1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:03,440 Speaker 1: My guess is Alicia Wainwright. A little background on her 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 1: Haitian Jamaican received a degree in botany at the University 3 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 1: of Florida. She also worked in Panama for the Smithsonian. 4 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,480 Speaker 1: Now she's an actress who currently starts on the hit 5 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: Netflix series Raising d M, which is trending by the way, 6 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 1: season two officially on Netflix. The hitting Netflix series is 7 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: executive deduced by Michael B. Jordan and Charles D. King 8 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: good Friend of Mine, and it's based on the comic 9 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:33,200 Speaker 1: book series of the same name, Raising d M. Raising 10 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 1: Deon little background on the show, uh follows the story 11 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: of Nicole played by Alicia Waite Right and her son 12 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 1: Dion Josiah Young after Dion starts to manifest several mysterious 13 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,879 Speaker 1: superhero libilities. If you saw the first season, she was 14 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 1: she was tormented by that. You know, a lot of 15 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: tears flowed for her in that first season, a lot 16 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 1: of crime. Two years later, now after defeating the Crooked Man, 17 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 1: and he's back. Jason Ritter is back, but we want 18 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: to be really in the details of how he's played 19 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 1: out in the second season. Season two follows DN as 20 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: he continues honing his pals with the support of his mom, 21 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:11,559 Speaker 1: and a new potential love interest that'sn't introduced on the show. 22 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:15,399 Speaker 1: But please welcome to money Making Conversation Master last incredibly 23 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: talented by the way, talented Alicia rngway. How are you doing, Alicia, 24 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 1: I'm doing very well. Thank you so much for that introduction. Well, 25 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 1: you know, Alicia, I got to see you. Um, I 26 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 1: saw you know in the first season, and um, everything 27 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: is by growth and everything is by natural. But last night, 28 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 1: you know, I got to see the finale last night, 29 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:38,119 Speaker 1: So it was just so happened this weekend. I was like, oh, 30 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: it popped on my radar to start watching and this 31 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: interview wasn't even scheduled yet, and so I started watching it. 32 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 1: And you are a natural. I don't know, you know, 33 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: I want to say a complimented because I want to 34 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: insult anybody out that acting. But there's something there's a 35 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 1: quality about your acting. There's really seems so that conversational. 36 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 1: Can we talk about that and talk about you know, 37 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 1: because you started over here in science and now you're 38 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: in acting. I started in math and now I'm entertaining. 39 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:08,640 Speaker 1: Talk about that journey a little bit. And also what 40 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 1: did you hone your acting skills. UM, Wow, thank you. 41 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: I would say that I think one of the benefits 42 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 1: I have in my acting career is that it's not 43 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: my first career. I was able to live a full 44 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 1: life UM with you know, travel and and kind of 45 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: immersing myself in the science world, and along the way, 46 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 1: I just learned a lot about life. I learned a 47 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 1: lot about myself. And you know, some of my peers 48 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: who were trained very classically in UM acting in theater, 49 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 1: they have a different set of skills that can maybe 50 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 1: give them a different range. But for me, the ability 51 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 1: to be like very natural and authentic is probably one 52 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: of my Like I don't know, it's like the best 53 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 1: I have to offer. But yeah, I would say that 54 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:12,919 Speaker 1: that having you know, a life outside of entertainment has 55 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:18,399 Speaker 1: absolutely helped shape my skill set. Whereas UM, a lot 56 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 1: of my peers they learn on the job. You know, 57 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 1: their life was was kind of the career that they 58 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: made for themselves, so they didn't get the chance to 59 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 1: maybe travel for pleasure or you know, have outside interests 60 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 1: beyond things that were completely focused on acting, if that 61 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: makes sense. So where did the acting training come from? 62 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: For you? Okay, we got that, we got the Education Universal, Florida, 63 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: says Botany the life experience in Panama. One of your 64 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: places where you was at Smithsonian Where did they acting 65 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 1: start to develop with high school college where Um, So 66 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: I took an acting class when I was in college. 67 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: I think it was called acting one oh one for 68 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 1: non majors it was, and there was like that, you know, 69 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: it's pretty much you know. It was at an elective 70 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 1: class that I took and the teacher thought I was 71 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 1: really bad, and like it was just it didn't necessarily 72 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: make me feel like this was something I could ever 73 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 1: take seriously. But it was my first real attempt at 74 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: like is this something that I like? But I kind 75 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: of got shot down. UM. And then later on when 76 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: I ended up leaving UH the Smithsonian and leaving kind 77 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:31,359 Speaker 1: of my work as a scientist and moving on to 78 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,920 Speaker 1: actually wine, I thought I wanted to be a winemaker, 79 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 1: and so I was living in Sonoma. I met a 80 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:40,679 Speaker 1: couple of people who steered me towards an acting class 81 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:44,039 Speaker 1: UH in San Francisco at the time, and so I 82 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 1: started taking classes there for UM beginners and then quickly 83 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: got a sense of the things that were making me 84 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: seem very green. UM that I just didn't know because 85 00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 1: I didn't have the education and acting um. But it 86 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: was incredibly impactful to me, and it helped give me 87 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,479 Speaker 1: a lot of the tools I use now whenever I 88 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:11,280 Speaker 1: approach you know, my work when it's interesting, because so 89 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 1: because I'm just trying to get to the root of 90 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: the acting. You know, because you took that class. It 91 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,360 Speaker 1: was a disaster in college, and then you over here, 92 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:21,479 Speaker 1: we want you brought to venture into wine making here 93 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 1: and then somehow you take this acting class in the 94 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 1: San Francisco area. Was it always in the back of 95 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 1: your mind something that's a child that you thought about doing? 96 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: Because I was. I would tell you, like personally, I 97 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 1: chose his career as a stand up comedian, But I 98 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: never thought about that at all in my life. It 99 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:40,280 Speaker 1: was just something. I went to college and it fell 100 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:42,719 Speaker 1: into my life and I loved it, even though I 101 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 1: pursued I got the math degree. But after I worked 102 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: at Ivan a couple of years, I went, this is 103 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 1: not what I want to do from a creative standpoint. 104 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:52,720 Speaker 1: I realized I was boxed in. It feels like creatively 105 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 1: that's what was that what drove you to acting? Uh? Okay, 106 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 1: So when I was maybe five, I was in a 107 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 1: public grocery store and my woman had suggested to my 108 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:08,919 Speaker 1: mom to maybe take some pictures and put me into 109 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: some kids modeling. Um, but she's a single mom and 110 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:15,480 Speaker 1: you know, carding your kid from Fort Laud Adults Miami 111 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: for auditions and stuff. She quickly learned that that's not 112 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 1: a kind of lifestyle she was interested in. So I 113 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:24,279 Speaker 1: had the understanding and the taste of it very early on. 114 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 1: But then my mom was like, you know, it's a 115 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 1: better use of my money and time to put you 116 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 1: in karate and gymnastics and tennis and all of these things. 117 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: So I had a very well rounded up bringing that 118 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:38,160 Speaker 1: had nothing to do with acting, but I still had 119 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: that little nugget in the back of my head. So 120 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: as time we're on I kept, you know, looking for 121 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 1: someone to validate the curiosity I had. And every time 122 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 1: I would do that, people would be like, what are 123 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 1: you doing, Like, you're stay in your lane. And it 124 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 1: wasn't until I moved out to the Bay Area that like, 125 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 1: basically I had to hey money for a class for 126 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: someone to look at me and be like, no, we 127 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:07,679 Speaker 1: actually I think there's something there. And I just latched 128 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: onto that teacher's encouragement and my peers in the class 129 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: their encouragement. And I used that to kind of catapult 130 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: myself forward. When when did the lightbulb go off for you? 131 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 1: As far as acting, I'm speaking right now to Alicia 132 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 1: wain't right, one of the stars of an incredibly popular 133 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: series of Netflix li Flix Skulls, Raising Dion. She plays 134 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 1: ther mom to the character Dion. It's a very fun 135 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: take on raising the family she's parenting. Uh continue and 136 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 1: he was who's now has superpowers? How do you handle 137 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: that as a parent? You know, when when you know 138 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 1: that kid can blow through a wall or a fly 139 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 1: around the room, and all these different skill set that 140 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 1: this young boy has. So it's a really fun take 141 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 1: on that. But I want to say something about your mom. 142 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 1: She may not have taking you down between Fort Laudo 143 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 1: Dale in Miami, but she did set you physically in 144 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 1: the right way, taking these karate classes, taking these tennis classes, 145 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: because you're really physical, especially in the second season. Talk 146 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 1: about that. I mean, so, the showrunner, Carol Barbie, and 147 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 1: I have such a great rapport and initially when the 148 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 1: show was first written, before I even became attached, the 149 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 1: character was a dancer, and for me, dance is not 150 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: the most accessible skill. I do think I have rhythm 151 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 1: and whatnot, but like you got a walk, now you 152 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: got that walk, Now you got you, you got a 153 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:35,839 Speaker 1: bowl walk about you? You know, like okay, okay, I 154 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:39,199 Speaker 1: learned that for the character, you know, and like I 155 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:43,199 Speaker 1: I did what I could to use the feeling that she's, 156 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 1: you know, a dancer, but you know, Nicole's character has 157 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: been classically trained in modern dance for many, many years, 158 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: and that's just something you can't pick up in uh, 159 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 1: in a couple of months. So the showrunner, who absolutely 160 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 1: felt for me and how hard I worked for the dance, 161 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:02,160 Speaker 1: she knew that I had aways been interested in boxing 162 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 1: and uh, you know that sort of aspect of like 163 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 1: stunt work and stuff. So she was like, this is 164 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 1: a fantastic way to incorporate into Cold more into the 165 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:16,079 Speaker 1: storyline because she can be a little bit more defensive. 166 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: And it made sense that if there's a two week, 167 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 1: two year hiatus between season one and season two, Nicole 168 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 1: would be doing everything she could to be the best 169 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 1: version of herself, and that includes taking self defense classes 170 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: and boxing classes and things like that. So it kind 171 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:33,400 Speaker 1: of all kind of fell together. But yeah, I've I've 172 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 1: always been a pretty athletic person. I ran track in 173 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:39,960 Speaker 1: in high school. I mean I run now, and I've 174 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 1: picked up boxing later in life. But it's such a 175 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: fun tactile skill. And you know, if you're interested in 176 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:50,199 Speaker 1: action shows and stuff like that, you end up carrying 177 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:53,440 Speaker 1: that with you from show to show. Well, it's fun 178 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:57,360 Speaker 1: because the reason I liked it the physicality being introduced 179 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,559 Speaker 1: with you boxing, and you know, because you are going 180 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,800 Speaker 1: to fight and I always, I always do. Okay, where 181 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 1: did you get that skilled from? Where? Where did that 182 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 1: pop up from? What did that ability to fend off 183 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: people pop up from? But I see it when you 184 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 1: when you're you, you're hitting the bag. You know you 185 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 1: you look like you're looking athletic. You don't look like 186 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 1: a weak mom or complaining mom because the first season 187 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 1: and no complaints. You know, you're very emotional the first season. 188 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 1: A lot of tears, A lot of tears flowed for 189 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 1: you in the first season because he was caught off 190 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:29,240 Speaker 1: guard by all these skills. You know, the dad was 191 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 1: out of this young man's life. What do I do 192 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:34,200 Speaker 1: if it was like a classic character going a fish 193 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:36,439 Speaker 1: out of water? That this is not the life I expected, 194 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 1: you know, if my life has been flipped upside down, 195 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 1: That to me was the first season and the second season. 196 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 1: It feels like you understand your life, you're trying to 197 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:47,120 Speaker 1: still trying to take control of you, like because you're 198 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 1: still trying to be a parent to this young budding superhero. 199 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: But the physicality was brought in because certain scenes required, 200 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 1: and I felt it was authentic your thoughts, well, thank 201 00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:04,319 Speaker 1: you for saying that. And and I think the showrunner, 202 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 1: you know, season one was kind of written as a character, 203 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 1: and then over time I infused myself into season one 204 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: season two. I feel like the showrunner really wrote the 205 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 1: show knowing like Alicia Waynewright's sort of interest and skill set. 206 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 1: So I think, you know, season one, she is very emotional, 207 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: she is very raw because she has a lot being 208 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,560 Speaker 1: piled onto her. But then season two she has that 209 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:36,840 Speaker 1: confidence of a having defeated something that was an incredible obstacle. 210 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 1: And then to her kid is living, he's thriving, and 211 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:43,960 Speaker 1: so she she has a job, she has disposable income, 212 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 1: like she's able to provide for her kid in the 213 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:51,600 Speaker 1: way that she wasn't even thinking she could do. Season one. 214 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 1: So you know, in those two years, she's taken so 215 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:57,120 Speaker 1: much and made so much more out of it. And 216 00:11:57,160 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 1: I think when you know you have that drive and 217 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 1: you have that confidence, it's kind of the baseline for 218 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:05,719 Speaker 1: your success in life. And I think you see that 219 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 1: at the beginning of season two. We'll be right back 220 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:14,199 Speaker 1: with more Money Making Conversations Masterclass with Rushan McDonald. Now, 221 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: let's return to Money Making Conversations Masterclass with Rushan McDonald. 222 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 1: Ji Young, the young man who plays the role of Dion. 223 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 1: Talk about him. Uh, I know this is this He's 224 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:29,200 Speaker 1: not he's not part of this anyvie, but he's part 225 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:32,840 Speaker 1: of this interview. Your role in just communicating with him, 226 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 1: being a parent, being trying to keep structure in an 227 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 1: unreal world, and but also realizing that romance is coming 228 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:44,600 Speaker 1: back into your life and dealing with that as a 229 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 1: person who wants to expand your emotional life, but the 230 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: primary emotion has always been your son. Talk about your role, 231 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: Josi Young, Well, I mean just I they found him. 232 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 1: You know, they did a huge, huge nationwide search for 233 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 1: for this character, and they found him, and he was 234 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 1: so raw and so fresh, and I think as the 235 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 1: years have gone on. It's been really beautiful to see 236 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 1: him grow and not only grow in his skills, but 237 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 1: grow in his confidence and in his understanding of how 238 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:22,959 Speaker 1: the industry works. And you know, he has a great 239 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 1: support system in his family, and I think working with 240 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 1: child actors, it's really important to have parents that are 241 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 1: very hands on, who are very um encouraging of their 242 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 1: kid and creating a safe space because the industry is 243 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:40,960 Speaker 1: a lot, you know, especially now with social media and 244 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 1: like the things that these kids can read on the 245 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,840 Speaker 1: internet and the things that they can learn about themselves 246 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 1: from people that they don't know. I think you have 247 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 1: to have a really strong foundational like boundary systems set 248 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 1: by the parents to make these kids happy and healthy 249 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 1: because it's a lot of exposure, especially now with social media. 250 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:03,679 Speaker 1: But you know, being his mom has been so much fun, 251 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:06,679 Speaker 1: and it's just it's gotten i want to say, it's 252 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:10,840 Speaker 1: almost gotten easier over the years because as he's gotten 253 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 1: more comfortable and he's just kind of dialed in, like 254 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 1: his professionalism, it's just flows very smoothly. That first season 255 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 1: was a little hard because it's almost like you're teaching him, 256 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 1: so he's learning and then he's also performing, so the 257 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 1: weight on his shoulders was just insane. It's an it's 258 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: an insane expectation to put on one child for six 259 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:36,760 Speaker 1: months who has never done this before. And so we 260 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: try to approach him with like joy and grace and 261 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 1: the best we could. But like, I know it was 262 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 1: really hard for him, and I know it was really 263 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 1: hard for his family to like watch him have that 264 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 1: weight on his shoulders. But the season too, he just 265 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:56,760 Speaker 1: he just absorbed it. And it's just such a little 266 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 1: man now, and it's kind of it's kind of crazy 267 00:14:59,880 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 1: to see because it's like who are you? You know, 268 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:05,120 Speaker 1: Like when I met you, you didn't know some of 269 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 1: the most basic things, and like here you are like 270 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 1: just kind of nailing it. And he's really honed in 271 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 1: his skills. And I don't know, I'm really proud of him, 272 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 1: and I'm proud of the show that we make because 273 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, like this's his his 274 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 1: real life, you know, and he's growing and he's learning 275 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: and he's creating the core of who he is now. 276 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 1: And that's kind of what I always you know, people 277 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 1: are always like it's you know, never work with kids, 278 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 1: never work with animals. But like I do think like 279 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 1: when you work with kids, Okay, but like when you 280 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 1: work with kids, you really have to remember like they're 281 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 1: little people, and the things you do and say around set, 282 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 1: they're going to carry with them for a long time 283 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 1: and it's going to shape the way to think about 284 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 1: the industry, the way they think about themselves. So as 285 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 1: best as I could, I tried to, like, you know, 286 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 1: participate in an environment where he was happy and could 287 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 1: thrive and do really good work. So I I do 288 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 1: hope that that translates on screen. But does you know 289 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 1: outside of work, he's just this weekend? Well, is it does? 290 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 1: Because your relationship you know, at the beginning of the interview, 291 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: I was just talking about how talented you are as 292 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 1: far as the little nuances, especially in your relationship and 293 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 1: parenting him. I really believe there is a there is 294 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 1: a mom's son parent or relationship there that's played out 295 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:29,560 Speaker 1: because you have your face. You make little gestures and 296 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: your face, with your eyes, with your lips, with your nose. 297 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 1: It is you know. I'm not saying you're you know, 298 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: you're twinkling your nose like you make somebody disappear. I'm 299 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 1: just saying that you play more into the reality of 300 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: what's more than what's written, and that is so special. 301 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 1: And I always say, when I'm watching television, I'm watching 302 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 1: a movie and somebody's making me smile because they've stepped 303 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: beyond the pages and they're entertaining me. You do that 304 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 1: so well, and and I do see you being the 305 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 1: next ten years state. Of course you already start. And 306 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 1: I've been blessed to be able to see this happen 307 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 1: over the last thirty years and just to see it 308 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 1: on this screen one episode after the next episode. That's 309 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 1: the one thing about Benji Benjes allows you to just 310 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:17,639 Speaker 1: really chart the person's progress through the series, how they 311 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 1: develop characters. And you do such an amazing job those nuances. 312 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:24,040 Speaker 1: And I'm sure I'm not the only one that's telling 313 00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:28,000 Speaker 1: you this. When people talk about your future in this business, 314 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 1: Alicia wain't right, what are your thoughts? Wow, dang, I mean, 315 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:39,359 Speaker 1: thank you for saying that. I think that's so generous. 316 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 1: When a generous thing to say, I I would say, like, 317 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:47,320 Speaker 1: you know, putting your head down and doing the work 318 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: and not um, doing your best to not let the 319 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:57,400 Speaker 1: nose um make you feel like your dreams are not possible. 320 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:03,800 Speaker 1: I think as you climb up the ladder of roles 321 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:07,240 Speaker 1: and projects and things like that, it never gets easier, 322 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:11,159 Speaker 1: and there's always something higher than what you're doing. And 323 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:15,239 Speaker 1: I think I've learned that this feeling will always be 324 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:18,119 Speaker 1: there in in in my industry, And so if you 325 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:22,200 Speaker 1: don't stop and appreciate what's happening to you right now, 326 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 1: your entire life will constantly be looking for the next 327 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:32,399 Speaker 1: rung of the ladder. And I try very hard to 328 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:38,240 Speaker 1: approach each day like it could go away and this 329 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:41,400 Speaker 1: could be the best it could ever get. So that 330 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: being said, how do you make your time on set 331 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:48,600 Speaker 1: the most pleasurable? How do you form these connections because 332 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 1: you might never see these people again, maybe the show 333 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 1: doesn't get renewed. Like That's kind of how I approached 334 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:58,359 Speaker 1: my work because I have seen careers evan flow, and 335 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:01,679 Speaker 1: if you can't just roll with it but continue to 336 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:05,359 Speaker 1: do your best work, um, you could find yourself reflecting 337 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 1: on your life and your career and feel like, you know, 338 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 1: I didn't really enjoy it, And I do feel like, 339 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 1: you know, I've had ups and downs in my career, 340 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 1: but I ultimately am very passionate about what I do 341 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 1: and I enjoy what I do um and I think 342 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 1: if you keep doing that, you're successful. It's just inherent. 343 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 1: And so of course I have big, lofty dreams for myself, 344 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:33,440 Speaker 1: but I can look at myself right now and feel 345 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 1: very satisfied. Well, I'm very satisfied that you are a star. 346 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:39,920 Speaker 1: I'm very satisfied and say that and tell that to 347 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 1: anybody who speaks. You know, the second scenes of Netflix 348 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:46,480 Speaker 1: of Raisin Deon only magnifies what I'm saying, because the 349 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:49,119 Speaker 1: opportunities and I'm gonna get past this pandemic and I'm 350 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:51,399 Speaker 1: gonna just see one or two, one or two movies 351 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:53,600 Speaker 1: and releases in your name just gonna be all over 352 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:56,160 Speaker 1: the deadline and variety. We'll be right back with more 353 00:19:56,200 --> 00:20:02,600 Speaker 1: Money Making Conversations Masterclass with Rushan McDonald. Now, let's return 354 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:07,200 Speaker 1: to Money Making Conversations Masterclass with Rashan McDonald. I do 355 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: want to talk about a couple of more characters in 356 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 1: Raising Dion to Uh. It's the second season I called 357 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 1: it is that Rome Flynn. He plays your love Inch 358 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:18,280 Speaker 1: was Kevin and then you. Then your older sister just 359 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 1: camps herself into your life player by playing you. She's 360 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 1: so funny because I'm a big fan of her from 361 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:25,480 Speaker 1: Bowlers and when she walked through that that just my 362 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:29,560 Speaker 1: girl from Ballers and uh and so talk about their 363 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:32,520 Speaker 1: relationship because it's in't a jobable series. Like I said, 364 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:35,160 Speaker 1: every episode would like that for me. And I got 365 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 1: to the finale, I was thoroughly satisfied. And it sets 366 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:41,240 Speaker 1: up for another great third season coming up. They they've 367 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 1: already set it up, y'all when this episode and you 368 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:48,879 Speaker 1: know it's the third season and the characters crazy powerful. 369 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 1: So talk about the other two co stars. So Rome 370 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:57,359 Speaker 1: came on very late. We almost weren't sure we're gonna 371 00:20:57,359 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 1: be able to get him because he was on a 372 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:04,840 Speaker 1: show that kept getting delayed for COVID uh, and so 373 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:06,359 Speaker 1: we weren't sure it was going to work out. At 374 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:08,480 Speaker 1: the last minute it did. So I actually didn't meet 375 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 1: him for the first time until we were on set, 376 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 1: and he immediately in real life took to Josiah and 377 00:21:18,760 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 1: made it his priority to be almost like a real 378 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 1: life best friend mentor to him. And so that I 379 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 1: think so easily made him fit into not only the 380 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 1: shows like outside experience with the cast, but also what 381 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:44,639 Speaker 1: you see on screen. Because Nicole appreciates Tevin because of 382 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:47,880 Speaker 1: what he offers Dion and how much he cares about Dion, 383 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:50,399 Speaker 1: And I think, like it would it just warmed my 384 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 1: heart to see how much Rome really took to Josiah 385 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:56,920 Speaker 1: and like made it his priority to like spend time 386 00:21:56,960 --> 00:22:00,920 Speaker 1: with him and play with him and be his friend. 387 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 1: So Rome is a solid one for that and like 388 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:06,200 Speaker 1: really took that on and I think it translates on screen. 389 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 1: And I mean, Jasmine, Jasmine Simon, she is what's what 390 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:14,400 Speaker 1: we do on set is how we are outside of set. 391 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 1: She's always she's not She's like a couple of years 392 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 1: older than me, but she just has always treated me 393 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:23,560 Speaker 1: like a big sister with that big sister energy and 394 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:26,200 Speaker 1: is like giving me a hard time all the time. 395 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:28,679 Speaker 1: And I think that, you know, she's teasing me in 396 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:30,760 Speaker 1: this way that only a sister ken And it just 397 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:34,800 Speaker 1: really comes on screen so perfectly for how we are 398 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 1: in real life. And I think, I think, what's what's 399 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:41,360 Speaker 1: fun about that is is it feels very authentic. And 400 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:43,879 Speaker 1: we used to the showrunner would joke that, like she 401 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:46,520 Speaker 1: wants to make a mini series of just you know, 402 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:50,679 Speaker 1: Nicole and and her sister Kei King on the Couch 403 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 1: because we do get a lot of pleasure out of 404 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:59,000 Speaker 1: those scenes. Is amazing. Like I said, The Raising Dione 405 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 1: is season two on Netflix. To noteworthy executive producers on 406 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:06,159 Speaker 1: this series names you maybe you may know Michael B. 407 00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:11,680 Speaker 1: Jordan and the incredible producer. Uh, this amazing African American guy, 408 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:14,919 Speaker 1: black guy, Charles D. King. How he's just flipped the 409 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 1: script on Hollywood and bringing tremendous black content at the screen. 410 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:22,960 Speaker 1: One of the leaders in bringing black content the screen. 411 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:25,560 Speaker 1: And he's doing a big time. But he needs talent 412 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:28,840 Speaker 1: to do a big time and he's found the brilliant 413 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:32,080 Speaker 1: young actress. Because she's young and because she has a 414 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:35,000 Speaker 1: lot of years in front of Alicia Wainewright. Uh, she's hey, 415 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:37,119 Speaker 1: she's you're making. She had a degree in botani at 416 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 1: the University of Florida. She worked in Panama to Smithsonian. 417 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:42,960 Speaker 1: Now she is a star in Hollywood. I want to 418 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 1: thank you for coming on Money Making Conversation Masterclass, Alicia. 419 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:49,480 Speaker 1: I appreciate you so much. Thank you for taking the time. 420 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 1: If you want to see or hear any of my interviews, 421 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:55,400 Speaker 1: please go to Money Making Conversation dot com. I'm Sean McDonald. 422 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 1: I am your host.