strays far from the action, whether on stage, screen, or the red carpet, even if it's hidden away in an isolated room at the BFI Imax.

On a lighter note, López’s firm “no" to portrait photography showcased his knack for theatrics, adding a cinematic twist to real-life events. He may have been keeping a "low profile," but his stand sent a resounding echo through the heart of the industry.

López' comment about putting the film's two leads together for a chemistry test and then hoping they would "have chemistry" is laugh-out-loud hilarious. As if we needed another reason to swoon over the maestro! And, by the way, the Zoom chemistry test seems to be the new litmus in this digital era.

Is López’s stance paving a new path or is it clever posturing? Only time will tell! But, for now, hats off to him for triggering an intriguing dialogue that does make for a fantastic plot, away from the screen. And as a dedicated, Oscar-deserving audience member, all I can say is - keep the popcorn coming; we love this off-screen drama.