The event, which was moderated by Weinberg professor Chris Abani, saw Riley discuss his approach to the art he creates, and his thoughts about how race and the capitalist system intersect. Riley, an artist with a long history in diverse fields like rap, poetry, music and community organizing, spoke as the spring speaker for Multicultural Filmmakers Collective, Studio 22 Productions and the Undergraduate Radio/Television/Film Student Association, as well as the departments of African-American Studies and Radio/Television/Film. “An absurdist dark comedy with aspects of magical realism and science fiction, inspired by the world of telemarketing.” “I would be like ‘Well, I’ve got something way more down to earth,’” Riley said to an audience of about 100 in McCormick Auditorium on Wednesday.

When the investors and producers were weirded out by this pitch, he would tell them about his actual movie. When Boots Riley was trying to raise money for his debut feature film “Sorry to Bother You,” he would start off by describing an experimental horror musical film about actor Sidney Poitier secretly moonlighting as a serial killer.