1 00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:03,200 Speaker 1: And they were believing in the vision. And for me 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: it was authenticity. This is a real story that's been 3 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:11,720 Speaker 1: hidden from us, which is left up like our history 4 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: in America. What we're taught is that it begins with 5 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: enslavement and there is so much more and now we 6 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:22,280 Speaker 1: get to give us that more. And so it was 7 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 1: it was that let's give this story the bigness it. 8 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 1: Deservess Gina Prince Bythewood is on this edition of Naked 9 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:45,519 Speaker 1: Enjoy y'all. Every champion and carey champion is to be 10 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,919 Speaker 1: a champion of Champion and carry Champion and carry champion, 11 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 1: a champion and carry Champion and carry Champion and sports 12 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 1: and enter tam making naked work in the world of 13 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: vulnerable considered, we come and remote avail from entertainments elite. 14 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: It's a difference between what's real and with the public seas. 15 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: So here's your favorite celebrities behind the scenes. It's refreshing up. 16 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: Then the whole story specific life ought to renivents to 17 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 1: shape the person that you here. We gotta champion. They 18 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: carry Champion. They did. It's the greatest of sports. And 19 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 1: then the tame and connected with Harry Champion. They carry 20 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,560 Speaker 1: champion is to be a champion. A champion, they carry Champion, 21 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:25,400 Speaker 1: they chat Champion, they carry Champion, they carry Champion Sports 22 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:29,199 Speaker 1: and then the Taming connectd Wark. Hey, everybody, welcome to Naked. 23 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: I'm excited about today's guests, not only because she is 24 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:34,400 Speaker 1: a bruin, but I will say that often, how annoying 25 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 1: is that? Right, Like when people go to a certain university, 26 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 1: they often have to claim every single famous person from 27 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 1: the university. That's annoying and That's what I'm doing right now. 28 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 1: So so bear with me. Uh. Gina Prince Bythewood, film director, screenwriter, 29 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 1: she is my sole sister in more ways than one. 30 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 1: She is dedicated to excellence. She is arguably responsible for 31 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: some of my favorite childhood I'm adulthood memories and films. 32 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 1: And after talking to her today, she really helped me 33 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: put my career in a different trajectory in terms of 34 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: how I think about what I should be doing as 35 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 1: a person with the platform in this space. So you 36 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 1: all know loving basketball? Uh no you may not, but 37 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 1: if you don't watch it, okay, I forget. We have 38 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:22,919 Speaker 1: this younger generation listening love and basketball was so laate 39 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: than to me basically jump started her career. She had 40 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,119 Speaker 1: done Best Man's Lathan had, but I feel like that 41 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: film Loving Basketball showed us who she was as an 42 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 1: actor and since she's had an amazing career, but it 43 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 1: was Gina who casted her in that film. And Gina 44 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 1: explains about their relationship and how they sometimes with bump heads, 45 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 1: but more importantly, what she talked about for me and 46 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 1: especially for anyone who wants to create, it's about creating 47 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 1: harmony before you can actually build anything that should work 48 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,239 Speaker 1: in any industry. That should work if you are a coach, 49 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: that should work, if you are a reporter, if you 50 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: are a filmmaker, any industry in which you are an artist. 51 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:06,519 Speaker 1: When you are putting something that you love out there 52 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:09,919 Speaker 1: for others to view, it is important to create harmony, 53 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: to be so detailed with what you want, but more specifically, 54 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:18,959 Speaker 1: be dedicated to excellence and make people buy into whatever 55 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:22,079 Speaker 1: dream that you are selling because you believe in it. Um. 56 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:27,079 Speaker 1: She talks about being this creative that is so passionate 57 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 1: and so dedicated to telling the story of black women. Woof. 58 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 1: That is a word dedicated to to celebrating us when 59 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 1: society oftentimes does not want to celebrate us. If you 60 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 1: look at all of her films, a woman is always 61 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 1: the lead in a very special way, but more specifically, 62 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: it's usually it's usually a woman of color. Her latest film, 63 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 1: Woman King, is in theaters. We have to watch, we 64 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: have to support her, we have to Obviously, a star's 65 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: Viola Davi is but it tells a true story that's 66 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 1: based on a true story of women, warriors and everything 67 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: that oftentimes we are told not to be. This film celebrates, 68 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: so I am looking forward to it. I need you 69 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: to sit back, relax and enjoy a Gina Prince Bythewood 70 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 1: that she explains what it takes to be a beautiful 71 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:25,720 Speaker 1: uh inside and out creator, filmmaker and some of our 72 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: favorite projects like Love and Basketball, Chepian and Carry Chepian 73 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: and Chepi Gina the Obviously your work is amazing and 74 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 1: oftentimes here's what's interesting. Oftentimes in our world we don't 75 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 1: know who is behind the scenes. And as a director, 76 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: as a writer, you have been able to do so 77 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 1: many amazing projects. When did you realize people were solely 78 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:55,919 Speaker 1: interested in who you were, not necessarily the actors that 79 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 1: you cast it in your films. Wow, you know what, 80 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 1: I think it was old Guarden Old Guard that was yesterday. 81 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 1: What do you what about loving basketball? Loving basketball? That's 82 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 1: a cult classic, that's that's that's life. Is that just 83 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 1: for the culture? Uh? Now? But which I love though 84 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 1: they love Sona like, which is beautiful To have that 85 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:27,840 Speaker 1: character be an ideal, you know, who was based on me, 86 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:32,760 Speaker 1: who I was never an ideal in high school, you know. Um, 87 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:35,280 Speaker 1: So I love that she is at the forefront of 88 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 1: what that film represents for so many people. Okay, so 89 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 1: I'll put a pen and oh guard, you guys have 90 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: to watch it, but let's go to loving basketball. You're right, Sona. Um, 91 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 1: that really did set her trajectory in terms of being 92 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 1: an actress. And something that's near and dear to my 93 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:55,160 Speaker 1: heart is is sports. Uh? And And for my understanding, 94 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: e's loosely based on your life or if not all 95 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 1: based on your life? Is that true? I'd say it's 96 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 1: half autobiographical. Tell me what part is when you started 97 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:07,360 Speaker 1: to write it, where what was similar that you tell 98 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 1: me the characters that were similar or the situation that 99 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:14,720 Speaker 1: was similar to who you are monitor uh? Pull out 100 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,799 Speaker 1: and relationship with my mom and my dad. My dad 101 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:24,720 Speaker 1: was my biggest fan at every game. Um, my mom 102 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 1: didn't quite get it. And that's but I would say this, 103 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 1: Doing the movie absolutely helped me let go of so 104 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 1: much and understand where she was coming from. Alfrey helped 105 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: me with that as well. Um and just talking to me, 106 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 1: trying to connect with the character and me being able 107 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: to talk about my mom and start to realize all 108 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: the amazing things about my mom. Um. So, but yeah, 109 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:58,159 Speaker 1: who Monica is was how she behaved on the court. Yeah, 110 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 1: what she was fighting for, what she wanted? That was 111 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 1: that was me porn porn at all? In where'd you 112 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: go to high school? At Pacific Groove High School? The Breakers? Okay? 113 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 1: And and what was your position come on that? Okay? 114 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: So it was down to the tea, you have the 115 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 1: ball in your hands. Your So the love interest was 116 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 1: that someone in real life? Where you added that because 117 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 1: you gotta have a love interest. Yeah, I added that 118 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 1: though the kiss the kisses kids, that was based on 119 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: my first kiss, which we counted on our fingers. I 120 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: did ten seconds. I was a little faster when you 121 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 1: were writing that. And and the research, according to my research, 122 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 1: you had to develop the script at a writing lab. 123 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 1: Is that is that true? Well? I spent a year 124 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 1: and a half writing it and um, with great help 125 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 1: from Reggie Rock, my husband. UM. And then I went 126 00:07:56,360 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 1: out with it and every single person to it down. 127 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 1: Every studio, every production company turned it down, and I 128 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 1: thought it was dead, like I just spent a year 129 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 1: and a half of my life wasted. And then the 130 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 1: Sundance Lab happened to hear about the script and called 131 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 1: and asked to read it and then asked me to 132 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 1: come in to talk about it. And that absolutely changed 133 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: the trajectory of that story, that script in my life. 134 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 1: Tell me how that works. Everyone said no, And then 135 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: through the business through networking, the Sundance Lab says, this 136 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: seems like it could be something special. You you take 137 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 1: it there and do what it's amazing. It's amazing program. 138 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:39,599 Speaker 1: You get mentors. So I had Scott Frank who was 139 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 1: an incredible writer. Kathy Bates was one of my mentors. 140 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:47,320 Speaker 1: Paula Tannascio. UM. So these great writers and actors who 141 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:49,680 Speaker 1: talked to you about your work. They're not supposed to 142 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 1: really give you notes, but in talking with them and 143 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 1: getting some of their expertise, you start to figure out 144 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: things about your script and how to improve it. And 145 00:08:58,160 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: then the biggest thing that they do is they put 146 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 1: a reading on and they put a reading on of 147 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 1: love and basketball and that's where and they help you 148 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 1: cast it, and they invite the industry. And Spike Lee's 149 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:10,840 Speaker 1: company was there that night and they heard it and 150 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: came up to me and said we want this. And 151 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:16,199 Speaker 1: that was amazing. And then that was all she wrote. 152 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 1: Because this sounds very fairy tale. It sounds like I 153 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 1: know it didn't happen that way in real life. I 154 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:22,679 Speaker 1: know there was much more work put into it. It 155 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 1: seems like, oh they said no, I went somewhere. They 156 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 1: said yes. Spike Lee was like, give it to me. 157 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 1: I know. It wasn't that simple. Yeah. That whole to 158 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 1: get to that point was a lot of tears, um, 159 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:39,680 Speaker 1: a lot of like fuck, it's the story that was 160 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,199 Speaker 1: so clear in my head. Um Like that soul crushing 161 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: to put yourself so deeply into something and to have 162 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:50,440 Speaker 1: a whole industry say I don't get it, I don't care, 163 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 1: we don't want it. Um sundance. They looked for voices 164 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:59,439 Speaker 1: that are different or unique than what Hollywood is putting 165 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:03,079 Speaker 1: out O that was that was the benefit that they 166 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:06,199 Speaker 1: heard about the story and the thing is the industry 167 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 1: recognized it was good writing, it was a good script, 168 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:10,320 Speaker 1: but they didn't see the value in it. They didn't 169 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 1: see the value in those characters. And that's what's so 170 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 1: tough to to be told that. So you say they 171 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:20,199 Speaker 1: don't see the value, Is it because the characters were 172 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 1: black and they didn't understand if people would relate to 173 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:30,679 Speaker 1: the black characters? Absolutely so, then when it is in 174 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 1: your mind, was up in basketball and success? In my 175 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: mind it was a success. In your mind, was it 176 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 1: a success? Absolutely? Yeah, one that it even got made, 177 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 1: but too Yeah, it had a good life at the 178 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 1: when it was in theaters, and that was back in 179 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:47,680 Speaker 1: the day when we had vhs when that came out 180 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:51,440 Speaker 1: and found a whole another life, you know, after theaters, 181 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:55,720 Speaker 1: and then it just kept growing, which is like I'll 182 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:58,079 Speaker 1: never get over that. I'll never get over that people 183 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 1: still watched the film today. It is I think of 184 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 1: films like love and Basketball. I think of The Best Man, 185 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: you know, I think of Love Jones, Love Jones. I think, 186 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 1: where are those type of films now? I feel like 187 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 1: the culture, I feel like the community. Those are true 188 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 1: love stories and to me, it could have been any character. 189 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: It just so happens that they were black. Um, and 190 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 1: I feel as if they don't, they don't green light 191 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:25,600 Speaker 1: those projects anymore. So if you're telling me back in 192 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:29,079 Speaker 1: the day, they all told you know, could you imagine 193 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 1: what people are trying to put out now that is similar? 194 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: I can even imagine people paying attention. Yeah, I was 195 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 1: asking other day, do I think Love and Basketball would 196 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:40,679 Speaker 1: be made today? It might have been made on Netflix, 197 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: but they have They have just trunk and it's all 198 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 1: about I P and remakes and sequels. It's really tough 199 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 1: to do something original in the theatrical marketplace right now? 200 00:11:56,760 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 1: Is it tough to do something based around black characters 201 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 1: in the theatrical market la right now? I mean yeah, 202 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:07,959 Speaker 1: making films about black women are the hardest films to 203 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 1: get made. And that's that's I mean. Let me tell 204 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 1: you something. You you put out the best stories about 205 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 1: black women and and you're relentless about it. But it 206 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:21,679 Speaker 1: gives me hope and I am encouraged. So when you 207 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 1: have this vision as you have had, and this calling 208 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 1: has been placed on in your life, you go out 209 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:29,200 Speaker 1: to the marketplace to give us what we need us 210 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 1: me being a black woman, do you get discouraged, absolutely, 211 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 1: But I write what I want to see and so 212 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 1: and I only write when I'm passionate about and that 213 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:46,440 Speaker 1: is what fuels me and fuels the fight because it's 214 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 1: always gonna be a fight. And you would be shocked 215 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 1: at when people say to your race in the room. 216 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 1: So yes there, Oh, then you know, let's not cast 217 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 1: the male lead black because then you've got two black 218 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 1: leads and that's gonna shrink the box office. And you know, 219 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 1: there's too many black people in this in this script. 220 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 1: I mean, it's it's insane or diminishing the black character 221 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:16,840 Speaker 1: in the script to make her less than the white lead. 222 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 1: But you wouldn't you wouldn't believe. And to have a 223 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:23,440 Speaker 1: front row seat to that that feels, to fight that anger, 224 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 1: I'll call it rage. Um absolutely um. It is. Yes, 225 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 1: being in a sustained, sustained fight for the last twenty years, 226 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 1: but there's so few of us that we have to 227 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 1: we have to fight a few of us that are 228 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 1: out there. We have to fight. There's no choice, especially 229 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 1: when it's the calling and the passion that you feel. 230 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 1: We have no other choice. We can't help but to 231 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 1: do just that. You know what I mean, You wish 232 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:51,280 Speaker 1: you could turn it off and it would be easier, 233 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 1: but you can't. When did you know that? As a 234 00:13:56,640 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 1: and I don't know everyone sometimes he knows, but some 235 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: people get calling when they're seven or eight. They just 236 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 1: know the knowers. When did you know this is what 237 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 1: you wanted to do? Mm hmm? In high school? Even 238 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 1: though I had been writing short stories my whole life, 239 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 1: like ever since I was maybe five or six, in 240 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 1: high school, I was addicted to soap operas all my children, 241 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 1: General Hospital, I was, I was the NBC. I was 242 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: Days of Our Lives, Another World, Um Santa Barbara's Robin 243 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 1: writing it, let me come on so And then I 244 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 1: read an article in the Soap Opera Digest that's how 245 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 1: bad it was, um about and I saw that how 246 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 1: much they got paid. I was like, oh, like someone 247 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:45,840 Speaker 1: gets paid to do that. And it was at that 248 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:48,320 Speaker 1: moment that I said, Okay, I'm I'm a writer and 249 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:51,160 Speaker 1: that's what I want to pursue. And that's what took 250 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 1: me to U c l A. And initially making the decision, 251 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: which was really hard because I was recruited to play 252 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 1: ball at at other places. But you see it like 253 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 1: and to make that decision that this is what I'm 254 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 1: gonna do instead of that was really tough, but I 255 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 1: felt that strongly that I'm supposed to be a writer. 256 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: And then getting there and starting to work on student films. 257 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 1: I never knew what a director was or did, and 258 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 1: suddenly it was like that I'm a director just being 259 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 1: in that environment and that, yeah, changed everything. Side note, 260 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 1: every genius that I know when to U c l A. 261 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 1: So I like, just talk to my fellow bruin and 262 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 1: I just want to say, we're arguably the dopest black 263 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:37,080 Speaker 1: alumni there when it comes to women. I did not 264 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:43,320 Speaker 1: play sports, and I'm so proud of us, Gina, our love. 265 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: But I do have a question. I did run tracktor though? 266 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:51,480 Speaker 1: You did? You did? Yeah? Because I couldn't. I got 267 00:15:51,560 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 1: there and it was like a whole because my whole 268 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 1: life and plays sports, So it was like a limb 269 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 1: was missing. Um, And so I talked to Bobby Kerzy 270 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 1: who was a coach at that time, and uh and 271 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 1: joint tracking triple jumped until I got into film school. 272 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 1: Oh wow, that's amazing. Oh I don't even know if 273 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:14,640 Speaker 1: I that probably wasn't even well known. Okay, so listen 274 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:18,600 Speaker 1: it's your love for sports. It seems extremely as equally 275 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 1: as passionate as your love for being a director. What 276 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 1: schools did you decide not to go to to play 277 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 1: basketball in order to go and pursue your film career 278 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 1: at u c l A. Yeah, there were three Long 279 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:35,880 Speaker 1: Beach State, UM, Pomona and uh Columbia. Columbia was um wow, 280 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 1: sorry he went and also so no mistake. Yeah wow, 281 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:48,760 Speaker 1: I I had no idea. Do you go back into 282 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 1: u c l A games at all? Do you? Are 283 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 1: you a bruin fan of basketball? Football? Track? And still 284 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:56,800 Speaker 1: talk to my kids first of all their bedrooms ever 285 00:16:56,840 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 1: since they were babies. You see a late stuff everywhere, 286 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:04,280 Speaker 1: the clothing A watching the games. I'm screaming like it 287 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 1: is a guttural thing with me. And I know your 288 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:12,280 Speaker 1: son is playing baseball U c l A. Right, so hyped? Yeah, 289 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 1: like I you know, I went talking. Yeah, I was like, oh, 290 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 1: this is this real, real love. Okay, I love it. Yeah, yeah, 291 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 1: no doubt that that that ended up happening is incredible, incredible. Okay, 292 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 1: So we do love in basketball, and it is from 293 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,480 Speaker 1: my understanding on the outside looking in a true success. 294 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 1: What's next for you? After you do that, or is 295 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:38,720 Speaker 1: the next project even more difficult to come by since 296 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:42,280 Speaker 1: the first well, right after Loving Basketball, I did Disappearing 297 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 1: x uh, which was my favorite book. And I had 298 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:50,480 Speaker 1: tried to get that gig prior to Loving Basketball, couldn't 299 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:53,840 Speaker 1: even get in the room. Um. Then Loving Basketball hit 300 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:57,800 Speaker 1: and then I got in the room and got that 301 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: got to work with Snag and which is beautiful because 302 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:04,200 Speaker 1: we you know, after starting like this, which we joke 303 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:08,119 Speaker 1: about now, we became great friends and collaborators and moving 304 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:11,360 Speaker 1: to work together again. And and so that was an easy, Yeah, 305 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:16,520 Speaker 1: let's do this next thing together. Need was in my opinion. 306 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 1: And I don't know because I'm not again I'm talking 307 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: to you as someone who is not entertainment expert, but 308 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 1: I would say you launched her career. Would she disagree? 309 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 1: I say it all the time, Um, you know, I mean, um, 310 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:36,679 Speaker 1: she was invest man. But yes, certainly Monica took her 311 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 1: to another level. Um, and she earned it. Man, she's 312 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:45,919 Speaker 1: the dope. She's so good next level acting Yale drama school. 313 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:51,359 Speaker 1: But also her work ethic that she displayed in in 314 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 1: you know, she had never touched the ball before. And 315 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:58,359 Speaker 1: our conflict really came because I had said I was 316 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: never gonna cast someone who couldn't play ball in lum basketball. Never, 317 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:05,359 Speaker 1: I'd never do that to female athletes. But she was 318 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 1: so good performance wise, UM, that I gave her a 319 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,639 Speaker 1: shot and put her with a trainer to see if 320 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 1: we could get her to a certain place. But it 321 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:17,360 Speaker 1: was tough on her because I was hard because I'm 322 00:19:17,359 --> 00:19:19,959 Speaker 1: expecting her to be as good as me after like 323 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:23,600 Speaker 1: three four months, and of course she's not. And she 324 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:26,639 Speaker 1: felt that pressure. And it was my first thing. I 325 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:30,040 Speaker 1: was like, we can't sunk this up with my first movie. 326 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:33,199 Speaker 1: So it was it was me learning, certainly to be 327 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:36,800 Speaker 1: a better director. I'm supposed to inspire, not freak somebody out, 328 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 1: you know. UM. And once we got to that place 329 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: and I started to recognize what she was giving me 330 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 1: in that film, in her performance, it really started to 331 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: thaw everything and it just became just mutual respect between 332 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 1: the two of us. What you describe is something that 333 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 1: is so precious to you that it's hard to give 334 00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 1: up any type of creative control or anybody else, because 335 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:01,280 Speaker 1: you know what looks like you feel it. It is 336 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:04,160 Speaker 1: your life. I understand that. I grieve that I live 337 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:07,359 Speaker 1: that and for you, in the middle of doing your 338 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:10,520 Speaker 1: very first work to realize that and self correct is 339 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:13,440 Speaker 1: something I wouldn't I couldn't say that most young directors 340 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:15,159 Speaker 1: and writers would be able to know right away. I 341 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:18,359 Speaker 1: hear all the time about the collisions between actors and directors. 342 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:22,479 Speaker 1: I mean it's it gets uncomfortable on set. How do 343 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 1: you I mean, especially for someone who is listening, I 344 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 1: have so many people I know who want to do 345 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:29,520 Speaker 1: exactly what you're doing. Jopanese, one of our editors, you've 346 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:32,120 Speaker 1: just met exactly what you're doing. You're her hero. How 347 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:35,040 Speaker 1: do you? How do you evolve into the director you 348 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 1: ultimately want to be? Because I find that so difficult 349 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:43,240 Speaker 1: that working with people when you are creative has to 350 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 1: be the most difficult thing. Collaborate other Yeah, it's you listen, 351 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:55,640 Speaker 1: you learn? Um do You also have to have incredible 352 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 1: swagger and belief in who you are and your vision 353 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:03,280 Speaker 1: because there's so many people in that process that are 354 00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:06,480 Speaker 1: gonna be trying to dent it. Um Surround yourself with 355 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 1: people that believe in you and the vision. Don't ever 356 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:12,240 Speaker 1: hire people who are just doing it for a job. UM. 357 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 1: Hired good people. One person can poison the entire environment. 358 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 1: I cast my crew the way I cast my cast, 359 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:24,560 Speaker 1: like who are you as a person? Because I love harmony. Um. 360 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:27,399 Speaker 1: And it's my job as a director to create the 361 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:31,880 Speaker 1: environment that everybody feels good and inspired and safe. Um. 362 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:37,160 Speaker 1: And so it starts there. And just again learned Alfree 363 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:43,880 Speaker 1: Woodard gave me such an incredible lesson UM about director 364 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 1: act of relationship when we were rehearsing and she rehearsed 365 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:51,399 Speaker 1: the scene and it wasn't good, and she asked me 366 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:53,720 Speaker 1: how she was and I was intimidated. It's al Free 367 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:56,159 Speaker 1: Woodard and I said, oh, that was great. And she 368 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:58,280 Speaker 1: looked at me. She didn't know it wasn't and now 369 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:02,560 Speaker 1: I can't trust you, and that rushed me. But it wasn't. 370 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 1: It was great. It was a great thing. I've never 371 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:08,199 Speaker 1: lied to an actor after that, and she and I 372 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:13,520 Speaker 1: are great, So it was She could have dismissed me, 373 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:17,399 Speaker 1: but she taught me in that moment and I built 374 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:22,480 Speaker 1: back that trust with her. UM. So yeah, just create 375 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 1: an environment that your actors can trust you. Never break 376 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:29,480 Speaker 1: that trust. Never break that trust with your crew. When 377 00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 1: you say you you cast your crew like you cast 378 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:33,719 Speaker 1: your cast, what does that look like you're like, I 379 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 1: need the director of photography to be this person. I 380 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 1: need the the sound person, Like you're that you're into 381 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:44,240 Speaker 1: the weeds like that. Oh, I talked transportation. Who's who's 382 00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:47,719 Speaker 1: going to be in charge of telling what drivers are 383 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:49,920 Speaker 1: driving my cast? Like you would think that's not a 384 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:53,600 Speaker 1: big deal. That's a huge deal because that car ride 385 00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:57,439 Speaker 1: on the way there or back is your sacred private space. 386 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:02,439 Speaker 1: And I've heard you know stories. Um, so yeah, I 387 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:04,800 Speaker 1: want people who are passionate about the story we're telling. 388 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:10,280 Speaker 1: I want people I look beyond the resume. Um, because 389 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:14,920 Speaker 1: absolutely for women people of color, our resumes are not. 390 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:17,680 Speaker 1: It's expensive, and it's not because the talent is because 391 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:21,280 Speaker 1: of a lack of opportunity, And so you have to 392 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:23,160 Speaker 1: look beyond the resume. What are you going to bring 393 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 1: to this that no one else can bring? I think 394 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:29,400 Speaker 1: about The Woman King, which I just did. My production 395 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 1: designer at Keen Mackenzie. He didn't have anything close to 396 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 1: the sides of this film on there, but my god, 397 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:40,800 Speaker 1: are our interview the connection to the material and telling 398 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:43,920 Speaker 1: the story was so guttural it was inspiring, and I 399 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:47,240 Speaker 1: was like, I want him on this journey with me. 400 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:50,920 Speaker 1: Um my editor Terry who ride or Die? She's been 401 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:54,480 Speaker 1: there since, loving basketball like I want somebody who will. 402 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:58,000 Speaker 1: I can't say outwork me because you're not gonna outwork me. 403 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:01,920 Speaker 1: But she's right there with me, believing in it and 404 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:04,720 Speaker 1: fighting for it with me. I need people in the fight. 405 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:07,880 Speaker 1: I need that type of mentality. You will give me everything, 406 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:11,720 Speaker 1: you'll fight for me, fight for the vision. I used 407 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:15,840 Speaker 1: to fight a lot, but that is this industry constantly fighting, 408 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:19,680 Speaker 1: and I need good people. I've dealt with shitty people 409 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:23,400 Speaker 1: and it's so crushing. I don't ever want the energy 410 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:26,160 Speaker 1: anywhere near me. So you've got to be a good 411 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:30,000 Speaker 1: person too. When you are as a director, do you 412 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:32,959 Speaker 1: always have that control because I could imagine you've been 413 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:36,280 Speaker 1: on projects where you didn't have the control to hire 414 00:24:36,359 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 1: the entire crew or cast. Now that's that's your job 415 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:46,600 Speaker 1: as a director, there you Yeah, they don't. They don't 416 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:48,159 Speaker 1: like they, oh you gotta put this actor in it. 417 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:49,639 Speaker 1: No one from Hollywood is saying, oh, you have to 418 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:53,240 Speaker 1: put this actor in it. With casting, It's happened to 419 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:58,720 Speaker 1: me twice where I wanted to cast somebody and uh, 420 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:01,960 Speaker 1: and it didn't. The studio really wanted somebody else because 421 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:05,080 Speaker 1: they were a bigger star. Now in both cases it 422 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:07,639 Speaker 1: it worked out. In one case, it was my second 423 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 1: choice and it ended up fine. But I hate that. 424 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:14,440 Speaker 1: It's it's my job. I have to get the performance 425 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:17,720 Speaker 1: out of the actor if I believe that this is 426 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:20,359 Speaker 1: a person that's gonna embody that character in the best way, 427 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:25,359 Speaker 1: like trust the director. Um, you can't. You can. But 428 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 1: it's not good to cast based on social media, which 429 00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:31,600 Speaker 1: is something Hollywood is starting to do, like looking how 430 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:33,560 Speaker 1: many people, well, how many followers did they have? Well, 431 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:37,200 Speaker 1: let's cast that person. You can see movies that flop 432 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:40,520 Speaker 1: that had somebody with a million followers, Like it should 433 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:45,119 Speaker 1: be performance first. Things that are so basic, you know, 434 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:50,280 Speaker 1: but but probably was a bit twisted. Yeah, yeah yeah, 435 00:25:50,320 --> 00:25:53,080 Speaker 1: but it's my job. Yeah, absolutely to to pick every 436 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:55,800 Speaker 1: single report. Okay, I love that. Then you when I 437 00:25:55,840 --> 00:25:58,120 Speaker 1: want to go to and you've had we're going we're 438 00:25:58,119 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 1: going down a list of movie bees. You've had so 439 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:04,120 Speaker 1: many success as you mentioned and disappearing act after disappearing act. 440 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:07,119 Speaker 1: What did you what did you do? Was it secret? 441 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:12,360 Speaker 1: See Life of Bees? Okay, okay, okay, and then how 442 00:26:12,480 --> 00:26:15,960 Speaker 1: was that experience? Secret Life of Bees? Yeah, that was though, 443 00:26:16,119 --> 00:26:23,200 Speaker 1: because yeah, Latifa, Alicia, Jennifer, I mean, everybody. It was crazy. 444 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 1: It was I just remember like everyone was so tight 445 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:31,480 Speaker 1: on that in Dacoda Dacoda, she was thirteen. Her talent 446 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:35,719 Speaker 1: was surreal, like livingly surreal, and it was it was 447 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:39,119 Speaker 1: a true like sisterhood. I hadn't been on something like 448 00:26:39,160 --> 00:26:42,479 Speaker 1: that where the actors were so bonded together, and I 449 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:45,760 Speaker 1: just I'll never forget. Alicia had to fly out for 450 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:48,200 Speaker 1: one day leaf set fly out to singing the Super 451 00:26:48,240 --> 00:26:50,720 Speaker 1: Bowl and all of us we put it up on 452 00:26:50,720 --> 00:26:53,159 Speaker 1: the monitors and everybody, the entire crew and all the 453 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:58,000 Speaker 1: casts just huddled around the monitor watching Alicia sing at 454 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:01,560 Speaker 1: and then she came back. You know. Um. That was 455 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:04,119 Speaker 1: also when As I Am Just came out, which is 456 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:08,160 Speaker 1: just the album. Uh so to have her sing no 457 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:11,040 Speaker 1: One just randomly onset men, come on and come on 458 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:12,480 Speaker 1: and come on. On the other side of the break, 459 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:15,119 Speaker 1: we talked to Gina about what is going to be 460 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:18,240 Speaker 1: my favorite film. That's The Woman King with Viola Data. 461 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:21,280 Speaker 1: Every champion and carevery Chappi has to be a Champiana 462 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:25,080 Speaker 1: Chappion and carry Chappion and carry Chappiana Chappion and carry 463 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:27,879 Speaker 1: Chappion and carry Cheppion rates and sports, and then the 464 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 1: same make and make it work very Chappion and carry CHAPPI. 465 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:42,879 Speaker 1: Used to be a Chappian, a Chappi and they carry 466 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:46,600 Speaker 1: Chappi and they Chappi and they carry Chappion and carry 467 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:50,639 Speaker 1: Chappion sports and the taming can make it warm. You 468 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:53,560 Speaker 1: said to me earlier that you felt people start to 469 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:55,480 Speaker 1: pay attention to you with the old card. Now that 470 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:58,040 Speaker 1: is interesting to me because it was on a theatrical release. 471 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:00,960 Speaker 1: It is something that I watched on Netflix and I 472 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:06,040 Speaker 1: watch often, and so that is telling to me where 473 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:09,120 Speaker 1: we are in this industry. Every actor I I've interviewed, 474 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:11,320 Speaker 1: I have Michael eleon the other day and he said, 475 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:15,160 Speaker 1: you know, everything is Netflix movies. You know, I wanted 476 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:17,160 Speaker 1: to be in movies. Movies they're not a thing anymore. 477 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:20,800 Speaker 1: It's it's these specials. How do you feel about the 478 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:24,720 Speaker 1: way the business is going, like theatrical release is not 479 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:28,720 Speaker 1: necessarily a big thing anymore. Do you feel like with 480 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:33,040 Speaker 1: certain movies they must be experienced in the theater. Yeah, 481 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:37,280 Speaker 1: I feel that, honestly about any movie. I love sitting 482 00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:42,040 Speaker 1: in the theater. There's something about that collective experience with 483 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:45,480 Speaker 1: others where you're laughing together, you're crying together, you're feeling together. 484 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:47,800 Speaker 1: The way that when you're in a theater the lights 485 00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 1: go down and suddenly you get lost, you get enveloped 486 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:54,880 Speaker 1: by it. That's an amazing thing. And the bigness of it. 487 00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:59,560 Speaker 1: So you know, Beyond the Lights was seven million old 488 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 1: guards seventy like. But I feel the same about both. 489 00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:06,160 Speaker 1: I want both of those. The beauty of Netflix certainly, 490 00:29:06,240 --> 00:29:11,160 Speaker 1: and and what I didn't realize going in the feeling 491 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:14,200 Speaker 1: of having a movie dropped in a hundred and ninety 492 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:17,720 Speaker 1: countries on the same day that I've ever been global 493 00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:20,960 Speaker 1: before I had my entire career was told that my 494 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:25,280 Speaker 1: my films don't travel overseas. Black films don't travel overseas. 495 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 1: So to have that an experience that was pretty incredible. Um, 496 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 1: but I'm so ecstatic that The Woman King is in theaters. 497 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:43,600 Speaker 1: It a big epic film, and I want us let's go, 498 00:29:43,920 --> 00:29:45,800 Speaker 1: let's go, okay, let me calm down, let me roll 499 00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:47,920 Speaker 1: up my sleep sause I'm not okay because I'm ready. 500 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:50,720 Speaker 1: You dropped that trailer water and I was like, let's go, 501 00:29:51,160 --> 00:29:56,000 Speaker 1: Like I'm hip that movie. I'm literally looking at going 502 00:29:56,080 --> 00:29:58,120 Speaker 1: to Viola's page. I went back to your page. I'm 503 00:29:58,200 --> 00:30:00,720 Speaker 1: and I'm no, I'm involved in all the us the warriors, 504 00:30:00,760 --> 00:30:02,880 Speaker 1: I don't even know their names. I'm trying to find them. 505 00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:05,160 Speaker 1: I'm looking on their page. I'm looking at the woman 506 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:09,160 Speaker 1: who was doing the workout, who was training them, that's 507 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:13,640 Speaker 1: back and that in a good way. I literally was like, 508 00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:16,360 Speaker 1: this is about to be the best thing that I've 509 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:19,200 Speaker 1: ever seen. So talk to me about the woman king, 510 00:30:19,280 --> 00:30:22,200 Speaker 1: how this project came about and how you decided Viola 511 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:25,840 Speaker 1: must be be one. Well, Viola came with the project. 512 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:29,959 Speaker 1: It was a package deal. So that was I mean, 513 00:30:30,040 --> 00:30:32,120 Speaker 1: it's even before I've read the script, I was like, damn, 514 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:34,479 Speaker 1: but I get a chance possibly to work with Viola. 515 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:39,080 Speaker 1: Viola is the way I feel about Serena and Beyonce greatness, 516 00:30:39,320 --> 00:30:42,480 Speaker 1: Like I don't you work great very often? I save 517 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:45,800 Speaker 1: it for who deserves it, And those are the three 518 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:49,960 Speaker 1: that that are great. And so the opportunity to be 519 00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:52,040 Speaker 1: in that type of orbit, to touch and see what 520 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:55,400 Speaker 1: greatness feels like. Um. And then I read the script 521 00:30:56,160 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 1: and I knew within five pages like I was seeing 522 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:06,480 Speaker 1: myself um and not only that the thought of I 523 00:31:06,520 --> 00:31:09,600 Speaker 1: could put these women up on screen. These are not superheroes, 524 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:13,160 Speaker 1: these were real women who did this. UM. And I 525 00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:17,120 Speaker 1: just think about the normalcy of my life being an 526 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:21,720 Speaker 1: athlete and what that means, and everything that means of 527 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:27,720 Speaker 1: being loud and aggressive and just stamina and the mentality 528 00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:30,280 Speaker 1: of wanting to be the best, like all those things 529 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:32,720 Speaker 1: that you're taught as an athlete that so many women 530 00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:35,840 Speaker 1: aren't taught, UM, to be able to put women up 531 00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:38,360 Speaker 1: on screen that then they can be inspired by and say, 532 00:31:38,560 --> 00:31:41,520 Speaker 1: I've got that innate warrior and me as well like that. 533 00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:44,360 Speaker 1: I couldn't turn that down, I I And I'm glad 534 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:46,240 Speaker 1: that you did not. It was it was perfect. So 535 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:49,160 Speaker 1: they came with viol of my you know you look 536 00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:52,200 Speaker 1: violn do no wrong, you know that. So you begin 537 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:55,120 Speaker 1: this process. You get the actors, you get the cast 538 00:31:55,200 --> 00:31:57,800 Speaker 1: the way in which you want it, and you envision. 539 00:31:57,920 --> 00:32:00,560 Speaker 1: You have a vision of what it looks like. Yeah, 540 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:02,840 Speaker 1: I have no concept if I you take that vision 541 00:32:02,920 --> 00:32:04,880 Speaker 1: right here and put it and put it on paper 542 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:06,640 Speaker 1: and or it's already on paper, and then put it 543 00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:09,440 Speaker 1: in an into action. How do you go about that process? 544 00:32:10,680 --> 00:32:12,840 Speaker 1: I mean it's it's a lot. It is, But when 545 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:15,560 Speaker 1: I was reading it I started to see it, I 546 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:17,920 Speaker 1: knew what I wanted it to be. This phrase came 547 00:32:18,080 --> 00:32:22,520 Speaker 1: up immediately, intimately epic. I wanted to be connected with 548 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:28,480 Speaker 1: these characters and these stunning relationships that moved throughout this film, 549 00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:32,320 Speaker 1: and yet it's telling such a big story about us. 550 00:32:33,080 --> 00:32:35,680 Speaker 1: And so in starting there, I started to realize how 551 00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:39,200 Speaker 1: I wanted to shoot it. I knew cast wise, I 552 00:32:39,320 --> 00:32:43,200 Speaker 1: knew pretty early on I needed to have Lashawna Lynch, 553 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:50,600 Speaker 1: had to uh needed John Boyega Um, like just people 554 00:32:51,040 --> 00:32:55,560 Speaker 1: actors that embodied not only not only are they dope actors, 555 00:32:55,640 --> 00:32:57,960 Speaker 1: but what they want to put into the world. Like 556 00:32:58,160 --> 00:33:02,680 Speaker 1: everybody saw John's amazing video that went viral imploring black 557 00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:05,560 Speaker 1: men to protect black women. That's the end he brought 558 00:33:05,880 --> 00:33:09,000 Speaker 1: to set and to this movie. That's why he wanted 559 00:33:09,040 --> 00:33:15,400 Speaker 1: to do it. Lashawanna and her whole man like, she's 560 00:33:15,440 --> 00:33:18,440 Speaker 1: just such a dope human and and what she believes 561 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:20,240 Speaker 1: as a black woman needs to be in the world. 562 00:33:20,360 --> 00:33:23,560 Speaker 1: What she's gonna put her talents to viola of course, 563 00:33:24,080 --> 00:33:27,600 Speaker 1: but across the board too, so Um and Sheila and 564 00:33:27,760 --> 00:33:32,000 Speaker 1: Adrian Warren. I mean, it's just women who wanted to 565 00:33:32,080 --> 00:33:35,360 Speaker 1: tell this story their ancestors, wanted to be in a 566 00:33:35,480 --> 00:33:38,320 Speaker 1: safe space where they could suddenly be themselves not have 567 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:41,760 Speaker 1: to hide any aspect of themselves that you often have 568 00:33:41,880 --> 00:33:44,160 Speaker 1: to do on sets or in a in a role 569 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:48,000 Speaker 1: or on a movie. This was us. This is our playground, 570 00:33:48,440 --> 00:33:51,960 Speaker 1: you know. So everybody brought that and so for me, 571 00:33:52,640 --> 00:33:54,440 Speaker 1: and they were believing in the vision, and for me 572 00:33:54,560 --> 00:33:58,040 Speaker 1: it was authenticity. This is a real story that's been 573 00:33:58,840 --> 00:34:04,880 Speaker 1: hidden from us, which is left up like our history 574 00:34:05,120 --> 00:34:07,320 Speaker 1: in America. What we're taught is that it begins with 575 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:11,520 Speaker 1: enslavement and there is so much more and now we 576 00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:15,719 Speaker 1: get to give us that more. Um And so it 577 00:34:15,920 --> 00:34:18,600 Speaker 1: was it was that let's give this story the bigness 578 00:34:18,640 --> 00:34:21,520 Speaker 1: it deserves. Okay, So wait, I just had a thought 579 00:34:21,640 --> 00:34:25,239 Speaker 1: and help me, help me process this because I want 580 00:34:25,239 --> 00:34:29,120 Speaker 1: to go back to telling our stories in a simple 581 00:34:29,200 --> 00:34:32,920 Speaker 1: love story. And how Hollywood, the industry would say, Okay, 582 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:35,960 Speaker 1: I don't necessarily think this is going to be a success. 583 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:38,120 Speaker 1: Too many black characters. We don't need a black lead, 584 00:34:38,920 --> 00:34:42,520 Speaker 1: but here we have. And while maybe loving basketball couldn't 585 00:34:42,560 --> 00:34:45,680 Speaker 1: be done today in the theater, you said it could 586 00:34:45,719 --> 00:34:49,719 Speaker 1: be a Netflix movie. Here we have the Woman King, 587 00:34:49,960 --> 00:34:53,160 Speaker 1: which is also telling our stories. Right could that story 588 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:59,600 Speaker 1: have been told when loving basketball was now black black 589 00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:06,640 Speaker 1: panther change the game? Um it it broke a damn. 590 00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:11,600 Speaker 1: It was seismic and showed even though we all knew it, 591 00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:14,080 Speaker 1: Like we always have to keep proving ourselves over and 592 00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:17,960 Speaker 1: over and over that people want to see us up 593 00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:24,760 Speaker 1: on screen a black panther. That billion dollars made others say, Okay, 594 00:35:25,400 --> 00:35:29,520 Speaker 1: maybe there's an audience here for this. Maybe other audiences 595 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:31,360 Speaker 1: could look up on screen and it doesn't matter that 596 00:35:31,440 --> 00:35:33,880 Speaker 1: the characters are black. They can identify with them in 597 00:35:33,960 --> 00:35:37,440 Speaker 1: the same way that we go and watch like The Notebook, 598 00:35:37,800 --> 00:35:41,200 Speaker 1: like I love that movie. I identified with those characters, 599 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:45,239 Speaker 1: or slum Dog Millionaire one of my favorite movies. I 600 00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:48,520 Speaker 1: I identified with those characters. So but for some reason, 601 00:35:48,600 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 1: Hollywood can't twist it for us. Uh, A black panther 602 00:35:53,440 --> 00:35:57,360 Speaker 1: change that? Okay, So give us the story of the 603 00:35:57,440 --> 00:36:00,320 Speaker 1: Woman King by way of background, he said, based on 604 00:36:00,400 --> 00:36:03,040 Speaker 1: a true story which most of us do not know 605 00:36:03,239 --> 00:36:05,400 Speaker 1: because we do not know this because we're not taught this. 606 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:08,200 Speaker 1: And you're right, it does begin with enslavement. That's our 607 00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:11,600 Speaker 1: that's our history. Lesson right begin there, tell everyone about 608 00:36:11,680 --> 00:36:15,560 Speaker 1: the woman king. Yeah, this was about a group of women, 609 00:36:16,080 --> 00:36:18,920 Speaker 1: um who were warriors within their kingdom and it was 610 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:23,000 Speaker 1: their job to protect the kingdom, protect the people and um. 611 00:36:23,600 --> 00:36:27,120 Speaker 1: And it was a society that was the only society 612 00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:30,200 Speaker 1: in all of Africa where women had an equal voice 613 00:36:30,280 --> 00:36:34,279 Speaker 1: in the government and in society. UM. So with the 614 00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:37,560 Speaker 1: council for every man, there was a woman in the 615 00:36:37,680 --> 00:36:43,000 Speaker 1: equal position. These aregoji women, Uh, we're respected, had say, 616 00:36:43,160 --> 00:36:48,360 Speaker 1: could earn money, um, had a voice. It was just different. 617 00:36:48,680 --> 00:36:52,520 Speaker 1: And but not only that, the beauty of their sisterhood. 618 00:36:52,600 --> 00:36:57,960 Speaker 1: These are women who lived together, fought together, died together. Um. 619 00:36:58,719 --> 00:37:00,840 Speaker 1: What does that mean? What does feel like to be 620 00:37:00,920 --> 00:37:04,520 Speaker 1: able to see women living like that, behaving like that? 621 00:37:05,160 --> 00:37:12,480 Speaker 1: That was a pretty stunning thing that permeated offset. That 622 00:37:12,680 --> 00:37:15,560 Speaker 1: was the dope thing for me, the connection these sisters 623 00:37:15,640 --> 00:37:19,840 Speaker 1: had that they brought to the screen. That's what you 624 00:37:19,920 --> 00:37:22,400 Speaker 1: want as a director to to create that type of 625 00:37:22,560 --> 00:37:25,000 Speaker 1: environment that then I can feel you put up on 626 00:37:25,080 --> 00:37:29,120 Speaker 1: screen and then an audience can feel you. It's it 627 00:37:29,200 --> 00:37:33,200 Speaker 1: sounds like an alternate universe where you know, no, seriously, 628 00:37:33,239 --> 00:37:36,120 Speaker 1: You're like, does that exist? You know, especially in the 629 00:37:36,200 --> 00:37:38,080 Speaker 1: day and age which we live in, row versus way 630 00:37:38,160 --> 00:37:41,480 Speaker 1: being reversed, right, is that's an alternate universe. That's what 631 00:37:41,640 --> 00:37:43,680 Speaker 1: it sounds like. And in the fact that it's based 632 00:37:43,680 --> 00:37:46,960 Speaker 1: off of a true story is very um. I mean 633 00:37:47,120 --> 00:37:51,080 Speaker 1: in every single way, it sounds very inspiring because you 634 00:37:51,160 --> 00:37:53,719 Speaker 1: said something earlier where the women are allowed to be 635 00:37:53,800 --> 00:37:58,080 Speaker 1: themselves in every and every aspect, because oftentimes we're told, 636 00:37:58,160 --> 00:38:00,640 Speaker 1: especially as black women, to turn down and certain areas 637 00:38:01,400 --> 00:38:05,640 Speaker 1: voice down, turn your spirit down, turn turn your aggression down. 638 00:38:06,239 --> 00:38:08,200 Speaker 1: And it seems that everything that we have been told 639 00:38:08,280 --> 00:38:12,239 Speaker 1: not to be because it's too much right, whatever too 640 00:38:12,360 --> 00:38:15,399 Speaker 1: much is in theory is what we're going to see 641 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:20,879 Speaker 1: in this film. Oh my god, celebrated. It is so celebrated, 642 00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:25,359 Speaker 1: and it's it's not only who they are and who 643 00:38:25,440 --> 00:38:28,319 Speaker 1: they get to be with each other, but also these 644 00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:35,359 Speaker 1: sisters were they they were legit warriors, like they were 645 00:38:35,440 --> 00:38:38,480 Speaker 1: the army that defended, and yet they fought alongside men, 646 00:38:38,600 --> 00:38:44,839 Speaker 1: but they were the primary defenders. They trained seven um, 647 00:38:45,320 --> 00:38:48,360 Speaker 1: and not only with with fighting, but also with dancing. 648 00:38:48,480 --> 00:38:50,400 Speaker 1: Dance was a huge part of their culture and they 649 00:38:50,480 --> 00:38:53,719 Speaker 1: created these elaborate, choreographed dances before they were going to 650 00:38:53,800 --> 00:38:56,600 Speaker 1: go to war to celebrate each other, celebrate the kings. 651 00:38:56,600 --> 00:38:59,359 Speaker 1: So we got to infuse our film with that. UM 652 00:39:00,160 --> 00:39:02,200 Speaker 1: was a lot on the actors, like not only are 653 00:39:02,239 --> 00:39:04,840 Speaker 1: you weight training and fight training, and but now you 654 00:39:04,960 --> 00:39:08,520 Speaker 1: gotta learn dance as well. And I know he was like, 655 00:39:08,600 --> 00:39:10,399 Speaker 1: that's you off by a beat, County. Take it from 656 00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:12,640 Speaker 1: the topic one. I can see you in there being like, 657 00:39:12,719 --> 00:39:16,239 Speaker 1: oh you missed a step right, do you know? Don't play? 658 00:39:16,280 --> 00:39:22,160 Speaker 1: I already know I can't. I need actors that that 659 00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:25,400 Speaker 1: matched that energy, and they did, like they want to 660 00:39:25,440 --> 00:39:28,880 Speaker 1: be great, and that type of energy across everybody wanted 661 00:39:28,920 --> 00:39:31,840 Speaker 1: to be great, like that's that's what she wants. And 662 00:39:32,560 --> 00:39:34,400 Speaker 1: I don't know if you saw the training video that 663 00:39:34,680 --> 00:39:38,680 Speaker 1: that was put out, like that's that's just like that. 664 00:39:38,920 --> 00:39:42,000 Speaker 1: Much of what they did that was months, six days 665 00:39:42,040 --> 00:39:46,160 Speaker 1: a week, UM doing that and just doing it because 666 00:39:46,200 --> 00:39:49,160 Speaker 1: they wanted to be great and because they looked amazing. 667 00:39:49,760 --> 00:39:53,920 Speaker 1: They looked amazing, amazing. I was like Viola's arms. I 668 00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:56,920 Speaker 1: was like, all right, well, what are you ready? Go ahead? Viola? 669 00:39:56,920 --> 00:40:00,480 Speaker 1: Are we talking about her arms? Lashawna her back glorious 670 00:40:01,080 --> 00:40:05,800 Speaker 1: um to So the sixth pack um. But that's the 671 00:40:05,880 --> 00:40:09,000 Speaker 1: beauty of it. Also, they would celebrate each other in 672 00:40:09,160 --> 00:40:12,200 Speaker 1: terms of their bodies and how often, you know, do 673 00:40:12,360 --> 00:40:16,040 Speaker 1: we hear oh that looks Mannishna, this is beautiful and 674 00:40:16,160 --> 00:40:20,080 Speaker 1: all these women are which was important, just they all 675 00:40:20,120 --> 00:40:24,120 Speaker 1: look different, like these are not amazons. Is you know 676 00:40:24,280 --> 00:40:27,960 Speaker 1: Western colonizers used to call these women, they call them amazons. No, 677 00:40:28,160 --> 00:40:31,440 Speaker 1: it's like we want every type of body type represented. 678 00:40:31,520 --> 00:40:33,640 Speaker 1: You just have to be athletic, but that can mean anything. 679 00:40:33,760 --> 00:40:37,120 Speaker 1: Two So's five, three Sheila team is six foot like, 680 00:40:37,320 --> 00:40:40,120 Speaker 1: but they're both badass, you know. So that was that 681 00:40:40,280 --> 00:40:42,160 Speaker 1: was the beauty of what we were putting together as well. 682 00:40:43,280 --> 00:40:46,759 Speaker 1: I'm excited for it and and the response has been 683 00:40:47,360 --> 00:40:49,799 Speaker 1: I'm sure because I'm reading the comments even on social 684 00:40:49,840 --> 00:40:52,600 Speaker 1: media said their responses, well, when is it today? Tomorrow? 685 00:40:52,840 --> 00:40:55,320 Speaker 1: When can we want? Could? That's when you release the trailer. 686 00:40:55,680 --> 00:40:57,759 Speaker 1: How did you feel when you drop the trailer? You're like, 687 00:40:57,800 --> 00:41:01,960 Speaker 1: I'm just pressed in and see how people were. This 688 00:41:02,160 --> 00:41:05,040 Speaker 1: is the first time in my career that I loved 689 00:41:05,120 --> 00:41:07,560 Speaker 1: the first trailer that they put together. I mean I 690 00:41:07,640 --> 00:41:10,120 Speaker 1: had a couple of notes here there, but I got 691 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:13,680 Speaker 1: addicted to it and especially it was like a perfect 692 00:41:13,719 --> 00:41:18,560 Speaker 1: combination of that song any images and when Beyonce's voice 693 00:41:18,640 --> 00:41:22,960 Speaker 1: hits and the beat drops like it does something to 694 00:41:23,320 --> 00:41:25,880 Speaker 1: like you get hyped. And then I showed Viola and 695 00:41:26,040 --> 00:41:30,920 Speaker 1: Viola went nuts. That was amazing, and the actors, like 696 00:41:31,040 --> 00:41:32,880 Speaker 1: they said they got addicted to it, and so I 697 00:41:33,000 --> 00:41:37,600 Speaker 1: felt like, if I'm feeling this way, let's put it out. 698 00:41:37,719 --> 00:41:40,640 Speaker 1: But you still never know, like you can have a 699 00:41:40,840 --> 00:41:43,560 Speaker 1: thought of hope, but you never know. And the reaction 700 00:41:43,680 --> 00:41:48,600 Speaker 1: to it um was incredibly beautiful because I felt like 701 00:41:49,680 --> 00:41:54,080 Speaker 1: we've been starving and didn't know it, and correct, Oh, 702 00:41:54,160 --> 00:41:56,560 Speaker 1: that's a beautiful Oh, that's a beautiful way to describe it. 703 00:41:56,680 --> 00:41:58,880 Speaker 1: That's a beautiful way to describe it. We've been starving 704 00:41:58,960 --> 00:42:01,080 Speaker 1: and we didn't know it. I've never seen anything like 705 00:42:01,200 --> 00:42:03,800 Speaker 1: that there. We saw it in Black Panther, hints of 706 00:42:03,880 --> 00:42:06,080 Speaker 1: it in the dor Milage and we would call like 707 00:42:06,280 --> 00:42:08,360 Speaker 1: I have a group chat you know named that after that, 708 00:42:08,600 --> 00:42:11,279 Speaker 1: right like yeah, we did, like we're just like we're ready. 709 00:42:11,640 --> 00:42:13,680 Speaker 1: We were starving and we didn't know it. And the 710 00:42:14,040 --> 00:42:17,120 Speaker 1: and I don't know if you which I'm sure you're 711 00:42:17,360 --> 00:42:22,120 Speaker 1: keenly aware of, but you're calling really amplifies our message 712 00:42:22,200 --> 00:42:25,120 Speaker 1: and who we are, and you celebrate us in spite 713 00:42:25,160 --> 00:42:27,400 Speaker 1: of a world that often tells us we should not 714 00:42:27,480 --> 00:42:32,720 Speaker 1: be celebrated. Um, you mentioned Serena and Beyonce obviously the greatest. 715 00:42:33,560 --> 00:42:36,040 Speaker 1: Watching Serena play and what we thought would have been 716 00:42:36,080 --> 00:42:39,759 Speaker 1: her last match, she didn't realize how loved she was 717 00:42:40,600 --> 00:42:43,719 Speaker 1: for her to walk into and into that stadium where 718 00:42:43,800 --> 00:42:45,800 Speaker 1: she has had so much trouble. As we will know, 719 00:42:46,000 --> 00:42:48,960 Speaker 1: right I'm threatening you with the ball, Um, you're calling 720 00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:53,120 Speaker 1: me a liar. Uh. It came full circle to see so, 721 00:42:53,400 --> 00:42:57,360 Speaker 1: I mean that crowd truly willed her to win, and 722 00:42:57,480 --> 00:43:00,160 Speaker 1: she felt all of this love and she felt celebrate it. 723 00:43:00,600 --> 00:43:04,840 Speaker 1: And for us, as black women, we are starving, we 724 00:43:04,960 --> 00:43:08,360 Speaker 1: are thirsty for that. It's so hard to find it. 725 00:43:09,360 --> 00:43:13,680 Speaker 1: It is so hard to find, and and so we 726 00:43:13,840 --> 00:43:16,759 Speaker 1: find it in each other, you know, and right now 727 00:43:16,920 --> 00:43:21,520 Speaker 1: it's it's I wish I was there. I wish I 728 00:43:21,600 --> 00:43:24,960 Speaker 1: could have felt that, because Okay, you can fly out 729 00:43:24,960 --> 00:43:26,480 Speaker 1: on Wednesday. I mean, you got a movie to do, 730 00:43:26,640 --> 00:43:32,239 Speaker 1: but maybe in between movie. No, but I wouldn't doubt it. Gina, 731 00:43:32,400 --> 00:43:36,239 Speaker 1: If if the Serena, the Serena Story, the biopic you 732 00:43:36,520 --> 00:43:39,879 Speaker 1: are directing that, so I there's time. We will fill 733 00:43:39,880 --> 00:43:44,640 Speaker 1: it in, right, there is time. I think I have 734 00:43:44,960 --> 00:43:48,320 Speaker 1: I have like sports memorabilia. I have a ball. I 735 00:43:48,440 --> 00:43:52,480 Speaker 1: went to see Serena play years ago and uh, at 736 00:43:52,520 --> 00:43:55,040 Speaker 1: the end of the match, she signed the ball and 737 00:43:55,320 --> 00:43:57,800 Speaker 1: she you know, hit it into the air into the stands. 738 00:43:58,120 --> 00:44:00,759 Speaker 1: It was like all my athletic ability was for a 739 00:44:00,840 --> 00:44:04,640 Speaker 1: purpose because I did this amazing like stretch, over reach 740 00:44:05,040 --> 00:44:07,000 Speaker 1: one more to grab the ball. I think I took 741 00:44:07,000 --> 00:44:09,719 Speaker 1: it from a kid, and at that moment I didn't care. 742 00:44:10,360 --> 00:44:14,680 Speaker 1: It's Serena and now I have a ball signed by Hey, 743 00:44:15,719 --> 00:44:18,359 Speaker 1: look it was the fault. Look let me tell you something. 744 00:44:18,480 --> 00:44:22,160 Speaker 1: Every man for himself. Every one man for himself. Sorry sorry, sorry, 745 00:44:22,200 --> 00:44:25,759 Speaker 1: five year old, get your own ball. You have more life. Um. 746 00:44:26,960 --> 00:44:31,600 Speaker 1: How are we feeling about the project overall? Um? I 747 00:44:31,719 --> 00:44:37,560 Speaker 1: love watching it. There's incredible anxiety where I love the 748 00:44:37,600 --> 00:44:40,399 Speaker 1: film and I hope that the world loves it. It's 749 00:44:40,440 --> 00:44:43,040 Speaker 1: like putting your child into the world to be on 750 00:44:43,160 --> 00:44:46,120 Speaker 1: their own and you can't protect it anymore. The actors 751 00:44:46,320 --> 00:44:49,880 Speaker 1: that calls and texts that I've just gotten is everything 752 00:44:50,000 --> 00:44:52,960 Speaker 1: that I hoped. They went to an incredible journey that 753 00:44:53,200 --> 00:44:57,480 Speaker 1: was really tough, absolutely beautiful, but really tough. And I 754 00:44:57,600 --> 00:44:59,320 Speaker 1: just wanted them to be proud of the work and 755 00:44:59,440 --> 00:45:02,480 Speaker 1: know that everything they put in was worth it. And 756 00:45:03,400 --> 00:45:06,000 Speaker 1: based on what I'm saying, they feel it was worth it. 757 00:45:06,840 --> 00:45:08,799 Speaker 1: Where do you get your fight? Where do you get 758 00:45:08,840 --> 00:45:16,000 Speaker 1: your your tenacity? And you're in your relentless pursuit of greatness? Um, 759 00:45:16,239 --> 00:45:21,120 Speaker 1: certainly sports and everything that teaches you a bit of rage, 760 00:45:21,960 --> 00:45:26,000 Speaker 1: certainly to prove to prove a large swath of people wrong. 761 00:45:27,000 --> 00:45:30,720 Speaker 1: Is rage? Is rage underrated? And this, in fact, it's useful, 762 00:45:30,960 --> 00:45:34,319 Speaker 1: Like it is useful, right, it is useful. I used 763 00:45:34,360 --> 00:45:37,359 Speaker 1: to say and pretty recently that it's unhealthy. But I'm 764 00:45:37,520 --> 00:45:41,360 Speaker 1: I'm gonna stop saying that it's what drives me. And 765 00:45:41,680 --> 00:45:45,399 Speaker 1: that's okay. We all have a thing, and and it's 766 00:45:45,440 --> 00:45:50,160 Speaker 1: it's that's my thing, and it makes me work harder. 767 00:45:50,400 --> 00:45:53,320 Speaker 1: If it if it manifests itself in destructive ways, that 768 00:45:53,440 --> 00:45:57,560 Speaker 1: something different. But it pushes me absolutely, So I'm gonna 769 00:45:57,640 --> 00:46:00,320 Speaker 1: say that it's a positive. What is the rage you 770 00:46:00,400 --> 00:46:02,400 Speaker 1: talk of? It? Is it in your belly? Is it 771 00:46:02,480 --> 00:46:05,160 Speaker 1: when you see unjust things in the world? Is it? 772 00:46:05,880 --> 00:46:08,200 Speaker 1: Is it You're tired of being overlooked in your space? 773 00:46:08,560 --> 00:46:14,200 Speaker 1: What is the rage? The rage comes from a childhood 774 00:46:14,480 --> 00:46:21,759 Speaker 1: of being invisible and dismissed and disparaged. Uh yeah, just 775 00:46:21,960 --> 00:46:26,080 Speaker 1: growing up in the environment that I did and being 776 00:46:26,160 --> 00:46:28,600 Speaker 1: told that that was less than and you turn that 777 00:46:28,920 --> 00:46:33,600 Speaker 1: into something for good. Yes, I um, you know, I 778 00:46:33,880 --> 00:46:36,440 Speaker 1: you hope it's clear right as well? From what I 779 00:46:36,520 --> 00:46:39,759 Speaker 1: can see, at least from what I can see, I'm 780 00:46:39,840 --> 00:46:43,080 Speaker 1: excited about The Woman King. I read that you're not 781 00:46:43,160 --> 00:46:45,200 Speaker 1: doing The Old Guard too, because you have other projects, 782 00:46:45,280 --> 00:46:47,800 Speaker 1: I guess other commitments. Is that is that? Is that accurate? 783 00:46:47,880 --> 00:46:52,040 Speaker 1: Is that we're shooting it now? U know that? Yeah? 784 00:46:52,120 --> 00:46:54,880 Speaker 1: And I just shot The Woman King? So yeah, And 785 00:46:55,000 --> 00:46:58,160 Speaker 1: I like with sequels is an interesting thing for me. 786 00:46:58,880 --> 00:47:01,000 Speaker 1: When I go into a film, it's because I have 787 00:47:01,120 --> 00:47:03,600 Speaker 1: something to say. We're a story to tell, and once 788 00:47:03,640 --> 00:47:06,399 Speaker 1: I do that, I don't feel like, oh, I gotta 789 00:47:06,480 --> 00:47:09,279 Speaker 1: keep telling the story, you know. And when I got 790 00:47:09,360 --> 00:47:12,080 Speaker 1: The Woman King script, it was like, oh, no, this 791 00:47:12,680 --> 00:47:15,320 Speaker 1: is what I have to do. So that was that 792 00:47:15,440 --> 00:47:19,319 Speaker 1: was an easy call. Well, I'm glad that you are 793 00:47:19,360 --> 00:47:24,120 Speaker 1: able to see the the fruits of your labor in 794 00:47:24,160 --> 00:47:26,440 Speaker 1: the sense that people know who you are, and you 795 00:47:26,600 --> 00:47:29,839 Speaker 1: are beyond worthy, excellent among excellent. I'm sure you're better 796 00:47:30,360 --> 00:47:33,000 Speaker 1: the most of your mail contemporaries in some aspect. And 797 00:47:33,080 --> 00:47:35,120 Speaker 1: I'm referring to like White malk And temporaries because we 798 00:47:35,160 --> 00:47:38,200 Speaker 1: can always do their job better than them. I am 799 00:47:39,239 --> 00:47:42,120 Speaker 1: so happy that you because it's hard for us when 800 00:47:42,160 --> 00:47:45,480 Speaker 1: you're in it can see it. You have this wonderful 801 00:47:45,520 --> 00:47:48,040 Speaker 1: project with the woman King, and I think it's gonna 802 00:47:48,080 --> 00:47:51,960 Speaker 1: be special. I don't know what happens for you after it. 803 00:47:52,120 --> 00:47:54,880 Speaker 1: I don't know if it you you can pick and choose. 804 00:47:54,960 --> 00:47:57,399 Speaker 1: I don't know if you tell different versions of the story. 805 00:47:57,400 --> 00:48:00,840 Speaker 1: I don't know what comes next. But does it feels special? 806 00:48:01,440 --> 00:48:06,879 Speaker 1: Like don't you feel that it feels special? And this one, yes, 807 00:48:07,000 --> 00:48:11,080 Speaker 1: the reaction of who've seen it has been what you 808 00:48:11,200 --> 00:48:14,120 Speaker 1: dream of as a filmmaker or an artist, to have 809 00:48:14,320 --> 00:48:20,279 Speaker 1: your work move somebody to that degree. So yeah, I 810 00:48:20,400 --> 00:48:23,279 Speaker 1: think I think that we're measured. I I hear you 811 00:48:23,600 --> 00:48:25,640 Speaker 1: being measured. I get it. You know, you're just like 812 00:48:26,160 --> 00:48:28,040 Speaker 1: and I'm the same way when it comes to my projects. 813 00:48:28,040 --> 00:48:30,279 Speaker 1: I'm like, well, let's just okay, Like you know, we 814 00:48:30,360 --> 00:48:32,600 Speaker 1: always have to be measured. I understand it's the nature 815 00:48:32,600 --> 00:48:35,160 Speaker 1: of the business. Um if someone and I'll let you 816 00:48:35,239 --> 00:48:38,280 Speaker 1: go with this. I have a lot of people listening 817 00:48:38,320 --> 00:48:40,000 Speaker 1: who want to be Gina or who are in the 818 00:48:40,080 --> 00:48:43,920 Speaker 1: pursuit of having a career like yours. Talked to me 819 00:48:44,280 --> 00:48:49,799 Speaker 1: about what advice because that's such a cliche thing to ask, 820 00:48:50,000 --> 00:48:53,040 Speaker 1: but you often get hurt. What what should I be doing? 821 00:48:53,400 --> 00:48:54,840 Speaker 1: Like it's not like go to this school, go to 822 00:48:54,960 --> 00:48:57,719 Speaker 1: that school, but what is the foundation that needs to 823 00:48:57,800 --> 00:48:59,880 Speaker 1: be created if they want to be a successful to 824 00:49:00,000 --> 00:49:09,200 Speaker 1: actor in this business? For me, it's absolutely doing projects 825 00:49:09,239 --> 00:49:13,040 Speaker 1: that you're passionate about. And I learned that very early, 826 00:49:14,360 --> 00:49:18,759 Speaker 1: um when I almost took on something to get in 827 00:49:18,840 --> 00:49:23,000 Speaker 1: the door, as opposed to doing it because I cared 828 00:49:23,040 --> 00:49:27,319 Speaker 1: about it. This industry is too hard, too hard, you're 829 00:49:27,320 --> 00:49:29,759 Speaker 1: going to get a thousand knows And the only thing 830 00:49:29,840 --> 00:49:32,800 Speaker 1: that keeps you going is if you're doing it for 831 00:49:32,880 --> 00:49:35,440 Speaker 1: a reason, that there's a a reason for you to 832 00:49:35,520 --> 00:49:37,839 Speaker 1: tell this story, that you're the only person that could 833 00:49:37,840 --> 00:49:40,440 Speaker 1: tell the story, that you're more passionate about the story, 834 00:49:40,880 --> 00:49:43,480 Speaker 1: that you have a cause bigger than yourself, Like me 835 00:49:43,719 --> 00:49:47,719 Speaker 1: and my work is not just about me. It's like 836 00:49:47,920 --> 00:49:50,840 Speaker 1: I'm driven to put us up on the big screen, 837 00:49:51,040 --> 00:49:53,680 Speaker 1: and that feels the fight. I mean, my husband just 838 00:49:53,760 --> 00:49:57,440 Speaker 1: the other day when I was having a fight with 839 00:49:57,520 --> 00:50:00,759 Speaker 1: the studio about the woman King, and he's like this, 840 00:50:01,000 --> 00:50:05,520 Speaker 1: You're not just alone in a room against them. You've 841 00:50:05,560 --> 00:50:09,040 Speaker 1: got You've got all of us, We've got the ancestors 842 00:50:09,120 --> 00:50:13,520 Speaker 1: behind you. Um. That's a powerful thing too, to keep 843 00:50:13,600 --> 00:50:16,840 Speaker 1: with you. And so just living in that type of space, 844 00:50:17,800 --> 00:50:21,759 Speaker 1: because again, this is really hard. You need stamina. You 845 00:50:21,920 --> 00:50:24,719 Speaker 1: gotta have fight, and you have to have passion to 846 00:50:24,920 --> 00:50:28,879 Speaker 1: to fuel it. So and then do the work. It's 847 00:50:28,920 --> 00:50:30,799 Speaker 1: not enough to talk about it when people come up 848 00:50:30,800 --> 00:50:34,240 Speaker 1: and say, oh, you know, I have this idea. Everybody 849 00:50:34,320 --> 00:50:36,920 Speaker 1: has ideas. Can you execute it? You know, come to 850 00:50:37,000 --> 00:50:41,359 Speaker 1: me with the script. Um, do the work, because that's 851 00:50:41,400 --> 00:50:46,879 Speaker 1: what I had to do. Um, John Singleton, I'll never 852 00:50:47,080 --> 00:50:52,200 Speaker 1: get Um. I was writing Love and Basketball Boyzenhood came out, 853 00:50:52,400 --> 00:50:58,160 Speaker 1: obviously was and he was speaking on a panel and 854 00:50:58,239 --> 00:51:00,640 Speaker 1: I went because I wanted to meet him and I 855 00:51:00,880 --> 00:51:03,400 Speaker 1: wanted him to help me get Loving basketball made. And 856 00:51:03,480 --> 00:51:07,480 Speaker 1: I waited literally half hour as he was just surrounded 857 00:51:08,120 --> 00:51:10,080 Speaker 1: and finally I got my one little shot, and I'm 858 00:51:10,160 --> 00:51:13,719 Speaker 1: hella shy, So for me to even like get the 859 00:51:13,800 --> 00:51:15,600 Speaker 1: courage to go up to him was a big thing. 860 00:51:15,680 --> 00:51:19,280 Speaker 1: And I finally got my little pocket of ten seconds 861 00:51:19,360 --> 00:51:21,960 Speaker 1: and you know, said, I have this this script I'm 862 00:51:22,000 --> 00:51:25,439 Speaker 1: writing loving basketball, and I really, you know, how could 863 00:51:25,440 --> 00:51:28,120 Speaker 1: you help me? And he was like, I can't help you. 864 00:51:28,160 --> 00:51:33,839 Speaker 1: I'm trying to help myself. Was like crazy, but it's 865 00:51:33,880 --> 00:51:37,200 Speaker 1: absolutely true. Like he's still trying to get off. What 866 00:51:37,360 --> 00:51:39,920 Speaker 1: can he do? I don't. I'm not handing in the script. 867 00:51:39,960 --> 00:51:42,440 Speaker 1: I'm not what can he do? So I was like, 868 00:51:42,480 --> 00:51:45,520 Speaker 1: oh damn at first, and then I was like, okay, 869 00:51:45,560 --> 00:51:47,680 Speaker 1: well then let me go back home and keep doing 870 00:51:47,719 --> 00:51:50,840 Speaker 1: the work and write this damn script and and do 871 00:51:50,960 --> 00:51:54,040 Speaker 1: what I can to get it out there. So work, 872 00:51:54,960 --> 00:51:57,080 Speaker 1: I and I And I'm glad that you said that, because, 873 00:51:57,120 --> 00:51:59,200 Speaker 1: trust me, how many times when someone hands you a 874 00:51:59,320 --> 00:52:01,560 Speaker 1: project and say, can can you read this? What's your 875 00:52:01,600 --> 00:52:04,680 Speaker 1: normal response? How do you handle that? The absolute truth 876 00:52:04,840 --> 00:52:09,200 Speaker 1: is I actually can't, because gosh forbid, I have an 877 00:52:09,239 --> 00:52:13,160 Speaker 1: idea that's even close to similar. If I read it, 878 00:52:13,239 --> 00:52:16,280 Speaker 1: I'm screwed because then you're gonna accuse me of sailing 879 00:52:16,320 --> 00:52:19,360 Speaker 1: your idea. Um and that happens a lot in this industry, 880 00:52:19,800 --> 00:52:23,399 Speaker 1: so it's it's really a legal thing. Um and too 881 00:52:25,200 --> 00:52:27,440 Speaker 1: like as soon as this movie is over, I'm right 882 00:52:27,520 --> 00:52:31,040 Speaker 1: in my next one, you know, um, and so it is. 883 00:52:31,200 --> 00:52:33,640 Speaker 1: I already have like my next two movies lined up, 884 00:52:33,719 --> 00:52:37,040 Speaker 1: and I don't want people take offense. I just don't 885 00:52:37,080 --> 00:52:38,960 Speaker 1: have time. If I know you, I'm going to read 886 00:52:38,960 --> 00:52:41,880 Speaker 1: your script. If I don't know you, it's hard just 887 00:52:42,040 --> 00:52:44,719 Speaker 1: because of time, uh to get me to sit down. 888 00:52:44,800 --> 00:52:47,479 Speaker 1: But every once a while I do it. And there's 889 00:52:47,560 --> 00:52:51,880 Speaker 1: nothing better than discovering a new voice, a beautiful thing. 890 00:52:52,120 --> 00:52:55,840 Speaker 1: So and then you get excited because I now have 891 00:52:56,000 --> 00:53:00,760 Speaker 1: the power to help so um everyone while someone slips 892 00:53:00,800 --> 00:53:03,480 Speaker 1: through the cracks and and and get it without it's 893 00:53:03,520 --> 00:53:07,280 Speaker 1: meant to be. Then it's meant to be when that happens. Right, Jeanne, 894 00:53:07,480 --> 00:53:10,759 Speaker 1: you are, um everything, you really really are. And you 895 00:53:10,920 --> 00:53:13,600 Speaker 1: mentioned being shy. I I don't necessarily since shy, but 896 00:53:13,640 --> 00:53:16,640 Speaker 1: I sense this, this humility that you have, which I 897 00:53:16,760 --> 00:53:19,120 Speaker 1: think is so rare for the projects that you've done. 898 00:53:19,560 --> 00:53:22,320 Speaker 1: This business can really fool people and inflate their egos 899 00:53:22,360 --> 00:53:24,759 Speaker 1: and make them think. But there is a such a 900 00:53:24,880 --> 00:53:27,879 Speaker 1: sense of like I said measured nous about you. I'll 901 00:53:27,880 --> 00:53:30,640 Speaker 1: make up that word, and it's and it's refreshing, and 902 00:53:30,760 --> 00:53:35,719 Speaker 1: it's also encouraging, um, because everyone needs to remind themselves 903 00:53:35,920 --> 00:53:38,160 Speaker 1: of why we're doing it. And your husband's like, your 904 00:53:38,160 --> 00:53:40,319 Speaker 1: ancestors are with you. This is where they are, like, yes, 905 00:53:40,920 --> 00:53:44,480 Speaker 1: absolutely there with us in every in every single way 906 00:53:44,520 --> 00:53:47,640 Speaker 1: and everything that we do in every room that we're in. Um, 907 00:53:47,719 --> 00:53:50,360 Speaker 1: we're not alone, and that is always encouraging for me. 908 00:53:51,280 --> 00:53:53,279 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for joining me on naked. I 909 00:53:53,360 --> 00:54:00,640 Speaker 1: appreciate you. Um a clap, I'm a watcher. I'm gonna 910 00:54:00,640 --> 00:54:02,880 Speaker 1: watch your son. This a real hood. This is my 911 00:54:02,960 --> 00:54:06,600 Speaker 1: real hood. L A self. Where'd you, um, where'd you 912 00:54:06,680 --> 00:54:09,640 Speaker 1: grow grow grow up in l A? Like? More specifically, oh, 913 00:54:09,680 --> 00:54:11,040 Speaker 1: I didn't grow up in l A. I grew up 914 00:54:11,080 --> 00:54:15,839 Speaker 1: up north in California hella yeah yeah, okay. And when 915 00:54:15,840 --> 00:54:18,239 Speaker 1: we came to u C. L A. Like, here's what's 916 00:54:18,280 --> 00:54:20,480 Speaker 1: interesting about the people from the Bay. You guys are 917 00:54:20,800 --> 00:54:22,279 Speaker 1: it's not it's it fair to say bay because you're 918 00:54:22,280 --> 00:54:26,560 Speaker 1: not Bay irby A. But it's not a bay that 919 00:54:26,920 --> 00:54:32,480 Speaker 1: anybody wants. It's not accurately Okay, all right, I keep 920 00:54:32,480 --> 00:54:34,480 Speaker 1: out her hell, I don't think is right. Here's the 921 00:54:34,560 --> 00:54:38,080 Speaker 1: babe there, Okay, woman King is in theater, So you 922 00:54:38,160 --> 00:54:41,640 Speaker 1: guys have to support Gina. She truly is special, like 923 00:54:41,800 --> 00:54:45,680 Speaker 1: she's just set apart. She said she would do most projects, 924 00:54:45,719 --> 00:54:48,160 Speaker 1: if not all, of the projects that she's done for free. 925 00:54:48,680 --> 00:54:51,759 Speaker 1: That means everything it's done with passion, it's done with love, 926 00:54:51,840 --> 00:54:54,080 Speaker 1: and you can hear it, you can see it. I'm 927 00:54:54,120 --> 00:54:56,359 Speaker 1: a huge fan of her work, but now an even 928 00:54:56,440 --> 00:54:58,480 Speaker 1: bigger fan that I've had the opportunity to sit and 929 00:54:58,560 --> 00:55:00,840 Speaker 1: talk with her. She that a couple of things that 930 00:55:00,920 --> 00:55:03,960 Speaker 1: I always I just think for takeaways. Takeaways are important. 931 00:55:04,600 --> 00:55:08,279 Speaker 1: She said that she tries to create harmony on her set. 932 00:55:08,760 --> 00:55:10,800 Speaker 1: It is her job to make sure that everyone believes 933 00:55:10,840 --> 00:55:12,560 Speaker 1: in the vision and believes in the dream, and that 934 00:55:12,719 --> 00:55:15,400 Speaker 1: is how she's able to lead and create um. She 935 00:55:15,800 --> 00:55:19,040 Speaker 1: is down to the detail. The devil oftentimes is considered 936 00:55:19,360 --> 00:55:22,440 Speaker 1: to be in the details, and she believes in every 937 00:55:22,680 --> 00:55:26,200 Speaker 1: single thing that she's doing. And for me, that is encouraging. 938 00:55:26,280 --> 00:55:29,880 Speaker 1: It's also sobering. I can't say that. I mean, if 939 00:55:29,880 --> 00:55:32,440 Speaker 1: I'm honest with you, guys, I can't say that everything 940 00:55:32,560 --> 00:55:36,359 Speaker 1: that I work on is not necessarily related to money. 941 00:55:36,560 --> 00:55:41,600 Speaker 1: I think oftentimes money determines how people value you, which 942 00:55:41,680 --> 00:55:44,680 Speaker 1: is why people want to be paid. But at the 943 00:55:44,800 --> 00:55:46,839 Speaker 1: end of the day, if you are a creative, if 944 00:55:46,880 --> 00:55:50,600 Speaker 1: you are an artist and you have a platform, maybe 945 00:55:50,640 --> 00:55:54,200 Speaker 1: money isn't always important, not if you're dedicated to a 946 00:55:54,320 --> 00:55:57,839 Speaker 1: vision and telling the story. And she is a beautiful storyteller. 947 00:55:58,239 --> 00:56:02,319 Speaker 1: I'm grateful that she graced with her presence today, um 948 00:56:02,400 --> 00:56:04,360 Speaker 1: and I hope you all are inspired. I'll talk to 949 00:56:04,400 --> 00:56:11,520 Speaker 1: you all next week. M. M.