1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,559 Speaker 1: It's all about the journey and my guests. Tatiana Ali 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:07,440 Speaker 1: has a journey. A Harvard grad actress, singer. Her resume 3 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:10,040 Speaker 1: includes The Fresh Prince of Blair, Loved That Girl, the 4 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 1: CBS soap opera Young, The Wrestlers, and many manymore. And 5 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: but on this show today, she's going to talk about 6 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: a new Lifetime original movie, Vanished Searching for My Sister, 7 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: which premieres Saturday, January twenty second on Lifetime a PM, 8 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 1: seven Central. Here's the great thing to bout. It's gonna 9 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: see Tatiana like you've never seen her before. She plays 10 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: the role of twins Jada and Kayla, who could not 11 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: be more opposite. I've seen the movie. As they say, 12 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 1: if you have four starts, I'm giving it all for 13 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: plus a little pinky for a plus. It's really that good. 14 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: So please work with the money making conversations as we 15 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: explore her life and talk to my friends of the 16 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:50,239 Speaker 1: h b C. You talk to my friends across the 17 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: country as well as about black excellence, and she does 18 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: exemplify that the movie Vanished Searching for My Sister to 19 00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: star Tatiana Ali. Welcome to the show. Thank you so 20 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: much for having me there's always a journey in uh, 21 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 1: your career, especially when you're starting at such a young age. 22 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: And that's one of the one reasons I wanted to 23 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,400 Speaker 1: bring you on this show, because you know, we've seen 24 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 1: so many tragic stories of young people not being able 25 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: to get over the hulp. I've been fortunate. I've written 26 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: sitcoms Robert Townsend, Sister Sister, Uh, Jamie Foxes, and The Parkers, 27 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: so I've I've worked with young talent, and you're a 28 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 1: young talent. You still finding yourself in his business. Talk 29 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: about starting in this business and being able to survive 30 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 1: in his business, Tatiana. UM. I think for for young 31 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:42,039 Speaker 1: people especially, UM, it's hard to you know, have a 32 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: career and just go through the natural challenges of growing up. 33 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 1: And young performers need all of the support that you 34 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: know every other child meets and sometimes you know, we 35 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 1: we we tend to be precocious, right, UM, usually intelligent, artistic, 36 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:08,919 Speaker 1: and are able to take on a lot of responsibility. 37 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: And I think you know, even people that I've known 38 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 1: in my life, UM, growing up who were also actors, UM, 39 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:21,639 Speaker 1: who necessarily didn't do so well in life afterwards. UM, 40 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 1: you need that support system and you need somebody to 41 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: sometimes treat you like a child and tell you know, 42 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:33,359 Speaker 1: guide you rear you. Um. I think all that responsibility 43 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: that we kind of exude fools people into thinking that 44 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 1: we're okay when we're not okay, or that we need 45 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: less than we actually need. And I'm lucky if if 46 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,519 Speaker 1: you know, if I have been successful in life, which 47 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 1: I feel, I feel happy with my life. Um, that's 48 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 1: all because of my family. You know, my parents they 49 00:02:56,520 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: could care less about entertainment or same. Um, they really 50 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 1: raised me too hopefully be courageous enough to just do 51 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 1: what I love, whatever that is. And so my pride 52 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: and my understanding of self is not really wrapped up 53 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 1: in what I do. I exist outside of it, you know, acting, performing, 54 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 1: that's just what I do. It's not it doesn't make 55 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:31,240 Speaker 1: up all of me. And I think that's allowed me 56 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: to you know, for the with the highs and the 57 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 1: lows of my career. You know, it's always interesting when 58 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: when you get in entertainment because people are kind of 59 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: short training, because you use the word intelligence just smarts, 60 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 1: because some people tend to think that there's a limit 61 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 1: to the abilities. And that's why I made sure I 62 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 1: put Harvard grad. If you had to put Harvard grad 63 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 1: actress singer, which one of those three would you be 64 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: most proud and be willing to brag about the most? 65 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 1: Oh good question. You know. I was talking to my 66 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: husband about this because, you know, Lonnie Guinier just passed. 67 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: She's a Harvard law professor. I knew about her growing up. 68 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:18,039 Speaker 1: You know, she worked in UH I think it was 69 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 1: Bill Clinton's administration. And I remember my first week at 70 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:25,280 Speaker 1: Harvard and she had just started her professorship there, and 71 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:30,719 Speaker 1: I saw her walk across campus and like, I've never 72 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 1: I've been rich. I've been kind of like starstruck twice 73 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 1: in my life, and they weren't entertainers. One was Macy Jamison. 74 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 1: I met her in an a CP function. I was 75 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 1: like eleven, and I really wanted to go to space 76 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 1: camp when I was a kid. That was like she 77 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:50,160 Speaker 1: was everything, Like I had her poster on my well. 78 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: And then the second time was when I saw Lonnie 79 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: Guinier on campus, and I don't know what it is. 80 00:04:56,480 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: I think I think there's something about those women, you know, 81 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: exceeding the expectations of their society, kind of like just 82 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:23,039 Speaker 1: going after their dreams and then also giving so much 83 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:28,040 Speaker 1: to others in their work that that is what impressed 84 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: me as a as a as a young woman, and 85 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 1: so so in that thinking about that, maybe maybe going 86 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:39,600 Speaker 1: to school is the thing that I'm like, hey, I'll 87 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:43,559 Speaker 1: do that, because it was the thing that I really 88 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:48,600 Speaker 1: had to I was very deep in my music and 89 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 1: in touring at the time that I got accepted, and 90 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 1: I remember very distinctly having a meeting, you know, a 91 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 1: seventeen year old girl in a meeting with all these 92 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 1: executives saying, I guess what, I just got accepted to 93 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:05,159 Speaker 1: these different places, and I want to go, and then going, 94 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 1: what do you mean you want to go? Why do 95 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:11,119 Speaker 1: you need that? If you do that, then you can't 96 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: do this, which I'm so happy to see that now 97 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 1: that's just kind of an unacceptable thing to say to 98 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 1: a young person, but I think, you know, back then 99 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 1: it really was people really thought like, oh, school was 100 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 1: something to fall back on. And I always had this 101 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 1: very deep, just like an intuitive understanding that why wouldn't 102 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 1: you want me to go to school? Why would you 103 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:36,480 Speaker 1: why why would an artist not need to be educated? 104 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 1: Why would you not need to know what you're saying? 105 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:46,599 Speaker 1: What you're contributing how and so yeah, that was a 106 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 1: long answer. The beauty of it is like my degree 107 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: is in mathematics and know my minors and sociology and uh. 108 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 1: And so when I would whenever I tell people, despite 109 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 1: all the success I have, you know, whether it's managing 110 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 1: Steve have you step they Smith for doing movies, uh, sitcoms, 111 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 1: when I tell people I have a math degree, it 112 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 1: almost shuts the room down a little bit. Humh and 113 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 1: so so because people don't expect that. They expect what 114 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 1: they expect when you say, if you're an athlete. You know, 115 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 1: that's why applaud Lebron James so much. I applaud you 116 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 1: because one can stand that lane, because sometimes that lane 117 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 1: can box you in, because people can throw fear at you, 118 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 1: said no, no, no no, if you go do this, 119 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 1: you can't do this. And guess right, you went there 120 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 1: did that and guess what I'm interviewing about a very 121 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 1: great movie on Lifetime original called band is Searching for 122 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 1: My Sister. So it didn't stop you from achieving a 123 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 1: continued level of success in the entertainment the world. That's 124 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 1: why I really feel as a blessing. And you know, 125 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 1: my question is just to ask and just to get 126 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 1: you to think about it, because I commend you. I 127 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 1: applaud you because that's a decision you had to make. 128 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: You had to get up, you had to open up 129 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: that book. You have to stay committed, and you could 130 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 1: have turned and ran off. And so I don't want 131 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:00,240 Speaker 1: to do this. Just look, find me a stay age, 132 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: find me a script so I can go in a 133 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 1: short term success. You know, you can get in and whoa, 134 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 1: I'm a star game. But you walked on that campus 135 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:13,119 Speaker 1: and basically became a student, and that's a blessing. Yeah, 136 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:15,880 Speaker 1: it was, and it was a it was a culture 137 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 1: shot because all of a sudden, you know, well I 138 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 1: had been working for so long and and going to 139 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 1: school at the same time. But I had tutors, I 140 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 1: had you know, I was in studio school, so all 141 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 1: of a sudden, to be given a syllabus, I was like, 142 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 1: I remember, I remember even when I wore like I 143 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:38,600 Speaker 1: had two types of clothes in my wardrobe. I had 144 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:43,199 Speaker 1: rehearsal clothes and athleisure wasn't a thing that you know, 145 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:46,719 Speaker 1: rehearsal clothes, and then I had like super fancy like 146 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 1: show out so I even had to go and like 147 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 1: go to the store with my mom when we first 148 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 1: got you know, into Cambridge, and like just buy some jeans, right, 149 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 1: did they have to style? I really I love the 150 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,559 Speaker 1: fact you said you had two outfits because basically, in 151 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 1: the movie Vanished, you're playing two roles, and basically it's 152 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:12,560 Speaker 1: two outfits. There is one of this humble, you know, 153 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 1: studious type person. That's why I love this thing because 154 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 1: it kind of blends your life, you know, because you 155 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 1: were just this this, this outrageous not since the outrage it, 156 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:23,959 Speaker 1: but you was this actor, this entertainer that was kind 157 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 1: of like one twin sister. And then this this, this 158 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:31,839 Speaker 1: this Harvard student was the other sister. So basically I'm 159 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 1: not saying, basically, you lived this life, but now you're 160 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 1: living it to the extremes in a movie. What what 161 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 1: attracted you to this project? I love the idea of well, 162 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: it's it's actually based on a true story. So Um, 163 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 1: a woman actually did do this. Her twin sister had disappeared. 164 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:56,839 Speaker 1: Her twin was an ex addict. She kind of had 165 00:09:56,840 --> 00:10:00,439 Speaker 1: a harder life than than um than her sister stir 166 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 1: and Um, but they were very, very close and her 167 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:07,439 Speaker 1: sister went missing and her her twin, the twin that remained, 168 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 1: UM just would not allow her sister to not have 169 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:18,440 Speaker 1: justice or to not be found. And I loved that 170 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:24,199 Speaker 1: part of the story especially. You know, UM, black women 171 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:26,839 Speaker 1: disappear a lot. A lot of people have been talking 172 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:29,960 Speaker 1: about that, and you know, the efforts that are made 173 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 1: to find them or to find out what happened to 174 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 1: him sometimes just aren't there. And I think that was 175 00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: the case with this woman, and she just wouldn't stand 176 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: for that. She made sure that her sister's life mattered, 177 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:44,320 Speaker 1: and I was really attracted to that. Also, was really 178 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:48,439 Speaker 1: attracted to just the challenge of playing these two totally 179 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 1: different women who grew up in the same home but 180 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 1: took completely different paths in life. UM. That was really 181 00:10:57,240 --> 00:10:59,679 Speaker 1: exciting and also kind of scary because I've never I've 182 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 1: never on anything like that before, and the sister who's 183 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 1: an ex addict Kayla m. I very rarely get the 184 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 1: opportunity to play UM women like that, and I really 185 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:14,080 Speaker 1: I loved her. I wish I could have played her 186 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 1: more in the in the movie. Actually, well you know 187 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:19,319 Speaker 1: that I thought you gotta play You did a great 188 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 1: job because you got to play both sides of it. 189 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:24,959 Speaker 1: And the thing about it that I enjoyed because I've 190 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 1: been fortunate to, you know, do that twin role production wise, 191 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:31,080 Speaker 1: and I know, and you have to you have to 192 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: do the lines and you have to do the other lines. 193 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: You it's really it looks like it's easy, but it's 194 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: really difficult. At what time did you you know, when 195 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 1: you're dealing with that split personality and and and and 196 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 1: laying it out, what challenges did you face and playing 197 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 1: both roles, especially when you the characters were talking to 198 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:55,120 Speaker 1: each other. Yeah, there's, um, it's you know, a million 199 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 1: challenges different. Do you know, the work that I would 200 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 1: usually do going into a film, the character development that's 201 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:06,079 Speaker 1: all of that is times too, and then times three 202 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 1: because I then am alone working on the relationship between 203 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:14,680 Speaker 1: the two sisters. Usually, you know, I might have my 204 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 1: guests or my instincts and what a relationship is in 205 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 1: a story, but I have another actor that I can 206 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 1: uh you know, consult with and vibe off up and 207 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 1: figure it out with. But with them, you know, it's 208 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:31,319 Speaker 1: just me creating this relationship. I worked with really great 209 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:35,080 Speaker 1: stand ins who, um, they were just excellent and just 210 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:38,240 Speaker 1: like with their with me on that um. But yeah, 211 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: the split screen work was that was a beast. And 212 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: you know, we made this movie in three weeks, which 213 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 1: is it's a truncated schedule to be plaiming two characters. 214 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:53,079 Speaker 1: And so there were many days where I was um 215 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 1: both Kayla and Jada on the same day, and I 216 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: really relied on makeup and hair and and the costumers 217 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 1: who are incredible to just I love to make of 218 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:08,679 Speaker 1: an hero room. That's like my safe space. When I 219 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:11,120 Speaker 1: would switch from one to the other, they were just 220 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 1: they were I had the most beautiful souls to work 221 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 1: with and help me through that. We will be right 222 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 1: back with more money making conversation with Rushan McDonald. Now, 223 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: let's return to money making conversation with Rashan McDonald. If 224 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 1: anybody is ever questioning the athleticism of Ali not in 225 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:37,559 Speaker 1: this Once you watch this particular movie, this young lady 226 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 1: jumps over a head. I mean I felt out, you know, 227 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 1: I played it back. I played the back. I laughed, 228 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: So I said, well, this is this is awesome. You 229 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 1: jumped over that book. You know. The thing about it 230 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 1: is I loved it because that's how as you, as 231 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 1: you say, a black woman acts when they see their 232 00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:02,319 Speaker 1: babies in danger. You did like a black woman, like 233 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 1: my momble like my son. See somebody out there messing 234 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 1: with their kids. Jim, you got out there. Now, let's 235 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:13,320 Speaker 1: talk about was that? Was that just? Uh? Because it 236 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: was it in the way? Could you have went around 237 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 1: that scene? It was amazing, it was It was great, Diana. 238 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 1: I'm not even telling it was amazing that you did it. 239 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 1: It felt so real, It felt like you were in 240 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 1: the moment and its soul that scene. It's funny that 241 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: you bring that up, because when we were shooting it, 242 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 1: I remember the director going, you know, he was, he 243 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: was like, we got this. He's like, I want you 244 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 1: to come out the door, and I just want you 245 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: to make a beeline. I don't want you to go 246 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 1: to the sidewalks. It seems too far. What do you think? 247 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 1: But this hedge is in the way, and maybe we 248 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 1: could just have them cut it down or something so 249 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:50,520 Speaker 1: you could run through it. I was like, do you 250 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 1: know what I would do? Because you know, I'm a 251 00:14:57,160 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 1: mom and even before I was mom, I had a 252 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 1: puppy who ended up on the outside of offense. Luckily, 253 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 1: my children have never been in this kind of dangerous situation. 254 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 1: So I haven't had that experience yet, for you know, 255 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 1: hopefully I pray that I won't. But I had a 256 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:22,000 Speaker 1: puppy who was outside a much taller offense and the 257 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: traffic was rushing back and forth, and I jumped over that, 258 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 1: I mean sense it was about four ft tall, and 259 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 1: got my puppy and then was locked out of my house, 260 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 1: Like how did I do that? I can't get back 261 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 1: in because your adrenaline is rushing and and all that. 262 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 1: And so I'm glad, I'm glad. I'm I'm telling you something. 263 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 1: I'm talking to Aid the Athletic, the Olympic, you know, 264 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 1: the hurdler, the hurdler, the hurdler, you know, talking about 265 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:56,160 Speaker 1: her new movie Lifetime, which premier is Saturday, January twenty second, 266 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:59,360 Speaker 1: van ished searching for my sister. I tell you something, 267 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: what I I watched a lot of movie, read a 268 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 1: lot of books. I I always get a kick out 269 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 1: of moments like this where they seemed you know, all 270 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 1: of it, just saying is this You were so natural 271 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 1: when you did that moment? If it sold me. Not 272 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 1: only I was bought in, I bought into the movie, 273 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 1: but that moment showed me a level of commitment because 274 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 1: you know, you could just see some people when they 275 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:25,080 Speaker 1: try to do something they're not used to doing. When 276 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 1: you did that, I went wow, I didn't expect that. 277 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 1: But guess what, her children were in danger. And then 278 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 1: you had some great, great, great other people starting is 279 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 1: but girl, jas mcguy and Tretch and all everybody nature 280 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 1: frame that for me right there? Boy? You know, like 281 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 1: I said, let's let's talk about acting with them. I 282 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 1: know you have a history with them. You we've seen 283 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 1: them all on TV and movies over the years and 284 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 1: watching performing on stage in the case of Tretch. Talk 285 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 1: about bringing that all together because it really did sell 286 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: a CD community versus the world that you lived in 287 00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 1: and allowed you to understand. And also I felt dangerful you. 288 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:07,160 Speaker 1: I felt that you you were stepping too far out, 289 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: young lady. You need to shut it down. You need 290 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:11,440 Speaker 1: to shut it that. Do you know who you at? 291 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:14,879 Speaker 1: So talk about that those experiences allowing them to build 292 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:18,920 Speaker 1: that real culture of credibility to you walk in both worlds. 293 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:24,119 Speaker 1: I I just absolutely loved this cast. Every every single body, 294 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:29,080 Speaker 1: I mean every single person. Um Tretch, who is you know? 295 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:30,919 Speaker 1: I think the first time I met him, I was 296 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:36,800 Speaker 1: like fifteen or sixteen. Um, and he is just the kindest, 297 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:42,399 Speaker 1: He's so lovely and he there's actually a scene in 298 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:46,359 Speaker 1: the club where he sort of, you know, grips up 299 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:50,560 Speaker 1: my character against the wall. And he's such a good actor. 300 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:55,199 Speaker 1: I you know, after they yelled cut, I had to 301 00:17:55,560 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 1: take some time because he really hear me. Um, he 302 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 1: really did. He was just he was so so incredible 303 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:09,400 Speaker 1: and not just on set, but the way it reads 304 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:13,920 Speaker 1: on camera. Um, um, even when you watch it, he's 305 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 1: he can be terrifying. He's a very good actor and 306 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:19,440 Speaker 1: he's not like that. It's all in your life, Jasmine. 307 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: This was my This is the third time I've got 308 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:23,879 Speaker 1: a chance to work with her, but definitely the most 309 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:28,520 Speaker 1: intimately that I've worked with her before. And it's hard 310 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:33,159 Speaker 1: sometimes to not like fan fan out on somebody even before, 311 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:36,760 Speaker 1: but you know, I'm in these intense scenes with her 312 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:42,960 Speaker 1: and I'm thinking about, like, um, Harlem Knights. She's this 313 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:48,679 Speaker 1: this phenomenal like powerhouse actor and actually that role was 314 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:52,399 Speaker 1: meant for a man initially, that's how it was written. Um. 315 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 1: And they didn't change anything. They just brought her into 316 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:58,479 Speaker 1: it and she she kills it. She killed it. I 317 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 1: loved I loved working with her. So any that's the thing, 318 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 1: is like any kind of difficulty or whatever that I 319 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 1: was having, um or or the challenge that I was 320 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:11,119 Speaker 1: having playing the two characters. Once I got to set 321 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:14,120 Speaker 1: and I just worked with all of these incredible actors 322 00:19:14,160 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 1: that are in it, um yeah you could, I could 323 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:21,080 Speaker 1: just play. We know. The interesting thing about the whole 324 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 1: reason I bring up the other whether it's traps and 325 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:27,720 Speaker 1: other people were performing in this particularly this wonderful movie, 326 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:31,480 Speaker 1: is that I felt your frustration. Okay, it had credibility. 327 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 1: I felt that when you felt they don't they weren't 328 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:37,920 Speaker 1: doing enough. I felt you had crossed the line many times. 329 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:40,640 Speaker 1: But if you crossed the line many times, and so 330 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 1: that that that tells me good acting, good directing, good 331 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:49,240 Speaker 1: good character development. And overall the projects sold me on 332 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:52,439 Speaker 1: the fact that you just wanted justice for your sister 333 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 1: and and also for her daughter, also for your daughter, 334 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:00,879 Speaker 1: and there was a love story. I I felt it 335 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:04,920 Speaker 1: was a love story wrapped into this in a sea line, 336 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:07,879 Speaker 1: a sea level storyline that that in the end it 337 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:10,679 Speaker 1: placed itself out. And uh talk about that because I 338 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 1: felt that, you know, we kind of miss when you 339 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:15,879 Speaker 1: get into these stories are a type of violence. But 340 00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:18,159 Speaker 1: it was a love story to me. In your relationship 341 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 1: with your ex, Yeah, that was an interesting, um part 342 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:28,920 Speaker 1: of this. My the main character, Jada, her ex husband. 343 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:32,679 Speaker 1: You know, they have a very strange relationship. They certainly 344 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:35,120 Speaker 1: they have a they still have a love for each other, 345 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:41,159 Speaker 1: but their relationship didn't work out. And um, over over 346 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:44,920 Speaker 1: the course of the story. You know, at first, he's 347 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 1: an antagonist to what she's trying to do. He's like, 348 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 1: you are not being a mother right now, and you're 349 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:55,520 Speaker 1: spiraling yes, And I think at one well I won't 350 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:59,679 Speaker 1: tell that part, but um, they end up, you know, 351 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 1: he ends up really coming through. I think in a 352 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:06,359 Speaker 1: way that that was probably missing in their relationship before. 353 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: And I I just I like that part of the story, 354 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:16,160 Speaker 1: that sort of family part of the story, not with 355 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:21,679 Speaker 1: her husband, with her daughter, with her niece Justice. You know, 356 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:26,119 Speaker 1: I don't know, like the way we love. I like 357 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:30,239 Speaker 1: seeing that black love black. I enjoyed seeing that. I 358 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:32,960 Speaker 1: enjoy he's a handsome guy. You're a very beautiful young 359 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:35,800 Speaker 1: lady playing a role that that that the child who 360 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:39,800 Speaker 1: plays your daughter is incredibly beautiful. It was just really 361 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 1: that's what I love about what I enjoyed seeing television nowadays. 362 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:47,440 Speaker 1: You know, there's the diversity and the commercials and they 363 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:50,680 Speaker 1: acting and their roles that I knew black people wouldn't 364 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:53,399 Speaker 1: be having five years ago and now being cast in 365 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 1: and I can enjoy myself watching these love stories. They're 366 00:21:56,600 --> 00:21:59,920 Speaker 1: not They're not one off. They're not doing Black History 367 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:03,879 Speaker 1: on or not doing June doing June Team celebration. I 368 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 1: can watch them anytime. This is this is a problem 369 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 1: the most part I've ever had on the Christmas break 370 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:13,720 Speaker 1: because I saw so many wonderful cast black lead casting 371 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:17,399 Speaker 1: roles by blacks who were just being themselves. And then 372 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 1: the see you are wonderful talent, and that's what that's 373 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:23,359 Speaker 1: a Black excellence. I really teach and talk about to 374 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:26,920 Speaker 1: my my listeners. Who are HBCU campuses and fortunate to 375 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:32,480 Speaker 1: broadcast on eighteen HBCU campuses sixty nine stations nationwide, but 376 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:37,200 Speaker 1: therese eighteen HBCU campus from from Howard to Clark Atlantic University, 377 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 1: spell Month to Texas Southern to Boone Cookman fam You 378 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 1: so I have such a wonderful reach. What are your 379 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 1: thoughts when you talk about black excellence? As we close 380 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 1: out this interview. Tatiana You you you you you started 381 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 1: as a young person. You you know, your your your wife, you, 382 00:22:54,119 --> 00:22:58,400 Speaker 1: your mother. You're incredible actors who have made this transition. 383 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:01,720 Speaker 1: You're educated, you got a degree. What is black excellence? 384 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:11,920 Speaker 1: Black excellence to me is having the courage to be 385 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:23,480 Speaker 1: being courageous enough two um to dream your your most 386 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:28,879 Speaker 1: outlandish dreams and then not only dream them, put to 387 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 1: set out and manifest them and make them real. And 388 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:42,399 Speaker 1: you know, oftentimes the really outlandish dreams are the ones 389 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:51,399 Speaker 1: that affect your community, affect the world, um, also affect 390 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:54,880 Speaker 1: your family. They're not just your own good fortune. When 391 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:58,720 Speaker 1: you materialize them, when you're able to make them come true, 392 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:05,280 Speaker 1: they they bubble over and they, um, you know, change 393 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:09,119 Speaker 1: the world around you. My goodness, she's a track star, 394 00:24:10,080 --> 00:24:15,960 Speaker 1: she's a singer, she's an actress. She was a hurdle. 395 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 1: I'm telling you something. Well, y'all see that moment. Put 396 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:21,680 Speaker 1: put it on pause, playing back. It is actually her 397 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:25,439 Speaker 1: top thing on the leete brilliantly acting didn't what you 398 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 1: didn't see was was was was the hotel I needed? After? 399 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:38,200 Speaker 1: Oh don't don't, don't leta understand that, because I'm telling 400 00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:41,960 Speaker 1: something when she leaped that John Hage, I'm telling it's 401 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:44,200 Speaker 1: not a low hedge, just a hedge. I just went. 402 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:46,720 Speaker 1: I'll tell you something. It was one of the great 403 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:49,440 Speaker 1: moments of me watching television and films to watch a 404 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:52,639 Speaker 1: brilliant actress just just do what she has to do 405 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:55,440 Speaker 1: to just sell her character. And uh. She plays two 406 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:59,119 Speaker 1: characters in this series, Jada and Kayla in the wonderfully 407 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:03,080 Speaker 1: Lifetime original movie Vanished Searching for My Sister, which premier 408 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:06,160 Speaker 1: is January twenty two pm seven Central. Thank you tot 409 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 1: Down for taking the time to talk to my fan 410 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 1: base talk to me. What a great interview. I really 411 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 1: appreciate you. Thank you so much. I appreciate you too, 412 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 1: and much love to everybody out there. But stay safe 413 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:21,800 Speaker 1: and keep your head up doing all this. You know 414 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 1: you got a home out here. I Rushan McDonald money 415 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:27,800 Speaker 1: may come. Say any project you do with this charity, solo, whatever, 416 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:29,800 Speaker 1: bringet over to the home over here, okay, and I 417 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 1: appreciate Yes, yes, absolutely, thank you. Bye bye, We talk soon. 418 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:34,560 Speaker 1: Bye bye.