Zola is unlike any movie: a film adaptation of a true story told over 150 tweets. Aziah Zola King, a 2015 author, recounted her trip to Tampa with a woman she didn't know, her erratic boyfriend and a trigger-happy, mysterious man who turns out be the woman's violent pimp. The hashtag #TheStory was created and popularized by Wells Kings' tale.AdvertisementThe movie adapts all of Wells Kings' casual, slangy tweets into an enlightening narrative that doesn't rely on aesthetic media tropes. There are no chat bubbles, animated likes, or screenshots on the screen. Zola is not about #ThePlatform. Janicza Bravo, Jeremy O. Harris and others translated 140 characters (multiplied with 148 tweets) into an animated film of 85 minutes.AdvertisementAdvertisementWe have compiled the most striking differences between the Zola thread and the new Zola movie. We also discuss how the two versions of the story differ from the real one that emerged after the thread went viral.ZolaAs in the thread, Zola (Taylour Paige) works as a waitress at Hooters. This job was taken while she was on a short break from her pole dancing gig. Zola invites Zola to join her on a trip down to Tampa, Florida to work at the high-paying clubs. Zola, who is the white bitchaka Jessica (Riley Keough in the thread) follows Zola as she gets into deeper trouble with her pimp (Jarrett and Derrek respectively in the film; hes played in Nicholas Braun), both of which were there for the trip.AdvertisementThe movie's main problem is what happens to Zola during this trip. Zola fails to separate herself from the group. This leads to a disturbing scene in a hotel room, where Zola and Stefani are supposed do some sex. The film features X, a pimp played by Colman Domingo. He is also known in the thread by Z. Z tries to distract a competitor from kidnapping Stefani. Zola watches as X kisses and gropes Jessica. The plan works and Jessica is saved after X shoots another pimp in his face. Zola is shocked, but complicit as the gang follows Zola out of the hotel.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe actual Zola was not in the hotel room. According to her, she kept out of any sex work, creating a Backpage profile but shouting HELL NO! She said that she would scream "HELL NO!" at any sign of danger. According to the thread Zola was safe in the hallway after Jessica was pulled into her hotel room by a rival pimp and another man. Jarrett hears Zola's story and follows him. Z soon follows Z, who now carries an unconscious Jessica that he saved from the hotel room.According to the thread, Zola did not see Z actually shoot the man in his face. However, she believes he is telling the truth and does admit that she heard the gun go off. She claims that she refused to stay with Z after the shooting, and instead demanded that Z take her to the airport so that she never contacts her again. Jessica and Zola's friendship is overZolas definitely won't drive all the way to Detroit with that girl as they did at the end.AdvertisementAdvertisementIt is worth noting, however, that Zolas account's veracity has been challenged by other major players. More on that later. Zola now has two children and lives in suburban Atlanta with her family. According to her lengthy Vulture profile before film release, she is eager to enjoy her new spotlight.Stefani/JessicaAdvertisementThere are many changes made to Jessica, the character she was known for in the original thread. This includes the obvious alteration of Jessica's and her boyfriends' names. (Hes Jarrett is in the thread, Derrek is in the movie). Stefani, in the movie is anxious to please her pimp. She's also fed up with her boyfriend. Because she doesn't know how to manage her sex work, she makes little money. In the movie, she earns $150 by sleeping with a man; in the thread it's $100. Stefani convinces her self that Zola is a true friend because she stayed by her on this trip and helped her make some real money for putting out. All the while fighting with Derrek and telling X that he has her heart.AdvertisementAdvertisementAll four of them drive back together to Detroit, unlikely to ever talk about their wild weekend. Zolas thread ends with Zola flying back to Detroit in a rattled Jarrett. Jessica and Z will continue their work in Tampa. The thread states that I receive a call from a jail in LAS VEGAS four days later. It's JESSICA! Jessica and Z were both arrested for sex traficking. Z is also wanted for kidnapping 15 girls under age and being linked to 6 murders, including one in Florida. Zola later discovered that Jessica claimed she was the victim and is released from jail.AdvertisementIt is not surprising that Jessica, who denied the majority of Zola's story, spoke out in a lengthy Reddit thread just after the tweets went viral. In the film, Stefani presents a funny, monologuing tangent that focuses on Jessica's version of events. It is Zola who was actually out doing sex while Jessica fucks only with Jesus. Jessica confirmed that Z was her pimp and she ended up in prison. She portrayed herself as innocent, falling for his ill-intentioned charms. Jessica now takes care of her daughter and is a vocal opponent to sex trafficking.X/ZAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe film and the thread both use one letter to denote the pimp. He is a mysterious Nigerian man who only speaks when he's mad. In real life, X/Z would be Akporode Rudy Uwedjojevwe. Rudy was reportedly introduced by Zola to Rudy as Jarrett's roommate. This connection is maintained in the film, but his past with Jessica goes beyond that. Jessica claims that Rudy was her real-life roommate. He comforted Jessica after she was raped. They became close friends, and eventually became co-workers.The thread and film are largely consistent in other details, except that Z and Jessica have sex in front Zola. Zola doesn't show Zola a photo of Jessica and Z having had sex with Jarrett in order to prove that her girlfriend was unfaithful. Zs white, wealthy, and stoic fiance is seen in the hotels of wildly different quality that he places them in. Both versions of the story include those pictures.AdvertisementIt is a wild claim that X shot a rival pimp in his face. False. False. Jarrett said that no one was ever shot, which was confirmed by local authorities. Jessica's pimp was arrested by Las Vegas police. He pleaded guilty in the end to coercion and sex trafficking. He is currently in 16-years prison, but he's eligible for parole.Derrek/JarrettAdvertisementThe film's thread and reality are drastically different. What happens to the boyfriend who is poor and unmarried? Both Derrek and Jarrett in this film have mental health problems that can exacerbate their relationship issues. The way he reacts to Jessica's aborted kidnapping attempt is what separates fiction from reality. Derrek shouts at Stefani, threatening to kill himself, if she doesn't stop working for X. He sprints to the balcony, jumps off and lands on the ground below the pool. As the film cuts, Derrek is seen holding his bleeding head in the car and sobbing hysterically as he drives home.AdvertisementThis thread basically shows that it happens as well. Jarrett and Jessica fight over Jessica's refusal to return home to Detroit. Jessica instead chooses to stay longer in Tampa to make better money. According to Zola, he is so upset over this that he jumps from the balcony. She tweets about the terrifying moment, "I screamed SO loud my heart stopped." Z picks Jarrett up and places him in the car with Zola as they head to the airport. It is almost obvious that Jessica's relationship with Z has ended. Zola posted some photos of Jarrett and Zola later in the thread. They look much happier together.In reality, however, no one actually jumped from anyone's balcony. Jarrettlater, Jessica and Zola all said that he had only threatened to jump but didn't actually do it. Jarrett instead chose to go with Zola to the airport on his own initiative. It was a relief!
