1 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:03,840 Speaker 1: What's up. 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 2: It's way up with Angela yee. And this is indeed 3 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 2: a special day. We have Malcolm d Lee here with us. 4 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining me, oh man, thank you for 5 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:11,560 Speaker 1: having me. 6 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 2: And this is the book release The Best Man Unfinished Business, 7 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,440 Speaker 2: the first in a trilogy and your first book period. 8 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:19,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, my first time. 9 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:21,800 Speaker 3: I can't believe that you did this. I remember watching. 10 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 2: You do interviews for the twenty fifth anniversary of the 11 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 2: movie The Best Man, and you didn't mention necessarily that 12 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:31,480 Speaker 2: there was a book coming. So when did you decide that. 13 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, it wasn't. Then I'll tell you that I was. 14 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 4: I was pretty much, you know, done with the story, 15 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:38,879 Speaker 4: done with telling this you know, version of it, and 16 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:43,520 Speaker 4: I said, well, the thing what happened was I knew 17 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 4: that people still wanted more. I didn't know what else 18 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 4: I needed to do, and I knew it was going 19 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 4: to be very difficult to bring everybody back, you know, 20 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 4: for the story. 21 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:52,520 Speaker 1: But I've always loved the written word. 22 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 4: I fantasized by writing the novel, and I said, well, 23 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 4: here's my shot to do something that. Here's some characters 24 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 4: that people know, already established backstory and people want it, 25 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 4: so here let me take my chance of doing that. 26 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:08,959 Speaker 2: Was this something that just hits you or did somebody 27 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,479 Speaker 2: suggest it to you and try to convince you it's funny. 28 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 1: You know. 29 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 4: One of my boys, he's a screenwriter, name is Malcolm Spelman. 30 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 4: He said, Yo, Malc, you need to go ahead and 31 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 4: you know, make best man books. And honestly, and I 32 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 4: was like, you know what, as I thought about it, 33 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 4: I said, that's probably a good idea because again, given 34 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:28,200 Speaker 4: you know what I wanted to do, you know, in 35 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:31,399 Speaker 4: the space of novel writing, I said, that's a good idea. 36 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:32,960 Speaker 4: Let me let me give this a shot, even though 37 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 4: I don't really have time to do this because I'm trying. 38 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:36,759 Speaker 1: I still have a day job, you know, you. 39 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 2: Do have a day yeah, own company and right, and 40 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:43,040 Speaker 2: so trying to you know, so it's like, well, let me, 41 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,400 Speaker 2: let me, let me see if I can make this happen. 42 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 4: And I brought on a novelist, Jane Allen, and you know, 43 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 4: collaborated with her to try to figure out, you know, 44 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 4: how I want to do this very literary thing, not 45 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 4: just you know, oh, let me just make this so 46 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 4: I can like translate it into film and television. That 47 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 4: that's not the purpose of it, the purposes to make it, 48 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 4: to make a book. 49 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 2: You know, it's interesting because in this book, one of 50 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 2: the things that's happening early on, so it's no spoiler, 51 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 2: but Tay Diggs's character, well, I can't. Harper is working 52 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 2: hard at trying to figure out what he's going to 53 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 2: write as well. That's correct, and so it's kind of 54 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 2: a parallel universe. How was that process for you trying 55 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 2: to figure out where was this story going? 56 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: It wasn't that difficult, to tell you the truth. 57 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 4: I mean, I thought, like, okay, I knew like the 58 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 4: arcs of the characters, at least the first three, and 59 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 4: that's Harper, Robin, and Jordan. 60 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 1: And you know where they were living at what stage. 61 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 3: Of their life Harper, Robin, Jordan. 62 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:40,799 Speaker 1: Yes, yes, yes. 63 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 4: We're that proudly. So you know, I wanted to say, 64 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 4: see what life was like post divorce, you know for 65 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 4: Harper and Robin. You know, Robin has moved off to Ghana, 66 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:55,399 Speaker 4: you know, is raising their their preteen daughter. Harper's living 67 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 4: that bachelor life in Dumbo in Brooklyn, you know, trying. 68 00:02:58,480 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 1: To figure out life. 69 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 4: But he also kind of feels look kicked out of 70 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 4: his life and same with Jordan likes she's had to 71 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 4: kind of like take herself out of the whole corporate 72 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 4: structure as well as kind of just distance herself from Harbor. 73 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 4: So you know, I felt, Okay, that's a good starting 74 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 4: place for all three of them and what is life 75 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 4: like for them at this point going forward. 76 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 1: So it wasn't that difficult. 77 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 4: And once, especially once once I started like thinking about 78 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 4: how it's gonna tell the. 79 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 2: Story, but it's also a trilogy, so you have to 80 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 2: map out what's gonna happen. 81 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's funny because honestly, what we were planning on, 82 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 4: or what I was planning on, was like ending this 83 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 4: you know novel with just these three characters, and then 84 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 4: we would tell the other characters perspectives each each just 85 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 4: want to back up for a second. 86 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: Each chapter is a character's perspective, their. 87 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 4: Own POV and we we we experienced it through them, 88 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 4: and I was planning on doing that with the with 89 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 4: the with the next novel with you know, where we 90 00:03:55,840 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 4: experienced the POV of Lance and Quentin and Uh and 91 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 4: Lance New Broad Jasmine and you know, Merchant Candice. But 92 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 4: as fate will have, as stories dictate, you know, we 93 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 4: did not end Harper, Robin and Jordan's story here. We 94 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 4: kept it going, so they're gonna be continuing. We knew 95 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 4: they were going to be continuing in the other books, 96 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 4: but not in a way that we ended up being. 97 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 4: So it's gonna be very much a clipphanger the end 98 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 4: of this book. 99 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 2: Let's say a character like Harper was your friend in 100 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 2: real life and he was like, who do you think 101 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 2: I should choose? 102 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 3: Right? Should I go with my wife? 103 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 1: Well? 104 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 3: Ex wife? Now who I do? 105 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:36,839 Speaker 1: Still? 106 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 3: I messed that up? Like he definitely dropped the ball there. 107 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 3: She was like his rock. 108 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 2: She's the person that advises him on things, his support system, right. 109 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 2: You know, it felt like he was better when she 110 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:51,359 Speaker 2: was in his life or Jordan, who arguably might be 111 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:52,479 Speaker 2: his soulmates. 112 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: You know, what would I tell Harper to do. 113 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 4: I'd say, like search your feelings, like, you know, think 114 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 4: about this, like, you know, spend some time. You know, 115 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 4: you know you you you spend a lot of time 116 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:06,719 Speaker 4: and built a life with Robin. You know, are you 117 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:08,160 Speaker 4: and Jordan still compatible? 118 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: Are you compatible? Now? You know? 119 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:12,040 Speaker 4: Why don't you ever take the chance? You know, I'm 120 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 4: not gonna say, like, oh, choose this person choose that. 121 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 1: I'm like, I'm. 122 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 4: Team Whoever, right, Like there's a lot of Team Harp, 123 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 4: there's a lot of Teams Jordan's a lot of Team 124 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:20,159 Speaker 4: Robin out there. 125 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 1: And I think that's a very healthy debate. 126 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 3: Do you believe in soulmates? 127 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 4: I think yes, kind of. I don't know, like it's 128 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 4: it's it's a that's an interesting question. Do I believe 129 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 4: in it? I kind of do at least I think 130 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 4: that that people want that people you know, see that, 131 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 4: you know, for themselves. 132 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 1: I don't know if it's how. 133 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 3: Real it is, I mean, and that we have just one. 134 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: I don't know. 135 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 4: I think I think people are in your in your 136 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 4: life for you know, for a reason or a season 137 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 4: or whatever. And I think that that that that happens, 138 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 4: like you know that people are in your in your 139 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:55,799 Speaker 4: They're they're gonna be in your life for a journey, 140 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 4: right and like are does the journey end with that person? 141 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: Does it continued? Does it? You know? Uh? You do? 142 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:03,039 Speaker 1: You learn something from that? 143 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 4: And I think you're going to learn something from every 144 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 4: experience about who you are as a person, who you 145 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 4: are as a couple, and. 146 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:11,279 Speaker 1: What you have to be committed to. 147 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 4: Is you know the long term of you know, your 148 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 4: your your religship together and you're. 149 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 1: Also growing individually. 150 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 4: So it's like, I don't know, man, like I think 151 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:25,599 Speaker 4: that that that that there's you know, there's romance and 152 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:29,920 Speaker 4: there's fantasy and there's this idea of soulmates and whatnot. Well, 153 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 4: you know, it's because it's like people want to believe 154 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:34,720 Speaker 4: in that, right, And I think it's you have to 155 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 4: also be realistic about like what your expectations are and 156 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 4: you know who you think you are as as a 157 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 4: person and who you are evolving to be because we'll 158 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 4: never stopped. 159 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 3: Changing, right, You're right. So I'm not quite sure if 160 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 3: you believe in. 161 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 1: I don't know if I do. 162 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:50,719 Speaker 4: I mean I think I think a part of me 163 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:53,480 Speaker 4: used to used to believe in that, and I think for. 164 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:57,600 Speaker 1: The purpose of this story, yes I do believe in soulmates. 165 00:06:57,680 --> 00:06:59,599 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's interesting, you know. 166 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 2: So I feel like in this book, as people read it, 167 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 2: they'll see a lot of just storylines of people they 168 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:09,360 Speaker 2: could relate to if not for themselves. Like we all 169 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 2: know somebody who's lost a wife, as Lance obviously lost 170 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 2: the love of his life and has had to move 171 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 2: on and we're happy for him in that space. That's 172 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 2: not an easy thing for a person to be able 173 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 2: to do when they lost somebody that they love as 174 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 2: much as he loved Mia, Right, So we're happy to 175 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 2: see him just kind of like get through that find 176 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 2: somebody else who's compatible, because sometimes sometimes you think that's it, Like. 177 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 4: Yeah, and we're going to explore that, you know, in 178 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 4: the next book with Lance and Jazz and there and 179 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 4: they're you know, dynamic and see what what that you know, 180 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 4: because Jasmine is not Mia, he may you know, and 181 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 4: of course Lance, you know, has kind of very traditional 182 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 4: values about what he thinks, you know, a wife should 183 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 4: be and whatnot. 184 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: He's evolved over the years, but you know, some of 185 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:57,480 Speaker 1: those he had to, Yeah, he had to and and. 186 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 4: But and some of those, you know, those things are 187 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 4: something that know, he has to work through still, so 188 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 4: you know, and then he's in a different stage of 189 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 4: his life. 190 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 1: He's not he's not a pro athlete anymore. He's a 191 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 1: coach now. 192 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 4: So and he's raising four children and like, you know, 193 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 4: one of the children is non binary, and so how 194 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 4: are you going to navigate all those things? We want 195 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 4: to dive deeper to that in the second book. But 196 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 4: this book, we get we get a glance, a glimpse 197 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 4: of what's happening with Lance, and I think, yeah, that's 198 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 4: what's so great about having this great ensemble of characters 199 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 4: to tell, you know, further stories and dive deeper. And 200 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 4: you know, as I get mature, more mature, and these 201 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 4: characters get more mature, we get into some more. 202 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: A greater depth of of of character. 203 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:39,640 Speaker 2: Now you also talk about Robin moving to a Crah 204 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:42,680 Speaker 2: and Ghana, right, and you actually had to travel there 205 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 2: in order to be more connected to that experience of 206 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 2: what she's going through. 207 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 1: It's interesting. 208 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:52,720 Speaker 4: Yeah, I you know, we were wrote the first draft 209 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:55,080 Speaker 4: of it, you know, before I went to Ghana, and 210 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 4: just try to say, okay, like you know, let me 211 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 4: see what lively you look at and you're looking online, 212 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 4: you're looking at you know what you know with pictures 213 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:03,319 Speaker 4: and but you can't really get a you know, a 214 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:05,080 Speaker 4: sense of place and you go there, right, So like 215 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 4: I went there last November. 216 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 1: It was last I'm sorry October and then. 217 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 4: Into November for about a week and you know, just 218 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,320 Speaker 4: fully absorbed, you know what, not fully absorbed. 219 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 1: You can't fully absorb something in a week. 220 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:18,960 Speaker 4: But I got a good taste of you know, what 221 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 4: it was like for an expatriot or what they like 222 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:25,200 Speaker 4: to call it, returnees on the continent. 223 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 1: And so that was a great experience. 224 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 4: She's having a very kind of new spiritual awakening. 225 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:32,880 Speaker 3: I do love that for her though. 226 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:35,679 Speaker 1: Yeah there too, that's right. 227 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 2: And to see the way that because we that was 228 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 2: also in the series. You know, people got to keep 229 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:42,840 Speaker 2: up on everything because I feel like this isn't a 230 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:46,680 Speaker 2: standalone situation. If you read when you read this book, 231 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:49,079 Speaker 2: not if when you read this book, that's right, thank you. 232 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:51,320 Speaker 2: You have to make sure that you revisit if you 233 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 2: you know, or make sure that you have the background 234 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 2: on what happened prior to how we got here. 235 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think that that fans who are familiar with 236 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 4: it the characters are going to love this book, and 237 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 4: those who even aren't familiar with the characters are going 238 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 4: to love the book. 239 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 1: I think it's you know, it's well written. 240 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:09,679 Speaker 4: You know, I think it's it's it's it's robust, it's 241 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:12,679 Speaker 4: it's propulsive, it's you know, it's got romance, it's got sex, 242 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 4: it's got you know, uh, a mature adult themes happening 243 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 4: in it. 244 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 1: And I think it's a it's a book that people 245 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 1: are going to be entertained. 246 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:23,960 Speaker 2: By, Yes, men faking orgasms in here? 247 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 3: Who does that? 248 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:29,320 Speaker 1: What? What self respecting men? 249 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 2: I have to imagine that men have every man has 250 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 2: at some point done that if he just it's not 251 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:40,439 Speaker 2: going to happen, just like for women. I don't think 252 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 2: probably as much. I don't know that to be a fact. 253 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:45,320 Speaker 1: But have you ever been with a partner that faked it? 254 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 2: I mean, if he faked it good enough, I shouldn't 255 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:50,440 Speaker 2: be able to know. But I have to imagine that 256 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:52,440 Speaker 2: at some point, because there has to be times when 257 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 2: maybe it just isn't going to happen. 258 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 1: Right, Well, I don't know. 259 00:10:56,040 --> 00:10:57,320 Speaker 4: I mean, you know, if it's not gonna happen, then 260 00:10:57,360 --> 00:11:00,439 Speaker 4: then the equipment will often fail. But I mean, you know, 261 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 4: if you're faking it, then it's I think it's it's 262 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:04,560 Speaker 4: it's one of those things where it's like, I don't 263 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:05,840 Speaker 4: want to do this anymore, I'm done. 264 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:10,439 Speaker 2: But is that because sometimes it could be for whatever reason, 265 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 2: it could be good because it didn't seem like he 266 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 2: wasn't having a good time. 267 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 3: It could be good. 268 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 2: But maybe it's just like for some reason I can't 269 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 2: get to the finish line. Maybe there's a lot of 270 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 2: things on your mind. 271 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 1: You know, I'm sure that that that that could happen. 272 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 2: And a real conversation guys are having now is about 273 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 2: the whole like not orgasming on purpose. 274 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:31,959 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, you know, there's a. 275 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 3: Lot of men today. 276 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 2: I feel like we've had that discussion with a few 277 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:38,760 Speaker 2: different artists, Yeah, who are like they don't do it 278 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 2: to they just hold back and they don't finish, and 279 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:43,840 Speaker 2: that's like a practice that they're doing. What is it 280 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:48,319 Speaker 2: called again, Oh yeah, seemen retention. Kevin Gay said it. 281 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 2: Joey Badass said it as well. Yeah, that's the more 282 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:54,360 Speaker 2: you know, what is this book is like timely too. 283 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 3: I feel like as you're reading. 284 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 2: It, it feels like it was really written like today. 285 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:00,840 Speaker 2: You can tell just from some that things like it's 286 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:04,040 Speaker 2: you know, after COVID, it's the whole going to Ghana, 287 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 2: which I feel like a lot of people now are 288 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:09,559 Speaker 2: having those conversations about building, buying land, starting businesses. 289 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 4: You know, Ghana and across specifically, you know, is a 290 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:17,200 Speaker 4: country and a city that's on the rise, and I 291 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 4: think a lot of people are, you know, seeing the 292 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:23,679 Speaker 4: value in going back to their motherland and returning there 293 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 4: and and you know built you know, bringing back you 294 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 4: know what we've learned here and you know, building up 295 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:33,520 Speaker 4: the country has it's been you know, things have been 296 00:12:33,559 --> 00:12:37,200 Speaker 4: taken taken from them, including people. So I you know, 297 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:40,199 Speaker 4: I think for Robin's journey, you know, she was not 298 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:43,679 Speaker 4: just you know, disgruntled with her marriage, but she's also 299 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 4: disgruntled with the country that she. 300 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 1: Was living in. She didn't want to fight anymore. 301 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 4: She wanted to like be in a place where she 302 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 4: wasn't being judged by her skin color and her hair 303 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 4: texture and just wanted to be you know, just wanted 304 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:54,200 Speaker 4: to be a person. 305 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 1: And she's able to then she's. 306 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:59,319 Speaker 4: Found that in in living in in in Ghana, and 307 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:02,840 Speaker 4: you know she to you know, open a restaurant, which 308 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 4: is that's that you know, really kind of gets her 309 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 4: creative juices flowing. You know, it's a little bit more 310 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:09,080 Speaker 4: difficult on the business side for her, but you know 311 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 4: she is managing to balance that and. 312 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 1: You know, attract a new love interest. 313 00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:19,880 Speaker 3: Right right. I'm not going to give that part away because. 314 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 2: I'm not all right anyway, but I do want to 315 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:27,160 Speaker 2: talk about the journey also that Jordan Is on having 316 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 2: left her high profile job at MSNBC and now pitching 317 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:34,360 Speaker 2: her own projects, which I think was great. And there's 318 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 2: one part in here hold on because I definitely. 319 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:37,840 Speaker 3: Oh, this is the wrong one bookmark. 320 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 2: I bookmarked it because I do feel like this is 321 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 2: just so relevant to conversations you know that we're having 322 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 2: today where she's pitching an idea for a show that 323 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 2: she wants to do, And she said, I know how 324 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:51,680 Speaker 2: it feels to stress, the anxiety, the taking on of 325 00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:54,440 Speaker 2: other's expectations of what they know or think a strong 326 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 2: black woman is, and having this feeling that you have 327 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 2: to overachieve, you have to represent, you have to live 328 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 2: up to a standard, and no other women in society 329 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 2: have to contend with. We get questioned by everyone, not 330 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:06,600 Speaker 2: only from other women, white women, white men, black men, 331 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:09,839 Speaker 2: but nobody cares. And she said, when I went temporarily 332 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:11,560 Speaker 2: blind three years ago, I brushed it off. I didn't 333 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 2: prioritize my health. I felt like that was just really powerful, 334 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 2: thinking about how as black women we have to show 335 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:17,960 Speaker 2: up to work. 336 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:19,240 Speaker 3: You have to be better than everybody. 337 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 2: You have to make sure that you don't get too emotional, 338 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 2: you have to make sure that if you come across 339 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 2: as strong, they might also think that you're a problematic. Yeah, 340 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 2: just so many different things that black women have to 341 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 2: contend with. I just thought all of these things are 342 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 2: just so timely. 343 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: Well it is. 344 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 4: It's like it, look, you know, we had a viable 345 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 4: candidate for the United States presidents who was like, you know, 346 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 4: at all the qualifications, right, and they. 347 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 3: Still act like she was a DEI person. 348 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's like what like, and black women have done 349 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 4: their job to try to saved American democracy for decades, right, 350 00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 4: And so it's like Robin and Jordan are both like 351 00:14:57,040 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 4: to say, you know what, I'm gonna take care of 352 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:02,040 Speaker 4: me on this journey with this book. They're going to 353 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 4: take care of themselves and put themselves first, put themselves 354 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 4: on the list. 355 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 3: Yeah. 356 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 2: I just was like, because certain things, you know, I 357 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 2: think and as I asked, I'm going to ask you 358 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 2: this too, but I think about what character do I 359 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 2: relate to the moment it's that well, yeah, you know, 360 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 2: I would say definitely Jordan somebody that is very career oriented. 361 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 2: But also now she's living in Malibu, She's wants to 362 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:26,360 Speaker 2: do things on her own term. She's thinking about legacy, 363 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:28,320 Speaker 2: what's next? How do I make sure I live this 364 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 2: great life, but also just really cautious about other things, 365 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 2: like you know, not wanting to just jump out there. 366 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 1: Yeah. 367 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 4: No, Like you know, Jordan's always led with her head, right, 368 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 4: She's never been wont to lead with her heart, and 369 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:43,800 Speaker 4: that's been to her detriment, you know sometimes, And now 370 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:47,440 Speaker 4: she's in therapy about that. And she's also you know, like, 371 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:49,920 Speaker 4: you know, she wants to she wants she gave you 372 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 4: a her high profile job, and she's you know, again 373 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 4: put us up first. And at this point in her life, 374 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 4: you know, she's like dealing with you know that, but 375 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 4: also thinking, like there's a poll still of the grind. 376 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 4: She's I've never known anything but the grind. So she's like, oh, 377 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 4: I do want something for myself. I do want to 378 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 4: get back out there and and and. 379 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:12,360 Speaker 1: And try to like work again. 380 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 4: But you know, at the same time, she also needs 381 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 4: to and wants to find love. 382 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 3: What do you who do you resonate with the most? 383 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 1: You would say, it's funny. People are gonna say. 384 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 3: They're gonna have an assumption the I think is. 385 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 4: That it's harper or merch or you know. But but 386 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:31,320 Speaker 4: it's really it's it's all the characters. But I've always 387 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 4: said that, like Jordan is some money, that that is 388 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 4: in my brain. Also, I don't, you know, I have 389 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 4: gotten married and I've got children, and I've got you know, 390 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 4: both a life with somebody, so you know, I'm not 391 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 4: not that far so. And I think that I relate 392 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 4: to all the characters because I've you know, they've been 393 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:49,920 Speaker 4: me at some point, or I've been around people like this, 394 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:52,320 Speaker 4: you know, and are friends with folks like this. 395 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 2: Just thinking about Harper and how he's selfish in many ways, 396 00:16:57,480 --> 00:16:59,240 Speaker 2: I wonder if to be a writer, you think you 397 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 2: have to be a little selfish. 398 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, to be. 399 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:03,560 Speaker 4: An artist, you have to be selfish, you know, you 400 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 4: have to, like you know, it takes a lot out 401 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:08,119 Speaker 4: of you. You're giving so much of yourself to the page, 402 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 4: to the screen, to the you know, to the to 403 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 4: the canvas whatever, like you know, it's it is you 404 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:16,359 Speaker 4: have to find that balance though, you know, if you 405 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 4: if you hope to have relationships, and I think you 406 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:22,360 Speaker 4: know that is also part of life and in deepening 407 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 4: your artistry is to have experiences and and to have 408 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:28,440 Speaker 4: relationships with people. So but yeah, there is a certain 409 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 4: level of selfishes that has to come along with being 410 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:34,200 Speaker 4: an artist, a writer, or an author, a filmmaker or 411 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 4: an actor that you know, but at the same time, 412 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 4: you do. 413 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:39,160 Speaker 1: Have to find a balance. Yeah. 414 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 2: I was going to ask you how have you found 415 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:42,920 Speaker 2: that balance, because that is a job that you've had 416 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 2: from a very young age. 417 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, it's just. 418 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 4: You know, trial and error, you know, and having a 419 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 4: very understanding partner, you know, and someone that's that's supportive 420 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:55,720 Speaker 4: of me, and it's somebody that like is in my 421 00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:59,199 Speaker 4: corner and encourages me to like pursue my dreams and 422 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:02,920 Speaker 4: pursue things. But at the same time saying, hey, coming 423 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,680 Speaker 4: off the trash and take the kids in school, and 424 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:07,439 Speaker 4: I got to talk to for me, won't you schedule this? 425 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 1: And noa da da da. 426 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 4: So you know, it is a balance, right, And so like, 427 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:14,200 Speaker 4: you know, I've lived and learned and I've a very 428 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 4: you know, understanding partner in my life since since we 429 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:22,440 Speaker 4: were twenty four. 430 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 2: It's you know, do you think it's a luxury to 431 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:27,520 Speaker 2: have had your life just kind of like from when 432 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:30,200 Speaker 2: you were young, you knew what you wanted to do professionally. Yeah, 433 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:32,880 Speaker 2: And the first ever movie you did, ends up being 434 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:35,680 Speaker 2: a number one at the box office film. And then 435 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:38,439 Speaker 2: you've been with your wife since you were you know, 436 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:42,080 Speaker 2: early twenties, been married. There's like a certain level of 437 00:18:42,119 --> 00:18:45,640 Speaker 2: like your life is you know, some people are trying 438 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:46,600 Speaker 2: to figure it out later. 439 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 1: And yeah, I've been very fortunate. 440 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean that's amazing. 441 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 1: No, it happened in a great way. You know. Is 442 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 1: that what I don't even know? Right, but that's not 443 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 1: would right, Okay, we'll knock on something anyway. I've been fortunate. 444 00:18:59,359 --> 00:18:59,960 Speaker 1: You know, I. 445 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 4: Come from a grounded family. I'm a grounded individual, and 446 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:07,959 Speaker 4: so and my soul is my wife were both Earth signs, 447 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:11,360 Speaker 4: so like we were very yes, Capricorn and my wife 448 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:11,879 Speaker 4: from Virgo. 449 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 1: So it's like, you know, so we we fit very 450 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:15,719 Speaker 1: well together. 451 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:19,119 Speaker 4: And you know, again she's been very supportive of me 452 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:22,119 Speaker 4: in the entire time. And you know, I would not 453 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:24,199 Speaker 4: have my success that I have if I don't have 454 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:25,120 Speaker 4: her support. 455 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:25,680 Speaker 1: In her my life. 456 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:28,359 Speaker 2: And your father is a musician, yes, and usually you 457 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:31,760 Speaker 2: hear stories about like, you know, musicians and being on 458 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 2: the road and things. 459 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:34,879 Speaker 1: Like that, and no, but he was a school teacher. 460 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 4: Okay, you know, so like you know, My father is 461 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:40,879 Speaker 4: also very practical individual, right, Okay, he took care of 462 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 4: his family. 463 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:44,240 Speaker 1: He made sure that like his kids were provided for. 464 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:47,920 Speaker 4: That we had a house in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, that 465 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:50,879 Speaker 4: you know, and along with my mom like they you know, 466 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:52,480 Speaker 4: they both a life together and made sure there was 467 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 4: stability there. 468 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:56,760 Speaker 2: What are a great creative fan? What are family reunions 469 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 2: like in gatherings? 470 00:19:57,640 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 3: For you? 471 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:00,359 Speaker 2: You know, because I know you worked with your cousin 472 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:03,399 Speaker 2: Spike Lee early on in your career. I believe you 473 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 2: said he told you to make black tell black stories. 474 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:09,399 Speaker 4: Well, he said make black film, you know, whenever he 475 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:11,920 Speaker 4: would whenever he would because he always have a companion 476 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:14,920 Speaker 4: book to all his movies. He'd write in it, make 477 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 4: black film, Malcolm, you know, and then you know, send 478 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 4: that to me and to go off to school, you know, 479 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 4: and so you know, yeah, I mean, you know, we 480 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:26,479 Speaker 4: don't we we The family reunions are kind of like 481 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 4: you know, we see each other from here here here, 482 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 4: from time to time here and there, and you know, 483 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:34,159 Speaker 4: it's been great that he has been a leader and 484 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 4: a mentor for me. Know, he lived in my parents' 485 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:39,159 Speaker 4: basement when when he was in film school, so I 486 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:40,760 Speaker 4: got and I had no idea that I was like 487 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:42,879 Speaker 4: wanted to go and that that film was even an 488 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:45,919 Speaker 4: option when I was growing up. But he always encouraged 489 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:48,159 Speaker 4: me to write and to write stories. And the only 490 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:50,160 Speaker 4: way I went able was able to make. 491 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 1: My first movie was to write the right script at 492 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:52,240 Speaker 1: the right time. 493 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:54,920 Speaker 4: So, you know, being a storyteller, being somebody that's somebody 494 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 4: that enjoyed writing from an early age. You know, I 495 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:00,119 Speaker 4: knew that I was going to make my way in 496 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 4: the world by being a storyteller. And you know this 497 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:04,680 Speaker 4: is just another example of that with this, with this. 498 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:06,360 Speaker 3: Novel and the Best Man. 499 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:08,680 Speaker 2: I remember you also had said when you first wrote 500 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:12,320 Speaker 2: that you had another story you were actually trying to sell. Yeah, 501 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:15,480 Speaker 2: and it wasn't resonating at that time, so you figured, 502 00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:16,679 Speaker 2: let me do something commercial. 503 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:19,920 Speaker 4: What happened was, I was I had this this great 504 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 4: romantic comedy that I was trying to tell, this great 505 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:24,480 Speaker 4: New York story like in the Vein of Annie Hall 506 00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:27,159 Speaker 4: and when Harry met Sally. This you know, this this 507 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:31,280 Speaker 4: very organic love story, but it was very funny. But 508 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:33,160 Speaker 4: you know, I couldn't get the money. I couldn't raise 509 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:35,520 Speaker 4: the money to make it, so I said, Okay, I'm 510 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:37,200 Speaker 4: going to write something so commercial that I'm going to 511 00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 4: sell it and use that money to make my indie movie. 512 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:43,359 Speaker 4: And when I was in the midst of writing it, 513 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:46,200 Speaker 4: and I titled it My Homeboy's Wedding to Begin, but 514 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 4: I knew that. 515 00:21:46,720 --> 00:21:47,760 Speaker 1: Was never going to be the title. 516 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:51,120 Speaker 4: But I started writing, I was like, oh, I can 517 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 4: direct this, right, And so you know, that was and 518 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 4: it was funny because that was the script that you know, 519 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:59,440 Speaker 4: the Spiker read every one of my scripts, but when I. 520 00:21:59,359 --> 00:22:01,359 Speaker 1: Gave him that, he was like, this is the one. 521 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 4: Oh wow, yeah, and it was like, you know, within 522 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:05,920 Speaker 4: like a month, I was going to meet the heads 523 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:08,360 Speaker 4: of Columbia Studios. 524 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 3: So whatever happened with that first movie. 525 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 1: It's still on the shelf collecting dust. 526 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:15,200 Speaker 2: Is that something that you think one day you could 527 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 2: me repackage? Because I would, I think that would love 528 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:20,639 Speaker 2: to know what that is. 529 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:23,680 Speaker 4: I've gone it's called Feast and Famine, and I've come. 530 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:25,360 Speaker 4: I've gone back to it a couple of times. Maybe 531 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:26,160 Speaker 4: I'm making a novel. 532 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:26,560 Speaker 1: I don't know. 533 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 3: You know, oh yeah, because now you are an author. 534 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 4: Listen, listen, you got you gotta have you gotta be 535 00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:34,399 Speaker 4: very diversified in this day and age, you know, you 536 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 4: can't you can't just stick to one thing. 537 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 3: How much do you think it would cost to make 538 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:38,480 Speaker 3: this now? 539 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:42,680 Speaker 2: Because those characters that you had in the original Best Man, 540 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:45,359 Speaker 2: I mean at Terrence Howard. That was Regina Hall's first 541 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:47,000 Speaker 2: movie that she ever was in. 542 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:48,440 Speaker 3: She's been thriving. 543 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:51,440 Speaker 2: I love her as a human beings, you know, Nia 544 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 2: Long just think about like these younger It's kind of 545 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:58,320 Speaker 2: like what was that movie The Outsiders where everybody ended 546 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 2: up being real famous and it's kind of like, what 547 00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:01,600 Speaker 2: this is everything? 548 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 3: Diggs? 549 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 1: It's the Black Pack. 550 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, the Black Pack. What do you think it would cus? 551 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:07,399 Speaker 2: Like what if you had to go to a studio 552 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:10,560 Speaker 2: and be like, here's the budget to do Unfinished Business? 553 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 1: Well? 554 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:16,359 Speaker 2: Where in Paro starring in from I love that series. 555 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:18,960 Speaker 2: I watched I'm waiting for the new season to start, right. 556 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:21,359 Speaker 4: Morris not doing yes? And you know, like, look, I 557 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:24,480 Speaker 4: think it's one of the reasons to write the book. 558 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:27,800 Speaker 4: You know, it's kind of cost prohibitive. It might be 559 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:32,639 Speaker 4: Ai we well we're in We're in four different you 560 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:36,120 Speaker 4: know cities, we're on two different continents. That just like that, 561 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 4: you can't do that you know and and and hope 562 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:40,399 Speaker 4: to be you know successful and to keep it, you know, 563 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 4: keep a budget and to make something that actually displays 564 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 4: nicely on screen. So you know, this allows people to 565 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:49,679 Speaker 4: like have the experience of being with these characters and 566 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:52,199 Speaker 4: be with these with this friend group and going to 567 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:53,600 Speaker 4: different locales. 568 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:57,880 Speaker 1: So you know, a movie like this, I don't even 569 00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:00,960 Speaker 1: want to christ tag on it. It would be it 570 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:01,640 Speaker 1: would be high. 571 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 3: How much The Best Man was? How much to make? 572 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:05,280 Speaker 1: The first one was nine million dollars? 573 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:07,520 Speaker 3: Ooh, okay, first one was nine million dollars. 574 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:13,120 Speaker 4: The amazing one was seventeen I want to say, sixteen nineteen, 575 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:13,679 Speaker 4: something like that. 576 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:15,720 Speaker 3: Seventeen I think, yeah, well that price. 577 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 1: Boy, yeah, yesterday's price is not today's price. 578 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:20,880 Speaker 2: And you also have this bourbon which I'm so excited 579 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:21,679 Speaker 2: to try, Sable. 580 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 3: So tell us the story behind this. 581 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:24,160 Speaker 1: You've got to try Sable. 582 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 4: So it actually it was born out of you know, 583 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:28,680 Speaker 4: the Best Man in the relationships that I cultivated there. 584 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 4: You know, when we did Best Man final chapters for Peacock, 585 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:35,639 Speaker 4: you know, there was always a brown spirit, you know 586 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 4: during when the fellas would get together play cards or 587 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:41,320 Speaker 4: hang out or what have you. And so Harold Parano 588 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:43,679 Speaker 4: was like, hey, you know, why don't we do our 589 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:44,560 Speaker 4: own you. 590 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:45,119 Speaker 1: Know, liquor. 591 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:47,440 Speaker 4: And I was like, you think and he's like yeah, 592 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:51,399 Speaker 4: So you know, he myself more chef's nut Tay Diggs 593 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 4: came together. We approached Bespoken Spirits and they loved the idea. 594 00:24:56,480 --> 00:25:01,639 Speaker 4: And you know, everything from the color, the flavor, the packaging, 595 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:04,280 Speaker 4: the bottle, it was all us and we all you know, 596 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:07,399 Speaker 4: agreed on what it should be. And really it's kind 597 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:10,000 Speaker 4: of a culmination of like kind of like our friendship. 598 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:13,240 Speaker 4: I mean, these all those dudes were at my wedding, 599 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:15,760 Speaker 4: you know, for example, you know, and like this. 600 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:17,639 Speaker 1: You know, we're very integral and started my career. 601 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:20,200 Speaker 4: So you know, it made sense for us to keep 602 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:23,760 Speaker 4: working together and to you know, show something and and 603 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:27,320 Speaker 4: let people experience the book outside of it, you know, 604 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:30,399 Speaker 4: with with something they can you know, share with other 605 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:31,119 Speaker 4: with other people. 606 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 3: I cannot wait to try that. 607 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:34,600 Speaker 1: It's very smooth. 608 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:35,760 Speaker 3: How was your bachelor party? 609 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:36,720 Speaker 1: Great? 610 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:42,000 Speaker 4: Fun, good times, good time, never to be spoken about again. 611 00:25:44,080 --> 00:25:45,399 Speaker 3: It just made me think of the movie. 612 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:51,679 Speaker 4: Okay, my bachelor party was not as team not as 613 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:53,800 Speaker 4: the one in the in the Best Man. 614 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:57,639 Speaker 3: Okay, we'll say we'll leave it at that. Yeah. 615 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:01,440 Speaker 2: And then also Blackmails Production Production is your production company. 616 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:03,440 Speaker 3: I love the name of it too. It's black male 617 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 3: like M A L E. D. 618 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:05,959 Speaker 1: That's correct. 619 00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:08,240 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, I mean, you know, listen that that's been 620 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 4: my mantra. That's been my you know, my mission to 621 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 4: normalize black life in America. 622 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:14,920 Speaker 1: Number one. 623 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:18,479 Speaker 4: Number two really about black men, really making sure that 624 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:21,840 Speaker 4: black men are humanized in a way that that that 625 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:24,720 Speaker 4: feels authentic and real. And that's what, you know, that's 626 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 4: the stories I like to tell, whether it's you know, 627 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:30,960 Speaker 4: friendship or fatherhood or or what have you, your brotherhood. 628 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:34,840 Speaker 1: You know, I really want to you know, display that kind. 629 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:37,919 Speaker 4: Of those kind of stories and that and I can 630 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:41,160 Speaker 4: that starts from you know, moves and television and now 631 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:42,320 Speaker 4: into into books. 632 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:45,320 Speaker 2: What would you tell an aspiring screenwriter thinking about how 633 00:26:45,359 --> 00:26:49,080 Speaker 2: you got your start and the first movie debut that 634 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:51,760 Speaker 2: you did was number one at the box office. You know, 635 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:55,359 Speaker 2: clearly you just went out there and made it happen. 636 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:57,320 Speaker 2: And sometimes that's hard for people to do and get 637 00:26:57,359 --> 00:26:59,600 Speaker 2: out of their own way. But if somebody it's a 638 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:03,000 Speaker 2: different and age, Now, what would you tell an aspiring 639 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:04,800 Speaker 2: screenwriter you got to just. 640 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:07,200 Speaker 4: Keep writing, you know, like you know that The Best 641 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:09,680 Speaker 4: Man was my sixth screenplay that I've ever written. The 642 00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:13,200 Speaker 4: other five, you know, still collecting dust or they're in 643 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:15,280 Speaker 4: a digital file somewhere, you know what I mean. So like, 644 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:17,800 Speaker 4: you know, you're not gonna, you know, hit it out 645 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:19,320 Speaker 4: the park the first time. You know, it just doesn't. 646 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:21,520 Speaker 4: It doesn't happen because this this thing as an overnight success. 647 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:24,280 Speaker 4: You got to keep working at your craft. And what 648 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 4: I would say is, when you know, I was very 649 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:28,720 Speaker 4: intentional about how I was writing The Best Man. Again, 650 00:27:29,040 --> 00:27:31,240 Speaker 4: I was trying to write something very commercial, and what 651 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 4: was I looking at in the marketplace at the time, 652 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:36,320 Speaker 4: wedding movies very popular. I knew I could bring something 653 00:27:36,359 --> 00:27:38,760 Speaker 4: to that genre with what I want to say about 654 00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:42,760 Speaker 4: black men and black men's relationships and college dedicated black men. 655 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:44,040 Speaker 1: And so I was like, Okay, I can. 656 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:46,600 Speaker 4: I can set it over a three day weekend, because 657 00:27:46,600 --> 00:27:48,199 Speaker 4: that's what how the wedding's gonna be. And you got 658 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:51,439 Speaker 4: the trappings of what a wedding as you gave your 659 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:54,400 Speaker 4: natural set pieces the wedding, the reception, the rehearsal, dinner, 660 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:57,359 Speaker 4: bachelor party. Okay, you do all these things, and so 661 00:27:57,440 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 4: again it was very intended. So I think for aspiring 662 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:03,240 Speaker 4: film makers, they got to look at what's being what's 663 00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:04,200 Speaker 4: popular out there. 664 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:06,639 Speaker 1: And also what is missing. And I think there's a 665 00:28:06,680 --> 00:28:08,720 Speaker 1: lot of you know, there's there's a space right. 666 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:14,000 Speaker 4: Now for young people to make their generational movie right now, 667 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:15,840 Speaker 4: you know, because like where's that, Where's the super Bad 668 00:28:15,840 --> 00:28:18,520 Speaker 4: for this generation? Where's the Breakfast Club for this generation? Yeah? 669 00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:20,240 Speaker 4: And I think that there's a lane for it and 670 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:22,800 Speaker 4: somebody that there's somebody's going to crack the code and 671 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:23,680 Speaker 4: make it. 672 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:25,639 Speaker 1: And I'm hoping I'm going to be producing it. 673 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:28,639 Speaker 2: Yeah, well you know, you know where to go, guys blackmailed? 674 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:32,240 Speaker 2: All right, Well, thank you so much for doing me. 675 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:34,040 Speaker 2: I'm so happy that we were able to do this. 676 00:28:34,119 --> 00:28:37,159 Speaker 2: The book is available, The Best Man Unfinished Business, the 677 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 2: first in a trilogy. 678 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:39,239 Speaker 3: It is. 679 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:41,680 Speaker 2: You know, it's a fun read, especially when you love 680 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 2: having watched the first two movies the series, but. 681 00:28:45,040 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 4: You don't have to have seen it. In fact, my my, 682 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 4: what's so weird? My co author Jane now, her dad, 683 00:28:52,280 --> 00:28:54,920 Speaker 4: he's a doctor. He reads nothing but like medical journals. 684 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:56,719 Speaker 4: He picked the book. He couldn't stop reading he'd never 685 00:28:56,800 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 4: seen the movie. 686 00:28:57,360 --> 00:28:59,640 Speaker 1: It's amazing, and he was just like, this is incredible. 687 00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:02,920 Speaker 3: Relate to somebody or something, without a doubt. 688 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:05,120 Speaker 1: My first pick up the book, pre order now. 689 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:06,440 Speaker 3: And don't fake your orgasms. 690 00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:10,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, don't do that. 691 00:29:10,520 --> 00:29:12,160 Speaker 3: Thank you, Malcolm de Ley. I appreciate. 692 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:16,440 Speaker 1: Thank you. ANGELA way up.