1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:03,840 Speaker 1: Noon Weight uses psychology to help people everywhere learn about 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 1: their eating habits. Eating is my love language. Yep, sure 3 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:10,640 Speaker 1: as I say yes to seconds out of guilt, it's 4 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: hard to say no to Aunt Jenny's banana pudding. Wait, oh, fog. 5 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: Eating happens to everybody, what we know. It can be 6 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: a lot to take in, but with the help of 7 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: noon Weight, you'll learn the psychology behind your eating habits, 8 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: how to change them, and get closer to reaching your 9 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: weight law schals. Sign up at noon dot com. I'm 10 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: Tanya Sam, host of the Money Moves Podcast powered by Greenwood. 11 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 1: This daily podcast will help give you the keys to 12 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 1: the Kingdom of financial stability, wealth and abundance with celebrity 13 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: guests like Rick Ross, Amanda Sell's angela Ye, Roland Martin, JB. Smooth, 14 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 1: and Terrell Owens. Tune in to learn how to turn 15 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 1: liabilities into assets and make your money moved by subscribe 16 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 1: to The Money Moves Podcast powered by Greenman on the 17 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio app or wherever you get your podcasts, 18 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: and make sure you leave a review. We've all felt 19 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: left out, and for people who moved to this country, 20 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: that feeling lasts more than a moment. We can change that. 21 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 1: Learn how a belonging begins with us dot org. Brought 22 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 1: to you by the AD Council. Welcome to Money Making Conversations. 23 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 1: It's the show that she has the secrets of success 24 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: experience firsthand by marketing and Brandon expert Rashan McDonald. I 25 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 1: will know he's given me advice on many occasions. In 26 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: occasion didn't notice, I'm not broke. You know. He'll be 27 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 1: interview with celebrity CEOs, entrepreneurs and industry decision makers. It's 28 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:39,399 Speaker 1: what he likes to do. It's what he likes to share. 29 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 1: Now it's time to hear from my man, Rashan McDonald 30 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 1: money making Conversations. Here we come. Welcome to money Making Conversations. 31 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: I am your host, ros Sean McDonald. I say this 32 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: every week. It's time to stop reading other people's success 33 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,559 Speaker 1: stories and start writing your own. People talk about gifts, 34 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 1: they talk about passions. If you have a gift, lead 35 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 1: with your gifts and don't let your age for his 36 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: family or coworkers stop you from planning or living your dreams. 37 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 1: My interviews on money Making Conversations include celebrity CEOs, entrepreneurs, 38 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 1: and people I like to call industry decision makers. My 39 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,959 Speaker 1: next guest is Melissa Haslet. She is an award winning filmmaker. 40 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 1: Melissa has no when I say that from a producer 41 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 1: director right of the award winning docu series that I 42 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: just recently saw, Mr Soul. The film as Soul is 43 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 1: now available on HBO Max, one of my favorite channels. 44 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 1: Melissa has Lipping spotlights the groundbreaking variety show Soul with 45 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 1: an exclamation mark. It's very important that brought out because 46 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 1: that was one of the keys to the show being 47 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 1: on television and the enigmatic, enigmatic producer and host, Ellis 48 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: has Slipped. The late Ellis has Melissa's uncle. Ellis was 49 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 1: a DC native and graduated from the Howard University. Now, 50 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 1: before Oprah, before Arsenio, there was Mr Soul. Ellis America's 51 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 1: first black Tonight show. The series among the first to 52 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:01,680 Speaker 1: provide expanded images of Africa and Americans on television with 53 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 1: participants and regulations and eliminating archival clips. Mr Soul Capture 54 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 1: is a critical moment in our culture where impact continues 55 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: to resonate and an unsung hero, that's him whose voice 56 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 1: we needed and then and guess what we needed today? 57 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 1: That's the importance of this documentary. Please working to Money 58 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 1: Making Conversation and we discussed how dreams are built. Miss 59 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 1: She's she's the writer, she's the director. Melissa has Lip, 60 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 1: how you doing in my friend. Hey, great to see you. 61 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: Thanks for having me. I'm so excited to talk about 62 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: Mr Soul with the inflamation mark exclamation mark. You know, 63 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 1: it's really important that uh, you know, first of all, 64 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,119 Speaker 1: thank you for coming on Money Making Conversation, Melissa. When 65 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: I see a show like this, and you know, I 66 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 1: just want to say, it's like, you know, I've lived 67 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 1: a good life and I hope to live a continue 68 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 1: to live a good life. When I see shows like 69 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: this and I kind of missed it. I didn't see 70 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: it when it was on, and even though I was, 71 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 1: I should have seen it was on PBS, it was 72 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 1: on regular TV. We didn't have cave back then. It 73 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 1: was on the Channel eight in Houston, Texas. That was 74 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 1: my channel. That was my PBS channel. So I sure 75 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 1: have saw seeing us this show. But I also business 76 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: trying to see blacks on other network shows. On the 77 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: Tonight show, you know Ed Sullivan, Uh, you know the 78 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:16,919 Speaker 1: Julia you know all these shows that that when we 79 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: saw it, we ran to the television said and told 80 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 1: all our black friends, oh, black person on TV. And 81 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 1: it's really is true, that really did happen like that 82 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 1: and uh and so we were inspired that and that's 83 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: why black music was so important, because we could see 84 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 1: and feel our stars. And when it came to town, 85 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:34,719 Speaker 1: we showed up. Now, when you came about this, you know, 86 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 1: he's a relative of yours, welcous through the steps of 87 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 1: this being brought to your attention and how was it 88 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 1: brought to your attention, Mrs soul And there's early steps 89 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 1: of getting it to where we have it now on 90 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: HBO Max. Yes, well, it's been a long journey. Um 91 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: started making the film over ten years ago, so you 92 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 1: can imagine that's definitely a labor of love, but also 93 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 1: a labor of love for the culture. It's a love 94 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 1: letter to black culture, to black arts, you know, to 95 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:07,480 Speaker 1: black lives, everything that really matters today. What we wanted 96 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 1: to do was to tell the story of you know, 97 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:14,799 Speaker 1: this is sort of a cultural moment visually that happened 98 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 1: before Soul Train, and everyone kind of thinks that our 99 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 1: visual history, you know, on television and in the media 100 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:24,720 Speaker 1: started with Soul Train. And it's important to recognize that 101 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:28,839 Speaker 1: Soul was a television show, as you mentioned, that was 102 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: on PBS nationwide from nine to nine three, and that 103 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 1: those were really critical moments in which we were trying 104 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 1: to reimagine ourselves on this cultural landscape and this American 105 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 1: landscape and on the heels of the civil rights movement. 106 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 1: Jim Crow segregation so much, and so the idea that 107 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:54,720 Speaker 1: you could have a full black experience on TV in 108 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:58,040 Speaker 1: your living room, you know, at a moment when they 109 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: weren't really feeling us because you know, segregation and Martin 110 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:05,159 Speaker 1: Luther King had just been assassinated. Was a very very 111 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:09,160 Speaker 1: volatile time. Um race relations were not great as we know, 112 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 1: uh in night. So here you have this extraordinary show 113 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: that really reaffirms black beauty, black strength, black love, black 114 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 1: sister and brotherhood. Then amazing soul music with artists you've 115 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:28,720 Speaker 1: never seen before on television for the first time. We 116 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: have a fire for the first time, the first time 117 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:37,480 Speaker 1: Patty Blue Bells. You know, it's crazy of this show 118 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 1: is that when I when I look at it, and 119 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: thank you, Melissa for just sending a tone of what 120 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:45,840 Speaker 1: we're gonna be talking about. It was set in New York. Correct, Yes, 121 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 1: it was on PBS out of the flagship PBS station 122 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: in New York, which is w n ET Channel thirteen. 123 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:56,840 Speaker 1: But it was at the beginning of public broadcasting, so 124 00:06:56,960 --> 00:07:01,160 Speaker 1: it was creating a national black audience when when there 125 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:04,279 Speaker 1: really wasn't PBS just at that moment, until the National 126 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 1: Broadcasting Act created PBS and suddenly you had stations connecting 127 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 1: all around the country and everybody was getting to see, 128 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: you know, black people on TV, right because you only 129 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 1: had ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS, so those were the 130 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: only options on television and just it was monochromatic. There 131 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: were no black people on television pretty much. So that's 132 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,520 Speaker 1: why this show means so much to look back and 133 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: understand what was sol about and how did it interrupt 134 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 1: television as we know it and change the perception of 135 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 1: African American culture and black making black beautiful we know. 136 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 1: I'm talking to Melissa here and she's the writer and 137 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: director of the disappeared on HBO Max. It's called Mr. 138 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 1: Souls docuseries. Like you said, the series is on television 139 00:07:55,720 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 1: PBS seventy three and involves a host by Elise He 140 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: was he was not a guy who wanted to be 141 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 1: a comedian, wanted to be a singer. He was another guy. 142 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 1: He was a guy who was a producer. And and 143 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 1: then I would let to watch the docuseries and see 144 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:14,600 Speaker 1: how he became the actual host of the show. But 145 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 1: he became a host from a standpoint of he followed 146 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: his creative vision. In other words, when she talks about 147 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 1: this show, the typical artists who appeared on the typical ABC, NBC, 148 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 1: and CBS were performers, they were singers, they were comedians, 149 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: they were actors that were not traditional to the you 150 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:36,560 Speaker 1: know so the But on his show, Mr Soul, he 151 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: had dancers, he had poets, he had individuals. Yet interviews 152 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:47,320 Speaker 1: that would never ever the old mainstream television period wouldn't 153 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 1: be touched by the news, by the news. And so 154 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 1: it's important that we set that stage because of the 155 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: fact that why my why am my interview? Why is 156 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 1: the importance of Mr Soul? You have a show that 157 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 1: was kind of it was funded by the government because 158 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 1: old PBS. No, that's our shows get old pbs. They 159 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:06,960 Speaker 1: have to get funded by the government. And because otherwise 160 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 1: it would not have been funded or produced or picked 161 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 1: up on traditional ABC, NBC, UH, CBS affiliates, and those 162 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:17,200 Speaker 1: were the dominant channels at the time. I'm just let 163 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 1: they just take some young people back to that era. 164 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: And when television went off back then, it went off. 165 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 1: I mean once the flag started, it just go and 166 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 1: you had a dial tone that came on your screen 167 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 1: and that was it. Okay. Once you saw the flag, 168 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 1: you were done with watching television that night. That's the 169 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 1: era we're talking about, not the era of your phone, 170 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 1: not the streaming and digital and all these different channels 171 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 1: on cable and direct TV. When television went off in 172 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: the t six they're off. It went off, and you 173 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 1: had to go to bed. Uh you looked around and 174 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 1: your parents looked at it and wonder why you were 175 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:03,680 Speaker 1: still up because the flag has said go to bed, 176 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 1: Am I not right to listen? It never lied said. 177 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: And so you had this wonderful show called Mr. Soul 178 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:17,439 Speaker 1: come on television and UH give us a little background 179 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 1: on that. The purpose and then the fact that he 180 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 1: is a relative of yours and you graduate as well, 181 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 1: and uh of Howard University in Washington, d C. Talk 182 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 1: a little bit about him, because he was a courageous person. 183 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 1: He was a creative person, but he didn't seek the limelight. 184 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 1: That's right. Ellis Hazel was my uncle, and he really 185 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 1: believed in the elevation of black culture. He believed that 186 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:51,680 Speaker 1: liberation came from freedom of expression, being able to express 187 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:55,080 Speaker 1: them to ourselves and be our true black selves, you know, 188 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:58,319 Speaker 1: not somebody else's definition of who we are. And that 189 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:01,920 Speaker 1: was really radical because Black Power, the Black Panthers, that 190 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:05,320 Speaker 1: was just starting to happen. And here tons this producer 191 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 1: who nobody knows and he's totally in the background, but 192 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 1: he believes if you can just make black culture visible, 193 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 1: black artists and black politicians, you know, controversial figures like 194 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 1: the Black Panthers, but also artists that you would only 195 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 1: hear on the radio or see if you were lucky, 196 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 1: you might see them on the Chitlin Circuit, you might 197 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,680 Speaker 1: see them at the Apollo, but otherwise you only got 198 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 1: to hear them on the radio. So imagine getting to 199 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 1: see people for the first time and see groups like 200 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 1: Cool in the Gang, Earthwhen and fire Al Green. You know, 201 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 1: jazz artists like Max Roach, McCoy tyner, Uh, you know, 202 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:50,199 Speaker 1: people that you you might know a little bit about, 203 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: but we're literally getting their television debut, because I have 204 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 1: to remember, this was before SoulTrain, and there wasn't a 205 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 1: model for this. So here comes Las hazelap who is 206 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 1: kind of a fish out of water. He's never been 207 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 1: on television before, but he's a theatrical producer and he 208 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:10,840 Speaker 1: believes in black culture. He believes in black dance, black poets. 209 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 1: He puts Nikki Giovanni in an interview with James Baldman, 210 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 1: and many people have seen that because it went viral 211 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 1: on television. I mean sorry, it went viral on social media, 212 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 1: but nobody knows that that came from Seul. So the 213 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 1: series itself was called Soul, and then Ellis Hazel became 214 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 1: known as Mr Soul because his last name, Hazel was 215 00:12:31,679 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 1: hard to pronounce him. They would see him walking in 216 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 1: Harlem and they go, there goes um, there he goes 217 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 1: the Soul. Yeah, Mr Soul. Let's Mr Soul. So let's 218 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: tectually known as Mr. Soul. So that's why we've been 219 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,959 Speaker 1: not that title. He deserved that title. And the thing 220 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:51,439 Speaker 1: about it, the primary purpose of Soul was to educate 221 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 1: entertained and a lot of people to share in the 222 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:56,560 Speaker 1: black experience. That's why I was on PBS. That's how 223 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:59,680 Speaker 1: we sold as an educational platform, and it made black 224 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:02,839 Speaker 1: visable in the society where blacks had been invisible. When 225 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 1: I say that, like she said, you know, it was 226 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:10,320 Speaker 1: a pretty dark period for black um civil rights. You know, 227 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:13,439 Speaker 1: uh John F. Kennedy had been shot in the sixties. 228 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 1: You know, Robert Kennedy had been shot in the sixties. 229 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,960 Speaker 1: Of unfortunately, also Dr Martin Luther King had been shot 230 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 1: in the sixties. Black blacks were lost, they had no voice. 231 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 1: And then this show called Soul and that's a soul 232 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 1: with an exclamation mark came on television, um, and and 233 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 1: it allowed, like you said, this image that has been traded. Also, 234 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 1: we had Vietnam War playing on the background, and we 235 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:43,320 Speaker 1: had this uh Richard Nixon presidency planning out in the background. 236 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:46,840 Speaker 1: There's a lot of behind the scene activity that goes on, 237 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 1: and we hear the world Council culture. You see high 238 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:53,480 Speaker 1: Council culture plays itself out in this Doctor series. Of 239 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 1: all the things that you were doing in the value, 240 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 1: like said, ten years to do this, what surprised you 241 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 1: the most and what maybe say disappointed you the most 242 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:06,320 Speaker 1: that the series wasn't appreciated enough and how i'd ended, 243 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:09,319 Speaker 1: if you can talk about that. I think what surprised 244 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 1: me the most and interviewing people who were either on 245 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 1: the show or people who were behind the scenes, like 246 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 1: Stan Lathan. Amazing director Stan Lathan got his start on Soul. 247 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 1: Many people don't know that he became famous when he 248 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:25,280 Speaker 1: moved to l a and started directing Sanford and Son 249 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: and all this everything that's happened since then. Now he's 250 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 1: directing Dave Chappelle series. You know. But stan Lathan cut 251 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: his teeth learning how to direct on Soul and l. S. 252 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 1: Hays have always provided these opportunities for people who wouldn't 253 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 1: have them. You know, you didn't have black directors back 254 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: then on national television, and you didn't have black associate 255 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 1: producers or women. So Ellis changed all of that. He said, 256 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 1: you want to be an actress, come work with me 257 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 1: as an associate producer and I'll help you become an actress. 258 00:14:55,880 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 1: That's Anna Maria Horsford from Amen, you know. And and 259 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 1: it's just amazing that he was always pushing the culture 260 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: and pushing opportunities for people. And what what surprised me 261 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 1: fifty years later is that it's still right here. It's 262 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 1: still very very emotional for people that that like it 263 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 1: just happened, like this was a moment in their career 264 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 1: that they will never forget. And so that energy because 265 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 1: I was worried, you know, I was fifty years ago 266 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:28,320 Speaker 1: and I was hoping. I was worried, how am I 267 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 1: going to convey that kind of vibe like it's happening today? 268 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 1: So it doesn't feel like we're just looking back and 269 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 1: being nostalgic. And what surprised me was like all those 270 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:42,680 Speaker 1: emotions were right on the surface and that everybody was 271 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 1: so invested in the show, and that when it was canceled, 272 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 1: you know, it left a hole, it left avoid because 273 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 1: there was no way to feel our true power in 274 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 1: a way that was unfiltered and unapologetically black. You know, 275 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:03,800 Speaker 1: the show started to come on, um uh, you know, 276 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 1: different types of talk shows and black power shows, guil 277 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 1: noble how to show like like, it isn't this show. 278 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 1: It wasn't this show. And I think that's important that 279 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 1: we say that because the fact that host wasn't wasn't 280 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 1: born out of entertainment. He was born out of creativity. 281 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 1: He's born out of production. And like you said, this 282 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 1: project has been. And then the hairstyles, Oh my goodness 283 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 1: that oh you know, like I said, uh, you know 284 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 1: those things that they had to be perfect. You have 285 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 1: the perfect hairstyle. Is But you touched on some of 286 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 1: your conversation about the presence of women as producers in 287 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 1: the background of development, which we see now African and 288 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 1: American women having such a prominent role as producers as 289 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 1: yourself being a producer, writer and creative minds. That's something 290 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 1: we need to bring out in this interview because you 291 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:59,760 Speaker 1: are female. And like I said, we mentioned Anna and 292 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 1: uh built it And I was kind of surprised, what 293 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 1: does that? And because I didn't know that about her? 294 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:10,360 Speaker 1: I didn't know she had was a right. I didn't 295 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:12,200 Speaker 1: know she was a producer. All I knew about it 296 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:16,119 Speaker 1: was as an actress. And so talk about seeing the 297 00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 1: layer of producers from a female perspective being the heartbeat 298 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 1: of this show so well, there was another producer who 299 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 1: became the first, the first woman and the first black 300 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 1: woman associate producer on the show, and her name was 301 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 1: Alice Hill Jackson. She's featured in our film. She was 302 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:39,440 Speaker 1: married to Hal Jackson, whom everyone and everyone would remember 303 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:42,359 Speaker 1: because he was such a force. He was also helping 304 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:46,680 Speaker 1: to um book talent and find great artists to perform 305 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 1: at the Apollo, and so she worked together with her husband. 306 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:53,560 Speaker 1: He also created uh the Black Teen America, the first 307 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:57,639 Speaker 1: sort of black teen pageants in America, and that was 308 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:00,960 Speaker 1: really important too. So you have these people who are 309 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 1: you know, kind of cultural pioneers leading these behind the 310 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:10,639 Speaker 1: scenes epic historic moments, and to have a woman like 311 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 1: that connecting with talent and bringing them on to the stage, 312 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:19,200 Speaker 1: that was really significant because there was a woman's movement happening, 313 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 1: but Black women were not included in that. You know, 314 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:25,480 Speaker 1: we're never included in this idea of we're feminists too 315 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 1: and we're pushing for our rights too. So Ellis always 316 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 1: knew that women were in the forefront, and that wasn't 317 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:37,199 Speaker 1: unusual to empower women. It just seems unusual when we 318 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:41,359 Speaker 1: look back now, when you realize nobody else was doing it. 319 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 1: It's finally here the season of celebration, and no matter 320 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:48,360 Speaker 1: how you celebrate with family and friends, whether you're preparing 321 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 1: for reys magos or Karamu lighting the Manura, are going 322 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 1: to midnight mass goals has just what you need to 323 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 1: make those traditions special Plus you'll find gifts for all 324 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 1: your loved ones end of warm wishes with cozy fleeces, sweaters, loungeware, 325 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:07,440 Speaker 1: blankets and throws. 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And we're live here outside the Perez family home, 335 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:43,600 Speaker 1: just waiting for the and there they go, almost on time. 336 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:46,400 Speaker 1: This morning. Mom is coming off the front door, strong 337 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:49,000 Speaker 1: with a double arm kid carry. Looks like dad has 338 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 1: the bags. Daughter is bringing up the rear. Oh but 339 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 1: the diaper bag wasn't closed. Tapers and toys are everywhere. 340 00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:00,960 Speaker 1: Oh but mom has just nailed a perfect car seat 341 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 1: buckle for the toddler. And now the eldest daughter who 342 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:07,080 Speaker 1: looks to be about nine or ten, has secured herself 343 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:09,800 Speaker 1: in the booster seat. Dad SIPs the bad clothes and 344 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:13,720 Speaker 1: they're off, But looks like Mom doesn't realize her coffee 345 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 1: cup is still on the roof of the car, and 346 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:20,159 Speaker 1: there it goes. Ah, that's a shame that mug was 347 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:23,359 Speaker 1: a fan favorite. Don't sweat the small stuff, just nailed 348 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:25,439 Speaker 1: the big stuff, like making sure your kids are buckled 349 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 1: correctly in the right seat for their agent's eyes. Learn 350 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:29,480 Speaker 1: more n h t s A dot gov slash the 351 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 1: Right Seat visits n h s A dot gov Slash 352 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 1: the Right Seat brought to you by Mitza and the 353 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 1: ad Council. Hi, everyone, Al Roker here as a guy 354 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:42,399 Speaker 1: with his own catchphrase. I appreciate that Smokey's only said 355 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:46,240 Speaker 1: only you can prevent wildfires, but I'm filling in because 356 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:49,159 Speaker 1: there's a lot more to report, like when they're parched 357 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:52,400 Speaker 1: her windy conditions out there. You gotta be extra careful 358 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 1: with things like burning yard wage. After all, wildfires can 359 00:20:56,359 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 1: start anywhere, even in your neck of the woods. Go 360 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:02,880 Speaker 1: to Smokey dot com to learn more about wildfire prevention. 361 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 1: Brought to you by the U. S. Forest Service. Your 362 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:08,120 Speaker 1: State Forrester and the ad Council. Me. So you said 363 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:11,959 Speaker 1: an interesting there, Hal Jackson, It's just the same Hal Jackson, 364 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 1: w BLS. Hal Jackson. Uh, he was at w b 365 00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 1: LS as well. Yeah, I know how that's just Steve 366 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:20,320 Speaker 1: Harvey and I would what w BNS from two thousand 367 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 1: five to two thousand and seven when he was doing Sundays. 368 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 1: That guy was amazing. He was truly, uh, legendary. But 369 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 1: I didn't know. I didn't know that so you brought 370 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:35,800 Speaker 1: it up. But again, walking in history, talking to history, 371 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:38,200 Speaker 1: being a part of history, how was in my life 372 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:39,879 Speaker 1: for two years when I was in New York with 373 00:21:39,960 --> 00:21:43,199 Speaker 1: Steve Harvey on WBLS and WE he was doing the 374 00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:45,679 Speaker 1: morning show and how I will do Sundays and we. 375 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:49,560 Speaker 1: He've always asked us to participate in community projects and 376 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:52,080 Speaker 1: that's important that you know when I know I've heard 377 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:54,159 Speaker 1: that name and go wow, this is pretty interesting that 378 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:56,920 Speaker 1: we are that connected in this relationship. But you brought 379 00:21:56,960 --> 00:22:00,040 Speaker 1: in Blair Underwood into the project. Was it important to 380 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 1: bring a name like that? How did he come into 381 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 1: the relationship as far as a producer? He also did 382 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:08,160 Speaker 1: emforcing on this series. Because this is ten years so 383 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: ten years you had the idea, can you just step 384 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:16,080 Speaker 1: us through, like when this stand getting saying Lathan get involved? 385 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:18,720 Speaker 1: When did Blair Underwood get involved? And when did you 386 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:21,120 Speaker 1: guys realize this project was going to be sold? Because 387 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 1: if it first was so to a PPS format? Correct, right, Well, 388 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 1: because the show originated on PBS, we thought it would 389 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:32,119 Speaker 1: be great to have a PBS premier as kind of 390 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:35,960 Speaker 1: a homecoming because nobody has seen Soul for all these years. 391 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:39,040 Speaker 1: It's been an a vault, you know, and I just 392 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 1: felt this show was made for the people, by the people. 393 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:46,240 Speaker 1: It was free. You know. Ellis has put the public 394 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:50,280 Speaker 1: in public broadcasting. He created a uh you know, it's 395 00:22:50,359 --> 00:22:53,679 Speaker 1: it's not down Nabby and it's not Sesame Street, but 396 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:56,679 Speaker 1: there is a black audience. There's a black nation, and 397 00:22:56,760 --> 00:23:00,119 Speaker 1: he knew that. He always knew that, and so it 398 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:02,399 Speaker 1: was important for us to have a PBS premiere and 399 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:05,639 Speaker 1: that happened during Black History Month and that was really 400 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: wonderful on Independent Lens and they will continue to show 401 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:11,440 Speaker 1: the film for the next two years every now and then. 402 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:14,399 Speaker 1: But what we wanted the film to reach a U 403 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:19,320 Speaker 1: a national audience as well. And HBO Max is an 404 00:23:19,359 --> 00:23:23,000 Speaker 1: incredible platform for that um. And it happened as well 405 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:27,320 Speaker 1: when the nation was pivoting from the theater to digital 406 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:32,040 Speaker 1: and streaming, especially during COVID, and we just thought, well, 407 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 1: what would Ellis Hazel do. He would be on the 408 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:38,000 Speaker 1: cutting edge of content delivery and trying to reach the 409 00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:41,479 Speaker 1: people just liked back in the seventies and in the 410 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 1: seventies he we didn't have social media, and so he 411 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 1: called it the drum. You know how an African communities, 412 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:49,679 Speaker 1: the drum was the message. The drum was how we 413 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:53,040 Speaker 1: got our message across, how we learned how we were 414 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:55,680 Speaker 1: going to break away from freedom when we were enslaved. 415 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:58,199 Speaker 1: And you know, there's a history of the drum. And 416 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:00,960 Speaker 1: so would go out and he would call it the drum, 417 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:03,480 Speaker 1: and he would canvass the black neighborhoods and say, did 418 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:07,359 Speaker 1: you see soul that you watching it? Thinking it? Is 419 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 1: it giving you what you need? What do you want 420 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 1: to hear? What do you like? What do you dislike? 421 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:12,879 Speaker 1: And so he was really a man of the people 422 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 1: and a man of the streets. So we thought, well, 423 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:17,919 Speaker 1: we got to honor that with the PBS broadcast, but 424 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 1: let's also honor the way people want to see content 425 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:24,119 Speaker 1: now on their phones, on their tablets and streaming at 426 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:27,399 Speaker 1: their own um, you know, their own time when they're ready. 427 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:30,640 Speaker 1: So HBO Max was really key for that. And they 428 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 1: are doing so much dynamic programming right now and they 429 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:36,960 Speaker 1: seem to be the most diverse of all the platforms. 430 00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:40,719 Speaker 1: You know. That was important to us too. How come 431 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:44,399 Speaker 1: on board and how they underway. So stan came on board, 432 00:24:44,680 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 1: uh and originally as an interview and we had to 433 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:50,919 Speaker 1: have stand because he's one of the original directors and 434 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:54,399 Speaker 1: some of the best episodes, the Earthen Fire episode, the 435 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:58,240 Speaker 1: al Green episode, you know, the Wonder episode, all of 436 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 1: those are stan leyths. So we interviewed him and then 437 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:04,159 Speaker 1: later on after he saw the film, he said, you know, 438 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:06,440 Speaker 1: I really believe in this film, Melissa. I can't believe 439 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:09,640 Speaker 1: you got it done. After which that year that I said, 440 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:11,680 Speaker 1: I would like to honor you in your connection and 441 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:16,399 Speaker 1: your career with this being your first job really to 442 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:20,680 Speaker 1: be to be an executive producer, and so he said, yes, absolutely, 443 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:22,959 Speaker 1: so he came on to executive produce and help us 444 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:26,440 Speaker 1: get it to the next level. Blair Underwood, we knew 445 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:28,919 Speaker 1: we needed the voice of Ellis Hay slope, and we 446 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:31,760 Speaker 1: wanted a man who kind of straddled that old school 447 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:35,760 Speaker 1: sound but also was totally connected with a contemporary audience. 448 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:38,840 Speaker 1: And and Blair has that. You know, I've loved him 449 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:41,440 Speaker 1: since l A Law. I'm not gonna lie, so I've 450 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:43,480 Speaker 1: been a big fan. But I also knew that he 451 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:47,800 Speaker 1: was a voice actor because he is on the A show. 452 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:50,800 Speaker 1: It's an animated show, by the way, he does a 453 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: lot of voiceovers. But he's also on the Lion king 454 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:57,480 Speaker 1: Um sequel called The Lion Guard, and I heard I 455 00:25:57,560 --> 00:25:59,439 Speaker 1: just happened to catch some episodes of that, and I 456 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:02,840 Speaker 1: thought out, he's really a great voice actor too. And 457 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:06,399 Speaker 1: we wanted somebody who would be the voice of Ellis Hazel, 458 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 1: but not a caricature, not like a like trying too hard, 459 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:12,520 Speaker 1: Like what would Ellis sound like if you were thinking, 460 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:17,359 Speaker 1: you know what, get that that interior blackness? Like you 461 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:19,679 Speaker 1: don't hear that a lot. You don't see it a 462 00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:21,399 Speaker 1: lot in films. You don't get to know what a 463 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:25,160 Speaker 1: black man is thinking. Right, And because he was an intellectual, 464 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:28,040 Speaker 1: I said, because he's deceased, were like, we have to 465 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:30,439 Speaker 1: give him a voice so it feels like he is 466 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:33,159 Speaker 1: with us. And he's leading his own story and telling 467 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:36,879 Speaker 1: his own truth. And one once Blair got involved and 468 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:40,760 Speaker 1: understood and after we we actually showed him the film, 469 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:42,600 Speaker 1: he fell in love with it and he said, I 470 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:45,160 Speaker 1: want to be executive producer and do all that I can. 471 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:50,720 Speaker 1: Now we're talking right, director of this series, Mr Soul, 472 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:55,880 Speaker 1: because uncle Ellis Hassle was the host of Soul, which 473 00:26:55,920 --> 00:27:00,640 Speaker 1: is abs show that ran from nine nineteen seventy three. 474 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:04,280 Speaker 1: Among the guests the show showcase included, like she said earlier, 475 00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:08,360 Speaker 1: Al Green, Stevie, Wonder Earth, Winning Fire Padded last Night, 476 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:12,440 Speaker 1: Mom and Adlie, author James Baldwin, and an intimate interview 477 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:16,440 Speaker 1: with Poe, poet Nikki Giovanni, Cicily Tyson, cooling the Gang 478 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:21,200 Speaker 1: and doing Magic, a young Arsenio Hall. This this show 479 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 1: was a very enlightening for me. The documentary I enjoyed 480 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:28,840 Speaker 1: from start to finish. When you walked through, you you're 481 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:31,760 Speaker 1: seeing history, and you're seeing history played out in New 482 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:36,199 Speaker 1: York keeping seeing history played out and dramatic and drama 483 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:37,719 Speaker 1: because you don't know if the show is gonna get 484 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 1: renewed and wise and the underhand politics that get played 485 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:44,000 Speaker 1: into the whole process and that and then you get 486 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:47,639 Speaker 1: to bring on talent that producers are EPs, like Stan Laken, 487 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:52,000 Speaker 1: like Burla Underwood and now it's being showcased on HBO Max. 488 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:53,920 Speaker 1: What's the next step for your brand and what's the 489 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:57,000 Speaker 1: next step for your production company? Well, we're also were 490 00:27:57,320 --> 00:28:02,399 Speaker 1: brought on the wonderful producer writer Emmy Grammy, No not 491 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:06,200 Speaker 1: Grammy yet, but Emmy winner Lena Ways, and she's one 492 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:09,879 Speaker 1: of our producers as well. We also as Ebert and 493 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:13,879 Speaker 1: It's and we have um just amazing people Stephanie Rants 494 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 1: from the Martha's Vineyard af American Film Festival and what 495 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:21,680 Speaker 1: we're working with Lena Waits and her brand new record 496 00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:25,600 Speaker 1: company called him and grad Records to help release the 497 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:28,880 Speaker 1: soundtrack of Mr. Soul and that's gonna come out via 498 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 1: def Jam and Universal Records. So we're just so excited 499 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:36,120 Speaker 1: because you know, music in the film is a character. 500 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:40,360 Speaker 1: You know, it's not like a backdrop or an underscore, 501 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 1: but black music is. And as Las hayes Up said, 502 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:47,920 Speaker 1: you know, the soul the floor for Black Pride, and 503 00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:52,120 Speaker 1: we really with Robert Glass for as our amazing composer 504 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:55,920 Speaker 1: and then he wrote a song for Leyla Hathaway and 505 00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:58,320 Speaker 1: that's the single that's gonna be dropping very soon called 506 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:01,360 Speaker 1: show Me Your Soul and that it was just a 507 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:04,600 Speaker 1: great song and it was shortlisted for the Oscars this 508 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:08,200 Speaker 1: year for Best Original Song. Well, the beauty of this 509 00:29:08,240 --> 00:29:11,760 Speaker 1: is that your production company, Shoes in the Bed Productions, 510 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:14,560 Speaker 1: like you said, your filmmaker, and that's your company that's 511 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:17,719 Speaker 1: with the company that produces this particular project. As I 512 00:29:17,760 --> 00:29:20,440 Speaker 1: closed this interview, and thank you for coming on my show, 513 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 1: thank you for give me an early view of the Mrs. 514 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 1: Soul docuseries, which is wonderful and in fact, when it 515 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:30,720 Speaker 1: comes on HBO Max, I'm gonna recommend my friends to 516 00:29:30,760 --> 00:29:32,760 Speaker 1: watch and put it on social media. Please get those 517 00:29:32,760 --> 00:29:34,400 Speaker 1: banners to me so we can put it out there. 518 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:36,720 Speaker 1: Any other projects in the works that we can look 519 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:39,320 Speaker 1: forward to seeing from your wonderful production company, Shoes in 520 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:41,960 Speaker 1: the Bed Productions, Well, she's a the bet is just 521 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:45,680 Speaker 1: doing this Mr Soul, John, But I am also working 522 00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:50,080 Speaker 1: on a new project with Netflix Exact Producing. Yeah, it's 523 00:29:50,120 --> 00:29:53,080 Speaker 1: a series about women in hip hop. Uh, it's really 524 00:29:53,120 --> 00:29:56,520 Speaker 1: the history of black womanhood in America, but it's explored 525 00:29:56,560 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 1: through the lens of women in hip hop. Their lives 526 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:00,760 Speaker 1: and their music. So you know, it's a year of 527 00:30:00,760 --> 00:30:04,960 Speaker 1: the Black Woman, Melissa. If you could turn that lands 528 00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:08,560 Speaker 1: on stan Lathan and slow him down, because that young 529 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 1: man right there is walking in history. Uh. People just 530 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:14,840 Speaker 1: don't understand. You know, he is truly a legend. I 531 00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:18,120 Speaker 1: call him the godfather when he when I came into 532 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:21,840 Speaker 1: Hollywood in four to be in a position to just 533 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:24,360 Speaker 1: not even understand who he was, but he was just 534 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:27,800 Speaker 1: so humble and good looking, and it was it was 535 00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:31,800 Speaker 1: We was on ABC. He was the director of Steve 536 00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:35,560 Speaker 1: Harvey's first sitcom Me and the Boys, and over the years, 537 00:30:35,640 --> 00:30:41,920 Speaker 1: the deaf comedy Jam. Uh, the Kevin Hart Project's on ABC. Uh, 538 00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:47,040 Speaker 1: The House Hollywood, Uh, Husband's Hollywood, Hollywood Husband or whatever 539 00:30:47,040 --> 00:30:49,800 Speaker 1: the title of it is. He that's him behind that 540 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:52,200 Speaker 1: and so many other projects not on this. Thank you 541 00:30:52,240 --> 00:30:55,280 Speaker 1: for coming on money Making conversations and talking about Mr 542 00:30:55,560 --> 00:31:03,000 Speaker 1: Soul hp HBO max u uncle graduating from HBCU Howard University. 543 00:31:03,040 --> 00:31:06,360 Speaker 1: Thank you for sharing this story. You're wonderful And again 544 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:09,320 Speaker 1: I will be promoting this on my social media, are 545 00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:12,760 Speaker 1: promoting this in my newsletter. Just the words out just 546 00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:15,720 Speaker 1: like him. You've missed so right, now okay you miss you, 547 00:31:15,840 --> 00:31:18,640 Speaker 1: Miss So. He's miss So. You missed, So I done, 548 00:31:18,640 --> 00:31:21,000 Speaker 1: miss so, miss So. Thank you for coming on Money 549 00:31:21,040 --> 00:31:24,440 Speaker 1: Making Conversations. Okay, Melissa, thank you so much for John. 550 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:27,240 Speaker 1: We will be right back with more money Making Conversation 551 00:31:27,360 --> 00:31:32,000 Speaker 1: with Rashan McDonald. You are now tuned into the Money 552 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:36,600 Speaker 1: Making Conversations Minute of Inspiration with Rashan McDonald. Hi, Rashan 553 00:31:36,680 --> 00:31:39,480 Speaker 1: McDonald for money Making Conversation with your daily minute of Inspiration. 554 00:31:39,840 --> 00:31:42,280 Speaker 1: This week, I sat down with the King of reality TV, 555 00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:46,120 Speaker 1: Carlos King. He's produced The Real Housewives of Atlanta and 556 00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:50,400 Speaker 1: created shows like Owns, Very Popular, Love and Marriage Huntsville. 557 00:31:50,600 --> 00:31:53,160 Speaker 1: He recently secured a first look deal with on where 558 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:57,200 Speaker 1: he will develop unscripted series for the network. My friends 559 00:31:57,240 --> 00:32:00,560 Speaker 1: and the business knew that I love reality TV, and 560 00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:04,680 Speaker 1: the first reality show I was offered, funny enough, was 561 00:32:04,760 --> 00:32:08,080 Speaker 1: The Real Housewife of Atlanta. It was a brand new show. 562 00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:11,560 Speaker 1: I think it's the gift of the fact that I 563 00:32:12,120 --> 00:32:18,000 Speaker 1: study people, so I know people, I know behavior, and 564 00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:22,960 Speaker 1: I know a star within my seconds of talking to that. 565 00:32:23,120 --> 00:32:24,920 Speaker 1: If you want to listen to this full interview with 566 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:29,000 Speaker 1: Carlos King, it's available on Money making conversation dot com. 567 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:32,080 Speaker 1: Look at your children's eyes to see the true magic 568 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:35,640 Speaker 1: of a forest. It's a storybook world for them. You 569 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:38,760 Speaker 1: look and see a tree, They see the wrinkled face 570 00:32:38,800 --> 00:32:42,200 Speaker 1: of a wizard with arms outstretched to the sky. They 571 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:45,400 Speaker 1: see treasure and pebbles. They see a windy path that 572 00:32:45,440 --> 00:32:49,760 Speaker 1: could lead to adventure, and they see you. They're fearless. Guide. 573 00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:53,240 Speaker 1: Is this fascinating world? Find a forest near you and 574 00:32:53,280 --> 00:32:56,320 Speaker 1: start exploring and Discover the Forest dot Org brought to 575 00:32:56,320 --> 00:32:58,880 Speaker 1: you by the United States Forest Service and the Council. 576 00:33:00,120 --> 00:33:03,840 Speaker 1: What grows in the forest trees? Sure no. What else 577 00:33:03,880 --> 00:33:07,400 Speaker 1: grows in the forest? Our imagination, our sense of wonder, 578 00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:11,000 Speaker 1: and our family bonds grow too, because when we disconnect 579 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:17,680 Speaker 1: from this and connect with this, we reconnect with each other. 580 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:21,280 Speaker 1: The forest is closer than you think. Find a forest 581 00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:24,640 Speaker 1: near you and start exploring. I Discover the Forest dot 582 00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:27,520 Speaker 1: org brought to you by the United States Forest Service 583 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:31,360 Speaker 1: and the ad Council. Look for your children's eyes to 584 00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:34,960 Speaker 1: see the true magic of a forest. It's a storybook 585 00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:38,120 Speaker 1: world for them. You look and see a tree, they 586 00:33:38,160 --> 00:33:41,480 Speaker 1: see the wrinkled face of a wizard with arms outstretched 587 00:33:41,520 --> 00:33:44,840 Speaker 1: to the sky. They see treasure and pebbles, they see 588 00:33:44,840 --> 00:33:47,960 Speaker 1: a windy path that could lead to adventure, and they 589 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:52,600 Speaker 1: see you. They're fearless. Guide. Is this fascinating world? Find 590 00:33:52,640 --> 00:33:55,320 Speaker 1: a forest near you and start exploring and discover the 591 00:33:55,360 --> 00:33:57,800 Speaker 1: forest dot Org. Brought to you by the United States 592 00:33:57,880 --> 00:34:00,760 Speaker 1: Forest Service and the AD Council. Now let's return to 593 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:04,520 Speaker 1: money making conversation with Rushan McDonald. My next guest is 594 00:34:04,560 --> 00:34:08,160 Speaker 1: Tina Andrews. She is an award winning writer, producer, director, 595 00:34:08,239 --> 00:34:12,200 Speaker 1: and author. Her epic CBS mini series Sally Hemmings and 596 00:34:12,239 --> 00:34:15,640 Speaker 1: American Scandal gardered her too in w A CP Image 597 00:34:15,640 --> 00:34:18,319 Speaker 1: Awards and the w G Award for Long Form, and 598 00:34:18,360 --> 00:34:21,200 Speaker 1: became the first African American woman to receive the Writer's 599 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:24,759 Speaker 1: Guild of America Honor for Original Long Form. Tina also 600 00:34:24,760 --> 00:34:28,680 Speaker 1: wrote and produced the successful CBS mini series movie Jackie 601 00:34:28,680 --> 00:34:31,520 Speaker 1: about Jackie Kenny on Nassas, and wrote the movie Why 602 00:34:31,560 --> 00:34:33,440 Speaker 1: Do Foods Fall in Love? One of my favorites, with 603 00:34:33,520 --> 00:34:37,799 Speaker 1: Halle Berry, Vivica A. Fox, Layla Rashawn, and my Man Lorenz. Tate. 604 00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:42,600 Speaker 1: Her acclaimed historical novel by Queen Charlotte Charlotte Sophia has 605 00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:45,719 Speaker 1: been acquired by HBO. Max is now available as an 606 00:34:45,719 --> 00:34:49,080 Speaker 1: audiobook as well. It's all about building your brand, and 607 00:34:49,160 --> 00:34:52,160 Speaker 1: she's here to tell hers how she's doing hers. Please 608 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:58,200 Speaker 1: working the money making conversations. Tina Andrews, Hi, there, how 609 00:34:59,040 --> 00:35:01,400 Speaker 1: so much for having me? Well, you know, I always 610 00:35:01,480 --> 00:35:04,760 Speaker 1: always love um when I weed talent, because you're African 611 00:35:04,800 --> 00:35:09,360 Speaker 1: American talent. But I see crossover opportunities like we like 612 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:11,920 Speaker 1: we saw with the with the Jackie A. Nassas, can 613 00:35:11,960 --> 00:35:14,279 Speaker 1: you because we sometimes we get pigeonholed, people said, we 614 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:16,840 Speaker 1: can't tell we can only tell the story based on 615 00:35:16,880 --> 00:35:19,680 Speaker 1: our color. When you got that opportunity to do the 616 00:35:19,760 --> 00:35:23,640 Speaker 1: Jackie Kennon Nassas walk us through the step of if 617 00:35:23,680 --> 00:35:26,040 Speaker 1: there were some obstacles, how he was able to convince 618 00:35:26,080 --> 00:35:29,440 Speaker 1: people that you could do this series and when they 619 00:35:29,440 --> 00:35:33,040 Speaker 1: turned out to be successful, what was the reaction? Well, 620 00:35:33,520 --> 00:35:35,680 Speaker 1: rashand I'm gonna tell you something. That was the easiest 621 00:35:35,719 --> 00:35:39,600 Speaker 1: gig I ever got I had done. I mean it's 622 00:35:39,600 --> 00:35:43,120 Speaker 1: always always that way that whenever you're you're sort of pioneering, 623 00:35:43,239 --> 00:35:48,319 Speaker 1: sometimes the job becomes easier than most people think I 624 00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:53,680 Speaker 1: had done. Sally Hemmings. Sally Hemmings was a juggernaut success. 625 00:35:54,280 --> 00:35:56,480 Speaker 1: And so I get a phone call on a Monday 626 00:35:56,560 --> 00:36:01,560 Speaker 1: morning from the powers that be at Sea Yes, and 627 00:36:01,640 --> 00:36:05,719 Speaker 1: I was told, Hey, Tina, you love doing historical projects. 628 00:36:05,840 --> 00:36:08,080 Speaker 1: I mean, I have something that we think would be 629 00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:11,920 Speaker 1: in your sweet spot. We've acquired a book on on 630 00:36:12,120 --> 00:36:15,719 Speaker 1: the First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy on Nassas. How would 631 00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:19,479 Speaker 1: you like to turn that into a four hour uh 632 00:36:19,560 --> 00:36:23,160 Speaker 1: mini series? And I'm on the other end and I'm saying, 633 00:36:24,800 --> 00:36:27,160 Speaker 1: Jackie Kennedy, I say, you realize you called a black 634 00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:33,600 Speaker 1: woman right right, right right? And so I was told 635 00:36:33,640 --> 00:36:36,719 Speaker 1: that they were so happy with what I had done 636 00:36:36,719 --> 00:36:40,240 Speaker 1: with not only Sally, but it was also the dramatization 637 00:36:40,320 --> 00:36:45,680 Speaker 1: of Thomas Jefferson that made them feel confident and comfortable 638 00:36:45,840 --> 00:36:49,759 Speaker 1: in my handling First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. And so I 639 00:36:49,880 --> 00:36:53,360 Speaker 1: jumped at that opportunity because you know, in the past, 640 00:36:53,719 --> 00:37:00,239 Speaker 1: it has always been members of another culture writing our story. 641 00:37:00,840 --> 00:37:02,879 Speaker 1: And so for a change, I said, oh, we can, 642 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:05,000 Speaker 1: we can sort of flip the script on this and 643 00:37:05,040 --> 00:37:09,560 Speaker 1: it'll be me writing this wonderful and domitable First Lady's story. 644 00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:14,000 Speaker 1: So I hopped at that opportunity and it was wonderful because, 645 00:37:14,040 --> 00:37:16,279 Speaker 1: first of all, I knew a lot about her. I 646 00:37:16,320 --> 00:37:20,000 Speaker 1: had done UM a lot of work on jack Kennedy 647 00:37:20,960 --> 00:37:24,080 Speaker 1: and of course on Dr Martin Luther King. So the 648 00:37:24,120 --> 00:37:26,719 Speaker 1: first thing I did was contact Mrs King and I 649 00:37:26,719 --> 00:37:29,040 Speaker 1: asked her if I could come down to Atlanta to 650 00:37:29,120 --> 00:37:32,719 Speaker 1: meet with her, because I know she and Jackie had 651 00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:35,839 Speaker 1: a had a relationship. And so then I thought, oh, 652 00:37:35,880 --> 00:37:39,440 Speaker 1: I'll be able to add some things to a Jackie 653 00:37:39,480 --> 00:37:42,200 Speaker 1: Kennedy story that a member of another culture may not 654 00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:46,920 Speaker 1: have even been interested in adding. So it's good for me. Now. 655 00:37:46,920 --> 00:37:48,839 Speaker 1: You know, the wonderful thing about it is that when 656 00:37:48,880 --> 00:37:51,560 Speaker 1: you when you grab an iconic figure like she is 657 00:37:51,719 --> 00:37:55,240 Speaker 1: Jackie Kennedy nassas, you know you have some I guess 658 00:37:55,239 --> 00:37:57,279 Speaker 1: I said some things already bided in. How do you 659 00:37:57,320 --> 00:38:00,200 Speaker 1: start layering it down to really? Like you said you 660 00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:02,120 Speaker 1: you was able to find a nugget in the relationship 661 00:38:02,200 --> 00:38:05,080 Speaker 1: she had with Mrs King, Dr Martin Luther King's wife. 662 00:38:05,480 --> 00:38:09,560 Speaker 1: Now when you join your research, did any other interesting 663 00:38:09,600 --> 00:38:12,320 Speaker 1: thing pop up in her that you didn't you didn't 664 00:38:12,320 --> 00:38:16,120 Speaker 1: see coming? That made for great storytelling, and it's for 665 00:38:16,120 --> 00:38:20,799 Speaker 1: for four episode mini series I UM will tell you 666 00:38:20,840 --> 00:38:23,000 Speaker 1: that they had given me a book that they bought 667 00:38:23,080 --> 00:38:28,000 Speaker 1: so pretty much that book told Mrs Kennedy's story. But 668 00:38:28,080 --> 00:38:32,720 Speaker 1: what I was fascinated by is that, uh, Mrs Mrs 669 00:38:32,800 --> 00:38:38,240 Speaker 1: Kennedy had difficulties with her father, her father, UM black Jack, 670 00:38:38,520 --> 00:38:42,840 Speaker 1: Um Bouvier. You know, she she she sort of felt 671 00:38:42,880 --> 00:38:46,160 Speaker 1: like she was not the beloved Kennedy daughter. I was 672 00:38:46,200 --> 00:38:49,279 Speaker 1: not kidding at that time, Booth a daughter. Um. She 673 00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:53,239 Speaker 1: had a good relationship with UM, with her sister, but 674 00:38:53,360 --> 00:38:56,240 Speaker 1: you know, like siblings, they sort of went in and out, 675 00:38:56,680 --> 00:38:59,239 Speaker 1: and I wanted to show that it wasn't such an 676 00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:01,320 Speaker 1: easy rope her. This is a woman who had the 677 00:39:01,360 --> 00:39:06,160 Speaker 1: ambition to be a photographer. We we forget that before 678 00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:11,920 Speaker 1: the pill Box there was this ambitious onoe m. You 679 00:39:11,960 --> 00:39:14,960 Speaker 1: know the interesting thing about like I started out in 680 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:19,120 Speaker 1: Hollywood as a sitcom writer. You know they wrote, you know, look, 681 00:39:19,560 --> 00:39:23,040 Speaker 1: uh Steve Harvey's first sitcom and ninety three and Me 682 00:39:23,120 --> 00:39:25,680 Speaker 1: and the Boys, NATI four School, Me and the Boys, 683 00:39:25,719 --> 00:39:28,960 Speaker 1: and then we did uh Robert Townson's Parenthood and did 684 00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:31,960 Speaker 1: ABC with or Send his Hall sitcom, and they did 685 00:39:32,040 --> 00:39:35,440 Speaker 1: Sister Sisters with the twins t and tamaraw Maori and 686 00:39:35,800 --> 00:39:38,480 Speaker 1: went over to Jamie Fox and did the Parkers and 687 00:39:38,520 --> 00:39:41,000 Speaker 1: along the way, I'm feeling that I have a skill 688 00:39:41,080 --> 00:39:44,040 Speaker 1: set that can be transferable. And this is what we 689 00:39:43,920 --> 00:39:47,080 Speaker 1: were talking about earlier when you said they called you 690 00:39:47,120 --> 00:39:49,640 Speaker 1: as an African American to do a white project. And 691 00:39:49,680 --> 00:39:52,160 Speaker 1: every time I wrote a sitcom, I try to get 692 00:39:52,200 --> 00:39:55,760 Speaker 1: on a home improvement at the time, or Seinfield or friends. 693 00:39:56,080 --> 00:40:00,320 Speaker 1: I had to write their style of sitcom otherwise, as 694 00:40:00,640 --> 00:40:03,200 Speaker 1: they felt that I wasn't a real writer. And and 695 00:40:03,360 --> 00:40:06,239 Speaker 1: just talking to young people and talking to people inspiring 696 00:40:06,719 --> 00:40:09,920 Speaker 1: to be in this industry, which is what we call Hollywood. 697 00:40:10,200 --> 00:40:12,600 Speaker 1: It really does. You really can't be pitted into a 698 00:40:12,600 --> 00:40:15,359 Speaker 1: corner and said, this is what you only can do. 699 00:40:15,680 --> 00:40:18,560 Speaker 1: That's why, that's why a champion admired what you accomplishing 700 00:40:19,040 --> 00:40:21,279 Speaker 1: as a writer as a producer, because you know that's 701 00:40:21,280 --> 00:40:23,880 Speaker 1: a hard that's a hard wall to a door to 702 00:40:23,920 --> 00:40:27,040 Speaker 1: open that walking over and said, I can do any 703 00:40:27,080 --> 00:40:29,560 Speaker 1: type of project because I have the skill set. Do 704 00:40:29,640 --> 00:40:31,680 Speaker 1: not deny me because of the color of my skin, 705 00:40:31,800 --> 00:40:35,120 Speaker 1: correctness right, or gender or age or any of that. 706 00:40:35,160 --> 00:40:37,880 Speaker 1: I am not any I'm not into any of the isms. 707 00:40:38,320 --> 00:40:40,760 Speaker 1: But I will tell you, Rashan, I had to show 708 00:40:40,880 --> 00:40:44,120 Speaker 1: people what I could do first. Now, let's face it, 709 00:40:44,560 --> 00:40:48,360 Speaker 1: for many of us of color, the door to success 710 00:40:48,360 --> 00:40:50,920 Speaker 1: here in Hollywood is writing a comedy. You said you 711 00:40:50,960 --> 00:40:54,600 Speaker 1: started out doing quite a few um comedies. I could 712 00:40:54,600 --> 00:40:58,399 Speaker 1: not get a movie made unless it was funny, or 713 00:40:58,440 --> 00:41:02,280 Speaker 1: if I did have a piece that was serious in nature, 714 00:41:03,040 --> 00:41:06,440 Speaker 1: I was always told add the funny to it. For instance, 715 00:41:06,760 --> 00:41:09,440 Speaker 1: I'll give you an example on the movie that you 716 00:41:09,480 --> 00:41:13,160 Speaker 1: said you liked, Why the Fool's Fall in Love. That's 717 00:41:13,160 --> 00:41:17,080 Speaker 1: a serious film about a young man who ended up 718 00:41:17,480 --> 00:41:23,000 Speaker 1: spiraling into the abyss of drug abuse, in fact, heroin abuse. 719 00:41:23,920 --> 00:41:26,880 Speaker 1: And yet he had married three women and not divorced 720 00:41:26,920 --> 00:41:29,520 Speaker 1: any of them before he died and left this estate, 721 00:41:29,680 --> 00:41:33,480 Speaker 1: and that became the through into the story. Well, at 722 00:41:33,520 --> 00:41:36,239 Speaker 1: the end of the day, those three women, you know, 723 00:41:36,280 --> 00:41:39,080 Speaker 1: started out hating each other, and so it left room 724 00:41:39,160 --> 00:41:41,680 Speaker 1: for some very sort of funny things to go on 725 00:41:42,080 --> 00:41:46,200 Speaker 1: in that courtroom situation. And I remembered being told by warners, 726 00:41:46,640 --> 00:41:48,879 Speaker 1: oh my god, Tina, every time you put the three 727 00:41:48,880 --> 00:41:54,360 Speaker 1: women together in a room, it's hilarious. So, um, you know, 728 00:41:54,520 --> 00:41:56,719 Speaker 1: do a little more than that so that we don't 729 00:41:56,760 --> 00:42:02,040 Speaker 1: spend so much time in his um dis sent into 730 00:42:02,120 --> 00:42:05,799 Speaker 1: drug abuse. So I needed to show people that I 731 00:42:05,800 --> 00:42:12,320 Speaker 1: could write seriously. So once I became successful doing those 732 00:42:12,360 --> 00:42:15,480 Speaker 1: types of films, I was then able to say to 733 00:42:15,560 --> 00:42:18,319 Speaker 1: the agency, Hey, let's get out there and sell the 734 00:42:18,480 --> 00:42:21,880 Speaker 1: stuff that I already have written to show people that 735 00:42:22,000 --> 00:42:27,200 Speaker 1: I am a dramatic writer. And that stuff took off. Congratulations. 736 00:42:27,239 --> 00:42:29,759 Speaker 1: You know I'm talking to Tina Andrews. Uh. I wanted 737 00:42:29,760 --> 00:42:32,120 Speaker 1: to see, can I say the word brilliant Tina Andrews, 738 00:42:32,640 --> 00:42:35,880 Speaker 1: you know, award winning Tina Andrew Could I answ some 739 00:42:35,920 --> 00:42:38,120 Speaker 1: more to It was a serious that's been acquired by 740 00:42:38,560 --> 00:42:42,600 Speaker 1: HBO Max called Charlotte Sophia. You know. I know we're 741 00:42:42,600 --> 00:42:44,080 Speaker 1: gonna get to that, but I just like to talk 742 00:42:44,080 --> 00:42:47,480 Speaker 1: about the journey because if I start there at the 743 00:42:47,600 --> 00:42:51,560 Speaker 1: HBC HBO Max project, I really don't feel that people 744 00:42:51,560 --> 00:42:54,399 Speaker 1: will appreciate the journey, you know that? And I would 745 00:42:54,440 --> 00:42:56,680 Speaker 1: throw out my little acting credit. Tino. You know, I 746 00:42:56,800 --> 00:43:00,479 Speaker 1: started Jason's lyrics. I was a tap dancer and way 747 00:43:00,520 --> 00:43:03,080 Speaker 1: back in the day in Houston, Texas and fast Freddy 748 00:43:03,160 --> 00:43:06,080 Speaker 1: was my name. And then I read your bio and 749 00:43:06,120 --> 00:43:11,600 Speaker 1: it's tied to the amazing series that changed television, Roots 750 00:43:11,600 --> 00:43:16,279 Speaker 1: by Alex Hayes. And you know, I still you know 751 00:43:16,320 --> 00:43:18,759 Speaker 1: because we look at television now. You see so many 752 00:43:18,760 --> 00:43:21,719 Speaker 1: African Americans on commercials. You see mixed couples. You see 753 00:43:21,880 --> 00:43:24,640 Speaker 1: African Americans hugging each other, if we mixed couples, it 754 00:43:24,800 --> 00:43:27,359 Speaker 1: just really television is evolved in such a and just 755 00:43:27,440 --> 00:43:30,960 Speaker 1: five years ago, you know they try to take cheerios 756 00:43:31,000 --> 00:43:33,400 Speaker 1: off the shelves because they had a little a little 757 00:43:33,680 --> 00:43:38,640 Speaker 1: a little white looking girls, right and so and so. 758 00:43:38,719 --> 00:43:43,960 Speaker 1: But you want television by the project about slavery, if 759 00:43:44,000 --> 00:43:47,799 Speaker 1: you could walk Roots, everybody an iconic series now. But 760 00:43:47,920 --> 00:43:50,799 Speaker 1: we didn't know how people will react to that. But 761 00:43:50,880 --> 00:43:53,200 Speaker 1: you were part of that, and I'm sure it affected 762 00:43:53,239 --> 00:43:56,120 Speaker 1: your life, your thought process, and also threw you in 763 00:43:56,200 --> 00:44:00,040 Speaker 1: the fore front of American conversation. Talk about that. We 764 00:44:00,080 --> 00:44:03,480 Speaker 1: can journey back there a little bit and then move forward. Okay, well, 765 00:44:03,520 --> 00:44:05,920 Speaker 1: actually I would like to take one. I would like 766 00:44:05,960 --> 00:44:08,960 Speaker 1: to go one project just before routes. We have to 767 00:44:09,040 --> 00:44:14,680 Speaker 1: remember I had the first interracial relationship on daytime television 768 00:44:15,320 --> 00:44:17,640 Speaker 1: on Days of our Lives to se they didn't pretend 769 00:44:17,680 --> 00:44:23,640 Speaker 1: to BUYO Naina. They didn't pretend was cut because that 770 00:44:23,719 --> 00:44:28,800 Speaker 1: was amazing that that was a major, major, UH project 771 00:44:28,960 --> 00:44:31,520 Speaker 1: for me to be involved with. We kissed on a 772 00:44:31,600 --> 00:44:36,359 Speaker 1: Friday after two years of you know, looking lovingly at 773 00:44:36,400 --> 00:44:41,080 Speaker 1: each other, and we kissed on Friday, and five thousand negative, 774 00:44:41,120 --> 00:44:45,480 Speaker 1: horrible hate letters came to NBC. So I know what 775 00:44:45,600 --> 00:44:48,759 Speaker 1: it's like to be involved in a project that's that 776 00:44:48,840 --> 00:44:52,760 Speaker 1: gets a lot of attention and that becomes very controversial. 777 00:44:53,360 --> 00:44:57,000 Speaker 1: Right after I left Days of Our Lives because of 778 00:44:57,040 --> 00:44:59,320 Speaker 1: that negative publicity, I had to go. I was the 779 00:44:59,360 --> 00:45:02,400 Speaker 1: one who was left go, not the white guy. I 780 00:45:02,680 --> 00:45:07,360 Speaker 1: ended up in Roots, and we knew from the second 781 00:45:07,440 --> 00:45:10,640 Speaker 1: we got the very first pilot episode that it was 782 00:45:10,680 --> 00:45:14,800 Speaker 1: going to be phenomenal. The book had been so successful. 783 00:45:15,480 --> 00:45:19,200 Speaker 1: I had worked for two of the directors who were 784 00:45:19,719 --> 00:45:21,560 Speaker 1: involved in it, and one of them was the one 785 00:45:21,600 --> 00:45:24,160 Speaker 1: who called me and said, I've got two roles here, 786 00:45:24,760 --> 00:45:27,680 Speaker 1: pick one, whichever one you want, you can do it. 787 00:45:28,239 --> 00:45:32,840 Speaker 1: And I was so grateful to John Erman for that opportunity, 788 00:45:32,880 --> 00:45:37,719 Speaker 1: and we got involved and it felt like the ancestors 789 00:45:38,239 --> 00:45:42,920 Speaker 1: carried us through the entire production. We were on the 790 00:45:43,000 --> 00:45:47,080 Speaker 1: shoulders of those who came before, so we instantly knew 791 00:45:47,120 --> 00:45:50,920 Speaker 1: that we were going to be a successful mini series, 792 00:45:51,000 --> 00:45:55,200 Speaker 1: we just didn't know how successful. As a result of that, 793 00:45:55,280 --> 00:45:59,000 Speaker 1: of course, I became very good friends with um, with Alex, 794 00:45:59,120 --> 00:46:03,120 Speaker 1: Alex Haley. And it was Alex who quite frankly, gave 795 00:46:03,160 --> 00:46:07,560 Speaker 1: me my first opportunity as a writer and by the way, 796 00:46:07,680 --> 00:46:11,560 Speaker 1: as a writer to work with him on a PBS project. 797 00:46:12,120 --> 00:46:15,760 Speaker 1: So I am indebted to again those who have gone before. 798 00:46:15,960 --> 00:46:20,120 Speaker 1: I am indebted to Mr Hayley, first of all having 799 00:46:20,120 --> 00:46:23,960 Speaker 1: written Roots, and then for allowing me to be in Routes. 800 00:46:24,440 --> 00:46:27,840 Speaker 1: And then I sent him, frankly a Bob Marley story 801 00:46:28,040 --> 00:46:31,319 Speaker 1: and I sent him Sally Hemmings and he read those 802 00:46:31,360 --> 00:46:35,760 Speaker 1: two uh scripts and said called me in back and said, 803 00:46:35,960 --> 00:46:38,120 Speaker 1: when did you become such a good writer? We need 804 00:46:38,160 --> 00:46:41,800 Speaker 1: to do a project together. And I'm thinking, wait a minute, 805 00:46:41,800 --> 00:46:44,600 Speaker 1: this is eight in the Awards winning Alex Hayley, who 806 00:46:44,640 --> 00:46:50,120 Speaker 1: wants to work with y. Yeah. So there there have 807 00:46:50,280 --> 00:46:55,279 Speaker 1: been a series of situations where the career built, and 808 00:46:55,320 --> 00:46:59,920 Speaker 1: then it built to the Charlotte Sophia project. If I 809 00:47:00,080 --> 00:47:02,600 Speaker 1: could be you and you could be me for just 810 00:47:02,800 --> 00:47:05,160 Speaker 1: what hour? If you could find a way to get 811 00:47:05,200 --> 00:47:09,800 Speaker 1: inside each other's mind, walcome mile in my shoes, wacome 812 00:47:09,800 --> 00:47:14,480 Speaker 1: mile in my shoes, Shoes. We've all felt left out, 813 00:47:14,880 --> 00:47:17,680 Speaker 1: and for some that feeling lasts more than a moment. 814 00:47:18,200 --> 00:47:21,239 Speaker 1: We can change that. Learn how it Belonging begins with 815 00:47:21,320 --> 00:47:23,800 Speaker 1: us dot org. Brought to you by the ad Council. 816 00:47:24,960 --> 00:47:31,560 Speaker 1: Welcome Mile and the Shoe. Adoption of teams from foster 817 00:47:31,600 --> 00:47:33,839 Speaker 1: care is a topic not enough people know about, and 818 00:47:33,880 --> 00:47:36,560 Speaker 1: we're here to change that. 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You know, let's let's let's go to 834 00:48:31,440 --> 00:48:33,680 Speaker 1: that now, because we all know that Tina, when you 835 00:48:33,719 --> 00:48:36,720 Speaker 1: talk about it's really your story is so interesting because, 836 00:48:36,760 --> 00:48:39,920 Speaker 1: like I said, when you are first, when you are 837 00:48:40,400 --> 00:48:43,759 Speaker 1: groundbreaker or pioneer, I can use those termin those terms 838 00:48:43,760 --> 00:48:46,799 Speaker 1: in front of you because sometimes you get setbacks like 839 00:48:46,840 --> 00:48:48,799 Speaker 1: you said, you did, you did? You did a role 840 00:48:48,840 --> 00:48:51,560 Speaker 1: that was requested your days of our lives and then 841 00:48:51,600 --> 00:48:54,240 Speaker 1: all of ASO, a letter comes in and the network 842 00:48:54,320 --> 00:48:58,759 Speaker 1: becomes frightened by it and you are terminated. That that 843 00:48:58,760 --> 00:49:01,880 Speaker 1: that moment of being our fare Who did you call in? 844 00:49:02,120 --> 00:49:05,399 Speaker 1: Who did you who did you seek advice from? Our 845 00:49:05,440 --> 00:49:07,920 Speaker 1: support from? Or would you did you feel you were 846 00:49:07,960 --> 00:49:10,000 Speaker 1: just out there by yourself and no one could help you? 847 00:49:10,400 --> 00:49:13,799 Speaker 1: Oh no, my father was still alive. My father is 848 00:49:13,880 --> 00:49:16,759 Speaker 1: the I mean, probably the most important person in terms 849 00:49:16,800 --> 00:49:20,520 Speaker 1: of the career. I would call my father crying all 850 00:49:20,560 --> 00:49:23,799 Speaker 1: the time during during days of our lives, with the 851 00:49:23,840 --> 00:49:26,640 Speaker 1: negative publicity. They would not let me get my mail 852 00:49:26,800 --> 00:49:29,879 Speaker 1: before we shot for the day. The network said, give 853 00:49:29,880 --> 00:49:32,520 Speaker 1: her her fan nail after she finishes, so that I 854 00:49:32,600 --> 00:49:37,800 Speaker 1: could go home and cry. So so I called Daddy 855 00:49:38,239 --> 00:49:41,480 Speaker 1: and I said, I don't know what's going on, but 856 00:49:41,640 --> 00:49:45,799 Speaker 1: I'm I'm really depressed. I can't find really great They're 857 00:49:45,840 --> 00:49:49,560 Speaker 1: not enough really great, empowering, dignified roles for black women. 858 00:49:49,760 --> 00:49:51,840 Speaker 1: And I feel like I, you know, I'm gonna be 859 00:49:51,920 --> 00:49:54,320 Speaker 1: stuck in this situation of playing you know, the drug 860 00:49:54,360 --> 00:49:57,480 Speaker 1: addict or the or the Round the Way girl or whatever. 861 00:49:58,200 --> 00:50:00,920 Speaker 1: Too much of bad is coming up. And my father 862 00:50:01,080 --> 00:50:04,879 Speaker 1: had it with me and he said, look, I sent 863 00:50:04,960 --> 00:50:07,319 Speaker 1: you to n Yu to be a playwright. You were 864 00:50:07,320 --> 00:50:09,439 Speaker 1: supposed to be a writer. Yeah, I know you wanted 865 00:50:09,480 --> 00:50:11,719 Speaker 1: to dance, but I figured that was only gonna last 866 00:50:11,719 --> 00:50:14,080 Speaker 1: a few years. You were gonna really find your voice 867 00:50:14,160 --> 00:50:19,320 Speaker 1: as a as a playwright. Why are you complaining about 868 00:50:19,360 --> 00:50:22,440 Speaker 1: the roles that are not there when you are capable 869 00:50:22,640 --> 00:50:26,960 Speaker 1: of writing those roles. You need to take your writing 870 00:50:27,000 --> 00:50:30,120 Speaker 1: career seriously. It's all cute that you're an actress, but 871 00:50:30,160 --> 00:50:32,839 Speaker 1: I'm afraid that one of these days someone is going 872 00:50:32,880 --> 00:50:35,520 Speaker 1: to ask you to be naked in a movie and 873 00:50:35,600 --> 00:50:38,439 Speaker 1: you're gonna say yes to that role because you can't 874 00:50:38,440 --> 00:50:42,600 Speaker 1: pay your rent. I would much prefer you call me 875 00:50:43,440 --> 00:50:45,720 Speaker 1: and let me send you the money for your rent. 876 00:50:46,000 --> 00:50:48,279 Speaker 1: And you sit down. In those days, of course, we're 877 00:50:48,280 --> 00:50:55,480 Speaker 1: talking typewriters at the typewriter and you know, and he said, 878 00:50:55,520 --> 00:50:59,000 Speaker 1: and you write that dignified, empowered role for a black 879 00:50:59,040 --> 00:51:02,239 Speaker 1: woman that you would like to play. And you know, 880 00:51:02,320 --> 00:51:04,359 Speaker 1: some years later there was a movie, a Kevin cost 881 00:51:04,560 --> 00:51:08,200 Speaker 1: movie and the and the tagline was if you build it, 882 00:51:08,680 --> 00:51:13,040 Speaker 1: they will come field the dreams. Yes, that's exactly right, 883 00:51:13,560 --> 00:51:18,080 Speaker 1: and my father was correct. In his library was a 884 00:51:18,120 --> 00:51:23,680 Speaker 1: book by historian Black historian J. A. Rogers, and it 885 00:51:23,880 --> 00:51:28,120 Speaker 1: was called Race and Sex and the second page and 886 00:51:28,320 --> 00:51:31,520 Speaker 1: was a big picture of a woman who clearly looked ethnic, 887 00:51:32,200 --> 00:51:34,319 Speaker 1: but she was in royal attire. It was a black 888 00:51:34,360 --> 00:51:37,160 Speaker 1: and white obviously, wasn't you know the color? And it 889 00:51:37,280 --> 00:51:46,000 Speaker 1: said Charlotte Sophia, England's first black queen. And I read 890 00:51:46,120 --> 00:51:50,160 Speaker 1: back and said, what black queen? How do we not 891 00:51:50,320 --> 00:51:52,840 Speaker 1: know that? Listen? How how was I not taught that? 892 00:51:53,520 --> 00:51:56,680 Speaker 1: In my history classes? We were taught about King George 893 00:51:57,000 --> 00:52:01,000 Speaker 1: and him going mad and the and the revolutionary war 894 00:52:01,440 --> 00:52:03,759 Speaker 1: that he sent the Red Coats, you know, over here 895 00:52:03,800 --> 00:52:06,960 Speaker 1: to fight us against we knew everything about the husband, 896 00:52:07,360 --> 00:52:09,360 Speaker 1: why did we not know that his wife was a 897 00:52:09,400 --> 00:52:13,040 Speaker 1: woman of color. I could not find that much research 898 00:52:14,239 --> 00:52:16,600 Speaker 1: in those days, and so I sort of put it 899 00:52:16,600 --> 00:52:19,160 Speaker 1: in the back of my mind. One of these days, 900 00:52:19,200 --> 00:52:23,280 Speaker 1: I'm gonna write that story. And at the time, I'm thinking, maybe, 901 00:52:23,719 --> 00:52:26,440 Speaker 1: who knows, I can get halle Berry to play it. 902 00:52:26,520 --> 00:52:29,320 Speaker 1: This is before fools, this is before Sally him, this 903 00:52:29,400 --> 00:52:33,000 Speaker 1: is before all of that. My father died and left 904 00:52:33,120 --> 00:52:36,480 Speaker 1: me his library and all of those books came to 905 00:52:36,560 --> 00:52:40,920 Speaker 1: my then house in um the Hollywood Hills, and I 906 00:52:41,040 --> 00:52:43,160 Speaker 1: found it again and I said, you know, you may, 907 00:52:43,320 --> 00:52:48,320 Speaker 1: you may want to investigate this story. And when Sally 908 00:52:48,360 --> 00:52:52,200 Speaker 1: Hemmings had done so well, people began to ask, what 909 00:52:52,239 --> 00:52:53,719 Speaker 1: are you gonna do for an encore? What do you 910 00:52:53,760 --> 00:52:58,280 Speaker 1: do next? You top Sally Hemmings? And I thought, Wow, 911 00:52:58,400 --> 00:53:01,319 Speaker 1: this would be the project, not realizing it was gonna 912 00:53:01,360 --> 00:53:04,520 Speaker 1: take me eight years to write the book and all 913 00:53:04,560 --> 00:53:07,359 Speaker 1: the research, two and three times going to London. Of course, 914 00:53:07,360 --> 00:53:09,440 Speaker 1: I need no excuse to go to London. I love, love, 915 00:53:09,800 --> 00:53:13,800 Speaker 1: love London. But I was there researching at the British Library, 916 00:53:13,960 --> 00:53:19,719 Speaker 1: at the Windsor and Buckingham Archives, at the British Museum. Uh. 917 00:53:19,760 --> 00:53:23,520 Speaker 1: And then I put it together and the moment that 918 00:53:23,640 --> 00:53:28,080 Speaker 1: book hit the marketplace, there was a surge of of 919 00:53:28,120 --> 00:53:30,600 Speaker 1: course British people who were saying, oh, no, no, we're 920 00:53:30,600 --> 00:53:32,200 Speaker 1: not gonna let you do this, this is not a 921 00:53:32,239 --> 00:53:35,480 Speaker 1: story that we're interested in. And yet British people were 922 00:53:35,480 --> 00:53:40,640 Speaker 1: buying the book. And I get last year a phone 923 00:53:40,640 --> 00:53:44,600 Speaker 1: call out of the blue from an HBO executive who said, 924 00:53:45,120 --> 00:53:48,800 Speaker 1: I'd like to UM, I'd like to speak to Tina Andrews, 925 00:53:48,800 --> 00:53:51,000 Speaker 1: And I said speaking, And so she said, you know, 926 00:53:51,480 --> 00:53:53,640 Speaker 1: here's who I am at, you know, and I'm at 927 00:53:53,880 --> 00:53:59,040 Speaker 1: HBO Max uh In International. And my mother loved your book, 928 00:53:59,480 --> 00:54:04,080 Speaker 1: and I think and your mother and so she said, 929 00:54:04,160 --> 00:54:06,239 Speaker 1: my mother turned me onto this book. And she said, 930 00:54:06,280 --> 00:54:08,560 Speaker 1: when you get your promotion, let this be the first 931 00:54:08,560 --> 00:54:13,000 Speaker 1: book that you buy to have on the on the channel. 932 00:54:14,160 --> 00:54:17,000 Speaker 1: And I nearly died because once again it was like 933 00:54:17,440 --> 00:54:23,560 Speaker 1: spirit creating the atmosphere and the environment and the place 934 00:54:23,960 --> 00:54:27,680 Speaker 1: to put that story after so long with the research. Well, 935 00:54:27,680 --> 00:54:29,480 Speaker 1: you know the thing I love about talking to you, 936 00:54:29,520 --> 00:54:33,080 Speaker 1: first of all, Um, it's almost like I'm talking to royalty. 937 00:54:33,120 --> 00:54:35,640 Speaker 1: You're so elegant and you're so pronounced in your tone, 938 00:54:35,719 --> 00:54:38,759 Speaker 1: you're so elegant in your gestures, and you know, there's 939 00:54:38,800 --> 00:54:43,440 Speaker 1: a certain amount of success and confidence and in speaking 940 00:54:43,480 --> 00:54:45,319 Speaker 1: to you. You know, I hope people watch this. You 941 00:54:45,320 --> 00:54:46,719 Speaker 1: can hear it on audio, of course, but I hope 942 00:54:46,719 --> 00:54:50,440 Speaker 1: people get to watch this actual interview because it's impressive 943 00:54:50,480 --> 00:54:53,000 Speaker 1: when I see people because you've you've had a journey 944 00:54:53,040 --> 00:54:55,359 Speaker 1: in your life, and sometimes journeys can beat you down. 945 00:54:55,920 --> 00:54:58,319 Speaker 1: Some kind of journeys can wear you down. I just 946 00:54:58,320 --> 00:55:01,040 Speaker 1: see that when I'm looking at you, listening to your Tina, 947 00:55:01,280 --> 00:55:06,799 Speaker 1: I'm seeing a person who who basically um understands the 948 00:55:06,880 --> 00:55:11,640 Speaker 1: purpose of who you are and your father obviously built 949 00:55:11,680 --> 00:55:14,359 Speaker 1: that into you and saying, hey, this is who you are, 950 00:55:14,440 --> 00:55:16,759 Speaker 1: this is who you can be. Control your destiny. Is 951 00:55:16,800 --> 00:55:19,040 Speaker 1: that key to what I'm saying that Basically, I know 952 00:55:19,120 --> 00:55:21,600 Speaker 1: that's why I stopped acting and became a writer and producer. 953 00:55:21,800 --> 00:55:23,800 Speaker 1: I feel I can control my destiny. Plus I realized, 954 00:55:23,800 --> 00:55:25,399 Speaker 1: you know, one day, ever get old and I can 955 00:55:25,400 --> 00:55:27,640 Speaker 1: probably stare right, I can probably steer produced, I can 956 00:55:27,640 --> 00:55:30,920 Speaker 1: stopped creative. But they can minimize my success based on 957 00:55:31,000 --> 00:55:33,600 Speaker 1: my color and based on my age. But they can 958 00:55:33,640 --> 00:55:36,600 Speaker 1: never minimize my success based on how I think if 959 00:55:36,640 --> 00:55:39,319 Speaker 1: I'm topical and I'm staying very current, and that's what 960 00:55:39,360 --> 00:55:41,719 Speaker 1: you are. You're very current and very topical, and so 961 00:55:41,800 --> 00:55:44,480 Speaker 1: this serious is coming out on HBO Max. You did 962 00:55:44,480 --> 00:55:49,480 Speaker 1: something very very much very key audio book talk about 963 00:55:49,480 --> 00:55:53,319 Speaker 1: that whole relations and hearing the words articulated by the 964 00:55:53,400 --> 00:55:59,120 Speaker 1: brilliant actress. Can I tell you again? It was another 965 00:55:59,200 --> 00:56:01,880 Speaker 1: one of those I do think of my life and 966 00:56:01,920 --> 00:56:05,319 Speaker 1: I talked about my life in spiritual terms because I 967 00:56:05,320 --> 00:56:07,359 Speaker 1: have had a lot of hardships. It has not all 968 00:56:07,400 --> 00:56:09,640 Speaker 1: been easy sailing trying to get to the top there. 969 00:56:09,760 --> 00:56:12,719 Speaker 1: You know, you hit a platform and then you uh 970 00:56:13,120 --> 00:56:16,080 Speaker 1: fall and then you're building back up again. So it's 971 00:56:16,080 --> 00:56:19,960 Speaker 1: been a long career. But sometimes along the way you 972 00:56:20,040 --> 00:56:23,319 Speaker 1: get these opportunities that just come to you. You have 973 00:56:23,560 --> 00:56:26,440 Speaker 1: to be prepared, you know. It's what they say that 974 00:56:26,440 --> 00:56:30,080 Speaker 1: that you know, luck is opportunity met with preparedness. And 975 00:56:30,160 --> 00:56:35,080 Speaker 1: I've been prepared. I'm minding my own business on Facebook 976 00:56:36,320 --> 00:56:39,080 Speaker 1: and I had an editor who had one point, um 977 00:56:39,280 --> 00:56:46,360 Speaker 1: had had turned down my uh the opportunity to publish 978 00:56:46,480 --> 00:56:51,439 Speaker 1: my book, and I had said I had posted that day, 979 00:56:51,600 --> 00:56:55,880 Speaker 1: well if you guys are loving Bridgetain. Don't forget my 980 00:56:56,040 --> 00:56:59,800 Speaker 1: book is still out where I wrote about Queen Charlotte 981 00:57:00,280 --> 00:57:02,400 Speaker 1: and I put a you know, the cover of the 982 00:57:03,120 --> 00:57:06,080 Speaker 1: photo of the cover of the book on Facebook, went 983 00:57:06,120 --> 00:57:09,520 Speaker 1: on about my business. Later on that afternoon, I got 984 00:57:09,520 --> 00:57:15,880 Speaker 1: a private message and it was Carol saying, Tina, I 985 00:57:15,960 --> 00:57:18,640 Speaker 1: don't want to make the mistake that I made earlier 986 00:57:19,440 --> 00:57:23,360 Speaker 1: when when when we didn't publish your book, because look 987 00:57:23,400 --> 00:57:28,160 Speaker 1: what has happened to you and it and and and onward. Um, 988 00:57:28,200 --> 00:57:31,800 Speaker 1: I am at recorded books now, I'm in acquisitions. Is 989 00:57:32,080 --> 00:57:37,200 Speaker 1: are the rather? Are the audiobook rights available? Once again? 990 00:57:37,240 --> 00:57:44,200 Speaker 1: I go WHOA? So I go, yes, yes they are, 991 00:57:46,040 --> 00:57:48,720 Speaker 1: And she said, well I would love to acquire I 992 00:57:48,720 --> 00:57:51,440 Speaker 1: would like to acquire them. We'd like to do a 993 00:57:51,440 --> 00:57:56,080 Speaker 1: whole big push. You will be in charge of choosing 994 00:57:56,200 --> 00:58:00,360 Speaker 1: you know, who narrates your book. And I think, boy, 995 00:58:00,440 --> 00:58:03,640 Speaker 1: I had a number of British actresses, black British actresses 996 00:58:03,640 --> 00:58:06,440 Speaker 1: that I thought could do a really credible job. And 997 00:58:06,560 --> 00:58:09,280 Speaker 1: she said, you send me your list. She said, we 998 00:58:09,360 --> 00:58:11,320 Speaker 1: also have a list of some people who have worked 999 00:58:11,600 --> 00:58:14,000 Speaker 1: and done audio books for us who are also black 1000 00:58:14,040 --> 00:58:16,960 Speaker 1: female in British. Will send you their names and then 1001 00:58:17,000 --> 00:58:18,720 Speaker 1: you go through you pick out the one that you 1002 00:58:18,840 --> 00:58:23,520 Speaker 1: want to narrate your book. And my god, their list 1003 00:58:23,640 --> 00:58:26,560 Speaker 1: was alphabetical, and at the top of the list is 1004 00:58:26,600 --> 00:58:31,160 Speaker 1: Adua and and Adua and of for those of you 1005 00:58:31,280 --> 00:58:34,200 Speaker 1: out there who don't recognize her by name, she plays 1006 00:58:34,320 --> 00:58:40,720 Speaker 1: Lady dan Berry on Bridgetin. Absolutely she is phenomenal. So 1007 00:58:40,760 --> 00:58:47,080 Speaker 1: as far as I was concerned, the search was so 1008 00:58:47,120 --> 00:58:49,480 Speaker 1: I called Carol and I said, are you kidding me? 1009 00:58:49,560 --> 00:58:52,400 Speaker 1: And he said, well, she's done like two hundred audio books. 1010 00:58:52,400 --> 00:58:55,800 Speaker 1: And I said, this is the actress. She will give 1011 00:58:55,840 --> 00:58:59,080 Speaker 1: it the class and mcgravta. She will also do other characters. 1012 00:58:59,080 --> 00:59:02,640 Speaker 1: She's an amazing thing, amazing actress. I knew of her 1013 00:59:02,720 --> 00:59:06,960 Speaker 1: prior to Bridgeton, and so I said, please tell me 1014 00:59:07,000 --> 00:59:10,480 Speaker 1: that we can can have her. And she says, I'll 1015 00:59:10,480 --> 00:59:11,920 Speaker 1: get back to you in a couple of days, and 1016 00:59:12,000 --> 00:59:14,920 Speaker 1: you're up a couple of days later she said, Adua 1017 00:59:15,480 --> 00:59:21,840 Speaker 1: is yours. So working with this phenomenal actress who made 1018 00:59:21,880 --> 00:59:26,880 Speaker 1: that book come to life, oh Rishan, it was. It 1019 00:59:26,960 --> 00:59:30,840 Speaker 1: is an experience for anyone who listens to that. But 1020 00:59:31,000 --> 00:59:35,200 Speaker 1: I you know, at certain points in time, no, no joke, 1021 00:59:35,720 --> 00:59:39,240 Speaker 1: I will listen to the audio book and I'll say, wow, 1022 00:59:39,760 --> 00:59:44,200 Speaker 1: I wrote that, Yes, yes, yes, that's an act. That's 1023 00:59:44,240 --> 00:59:46,680 Speaker 1: that's brilliance of her bringing his life. But you know, 1024 00:59:46,800 --> 00:59:48,560 Speaker 1: I want to I want to say this before we 1025 00:59:48,600 --> 00:59:51,680 Speaker 1: wrap up the interview. And uh, it's something about being prepared. 1026 00:59:51,960 --> 00:59:55,080 Speaker 1: They really comes across when I when I when I 1027 00:59:55,120 --> 00:59:57,480 Speaker 1: shared his interview and I won't hold people listen when 1028 00:59:57,600 --> 01:00:00,520 Speaker 1: when she got the call for Roots, you know, despite 1029 01:00:00,840 --> 01:00:03,600 Speaker 1: dire consequences that happened in her life prior to that, 1030 01:00:03,680 --> 01:00:06,800 Speaker 1: she was ready when she got the call for Jackie 1031 01:00:06,880 --> 01:00:10,680 Speaker 1: Kennedy on Nassis. You know, despite the success or Sally 1032 01:00:10,720 --> 01:00:13,360 Speaker 1: him and and her, and it's a project with African 1033 01:00:13,400 --> 01:00:17,840 Speaker 1: American female talking about an iconic white, white American female. 1034 01:00:18,360 --> 01:00:21,160 Speaker 1: She was ready when she got the call about the 1035 01:00:21,800 --> 01:00:27,120 Speaker 1: rights to her book Charlotte Sophia. You know, she was ready, 1036 01:00:27,200 --> 01:00:29,720 Speaker 1: not only ready, but also to be bold enough to 1037 01:00:29,760 --> 01:00:33,240 Speaker 1: say this is the one we should select. There's something 1038 01:00:33,280 --> 01:00:37,120 Speaker 1: about that that really range true about your life, Tina Andrews. 1039 01:00:37,320 --> 01:00:40,760 Speaker 1: And it makes it very special that you're your decision maker. 1040 01:00:41,240 --> 01:00:43,480 Speaker 1: You're a person who understands what you want to do 1041 01:00:43,520 --> 01:00:45,840 Speaker 1: in life and has led so much to your level 1042 01:00:45,840 --> 01:00:48,080 Speaker 1: of success. If you had to give someone some advice 1043 01:00:48,520 --> 01:00:51,160 Speaker 1: before we acted here, what would you give somebody advice 1044 01:00:51,160 --> 01:00:53,440 Speaker 1: who's watching the show and listening to this interview of 1045 01:00:53,480 --> 01:00:57,880 Speaker 1: Money Making Conversations, I will say, you need to be 1046 01:00:57,920 --> 01:01:02,640 Speaker 1: your authentic self, whoever that is. Do not first of all, 1047 01:01:02,760 --> 01:01:05,320 Speaker 1: do not let anybody tell you what you can't be. 1048 01:01:05,840 --> 01:01:09,760 Speaker 1: You will show them who you are, which means who 1049 01:01:09,840 --> 01:01:13,800 Speaker 1: you can be. Um, try not to follow the road 1050 01:01:13,880 --> 01:01:17,320 Speaker 1: that is that is whittled down by heavy traffic doing 1051 01:01:17,360 --> 01:01:20,959 Speaker 1: what everybody else is doing. You create your own road 1052 01:01:21,520 --> 01:01:24,040 Speaker 1: and do that thing that God has placed on your 1053 01:01:24,080 --> 01:01:28,280 Speaker 1: heart for you to do. It's okay to be singular 1054 01:01:28,320 --> 01:01:32,919 Speaker 1: and unique and authentic because some if you like it, 1055 01:01:33,640 --> 01:01:36,120 Speaker 1: someone out there is also going to like it. And 1056 01:01:36,200 --> 01:01:39,040 Speaker 1: right now we're in certainly in this business that we're in, 1057 01:01:39,440 --> 01:01:42,520 Speaker 1: we got five or six hundred channels. You gotta feed 1058 01:01:42,560 --> 01:01:46,080 Speaker 1: that beast. There is someone who's going to want what 1059 01:01:46,240 --> 01:01:51,120 Speaker 1: you have to say, So say it. I love it. 1060 01:01:51,240 --> 01:01:53,800 Speaker 1: Thank you for coming on Money Making Conversation, Teina Andrews. 1061 01:01:55,000 --> 01:01:57,320 Speaker 1: Thank you for having me. And if you want to 1062 01:01:57,320 --> 01:01:59,400 Speaker 1: hear any of my interviews, I'll see an of my interviews. 1063 01:01:59,400 --> 01:02:01,680 Speaker 1: Please go to my to Making Conversation dot com. I 1064 01:02:01,880 --> 01:02:04,880 Speaker 1: ras Sean McDonald. I am your host. You've been listening 1065 01:02:04,920 --> 01:02:08,520 Speaker 1: to Money Making Conversations with Rashan McDonald. Please join us 1066 01:02:08,520 --> 01:02:11,600 Speaker 1: next week and always remember leading with your gifts. Money 1067 01:02:11,600 --> 01:02:15,840 Speaker 1: Making Conversations is a presentation of thirty fifteen Media Incorporated. 1068 01:02:17,680 --> 01:02:21,120 Speaker 1: You are now tuned into the money Making Conversations Minute 1069 01:02:21,160 --> 01:02:24,520 Speaker 1: of Inspiration with Rashan McDonald. Hi, ras Shan McDonald on 1070 01:02:24,560 --> 01:02:27,840 Speaker 1: money Making Conversation with your daily minute of Inspiration. This week, 1071 01:02:27,880 --> 01:02:31,000 Speaker 1: I sat down with ESPN sports anchor and ABC News 1072 01:02:31,080 --> 01:02:34,720 Speaker 1: legal analysts Ryan Smith. Since I've known Ryan, I've seen 1073 01:02:34,720 --> 01:02:38,160 Speaker 1: nothing but continued success. It's incredible how he's blended his 1074 01:02:38,240 --> 01:02:41,760 Speaker 1: legal background with sports and entertainment but still allowing himself 1075 01:02:41,840 --> 01:02:45,400 Speaker 1: room for growth. I felt like I was always chasing something. 1076 01:02:45,720 --> 01:02:48,200 Speaker 1: So the goal actually is to love what I do. 1077 01:02:48,360 --> 01:02:51,160 Speaker 1: I like having a balanced life. So for me, it's 1078 01:02:51,160 --> 01:02:53,880 Speaker 1: not just about anchoring one show or doing one brand 1079 01:02:54,040 --> 01:02:56,960 Speaker 1: or making this amount of money. For me, it's can 1080 01:02:57,000 --> 01:02:59,640 Speaker 1: I continue to anchor shows that I love that I'm 1081 01:02:59,680 --> 01:03:01,720 Speaker 1: interested it in and stuff that motivates me. And so 1082 01:03:01,800 --> 01:03:03,840 Speaker 1: right now I'm kind of living my goal, but to 1083 01:03:03,840 --> 01:03:07,280 Speaker 1: be honest with you, I mean for me, it's continue 1084 01:03:07,320 --> 01:03:09,240 Speaker 1: to do this work and continue to do it better 1085 01:03:09,280 --> 01:03:11,560 Speaker 1: and better every day. If you want to listen to 1086 01:03:11,600 --> 01:03:14,360 Speaker 1: this full interview with Ryan Smith is available on Whendy 1087 01:03:14,400 --> 01:03:18,040 Speaker 1: Making Conversations dot com. In this season of giving, Coals 1088 01:03:18,080 --> 01:03:20,680 Speaker 1: has gifts for all your loved ones. For those who 1089 01:03:20,720 --> 01:03:24,400 Speaker 1: like to keep it cozy, find fleeces, sweaters, loungeware, blankets 1090 01:03:24,400 --> 01:03:28,040 Speaker 1: and throws, or support minority owned or founded brands by 1091 01:03:28,040 --> 01:03:31,680 Speaker 1: giving gifts from Human Nation and Shame Moisture, and in 1092 01:03:31,720 --> 01:03:35,280 Speaker 1: the spirit of giving, Coals Cares is donating eight million 1093 01:03:35,320 --> 01:03:39,080 Speaker 1: dollars to local nonprofits nationwide. Give with all your heart 1094 01:03:39,120 --> 01:03:43,200 Speaker 1: this season with great gifts from Coals or Coals dot com. 1095 01:03:43,240 --> 01:03:45,880 Speaker 1: Adoption of teams from foster care is a topic not 1096 01:03:46,040 --> 01:03:48,200 Speaker 1: enough people know about, and we're here to change that. 1097 01:03:48,400 --> 01:03:51,880 Speaker 1: I'm April Denuity, host of the new podcast Navigating Adoption, 1098 01:03:51,960 --> 01:03:55,600 Speaker 1: presented by adopt us Kids. Each episode brings you compelling, 1099 01:03:55,680 --> 01:03:58,760 Speaker 1: real life adoption stories told by the families that lived them, 1100 01:03:58,760 --> 01:04:02,600 Speaker 1: with commentary from expert Visit adopt us Kids dot org, 1101 01:04:02,680 --> 01:04:06,440 Speaker 1: slash podcasts or subscribed to Navigating Adoption Presented by adopt 1102 01:04:06,480 --> 01:04:08,720 Speaker 1: Us Kids. Brought to you by the U. S. Department 1103 01:04:08,720 --> 01:04:11,520 Speaker 1: of Health of Human Services, Administration for Children and Families 1104 01:04:11,520 --> 01:04:15,439 Speaker 1: and the AD Council. Honorary Forest Ranger Betty White here 1105 01:04:15,680 --> 01:04:19,000 Speaker 1: lending a hand of my dear friends Smokey Bear, because 1106 01:04:19,160 --> 01:04:23,360 Speaker 1: for years he's only said only you can prevent wildfires. 1107 01:04:23,480 --> 01:04:25,880 Speaker 1: But there's a lot more to say, like if you 1108 01:04:25,960 --> 01:04:29,080 Speaker 1: bark your car on tall dry grass the hoddig saust 1109 01:04:29,080 --> 01:04:32,800 Speaker 1: pipe can start a wildfire, so keep the animals safe, 1110 01:04:33,080 --> 01:04:36,200 Speaker 1: especially the cute shirtless swamp. Go to Smokey bear dot 1111 01:04:36,200 --> 01:04:39,120 Speaker 1: com to learn more about wildfire prevention. Brought to you 1112 01:04:39,160 --> 01:04:41,800 Speaker 1: by the U. S. 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