1 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:06,120 Speaker 1: There Are No Girls on the Internet, as a production 2 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 1: of iHeartRadio and Unbossed Creative. I'm Bridget Todd and this 3 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: is There Are No Girls on the Internet. There Are 4 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: No Girls on the Internet is still on hiatus to 5 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 1: take a little break in between seasons, but we're coming 6 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:25,600 Speaker 1: back soon. But in the meantime, I had to get 7 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 1: on the mic to talk about the Oscars. It has 8 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:30,640 Speaker 1: been all I can talk about and think about this 9 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: whole week, literally to the point where my friends are like, 10 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,479 Speaker 1: please stop talking about the Oscars. Don't you have a podcast? 11 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: Couldn't you talk about it there? So that's what I'm doing. 12 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: So by now, if you watch the Oscars, you probably 13 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 1: know that Michelle Yo made history as the first Asian 14 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 1: woman to win Best Actress at the Oscars and the 15 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 1: second woman of color to win Best Actress at the 16 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 1: Oscars since Halle Berry back in two thousand and two 17 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: for her iconic film Everything Everywhere, All at Once. Now, 18 00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 1: celebrating these kinds of wins is always a little bit 19 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: bit you're sweet for me, because on the one hand, 20 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 1: it's important to acknowledge these historic achievements, but on the 21 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:09,759 Speaker 1: other hand, I'm like, it's twenty twenty three. What took 22 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 1: you all so long? You know, why are we celebrating 23 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 1: historic firsts in twenty twenty three? It's complicated. So I 24 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 1: joined the iconic April Rain, creator of the viral hashtag 25 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 1: turned movement, oscar So White, and doctor John Paul, screenwriter 26 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: and co host of the iHeartRadio groundbreaking podcast BFF, Black, 27 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: Fat and Fem for a Twitter spaces about how marginalized 28 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: creators are still celebrating our brilliance and creativity even when 29 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: we're in industries that don't always recognize it. With us, y'all. 30 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 1: This is actually my very first ever spaces I have 31 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: ever moderated, So you know it's gonna go great. It's 32 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: gonna be fantastic. Thank you all for joining us today. 33 00:01:57,680 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: My name is Bridget Todd. I am the director of 34 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: book Communications with Ultra Violet, a national gender justice organization, 35 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: and the creator and host of Iheartradios Tech and Culture podcast. 36 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: There are no girls on the Internet, and like a 37 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 1: lot of y'all, I just watched the Oscars. I have 38 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 1: a lot to say this year's Oscars. You know, there 39 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 1: were some historic wins, but unfortunately, as we're pretty used to, 40 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:23,799 Speaker 1: some pretty big snubs as well, and instead of having 41 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 1: that same old conversation about why Hollywood keeps overlooking us, 42 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 1: we really wanted to take this opportunity to flip the 43 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: script a little bit and say, you know, we are here, 44 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 1: we are brilliant, you make good work, and at the 45 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 1: powers that be don't recognize that it is on them 46 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: and not us. And to do that, I am joined 47 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 1: by an iconic duo that I cannot wait to introduce, 48 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 1: April Rain. You might know April Rain as the creator 49 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 1: of the online movement Oscar so White and screenwriter and 50 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 1: all around Hollywood screenwriter, badass doctor John Paul. Thank you 51 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 1: both so much for being here today, Thank you for 52 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 1: having us. Very excited to be here on spaces with you. Yeah. Same, 53 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:09,399 Speaker 1: I'm really happy to be in such good spaces with 54 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 1: good people. So this is going to be a really 55 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 1: good time. So I would love to get started by 56 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: both of you just sort of quickly introducing yourselves and 57 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 1: telling us your connection to Hollywood for folks that might 58 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: not know, or to the entertainment industry for folks that 59 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:29,640 Speaker 1: might not know. I guess I'll go first. I, as 60 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:33,359 Speaker 1: you mentioned, Bridget, I created Oscar So White in January 61 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: of twenty fifteen. Before that time, I had no nexus 62 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 1: to the entertainment industry except that I loved TV and 63 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: film and stage, and so I was an avid consumer 64 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: of all of that. And since Oscar so White, I've 65 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 1: become an equity and inclusion consultant in the entertainment industry 66 00:03:54,720 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 1: and have been working in this capacity for eight years now. Awesome, 67 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 1: I guess I'll follow that and by saying kind of 68 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 1: the same thing, I am an educator by trade. Folks 69 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 1: see doctor John Paum, they usually ask are you really 70 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 1: a doctor? Yes, I have by doctor's degree. I started 71 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 1: let them know, yeah, like I do have a doctor's degree. 72 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: And Educational Justice was very, very A lot of my 73 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:23,480 Speaker 1: work and a lot of the stuff that I started 74 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: tweeting slash writing about happened right around the time that 75 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: we started seeing stuff around Oscar Grant and a lot 76 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 1: of basically anything and everything that was happening around in 77 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:35,839 Speaker 1: Justice between twenty fourteen and twenty sixteen. And so with 78 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 1: that being said, a lot of when Moonlight came out 79 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: in twenty fifteen, I got tapped on a shoulder after 80 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: writing this very long thread about the ways that black 81 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 1: queer folks are treated in television and films and the 82 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 1: ways our stories are not shown. And that led me 83 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:57,039 Speaker 1: to being getting opportunities to write for in TV and 84 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:01,600 Speaker 1: all these other different places. The root, blavity, you name it, 85 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 1: I've written there pretty much. And so now kind of 86 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 1: like April, I get pulled in to have very There 87 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 1: are a lot of companies and organizations that pull me 88 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:13,480 Speaker 1: in and say, hey, we really want to do things 89 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 1: well in entertainment, specifically around queer LGBTQ, black stories, and 90 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: usually I am the one in the room helping to 91 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:23,599 Speaker 1: make sure those stories get told. So that's me in 92 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: a nutshell. I'm so grateful for both of you and 93 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 1: your voices and your presence in the space. April, I 94 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:32,359 Speaker 1: want to come back to you. You know, back in 95 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 1: twenty fifteen, you were calling out how white the Oscars 96 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 1: were you with the iconic tweet quote Oscars so white 97 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 1: they asked to touch my hair, and a movement was born. 98 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:43,719 Speaker 1: I know that Spike Lee gave you a not for 99 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 1: creating the conditions for him doing his first Oscar with 100 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 1: the Black Plansman. What is it like to be the 101 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 1: creator of a movement that started on social media and 102 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 1: one that literally changed Hollywood, and and I guess a 103 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: follow up question would be, how much do you think 104 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: has changed since you first started Oscar So back in? 105 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:06,160 Speaker 1: That's a lot. I don't take credit for um for 106 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: any of the things that you mentioned, Honestly, you know, 107 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 1: I think that I was in the right place at 108 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 1: the right time, saying the right things. But I honestly 109 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:20,159 Speaker 1: wasn't saying anything new. There have been people decades before 110 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 1: me saying the same thing in a different way that 111 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:27,159 Speaker 1: you know, we need more representation in entertainment, both in 112 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:31,160 Speaker 1: front of and behind the camera. You know, I think 113 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: that now still a lot more needs to be done. 114 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 1: You know, as you mentioned Bridget and the opening that 115 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: we have has some historic wins since you know, I 116 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:46,920 Speaker 1: created Oscar So White in twenty fifteen, but there's so 117 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 1: much work that still needs to be done. And I 118 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 1: would honestly love to shift the conversation from the Oscars 119 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 1: and other awards, you know, which happened at the very 120 00:06:57,720 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 1: end of a film's life, and go back to the 121 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:03,600 Speaker 1: getting and talk about how important it is to have, 122 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 1: as doctor John mentioned, the right people in the room 123 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 1: from the very beginning, who is telling the stories and 124 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: whose stories are being told are the most important questions 125 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: we can ask, not who is being nominated because of 126 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 1: the right stories aren't being made. Then no, you're not 127 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 1: going to get nominations because the work just isn't there. 128 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: Doctor John, Can you relate to what April is saying? Yeah, 129 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 1: I think that that's part of the reason why. I mean, 130 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: I know for me watching television and what I mean, 131 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 1: I always so. I tweeted this yesterday before the Oscars, 132 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 1: the tweet. You know that they showed Viola wimming the 133 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: Emmy and she said basically and so and I don't 134 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: know the verbatim what she said, but she said, you 135 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: can't win an Emmy for roles that are not there. 136 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 1: And I think that's been the thing that's been so frustrating. Right, 137 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: So we're looking at we're looking at and I say, 138 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 1: all oppression is cyclical and it's all connected. But I 139 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 1: think that's been my biggest frustration. We're critiqued for not 140 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:02,840 Speaker 1: we get people over your math that you didn't win. Well, no, 141 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: it's more than that. It's the idea that we're not 142 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 1: even given a chance to win, and when we do 143 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 1: get a chance to win, there's so little room for 144 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 1: opportunity for us to win that you know that it's 145 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 1: it's just it's it's it's really interesting. I wrote a 146 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: whole bunch of thoughts down and it's funny because I'm 147 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 1: trying not to like go off on this long tangent 148 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 1: of how frustrated I am. But I think my biggest 149 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 1: thing is with the industry, kind of going back to 150 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: April's point, you know, there's so many folks that are 151 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: that are looking at us as us being angry and saying, well, 152 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:37,679 Speaker 1: you're just upset. You should be happy that you're even recognized. 153 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:40,719 Speaker 1: And it's like, no, we shouldn't be happy for one 154 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 1: or two pieces or bread of breadcrumbs that the industry 155 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 1: is throwing at us. That's what it feels like at 156 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 1: this point, that folks are throwing us breadcrumbs and saying, here, 157 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: just be happy you have something to eat. You know, 158 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: so absolutely, doctor John, I mean, the space is kind 159 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 1: of came from a place of frustration that I really 160 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:00,839 Speaker 1: saw beautifully echoed in your piece for each called black 161 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 1: oscar Snubs say more about the industry that does about 162 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:05,560 Speaker 1: black creators. One of my favorite lines from that piece 163 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 1: I will read right now Admittedly, while much of the 164 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 1: conversation around the Academy not nominating black films has grown 165 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:14,200 Speaker 1: a bit stale, along with conversations about black people needing 166 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 1: to start their own what folks often fail to explore 167 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:19,319 Speaker 1: is what these snubs really say about the industry as 168 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: a whole. Yess well, might sting that we continue to 169 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 1: be overlooked. We have to remember that our stories and 170 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 1: creativity being overlooked has more about the Academy and its 171 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 1: voters than it would ever say about us. And I 172 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: guess what My first question is, what do you think 173 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 1: it has about about the Academy and the voters? And 174 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:38,720 Speaker 1: just a question for both of you, like, how do 175 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 1: we shift the conversation. How do we have a different 176 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 1: conversation that's not the same conversation we have every award 177 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 1: season that's like, oh, they're not seeing us, We're overlooked 178 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 1: for being snubbed, and that is really grounded and the 179 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:52,719 Speaker 1: fact that we make dope, We make dope shit and 180 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 1: if people can't see that, that as on them and 181 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:58,319 Speaker 1: not on us. Yeah, if I can't. Before you know, 182 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 1: Queen April ros I call her cre in April. Before 183 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:04,200 Speaker 1: April goes, I did want to say that one of 184 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 1: the notes that I made last night was and I said, 185 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: I was going to save it for the space, because 186 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 1: oftentimes tweets can get lost in translation, and so I 187 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:14,080 Speaker 1: wanted to be able to say what was on my mind, 188 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:16,079 Speaker 1: but also be able to kind of back it by 189 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 1: what I mean by And I said, you know, I 190 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:20,720 Speaker 1: what I wrote down is is I keep thinking about 191 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 1: why black films and shows never get to sweep award shows, 192 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 1: and honestly, it's just a way to keep black creators 193 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 1: and creatives humble and leveled. And I think that's the 194 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 1: thing that I want us to really kind of like 195 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:34,680 Speaker 1: think about, Right, why have we like, even when Black 196 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: Patther came out, even with all of the money Black 197 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 1: Panther made, even with all that it did to kind 198 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 1: of shake and change the way we think about television 199 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:48,079 Speaker 1: or even film, right, there were only a few awards 200 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 1: that were given to the folks who were connected to 201 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:53,440 Speaker 1: Black Panther. And I think that there are two things 202 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 1: that are at play. I said, the industry not wanting 203 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: black creators are people to feel too powerful, and to 204 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 1: make sure that we remember that what our places is 205 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: not only in just the industry, but the world, Right, 206 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 1: the idea that if we have to acknowledge that black 207 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 1: creators make dope shit and that it's gonna make stuff 208 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 1: that's gonna be bigger than we could ever make, then 209 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 1: you are ultimately saying that I have to show up 210 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 1: and I actually have to do the work and work harder, 211 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:20,559 Speaker 1: and to acknowledge that we are talented, even with all 212 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:22,920 Speaker 1: the hoops they put us through, means we are so 213 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 1: remarkably powerful, something that no one, not I would say, 214 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:29,679 Speaker 1: no white creator ever wants to say to us. They 215 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 1: never want to admit that black people are the ship. 216 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 1: And so I think that that's the thing that I 217 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: was really trying to get out in this piece. Right, 218 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 1: The notion is it's not just about us not winning, 219 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 1: it's the opportunities not being given to us to win. 220 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:44,359 Speaker 1: It is because they never want to have to acknowledge 221 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 1: that what we could ever do is greater than what 222 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 1: they could ever conceive. Yeah, I'm not even playing to 223 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: file out. I just hit my mic on Yeah. I 224 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 1: think you know, there's been a long standing question about validation, 225 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:11,439 Speaker 1: right and seeking validation from white sources, and so since 226 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:14,679 Speaker 1: I create Oscars a white I've heard the pushback, why 227 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 1: do we even care you know, why you know, why 228 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:19,440 Speaker 1: should we you know, even be looking to the white 229 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 1: folks to give us a handout or YadA YadA and 230 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: all that, And there is some truth to that. I 231 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:30,199 Speaker 1: absolutely understand that argument, and which is why I think 232 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:33,840 Speaker 1: we need to remember that there are places where we 233 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 1: are validated by our own right There's the Alma Awards, 234 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 1: the Glad Awards, the NAACP Awards, who all focus on 235 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 1: marginalized communities and the recognition that they deserve. With respect 236 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 1: to the Oscars, I think it can be both and right. 237 00:12:54,240 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 1: We want respect and validation from our peers within our community, 238 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: but we also deserve validation from the industry as a whole. 239 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 1: We can absolutely have the conversation about what if the 240 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 1: OSCARS should be considered the pinnacle in film awards in 241 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:20,080 Speaker 1: part because of who the voting membership is, in part 242 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:25,240 Speaker 1: because they haven't translated the an award win or even 243 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 1: a nomination isn't translatable for most, especially people of color, 244 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 1: into increased opportunities. There's a long list of a reason 245 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 1: why maybe the OSCARS shouldn't be seen as b end 246 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:42,440 Speaker 1: all and be all, But as of right now, for 247 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 1: better or worse, the oscars are considered the pinnacle. Right 248 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 1: and regardless of whether you are a fry cook at 249 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:55,199 Speaker 1: McDonald's or a CEO of a Fortune one hundred corporation, 250 00:13:55,880 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 1: you want to be recognized by people within your industry 251 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:03,679 Speaker 1: that matters, Right. There's a reason why we talk about 252 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 1: the fact that Beyonce still hasn't won the Album of 253 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 1: the Year Grammy. It's the same type of thing. Even 254 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:16,079 Speaker 1: though we know that those particular legacy institutions don't deserve 255 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 1: our creativity. It is more a question of being recognized 256 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 1: by what is considered to be the pinnacle in your 257 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 1: particular industry. Let's take a quick break at our back. Absolutely, 258 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 1: and I think that you really drill into one of 259 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 1: the reasons why when people are like, oh, just make 260 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 1: your own awards, it's really a yes and right, Like, 261 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 1: I do think that we need to, you know, be 262 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 1: excited about all the different award that are out there 263 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 1: that recognize marginalized talent, but also it's normal to want 264 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 1: to be recognized by industry standards. And so the conversation 265 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: really could be like, well, should the oscars be the 266 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 1: end all be all of what is considered the standard 267 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:16,200 Speaker 1: in the industry. That is, I mean, like for better 268 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: or for worse, that is what the situation is right now. 269 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 1: And so saying like, oh, make your own awards show 270 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: just really fall short and doesn't really capture what is 271 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 1: actually happening and what folks are actually dealing with. Well, 272 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:31,000 Speaker 1: I think that's right. And also the people that say 273 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: that are the same folks that say that they don't 274 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 1: see race, right, and why should we be so concerned, 275 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 1: and why do we need to have Black History Month? 276 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:41,960 Speaker 1: We need to have you know, one history. You know, 277 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:46,640 Speaker 1: we need to celebrate our similarities and whatever. Okay, But 278 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 1: if that's true, then why is it that when we 279 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 1: leave you all to your own devices, you say things like, well, 280 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 1: I couldn't pronounce lupida and yongo, and so I didn't 281 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 1: even watch Twelve Years of Slave, much less vote for 282 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 1: her for Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress. Right when 283 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:07,000 Speaker 1: left to their own devices, these same folks who say 284 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 1: that they don't see race and they don't see color 285 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:11,240 Speaker 1: and they don't understand why we need to have our 286 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 1: own special thing aren't interested in recognizing our excellence within 287 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 1: their own bodies. And so that's why it's important that 288 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 1: we ensure that we have these other organizations that are 289 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 1: just as important that celebrate us. Yeah, and if I 290 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 1: can add to that, I think the other thing that 291 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 1: I really want folks to get in all that we're saying, 292 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 1: and I hear us kind of saying we are all 293 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 1: on the same wavelength. But I think the bigger thing 294 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 1: for me is it's not just about the validation. It's 295 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 1: the idea of knowing how much it took for us 296 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 1: to get to the Oscars, Like the thought of how 297 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 1: much it takes for like, even for me as a 298 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 1: black writer, right, I'm still PREWGA and I'm still trying 299 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: to break in, and I'm still trying to get an opportunity, 300 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 1: and I've done a lot of Excuse me, I've done 301 00:16:56,280 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 1: a lot of shit in the last eight years, and 302 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 1: I'm still fighting to get it in right. And so 303 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 1: for me to get to the Oscars or for me 304 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 1: to get to the Emmys, that's that's validating me as 305 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:09,360 Speaker 1: a black queer creator and saying you went through all 306 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 1: of that and you created this amazing thing for so 307 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 1: many people who saw themselves, and now we want to 308 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,920 Speaker 1: give you the validation you deserve by saying you did 309 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,679 Speaker 1: that even when you had nothing right, And so I 310 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:22,720 Speaker 1: think that you know, the thing that really pains me 311 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:25,440 Speaker 1: in this conversation when we talk about the oscars, it's 312 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:28,280 Speaker 1: not about losing right, it's really knowing that there's so 313 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 1: many black, brown, queer, non binary people who are pouring 314 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:35,240 Speaker 1: their hearts into the work that they're doing and it's 315 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:38,680 Speaker 1: basically being snubbed with a simple it's not good enough 316 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:41,199 Speaker 1: or there's not that many people who can relate. And 317 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 1: it's like, well, if you're not giving it the space 318 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:45,359 Speaker 1: or the opportunity or the grace for folks to be 319 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:47,439 Speaker 1: able to connect to it, then how is it going 320 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:50,480 Speaker 1: to ever change the system that it's that it's meant 321 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:53,919 Speaker 1: to live in? You know, absolutely, and like not to 322 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:55,639 Speaker 1: go off on it. I know I'm a moderator, but 323 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:57,640 Speaker 1: not to go off on a tangent. But I see 324 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: that time and time again when black story, brown stories, 325 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:04,280 Speaker 1: queer stories, trend stories are not really given that space 326 00:18:04,359 --> 00:18:07,080 Speaker 1: to grow. Like they'll get a season on Netflix and 327 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 1: then they'll get pulled and then and it'll be like, oh, well, 328 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:11,639 Speaker 1: why didn't it do better? And it's like, well, you 329 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:13,440 Speaker 1: didn't really support it, you didn't really give it a 330 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:16,160 Speaker 1: chance to grow, and when somebody else comes and wants 331 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:19,399 Speaker 1: to tell their black story or their queer story, or 332 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 1: their trend story, they're gonna look and say, oh, well, 333 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:25,119 Speaker 1: this one it only lasted for our season, without actually 334 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:27,439 Speaker 1: including that fact that like, well, we didn't really support it, 335 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 1: and we didn't you know, we didn't really give a 336 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:34,880 Speaker 1: chance to breathe or grow. Yep. And that's really that's 337 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 1: an issue that we don't talk about enough that so 338 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 1: a TV studio or a movie studio will put out 339 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 1: a show that is quote unquote diverse or whatever, you know, 340 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 1: whatever that means to them, right, and then but they 341 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:54,159 Speaker 1: don't support the show or the film, and then they're like, oh, 342 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:56,200 Speaker 1: we can't figure out why it didn't work, but we're 343 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:58,879 Speaker 1: never going to try that again, you know. So famously, 344 00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: for example, Avid Verney said that the distribution company for 345 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 1: her film Selma in twenty fourteen did not send out 346 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: the screeners to the Academy members. Little inside baseball here, 347 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:14,760 Speaker 1: you know, not everybody wants to go to a theater 348 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 1: to see a particular film. So to get those films 349 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 1: out there and seen by the folks who vote for them, 350 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:26,440 Speaker 1: very often they send screeners, DVD or you know, they 351 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:28,920 Speaker 1: send it through the laptop or whatever so that people 352 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 1: can view them in the privacy of their own home. Well, 353 00:19:32,119 --> 00:19:34,560 Speaker 1: if a distribution company decides that they're not going to 354 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:38,040 Speaker 1: send that out, then how does one see it in 355 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 1: order to vote for it? Right? So yeah, you can say, oh, 356 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 1: we made a quote unquote black film. And that's not 357 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 1: even a phrase that I like to use, right because 358 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 1: we never say white film, a straight film or whatever, Right, 359 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 1: So I don't like to use that film. I prefer 360 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:55,159 Speaker 1: that phrase. I prefer to say, you know, films that 361 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:58,919 Speaker 1: reflect an aspect of the black experiences a lot longer. 362 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 1: It doesn't get expect the hastag but it is more accurate. 363 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:08,240 Speaker 1: So anyway, so even when Selma came out it was 364 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:11,560 Speaker 1: a fantastic film, the distribution companies can say, oh, yeah, 365 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:13,639 Speaker 1: well we you know, we made a black film. It's like, 366 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 1: but if you didn't support it, then, you know, when 367 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:18,959 Speaker 1: it doesn't do well at the box office, when it 368 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 1: doesn't do well during awards seasons, then you can go 369 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 1: back and say, oh, well we tried, but we don't 370 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:25,840 Speaker 1: know what happened, and so we're not going to try 371 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:28,399 Speaker 1: and do more. Of that right, and so then it 372 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 1: becomes a vicious cycle. So they put it out there begrudgingly, 373 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 1: but they don't support it all the way through to 374 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,919 Speaker 1: the very end. The other little piece of insight Baseball 375 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:39,719 Speaker 1: I wanted to share is that when it comes to 376 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:48,000 Speaker 1: awards season, film companies and studios have a finite marketing budget. 377 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 1: And so if a particular company, like a twenty four 378 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:55,879 Speaker 1: or Paramount or you know whatever MGM says that you know, 379 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 1: they put out eight films over the course of the year. 380 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 1: They decide relatively early on, based on everything that they're seeing, 381 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: which films they think are going to do the best 382 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:13,640 Speaker 1: at award season, and then they put their marketing dollars 383 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:17,359 Speaker 1: behind those films. So if they choose two out of 384 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:20,919 Speaker 1: the eighth that they have over the year, and you know, 385 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:27,200 Speaker 1: the other six actually featured marginalized the traditional traditionally underrepresented communities, 386 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:29,960 Speaker 1: they're gonna get paid dust and they're gonna go with 387 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:34,120 Speaker 1: the war film, you know, or the back office match 388 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:37,640 Speaker 1: because it's the same shit every single year, and those 389 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:40,399 Speaker 1: are the ones that they're going to promote during award season, 390 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:43,000 Speaker 1: and the other ones are left out to dry to 391 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 1: you know, to attempt to stir up award buzz all 392 00:21:48,840 --> 00:22:05,840 Speaker 1: in their own more. After a quick break, let's get 393 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:09,960 Speaker 1: right back into it. So what a switch gears a 394 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 1: little bit? You know? The Oscars were not without its 395 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:15,040 Speaker 1: high points. Michelle Yo at sixty, made history men becoming 396 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:17,360 Speaker 1: the first Asian woman to win Best Actress and Actress 397 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:21,400 Speaker 1: the Oscars. Her pictures with Halle Berry were so powerful, 398 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:24,520 Speaker 1: like get ready to see that shit on? Like everything 399 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 1: on T shirts. This Then the third, Ruth Carter, became 400 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:30,080 Speaker 1: the first black woman to win two Oscars. I wonder 401 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:32,359 Speaker 1: to each of you, will this always be kind of 402 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 1: a bitter sweet thing? Because I love celebrating when we win. 403 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:41,439 Speaker 1: I love celebrating marginalized wins. But I always think, what 404 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,000 Speaker 1: took y'all so long? Is it really like it feels 405 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty three bitter sweet to be celebrating these 406 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:49,600 Speaker 1: winds when I wish we were seeing all the time. 407 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 1: I wish I didn't have to wait to celebrate these wins. 408 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 1: I wish they were already happening. Did you do you 409 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:59,439 Speaker 1: ever feel that way? Yeah? You know, I think for me, 410 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:04,400 Speaker 1: And that's the hard part about I think about being 411 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 1: you know, it's funny because this conversation just reminds me 412 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:08,919 Speaker 1: so much of the cob why I was having with 413 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:10,679 Speaker 1: the frame. We were talking about the crabs and the 414 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:13,440 Speaker 1: barrel mentality and the question of why are crabs in 415 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:16,720 Speaker 1: the barrel in the first place? Um, like why do 416 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:20,120 Speaker 1: we should be in the ocean? I think, no, really, 417 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:22,960 Speaker 1: such a good point. It's such a good point, like 418 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:25,159 Speaker 1: why are why are why aren't crabs in the oceans? 419 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,400 Speaker 1: But I not to difvert from your question. I think 420 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:29,600 Speaker 1: the biggest thing for me is that you know, when 421 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 1: when think when we're so marginalized, and when marginalized people 422 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:37,280 Speaker 1: have only been given scrabs, right, they feel like they 423 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:39,920 Speaker 1: should celebrate whatever they can get. And I think that 424 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:42,000 Speaker 1: that's the thing that I think is so frustrating, right, 425 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 1: because it should not be in a situation where we 426 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:47,800 Speaker 1: have to pick and choose between whether we celebrate Angela 427 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 1: Bassett winning versus Jamie Lee Curtis right. It needs to 428 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 1: be like we're looking at this notion of the reason 429 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:55,960 Speaker 1: why people are so upset that Angela didn't win is 430 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:58,760 Speaker 1: because for years, Angela has shown up and has done 431 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:00,720 Speaker 1: the work, and it's fault and it's continue to keep 432 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:03,680 Speaker 1: showing up, and it's still not getting what she deserves, right, 433 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:05,879 Speaker 1: So I think, like that's the frustrating part for me. 434 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:08,480 Speaker 1: It's like, while I really want to be happy and 435 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:10,919 Speaker 1: I want to be excited about the wins for other people, 436 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:14,120 Speaker 1: there's this long history that continues to keep telling us. 437 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:17,399 Speaker 1: We've had ninety five years with the oscars, telling us 438 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:21,040 Speaker 1: we don't give two shits about black people, when only 439 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:24,120 Speaker 1: a black when a black woman has only one two 440 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:27,439 Speaker 1: when how many other people have won. So it's just, 441 00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:29,879 Speaker 1: you know, I don't know if I'm making sense, but 442 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 1: I guess for me, it's frustrating that we have to 443 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:37,680 Speaker 1: constantly celebrate the little bit that we get when there 444 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:39,960 Speaker 1: should be so much more progression. I guess that's the 445 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:44,080 Speaker 1: bigger point I'm trying to make. It's always going to 446 00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:49,000 Speaker 1: be a bittersweet for me, because, as doctor John Paul said, 447 00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:54,399 Speaker 1: we shouldn't still be celebrating first in twenty twenty three, 448 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 1: you know. And so that's the really frustrating part that 449 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 1: everything time someone from a traditionally underrepresented community wins, yes, 450 00:25:05,119 --> 00:25:07,800 Speaker 1: we're excited, but it's like, damn, why did it take 451 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 1: all this? And part of that is because as talented 452 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:15,960 Speaker 1: as that person was, we know that there was someone 453 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:20,479 Speaker 1: before them that should have won, Right, Angela bastard. This 454 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 1: should be at least her second oscar Win. You know, 455 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:26,320 Speaker 1: it's starting back with what's love got to do with it? 456 00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:28,360 Speaker 1: And you can choose whatever else you want to put 457 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:32,879 Speaker 1: in there. Right for her to still be zero and 458 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:39,000 Speaker 1: zero for two nominations is disrespectful at this point. And 459 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 1: you know, there was a whole bunch of talk about oh, 460 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:45,280 Speaker 1: she you know, she didn't whatever, she didn't clap loud 461 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:50,320 Speaker 1: and wef or whatever, and it's like, listen, she displayed 462 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:55,600 Speaker 1: a very human response right in that moment. After all 463 00:25:55,640 --> 00:26:01,480 Speaker 1: that she has given this industry to be looked over 464 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 1: again has to be heartbreaking. It takes nothing away from 465 00:26:07,119 --> 00:26:09,639 Speaker 1: Jamie Lee Curtis. You know, there's a reason why I 466 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:13,760 Speaker 1: don't talk about snubs because when you say that someone 467 00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:17,200 Speaker 1: has been snubbed, then the follow up question always is, well, 468 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:19,719 Speaker 1: you know, if they should have been nominated, then who 469 00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:22,440 Speaker 1: would you take out? And that's not fair, right because 470 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:26,359 Speaker 1: all of the performances were great, but we know that 471 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:31,360 Speaker 1: some rise to the challenge more than others. And we 472 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:38,680 Speaker 1: also know that Academy voters vote sometimes based on legacy 473 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:43,560 Speaker 1: history of work, right, Because for example, you can't tell 474 00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:48,119 Speaker 1: me that al Pacino winning the Oscar for Whua what 475 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 1: Scent of a Woman was better than him winning for 476 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:56,840 Speaker 1: Godfather Too, for Cerproco for Down Day Afternoon, like you 477 00:26:56,920 --> 00:26:59,880 Speaker 1: name it. But in my mind, you know, nobody will 478 00:26:59,880 --> 00:27:02,920 Speaker 1: have saying out loud, but in my mind, he won 479 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 1: percent of a Woman because it was based on a 480 00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:08,240 Speaker 1: body of work. You know, we don't know how much 481 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:10,960 Speaker 1: longer Al is going to be acting. Overall, he's a 482 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:13,960 Speaker 1: fantastic actor. Perhaps this wasn't his best performance, but let's 483 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:16,919 Speaker 1: go ahead and give it to him. Right. And that's 484 00:27:17,119 --> 00:27:20,320 Speaker 1: not the way things should be, I believe, because I 485 00:27:20,560 --> 00:27:22,080 Speaker 1: get this a lot. Oh well, you just want the 486 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:24,040 Speaker 1: black people a wain or the queer people or whatever. 487 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:30,080 Speaker 1: It's like. No, I believe that movie awards nominations and 488 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:34,760 Speaker 1: wins and all awards shouldn't be you know, participation trophies. 489 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:38,800 Speaker 1: They should be based on merit. But the Academy voters 490 00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:45,600 Speaker 1: are not required to view the films before they vote, 491 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:52,120 Speaker 1: thank you. I feel like this, So that means that 492 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:55,920 Speaker 1: they're voting, oh because you know they know the director 493 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:58,200 Speaker 1: or like the director. Or again, as I said, maybe 494 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:01,000 Speaker 1: it's a legacy win. Or they didn't vote at all. 495 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:04,200 Speaker 1: It was their manager slash agent slash publicists who filled 496 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:07,840 Speaker 1: out the ballot. It's all of these things. Other than yes, 497 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:11,159 Speaker 1: I watched all of the nominees in this category, and 498 00:28:11,280 --> 00:28:14,520 Speaker 1: I believe this was the best of the five or 499 00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:18,200 Speaker 1: the ten, right, and that is it. That means because 500 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:23,720 Speaker 1: the Academy voting members are still overwhelmingly white and overwhelmingly male, 501 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:26,840 Speaker 1: then that means what we really have here is a 502 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:33,840 Speaker 1: popularity to contest amongst older white men exactly. And I guess, 503 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:37,000 Speaker 1: I guess, Oh sorry, doctor John. I was just gonna 504 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:41,880 Speaker 1: say that old boys clubs go always strike, honey, Yes, 505 00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:44,560 Speaker 1: And I guess sort of like against the backdrop of 506 00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:47,440 Speaker 1: this being the sort of like industry voting body and 507 00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 1: how it works as creative and industry professionals in this space, 508 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:54,840 Speaker 1: like what fills your cup? How do both of you say, 509 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:58,760 Speaker 1: tapped into your black brilliance against this backdrop that we 510 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:01,280 Speaker 1: know can be so that this can be so bad 511 00:29:01,280 --> 00:29:06,840 Speaker 1: at seeing y'all, April, I don't know if you want 512 00:29:06,880 --> 00:29:08,560 Speaker 1: to take it first, but I was gonna say, I 513 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:12,200 Speaker 1: think you you ask a really interesting question. And it's 514 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:14,520 Speaker 1: funny because I get people who reach out to me 515 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:16,560 Speaker 1: a lot and say, you know, we follow you on 516 00:29:16,600 --> 00:29:19,720 Speaker 1: social we see you winning over here, especially like the 517 00:29:20,160 --> 00:29:22,440 Speaker 1: now my podcast is taking off and now I'm doing 518 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:24,640 Speaker 1: all of these little things, and I have so many 519 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:27,280 Speaker 1: people reaching out and saying, you're you inspire me? How 520 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:29,880 Speaker 1: do you stay inspire? And I think it's it's it's 521 00:29:29,880 --> 00:29:33,640 Speaker 1: really looking at other creators who you know, like I know, 522 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:37,040 Speaker 1: I know for me, like I know that smile that 523 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:40,800 Speaker 1: Angela Bassett had last night was a pain smile. But 524 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 1: there was an element to me when I looked at 525 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:45,200 Speaker 1: when I looked at that clip again and seeing in 526 00:29:45,280 --> 00:29:48,000 Speaker 1: her face, it was like, I know, I did the 527 00:29:48,040 --> 00:29:50,840 Speaker 1: best that I could do, and that's got to be enough. 528 00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:53,120 Speaker 1: And I think that that's what's been holding me these 529 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:55,720 Speaker 1: last couple of months, last years as I've been in 530 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:58,760 Speaker 1: the industry, is knowing that my good enough is gonna 531 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:01,760 Speaker 1: have to be good enough and that I'm not gonna 532 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:04,760 Speaker 1: constantly keep equating it to what my white colleagues are 533 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:07,360 Speaker 1: doing and they're in they're lane. I recognize that the 534 00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:10,320 Speaker 1: fear fields are greener with pasture for them. But I 535 00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:12,240 Speaker 1: know for me, what I'm gonna do over here is 536 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:14,600 Speaker 1: my best, and I'm gonna do my best to make 537 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:17,000 Speaker 1: sure that I encourage those who are around me. So 538 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:19,239 Speaker 1: I think that that's really what what holds me in 539 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 1: this space is just saying, you know what Mariah say, 540 00:30:23,080 --> 00:30:24,960 Speaker 1: I'm gonna do the best I can, well what I got. 541 00:30:25,160 --> 00:30:28,840 Speaker 1: That's it. If you hear snaps over here, that's just 542 00:30:28,920 --> 00:30:34,120 Speaker 1: me snapping along. Yeah, that's beautiful. That is beautiful. I 543 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:39,320 Speaker 1: think for me, it's those glimmers of hope that I 544 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:43,920 Speaker 1: see every now and again. UM. For example, Melvin Van 545 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:47,480 Speaker 1: Peebles and Julie Dash are now members of the Academy. 546 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:51,120 Speaker 1: Since Oscars so white, in my mind, they should have 547 00:30:51,160 --> 00:30:55,040 Speaker 1: been members decades ago because of their seminal work, but 548 00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:57,880 Speaker 1: because of the way the Oscars used to be with 549 00:30:57,920 --> 00:31:02,280 Speaker 1: respect to inducting UM members, they had not been invited. 550 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:09,400 Speaker 1: So there's that. Um, it's watching Ava Duverney do what 551 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:14,520 Speaker 1: seven years, seven seasons of Clean Sugar and have nothing 552 00:31:14,560 --> 00:31:19,440 Speaker 1: but female directors that you know, gives me hope and 553 00:31:19,600 --> 00:31:22,800 Speaker 1: keeps me energized. Because what folks don't realize is you 554 00:31:22,840 --> 00:31:28,120 Speaker 1: can do a full feature, two hour film and still 555 00:31:28,160 --> 00:31:30,960 Speaker 1: not be able to get a job to you know, 556 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:34,760 Speaker 1: direct or show run a thirty minute show on TV. 557 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:39,360 Speaker 1: You would think that things would you know that the 558 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:43,080 Speaker 1: skills are transferable, But again, it's all about the opportunities. 559 00:31:43,880 --> 00:31:50,760 Speaker 1: Seeing Marseille Martin be the youngest person to ever produce 560 00:31:50,920 --> 00:31:53,840 Speaker 1: a film that did really well at the box office, 561 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:58,400 Speaker 1: things like that give me hope and energy. You know, 562 00:31:58,520 --> 00:32:03,760 Speaker 1: it's it's finally seeing Key and Michelle Yo win last night, 563 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:09,840 Speaker 1: and the way that Asian and AAPI folks are finally, 564 00:32:10,120 --> 00:32:13,479 Speaker 1: you know, getting a little bit of the spotlight in 565 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:17,960 Speaker 1: the entertainment industry despite decades and decades of phenomenal work. 566 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:22,400 Speaker 1: Those things all make me very happy to see. But 567 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:24,840 Speaker 1: it's obvious that we have so much more to go. 568 00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:29,080 Speaker 1: We have so much more work to do Before I 569 00:32:29,120 --> 00:32:31,520 Speaker 1: let you go, April, I have one curveball question for you. 570 00:32:31,800 --> 00:32:34,040 Speaker 1: I know you were the co founder of Sister Scotus 571 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:36,280 Speaker 1: and campaign to advocate for getting a black woman on 572 00:32:36,280 --> 00:32:38,920 Speaker 1: the Supreme Court, and you did that. Shit, how does that? 573 00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:44,400 Speaker 1: Thanks for that? It feels amazing. You know, it was 574 00:32:44,480 --> 00:32:47,720 Speaker 1: me and three other black women who assembled like voltron 575 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:55,040 Speaker 1: and knew that we couldn't start the campaign once President 576 00:32:55,240 --> 00:32:58,800 Speaker 1: Biden once there was a vacancy on the Supreme Court, right, 577 00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:02,440 Speaker 1: because people don't really think about or care about judicial 578 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:04,600 Speaker 1: nominations in the same way that they do, you know, 579 00:33:04,640 --> 00:33:07,960 Speaker 1: for example, presidential campaigns. And so we start at work 580 00:33:09,040 --> 00:33:15,560 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty when Biden at still nominee Biden, you know, 581 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:21,600 Speaker 1: Senator Biden campaign front runner Biden promised to nominate a 582 00:33:21,640 --> 00:33:24,200 Speaker 1: black woman to the Supreme Court. And so now seeing 583 00:33:24,200 --> 00:33:29,400 Speaker 1: her up there, it's fantastic because we know, slowly but surely, again, 584 00:33:29,480 --> 00:33:32,280 Speaker 1: nothing happens overnight, but slowly but surely she is going 585 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:35,480 Speaker 1: to have an impact that will last generations. And now 586 00:33:35,480 --> 00:33:39,120 Speaker 1: that she is there, that ceiling is broken, and it's 587 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:42,360 Speaker 1: time to get even you know, more people from marginalized 588 00:33:42,360 --> 00:33:45,520 Speaker 1: communities on the court, because I think that people don't 589 00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 1: realize how important the Supreme Court is with respect to 590 00:33:49,560 --> 00:33:52,560 Speaker 1: the changes that can be made. And only now that 591 00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:55,640 Speaker 1: Roe v. Wade has been overturned and other things are 592 00:33:55,640 --> 00:33:58,880 Speaker 1: happening with respect of affirmative action and you know, voting 593 00:33:58,960 --> 00:34:01,560 Speaker 1: rights and all of those people are really starting to 594 00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:03,560 Speaker 1: wake up, perhaps in a way that they weren't before 595 00:34:03,920 --> 00:34:08,880 Speaker 1: about how important the Supreme Court and judicial nominations and 596 00:34:08,920 --> 00:34:12,440 Speaker 1: confirmations are throughout the country, not just at the Supreme 597 00:34:12,480 --> 00:34:15,840 Speaker 1: Court level, but even at the local and judicial level. 598 00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:19,200 Speaker 1: I am so grateful for your work in the space, 599 00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:21,160 Speaker 1: both of you. Thank you so much for being here, 600 00:34:21,360 --> 00:34:23,279 Speaker 1: and thank you for the lasting impact that I know 601 00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:25,680 Speaker 1: that your work will make. You all are creating legacies 602 00:34:25,719 --> 00:34:28,320 Speaker 1: that I know will reverberate for years to come. Where 603 00:34:28,360 --> 00:34:30,880 Speaker 1: can folks follow all the work you're doing? What are 604 00:34:30,880 --> 00:34:32,439 Speaker 1: you working on? What do you want to shout out? 605 00:34:32,480 --> 00:34:36,840 Speaker 1: We love you both? Like? What do y'all got? Okay, 606 00:34:36,920 --> 00:34:41,040 Speaker 1: well I'll start here. You can listen every Tuesday to 607 00:34:41,160 --> 00:34:43,520 Speaker 1: a brand new episode of the Black Fat Fan podcast 608 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:47,880 Speaker 1: hosted by iHeartMedia and now on the Outspoken Network. And 609 00:34:48,080 --> 00:34:50,719 Speaker 1: you can also find me here. You can all over 610 00:34:50,760 --> 00:34:53,280 Speaker 1: the place. I have articles coming out that are like pending, 611 00:34:53,760 --> 00:34:57,160 Speaker 1: but my ladies is with beet and Yeah. You can 612 00:34:57,200 --> 00:34:59,640 Speaker 1: also go to my website at ww dot doctor John 613 00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:05,040 Speaker 1: Paul dot com. Fantastic April. Yeah, this is the part 614 00:35:05,120 --> 00:35:09,040 Speaker 1: I hate. Um. You know, I'm reigning of April across 615 00:35:09,080 --> 00:35:11,719 Speaker 1: the board on all the social media platforms. I will 616 00:35:11,760 --> 00:35:15,440 Speaker 1: be on spill as soon as it drops. It is 617 00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:19,600 Speaker 1: going to be a culture forward app, getting back to 618 00:35:19,680 --> 00:35:23,759 Speaker 1: the fun that gives the means to be five or 619 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:28,640 Speaker 1: ten years I cannot wait. I will be there, so definitely. 620 00:35:28,719 --> 00:35:32,800 Speaker 1: You can go to spill dash app dot com spill 621 00:35:32,920 --> 00:35:36,759 Speaker 1: dashapp dot com to reserve your handle because we're coming 622 00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:40,200 Speaker 1: out very soon. We just had an activation at South 623 00:35:40,239 --> 00:35:42,799 Speaker 1: By UM and things are going great. I know that 624 00:35:42,840 --> 00:35:45,920 Speaker 1: we have like sixty thousand people waiting to get in 625 00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:48,799 Speaker 1: this app, so you're not going to be alone, and 626 00:35:48,840 --> 00:35:50,680 Speaker 1: that's one of the major things I've got going on 627 00:35:50,760 --> 00:35:52,640 Speaker 1: right now. Thanks for asking, and thank you so much 628 00:35:52,680 --> 00:35:55,200 Speaker 1: for hosting Bridget. This has been great. Oh, thank you 629 00:35:55,200 --> 00:35:58,680 Speaker 1: both for being here. Thank you at John and April, 630 00:35:58,719 --> 00:36:01,080 Speaker 1: and thanks to all of you for listening for everything 631 00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:04,840 Speaker 1: at the Access of Culture, Gender, Race, Identity, keep following 632 00:36:04,920 --> 00:36:06,920 Speaker 1: Ultra Violet, and thanks so much for being here. Have 633 00:36:07,040 --> 00:36:09,960 Speaker 1: a great US in your night, everybody. All right, Thank you, everybody, 634 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:16,480 Speaker 1: have a go. Thank you all right. Bye. If you're 635 00:36:16,480 --> 00:36:18,560 Speaker 1: looking for ways to support the show, check out our 636 00:36:18,600 --> 00:36:22,640 Speaker 1: merchstore at tangodi dot com. Slash store. Got a story 637 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:24,560 Speaker 1: about an interesting thing in tech, or just want to 638 00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:26,920 Speaker 1: say hi. You can reach us at Hello at tangodi 639 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:29,560 Speaker 1: dot com. You can also find transcripts for today's episode 640 00:36:29,560 --> 00:36:31,759 Speaker 1: at tangodi dot com. There Are No Girls on the 641 00:36:31,800 --> 00:36:34,440 Speaker 1: Internet was created by me Bridget Tod. It's a production 642 00:36:34,440 --> 00:36:38,720 Speaker 1: of iHeartRadio and Unboss Creative edited by Joey pat Jonathan 643 00:36:38,800 --> 00:36:41,800 Speaker 1: Strickland as our executive producer. Terry Harrison is our producer 644 00:36:41,800 --> 00:36:45,279 Speaker 1: and sound engineer. Michael Amato is our contributing producer. I'm 645 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:47,400 Speaker 1: your host, Bridget Toad. If you want to help us 646 00:36:47,440 --> 00:36:50,560 Speaker 1: grow right and review us on Apple Podcasts. For more 647 00:36:50,560 --> 00:36:53,720 Speaker 1: podcasts from iHeartRadio, check out the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, 648 00:36:53,800 --> 00:37:00,719 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts.