1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:04,000 Speaker 1: Wake that ass up in the morning. The Breakfast Club. 2 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:09,120 Speaker 2: Morning everybody, It's dj NV, just hilarious. Chelamaine the guy. 3 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 2: We are the Breakfast Club. Lola Rosa is here as well, 4 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 2: and we got a special guest in the building. Yes, indeed, 5 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 2: Malcolm d Lee. Good morning, what's going on? How are 6 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,600 Speaker 2: you feeling? I'm great now. Malcolm de Lee is a. 7 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: Writer, directing producer. 8 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 2: He's worked on so many different things, The Best Man, 9 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:28,080 Speaker 2: Girls Trip, Night School, The Best Man Final Chapter, so 10 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 2: many of the name. How are you feeling this morning. 11 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 1: Brother, I'm fantastic. I'm very glad to be here, happy 12 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:34,279 Speaker 1: to have you. Man. 13 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 3: You just put out a book called The Best Man 14 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 3: Unfinished Business. 15 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:38,519 Speaker 1: I need to know. 16 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 3: Why would you continue the Best Man series of a 17 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 3: book rather than a movie or TV show. 18 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:46,559 Speaker 1: Well, I've always loved the written word. Number one. I'm 19 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: a storyteller at heart. 20 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:51,879 Speaker 4: It's very difficult to mount a television show, in a 21 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 4: movie getting all those great actors back together, very difficult. 22 00:00:55,720 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 4: And I've fantasized about being a novelist. I thought, Okay, 23 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 4: here's an opportunity to try my hand at novel writing. 24 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 4: Do it with characters that are already established, they have 25 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 4: backstory already and let me give it a shot. Plus 26 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 4: it gets the story out faster. I mean, fans said 27 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 4: they wanted more, and I thought we were done at 28 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 4: the final chapters on Peacock. Still number one on Peacock 29 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 4: by the way, But I said, okay, this is a 30 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 4: way for me to, you know, try novel writing and 31 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:28,679 Speaker 4: get the story out to fans quicker. 32 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 3: But if you have another story, why wouldn't Peacock being 33 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:35,120 Speaker 3: that y'all broke records on Peacock, as you said, it 34 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 3: was the number one show on Peacock, still number one 35 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:40,319 Speaker 3: on Peacock, Why wouldn't they say no, no, no, no, no, Malcolm, 36 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 3: we need that here. 37 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 4: Well listen, I'm not saying that they wouldn't or didn't ask, 38 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 4: but I thought at the time it was I was done. 39 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 1: But then the idea came to be, Okay, let's. 40 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 4: Try it as a as a book, and I think 41 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:00,559 Speaker 4: we can tell more in depth story with the book. 42 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 1: You know, there's you know, you get to use all 43 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: five senses. 44 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 4: We're countering on three different characters in this Harper, Robin 45 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 4: and Jordan, right, and so they're the kind of like 46 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 4: the crux of the of the franchise, and I felt like, 47 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 4: here's an opportunity to not be more expansive in the storytelling, 48 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 4: but also let's get into the psyching of these characters 49 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 4: and in a more in depth way. Is it possible 50 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:24,799 Speaker 4: to get every by everybody back together? 51 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: Yes, but it's very difficult, very money money, keep yeah, 52 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 1: keep going. 53 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 4: It's it's it's difficult. I mean like those those are 54 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 4: all working actors, right, and it's tough to get them 55 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 4: back together. And then you have you have budget constraints, uh, 56 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 4: you have the demands of the network. 57 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 1: In the studio. 58 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:47,119 Speaker 4: With a book, it's just me and my co author 59 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 4: j and Allen to just say, okay, here's a story 60 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:50,639 Speaker 4: that I want to tell. 61 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 2: I want to go back if you don't mind, Malcolm 62 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 2: d Lee coming up in this industry. Yes, you write 63 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 2: The Best Man? Yep, So how do you go for me? 64 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 2: How do you get it to where it is? Being young, 65 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 2: being first time doing it, to getting an opportunity to 66 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 2: even do it. So break it down where you're from 67 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 2: and how how you even came up with the concept 68 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 2: and idea. 69 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 4: Okay, so to start, you know, The Best Man was 70 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 4: my six screenplay and I wasn't even trying to direct 71 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 4: it at the time. At the time, I had written 72 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:23,360 Speaker 4: another romantic comedy that I was trying the fund. 73 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:24,640 Speaker 1: I couldn't find the money for it. 74 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 4: I said, I'm going to write something so commercial that 75 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 4: I'm going to take that money when I sell it 76 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 4: and make my my independent movie. But in the midst 77 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 4: of writing it, it was also called My Homeboy's Wedding 78 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 4: at the time, and I was like, I'm never going 79 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 4: to use that title, So it was called My Homeboy 80 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 4: It was in the beginning, That's why I named it. 81 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: But I knew that was never going to be My. 82 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 4: Homeboys winning that was not but my Homies, no, no, 83 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 4: But so I knew that wasn't gonna be the title. 84 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 4: But I was like, okay, So in the midst of writing, 85 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 4: I said I could, I could direct this, And I 86 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 4: remember giving it to Spike. Was he gonna be read 87 00:03:57,320 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 4: all my screenplays? I already had an agent by that 88 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 4: time as well, but no thing was happening. 89 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 2: Where you originally from? 90 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 4: I'm originally from Well. I was born in Queen's raised 91 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 4: in Brooklyn. Yeah, we're first cause his father and my 92 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 4: father was now deceased. My father's around, he's our brothers 93 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 4: and so yeah. So then I was in my parents' basement. 94 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 4: I finished the script and I said, if this ain't it, then, 95 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 4: you know, I don't know what I'm doing. I'm gonna 96 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 4: probably be a lawyer or or or or a teacher. 97 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 4: And so I handed the script to Spike and he said, 98 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 4: this is the one. 99 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 1: And so right after that we went to Columbia Pictures. 100 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 4: We had hit a deal at the time, and uh, 101 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:40,600 Speaker 4: you know, the start of the process. We didn't land 102 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 4: anywhere until you know, maybe six eight months later at 103 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 4: Universal because Spike was you know, Spike was the kind 104 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 4: of person that dead says if they don't want to 105 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 4: do it, we move it on, right, and so meaning 106 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 4: meaning like we're not listening to any notes, but not 107 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 4: this is here's the script. We're making this movie, right. 108 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 4: And Columbia was like, well, like do a little to work. 109 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:02,479 Speaker 4: He was like, f that, we're out of here. And 110 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 4: I was like, well, you know, I'm just kind of 111 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 4: playing catch with the whole time, kind of like okay, 112 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 4: all right maybe, And then we went to Disney and 113 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,039 Speaker 4: then a few other places and we were getting like, well, 114 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 4: we'd like to do a little. 115 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:14,719 Speaker 1: Work and he was like, we're out of here. And 116 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 1: then I was like, can we slow down a little 117 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 1: bit please? So Universal said, hey, we'd like to see 118 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 1: the script. Okay, I get I get to. 119 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 4: Pay pay you to to do the rewrite and then 120 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 4: if they don't like it at the end, we go 121 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 4: to someplace else. I said, all right, fine, we'll just 122 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 4: you know, we'll slow it down. So that's what happened, 123 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 4: and you know, the process started. I did a two 124 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 4: month rewrite and got to a place where it was 125 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 4: it was the right script at the right time. You know, 126 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 4: like if Love Jones or Where to Exhale or Soul 127 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 4: Food didn't proceed that movie, it wouldn't have gotten made. 128 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,479 Speaker 1: The acting community was ready for it. Here were eight. 129 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 4: Roles for black actors that can just be people and 130 00:05:56,720 --> 00:06:00,839 Speaker 4: not you know, characterizations or caricatures or ide kick or 131 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:02,159 Speaker 4: the sassy. 132 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 1: One or the hood nigga or whatever. You know. 133 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:07,360 Speaker 4: It was like, hey, this is like just eight postgraduates 134 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 4: who were you know, coming back and it was you know, 135 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 4: had the right tone also, so you know, it kind 136 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:16,279 Speaker 4: of worked out that way. And I and certainly my 137 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 4: idea was to make a classic movie. It was not 138 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 4: Thank you know, and and that was that was that 139 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 4: was the you know, the the intention. But beyond that, 140 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 4: I wasn't thinking about anything else. Just happened to be. 141 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,119 Speaker 1: You know, there's been able to like turn into something 142 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 1: more over the years. 143 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 2: Now involved with Spike with the first Best Man movie. 144 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 4: You know, Spike, you know pretty much like dude on 145 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:40,719 Speaker 4: your own. Why that's pretty what it was. He said, 146 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,359 Speaker 4: He said, Okay, you know the script is good. You know, 147 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 4: the the guy greenlit going. He showed up the day 148 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 4: the first day of shooting. I mean we had a 149 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 4: couple of you know, disagreements about casting and you know, 150 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:54,559 Speaker 4: music and stuff like that, but you know, I stuck 151 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,679 Speaker 4: to my guns about who I wanted and what I wanted, 152 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:00,160 Speaker 4: and he was like very supportive of it. He was 153 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 4: there for day one of the shoot in the very 154 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 4: beginning in the morning, said good luck and he was out. 155 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:06,839 Speaker 1: And then you know I saw him in the edit. 156 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 4: You know, he looked at it cut and he was 157 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 4: like change maybe considered changing this, change that, and. 158 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: That was it. 159 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 4: He let me, Spike is very much the person that's 160 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 4: like it's the director's vision. 161 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 1: You do your you make your movie, right. 162 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 5: I was going to ask you I was. I rewatched 163 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 5: the Best Man Final chapters before I started this, and 164 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:29,200 Speaker 5: in one of those episodes, Harper hints at there's supposed 165 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 5: to be this spin off about the love story between 166 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 5: him and Nia Long, But then this book kind of 167 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 5: gives that vibe too. Was that did you drop that 168 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 5: egg on purpose? Or that just happened like that? 169 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 2: Nah? 170 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 4: I wish I could say that it was all like 171 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 4: part of a master plan, but no, you know, but 172 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 4: you you write things and then you see what's what 173 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 4: has been established, and you know, trying to build off 174 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 4: of that. 175 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 5: So and building off of that because you decide to 176 00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 5: explore Robin Harper and Joy his lives like separately, even 177 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 5: though there's still intertwined. Right, how did you decide that? 178 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 5: I know you mentioned it was only these three characters? 179 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 5: How do you know like this was the story because 180 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 5: there's so many spin offs that we learned about in 181 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 5: Final Tan. 182 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 4: And we're going to like, right, so like this is 183 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 4: the book one of a trilogy, right, And so I 184 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 4: know that the plan was I'm gons start with these 185 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 4: three because I think these are the three that that 186 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 4: people are most interested or the most kind of polarizing, 187 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 4: because you know, Robin made some decisions in the last 188 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 4: in the final chapters that people were very upset about. 189 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 4: So I want to give her a chance to like 190 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 4: explain herself. And I will say, also, let this back up. 191 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: A little bit. 192 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:34,959 Speaker 4: Doing a television show, as you said, it's like be 193 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:37,800 Speaker 4: great to do, but like it's also very restrictive in 194 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 4: terms of budget. 195 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:39,679 Speaker 1: In front of the story. I want to tell you 196 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 1: we wanted to do ten episodes. 197 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:45,200 Speaker 4: We're only able to do eight because of again many 198 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 4: different things scheduled and whatnot. 199 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: So again, be able to do it in a book 200 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 1: is different. 201 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:52,839 Speaker 4: So in doing these three characters, I wanted to like 202 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 4: kind of like get answer those questions about you know, 203 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,199 Speaker 4: what's going to going on with Robin And I'm sorry with. 204 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:01,199 Speaker 1: Jordan and Harper, it's Robin doing. 205 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 4: Because they're still intertwined, because there's there's still share a 206 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:06,439 Speaker 4: child that's has been a long time together. And then 207 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:10,320 Speaker 4: in book two and three, we get into Lance's POV 208 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 4: and we're getting into Quentin's pov uh Candice Shelby and 209 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:17,440 Speaker 4: and and expand on the story from there. 210 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:20,840 Speaker 1: But you know, and we were gonna end it, uh. 211 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:23,079 Speaker 4: With with with these three with these three characters were 212 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 4: going to be like, we're gonna wrap up their story, 213 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:26,960 Speaker 4: but they're going to continue because we have a bit 214 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 4: of a cliffhanger at the end of unfinished business. 215 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 3: You know, black content, uh can have tremendous success but 216 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:40,680 Speaker 3: still not get respect from whatever platform or or our industry. 217 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 3: So how did Peacock react to the success of The 218 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:44,839 Speaker 3: Best Man final chapters? 219 00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 4: They were ecstatic, you know, they were ecstatic. I mean 220 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:49,959 Speaker 4: it was I don't I don't. I don't want to 221 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 4: say necessarily that it saved the network, but it certainly 222 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 4: was a big boost for the network. So they want 223 00:09:57,080 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 4: more from me. They you know, they would love to 224 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 4: have another or Best Man. But again, you know, it's 225 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 4: very very tough. 226 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, but saying you you would love to have something 227 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:11,079 Speaker 3: as one thing, showing improving it through the actual budget 228 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:11,560 Speaker 3: is another. 229 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 1: Is that the problem? I think that's part of It's 230 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 1: a challenge. It's a real challenge. 231 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 4: I mean, like you know, again in terms of like 232 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 4: what what they value and what they're like. This this book, 233 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:26,079 Speaker 4: for instance, takes place in four different cities, two different continents. 234 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 4: To have that kind of budget to make that movie 235 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 4: with all these actors take Avengers type money, right, you know, 236 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 4: I mean I'm exaggerating, but like that's what it would 237 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:35,719 Speaker 4: would take. 238 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 1: Do they think it's worth it? 239 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 4: I don't know, because it's like how much I don't 240 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 4: know how streaming works versus subscriptions, versus how much they 241 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 4: can they can afford, and how much they're going to 242 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 4: be able to expend, and how much they want what 243 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 4: they value. 244 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 1: I don't know. 245 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 4: But all I know is, Okay, here's here's an opportunity 246 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:55,080 Speaker 4: to tell the story in another way. And listen, the 247 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:57,800 Speaker 4: books get turned into television shows and movies all the time, 248 00:10:58,320 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 4: so you know, but that wasn't the intention. 249 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,440 Speaker 1: Here. We'll see what happens. We are all. 250 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 2: Surprised with the success of The Best Man and how 251 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:08,360 Speaker 2: as well as did since ninety nine, because it's like 252 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:11,199 Speaker 2: another ending story that you know, it's generations and new 253 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 2: generations of kids watching and listening and viewing. 254 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, I'll say that because. 255 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 2: I'm surprised it was ninety nine. I had to look 256 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:20,360 Speaker 2: at my damn ninety nine. 257 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, man, I don't know, but yeah, it was. 258 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 4: I listened, like I said, I intended, and I thought 259 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:30,199 Speaker 4: I could make a classic. But I thought that was 260 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:32,200 Speaker 4: gonna be it, like you know, and I didn't want 261 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:34,800 Speaker 4: to be, you know, a sequel type thing because like 262 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 4: it's like they wanted to a sequel right away, and 263 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:37,719 Speaker 4: I said, no, I want. 264 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:39,679 Speaker 1: I want other stories to tell. I want these characters 265 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 1: to grow. 266 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 4: And I'm glad I waited, because you know, there is 267 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 4: more story to tell as we as a people get 268 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:50,600 Speaker 4: more mature and get you know, different stimuli and different 269 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 4: things that that enter our brain. It's like, you know, 270 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 4: and especially as we get older, right, and the culture 271 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 4: changes and shifts and whatnot. I wanted to be able 272 00:11:56,960 --> 00:12:00,120 Speaker 4: to infuse that with these characters as well. So well, 273 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:01,680 Speaker 4: you know, the fact that I was able to do 274 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 4: it has been great, you know, like and really with 275 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:07,320 Speaker 4: Best Man Holiday, it was also a very strategic move 276 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:08,199 Speaker 4: in terms. 277 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 1: Of like what's the what's what's. 278 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 4: Everything was about branding around twenty twelve, right, you know, 279 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 4: twenty ten, right, and they were like, okay, what's my brand? 280 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:17,319 Speaker 4: And I needed to need to work too, because I 281 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 4: wasn't working a whole bunch. And I said, okay, it's 282 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 4: time to make another sequel or make another Best Man movie. 283 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:26,079 Speaker 4: And because my brand is the Best Man, so that's 284 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 4: what happened, and you know, we met made it so 285 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:31,960 Speaker 4: that The Best Man Holiday had a cliffhanger, also that 286 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 4: we didn't tell another story. But you know, at the time, 287 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 4: Universal Pictures was not meeting where I wanted to meet 288 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 4: budget wise, you know, and for another movie. So so 289 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:47,080 Speaker 4: I shifted to make a series because streaming was so 290 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 4: popular at the time, and I thought, Okay, we could 291 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 4: tell more story. And I knew I had two more 292 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:54,439 Speaker 4: movies that I wanted to tell there and then I thought, Okay, 293 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 4: now we're done. 294 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: But we're not done. 295 00:12:57,520 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 5: It's crazy, though, because when you mentioned The Avengers, I 296 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:01,320 Speaker 5: was sitting here thinking, like, how the universe of like 297 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:03,840 Speaker 5: those type of characters work, and this is a universe 298 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 5: like I would literally follow those storylines and not even 299 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 5: just the main characters, but we're introduced to their children, 300 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 5: like LJ has a story, you know what I mean. 301 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:13,680 Speaker 5: So it kind of is that. But it doesn't seem 302 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:16,719 Speaker 5: like from what you're saying, it's getting that vibe when 303 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 5: you go to these networks. 304 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 4: No mind you, I did not try. I did not 305 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 4: try to say, oh I want to make another. 306 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 1: Show. I didn't say, like, let's make another one. 307 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:30,840 Speaker 4: There are other things in the works that may or 308 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 4: may not have to do it best Man, but I 309 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 4: wanted to write the book first. That's that's why I 310 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:40,840 Speaker 4: felt like that was the next logical step. Again, mounting 311 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 4: a show is very difficult, and it's cost a lot 312 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 4: of money. There's a lot of demands, a lot of 313 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 4: compromises that have to happen. And again, gathering all that talent, 314 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 4: you know, for a span of time is also a challenge. 315 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 1: And I'm getting old, you know. 316 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:00,720 Speaker 4: I want to do things that you know, that move me, 317 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 4: that motivate me, and I think this is a good 318 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:06,840 Speaker 4: way to do it. And again it can always shift 319 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:08,720 Speaker 4: and change, but I got I have to do wrote 320 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 4: this book and write two more. 321 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 3: How do you navigate the balance between cultural storytelling and 322 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 3: commercial expectations? 323 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 4: Interesting, I try not to worry too much about about 324 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 4: commercial success. I have an eye on it always. I mean, 325 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 4: when I wrote best Man, that was both commercial, and 326 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 4: I wanted to write something commercial, but something that I 327 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 4: thought would speak to me and the people that then 328 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 4: audience that that that that hadn't been had been underserved 329 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 4: at that point. So I always have one eye on 330 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 4: commerce and one eye on artistry, and then just try 331 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 4: to hopefully make those meld, and you have to keep 332 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 4: an eye on what's what's happening, you know, Like wedding 333 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 4: movies were very popular at that time. There had not 334 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 4: been a black wedding movie to date. And I said, okay, well, 335 00:14:57,560 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 4: I love ensemble movies. I love the dramedy tone of storytelling. 336 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 4: So that's what I want to try to do. And again, 337 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:07,520 Speaker 4: it was the right script at the right time, and 338 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 4: I just try to make the best movie that I 339 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 4: possibly can. And if it's not my job to market it, 340 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 4: it's their job to market it, you know. 341 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 1: And and if I've given. 342 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 4: You a movie that's that's play has playability, it's your 343 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 4: job to make it marketable. 344 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,040 Speaker 5: I was going to say that finding the right movie 345 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 5: at the right time was kind of similar to what 346 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 5: you guys did with Girls Trip to or at this 347 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 5: point our networks coming to you trying to find that, 348 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 5: like what's the right movie at the right time, because 349 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 5: it seems like that's a part of your brain. 350 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 4: Now, well, I think they're always trying to copy. It's 351 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 4: a copycat industry, right. Whatever successful, they're going to try 352 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:48,160 Speaker 4: to make more of more of that. I think with 353 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 4: Girls Trip, you know both Hangover and Bride'smaids preceded that movie. 354 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 4: And Will Packer Hans to me and he said, maw, 355 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 4: let's take actors from Best Man and think like a man, 356 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 4: and let's make you know, the Hangover treating for black women. 357 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 4: At Essence, I said, I'm in right, and so you know, 358 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 4: it just kind of it was again another right place, 359 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 4: right time type of deal. 360 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 1: It has to be the right script. 361 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:18,600 Speaker 5: Also, didn't break your heart when you saw this stuff 362 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 5: that was happening with Essence just recently. 363 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 1: You know, It's funny I did not. 364 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 4: I was there right, I was voting the book I 365 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:29,600 Speaker 4: didn't have I didn't notice, you know what other folks 366 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 4: were noticing, because you know, I was being shifted from 367 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 4: this place to that place or whatever. 368 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 1: I didn't really like get. 369 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 4: You know, I wasn't really exploring and I went, you 370 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 4: know to the concerts and things like that. 371 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 1: It's a little bit. The tenants was down right, but 372 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 1: I said, I was like, it wasn't as packed as 373 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:45,080 Speaker 1: it usually right. But I think some of that has 374 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 1: to do with economics. I mean, folks, yeah, people don't 375 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 1: have the disposal income. 376 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 4: You know, it's it's it's it's not strictly just because 377 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 4: you know, management has changed. I think that's part of it, 378 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 4: or at least that that's the sense I'm getting. 379 00:16:58,320 --> 00:16:59,280 Speaker 1: From people online. 380 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 4: I didn't have that experience that I felt like, oh, 381 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 4: like this is really changed. 382 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 2: It's gonna sound stupid, but you should do a guide strip. 383 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:08,920 Speaker 2: I've seen so many not stupid that go to New 384 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:12,159 Speaker 2: Orleans because they're looking for women, right, and they know 385 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 2: that they're looking for whether it's married women that that 386 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 2: take their ring off for that weekend, or it's single 387 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:20,440 Speaker 2: women that's out there. There's so many fellas that put 388 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:23,640 Speaker 2: their flyers outfit on and they had and they. 389 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:25,400 Speaker 1: Go out there looking for it. Be called the Yian. 390 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:32,200 Speaker 1: The young niggas gonna be you're old and you're doing 391 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:34,120 Speaker 1: that that, Oh yeah, it is, like. 392 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 5: Necessarily it's the older scale of men that come. 393 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:43,399 Speaker 3: You shouldn't be no forty fifty year old bachelor in 394 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 3: a pack still chasing women ence, because you should be 395 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:48,639 Speaker 3: grown and mature. 396 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:53,959 Speaker 5: It should have been already. Person's rundown's that happens at 397 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:54,399 Speaker 5: that point? 398 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:56,360 Speaker 1: How is any women? 399 00:17:56,400 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 5: Are women raging age of essence? I'm sure yo, hey skin. 400 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:05,520 Speaker 5: When we think about a girl's trip. 401 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 1: Regina Hall was married yep. 402 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:11,120 Speaker 3: Right, Tiffany was the wild right one. 403 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 4: But but but but Jada was divorced, and so was 404 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:17,400 Speaker 4: and and and and Latifa was was free also, so itou. 405 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:19,199 Speaker 3: Have to be Yeah, so the guys have to have 406 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 3: a different backstory than just being a bunch of wild 407 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:21,480 Speaker 3: by the. 408 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:25,720 Speaker 4: Way and be like that, Like like, I'm not saying 409 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 4: that we're not doing or we are doing a guys 410 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:30,119 Speaker 4: trip movie, but you're not. 411 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:31,960 Speaker 1: You did not plant that idea in my head. Just 412 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:36,160 Speaker 1: wanted to make just to be clear. 413 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 2: But it's funny because you go out there and you know, 414 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 2: the guys that used to be able to drink, they 415 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:42,439 Speaker 2: take two shots to pass out. Now guys me naps. 416 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 1: Now it's funny though, But I agree, I agree, I mean, yeah, 417 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 1: I don't. I think we wouldn't do at essence for guys. 418 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 4: But even though, like I had a best friend, a 419 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 4: really good friend rather who said, like I was telling 420 00:18:55,119 --> 00:18:58,160 Speaker 4: him I was doing uh girls trip and he was like, oh, 421 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 4: essence I got. I got a bunch of essence wives 422 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:04,240 Speaker 4: And I was like, oh interesting. So like they say 423 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:05,960 Speaker 4: to say, the women that you don't have a chance 424 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 4: with in regular time you gotta you gotta, you gotta 425 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 4: shot with that's this weekend. 426 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:12,679 Speaker 1: The people that be like they free they seen that weekend. 427 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 5: I've been no, no, no, I ain't. But I've seen 428 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:19,360 Speaker 5: you know, I've seen all the know. I know. I'm 429 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:21,879 Speaker 5: just saying I've seen that. Like I've seen people. And 430 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:24,200 Speaker 5: there's a lot of stories too. People revisit Essence Fest 431 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 5: on their anniversary because they met there and now they're married. 432 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:28,960 Speaker 5: Like there's a lot of that. It's kind of like homecoming. Yeah, yeah, 433 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:31,879 Speaker 5: what happens. But I was asking you about that in 434 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:35,360 Speaker 5: your branding and networks coming to you because in Best Man, 435 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:37,439 Speaker 5: one of the things that Harper's trying so hard to 436 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 5: do is like not let the networks take too much 437 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 5: of him and be like white wish. How do you 438 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:44,399 Speaker 5: do that? Because you're working with these big platforms, but 439 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:46,720 Speaker 5: like it's still very much us and we feel it right. 440 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:49,480 Speaker 4: Well, you know, I first of all, try to have 441 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:52,360 Speaker 4: as much integrity as possible in the storytelling. I'm trying 442 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 4: to tell I'm my mission on this earth is to 443 00:19:55,960 --> 00:20:00,919 Speaker 4: tell elevated stories about black people and making sure that 444 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 4: our humanity is highlighted and that we normalize black life 445 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 4: in America. That's my mission in life, particularly when it 446 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:11,159 Speaker 4: comes to black men. That's what I've been put on 447 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 4: this earth to do. That's my that's and that's and 448 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 4: most of the time they respect that, particularly if they 449 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:19,680 Speaker 4: think it's gonna make money, you know what I mean. So, 450 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 4: like that's just part of my DNA. 451 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:26,960 Speaker 3: Oh that's good because when you do this best Best Guy, 452 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:28,919 Speaker 3: whatever it is, when you do this story about the 453 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:32,240 Speaker 3: men going to Essence, you gotta have every single type 454 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 3: of man represented. You got to have the one man 455 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 3: that's there, letting these dudes know how stupid, Like. 456 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:41,360 Speaker 5: We should have been passed this already. 457 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 1: We need to go back to the room. Now, we 458 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 1: got to go one more club, one more ball. 459 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:48,680 Speaker 3: Now, Okay, you know what I did, which happened after 460 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:52,159 Speaker 3: The Best Man, the final chapter and because of the 461 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:54,439 Speaker 3: success of The Girls Trip, I thought that was gonna 462 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:57,679 Speaker 3: make other platforms say, you know what, there's other shows 463 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 3: we can do that with, like Girlfriends. I feel like 464 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:02,640 Speaker 3: Girlfriends is just sitting there and Girlfriends is to show 465 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 3: that we didn't get no closure on So it would 466 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:06,639 Speaker 3: make all the sense in the world to do something 467 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 3: like that. 468 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 5: So I don't understand why. 469 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:10,800 Speaker 3: When we have success with something like The Best Man 470 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:13,359 Speaker 3: Wed in Hollywood doesn't say that's the new mandate, we 471 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:13,959 Speaker 3: need more of that. 472 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:17,679 Speaker 4: I think you know a lot of that has to 473 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:19,639 Speaker 4: do with behind the scenes stuff too. You know, you know, 474 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:23,440 Speaker 4: you don't know what's going on with again, with schedules, 475 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 4: with the with the creative process. You know, where people's 476 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:29,439 Speaker 4: heads are, how much money they're offering to to to 477 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 4: produce something like that. I think Mara has talked about 478 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:37,280 Speaker 4: doing a girlfriend a movie. I think uh if Bett 479 00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 4: Lee Bowser has talked about, you know, rebooting living single 480 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:43,919 Speaker 4: in some form of fashion. But I mean again, it's like, 481 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:48,280 Speaker 4: you know, what they're currently doing versus what uh you 482 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:51,920 Speaker 4: know it's on the horizon, versus what studios are gonna 483 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:54,920 Speaker 4: do or pay for. I mean, the business of filmmaking 484 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:57,960 Speaker 4: and in studios in Hollywood is contracting. 485 00:21:58,000 --> 00:21:58,520 Speaker 1: It's shrinking. 486 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 4: It's not expanding, you know, it's it's only getting smaller. 487 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:04,960 Speaker 4: So you know, and they're only going to do things 488 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:08,760 Speaker 4: that that have IP and and those are great examples 489 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 4: of you know IP that that's already exists that you 490 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:13,720 Speaker 4: know they could build on. 491 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:16,040 Speaker 2: But is it difficult to do those positive type of 492 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:18,120 Speaker 2: movies like you know, you look at what it costs 493 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:20,119 Speaker 2: to do that Best Man and how much you made, 494 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:22,359 Speaker 2: and how much you cost to do Girls Trip and 495 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:23,199 Speaker 2: how much you made. 496 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:24,800 Speaker 1: I feel like we should get more of that. 497 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:26,400 Speaker 2: But we don't see any of that, Like you don't 498 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:28,639 Speaker 2: see a Love and Basketball, you don't see a Best 499 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:29,320 Speaker 2: Man anymore. 500 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 1: You don't see a. 501 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 2: Lot of those movies anymore. That's positive for our country. 502 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:35,119 Speaker 2: You don't see it as many. 503 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:37,920 Speaker 5: Forevery on netflixt. 504 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:38,800 Speaker 2: Good I'm told about movies. 505 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 4: Well, movies are very It's very hard to get people 506 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:43,159 Speaker 4: to get out of their homes to go to a 507 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:45,960 Speaker 4: movie theater nowadays because everything is so easy on streaming. 508 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:47,119 Speaker 1: It's like, oh, I'll just turn. 509 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:49,840 Speaker 4: It on to get people that come out of their 510 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:51,880 Speaker 4: homes and. 511 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:54,439 Speaker 1: Buy popcorn or get a babysitter or whatever. 512 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:58,159 Speaker 4: That's a increasingly Yeah, it's got to feel like an 513 00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:01,160 Speaker 4: event otherwise, like or you know, I'm gonna miss out 514 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:03,439 Speaker 4: on something if I don't go see it. And so 515 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 4: that's what the students are really struggling with right now. 516 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 4: It's like what what Because it costs so much to 517 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:12,199 Speaker 4: not only make a movie, but to market and promote 518 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 4: a movie that like, it's got to be worth the shot. 519 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:16,080 Speaker 1: Can they make? 520 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:18,280 Speaker 2: Are they making them money back when it's on a 521 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 2: network like that, Like like you spend let's say whatever 522 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:22,919 Speaker 2: the cost to do a movie and they put it 523 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,679 Speaker 2: on a Netflix, right, Is Netflix making them money back? 524 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:28,040 Speaker 2: Because it's suscriptions, They're gonna make that money monthly anyway? 525 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:28,480 Speaker 1: Are they? 526 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:30,120 Speaker 2: Is it worth it for them for that? 527 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:32,680 Speaker 4: I think it is becausetherwise they stop making it. Yeah, 528 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 4: I mean I think that, yeah, they they they their 529 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:39,560 Speaker 4: costs are are not as high when it comes to 530 00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 4: market and promotion, and they can then it's you know, 531 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 4: available across the world, so they have a lot of. 532 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:47,360 Speaker 1: You know, ways that they can make money. I think 533 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:48,640 Speaker 1: streaming is just. 534 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 4: Just easier for people to like click on things, but 535 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:55,879 Speaker 4: they also you have to have certain things happen right away. 536 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:57,720 Speaker 1: Althwise, people be like a I don't want to watch that, 537 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:00,400 Speaker 1: I go onto something else. That's what it's. It's I've not. 538 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:02,280 Speaker 4: Made a movie for a streamer I mean other, I 539 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 4: mean television show. I think movies on streaming can be 540 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:12,720 Speaker 4: very can get lost and be very forgettable because people are. 541 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 1: Just kind of like whatever, you know, that's cool, that 542 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:15,440 Speaker 1: was nice. 543 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:17,880 Speaker 4: But it's like and so that would be very hard 544 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 4: for me to to take and feel like, oh, I'm 545 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 4: making some kind of cultural impact. I think movies do 546 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:28,800 Speaker 4: have the ability to coachally be impactful, and it's not 547 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:31,560 Speaker 4: always the case. It's not you can't always be culturally impactful. 548 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:34,439 Speaker 4: But in a in a movie where you know, grolture, 549 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:36,119 Speaker 4: but obviously it's one of those movies. Best Man is 550 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:39,200 Speaker 4: one of those movies you just hope that that deserve 551 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 4: a big canvas and you know people will go see him. 552 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:44,159 Speaker 3: I agree, because when you set it up as a 553 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:47,760 Speaker 3: TV series, that's more of an event. When the Best 554 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:50,119 Speaker 3: Man final chapter is eight episodes, it's like, oh, I 555 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:52,040 Speaker 3: got right, But if it was this best Man in 556 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:54,240 Speaker 3: the movie, I'll probably watch. 557 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:57,879 Speaker 1: But it's not right an event, right exactly exactly. 558 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:00,359 Speaker 4: I think, like, you know, fortunately we were able to 559 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 4: platform it in a way that you know, it gave 560 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 4: peacocka a lot of subscribers based on you know, that's 561 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 4: great cast and this great franchise. 562 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 1: So you know, we were very very fortunate to do that. 563 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:16,000 Speaker 4: And I would like to keep doing that in television, 564 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:20,120 Speaker 4: to tell those kind of event event tires type of stories. 565 00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:21,760 Speaker 1: And it's why that we don't look at it like that, Beau. 566 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:23,840 Speaker 3: If you get in eight episodes of an hour series, 567 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:24,919 Speaker 3: that's like four movies. 568 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:28,440 Speaker 4: Yep, it felt like it too. 569 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:30,439 Speaker 3: When it comes to the book, do you have to 570 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:35,960 Speaker 3: run the characters arcs past the you know what the 571 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:39,360 Speaker 3: actors and the world like this is where I'm taking 572 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:40,240 Speaker 3: y'all characters? 573 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:44,040 Speaker 4: No, I mean, you know, especially in this form, it's 574 00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:49,160 Speaker 4: like these these characters came from me, so I own 575 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:53,520 Speaker 4: them and I dictate where they go. It's you know what, 576 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:55,359 Speaker 4: where they do have an influence is like you know 577 00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 4: what they look like and their voices and their facial 578 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:03,600 Speaker 4: looks Russians and you know, I think that's you know. 579 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:05,840 Speaker 1: Part of the storytelling. But no, I don't. I don't. 580 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:07,040 Speaker 1: I wouldn't be consulting them. 581 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 4: It's it's not the only time you have to consult 582 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:11,080 Speaker 4: them is like when it's when it's time to actually 583 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:13,359 Speaker 4: do it and then on that or to make a 584 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 4: movie or a television show. And in that instance, you know, 585 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:19,640 Speaker 4: that's when the collaboration is happening. But on the book, 586 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:22,680 Speaker 4: it's just me and my and my my co author 587 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:25,800 Speaker 4: Jane Allen, and you know, the editor. 588 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:27,639 Speaker 3: The only reason is because you know one day you're 589 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:29,400 Speaker 3: going to have to get them to play these characters 590 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:31,399 Speaker 3: again for this story. 591 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:32,280 Speaker 5: They lived in real life. 592 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:37,000 Speaker 1: People still I don't know, you know again, but we 593 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 1: don't we don't know. 594 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 4: I mean, but when that time comes, if that time comes, 595 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:42,800 Speaker 4: then we'll we'll we'll cross that bridge. 596 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:45,160 Speaker 5: Now that the characters have called you about the book 597 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:46,720 Speaker 5: and been like hold on, now, why did I have 598 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:51,560 Speaker 5: to nobody, Neela, nobody has called you about that, yeah, 599 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:53,119 Speaker 5: or like just being like yo, I like where you 600 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:55,800 Speaker 5: took the character because like Nia long or Jordan's finally 601 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:57,000 Speaker 5: getting a repeat of Reprieve. 602 00:26:57,119 --> 00:27:01,119 Speaker 4: Well, well, Harold and uh Mare and Tane, my business 603 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 4: partners and Table have have read it and and they've 604 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:05,880 Speaker 4: got given me feedback. The others I haven't heard from 605 00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:08,879 Speaker 4: yet in terms of that that they've read it. 606 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:10,359 Speaker 2: It depends on budget to because you can get a 607 00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:14,119 Speaker 2: cheap version of Morris right there. That's not cheap versions of. 608 00:27:14,119 --> 00:27:16,440 Speaker 3: Things, but you know, but that would never work for this. 609 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:19,000 Speaker 1: You have to have ingredients. 610 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:21,919 Speaker 5: It would never kill you if you reach Oh you 611 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 5: can't say certain words either. 612 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 1: That's what what can he say? 613 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:38,280 Speaker 5: Like words with words? Now you were talking about. You 614 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:40,879 Speaker 5: were talking about your co author, Jane Allen. So she 615 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:42,400 Speaker 5: did Black Girls Mess Die Exhausted? 616 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 1: Correct? 617 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:46,359 Speaker 5: I read. I didn't know that there were different iterations 618 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:48,240 Speaker 5: of the book. I read the first one that she did, Yes, 619 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:50,840 Speaker 5: there's two more, okay, and that one. I mean, I 620 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:53,399 Speaker 5: work in media, so it spoke to me like so clearly. 621 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:56,520 Speaker 5: When I saw that she was your co author, I'm like, oh, 622 00:27:56,760 --> 00:27:59,280 Speaker 5: Jordan's life is literally like a lot about what Jane 623 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:01,959 Speaker 5: writes about interesting, like just because she talks a lot 624 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:05,040 Speaker 5: about black women trying to figure out basically not like 625 00:28:05,080 --> 00:28:08,120 Speaker 5: to wither yourself away by like surviving life? How can 626 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:09,800 Speaker 5: you live life? And then I thought about the black 627 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:11,760 Speaker 5: women in this series, and I'm like, ooh, I wonder 628 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:14,280 Speaker 5: if you all came together because you thought that way 629 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:15,200 Speaker 5: or did it just happen? 630 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:18,080 Speaker 4: Well, I mean when I interviewed with Jaye, I read her, 631 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:21,719 Speaker 4: I'd read her books, and then I sat down with 632 00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:23,959 Speaker 4: her to talk about the collaboration process. 633 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 1: I really liked her her life experience. 634 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:27,800 Speaker 4: You know, she had been an attorney, she had worked 635 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:29,919 Speaker 4: for Prince, she had worked for Lady Gaga, she had 636 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 4: had a number of entrepreneurial businesses before she decided to 637 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 4: become an author, and so I really like that, and uh, 638 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:38,920 Speaker 4: and I liked her writing, and I thought she'd be additive, 639 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:41,720 Speaker 4: particularly as a black woman, you know, who had had 640 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:45,360 Speaker 4: corporate experience, you know, with with the telling of these stories. 641 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:47,360 Speaker 1: So it was pretty much a no brainer. 642 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:49,040 Speaker 4: And well, it really wasn't a no brainer until she 643 00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:51,000 Speaker 4: said to me, like, why are you doing this? I said, well, 644 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:53,320 Speaker 4: I'm trying to excise new muscle. I'm trying to get 645 00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:55,040 Speaker 4: into the novel run. And she's like, no, no, what for, 646 00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:56,200 Speaker 4: Like what are you doing? 647 00:28:56,680 --> 00:28:57,640 Speaker 1: I said, I don't know. 648 00:28:57,680 --> 00:28:59,880 Speaker 4: I thought that was pretty explanatory. And then she said, 649 00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 4: do you want to win? And I was like, huh, yeah, 650 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:06,080 Speaker 4: I want to win? Do you want to be you 651 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 4: want this? Are you all in on this book? Are 652 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:09,760 Speaker 4: you just trying to like just be like whatever with it? 653 00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:11,640 Speaker 4: And I was like, no, I'm all in. I'm I'm 654 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:13,760 Speaker 4: I'm I want And I love that spirit, you know, 655 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:15,920 Speaker 4: of like someone that's like got the same kind of 656 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:18,120 Speaker 4: work ethic that I do. It's like, Okay, let's push 657 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:20,880 Speaker 4: ourselves to make the best product possible. And I think 658 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:22,360 Speaker 4: we've done that with the book, you know, I think 659 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:24,920 Speaker 4: the people are really going to if they've loved The 660 00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:28,520 Speaker 4: Best Man, The Best Man Holiday and the and the series, 661 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:32,160 Speaker 4: they're gonna love the book because it's more expansive storytelling. 662 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 4: It's it's, it's it's I think in more more depth 663 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:37,360 Speaker 4: than the movies and television. You're you're able to do 664 00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:39,960 Speaker 4: things in movies intellivision that you can't or in a 665 00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:40,920 Speaker 4: novel that you can't. 666 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:41,880 Speaker 1: Do in movies and television. 667 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:44,240 Speaker 4: It's like that you use all five senses you need 668 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:48,440 Speaker 4: to feel, taste, smell, see here, it's it's all all 669 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:51,080 Speaker 4: those things are engaged, and it's a very cinematic experience 670 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:54,840 Speaker 4: because you already know who the characters are, what they look. 671 00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:58,640 Speaker 3: Like, what what legacy are you personally building. That's distinc 672 00:29:58,760 --> 00:30:02,280 Speaker 3: from the family the lene. 673 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:07,600 Speaker 4: I think it's there are some intersectionality between what Spike 674 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:09,800 Speaker 4: has done and what I'm doing, what Spike is continuing 675 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:14,560 Speaker 4: to do, And primarily that's that's that's elevating, you know, 676 00:30:14,840 --> 00:30:18,360 Speaker 4: the humanity of black people, on the normalization. 677 00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:24,280 Speaker 1: Of black life. Don't forget Joey Joey Lee my cousin. 678 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:27,120 Speaker 4: Yeah that's okay, no, no, and yeah no, trust me, 679 00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:30,479 Speaker 4: Like you know, you know, uh, Spike's brother David as 680 00:30:30,480 --> 00:30:33,920 Speaker 4: a photographer, you know, and so so I don't know, 681 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:36,040 Speaker 4: like I I I'm trying to create my own lane. 682 00:30:36,040 --> 00:30:37,560 Speaker 4: I have, I have, I have created my own lane. 683 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 4: It's different from what Spike does. Spike is like, you know, 684 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:44,760 Speaker 4: a true filmmaker artist, right, you know, I'm I'm I 685 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:47,560 Speaker 4: tend to make movies, although I'm trying to like be 686 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:51,400 Speaker 4: an artist, you know, but you know, my lane has 687 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:51,840 Speaker 4: been like. 688 00:30:51,800 --> 00:30:53,800 Speaker 1: Trying to be much more of the commercial route. 689 00:30:54,080 --> 00:30:57,480 Speaker 4: And and again it's about normalization of of black life 690 00:30:57,520 --> 00:30:59,360 Speaker 4: in America and abroad. 691 00:31:00,480 --> 00:31:03,280 Speaker 5: How did you know or why did you decide to 692 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:08,480 Speaker 5: finally explore Ty Diggs in uh in SNAILI Than's character 693 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:11,480 Speaker 5: like not trying to get back together because Harper and Robin, 694 00:31:11,520 --> 00:31:14,880 Speaker 5: Harper and Robert, yes, right, like, because I feel like 695 00:31:14,920 --> 00:31:17,640 Speaker 5: there's been times where like we see them go apart, 696 00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:19,000 Speaker 5: but then I always thought that they would try and 697 00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:20,960 Speaker 5: figure it out again. Especially Yeah, I. 698 00:31:20,960 --> 00:31:23,040 Speaker 4: Mean, I wanted to explore, you know, what life was like, 699 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:26,080 Speaker 4: you know, post divorce, and you know the circumstances behind that, 700 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:28,520 Speaker 4: because I mean, you know, Harper you know, could have 701 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:32,040 Speaker 4: probably made some different choices, you know, you know, and 702 00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:34,640 Speaker 4: and and but now he's he's got all the trappings 703 00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:36,600 Speaker 4: of success. He's got the you know, he got the 704 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:40,080 Speaker 4: bachelor pad and in Dumbo Brooklyn, he's got you know, 705 00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:43,680 Speaker 4: critical successes, being a Pulitzerprise winner. 706 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:46,600 Speaker 1: But he's alone, right, I mean, he not lonely, but 707 00:31:46,640 --> 00:31:47,160 Speaker 1: he alone. 708 00:31:47,760 --> 00:31:50,400 Speaker 4: And you know, he's enjoying his bachelor life style, but 709 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:52,240 Speaker 4: he doesn't quite fit into his life the way he 710 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:54,280 Speaker 4: used to, and especially with his friends. 711 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:58,600 Speaker 1: He's the seventh wheel. And in this in this, in 712 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:00,880 Speaker 1: this book, he is kind of ask himself. 713 00:32:00,560 --> 00:32:03,200 Speaker 4: The question, did I do the right thing? Have I 714 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:06,160 Speaker 4: could I have done better? And so is there gonna 715 00:32:06,160 --> 00:32:10,080 Speaker 4: be a reconciliation perhaps? You know, Robbin's over in Ghana, 716 00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:12,200 Speaker 4: And I went to Ghana by the way to do 717 00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:14,400 Speaker 4: some exploration and just probably get put my foot on 718 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:16,640 Speaker 4: the soil and and breathe the air and taste. 719 00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:18,280 Speaker 1: The food and be with the people. 720 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:20,880 Speaker 4: So I could really fill out that side of the 721 00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:23,960 Speaker 4: story and explore like what life was like for a 722 00:32:24,040 --> 00:32:28,520 Speaker 4: returney to to Ghana. Uh So, yeah, I mean there's 723 00:32:28,880 --> 00:32:32,480 Speaker 4: there's there's a lot of explanation or I was an 724 00:32:32,520 --> 00:32:35,240 Speaker 4: exploration of what's what was the right thing? 725 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:39,440 Speaker 1: And should he return to a woman that was like 726 00:32:39,640 --> 00:32:40,880 Speaker 1: made him the man that he is. 727 00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:45,360 Speaker 4: And you know, also he's got his daughter's preteen daughter 728 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:48,080 Speaker 4: that's missing him as well, you know, across the Atlantic. 729 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:50,120 Speaker 1: So it's lots for him to be thinking about. 730 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:54,360 Speaker 4: And there's also his friendship, his long term friendship with Jordan, 731 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:57,560 Speaker 4: and you know, are they going to finally link up 732 00:32:58,400 --> 00:33:01,239 Speaker 4: and finally get together and are they really soulmates or not? 733 00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:04,000 Speaker 1: You're smiling. Have you finished the book? 734 00:33:04,640 --> 00:33:06,600 Speaker 5: No? I didn't finish it. But the last time that 735 00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:08,320 Speaker 5: we talked, I asked, you, did you give my girl 736 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:10,720 Speaker 5: Jordan a reprieve? Does she finally get her situation together? 737 00:33:11,480 --> 00:33:14,760 Speaker 5: And say, you were at Rooth's picnic. You said I 738 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:16,560 Speaker 5: had to read the book. You wouldn't tell me anything. 739 00:33:16,960 --> 00:33:20,280 Speaker 5: But in reading it so far, I feel like it's 740 00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:22,360 Speaker 5: like she's in the middle. It's like, yes, and no. 741 00:33:22,520 --> 00:33:23,320 Speaker 1: You finished the book. 742 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:29,160 Speaker 5: It was a long book to a whole conclusions. No, 743 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:30,800 Speaker 5: I was just about to ask about So where I'm 744 00:33:30,800 --> 00:33:33,400 Speaker 5: at so far? I think she's doing a lot of 745 00:33:33,440 --> 00:33:34,480 Speaker 5: like self like. 746 00:33:34,760 --> 00:33:36,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, she's in therapy right now. 747 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:40,880 Speaker 4: Yeah, Yeah, she's she's doing some self help in choosing 748 00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:43,560 Speaker 4: herself and trying to like, you know, get herself write 749 00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:45,920 Speaker 4: and ask herself the questions of why she is the 750 00:33:45,920 --> 00:33:48,800 Speaker 4: way she is. We get to explore when where she 751 00:33:49,040 --> 00:33:50,720 Speaker 4: grew up and how she grew up, and we get 752 00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:52,880 Speaker 4: this to meet her parents in this in this book 753 00:33:52,920 --> 00:33:54,880 Speaker 4: as well. So I mean, I think we're doing a 754 00:33:54,920 --> 00:33:57,360 Speaker 4: lot of exploration with with Jordan and the choices that 755 00:33:57,400 --> 00:34:00,000 Speaker 4: she made, and you know she does and for the long, 756 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:01,680 Speaker 4: long at time, she was always about the grind and 757 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:03,560 Speaker 4: like making sure that she could get to the top 758 00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:05,600 Speaker 4: of that corporate ladder, and it really didn't serve her 759 00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:07,680 Speaker 4: at the end of the day. And now she's like, 760 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:10,960 Speaker 4: you know what, my heart has never been what's led me. 761 00:34:11,480 --> 00:34:14,520 Speaker 4: And now I do want love, I want to be chosen, 762 00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:16,759 Speaker 4: I want I want all the things that you know 763 00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:19,200 Speaker 4: a woman like her should have. 764 00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:21,600 Speaker 5: I was wondering if that decision to go that route 765 00:34:21,719 --> 00:34:24,560 Speaker 5: was yours fully, or Jane's or both of you guys together, 766 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:27,439 Speaker 5: just because we didn't really know. I never realized until 767 00:34:27,440 --> 00:34:29,200 Speaker 5: reading the book, I didn't really know much about Jordan 768 00:34:29,239 --> 00:34:31,800 Speaker 5: outside of all her accomplishments, right, And that's been a 769 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:33,160 Speaker 5: big conversation with black women. 770 00:34:33,320 --> 00:34:35,600 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, no, I mean, you know, I certainly wanted 771 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:37,400 Speaker 4: to explore all those things. I wanted to explore some 772 00:34:37,480 --> 00:34:41,239 Speaker 4: of them in the series, but you know, time constraints, right, 773 00:34:41,280 --> 00:34:44,759 Speaker 4: I'm able to do that now, And certainly collaborating with 774 00:34:44,840 --> 00:34:48,200 Speaker 4: Jane was a great help, you know what I mean, 775 00:34:48,239 --> 00:34:49,720 Speaker 4: we crafted the story together. 776 00:34:49,760 --> 00:34:51,960 Speaker 1: I knew kind of the general direction I wanted to go. 777 00:34:52,160 --> 00:34:54,360 Speaker 4: But when you start, you know, working with somebody, and 778 00:34:54,360 --> 00:34:55,880 Speaker 4: particularly you know, a black woman that gives you a 779 00:34:55,880 --> 00:34:59,040 Speaker 4: different perspective than you have, this is you know, great 780 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:00,120 Speaker 4: story building. 781 00:35:00,160 --> 00:35:02,520 Speaker 1: So so it was. It was a collaboration. 782 00:35:02,600 --> 00:35:06,759 Speaker 2: I'll say, that's right, Well, we appreciate you for joining us. 783 00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:12,600 Speaker 3: Yes, go get the book, Man the Best Man, Unfinished Business. 784 00:35:11,640 --> 00:35:16,479 Speaker 4: And I want to say it's particularly you know, black 785 00:35:16,520 --> 00:35:19,239 Speaker 4: women are going to read this book and engage, and 786 00:35:19,280 --> 00:35:21,840 Speaker 4: they're going to like it. But I want it not 787 00:35:21,920 --> 00:35:24,239 Speaker 4: to be I want people to be reminded that I 788 00:35:24,280 --> 00:35:26,440 Speaker 4: did write this for black men. I wrote the original 789 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:29,359 Speaker 4: for and about black men, and I want black men 790 00:35:29,440 --> 00:35:30,640 Speaker 4: to read the book. 791 00:35:30,520 --> 00:35:32,360 Speaker 1: And if they don't want to read, listen. 792 00:35:32,160 --> 00:35:33,840 Speaker 4: To it on audio, right, you know, like just I 793 00:35:34,280 --> 00:35:36,920 Speaker 4: want them engaged and I want them to have. We 794 00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:38,960 Speaker 4: had a very spirit of debate on one of my 795 00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:41,479 Speaker 4: book tour stops in Baltimore where like men and women 796 00:35:41,520 --> 00:35:44,600 Speaker 4: started like going at it, you know about like different perspectives. 797 00:35:44,600 --> 00:35:46,480 Speaker 4: And I think this is it's a it's a healthy, 798 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:48,560 Speaker 4: robust debate that can be had. 799 00:35:48,840 --> 00:35:50,520 Speaker 1: And if black men will engage. 800 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:53,279 Speaker 3: On this, is there any singular love story in The 801 00:35:53,320 --> 00:35:56,000 Speaker 3: Best Man that's a reflection of your personal views on love? 802 00:35:56,440 --> 00:36:00,160 Speaker 4: My personal views on love, I don't know about. Well, 803 00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:03,719 Speaker 4: maybe there's definitely parts of me in it, you know 804 00:36:03,760 --> 00:36:08,080 Speaker 4: what I'm saying. So like, fortunately, I, unlike Harper, even 805 00:36:08,080 --> 00:36:10,600 Speaker 4: though I've been selfish in my in my time, I 806 00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:13,279 Speaker 4: am not divorced, and I'm not planning on it, and 807 00:36:13,280 --> 00:36:15,319 Speaker 4: and and and you know, there's a balance that has 808 00:36:15,360 --> 00:36:19,520 Speaker 4: to happen with your career aspirations and your family life 809 00:36:19,600 --> 00:36:22,840 Speaker 4: and your partner that's going to you know, uh, either. 810 00:36:22,560 --> 00:36:24,880 Speaker 1: Support you or not, you know. 811 00:36:25,120 --> 00:36:30,080 Speaker 4: And so you know, I think what's important is you know, 812 00:36:30,320 --> 00:36:32,920 Speaker 4: the love that not only that that that the characters 813 00:36:32,960 --> 00:36:35,880 Speaker 4: have without one another, men and the women, the husbands 814 00:36:35,880 --> 00:36:38,319 Speaker 4: and the wives, but also amongst the fellas, right like 815 00:36:38,360 --> 00:36:40,960 Speaker 4: the brotherhood, the friendship that support that they have for 816 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:44,680 Speaker 4: one another and holding each other accountable as well. So 817 00:36:44,719 --> 00:36:48,160 Speaker 4: that's certainly a personal thing of mine for sure. 818 00:36:48,480 --> 00:36:51,040 Speaker 2: All right, well, Malcolm, de late ladies and gentlemen, appreciate 819 00:36:51,080 --> 00:36:51,799 Speaker 2: you for joining us. 820 00:36:51,840 --> 00:36:56,279 Speaker 1: Thank you, thank you very much. Oh you are. How 821 00:36:56,280 --> 00:37:00,239 Speaker 1: about that sable bourbon owned by you more as not 822 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:02,320 Speaker 1: Harold Parano and t Diggs. 823 00:37:02,560 --> 00:37:05,600 Speaker 4: And so we came out last August and we're getting 824 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:08,360 Speaker 4: around the country and and and exposing people to disabled. 825 00:37:08,520 --> 00:37:10,320 Speaker 1: It's a great, great poor. 826 00:37:10,239 --> 00:37:11,000 Speaker 3: What's the title mean? 827 00:37:11,040 --> 00:37:15,720 Speaker 1: I mean the name well, disable is another name for black. 828 00:37:16,120 --> 00:37:20,840 Speaker 4: It's you know, luxurious, it's it's it's rich, and I 829 00:37:20,840 --> 00:37:24,279 Speaker 4: think it's it's very much emblematic of you know, what 830 00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:28,760 Speaker 4: we consider as our friendship and our brotherhood. And it's 831 00:37:28,760 --> 00:37:32,640 Speaker 4: this this, this, this bourbon is bottling brotherhood. And so 832 00:37:33,560 --> 00:37:35,560 Speaker 4: you know, it's we wanted to bring the best man 833 00:37:35,600 --> 00:37:38,799 Speaker 4: experience because every every scene where the fellas got together 834 00:37:38,920 --> 00:37:41,120 Speaker 4: were drinking a brown spirit and we said, okay, like, 835 00:37:41,239 --> 00:37:44,200 Speaker 4: let's make our own. And so it's it's emblematic of 836 00:37:44,239 --> 00:37:46,840 Speaker 4: that experience of brotherhood. And you can take it away 837 00:37:46,880 --> 00:37:47,920 Speaker 4: with you and have a sip. 838 00:37:47,840 --> 00:37:48,480 Speaker 1: With your fellas. 839 00:37:49,040 --> 00:37:53,320 Speaker 2: All the ladies Lauren's got it up already. Yeah, see 840 00:37:53,440 --> 00:37:54,400 Speaker 2: Malcolm d Lee. 841 00:37:54,440 --> 00:37:58,320 Speaker 1: It's the Breakfast Club. Wake that ass up in the morning. 842 00:37:58,440 --> 00:37:59,520 Speaker 1: The Breakfast Club