Alana Arenas And Tarell McCraney Went From Childhood Friends To Creating A New Narrative About Life In Miami On TV
David Makes Man. The coming-of-age tale created, written, and directed by Moonlight‘s Tarell Alvin McCraney, not only expands the narratives of Black boys seen on screen but brings authenticity to the experience of growing up in Miami thanks to McCraney’s own Liberty City roots as well as the casting of Carol City native Alana Arenas.McCraney and Arenas developed a friendship pre-teens via their mutual interest in the arts, but when it came time to audition for the role of Gloria in the television drama, Arenas earned her part based on talent alone.“I don’t feel comfortable leaning on my relationships; I don’t like to put my friends in that situation,” Arenas tells ESSENCE of auditioning for the series the old-fashioned way.