WEBVTT - The Spirited Actor - Monet Dunham 0:00:00.080 --> 0:00:03.280 Hello, and welcome to the Spirited Actor Podcast with me 0:00:03.520 --> 0:00:06.440 Tracy Moore. I was a casting director for film and 0:00:06.480 --> 0:00:10.600 TV and commercials for over thirty years. I transitioned to 0:00:10.640 --> 0:00:14.200 a celebrity acting coach after I cast a film New 0:00:14.280 --> 0:00:19.400 Jersey Drive with executive producers Spike Lee and director Nick Domez. 0:00:20.040 --> 0:00:24.439 I auditioned every rapper from biggiees Balls to Tupac, and 0:00:24.560 --> 0:00:28.200 I realized that rappers and musical artists they needed help 0:00:28.280 --> 0:00:32.600 transitioning to acting. My clients consist of musical artists from 0:00:32.760 --> 0:00:37.400 Buster Rhymes to Eve, Missy Elliott, Angela Yee from The 0:00:37.440 --> 0:00:41.120 Breakfast Club, and Vanessa Simmons to name a few. I 0:00:41.240 --> 0:00:45.080 also coach sports stars and host as well. I feel 0:00:45.280 --> 0:00:48.720 I have the best of both worlds. As a casting director, 0:00:48.760 --> 0:00:51.320 I know exactly what they're looking for, and as an 0:00:51.360 --> 0:00:53.800 acting coach, I can coach you to be remembered in 0:00:53.880 --> 0:00:57.080 that room. Now I know, I know actors want to 0:00:57.160 --> 0:01:00.200 get the job. I get that, but being remembered by 0:01:00.360 --> 0:01:05.039 casting director that is powerful. And now it's time for 0:01:05.160 --> 0:01:09.720 meditation of the day. Control how you respond to things 0:01:10.319 --> 0:01:16.760 sent to destroy your peace, stand up for yourself. Why 0:01:16.800 --> 0:01:20.480 do we waste time? Thinking about what others think about us. 0:01:21.280 --> 0:01:26.000 A very, very wise man who was my grandfather told 0:01:26.040 --> 0:01:30.120 me in nineteen eighty. He said, Tracy, when I was 0:01:30.160 --> 0:01:33.920 complaining about some friends talking about me, he said, Tracy, 0:01:34.440 --> 0:01:37.280 I guarantee you they are not thinking about you right now. 0:01:37.400 --> 0:01:39.080 They are not talking about you right now. 0:01:39.160 --> 0:01:40.280 They don't care about you. 0:01:41.400 --> 0:01:43.959 And he said, when you live as long as I have, 0:01:44.160 --> 0:01:47.280 and my grandfather lived until he was ninety four, he said, 0:01:47.319 --> 0:01:49.760 when you live as long as I have, you begin 0:01:49.920 --> 0:01:56.600 to understand, and you begin to learn that people are 0:01:56.640 --> 0:01:59.240 really not in your business and really could are less 0:01:59.280 --> 0:02:04.320 about your business. And if they do step in your business, 0:02:04.360 --> 0:02:08.320 and if they do say things that hurt or offend you, 0:02:08.480 --> 0:02:10.800 instead of keeping it. 0:02:10.720 --> 0:02:15.080 In and letting it fester, let them know. 0:02:16.280 --> 0:02:20.920 Because we have the power to teach people how to 0:02:20.960 --> 0:02:26.080 treat us. So today I will teach you how to 0:02:26.120 --> 0:02:32.240 treat me and be a reflection of you. Before we 0:02:32.280 --> 0:02:35.240 get started, I like to remind everyone to go to 0:02:35.400 --> 0:02:38.840 Crackle Network to view seasons one and two of my 0:02:39.000 --> 0:02:42.520 show Inside the Black Box that I co host with 0:02:42.639 --> 0:02:48.240 the great Emmy Award winning Joe Morton. Look out for 0:02:48.520 --> 0:02:53.360 news on season three soon. Welcome to the Spirited Actor 0:02:53.480 --> 0:03:02.640 Podcast with me Tracy Moore, I am beyond thrilled. Like 0:03:03.720 --> 0:03:06.959 I said to myself this morning, what I'm not gonna. 0:03:06.680 --> 0:03:08.840 Do is get emotional. 0:03:09.480 --> 0:03:13.480 That's the first thing I said, right, But then I 0:03:13.560 --> 0:03:18.400 heard Spirits say, whatever happens, just allow it to happen, 0:03:18.840 --> 0:03:20.760 and so I was like, well, if that's the case, 0:03:20.800 --> 0:03:22.239 then I'm gonna tell my truth. 0:03:22.760 --> 0:03:25.560 Ladies and gentlemen. Oh my god, dang it. 0:03:25.639 --> 0:03:31.560 I started to feel that, Okay, ladies and gentlemen, I 0:03:31.600 --> 0:03:36.360 want to introduce you to my sister friend. On so 0:03:36.960 --> 0:03:54.360 many levels, she literally changed my life. Literally the first 0:03:54.360 --> 0:03:58.560 film I did in a career where nobody helped me, 0:03:59.480 --> 0:04:08.880 nobody gave me anything, nobody supported me, and as a 0:04:08.920 --> 0:04:12.320 young black woman in the entertainment business at that time 0:04:12.520 --> 0:04:24.320 in the mid eighties, it was challenging. Leslie Harris, director 0:04:24.600 --> 0:04:30.640 Award winning director Leslie Harris came to me and asked 0:04:30.640 --> 0:04:33.720 me if I could help her find a lead in 0:04:33.760 --> 0:04:37.240 her What she thought at the time was just going 0:04:37.320 --> 0:04:41.920 to be this independent film, maybe even on a short 0:04:41.960 --> 0:04:47.039 film level. But everybody that touched the script, including me, 0:04:47.200 --> 0:04:49.120 we knew where it was going to go and what 0:04:49.200 --> 0:04:52.200 it was about. And how it was going to affect 0:04:52.240 --> 0:04:55.120 lives and generations. 0:04:56.040 --> 0:04:56.720 Literally. 0:04:56.920 --> 0:05:04.599 Kevin Thigpin and Arion Johnson, the leads. They auditioned in 0:05:04.720 --> 0:05:08.960 my bedroom, not like that, it's just said, you know, 0:05:09.360 --> 0:05:11.720 we didn't have space and money back. 0:05:11.520 --> 0:05:14.279 Then, so you know, we did what we had to do. 0:05:14.600 --> 0:05:19.360 And I lived in a studio, so it was technically 0:05:19.480 --> 0:05:26.920 my living room too, and they were cast, and then 0:05:27.120 --> 0:05:30.960 I had to cast this other lead and I was 0:05:31.000 --> 0:05:34.320 getting ready to have a session, but this woman called 0:05:34.320 --> 0:05:36.520 me and asked me to speak at the Paul Robertson 0:05:36.640 --> 0:05:37.200 High School. 0:05:37.400 --> 0:05:39.120 And I was like, oh my god, speak at a 0:05:39.160 --> 0:05:42.160 high school to kids, shared my information. Yes, I'd love 0:05:42.200 --> 0:05:48.960 to do that. So I came and her name is Monet. 0:05:49.560 --> 0:05:50.960 Charie's done them. 0:05:52.400 --> 0:05:55.720 And this woman didn't even know at that time how 0:05:55.800 --> 0:05:57.760 much I wanted to do this, and this was my 0:05:57.800 --> 0:06:02.400 first gig speaking. And after that, we were in the 0:06:02.440 --> 0:06:06.360 process of getting ready to shoot. Just another girl still 0:06:06.360 --> 0:06:10.320 having castles Lee and I said, do you know what 0:06:10.360 --> 0:06:13.520 we need a high school? Maybe we can use your 0:06:13.600 --> 0:06:15.840 high school as a location to shoot. 0:06:17.040 --> 0:06:20.160 Found out she was an actress. 0:06:20.800 --> 0:06:21.320 This one. 0:06:23.440 --> 0:06:25.640 Ladies and gentlemen, I just want you to put your 0:06:25.640 --> 0:06:31.960 hands together for Monette Cherise done him who was instrumental 0:06:32.040 --> 0:06:35.919 in my casting career, starting with the award winning to 0:06:36.120 --> 0:06:40.880 this day. Last year, Sun Dance twenty seven years honored 0:06:41.520 --> 0:06:47.360 just another girl on the IoT, one of our lead actresses, number. 0:06:47.080 --> 0:06:59.160 Three on the coal sheet, Monet Cheris done. Jeez ye 0:07:00.000 --> 0:07:00.520 that's a lot. 0:07:02.360 --> 0:07:06.320 And how many years later Sun, I know, right, kids 0:07:06.360 --> 0:07:12.920 playing looking silly grandmother. Yeah, beat me, but you have 0:07:13.040 --> 0:07:14.120 been through it all. 0:07:14.920 --> 0:07:18.840 And can I say this you guys when when my 0:07:19.000 --> 0:07:22.040 son Miles was hit by a car and you know, 0:07:22.880 --> 0:07:27.040 very traumatic time in my life, the only person that 0:07:27.160 --> 0:07:31.160 could get me, after four days in the hospital NonStop, 0:07:31.320 --> 0:07:37.240 to go home and take a shower was Monette. They 0:07:37.400 --> 0:07:41.680 chose her and I did it reluctantly, but I did it. 0:07:43.800 --> 0:07:51.720 Wow wow right, yeah, yeah, a lot, a lot. 0:07:52.560 --> 0:07:55.440 God knows, well, we are here to celebrate you man, 0:07:56.040 --> 0:07:58.239 We're here to celebrate just another girl out of tea. 0:07:58.600 --> 0:08:02.560 You got to tell them the backstory like we did 0:08:03.240 --> 0:08:06.120 Gorilla making back then. 0:08:06.840 --> 0:08:11.600 Right to this day, you are recognized by like tell 0:08:11.680 --> 0:08:12.480 them about that. 0:08:12.560 --> 0:08:16.560 God. Well, it's interesting you know when people realized that, 0:08:16.720 --> 0:08:18.880 oh yeah, that was Wait a minute, that's you. They're like, wait, 0:08:18.880 --> 0:08:20.600 I gotta go back and watch it. You know, it's 0:08:20.600 --> 0:08:22.880 it's it is fun. I'm not gonna lie. It's a 0:08:22.880 --> 0:08:26.000 lot of fun because I'm like, what I can't stand 0:08:26.280 --> 0:08:28.680 and I'm like, that's so fun because my nephew is 0:08:29.680 --> 0:08:32.040 the thing, which is always a trip. And then we 0:08:32.080 --> 0:08:34.880 were a New Jersey drive but that's like, who what? 0:08:35.760 --> 0:08:37.800 I kind of got lost. That was Gorilla too. That 0:08:37.880 --> 0:08:45.920 was Gorilla. Yeah, like this mm hmm run got cut off, 0:08:45.960 --> 0:08:49.440 but just no girl was fun. Shot that in like 0:08:49.559 --> 0:08:54.360 two weeks. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I don't. 0:08:54.240 --> 0:08:56.160 My apartment was a holding the area. 0:08:56.720 --> 0:08:59.320 Yeah. Well you know that's when people, you know, have 0:08:59.360 --> 0:09:03.320 a little bit of money because we we we we've 0:09:03.320 --> 0:09:06.800 been we shout our film in four days. Yeah, I 0:09:06.800 --> 0:09:07.160 said it. 0:09:09.480 --> 0:09:09.680 Yeah. 0:09:09.720 --> 0:09:13.040 I don't know how certain people, namely Shamika Antoine felt 0:09:13.040 --> 0:09:16.560 about it. To mention just a couple of people because 0:09:18.080 --> 0:09:20.120 not only are they in it, they kind of they 0:09:20.160 --> 0:09:22.840 do a lot. They kind of became the leads. I 0:09:22.880 --> 0:09:24.760 like theird a whole lot of leads. But that's the 0:09:24.840 --> 0:09:27.920 fun of this, of the of the whole project, you know, 0:09:28.040 --> 0:09:32.760 is that it's real stories and gorilla filmmaking is definitely 0:09:32.800 --> 0:09:35.120 not done it's not dead, it's very much alive. 0:09:35.280 --> 0:09:43.160 No no quality quality you know what I'm saying. Quality 0:09:43.240 --> 0:09:48.880 work like that exists because you know, we we literally 0:09:49.040 --> 0:09:53.240 ladies and gentlemen. It was by any means necessary because 0:09:53.320 --> 0:09:56.680 we were borrowing from people's trucks, friends who were shooting 0:09:56.720 --> 0:10:01.520 music videos, getting gels and you know, maybe lens like whatever. 0:10:01.600 --> 0:10:03.800 We had to do to finish that film, and we 0:10:03.800 --> 0:10:05.800 were able to do it. And then in terms of 0:10:05.840 --> 0:10:08.920 getting money, there were no investors. There were no funds 0:10:08.920 --> 0:10:12.400 that we could tap into. It literally was like what's 0:10:12.520 --> 0:10:15.440 on your credit card? What's on your credit card? Who 0:10:15.440 --> 0:10:17.280 could we can? Your uncle Wright? 0:10:18.840 --> 0:10:24.520 Absolutely, but see a few things have happened now versus then, 0:10:25.000 --> 0:10:27.200 so like then we needed all that stuff, right, We 0:10:27.320 --> 0:10:30.120 had to have, you know, the amazing cameras, and we 0:10:30.200 --> 0:10:32.120 had to have the sound man, and we had to 0:10:32.160 --> 0:10:34.800 have all this stuff. And I would love to have 0:10:34.880 --> 0:10:37.920 it now, but because it takes me right, if you 0:10:38.000 --> 0:10:40.360 have a partner that you're working with, for example, our 0:10:40.360 --> 0:10:42.360 guys got this amazing camera. Don't ask me the name 0:10:42.400 --> 0:10:45.199 of it because I'm gonna embrass myself, but right, okay, 0:10:46.440 --> 0:10:49.319 super high quality. I know it was well over ten k, 0:10:49.559 --> 0:10:51.960 you know, and he works on a lot of different projects. 0:10:51.960 --> 0:10:55.880 That's the various La wins and yeah, you know, okay, 0:10:56.200 --> 0:10:58.280 get out there and kill it. And he's got there. 0:10:59.160 --> 0:11:01.760 So we've got that home shots you know, going on. 0:11:03.360 --> 0:11:06.080 We just we just go for what we have. And 0:11:06.120 --> 0:11:09.440 then the special effects person I use is amazing. That's 0:11:09.520 --> 0:11:13.880 dead mister dead. Chris Dage's he's got gat you know, 0:11:14.000 --> 0:11:16.640 he's really good. And so we're able to create a 0:11:16.679 --> 0:11:19.599 lot of stuff with not a huge budget. 0:11:19.800 --> 0:11:24.120 You know, so well, but you know what you bring 0:11:24.200 --> 0:11:26.480 to the table when you do stuff like that, You're 0:11:26.520 --> 0:11:31.280 bringing the production value to the table, right, because somebody 0:11:31.320 --> 0:11:33.720 can look at this and say, wow, they spent about 0:11:33.800 --> 0:11:39.160 one one fifty two hundred thousand, right, But the reality 0:11:39.360 --> 0:11:42.520 is you may have spent like forty you know what 0:11:42.559 --> 0:11:47.440 I mean. But because of the people that you are 0:11:47.600 --> 0:11:50.880 working with and you hire, they are experts in what 0:11:50.920 --> 0:11:55.080 they do to make. And then that continues to put 0:11:55.120 --> 0:11:59.559 you in a powerful position because studios look at it. 0:12:00.080 --> 0:12:02.840 Since the independent film started, if you could do that 0:12:03.240 --> 0:12:06.079 and get money to do that, imagine if you have 0:12:06.280 --> 0:12:11.120 money and that's where the production deals come, right. So 0:12:11.240 --> 0:12:14.480 that's what you're moving in the direction because oh my god, 0:12:14.600 --> 0:12:19.600 when they give you the money, you're going to know 0:12:19.840 --> 0:12:22.599 every They're going to love you because you're going to 0:12:22.640 --> 0:12:26.360 be underbudded all the time, like because you know how 0:12:27.120 --> 0:12:31.240 to one negotiate, you know, please, you know how to 0:12:32.120 --> 0:12:35.120 you know, not I don't want to say cut costs, 0:12:35.120 --> 0:12:39.720 but you definitely know how to allocate the money in 0:12:39.800 --> 0:12:41.880 a way that things get done right. 0:12:42.320 --> 0:12:45.520 It's true, and you know what I mean. So it's like, 0:12:45.679 --> 0:12:46.640 that's a producer. 0:12:46.760 --> 0:12:50.160 That's an executive producer by any means necessary. So please 0:12:50.200 --> 0:12:53.240 please tell us how did this award winning film? 0:12:53.360 --> 0:12:56.400 What was the inside? What was the moment of inspiration? 0:12:56.559 --> 0:12:57.480 That's what I want to know. 0:12:59.320 --> 0:13:02.680 So I come I think just life first of all, 0:13:03.040 --> 0:13:06.080 but I also come from a family who is involved 0:13:06.080 --> 0:13:09.400 with like military, a lot of military things. They're either 0:13:09.440 --> 0:13:12.400 active duty or they've worked like my mom was at 0:13:12.400 --> 0:13:15.400 the Merchant Marine Academy. So I grew up like looking 0:13:15.400 --> 0:13:17.440 at those guys like walking into the walls and turning 0:13:17.480 --> 0:13:19.440 and the next in turning, you know, that's how they 0:13:19.440 --> 0:13:22.480 had to walk around on the on the which was 0:13:22.520 --> 0:13:25.240 really interesting because here I was this little, you know, 0:13:25.360 --> 0:13:29.320 melanated chick. With braids, probably with a turtle or a rabbit, 0:13:30.040 --> 0:13:34.559 maybe a puppy or something. Yes, yes, my fins by 0:13:34.600 --> 0:13:36.760 the pool. You know, as long as the guys weren't 0:13:36.840 --> 0:13:40.040 doing what they do by the water, I was always there. 0:13:40.040 --> 0:13:43.520 I'm pretty much by myself, caught up in my own mind. 0:13:44.800 --> 0:13:48.480 But so the operation would come from having a lot 0:13:48.480 --> 0:13:51.600 of time to just you're just sitting with yourself. You know, 0:13:51.679 --> 0:13:55.760 you're reading. You know, I've been. I've been fortunate enough 0:13:55.800 --> 0:14:00.440 to travel and to live life like I love the 0:14:00.480 --> 0:14:04.320 people I love. I really love them. I really I 0:14:04.360 --> 0:14:10.880 really love them and they know it. Yeah, yeah, I do. 0:14:11.000 --> 0:14:16.320 Thank you, but you know, and you can't. You're welcome 0:14:16.360 --> 0:14:20.360 and thank you, but you can't spread yourself around, you know. 0:14:20.920 --> 0:14:25.560 So this project literally is it's just it came from 0:14:25.560 --> 0:14:30.920 my family, from my friends, from listening to stories about 0:14:31.280 --> 0:14:35.320 what was happening to people, you know, from having friendships 0:14:35.360 --> 0:14:39.880 and relationships with folks who went through a variety of things, 0:14:40.240 --> 0:14:43.600 maybe went through some abuse, maybe went through some serious neglect. 0:14:44.120 --> 0:14:47.080 You know. Maybe I have more stories, but we can't 0:14:47.160 --> 0:14:49.840 fit all into the little bit of time that we 0:14:49.960 --> 0:14:52.560 have to work. Because one of the biggest things I 0:14:52.600 --> 0:14:53.800 want to do is I want to be able to 0:14:53.800 --> 0:14:56.200 pay my talent, you know, I want to be able 0:14:56.240 --> 0:14:57.640 to do that's important. 0:14:58.600 --> 0:14:58.800 Wow. 0:14:59.200 --> 0:15:02.080 We took my mom's place and turned it into like 0:15:02.120 --> 0:15:05.960 three different sets. It was crazy. One of the actresses 0:15:06.040 --> 0:15:09.200 has this really cool car, so we were able to 0:15:09.320 --> 0:15:12.160 go on top of her through the top of the 0:15:12.280 --> 0:15:14.560 roof of her car and get a whole bunch of 0:15:14.600 --> 0:15:20.080 fabulous footage and sound that way. Oh yeah, we got 0:15:20.120 --> 0:15:24.000 some good stuff really, and we have everything you shouldn't have. 0:15:24.080 --> 0:15:25.720 Like we've got a kid and he runs in and 0:15:26.240 --> 0:15:29.000 does something and we were like, Okay, this kid is 0:15:29.040 --> 0:15:31.800 good and I go over there. Yeah, very talented. 0:15:32.600 --> 0:15:32.800 Yeah. 0:15:33.520 --> 0:15:35.200 No, I think the only thing we didn't stick in 0:15:35.240 --> 0:15:37.360 here was an animal, which is like strange, but we didn't. 0:15:37.480 --> 0:15:40.040 Yeah, that's yea for you, not a dog. 0:15:41.280 --> 0:15:44.000 No, I think my I think my cast was sick 0:15:44.040 --> 0:15:44.320 of me. 0:15:45.720 --> 0:15:53.760 Okay, let me tell you that is she loves animals. 0:15:53.760 --> 0:15:58.760 What to get her an animal? No matter? So one 0:15:58.800 --> 0:16:02.040 of the live in the wall or land. Yeah, one 0:16:02.040 --> 0:16:02.680 of the guests. 0:16:02.480 --> 0:16:04.920 Here threatened me and I'm gonna I'm gonna put him 0:16:04.920 --> 0:16:08.720 on blast and wow, he was like, don't get no 0:16:08.840 --> 0:16:12.880 more dogs. Mo. I was like you know what looks 0:16:12.920 --> 0:16:15.960 like you come over here and over there. I don't 0:16:16.000 --> 0:16:16.400 talk to. 0:16:16.400 --> 0:16:21.640 Them right right, but you know what like and that's 0:16:21.640 --> 0:16:23.920 the thing, that's the thing to you guys that I 0:16:23.960 --> 0:16:27.040 gravitated because money has always been love piece and soul 0:16:27.160 --> 0:16:29.400 to me for real, like it like even when I 0:16:29.440 --> 0:16:32.600 met you, I was like, you're so different, Like it 0:16:32.640 --> 0:16:35.560 doesn't seem like you belong here, Like you're like me 0:16:35.880 --> 0:16:41.120 this energy, right, But I saw the way you work 0:16:41.200 --> 0:16:45.560 with the children, your compassion. This makes sense for you 0:16:45.600 --> 0:16:48.560 to do, you know, and it makes sense that this 0:16:48.720 --> 0:16:49.200 is why. 0:16:49.080 --> 0:16:49.920 Is award winning. 0:16:50.120 --> 0:16:53.280 Just tell them just a little bit. 0:16:53.720 --> 0:16:55.280 We don't want to give too much, but. 0:16:55.520 --> 0:17:01.600 Where where are you at in terms of distribution or 0:17:02.160 --> 0:17:04.960 you know, where they can. 0:17:05.000 --> 0:17:07.880 Because I don't know if they can see it not yet. 0:17:07.960 --> 0:17:11.520 So we're so the show is still in rotation. That's 0:17:11.520 --> 0:17:15.520 what's when we're excited about it. Yeah, con but we 0:17:15.560 --> 0:17:19.680 didn't go, But there's always next year with the feature. Yes, 0:17:20.080 --> 0:17:23.520 by the Essence Film Festival, we made it into the finals, 0:17:24.000 --> 0:17:25.600 but we didn't make it to the festival, but there's 0:17:25.600 --> 0:17:30.040 always the feature. So fun with that, we're actually going 0:17:30.080 --> 0:17:33.159 to have an online screening and I have to just 0:17:33.160 --> 0:17:35.600 figure out what to do with that, because it's not 0:17:35.680 --> 0:17:38.600 in my budget to do a screening in you know, 0:17:39.200 --> 0:17:44.159 somewhere as far as the we're post so we're editing, 0:17:44.560 --> 0:17:47.280 you know, and it's not we're definitely going to have 0:17:47.320 --> 0:17:49.960 a screening. I have to think about it what we 0:17:50.040 --> 0:17:52.960 want to do exactly, because you know, doing the festivals 0:17:53.040 --> 0:17:53.800 is really pricey. 0:17:54.760 --> 0:17:57.879 Yeah, but while this is where. 0:17:59.240 --> 0:18:01.600 You know, I mean, we never know who's listening to, 0:18:02.080 --> 0:18:07.359 you know, the program however program Wow, I really just 0:18:07.400 --> 0:18:12.399 told my age just now podcasts, podcasts. But I feel 0:18:12.440 --> 0:18:16.600 like you should think in terms of sponsorship because when 0:18:16.600 --> 0:18:19.359 I tell you, I don't even know how many palms 0:18:19.400 --> 0:18:22.520 she has on the flyer on her poster, but she 0:18:22.600 --> 0:18:25.919 has a lot, like I believe, over ten. And so 0:18:26.520 --> 0:18:30.800 I'm just saying that that right there, Garner's support and 0:18:30.880 --> 0:18:35.479 knowing who you are now, you know, I think that 0:18:36.040 --> 0:18:39.600 in my experience as a casting director, I feel like 0:18:39.720 --> 0:18:42.440 the best part of being a casting director is that 0:18:42.480 --> 0:18:46.200 we start with white pages where we have to believe, right, 0:18:46.520 --> 0:18:50.160 and then we cut to being on the red carpet 0:18:50.240 --> 0:18:53.199 with you, and so we really have to hold that 0:18:53.320 --> 0:18:57.480 vision that this is possible right. So then you get 0:18:57.560 --> 0:19:00.119 to a point in your career where it's like, you 0:19:00.160 --> 0:19:01.919 know what, I want to be empowered. I want to 0:19:01.960 --> 0:19:03.919 do my own thing. I got stories, I can do this, 0:19:04.040 --> 0:19:07.560 I know the acting, I know actors, right, And then 0:19:07.600 --> 0:19:12.399 you do it, and then you first time out, I 0:19:12.520 --> 0:19:17.959 want to say that again, first time out as a writer, director, producer, actress, 0:19:18.040 --> 0:19:22.440 Like first time out right, and she has over ten pounds. 0:19:22.840 --> 0:19:27.040 I believe whatever your religious belief is, but I'm spiritual 0:19:27.080 --> 0:19:29.160 and I know you are too, and I know that 0:19:29.560 --> 0:19:32.600 I believe that God drops these breadcrumbs that are just 0:19:32.800 --> 0:19:36.879 nothing but confirmation, like, don't let me drop any more 0:19:36.880 --> 0:19:37.800 bread comes here. 0:19:38.119 --> 0:19:40.399 No got to say it, but I'm just saying, like 0:19:41.160 --> 0:19:41.600 he does. 0:19:41.640 --> 0:19:42.159 He's gangster. 0:19:42.320 --> 0:19:46.159 The feature, it's not supposed to happen with the short 0:19:46.280 --> 0:19:50.000 in terms of the bigger picture. The feature is the 0:19:50.040 --> 0:19:52.920 confirmation for studios to say. 0:19:53.600 --> 0:19:54.960 Yep, she got this. 0:19:55.320 --> 0:19:57.760 How much you need for your production company, will put 0:19:57.800 --> 0:20:00.679 you up on the lot, will give you a you know, 0:20:00.800 --> 0:20:07.880 will pay for all of your overhead, create, build. 0:20:07.800 --> 0:20:09.080 And let us see it first. 0:20:10.520 --> 0:20:10.800 You know. 0:20:11.280 --> 0:20:15.639 But that is that's what the journey is, you know, 0:20:16.040 --> 0:20:17.200 Because it's not. 0:20:19.080 --> 0:20:21.840 One of my favorite actresses, and I hope she's listening 0:20:22.800 --> 0:20:27.200 to this, but she put on IG this morning that 0:20:27.280 --> 0:20:34.159 she almost felt like giving up in act one of 0:20:34.200 --> 0:20:37.960 my favorite actresses. And I hit her back and said, 0:20:38.080 --> 0:20:40.600 why would we even think a given it? Like, why 0:20:40.800 --> 0:20:44.479 is that even in the equation when I know, but 0:20:44.560 --> 0:20:46.960 you know what it is. It's a noise, you know that. 0:20:48.000 --> 0:20:51.320 And this business when you don't have the value and 0:20:51.359 --> 0:20:54.600 I can speak from experience with Inside the Black Box, 0:20:54.960 --> 0:20:58.160 when you do not have that value of you've done 0:20:58.160 --> 0:21:03.800 television before, you show before, if you are not a 0:21:03.920 --> 0:21:09.080 strong person, it will make you question yourself because everything 0:21:09.160 --> 0:21:10.560 you do is measured. 0:21:11.359 --> 0:21:17.560 Mh, I'm gonna get such a set, Lonet. You can 0:21:17.640 --> 0:21:20.240 get such a set. Yes, yes, I can get such 0:21:20.240 --> 0:21:24.760 as as my friend Silky move Net exactly. 0:21:25.560 --> 0:21:25.879 M hm. 0:21:26.640 --> 0:21:28.000 Right, has that been your experience? 0:21:28.240 --> 0:21:32.080 Yeah, well sure people want to when you're working on things. 0:21:32.119 --> 0:21:34.480 I was working on another project, as I know, you know, 0:21:35.720 --> 0:21:39.720 I was co authoring a piece and no Duke was 0:21:40.080 --> 0:21:42.720 looking at it and you know hasn't thrown it away, 0:21:43.320 --> 0:21:47.360 but excitement that he liked what I presented to him. 0:21:47.440 --> 0:21:50.560 It was a script leaving out all the details, but 0:21:51.400 --> 0:21:53.240 one of the biggest things that he says is you 0:21:53.280 --> 0:21:55.040 have to figure out how you're going to get eyes 0:21:55.160 --> 0:21:59.840 on your project, you know. And so it wasn't that 0:22:00.280 --> 0:22:03.560 sis PTSD. I'm not as concerned, believe it or not, 0:22:04.000 --> 0:22:08.439 because it's such and peace. It's it's such an important work. 0:22:09.080 --> 0:22:12.720 The performances are really good. I'm very pleased. I think 0:22:12.760 --> 0:22:16.280 you'll be smiling. I think, you know, folks will be smiling. 0:22:16.640 --> 0:22:20.760 You will be steah, you know folks, Yes, but we'll 0:22:20.800 --> 0:22:25.280 all be happy. Yeah, guys, we're proud. You know. They 0:22:25.280 --> 0:22:28.760 were really nice work. The fun for me too this 0:22:28.880 --> 0:22:32.160 time around is we had more bilingual people, so there's 0:22:32.200 --> 0:22:35.400 a lot of other energies going on on set as well. 0:22:36.160 --> 0:22:36.359 You know. 0:22:36.520 --> 0:22:40.080 Oh that's great, And I mean that's the it's no 0:22:40.160 --> 0:22:44.800 longer USA, it's the global appeal. So this now has 0:22:45.000 --> 0:22:49.800 because I told you once you get I'm a part 0:22:49.920 --> 0:22:56.199 of Duff and that is a film festival. It's an 0:22:56.280 --> 0:22:59.720 urban film festival in Amsterdam that I'm going to just 0:23:00.119 --> 0:23:01.880 ver six of the night that I'm so excited. 0:23:01.920 --> 0:23:06.320 But I can get that into the pestle. 0:23:07.240 --> 0:23:08.960 Okay, Well, it's all about you, you know. 0:23:09.160 --> 0:23:12.320 I mean, that's something that you know over our lunch 0:23:12.359 --> 0:23:15.000 we can talk about and I can get that started 0:23:15.040 --> 0:23:19.840 for you. But I think it's important, Monet that you 0:23:20.000 --> 0:23:23.359 know this set as an act when you were coming 0:23:23.440 --> 0:23:27.360 up as an actress, you could just be an actress. 0:23:27.760 --> 0:23:29.199 And be happy and satisfied. 0:23:29.200 --> 0:23:31.919 And I'm not saying people are not happy and satisfied 0:23:32.040 --> 0:23:34.400 just being an actor or an actress. I'm saying that 0:23:34.880 --> 0:23:37.919 in this day and age, because of digital and the 0:23:37.920 --> 0:23:41.520 way life is, everyone is multi hyphenated. 0:23:42.000 --> 0:23:42.800 You include it. 0:23:43.160 --> 0:23:48.000 And so now I feel like that is so inspiring 0:23:48.160 --> 0:23:50.399 to actors who are like, I want to write a 0:23:50.480 --> 0:23:52.600 short film, but you know, I don't know what to 0:23:52.640 --> 0:23:55.679 do with it or doesn't mean anything or should you know, 0:23:55.840 --> 0:23:57.520 like give them advice on that. 0:23:58.080 --> 0:24:00.000 Listen, the first thing I say, I was even talking 0:24:00.080 --> 0:24:02.119 to a couple of folks. You have great guests, by 0:24:02.160 --> 0:24:06.560 the way, but you're welcome, y'all. 0:24:10.200 --> 0:24:10.920 You can't. 0:24:12.920 --> 0:24:16.920 Thank you. But the short film, a real short film 0:24:17.000 --> 0:24:20.560 is like short. It's like five minutes, ten minutes, three minutes. 0:24:20.800 --> 0:24:22.920 And I'm like, come on, you can do a beginning, middle, 0:24:22.960 --> 0:24:25.959 and end. To sit down, you have something to say, 0:24:26.240 --> 0:24:28.600 you want a flex, you want to work that muscle. 0:24:29.000 --> 0:24:31.199 To sit down, do three pages, five pages, Oh, go 0:24:31.280 --> 0:24:33.719 for it, do ten whole pages. You know you have 0:24:33.760 --> 0:24:36.199 a short let's go break it up. Think about the 0:24:36.200 --> 0:24:39.960