Skip to main content

Director Mel Jones on why her Sundance debut, Leimert Park, will make cinematic history

Mel Jones
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Between the trailer and description for Mel Jones’s new web series, it’s easy to understand why she describes Leimert Park as “Sex in the City but black girls in Leimert Park,” the latter in reference to the namesake South Los Angeles neighborhood that serves as the series backdrop. As for sex, there’s plenty of NSFW.

“I personally love sex — I do — so I tried to make that a part of my creative expression,” Jones, a former associate producer on Dear White People, told Digital Trends. The six-episode series debuted at the Sundance Film Festival as part of the new Indie Episodic section.

Sundance 2018

“There’s tons of artists and really cool people, and I used to live there, so I used to be cool, too,” Jones joked. The semi-autobiographical show, which she created and directed, follows three roommates, Mickey (Ashley Blaine Featherson), Bridget (Ashli Haynes), and Kendra (Asia’h Epperson).

“They’re millennials; they all live together and they have their loves and their things that they want to do and the things they need to do to survive,” Jones said.

Is this real life?

After her daughter was born, Jones said she wanted to tackle a new project. On a late-night shuttle from the airport to the Sundance Film Festival in 2015, she started discussing the project with Aaliyah Williams, who is now the Chief Content Officer at Macro, a company that helps finance film and other content created by people of color.

“I took her down to Leimert Park and drove around, and I gave her the whole spiel and showed her all the landmarks and talked about all the crazy stuff that happens in my house,” Jones said. “All sorts of shit happens in the house, much of what you see, some of it made up. I won’t tell you which is which.”

Leimert Park
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Each episode follows the three women as they deal with their individual problems, though sometimes a thread connects their stories.

“The first episode deals with Yoni Eggs, so they all get these Yoni Eggs, and they all have their wants for what it’s gonna do when they pop it in their vagina,” Jones said. “And there’s an episode called ‘Date Night,’ and you see what all of their versions of date night looks like.” Yoni Eggs, hawked by Goop in a jade version, are supposed to help women have better sex by strengthening pelvic walls and increasing chi (now you know, you’re welcome).

“All sorts of s**t happens in the house.”

That’s what Mickey is looking for. The aspiring DJ hasn’t had an orgasm in three months, something she hasn’t told Miles, her husband.

“She got the Yoni Egg hoping that would warm it up in there,” Jones said. “But it’s because she’s not happy with her life. It’s not really her husband, exactly.”

It’s a combination of disliking her job and paying the bills while Miles finishes school. Meanwhile, Kendra, an installation artist, spends her time trying to figure out new and shocking ways to get attention.

“She hasn’t been able to find her niche yet, and it gets her into trouble,” Jones said. Rounding out the trio is Bridget. “This is probably the first time (Bridget) ever not lived with her parents. When it comes to love and men, she’s just a little bit inexperienced. She mistakes sex for love.”

This s**t is bananas

Though it’s been three years since Jones first had the idea for Leimert Park, once she found a writer to help her shape the script and partnered with Macro, things happened fairly quickly — they shot the series in 10 days. She wanted to make sure it reflected her experience, as well as the neighborhood. Bananas, the club Mickey DJs at, is real, as is the eccentric character Verbs, who runs the place.

Leimert Park
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“He gets the biggest laughs, and he’s just being himself,” Jones said.

Having attended Sundance for years, Jones said she’s noticed more diversity this year, with more directors of color.

“Being able to see your community of filmmakers who are telling stories very similar to yours and with similar experiences isn’t really normal,” she said. “Usually there’s one person that then has to be the spokesperson for all of us, which sucks because I know there are going to be people that are like, ‘That is not my life’ when they look at my thing. And I would hate for my thing to be the only thing, so it’s nice that there’s more.”

“You don’t feel the pressure of a traditional movie.”

Giving first-time directors a shot is part of the reason Sundance introduced the Indie Episodic section.

“I really do think that as a first-timer, working in the episodic drama, or whatever you would call it, is a little more forgiving,” Jones said. “You don’t feel the pressure of a traditional movie in which people have an expectation, like the first 15 minutes is some type of exciting incident and then you have this whole big chunk in the middle that has to be interesting and then you have to resolve it. You just get to tell this story forever.”

Kettle corn and cinematic history

Despite the tight shooting schedule, the format also lent itself to a major last-minute change. Jones ditched an entire episode so the budget could accommodate one very memorable scene.

“That’s going to be a scene you’ll hear about,” she promises. “There was a line that a character says, and I was like, oh my god, this line, this should be happening.” Was it worth it? “Totally fucking worth it. It’s cinematic history. You’ve never seen anything like it.”

On that note, we asked Jones to pick the perfect snack to eat while watching Leimert Park.

“Let me describe Leimert, and then I’ll think of a snack that’s like that. So, I think Leimert is kinda spicy, but it’s smooth spicy, like curry.” After first suggesting Hot Cheetos, she reflected on her favorite thing to eat while watching: “I like the Trader Joe’s sweet kettle corn popcorn. That’s a good one. And I really like the sweet cream ice cream, with strawberries. And kettle corn on top? That’s what it is. It’s very feminine. You wanna just kinda snuggle up. Maybe some wine, too. Gets you a little warm on the inside.”

This article is part of a series of reports from the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. Digital Trends was a guest of Adobe Premiere Pro during the event.

Jenny McGrath
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jenny McGrath is a senior writer at Digital Trends covering the intersection of tech and the arts and the environment. Before…
Don’t let these 3 hidden February 2025 streaming TV shows fly under your radar
Robert De Niro standing in a suit by an American flag in Zero Day.

Some high-profile shows are returning this month, like The White Lotus, Cobra Kai, Invincible, 1923, Reacher, Yellowjackets, Family Guy, and Survivor. Some shows started in December 2024 and January 2025 and are continuing with new episodes this month. Elsewhere, new spinoffs like Suits: L.A. start this month. You may still have room in your TV schedule since some of these shows release episodes week to week. What should you watch?
We have some ideas. Don’t let these three hidden February 2025 streaming TV shows fly under your radar. They are perfect for that week between episodes, or perhaps you let the episodes build up so you binge all at once.
Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new shows to stream this week, as well as the best shows on Netflix, the best shows on Hulu, the best shows on Amazon Prime Video, the best shows on Max, and the best shows on Disney+.
Zero Day (February 20)
ZERO DAY | Official Trailer | Netflix
Robert De Niro will appear in his first small-screen starring role in Zero Day, a political conspiracy thriller about the aftermath of a global cyberattack that leaves thousands dead. De Niro plays George Mullen, the former U.S. president leading the investigation into the catastrophe. George has his own personal demons to contend with as well.
A limited series that runs just six episodes long, Zero Day touches on topical issues of today’s political landscape, the spread of disinformation, the quest for personal power, and the clash between government and powerful tech companies. Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Plemons, Connie Britton, Bill Camp, and Angela Bassett make up the top-notch supporting cast. We have a feeling that Zero Day will be one of the most talked-about shows this year.
Stream Zero Day on Netflix. 
Surface season 2 (February 21)
Surface — Season 2 Official Trailer | Apple TV+
Apple TV+ has many high-profile shows, including Silo, Severance, Shrinking, and Ted Lasso. Surface is one of those under-the-radar hidden gems with a compelling story. It’s well-acted, and the first season leaves you hanging and wanting more. The good news is that you can binge season one and won’t have to wait too long for season two, despite it being almost 2.5 years since it first debuted.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw plays Sophie Ellis in the psychological thriller, a woman who survives a supposed suicide attempt but has lost all recent memories. She doesn’t remember who she is or anything about her life. In trying to piece things together, she learns that some people are lying to her, but she may have been a liar, too. Yet another amnesia story in a sea of many, Surface doesn’t quite live up to the same standards as other shows from the streamer. But it’s a delightful watch if you’re looking for something new. Plus, Ted Lasso’s Phil Dunster joins the cast for season two.

Stream Surface on Apple TV+. 
House of David (February 27)
House of David - Official Trailer | Prime Video
If you’re into historical dramas, you might want to add House of David to your watch list this month. This one centers around David (Michael Iskander), a king in ancient Israel, and Judah, the third king of the United Monarchy. The man known from the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament is involved in controversial stories of tyranny, murder, homoerotic relationships, and, of course, his best-known act, which was killing Goliath.
House of David is described as following this unlikely, outcast teenager being named king and his rise to power as he navigates conflict with the king he is replacing, King Saul (Jack Ryan’s Ali Suliman). “For one leader to rise,” reads the show’s official description,” another must fall.”

Read more
Is Nosferatu streaming? Find out when the gothic horror heads to Peacock
Lily-Rose Depp bleeds from the mouth and eyes in a still from the movie "Nosferatu."

The gothic horror hit of 2024 finally heads to streaming later this month. Focus Features' Nosferatu will begin streaming exclusively on Peacock on February 21, 2025.

Peacock will also offer a never-before-seen-in-theaters extended cut of Nosferatu. Additionally, Nosferatu: An Inside Look is a behind-the-scenes look into the making of the film, with interviews of the creatives behind the movie.

Read more
3 underrated shows on Netflix you need to watch in February 2025
Vince McMahon in promo art for Mr. McMahon.

February is a great month to be a Netflix subscriber, especially if you love TV. The final season of Cobra Kai drops on February 13, as the students of Miyagi-Do close out the Sekai Taikai tournament. Kaitlyn Dever headlines a new limited series, Apple Cider Vinegar, about a girl who lied about a cancer diagnosis to build a following as an influencer.

Two of Netflix's underappreciated sections are reality and documentary. Netflix continues to release high-quality reality shows and docuseries, from Love Is Blind and Selling Sunset to Tiger King and American Manhunt. Below are three under-the-radar shows to watch this month. Our picks include a rap competition, a WWE docuseries, and a golf showcase.

Read more