Transcript[]
Text reads: “The Mysteries of Life with Mateo and Moby.”
The screen zooms in on the top of a skyscraper. A sign reads: Fancy Film Studios.
On screen, a robot, Moby, and a boy, Mateo, are waiting at an office desk, looking to pitch a movie idea. Moby is dressed up in a suit, and behind them are posters of various screenings.
Mateo: When she gets here, let me do the talking. I’m not throwing away my shot.
In the animation, Rita, who has been sitting in a revolving chair in front of Moby and Mateo this whole time, spins around to face them. She is dressed like a boss or representative of some sort.
Rita: OK, I can give you another six minutes: I have a vampire facial with Kim K at noon.
Mateo: Uh, wow, I didn’t see you there…
In the animation, Mateo’s phone buzzes. He reaches into a pocket and sees a notification on the screen. The messages are from a “sender” named Ellie.
Mateo: Dear Mateo and Moby, Why haven’t you made a movie about Lin-Manuel Miranda? He’s amazing!
Mateo: We’re trying, Ellie… just you wait!
On screen, Rita points at her watch impatiently.
Rita: Tick tick, boys, or I’m getting to my facial early.
Mateo: Ok, ok, here’s what we’ve got: the life story of Lin-Manuel Miranda,
On screen, Mateo raises his hands in the air and sparkles appear. The screen then switches to show a Broadway playbill featuring a portrait of Miranda.
Mateo: award-winning actor, composer, lyricist—
In the animation, Mateo lunges forward, excitedly explaining his ideas to a Rita who looks deep in thought.
Mateo: best known for creating and starring in Hamilton, one of the most successful Broadway plays ever!
Rita: Oooh, I like a franchise — go on.
Mateo: OK, picture this: It’s 1980 in New York City, and Lin-Manuel is born into a Puerto-Rican family.
The animation goes blurry and then shows New York City brick apartments from the 1980s. The screen zooms in one of the windows, and then shows Lin-Manuel’s childhood home. Above a fireplace is a framed photo of Lin-Manuel and his father, mother, and sister.
Mateo: His mom, Luz, is a therapist, and his Dad, Luis, works in politics.
The animation shows a different framed photo — one of Luis and Luz holding hands before a large crowd of protesters.
Mateo: Both are active in their community — for their first date, they went to a protest!
The animation shows a framed poem next to the family photos titled: “nana roja para mi hijo Lin Manuel.”
Mateo: They name their son Lin-Manuel after a poem objecting to the Vietnam War. And they raise him in a neighborhood where cultures and music mix: African-American and Dominican, salsa and rock, rap and merengue.
The screen shows a bustling street, brimming with vendors, cars, and people having fun. One man carries a radio.
Mateo: At home, his parents clean the house to show tunes, and his sister introduces him to hip-hop.
In the animation, Luis cleans an apartment window, making musical noises as he wipes them. Meanwhile, Miranda’s older sister puts on some hip-hop music. Miranda looks on.
Mateo: As for Lin-Manuel, he’s young, scrappy, and hungry. —
Moby: Beep?
Mateo: Well, from early on, he knows he wants to see his name in lights!
In the animation, a young Miranda imagines his name in flashing neon yellow lights.
Mateo: Like, at a first-grade piano recital, most kids quake through their pieces. But Lin-Manuel hears the applause, and plays another, then another, til he has to hustled offstage.
The screen then shows photos of various children performing at a piano recital. Many look nervous and hesitant, except for Miranda, who plays happily with his eyes closed.
Mateo: He grows up a total theater kid: acting, freestyling, filming movies with his friends.
The screen splits into three sections: in the first and second, he is holding up a microphone, performing. In the third, he films a friend as they move down a gated sidewalk full of spectators on the other side.
Mateo: But — there’s a problem.
In the animation, Rita sits up from a previously slumped position.
Rita:Finally, some conflict!
Mateo: He notices most musicals don’t have Latino characters.
The screen shows Miranda, a young adult, looking at posters of Broadway musicals, including: The Apparition of the Opera, Ruthless, and Orlando.
Mateo: And the ones that do, well … Take West Side Story, a hit 1950s musical that he directs in high school. It has tons of roles for Latinos, but they’re mostly gang members.
In the animation, several stage managers enter a hair and makeup room, behind a giant poster of West Side Story. Latino actors walk out with gangster hairdos and outfits.
Mateo: Lin-Manuel worries about finding enough work — and avoiding stereotypes.
The screen shows Lin-Manuel engaged in a mental debacle. On one side of him appears a human figure holding up a sign that says: Will Act for Food. On the other side of him is a caricatured Latino actor playing a gangster.
Mateo: He decides he’s going to have to write his own roles.
In the animation, the original icons above Lin-Manuel’s head disappear, replaced with images of a script and a performer on-stage.
Moby: Beep!
Mateo: His parents urge him to go to law school after college. But instead, Miranda acts, writes jingles, teaches middle school English, all so he can work on first big production.
In the animation, Mateo humphs and turns away when his parents hand him a Law school application. The screen then shows a multi-armed Miranda juggling various tasks and objects, including a grammar book, apple, piano practice, and songwriting.
Mateo: It’s set in Washington Heights, a Latino neighborhood near where he grew up. And features salsa music, rap, a Dominican bodega, and a winning lottery ticket.
In the animation, Miranda is acting on a stage. Salsa music starts playing, and around him, a salon, deli, and car shop appear. He holds up a lottery ticket.
Mateo: In 2008, In the Heights becomes Miranda’s first Broadway show. He’s done it: created a big Latino-centered show, and a big hit…with, bonus, him in the lead.
On screen, Miranda proudly looks up at a sign for his show outside a theater. He winks.
Mateo: But for his next act, Miranda will go even bigger!
In the animation, Miranda is laying on a floatie, drifting in a pool and reading a book about Alexander Hamilton.
Mateo: On vacation to Mexico in 2009, Miranda cracks open a biography he bought on a whim: The life story of Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton’s on the $10 bill, but he’s probably the least-known founding father.
On screen, a $1 bill of Washington appears beside a $10 bill of Hamilton. Washington momentarily comes alive, sticking his head out of his bill and mocking an upset Hamilton.
Mateo: So Miranda is fascinated to discover his early life: Born poor in the Caribbean, Hamilton was abandoned by his father, then orphaned.
The animation shows a map of the Caribbean and surrounding regions. Icons of a father, mother, and two children appear, standing before a grassy hut. Three of the figures then vanish, leaving only one child alone. An arrow then extends from the Caribbean and toward the United States.
Mateo: He moved to New York City as a teen and made his name through ambition, hard work, and talent — especially as a writer.
The animation shows Hamilton writing at a podium with a fountain pen. Above his head, the figure of a person climbing the stairs appears, along with icons depicting biceps and a scroll.
Mateo: Like, he penned most of the Federalist Papers, which sold the public on the U.S. Constitution.
In the animation, a thumbs up — likely from the hand of a founding father — appears before a scroll titled “Federalist Papers.”
Mateo: To Miranda, this sounds like a typical immigrant story.
The animation shows Miranda’s brain and the neural activity that takes place as he makes connections between Hamilton’s life and the immigrant experience.
Mateo: And Hamilton’s brashness and writing talent remind him of the MCs, like the Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur, who changed the world with their rhymes.
The animation shows Biggie Smalls, in a magenta suit and sunglasses, and Tupac Shakur, donning a bandana.
Mateo: He starts writing Hamilton’s story — which is really America’s — told through hip-hop.
On screen, Moby and Rita blink awkwardly.
Mateo: Yeah, it sounds normal now, but back then? When Lin-Manuel announces the project, people literally laugh.
In the animation, Miranda is standing before a jeering crowd.
Mateo: I mean, these guys — and hip-hop?
The screen shows a divide, with portraits of U.S. founding fathers and hip-hop artists on the other. The founding father side of the screen clashes with the hip-hop side.
Mateo: Hip-hop, and these guys? It doesn’t make sense, but Lin-Manuel makes it work. And tells the story with a multiracial cast to show that America’s history belongs to all of us.
The screen shows costumed actors — including Miranda himself — rehearsing on stage. They hail from a variety of racial backgrounds.
Mateo: Miranda plays the lead, and Hamilton becomes a phenomenon.
Moby: Beep!
In the animation, Miranda is sitting at a round office table, with other people in suits and business wear.
Mateo: Afterwards, he’s in the room where it happens! He does everything: acting, directing, composing for Hollywood movies. Even his Tweets get their own book!
On screen, icons depicting a star, TV film production, a musical note, and Twitter appear around a middle-aged Miranda.
Mateo: Miranda also uses his star power to advocate for Puerto Rico. After Hurricane Maria devastates the island in 2017, he raises nearly $15 million in aid.
The animation shows a map of Puerto Rico. Torrential rain from a cloud sweeps over the land, and then stops. The screen is covered with a pile of bills and coins.
Mateo: And he’s still pretty young — who knows what he’ll do next.
In the animation, Rita looks satisfied, clapping. She goes over to Moby and Mateo’s side of the table, and they both stand up.
Rita: OK, OK — this might have legs.
In the animation, Rita turns to Mateo, whispering about Moby.
Rita: But is he your co-writer, ‘cause the beeping …
Mateo: No, he’s playing the lead: He’s young, scrap-iron, and hungry!
In the animation, Moby abruptly takes off his suit, unveiling a Founding Father costume beneath — with a wig and a colonial outfit. Moby grabs a purple lamp off the desk and eats it, chewing. Rita starts boiling, turning red. The next thing they know, Moby and Mateo find themselves kicked out of the film studios building. They are now sitting by a garbage dump.
Mateo: So close!
On screen, Moby takes off his Founding Father wig and burps up a lightbulb.