1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:04,000 Speaker 1: Hi, I'm Rashan McDonald's hosts weekly Money Making Conversation Masterclass. 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: Show the interviews and information that this show provides off 3 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:09,559 Speaker 1: for everyone. I'm talking about you. It's time to stop 4 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:12,320 Speaker 1: reading other people's success stories and start living your own. 5 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: If you want to be a guest on my show, 6 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: Money Making Conversations Masterclass, please visit our website, Moneymakingconversations dot 7 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:22,760 Speaker 1: com and click to be a guest button. If you're 8 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: a small business owner, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, influencer, or nonprofit 9 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 1: I want you on my show. Now, let's get started. 10 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: My guest transition from a successful law career that she's 11 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,879 Speaker 1: still doing by the way, to develop and produce quality, 12 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 1: independent feature films that reflect different aspects of the African 13 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:45,200 Speaker 1: American experience. They create films about Black women, by black 14 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:48,560 Speaker 1: women that encourage us to share our self love journeys, 15 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:52,240 Speaker 1: inspire each other to learn how to survive and thrive 16 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: through racism, sexism, agism, colorism. Please welcome to Money Making 17 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: Conversations masterclafe as lawyer, director, producer, writer Saouda Johnson McNeill. 18 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: How you doing, Sauta, I'm good? 19 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:09,400 Speaker 2: How are you sore? 20 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: Where are you at right now as I'm talking. 21 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 2: To you, I am in Los Angeles. 22 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: Okay, cool, So I gave you a lot of titles there. 23 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 1: So what you want to start? Gonna stop on the 24 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:22,039 Speaker 1: legal because we're going to get to that film in 25 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 1: a minute, which is why you're actually on the show. 26 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 1: But I am a person who worked for IBM. My 27 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: degree is in mathematics, so I understand that you can. 28 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:32,959 Speaker 1: And I decided to be a stand up comic. That's 29 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: all I wanted to be when I got out of college, 30 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 1: and I pursued there and became a writer, producer, manager 31 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 1: of extraordinary talent. And I have a podcast that you're 32 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:46,039 Speaker 1: being interviewed on. So with that being said, you are 33 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: a lawyer by trade? How this filmmaking? Where was that 34 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: in the process of high school college that allowed you 35 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: to be a lawyer? What you were doing both now. 36 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 2: To me so interestingly. I went to the University of 37 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 2: Southern California for acting for theater and came out to 38 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 2: Los Angeles from New York, pursued acting, got the tastes 39 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 2: of the real world, going out on auditions, and I said, hmmm, 40 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 2: I need to have a career where I can pay 41 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:20,799 Speaker 2: the bills because I see that this is going to 42 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 2: be a lot of ed and flow. And I also 43 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 2: had someone who I was a mentor producer and she 44 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 2: was an attorney. So that inspired me to say, you 45 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 2: know what, one day I want to do that. I 46 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 2: want to practice law, pursue my acting, pursue my producing. 47 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:38,919 Speaker 2: And so that was kind of the path I took. 48 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 2: I went to law school, became an attorney in New 49 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 2: York and California, fell in love with the law, but 50 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:46,799 Speaker 2: didn't want to forget about my passion. So I have 51 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 2: what I say, purpose and passion. My purpose is to 52 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 2: help young people. I'm an education attorney, and my passion 53 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 2: is this filmmaking business. 54 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: Okay, Now, there are a lot of people out there 55 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 1: are afraid to do anything, afraid of change, afraid of 56 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:05,520 Speaker 1: like the unexpected. Now you had logic in your life, 57 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,359 Speaker 1: and I will tell you this. I can't act, by 58 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,919 Speaker 1: the way. I'm very good as a stand up comedian, 59 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:14,799 Speaker 1: but I wanted to be an actor, but I didn't 60 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 1: like the audition process. So stand up allowed me to 61 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: go on stage. I get paid for my talents, and 62 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 1: so I can control my career a lot better. So, 63 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:26,639 Speaker 1: but your logic well, look, I'm an actor of going 64 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: ahead audition. When did the light bulb go in your 65 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: head when you say, look, I need an alternative plan 66 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 1: here besides just pursuing acting. 67 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 2: Well, after several auditions and several cars, yes, just several, 68 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 2: I would say, the first couple of years at aage, yes, 69 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 2: I just I started seeing that it wasn't strictly based 70 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 2: on talent that whether or not I would get selected 71 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 2: to do a project, and just a lot of the 72 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 2: politics that started learning about, Okay, are they really going 73 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 2: to actually ask me to be in this? Do I 74 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 2: know someone? Am I connected to someone? And I just 75 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 2: thought like I need to take dominion in my life. 76 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 2: And it just made more sense for me to go 77 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 2: to law school and make my own projects and put 78 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 2: myself in it and put other people who are very 79 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 2: qualified actors and actresses. 80 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: You know, it's really interesting you're saying that, because it 81 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 1: almost feels like you put your dream on hole. You 82 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 1: made a professional decision. I did put your dream on 83 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:29,159 Speaker 1: hop and now you're able to control your dream because 84 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: guess what, the dream that you're living now you really 85 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 1: have control of it versus previously logic would let you 86 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: believe that rishard. I am not going to let somebody 87 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 1: push me around. I can wake up in the morning. 88 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: If I don't want to audition, I don't have to audition. 89 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:51,799 Speaker 1: If I want to pursue write something, I can connect 90 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:53,480 Speaker 1: the dots. I have legal I can look at my 91 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: own paperwork. I trust my own brain. So really, you're 92 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 1: like the perfect person right now in the end history. 93 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 1: Right because you have legal clear understanding, you can produce 94 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 1: in projects, and you can also start in the projects 95 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:10,159 Speaker 1: that you're producing and writing correct. 96 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 2: Well, you know, I definitely won't say perfect. I have 97 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 2: a team who's supported me and helping me and teaching 98 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 2: me along the way. 99 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 1: This is ruseean and McDonald talking right. Okay, I can't 100 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 1: look at no legal paperwork. Okay, you put it. I 101 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 1: don't even do my taxes and I got a math degree. Okay, 102 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 1: So I'm just telling you who I am. So I'm 103 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:33,720 Speaker 1: gonna throw out the word perfect because I know what 104 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: I have fears about doing looking at paperwork. It gets 105 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 1: past two pages, you're bought passing it to a lawyer. Okay, 106 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: So that means that you have that confidence to be 107 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:46,599 Speaker 1: able to look at paperwork. That means that you have structure, 108 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:50,280 Speaker 1: which means that you have discipline. Now you're going back 109 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:52,720 Speaker 1: to doing what you want. When you write something, you 110 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:55,559 Speaker 1: always felt you could act. This is your lifelong dream. 111 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 1: So now when you write something, let me ask this question, 112 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: do you appear in any of the projects that you 113 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 1: write and produced? Yes, I'm mad. Let me tell everybody 114 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:11,719 Speaker 1: who we talked to my guest transition from a successful 115 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:14,719 Speaker 1: law career that she's still involved in to develop and 116 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 1: produce quality independent feature film that reflect different aspects of 117 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 1: their African American experience black women projects made by black women. 118 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 1: Tell us about this project that you came on the 119 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 1: show to talk about. 120 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 2: So the film is Love the Skin You're In And 121 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:34,839 Speaker 2: as you mentioned, I did write it. I am one 122 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:38,720 Speaker 2: of the producers with Kimberlee Ogletree also and the executive producer. 123 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 2: So I financed the project and thanks to the offices 124 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 2: of Salwey Johnson PC for helping me with that. And 125 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:51,760 Speaker 2: I decided, you know what, it's time for me to 126 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,919 Speaker 2: star in this because this is really ultimately what I 127 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 2: set out to do. So I also started the movie 128 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,599 Speaker 2: and it's really with Obo Opportunity and my self as 129 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 2: the father and I'm his daughter, this dysfunctional relationship. They 130 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 2: have not spoken in twenty years, and now they're forced 131 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 2: to be back together in a caretaking situation, and it's like, 132 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 2: how do we face our own kind of self healing 133 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 2: based on our past and what is that process to 134 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 2: get to the other side where there's at least some 135 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 2: type of healthy outcome. So it's it's a great movie. 136 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: Now who else is starting in the movie. 137 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 2: We have Wendy Roquel Robinson. We have v Legacy MS 138 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 2: Marvel gives. 139 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 1: Oh no, this is not our past. Wendy. Now that 140 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 1: for all of you. That's Ms Piggy from the Steve 141 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: Harvey sitcom on the WB. She's done way more things 142 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 1: after that, but that locked her in as a brand 143 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: that a lot of people know about. She's done tremendous projects. 144 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 1: She has an amazing foundation, caused the amazing Grace Conservatory 145 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 1: that she does in La. Now that's Wendy Roca Robinson. 146 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 1: Just to lock the talent. So I'm just letting you know, saouta. 147 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: She know we are very casual about her story, but 148 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 1: you just don't call Wendy and get her on a 149 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 1: project unless it's legitimate. Now, who else do you have? 150 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: And Oba. She hadn't even given out his credit opportunity. 151 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 2: Yes, Oba, first of all over led the movie. I 152 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 2: just worked off of his energy. He coached me every day. 153 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 2: I first, I love everyone, Wendy mss Marla gives a 154 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 2: legacy and let me tell you something, Miss Marla. She 155 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:30,679 Speaker 2: her memory was so on point, and when someone thought 156 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:33,560 Speaker 2: that she needed help, She's like, no, I'm pausing to 157 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:37,199 Speaker 2: take my moments. I got this. We were like, so. 158 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:44,560 Speaker 1: Sorry, your moment on the thought so but no. 159 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 2: She corrected, like, no, that's not what this is. Also 160 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 2: Kareem Grimes, who is an All American, and a few 161 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:55,199 Speaker 2: other people Black Howard. So it was a really great casts. 162 00:08:54,800 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 1: An independent movie. How did you cast this? Because people 163 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 1: to hear this, because a lot of people dream about 164 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 1: the industry, dream about being involved, dream about I got 165 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: an idea. I'm a writer's script. So let's go through 166 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 1: the steps. Okay, you are a practicing attorney, you wrote 167 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:17,199 Speaker 1: a script. Let's start there. 168 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:20,840 Speaker 2: Well, you know when you asked me about my life 169 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 2: in terms of becoming an attorney and then going into 170 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 2: the film industry, it's really full circle. Because I had 171 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 2: a legal relationship with Leah Butler, Black, who was the 172 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:35,360 Speaker 2: casting director and had worked with her previously as an attorney, 173 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 2: and she was one of my clients. I mean we're 174 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 2: talking over ten years ago. And so when it was 175 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:42,600 Speaker 2: time for a project that I was doing, when it 176 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 2: was like who do you want to cast, I'm like, 177 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 2: let's call Leah. So what I did in this project, 178 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 2: I've helped a lot of people legally because I've been 179 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 2: in attorney for over twenty years. I called on some 180 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 2: of those favors, those relationships Ala Kappa Alphae and asaurs. 181 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 2: I called them, who can you help me to get? 182 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 2: Let me tell you something, Leah she casts that film. 183 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 2: She's like, we're gonna get this person, this person because 184 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:12,199 Speaker 2: this film is about positive black family caregiving community and 185 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 2: people are going to want to do this. So that's 186 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 2: how the casting process started. 187 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:21,680 Speaker 1: Cool. Now, the title love the Skin You're In. Let's 188 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 1: break that down. What exactly does that mean? And why 189 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 1: was it entitled that? 190 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 2: So it's really you know, it's kind of like that 191 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:33,839 Speaker 2: double edge sword type of situation. People think it's about race, 192 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:37,080 Speaker 2: but it actually starts about self acceptance and self love. 193 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:40,840 Speaker 2: Right regardless of where you are on your journey. A 194 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 2: lot of women may say, oh, I want to lose 195 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 2: weight or I want to gain weight, or oh my 196 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 2: hair is short, it's long, but it's about right now, 197 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 2: in this moment, this is who you are. So you 198 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 2: need to love yourself because this is how you look. 199 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 2: This is who you are right in this moment. So 200 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 2: really loving the skin you're in is just about total 201 00:10:56,640 --> 00:11:01,319 Speaker 2: self acceptance, regardless of if you're not happy with your finances, 202 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 2: your appearances, the relationship. It's about you still have to 203 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 2: get through this day. Let's just be full acceptance and 204 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 2: love yourself. So that's number one. Then the other part 205 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 2: of it, of course, is because we're talking about African 206 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:16,960 Speaker 2: Americans and what we have been through, what we're going 207 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:20,319 Speaker 2: through right now, it's about loving our skin and regardless 208 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 2: of how other people treat us and what we've gone 209 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:23,439 Speaker 2: through historically. 210 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 1: Now, is it written that way because of personal situations 211 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 1: that happened to you that you can tell us about 212 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:36,559 Speaker 1: now that you're using it as inspiration in a movie. 213 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 2: Yes, So it is not completely autobiographical. It does bring 214 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 2: in other women's stories as well, but very much part 215 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 2: of my story. While I was in college, I had 216 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 2: a lot of self love issues and you know people 217 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,120 Speaker 2: thought from the outside, and that's really what this is about. 218 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 2: Looking in you see this person, Oh, I'm at USC, 219 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 2: I'm on the track team major, I'm an AKA. This 220 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 2: person got it going on. But really a lot of 221 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 2: times you have no idea what's going on behind closed doors. 222 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:11,200 Speaker 2: And during that time, you know, over twenty something years ago, 223 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:15,560 Speaker 2: I really had a lot of self love issues, bad relationships, 224 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 2: didn't treat myself right, accepted a lot, didn't think I 225 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 2: was good looking, all of these different things, and now 226 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 2: I'm completely on the other side, have gone through therapy, 227 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 2: just having great friends, and I thought, what if I 228 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:31,319 Speaker 2: write my story part of it so that there are 229 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 2: other people out there who know, like you could get 230 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 2: through this and there's ways to do it no matter 231 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:40,319 Speaker 2: what the situation is, right, there's always a way if 232 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 2: we just for me, it was about God and therapy 233 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 2: and meditation. 234 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 1: Let's talk about that. Because you're an attractive woman, Okay, 235 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:53,960 Speaker 1: I'm assuming that you ran track, you in shape, Okay, 236 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:57,560 Speaker 1: you're articulate. I'm not trying to figure out where was 237 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 1: the self conscious moments. Because I had a daughter, you know, 238 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 1: she played tennis. She was like one of those prodigy 239 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:09,080 Speaker 1: tennis players, you know, and all you always and you know, 240 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 1: she injured her knee, so she didn't she was on 241 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:13,680 Speaker 1: the tour where she injured the knee. And now she's 242 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 1: worked for me, and I'm very happy cause I get 243 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:17,599 Speaker 1: to say I love you to her every day and 244 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 1: hugger one of the great blessings of my relationship with her. 245 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 1: Now you had it all, and you still have it 246 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:30,360 Speaker 1: all because you're still attractive, You're still aka, you know, 247 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:33,320 Speaker 1: still got that attitude, y'all. Y'all, this is audio to 248 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:35,960 Speaker 1: most of the people listening, but she is very animated, 249 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 1: by the way. And where was the self dowt? What 250 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 1: was pushing that negative thought process in your brain? 251 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 2: So you know, at that time, it was a couple 252 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:50,560 Speaker 2: of things. One, I've always been in overachiever, so I 253 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 2: think I was very unrealistic at that time in terms 254 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 2: of the kind of goals that I set for myself. 255 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 2: And I had to be, you know here by then, 256 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 2: I went to prep school, and I'm like, by this age, 257 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 2: I have to be this big time actress and I 258 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 2: have to be this big time attorney, and I have 259 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 2: to be married. And then men weren't really you know, 260 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 2: you go through relationships and some work, some don't right, 261 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 2: So all of these things weren't happening according to my plan, 262 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 2: because as you continue to live, you found out as 263 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 2: a God's plan. And I think with those disappointments, I 264 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 2: just I didn't know, like I just really didn't know 265 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 2: that they were a little bit unreasonable and high expectations 266 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 2: that's in such a short time, And so I started 267 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 2: to really beat myself up. I was this person who 268 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 2: just oh, you haven't done it, your failure, you haven't 269 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 2: done this yet, you haven't done that yet. And it 270 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 2: was just a lot of negative self talk. And I 271 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:45,240 Speaker 2: really the first step, after talking to my family and 272 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 2: just praying, was getting therapy. And this therapist was like, look, 273 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 2: you are thirty years old and you've already had your 274 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:55,520 Speaker 2: own law firm in New York and ran track and 275 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 2: you've done all of this. It's okay that you haven't 276 00:14:58,440 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 2: accomplished everything on your list. 277 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: By please don't go anywhere. We'll be right back with 278 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 1: more Money Making Conversations Masterclass. Welcome back to Money Making 279 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 1: Conversations master Class hosted by me Rashaun McDonald. Money Making 280 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 1: Conversations master Class continues online at money Making Conversations dot 281 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 1: Com and follow Money Making Conversations Masterclass on Facebook, X 282 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 1: and Instagram. Everything we're talking about really is about the 283 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: movie Love the Skin You're In. She's the producer, she's 284 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 1: the writer, executive producer. We're going to talk about some 285 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:36,680 Speaker 1: of the bigger challenges because when you write, personal projects 286 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 1: like this are the origin of it, and I can 287 00:15:39,280 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 1: relate to a lot of things. I remember as a 288 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 1: stand up comic I used to be. I used to 289 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 1: always worry about the next set. Was I going to 290 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:50,280 Speaker 1: be as funny as I was the previous time I 291 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 1: was on stage, And that's always mess with me, and 292 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 1: people go, hey, may you funny? Won't you chill? Won't you? 293 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 2: Uh? 294 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 1: Maybe I may not be as funny as I was, 295 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 1: but previously, you know, would you stop? And you can 296 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:03,480 Speaker 1: really start running the people who care about you away 297 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 1: because they see something in you that you are basically destroying, 298 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:09,360 Speaker 1: are not accepting? Correct? 299 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 2: Yeah? Absolutely, I mean it's you know, even when we 300 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 2: talk about the movie, but just also in my life, 301 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 2: it's really about surrounding yourself around with people who have 302 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 2: your back and are positive and are for you. But 303 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 2: at the same time, sometimes people are like if you 304 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 2: don't see your own worth and value, then maybe I 305 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 2: need to give you a mine. Right. So that's just 306 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 2: the truth, I think in any situation, but particularly in 307 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 2: this film, everybody was on my team. They were there 308 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 2: for me, telling me you can do this, because even 309 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 2: in this journey, even making this movie, there's been a 310 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 2: lot of doubts along the way. 311 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:47,960 Speaker 1: Well, you know, well, when you're walking into a new lane, 312 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 1: and the movie making business is a new lane, you 313 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: you know, I don't care how confident you are as 314 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 1: a lawyer. I don't care about how confident you are 315 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: when you walking the room. Being an executive producer of 316 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 1: a film or televison project is very engaging and very 317 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:07,399 Speaker 1: things coming that you don't see coming. Talk about some 318 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: of the challenges of making this movie Love the Skin 319 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:14,120 Speaker 1: You're in, I'm in and I'm interviewing Saouda Johnson McNeil. 320 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 2: So you basically started off saying it's very difficult transitioning 321 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 2: and that is the truth. First of all, as everyone 322 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 2: knows film, it's unpredictable. You may think you have the 323 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 2: best project ever, goes out there and no one loves it, 324 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 2: it flops. That's just the reality. So there's like this 325 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 2: fear that already I kind of had, and I said, Okay, 326 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 2: feel the fear, do it anyway. So for me, it 327 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:40,440 Speaker 2: was about the team. I started off with Kimberly Ogletree, 328 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 2: like I said, use the shield Alpha. She's this big 329 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 2: time producer and I asked her, Hey, will you come 330 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 2: on and help me? And that was one of the 331 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:53,879 Speaker 2: main reasons I was able to even do all of this. 332 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:59,959 Speaker 2: Her Ken Michael, the director, he was in Boomerang and Parenthood. 333 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:02,399 Speaker 2: He's been in the industry for a long time. But 334 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 2: when you talk about unexpected, let's talk about getting shut 335 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:10,359 Speaker 2: down when you're on set, when you've paid everybody, but 336 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:14,880 Speaker 2: apparently the permit was with the county and not the city, 337 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:18,159 Speaker 2: and on the block, one half of the block was 338 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:20,479 Speaker 2: for the county. The other half of the block is 339 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:23,560 Speaker 2: for the city. Who knew. So you just talk about 340 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:28,120 Speaker 2: these unexpected situations where you are like, I just paid 341 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 2: for this whole day and you get shut down. So 342 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 2: that was one of the huge ones that I remember 343 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:38,359 Speaker 2: being in tears and Ova was like, big girl, these 344 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 2: things happen, It's gonna be okay, We're gonna be back tomorrow. 345 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: Well, you know, first of all is you're dealing with embarrassment, 346 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:51,960 Speaker 1: you know, because people quickly go, girl, all wasted my time, 347 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:54,199 Speaker 1: she ran out of money. She'll know what you do. 348 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:56,400 Speaker 1: I knew I should because I don't care what you do. 349 00:18:56,840 --> 00:19:00,399 Speaker 1: In this business. Everybody has a bright idea. Execution is 350 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: the problem with a bright idea. And then when you 351 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:05,440 Speaker 1: promise people because we're out there for a check. Now, 352 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 1: I don'kay, how good this script is? How much I 353 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:12,679 Speaker 1: like you soada? I want my money now? That part, 354 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,639 Speaker 1: that's the issue that makes it happen because as an 355 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 1: executive producer, you're following the dream and the process. But 356 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:21,600 Speaker 1: let's go through the steps of it. How long was 357 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 1: the production window for your project? 358 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:25,880 Speaker 2: About four weeks? 359 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 1: You take for four weeks? 360 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:33,359 Speaker 2: Yep. We did it from March through April, so it 361 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:34,119 Speaker 2: was very quick. 362 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 1: Was that intentional? 363 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:41,920 Speaker 2: Yes, because it was expensive to go any longer, so 364 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:45,199 Speaker 2: we had to get it done and we were in 365 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:48,679 Speaker 2: and out. It was long days and just you know, 366 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:52,160 Speaker 2: people again, they were there for money, but they also 367 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 2: were behind the dreams, so they're like, Okay, we're gonna work, 368 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:56,159 Speaker 2: We're gonna do this, and know we're getting paid. But 369 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:58,480 Speaker 2: people were tired and we knew that if we had 370 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:01,320 Speaker 2: a bigger budget, we could have had, you know, more 371 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:04,200 Speaker 2: weeks and more time, but it just wasn't feasible. 372 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 1: So let me ask you this. So we're talking about 373 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 1: the movie. When is it coming out? And when can 374 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 1: we where can we see it? Let's get there, let's 375 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 1: get to the meat and potatoes to this interview. 376 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,159 Speaker 2: I'm so happy you as it comes out December seventeenth 377 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 2: through the twenty third. It's a limited release in North 378 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 2: Hollywood at the No Hoo, Limbley No Host seven, and 379 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:25,720 Speaker 2: then from there we have a distribution deal. So we 380 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:28,520 Speaker 2: are looking for we're looking to be streaming in February. 381 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:32,719 Speaker 1: February awesome, so it's a Black History month, Yes, sir, 382 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 1: that's a tie into that content is king? Is this 383 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 1: a one off for you? Sauda? 384 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 2: It is not a one off. We are already working 385 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 2: on our next project. I've already written two more. So 386 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 2: I am absolutely in this for the long haul. 387 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:54,920 Speaker 1: So with that being said, because you know you did 388 00:20:54,960 --> 00:21:02,080 Speaker 1: this project and you have a distribution deal for for 389 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:08,120 Speaker 1: February of twenty twenty six, what is your biggest takeaway? 390 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:09,679 Speaker 1: Because I want people to hear this, because a lot 391 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: of people. We're based in Atlanta, so you know this 392 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:14,159 Speaker 1: is a lot of productions go down the home of 393 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:16,879 Speaker 1: Tyler Perry. So everybody wants to get in the movie. 394 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 1: Is that everybody wants to do, to produce their television, 395 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 1: everybody wants to act. But you had a basis for 396 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:26,920 Speaker 1: your dream. You work, You developed a very successful company, 397 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:29,440 Speaker 1: so you able to finance the things out of your 398 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:33,760 Speaker 1: pocket to a certain degree. If wants to invest, I'm 399 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 1: sure she'll listen. Okay, she doesn't want to produce everything 400 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 1: out of her pocket. Okay, But with that being said, 401 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:43,080 Speaker 1: what's the next steps in doing your projects? And what 402 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:46,600 Speaker 1: is what do you consider a successful project from a 403 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:52,680 Speaker 1: financial standpoint? Or is it all about building out the project, 404 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:57,879 Speaker 1: producing the project, and then that's dream has been reached, distribution, 405 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 1: that's dream has been reached. Then we were about the 406 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:02,439 Speaker 1: back end recoupment. Tell to me. 407 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:07,920 Speaker 2: So for this first one, it was straight up about 408 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:12,960 Speaker 2: getting it done and with top quality acting and top 409 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:15,920 Speaker 2: quality production. When you see the film, Love the Skin 410 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:21,119 Speaker 2: You're in, people'll be amazed with the caliber acting talent 411 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 2: I already told you, as well as just what it 412 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:27,080 Speaker 2: looks like visually with our DP Crystal Kelly. So of 413 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:29,439 Speaker 2: course I would love to recoup, but at the end 414 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:33,480 Speaker 2: of the day, this was just about us working, right 415 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:35,520 Speaker 2: because it was right after the strike, so a lot 416 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:37,800 Speaker 2: of people were very happy to be working because that's 417 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:39,360 Speaker 2: part of what I want to do as well, make 418 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 2: sure that we are working. So of course I would 419 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:45,760 Speaker 2: love to recoup, but if that doesn't happen, then I know, 420 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:49,479 Speaker 2: put in the door, great project and we're on our 421 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:52,640 Speaker 2: way in the future. I absolutely would like to use 422 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:55,040 Speaker 2: other people's money. One of the things I'm working on 423 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:57,200 Speaker 2: is a private equity firm so that I can start 424 00:22:57,280 --> 00:22:59,919 Speaker 2: raising money to not only help with my projects, but 425 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:02,159 Speaker 2: other people out there as well. So I'm always on 426 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:05,920 Speaker 2: this entrepreneurial kind of business mindset on how we can 427 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 2: continue to help each other because a lot of people 428 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:12,439 Speaker 2: do not right. So when I talk about next steps 429 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 2: in terms of that project, I absolutely would be open 430 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:19,600 Speaker 2: to someone else coming in willing to partner and helping us, 431 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:21,280 Speaker 2: but I still want to make sure that we are 432 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 2: able to keep creative control. 433 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:27,679 Speaker 1: She is the executive producer and the star and writer 434 00:23:28,359 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 1: of Love the Skin You're In as a journey that's 435 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 1: very familiar with her life because she didn't love the 436 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 1: skin she was in. You know, everybody saw success, everybody 437 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:40,280 Speaker 1: saw beauty, everybody saw I wish I was her. But 438 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:43,240 Speaker 1: she didn't accept that. She questioned it, even to the 439 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:47,359 Speaker 1: point her therapist was frustrated with her. She had a 440 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:51,000 Speaker 1: law firm. We're thirty years old, law firm, acting beautiful form, 441 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:53,280 Speaker 1: a track star graduate of the USC. She over there 442 00:23:53,320 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 1: sitting in I don't know what's wrong with me. I 443 00:23:56,359 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 1: just don't feel successful. That could be frustrating in the relationships. 444 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 1: And so I see Johnson McNeil, I'm assuming that you're married. 445 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:09,480 Speaker 2: I married a new mom. My son is eight months See. 446 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:11,720 Speaker 1: What I'm saying now, when did we get to that 447 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:16,240 Speaker 1: point to accept the accept this? What I'm saying is 448 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:20,280 Speaker 1: that I'm married. So that's that's a partnership, and we 449 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 1: accept the flaws, We accept everything. And how does his 450 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:28,960 Speaker 1: support make you a better person today versus when you 451 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:32,080 Speaker 1: were thirty struggling to find out who you are? So older? 452 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:36,000 Speaker 2: His support made all the difference because I couldn't have 453 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:38,679 Speaker 2: done this without him. We met later in life. You know, 454 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 2: we've been married six years now and we actually funny story, 455 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:44,439 Speaker 2: we both went to USC at the same time, but 456 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 2: we didn't know each other. We met on match dot 457 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:49,520 Speaker 2: com and the connection was that we were both at 458 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:52,480 Speaker 2: USC at the same time. But anyway, he's one hundred 459 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:55,280 Speaker 2: percent has my back. What do you want to do? 460 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:57,359 Speaker 2: What do you want to do out here for you? 461 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:01,040 Speaker 2: Get it done? Everything I was writing, I was bouncing 462 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 2: off him with a man like this. You know, is 463 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 2: this too? Is this balanced enough? 464 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:05,639 Speaker 1: You know? 465 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:07,840 Speaker 2: I'm just pulling him in. I mean when you just 466 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:11,439 Speaker 2: talk about saying I got you, even if you have to. 467 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:13,439 Speaker 2: I took a year off from practice in law just 468 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:15,919 Speaker 2: to focus on the film. He held it down, so 469 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:18,120 Speaker 2: for a little bit we were just for one year, 470 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:22,359 Speaker 2: one income. He held it down, completely positive all the time. 471 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:24,359 Speaker 2: Couldn't have done it without him. And now we have 472 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:26,560 Speaker 2: this beautiful baby. 473 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 1: Wow. The movie is called Love the Skin You're In. 474 00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 1: It's you said December. What's date? 475 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:36,280 Speaker 2: In December seventeenth, North Hollywood, Limbley, NoHo seven. 476 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:41,120 Speaker 1: Please come out and support is their website or landing. 477 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:47,200 Speaker 2: Yes, Love the Skin you'reinfilm dot com is our landing 478 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:50,159 Speaker 2: page in rhyan Ash LLC. Which is the name of 479 00:25:50,320 --> 00:25:53,399 Speaker 2: the production company which I named after my father, Ronald 480 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:57,360 Speaker 2: Ashford Ryan ashllc dot com. We're all over social under 481 00:25:57,359 --> 00:25:59,240 Speaker 2: both of those Love the Skin You're In film and 482 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:02,359 Speaker 2: Rhyan ash. 483 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:04,600 Speaker 1: So when someone sits down, what's the takeaway? What are 484 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:07,480 Speaker 1: you hoping this is? You know, you're making a movie 485 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:10,879 Speaker 1: for black women by black women. I'm a man. What 486 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 1: would be my takeaway if I sat down and watched 487 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:16,240 Speaker 1: your movie Love the Skin You're In. 488 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:19,880 Speaker 2: Well, I think it really resonated with the men who 489 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:23,240 Speaker 2: have seen it because a lot of them are fathers, 490 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:26,480 Speaker 2: and they said that in their minds, they were always 491 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:29,120 Speaker 2: doing what they were supposed to do, which they said 492 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:32,200 Speaker 2: was about paying the bills or just making sure they're 493 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:35,680 Speaker 2: schooed on the table, but that actual like being there 494 00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:39,440 Speaker 2: spending time. Some of that emotional disconnect for a lot 495 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:42,159 Speaker 2: of the men that I've talked to was not there. 496 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:45,239 Speaker 2: So that movie really hit home for some men, and 497 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:47,320 Speaker 2: it actually made them go back and talk to their 498 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:50,200 Speaker 2: children and say, you know what, I could have done this, 499 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:52,399 Speaker 2: I could have done this differently. So for me, the 500 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:56,159 Speaker 2: takeaway is, let's really just take a look at whatever 501 00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:58,680 Speaker 2: is happening in our lives and to see if there's 502 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:01,120 Speaker 2: some work that we can do and make it better 503 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 2: fix these family relationships that they're possible to be fixed. 504 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:07,040 Speaker 2: Have those conversations, because you know what, we are not 505 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 2: promised tomorrow. I love you. I love when you said 506 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:12,160 Speaker 2: I love my daughter, and I can say that to her, 507 00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:15,280 Speaker 2: and you don't always have that opportunity, right, We don't 508 00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:17,760 Speaker 2: always have that opportunity because some of us don't have 509 00:27:17,840 --> 00:27:21,400 Speaker 2: our parents anymore. They don't they're not here. So let's 510 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:24,639 Speaker 2: go ahead and let's have these relationships with our parents 511 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:25,840 Speaker 2: while we still have them. 512 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:30,359 Speaker 1: Absolutely, I SA would let's talk about this as we 513 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:33,399 Speaker 1: wrap up this interview, which I think is really relatable. 514 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:37,240 Speaker 1: I don't care skin color, raised gender. Is the care 515 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:41,800 Speaker 1: taking aspect that I've interview so many people, and I 516 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:43,800 Speaker 1: look back on my life, I'll go, where are these 517 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:46,560 Speaker 1: old people coming from? You know, because it's suddenly like 518 00:27:46,560 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 1: an epidemic, you know, because the fact that we look 519 00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:54,040 Speaker 1: out now, it's like basically I felt when my parents 520 00:27:54,080 --> 00:27:56,199 Speaker 1: were coming along when I was growing up. You know, 521 00:27:56,359 --> 00:27:59,680 Speaker 1: they were working to retire. Now it looks like you're 522 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:04,000 Speaker 1: working to take care of your parents that raised you. 523 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:08,160 Speaker 1: And so from a caretaking standpoint, this movie will head 524 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:10,560 Speaker 1: home with a lot of people because I feel they'll 525 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:15,920 Speaker 1: personally dealing with this crisis that's happening to everybody's home 526 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:17,120 Speaker 1: and they don't know what to do. 527 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 2: Absolutely. I mean that it was very important for me 528 00:28:21,840 --> 00:28:24,199 Speaker 2: in writing this project to touch on a lot of 529 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:28,200 Speaker 2: different things. So you'll see gentrification, you'll see self love 530 00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:33,440 Speaker 2: and healing, but caretaking. I think that it's such an 531 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:39,120 Speaker 2: underappreciated job. Right. You have the sons and the daughters 532 00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:42,080 Speaker 2: who are stepping up to ensure that they are making 533 00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:44,080 Speaker 2: sure that their parents are good. But it's not an 534 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:48,160 Speaker 2: easy job, right, We're talking about some people have to 535 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:51,040 Speaker 2: end up putting their jobs and being able to help 536 00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:55,600 Speaker 2: their family or bringing their parents in into their established 537 00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:57,680 Speaker 2: you know, with their husbands or their wives and their children. 538 00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:01,000 Speaker 2: That can create a lot of drama. Really just about 539 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:05,360 Speaker 2: seeing and appreciating the caretakers and what they have to 540 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:09,280 Speaker 2: go through to ensure that they're taking care of their parents. 541 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:12,480 Speaker 2: And their parents are grateful because you took care of me, 542 00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:15,360 Speaker 2: And sometimes they're not grateful, which you'll see in the movie. 543 00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:18,200 Speaker 2: There's a little that but you still have to push 544 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:21,880 Speaker 2: through because but for them, you wouldn't be here. 545 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:25,400 Speaker 1: Well, it's just going to be grateful because I had 546 00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:27,480 Speaker 1: to do the same thing with my mom. My father 547 00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:31,440 Speaker 1: died a lot earlier than my mom, but we went 548 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:34,360 Speaker 1: through the whole caretaking to rebuild out part of our 549 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:37,240 Speaker 1: house so she can feel comfortable. Didn't want to leave 550 00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:40,200 Speaker 1: the house, you know, wind up basically rebuilding the house 551 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 1: that she didn't want to move from. But that's what 552 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:44,600 Speaker 1: she wanted, and I was happy. You know, it gave 553 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:47,120 Speaker 1: her central air condition and something she never grew up 554 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:49,360 Speaker 1: She grew up with a you know, the window unit 555 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:51,920 Speaker 1: and things like that, and so so I understand that 556 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:56,160 Speaker 1: when I when I heard about your project, and it 557 00:29:56,240 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 1: became very relatable to me, and sometimes, you know, it 558 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:04,640 Speaker 1: brings me to a of reflection and could I have 559 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:08,320 Speaker 1: done more? But also I guess when the big takeaway 560 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:10,920 Speaker 1: is that if you can't do more, do more, because 561 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:14,640 Speaker 1: all you will have if you don't is regret. That's 562 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:18,320 Speaker 1: what we're talking about this movie. You know, your LLC 563 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:21,360 Speaker 1: is named after your father. You know, you look back 564 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:24,760 Speaker 1: on your life, you see a journey where you can't 565 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:27,960 Speaker 1: turn it around. You can become the person you want 566 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:31,720 Speaker 1: to be. You can fulfill your dreams, you can control 567 00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:35,360 Speaker 1: your destiny. Like I said earlier, so you're living the 568 00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:39,000 Speaker 1: perfect life. Even before I learned about your ape on child, 569 00:30:39,120 --> 00:30:41,080 Speaker 1: even before I learned about you met your husband on 570 00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:43,880 Speaker 1: match dot com and y'all went to USC and he 571 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:45,880 Speaker 1: probably walk around going, who is that fine chicken? And 572 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:47,320 Speaker 1: they speaking to me to look and say it all 573 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:55,440 Speaker 1: the time. I'm sure you run the track. I'm pretty 574 00:30:55,440 --> 00:30:58,080 Speaker 1: sure he saw you. I'm pretty sure he saw you. 575 00:30:58,400 --> 00:30:59,680 Speaker 2: He did say I'm gonna do him. 576 00:30:59,680 --> 00:31:08,520 Speaker 1: But all I know, I'm a mane. You girls, come 577 00:31:08,560 --> 00:31:12,320 Speaker 1: on now, you notice them, You notice them, y'all in 578 00:31:12,400 --> 00:31:16,720 Speaker 1: such great shape, y'all interidated people. Okay, but life is good. 579 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:18,240 Speaker 1: That was a thank you for coming on my show 580 00:31:18,280 --> 00:31:20,840 Speaker 1: and having a wonderful conversation. And I don't want this 581 00:31:20,880 --> 00:31:24,320 Speaker 1: relationship to be a one off because again, you're a 582 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:27,560 Speaker 1: dreamer and you are a multitask or you understand multiple 583 00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:31,760 Speaker 1: multiple forms of income, but you understand the power relationships. 584 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:33,840 Speaker 1: But more importantly, what I try to do on money 585 00:31:33,920 --> 00:31:38,160 Speaker 1: Making Conversations Master Fast is encourage people to continue to 586 00:31:38,280 --> 00:31:43,280 Speaker 1: move forward to relationships matter, dreams can be accomplished, but 587 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:46,760 Speaker 1: more importantly, see it through. Kind of like when you 588 00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:50,040 Speaker 1: play it's a ka, you're doing the same thing. 589 00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:54,040 Speaker 2: You already know. It's all about the goal. 590 00:31:56,720 --> 00:32:02,320 Speaker 1: In this case, pinking green, pink and green lovely. Thank you, 591 00:32:02,320 --> 00:32:04,760 Speaker 1: my friend, for coming on Money Making Conversation Masterclass. I 592 00:32:04,760 --> 00:32:09,080 Speaker 1: appreciate you. This has been money Making Conversation Masterclass with me, 593 00:32:09,280 --> 00:32:13,200 Speaker 1: Rashaun McDonald. Thanks to our guest and our audience. Visit 594 00:32:13,280 --> 00:32:17,000 Speaker 1: Moneymakingconversation dot com to listen or registered to be a 595 00:32:17,040 --> 00:32:20,560 Speaker 1: guest on my show. Keep leading with your gifts, keep 596 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:20,920 Speaker 1: winning