1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:08,880 Speaker 1: Ye who at the Sunset Tower Hotel my fave joined 2 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:13,040 Speaker 1: in Los Angeles on a really cold and rainy day. Today, 3 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:18,400 Speaker 1: we are all having lunch with an accomplished, incredible actress. 4 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 1: She is OSCAR winner, screen Actor Guild Awards, National Board 5 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 1: of Review Awards, Critic Choice of Golden Globe a BAFTA, 6 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: and I am talking about Octavia Spencer, handsome. Oh my god, 7 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:38,199 Speaker 1: there's rock hard body and I've got I know, Marshall, 8 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:43,560 Speaker 1: this is the best idea. Octavia walks into the Tower 9 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: bar immediately starts cracking jokes, and she's just a vision 10 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: and a force, always to be reckoned with. But what 11 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: she doesn't know is that today I got a couple 12 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 1: of surprises for her. Eric, come on over, meet Octavia 13 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 1: and you get Activita drink again. Well, I'm gonna have 14 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 1: to have some diet Pepsy. My first surprise is a 15 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 1: bottle of Octavia's favorite cocktail, and it will surprise you, 16 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: which I kind of quickly realize may not be the 17 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 1: perfect gift. I'm a terrible driver. And the fact that 18 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:18,320 Speaker 1: there's rain but it's dry. I try did you try 19 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 1: January last about? Well for me, it probably won't be 20 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 1: very dry. When I get home. So everybody who's pulled up, 21 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 1: I have Octavia's favorite drink, even she is a part 22 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 1: of it. So the intention of this was to toast 23 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,479 Speaker 1: season three. I'm sure to be told that this could 24 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: be a part of it. You're telling the telling people 25 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 1: pulled them a chair. What your favorite drink is? My 26 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 1: favorite drink is the sangria Maria Hoia from Trader Jews. 27 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: We should probably pop it open up to say, okay 28 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 1: a little a little bit, So pull up a chera 29 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: because for ruining some New Year's resolutions today teers tears. 30 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: Let me tell you that is good. I'm Bruce Bozzy 31 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 1: and this is my podcast table for two. So season three, 32 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 1: Truth Be Told. It is on Apple TV. It dropped 33 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,640 Speaker 1: on January twentie. I mean, this ship is real, Poppy 34 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 1: is so you know, I'm gonna start there because I 35 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 1: also want to talk about your star. You have this 36 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 1: big year for you. Yeah, so this is an intense season. Okay, 37 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 1: Now there's some real ship going down in this town 38 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:42,679 Speaker 1: and Poppy is not happy, and so she finds it out. 39 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: Tell me about truth, Tell me about Poppy Scoville. You 40 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:50,239 Speaker 1: know what I love about this character and what's wonderful 41 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: is that it's an anthology series, so you know, you 42 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:57,840 Speaker 1: don't have to have seen season one or two to 43 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: be up to date of what It's a different mystery 44 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:05,840 Speaker 1: that we saw each season. But what I loved is 45 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: we've seen Poppies art. When you first meet her, she's 46 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 1: just left The New York Times and moved back to 47 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: California where her family is big house husband. Um. And 48 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: but she didn't have his last name, you know, she 49 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:25,640 Speaker 1: was using her mother's maiden name. She didn't even have 50 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 1: uh Scoville, which is her dad's She finds. There's a 51 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 1: lot that we we we go through with Poppy. But 52 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 1: it's it's funny because I think she essentially is finding 53 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 1: herself and I don't think she ever realized that she 54 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: was lost, you know what I mean? And I think 55 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 1: that's what life is. And u uh, work wise, she's 56 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 1: she is committed to being a journalist and and truth 57 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: is at the center of everything and um, but the 58 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 1: the thing about journalism is that the journalists is never 59 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: a part of the subject. Poppy being a podcaster is 60 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: always a partner, you know, so put everyone's life and risk. Yes, 61 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: she does, she really does. For the truth for the truth, 62 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 1: and that's where it is. It's so much fun to player, 63 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:30,160 Speaker 1: very interesting because I don't know, um, I danger truth. 64 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: I understand as me personally, you always want to tell 65 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:37,920 Speaker 1: the truth. You always want to be truthful in situations 66 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: and relationships and the people you love, the people that 67 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 1: surround you. But there's this this mechanism within her to 68 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:53,719 Speaker 1: where it's it's uh, I think it becomes a detriment 69 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 1: to anyone around her if they're involved in the mystery, 70 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:02,360 Speaker 1: because it's like the p suit of truth harms a 71 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: lot of people. Well, that's an interesting thing you bring up, 72 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 1: because it does, like you, you know, in season one, 73 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 1: you really put your family in a very difficult position 74 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:16,279 Speaker 1: and your sister, I mean, it's heartbreaking when they arrested 75 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: your sister and and and it's it's beautiful in a 76 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: tragic way when they start to take off her how 77 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: she presents herself Octavia. And so I thought to myself, 78 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 1: I'm like when your dad's pissed at you. And now 79 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,919 Speaker 1: you know in season three, you know, like you said, 80 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 1: it's an aanhalis, So everyone's in a different place in 81 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:40,359 Speaker 1: their life and your family and you're living in a 82 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:46,039 Speaker 1: different place. Um, is there anything Poppy would not do? 83 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 1: Because or is the truth that I think she's learned 84 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:55,599 Speaker 1: a lot about Because everyone has an interesting relationship with 85 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 1: the truth. Everyone has a different perception of the truth. 86 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:04,280 Speaker 1: And I think that is where and how she has 87 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: matured throughout the seasons, because in season one, it was 88 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:14,279 Speaker 1: you know, it didn't feel self righteous to her, but 89 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:19,599 Speaker 1: it was, you know, from everyone else's perspective. And going 90 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 1: into season three, with all of the losses of whether 91 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:28,920 Speaker 1: through death or through divorce, or through divorce of marriages, 92 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 1: divorces of friendships, she has had to reconcile that within 93 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: herself that everyone has a different relationship with the truth, 94 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 1: and some things she's not entitled to know. Um. But 95 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 1: when it comes to victims and justice, that's where she 96 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 1: will turn over every rock and that's where I I 97 00:06:55,560 --> 00:07:00,160 Speaker 1: I love that she's evolving as a person, But personally, 98 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 1: I just don't think that we're all entitled. We're entitled 99 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:07,040 Speaker 1: to everyone else's truths unless they want to tell them, 100 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 1: you know what I mean? Completely Like there you can 101 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 1: lean into someone's truth and they can say that and 102 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 1: we all have it, ye have it in our lives. 103 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 1: Are things that just don't come near. But I'm nearly done. 104 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 1: But it's like, literally just you can't stop you. And 105 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 1: you're right. The beauty of it is it's you can 106 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:29,680 Speaker 1: watch all three. You can watch kwan you but but 107 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 1: I'm telling you, you watch one and you need to 108 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 1: watch the second and ends and you're like, oh my, 109 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 1: take a break. Play. That's why binging. I hate that 110 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:45,280 Speaker 1: they've you know, introduced binging into our lives because it's 111 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 1: like you better have a little time because you start 112 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 1: watching stuff and it's like, let me hit play. No 113 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 1: Apple says it to me yesterday when I'm talking streaming. Okay, 114 00:07:56,400 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 1: that's how many hours you have your events? Did down 115 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 1: you eb out your deep? I'm like that you think 116 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 1: when we're done having our lane, I'm not going to 117 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: sit with you again, Tony more hours today. First of all, 118 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: congratulations Octavia Spencer. She got a star on Hollywood Boulevard. 119 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: This is a big deal, you know what, It really 120 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 1: is a big deal. And you know, you talk about 121 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 1: your tribe and I'm gonna quote you here, Octavia, and 122 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,839 Speaker 1: you say, twenty six years ago when you drove from 123 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 1: Alabama to l A with three thousand dollars and a 124 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 1: four inch TV in his suitcase and a heart filled 125 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 1: with dreams. These drinks and then you talk about the tribe, 126 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 1: and I always say, you know, there's the John Cassavetti's 127 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 1: if you're listening. He had a tribe. He had John Rolands, 128 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: he had Peter Falk, he had you had John Hughes 129 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 1: growing out up Ringwald. Ya Bo, you're part of a tribal. Yeah, 130 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 1: that's talked to us about your tribe and your truth 131 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 1: in that. Oh my god, it's so funny because you 132 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:21,959 Speaker 1: dream when you're wherever you are, dreaming about coming to 133 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 1: Hollywood or going to New York, being a person in 134 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: the entertainment industry, your stage or film. You always envisioned 135 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:34,079 Speaker 1: that journey. It's like, it's you, it's me, me and me. 136 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: I'm going to do this, I'm going to do that. 137 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 1: And when I when I actually moved out here, I 138 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 1: realized it wasn't a solitary journey that the people in 139 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 1: my life, but we were all in pursuit of the 140 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 1: same dream. And it was I met Melissa McCarthy, I 141 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 1: mean I met them, Alison Janny, I met them all 142 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:58,240 Speaker 1: when I first moved out here. And because you met 143 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:03,960 Speaker 1: in Octavia were p a s Joel Schumacher film, which coincidentally, 144 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 1: prior to this, I watched. I'm watching it. There you 145 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 1: are the nurse. We won. That is you know, no, no, no, no, 146 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:25,679 Speaker 1: but that but that was the truth. And you know, Uh, 147 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:31,439 Speaker 1: Tate Taylor. I met Sandra Bullock, Sam Jackson, Matthew McConaughey. 148 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: To meet all those people on the very first job 149 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:37,360 Speaker 1: that I got to work on, and then to meet 150 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 1: Uh to have that relationship. Tay and I have been 151 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 1: thickest theeves, you know. And it's so funny because I 152 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:49,440 Speaker 1: moved out to Los Angeles when I was twenty six. 153 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 1: My actual career for everyone else started when I was 154 00:10:55,320 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 1: forty two. That's when you know, everything have been for 155 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 1: me because you know, Tate Uh and Brunson Green, who 156 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:06,680 Speaker 1: was the producer of The Help and Tate wrote and 157 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:11,320 Speaker 1: directed it. They fought for me to have that role 158 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: in The Help. I mean I auditioned. They didn't. They 159 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 1: didn't audition anybody else than they they wanted me. But 160 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:22,079 Speaker 1: I had to go in there and do the job. 161 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:25,320 Speaker 1: And so it was. But it was the comfort of 162 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 1: having the tribe there and we've just rolled along all 163 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:34,840 Speaker 1: these years working on each other's you know things, and 164 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 1: it's just I'm so grateful for that because that is 165 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:45,680 Speaker 1: that is my truth, and and knowing how those relationships 166 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 1: and hard work, because you know, there are so many 167 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 1: talented people in this town who haven't broken through, and 168 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 1: I'm no more talented than they are. Um uh. I 169 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 1: think it's a little bit of luck, a little bit 170 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:04,680 Speaker 1: of a lot of little a little bit of talent, 171 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 1: a lot of training, but a lot of relationship. Welcome 172 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:30,680 Speaker 1: back to table for two. When we're talking with the 173 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 1: amazing Octavia Spencer. She is inspiring on so many levels, 174 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: but something I always come back to is her tenacity 175 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:42,000 Speaker 1: and persistence to go after her dreams no matter how 176 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 1: long it takes. We're going to get into all of it. 177 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: But first we need to order some lunch. So what 178 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: are you gonna have for us? Salad? Okay, a little 179 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:55,960 Speaker 1: chop salad with yes right, yes, I mean look at you. 180 00:12:56,000 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 1: I'm looking at you, and I'm like, right, I'm going 181 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 1: to do the job with the chicken as well. To 182 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 1: your last point, take the time to prepare for your opportunity. Yes, 183 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:14,720 Speaker 1: can you talk about that? I I think, especially given 184 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: where we are with technology and social media. Um, there 185 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 1: are steps in the process. I think that people want 186 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:27,599 Speaker 1: to skip because it's it's about it's about fame sometimes 187 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:32,199 Speaker 1: and it's about um being out there. Oh you know, 188 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 1: no one has noticed me yet. And I I think 189 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:41,440 Speaker 1: you have to be prepared because you don't know when 190 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 1: that opportunity is going to come. So you have to study. 191 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 1: And when you think about it, I remember my mom 192 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 1: and it was the most practical advice she has ever 193 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:53,440 Speaker 1: given in And it's just part of it's my mantle. 194 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:56,240 Speaker 1: You know. Whenever you if you're the first job you 195 00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 1: ever get, if it's a fry cook, um, if it's 196 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 1: a newspaper, boy, someone's going to train you and how 197 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 1: to do it. This is how you sell your newspaper, 198 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 1: This is how you cook my fries. Whatever else it is, 199 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:14,959 Speaker 1: whatever field of study, you're going to have to train 200 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 1: and UM, so take the time because if you're three 201 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 1: years in, if you're fifteen years in, if you're one 202 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 1: year in, if you don't have the comfort of training, 203 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 1: that's your foundation. And if you don't have, you know, 204 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 1: your your land legs. When that opportunity presents itself, it 205 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:41,040 Speaker 1: could mean failure. Yeah, because if you don't build upon it. 206 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:43,080 Speaker 1: You don't have the you don't have the goods, you 207 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 1: don't don't have the foundations. You have to have that 208 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: foundation because whatever it is, you know, everybody feels like 209 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 1: an impostor. You know. So if you haven't done the 210 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 1: best to prepare for whatever it is, you can't go 211 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 1: to You can't be a doctor without going to med school. 212 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 1: What I mean, nobody's gonna let you doctor on right right, 213 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: and the fool that does mind, I get off the table. 214 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 1: So it's it's really true. You know. I found myself 215 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 1: when I you know, um, when I graduated college. I 216 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 1: went into the NBC Page program and you know, it 217 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 1: was it was a great program. And I gave tours 218 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: and I think, similar to you and Tay, like always 219 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 1: had fun. It was always something kind of little trouble going. 220 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 1: I was just given to us, to these people. And 221 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 1: one of the assignments I had was on the Today Show, 222 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: which nobody wanted because it was super early in the morning, 223 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 1: summer of eighty nine. And I did and so I 224 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 1: did I interview, you had an interview for I kept 225 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 1: pointing to the producer and she was like one word 226 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 1: of advice stopped pointing an interview, and I was like, oops, 227 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:50,119 Speaker 1: And I did it. If my job was literally like Octavier, 228 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 1: you would call you to have a segment on and 229 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 1: I'd get you to hair and make up. I gat 230 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 1: you with five in the morning. So I did it 231 00:15:56,920 --> 00:16:00,120 Speaker 1: for that summer. I was runningrunning, running, and uh not 232 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:02,840 Speaker 1: my last day. Jane Pauli said, here's your last day, 233 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 1: and she goes, if you would like, I'd like to 234 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 1: write you a recommendation. I said, well, why all I 235 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 1: did was get people to make up and to hair 236 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 1: and ran scripts for you. And she said it wasn't. 237 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 1: What you did is how you did it, and you 238 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 1: always came to work with smiling face. And so I 239 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 1: think that's our lessons in life. Yeah, and your you know, 240 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 1: so your journey from twenty six to winning the Academy Award, 241 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 1: that that foundation is so important. Yes, it is. You know, 242 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 1: was there ever a time in that period where you're like, 243 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 1: what am I doing? Why am I? Hear? Well, that's 244 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: why it's important to have a tribe. That's true, because 245 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 1: when you have those moments of self doubt, your tribe 246 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 1: will surround you and lift you up from those moments 247 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:51,360 Speaker 1: of despair, and I didn't have a lot of moments 248 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: like that, but when I did, it was like, you know, 249 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 1: of course you're going to be great. Of course you're 250 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 1: gonna succeed. Because I was watching all of my for 251 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:04,480 Speaker 1: I remember when Melissa McCarthy God Gilmore Girls. I remember 252 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 1: when Alison Jenny got The West Wing. I remember when 253 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 1: my friend Stephen Rodgers, who wrote Itonia Um all of 254 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:16,720 Speaker 1: his movies. You know, we're selling as a writer. So 255 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:18,719 Speaker 1: I was just a part of this group and no 256 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:21,159 Speaker 1: one ever allowed anyone to think that they weren't going 257 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:23,479 Speaker 1: to make it across the finish line. And that's how 258 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:26,480 Speaker 1: we all got there together, you know. And it just 259 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 1: there were moments though you know that you're like what 260 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:32,880 Speaker 1: am I doing? Uh? And the funny thing is when 261 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:37,879 Speaker 1: success happens, the years fly by because you're on a 262 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:41,359 Speaker 1: plane on a location, on a you know, and you 263 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,440 Speaker 1: look up and you've been working for four years. And 264 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 1: so then I realized I would start to measure time 265 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:52,199 Speaker 1: by you know, family and kids and growth, and it's like, 266 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:56,200 Speaker 1: oh my god, you're in your second baby, what's going on. 267 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:00,879 Speaker 1: I just love every aspect of the journey, and I 268 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:03,719 Speaker 1: know that I love every aspect of it because I 269 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:09,360 Speaker 1: was in it with a very uh strong group of friends, 270 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 1: very fun group of friends. I can remember, you know, 271 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 1: hanging with Janny or hanging with Date, and you know, 272 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:23,680 Speaker 1: being with you and hearing the stories filled with laughter 273 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 1: and and and the truth, and all was spokes back 274 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 1: to the truth. You know, people that really loved each 275 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 1: other and weren't going to let their success because you know, 276 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: some people get successful and then they ditch. They dined 277 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:38,360 Speaker 1: and ditch, they're out. So they weren't they weren't ever 278 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 1: living truthfully then, So would you say that the moment 279 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:46,720 Speaker 1: for you that changed at all was winning the Academy Award. 280 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 1: I was leading up because I think about when The 281 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:53,199 Speaker 1: Help came out. It was a huge book, It was 282 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:56,720 Speaker 1: a huge ensemble cast. If I didn't get that part, 283 00:18:56,760 --> 00:18:59,560 Speaker 1: even if I hadn't been considered for the Academy Award, 284 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:02,320 Speaker 1: and what of you look at all the women in 285 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:05,280 Speaker 1: that film. You know what I'm saying, And how the 286 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:08,439 Speaker 1: careers have progressed. I think had I not been a 287 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 1: part of that film and that ensemble and that troop 288 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:16,160 Speaker 1: of of actors associated with that project, I don't know 289 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 1: that the career trajectory would have been the same. I'm 290 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:23,680 Speaker 1: glad that the film was successful. Um, did the Academy 291 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:27,920 Speaker 1: award help? Absolutely? But the first thing is I actually 292 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:31,399 Speaker 1: had to get a role that would lead to an 293 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:34,400 Speaker 1: Academy Award or a BAP to, you know, to help 294 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 1: us come up a conversation. You know, it's an incredible movie, 295 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:40,920 Speaker 1: thank you, And it also has come up and could 296 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:43,679 Speaker 1: it be done today? And I get confused with that 297 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 1: answer question because part of me is like, well, if 298 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:50,159 Speaker 1: it happened, why why can't the story be told? I 299 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:55,880 Speaker 1: think what's happening in society right now is very very 300 00:19:55,960 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 1: dangerous because you know, we are scrubbing the history books, 301 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:07,200 Speaker 1: and if we can't point to our historical references, and 302 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 1: if we can't point to things like that in art, 303 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:16,040 Speaker 1: in history, where do we We're repeating history now because 304 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 1: we've been stripping those truths away. So for me, uh, 305 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: could help be made today? I don't know? Should the 306 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 1: help be made today? Absolutely? It represents um, real people 307 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:37,439 Speaker 1: who made real contributions to society, who were never rewarded 308 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 1: for those contributions exactly, so their stories should be told. 309 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:44,360 Speaker 1: Their stories should be told. For me to sit there 310 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:47,280 Speaker 1: and watch that movie and be a white guy from 311 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 1: New York City. It was very emotional story. I yes stuff, 312 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 1: So I think it is a very sliper. It's a 313 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:58,679 Speaker 1: slippery slope. But what what I because I just remember 314 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:03,120 Speaker 1: um everyone saying you know uh for me, and this 315 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:06,800 Speaker 1: is my truth as as a black actress in Hollywood 316 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:11,639 Speaker 1: is diversity and inclusion. I don't have a diversity problem. 317 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:15,679 Speaker 1: I'm a black woman. I don't have a diversity problem. 318 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 1: I think when we don't include people from all walks 319 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 1: of life, when we don't see that representation on film 320 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 1: and television, in books, in literature, there is a sense 321 00:21:29,119 --> 00:21:34,160 Speaker 1: of invisibility and people not understanding the contributions that all 322 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 1: people may to this the fabric of this society. Welcome 323 00:21:57,040 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 1: back to my conversation with Octavia Spencer on Table for Too. 324 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:04,399 Speaker 1: I just love talking to Octavia because, you know, she 325 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 1: reminds me of what it can mean to not only 326 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:09,840 Speaker 1: have a big heart in the entertainment business, but really 327 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:14,959 Speaker 1: how important it is to help people behind you become successful. 328 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 1: You use the word invisibility, and I think it's a 329 00:22:21,359 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 1: great word because I've often said growing up in the 330 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:26,159 Speaker 1: eighties and being a gay guy I learned how to 331 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 1: become visibly invisible. And I feel like when you were 332 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:35,480 Speaker 1: growing up, were there people that you felt you saw 333 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 1: yourself in. And now sitting in the seat at Octavia 334 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 1: Spencer sits and this huge heart. What is the responsibility 335 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:48,040 Speaker 1: or do you feel a responsibility that comes with that? 336 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:50,760 Speaker 1: I think if you had asked me when I was 337 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:54,200 Speaker 1: twenty six, and I felt a responsibility, Um, even though 338 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:56,600 Speaker 1: I had nothing to be responsible for, get nobody do 339 00:22:56,680 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 1: my name. But if I were successful at twenty six, 340 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 1: I would said no. You know, I'm an artist and 341 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:05,240 Speaker 1: I want to you know, my job as an artist, 342 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:09,800 Speaker 1: as a creative person is to shine a light, illuminate 343 00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 1: things in society, but also provide a little bit of escapism. 344 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:20,040 Speaker 1: Uh have a voice in the creative process. Uh, I don't. 345 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:23,200 Speaker 1: I don't want to bear a responsibility. And now where 346 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:30,080 Speaker 1: I am and understanding that women, women of color didn't 347 00:23:30,119 --> 00:23:34,640 Speaker 1: necessarily have access or a voice and and uh their 348 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:37,480 Speaker 1: place in this in this industry, I do have a 349 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:41,160 Speaker 1: responsibility and I'm excited about having that responsibility. That's why 350 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:44,679 Speaker 1: I'm excited about being a producer. Growing up, you know, 351 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:50,240 Speaker 1: I I looked like most people out there for my inspiration. 352 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:53,400 Speaker 1: And so you saw the oprah Winfreeze and the Sicily 353 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:57,200 Speaker 1: Tyson's and the Dying Carols and oh my god. Because 354 00:23:57,440 --> 00:24:00,840 Speaker 1: I'm a big literature nerda I'm an English major. So 355 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 1: that's all I did was read uh Dr Maya Angelou 356 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:08,639 Speaker 1: and so many you know artists and writers you know, 357 00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:12,640 Speaker 1: Baldwin everything, you know what I mean. So I looked outward, 358 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:15,840 Speaker 1: and of course I was inspired by their work. But 359 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 1: now at this age, I remember it was my mom, 360 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:23,199 Speaker 1: you know, working to make sure that we, you know, 361 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:27,840 Speaker 1: had education and and and access to a life that 362 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 1: she wasn't privy to. As I think about my college days, 363 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:34,600 Speaker 1: my mom passed when I was seventeen, it was my sisters, 364 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:37,480 Speaker 1: you know, all of us working you know, jobs and 365 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:40,520 Speaker 1: getting scholarships and help student loans to help pay for 366 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:46,480 Speaker 1: each other's education. So where I sit now, um, yes, 367 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:49,320 Speaker 1: there were a lot of people that were visible to 368 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:52,800 Speaker 1: be and educators were very important to me because they 369 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:56,800 Speaker 1: were always encouraging me, uh to you know, I always say, 370 00:24:56,840 --> 00:24:59,840 Speaker 1: reached for the tallest branch on the highest tree, because 371 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:03,320 Speaker 1: the further you reach, the further you'll go. But now 372 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:07,200 Speaker 1: I realized it was family and that that that insulated 373 00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:11,240 Speaker 1: group around me. And that's why family is so important 374 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 1: to me and friends are so important because it's the 375 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:26,760 Speaker 1: it's life imitating. I mean, you're a master storyteller. What 376 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 1: do you love about producing? Like, what do you look for? 377 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:32,720 Speaker 1: It's funny that people don't know this, but there are 378 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 1: a few things that I you know, if my mom 379 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:38,119 Speaker 1: had lived, I would have definitely you know, gone to 380 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:41,439 Speaker 1: law school and you know, been a part of a 381 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:43,840 Speaker 1: different world. And this is more the dream that I 382 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:47,520 Speaker 1: had for myself. Um. And but I actually wanted to 383 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:49,960 Speaker 1: be a producer, even though I didn't know what producers did. 384 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 1: And now that I've realized that that's what you bring. 385 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:56,439 Speaker 1: You put the projects together. You're the puzzle person. And 386 00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:59,120 Speaker 1: I've always been a puzzle person in real life. So 387 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 1: I wanted to do that first. And it's funny that 388 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:09,000 Speaker 1: acting facilitated that, um because you know, yeah, you didn't know. 389 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:13,480 Speaker 1: I didn't know that the chicken or the egg. I 390 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:15,520 Speaker 1: got the egg and the chicken, and I'll take a 391 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:21,160 Speaker 1: both like eggs and I like chicken. My very first 392 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:24,359 Speaker 1: producer credit, and it was an executive producer credit, was 393 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:31,000 Speaker 1: Proovel Station I and Nina Yang bon Jovi and uh 394 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:35,840 Speaker 1: Forest Whittaker, Um it was their movie, and uh Ryan 395 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 1: Coogler wrote it and I read the script and loved it. 396 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:46,280 Speaker 1: And I don't know why. I thought Ryan Coogler was 397 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 1: a young Jewish kid and I read it and I thought, 398 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 1: this kid who probably has no relationship to to Oakland 399 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:57,600 Speaker 1: or whatever. Wow, he was able to really get in there. 400 00:26:57,640 --> 00:27:00,560 Speaker 1: And I feel it so visceral, and I I wanted 401 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:06,680 Speaker 1: to do it, and when I met Ryan was like, here, okay. 402 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 1: So there's so much that I got wrong, but falling 403 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:15,199 Speaker 1: in love with that script and being a part of 404 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:20,160 Speaker 1: that production and talk about diverse crew, it was just 405 00:27:20,280 --> 00:27:25,200 Speaker 1: one of the most amazing experiences that I've had as 406 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:29,359 Speaker 1: an actress. Man. Though we've come a long way, and 407 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:33,800 Speaker 1: I don't think it's been a good trajectory because I 408 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:38,360 Speaker 1: did Fruitbale Station about you know, uh gun violence and 409 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:42,080 Speaker 1: you know, violence against young black men. Because I I'm 410 00:27:42,119 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 1: not a mom, but I'm a sister. I'm an aunt 411 00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:48,399 Speaker 1: and we say I'm an aunt and uh, you know, 412 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:51,520 Speaker 1: I'm a cousin and I'm a friend. So I wanted 413 00:27:51,560 --> 00:27:54,240 Speaker 1: to be a part of that film. And how I 414 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:56,919 Speaker 1: became a producer. Is that movie was only made for 415 00:27:57,080 --> 00:28:00,720 Speaker 1: like nine hundred thousand dollar US and they had a 416 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:03,919 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty thou dollars fall out of it. I 417 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:08,000 Speaker 1: had just won the Academy Award for the help. I 418 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:12,159 Speaker 1: had just finished snow Piercer. We were filming in the 419 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:15,840 Speaker 1: summer and some other financing fell through, and I said, well, 420 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:17,960 Speaker 1: I have some new vo reached friends. Let me call them. 421 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:20,760 Speaker 1: You know, they've got some money from the you know, 422 00:28:20,840 --> 00:28:24,040 Speaker 1: let me call some people. And I made some calls 423 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:25,680 Speaker 1: and we were you know, and I put a little 424 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:29,080 Speaker 1: money in and we're just patching things, uh together, And 425 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:34,480 Speaker 1: um Nina and Forest were so generous because the other 426 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:36,879 Speaker 1: thing when I realized like they didn't have a budget 427 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:39,720 Speaker 1: and they had me in this wonderful hotel, and I 428 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:41,200 Speaker 1: was like, well, I could pay for my own hotel. 429 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:43,560 Speaker 1: Let's use this money and this is pretty m for me, 430 00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:47,440 Speaker 1: and let's use it to you know, get other actors. 431 00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:50,160 Speaker 1: And so they were so generous and said, you've done 432 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:54,000 Speaker 1: so much, can we offer you an executive producer credit? 433 00:28:54,280 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 1: And of course I wasn't gonna turn that down. And 434 00:28:57,960 --> 00:29:04,000 Speaker 1: uh so then I just starting it's just what I 435 00:29:04,080 --> 00:29:07,000 Speaker 1: gravitate towards as a as an artist. If it resonates 436 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:10,760 Speaker 1: with me, I feel like hopefully it will resonate with 437 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:15,080 Speaker 1: with with audiences. And but I always look for stories 438 00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:19,480 Speaker 1: that might at first seem bleak, but there's always a 439 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:31,400 Speaker 1: thread of hope and light in the end. I'm another surprised. 440 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:40,520 Speaker 1: Oh tell us, Oh my god, I'm gonna kiel tape, 441 00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 1: diet too beef and two chicken. I love you so 442 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:52,600 Speaker 1: much right now that argentinean be supposed to be the 443 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:56,680 Speaker 1: best in l A small little place on Sautel and 444 00:29:56,920 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 1: Venice Boulevardo like Christmas. That just clink. Look, can we 445 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:03,560 Speaker 1: do another clink on that? Because this is just amazing. 446 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:06,440 Speaker 1: Thank you. When you're having lunch with baby, we have 447 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:11,280 Speaker 1: to make it special. Spencer at the table, there's clapper, 448 00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:16,600 Speaker 1: which means good god, I'm totally screwed up your January. No, 449 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:20,040 Speaker 1: you didn't. You just made me realize that it's about 450 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:27,360 Speaker 1: life and I have to moderate. Your body of work 451 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:31,400 Speaker 1: is amazing and it is peace for itself. Um So 452 00:30:31,880 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 1: along the way of making those choices, I'm sure there's 453 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:37,280 Speaker 1: a multitude choices that you didn't. You said no to 454 00:30:37,360 --> 00:30:42,800 Speaker 1: what what makes you not do a project. It's interesting. Uh. 455 00:30:43,080 --> 00:30:45,080 Speaker 1: I know some people when they when they read a 456 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:49,000 Speaker 1: script um they look at their character and the prominence 457 00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:52,760 Speaker 1: of their character, and you know, my character could be 458 00:30:52,800 --> 00:30:55,840 Speaker 1: the lead, my character could be part of an ensemble. 459 00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:59,880 Speaker 1: It's just what is the contribution of that character, how 460 00:31:00,040 --> 00:31:05,160 Speaker 1: integral to the story is she? But I choose projects 461 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:07,880 Speaker 1: as a whole. When I sit down and I read 462 00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:13,200 Speaker 1: the script, if the creatives behind it, if I if 463 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:15,960 Speaker 1: I don't believe that they're going to be able to 464 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:19,280 Speaker 1: execute it in the manner that the script if it 465 00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:23,720 Speaker 1: has to be on the page. But if it's not, uh, 466 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:26,280 Speaker 1: if it's on the page and the people around it 467 00:31:27,560 --> 00:31:34,640 Speaker 1: aren't and they don't have to be named or storied people, 468 00:31:34,720 --> 00:31:37,640 Speaker 1: they just have to know what they're doing. And I 469 00:31:37,680 --> 00:31:43,000 Speaker 1: love writer directors, you know. Ninety I would say the 470 00:31:43,080 --> 00:31:45,840 Speaker 1: work that I've done is for people who have written 471 00:31:45,880 --> 00:31:49,360 Speaker 1: things for me or they are the writer director. And 472 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:53,240 Speaker 1: I love that because if you're the writer director, you're 473 00:31:53,360 --> 00:31:57,760 Speaker 1: not um looking through someone else's lend. If it's on 474 00:31:57,800 --> 00:31:59,600 Speaker 1: the page, I know that you're going to be able 475 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:03,640 Speaker 1: to actually cute Guillermo del Toro for the Shape of Water, 476 00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:06,080 Speaker 1: I was only supposed to meet with him for like 477 00:32:06,120 --> 00:32:08,120 Speaker 1: thirty minutes, and it turned to like a three hour lunch, 478 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:09,600 Speaker 1: right the best time, because I was a big fan 479 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:12,200 Speaker 1: of his and he he said, I wrote the script, 480 00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:14,320 Speaker 1: I'm going to send it to you, and I'm not 481 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:16,959 Speaker 1: gonna tell you anything. And I was like, well, okay. 482 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:18,960 Speaker 1: I got home and I read the first page. My 483 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:21,600 Speaker 1: character is not in the first page. But I read 484 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:23,080 Speaker 1: the first page and I called him and I said, 485 00:32:23,080 --> 00:32:26,239 Speaker 1: I'm in, Like, you haven't even had time to read it. 486 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:28,520 Speaker 1: But I read the first page and I was so 487 00:32:29,040 --> 00:32:31,600 Speaker 1: I knew, you know, I just knew. And then when 488 00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:34,800 Speaker 1: I when my character it does come into the script, 489 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:37,920 Speaker 1: I was already in and I just I'm in. Just 490 00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:45,320 Speaker 1: tell him I'm in. Okay, So you talked about I 491 00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:48,200 Speaker 1: didn't know you were a literature major. Are you? What 492 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:52,400 Speaker 1: are you reading now? What are you right now? I'm 493 00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:57,760 Speaker 1: reading Michelle Obama. I just I think she's an amazing 494 00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:02,320 Speaker 1: writer and she has has had a really interesting life. 495 00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:04,800 Speaker 1: The next thing that I want to do is join 496 00:33:05,400 --> 00:33:09,400 Speaker 1: a book club and read multiple things at once, because 497 00:33:09,520 --> 00:33:13,920 Speaker 1: I used to have this voracious appetite for you know, material, 498 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:16,320 Speaker 1: and now I'm thinking, well, where do I look. I've 499 00:33:16,360 --> 00:33:19,320 Speaker 1: never been a huge reader. I like the idea of reading. 500 00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:22,680 Speaker 1: I'm the slowest reader. Like I was reading The Kite Runner, 501 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:26,280 Speaker 1: and four years later, how's that book? I'm like, I'm 502 00:33:26,280 --> 00:33:34,160 Speaker 1: on page third. He's like the movie. I finished it. 503 00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:38,000 Speaker 1: I'm I'm getting a lot better. I get really caught 504 00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:42,880 Speaker 1: up in and to my genres and I I love mysteries. 505 00:33:43,160 --> 00:33:47,280 Speaker 1: I literally live in the mystery world and thrillers and 506 00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:52,560 Speaker 1: so anything Patterson does, it's like, you know, and I 507 00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:55,280 Speaker 1: love Dean Conson, I love all of you know, but 508 00:33:55,840 --> 00:33:59,120 Speaker 1: they're a little spooky and a little so now I'm 509 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:02,880 Speaker 1: it's funny where I am in life. I kind of 510 00:34:03,200 --> 00:34:06,800 Speaker 1: don't want the fantasy of those things anymore. I'm into 511 00:34:07,800 --> 00:34:14,000 Speaker 1: other people's life experiences and not fiction but nonfiction. So um, 512 00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:16,800 Speaker 1: that's where I am. And it's a weird place because 513 00:34:16,840 --> 00:34:21,320 Speaker 1: I have stacks of books that are like getting dust 514 00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:24,640 Speaker 1: that I haven't cracked open yet. Um that I bought. 515 00:34:24,719 --> 00:34:29,080 Speaker 1: And I also love reading children's literature. You love reading 516 00:34:29,080 --> 00:34:31,000 Speaker 1: it or are you part? Did you have a project? 517 00:34:31,239 --> 00:34:37,879 Speaker 1: I actually I wrote a children's book because I I, um, 518 00:34:37,920 --> 00:34:43,360 Speaker 1: you know, I am dyslexic, and Mystery saved my reading 519 00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:48,000 Speaker 1: life because my teacher in the first grade gave me 520 00:34:48,080 --> 00:34:50,319 Speaker 1: Encyclopedia Brown, and she said, you're gonna want to pay 521 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:55,359 Speaker 1: attention to every thing in the book because you don't 522 00:34:55,360 --> 00:34:59,200 Speaker 1: know what is a clue. And of course you're like, 523 00:34:59,239 --> 00:35:01,200 Speaker 1: because I would ta about a text, you know, I 524 00:35:01,239 --> 00:35:04,239 Speaker 1: would start reading, and if the narrative didn't catch me immediately, 525 00:35:04,239 --> 00:35:06,400 Speaker 1: I'm like, I can't do it. Then when I started 526 00:35:06,400 --> 00:35:14,000 Speaker 1: reading mysteries, I couldn't put them down, you know, in 527 00:35:14,040 --> 00:35:16,760 Speaker 1: a very different way. I mean I read I read 528 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:22,080 Speaker 1: every Hardy Boy, Nancy Drew, every single one. I read 529 00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:27,600 Speaker 1: every Encyclopedia Brown, the Box Car Kids, like every single one. 530 00:35:27,600 --> 00:35:30,359 Speaker 1: But that's that's kind of who I am. When I 531 00:35:30,560 --> 00:35:35,400 Speaker 1: become a fan, I then have to consume everything you do. 532 00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:39,480 Speaker 1: That's the tribe you're in. You all are just fully in, 533 00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:43,160 Speaker 1: ye Like that is what I think is so spectacular 534 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:48,080 Speaker 1: about everything you and your group is like you're like, oh, 535 00:35:48,080 --> 00:35:50,840 Speaker 1: we're in, We're in, Like we're gonna go and whether 536 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:57,160 Speaker 1: it's just going out to some steakhouse you know well 537 00:35:58,160 --> 00:36:03,480 Speaker 1: and John's driving on you know, it's like because where 538 00:36:03,520 --> 00:36:09,960 Speaker 1: am I? What am I doing? This? Er, I like you. 539 00:36:11,480 --> 00:36:17,200 Speaker 1: Mullet's good. I'll lot that it was a ponytail at you. 540 00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:21,839 Speaker 1: It's cute. No, it's it's my Wisconsin waterfall. I'm trying 541 00:36:21,880 --> 00:36:34,440 Speaker 1: to love. I was always being asked Hollywood has a 542 00:36:34,480 --> 00:36:37,160 Speaker 1: diversity problem. I said, well, Hollywood may, but I don't 543 00:36:37,200 --> 00:36:40,920 Speaker 1: have a diversity. But I'm diverse in my nature. Um. 544 00:36:40,960 --> 00:36:47,040 Speaker 1: And that's what I love though about finding projects and 545 00:36:47,160 --> 00:36:49,759 Speaker 1: being a producer, because the other question I'm asked a 546 00:36:49,840 --> 00:36:52,080 Speaker 1: lot is what's the role you're meant to play and 547 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:56,040 Speaker 1: destined to play and that you want to play and 548 00:36:56,320 --> 00:36:58,920 Speaker 1: the role I've always wanted to play. The role that 549 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:01,759 Speaker 1: I feel that I'm into play is that of a 550 00:37:01,760 --> 00:37:05,960 Speaker 1: producer to create opportunities for everyone who wants to be 551 00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:10,040 Speaker 1: a storyteller, Um, but especially people who don't have access 552 00:37:10,080 --> 00:37:12,600 Speaker 1: to opportunities. Is there something that you would like to 553 00:37:12,600 --> 00:37:14,560 Speaker 1: bring to screen of someone's story that you would like 554 00:37:14,640 --> 00:37:19,680 Speaker 1: to tell. It's funny because Donna Gelotti, producer of Hidden Figures, 555 00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:23,719 Speaker 1: brought me a script and uh, she's just one of 556 00:37:23,760 --> 00:37:28,240 Speaker 1: the most fascinating people. The subject of the script, Um, 557 00:37:28,560 --> 00:37:32,160 Speaker 1: Wie Roundtree Johnson. I don't want to say too much 558 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:35,920 Speaker 1: about her story. I'll tell you off of mine, but 559 00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:40,680 Speaker 1: I am excited about telling her story. She was a lawyer, 560 00:37:41,280 --> 00:37:43,839 Speaker 1: She lived to be a hundred and four. She had 561 00:37:43,920 --> 00:37:47,360 Speaker 1: the opportunity to be the national head of the Double 562 00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:52,279 Speaker 1: A CP and she actually chose to take on a 563 00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:56,480 Speaker 1: case that was in her community. UM, and boy was 564 00:37:56,560 --> 00:38:01,040 Speaker 1: she up against some very powerful forces. And UM, she 565 00:38:01,200 --> 00:38:04,879 Speaker 1: won that case. And when you read her story, when 566 00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:08,160 Speaker 1: you read her, you know, just reading her obituary, it 567 00:38:08,239 --> 00:38:12,319 Speaker 1: was like she's one of those those women that you 568 00:38:12,600 --> 00:38:15,920 Speaker 1: kind of really didn't know about, you know. I won't 569 00:38:15,920 --> 00:38:20,000 Speaker 1: say she was necessarily a hidden figure, UM, but she 570 00:38:20,000 --> 00:38:24,000 Speaker 1: she was. UM. And I think her story definitely deserves 571 00:38:24,040 --> 00:38:26,400 Speaker 1: to be told because I get to play a lawyer, 572 00:38:28,320 --> 00:38:31,840 Speaker 1: I had to actually be one, UM and I'm excited 573 00:38:31,840 --> 00:38:36,120 Speaker 1: about that because of the impact. I think, you know, 574 00:38:36,160 --> 00:38:38,920 Speaker 1: that ripple effect that she was able to have in 575 00:38:38,960 --> 00:38:43,400 Speaker 1: her community, amazing people's lives that you don't know, the 576 00:38:43,480 --> 00:38:48,200 Speaker 1: magnitude you know, and then when you learn, um, wow, 577 00:38:48,320 --> 00:38:52,000 Speaker 1: look a person can do exactly the fact that you 578 00:38:52,040 --> 00:38:54,799 Speaker 1: say that. And and I am so grateful for the 579 00:38:54,920 --> 00:38:59,200 Speaker 1: educators in my life from my mom, because when you 580 00:38:59,320 --> 00:39:04,200 Speaker 1: recognize an and when you nurture that curiosity and kids, um, 581 00:39:04,239 --> 00:39:08,160 Speaker 1: but let them know that they have something special, whatever 582 00:39:08,200 --> 00:39:11,440 Speaker 1: it is, that we all have something to contribute to 583 00:39:11,520 --> 00:39:14,640 Speaker 1: the world. And if people felt better about what their 584 00:39:14,680 --> 00:39:18,600 Speaker 1: contribution is. I mean, you know, if it's a person 585 00:39:18,680 --> 00:39:22,320 Speaker 1: that's an amazing cook and you're feeding you know, your family, 586 00:39:22,480 --> 00:39:26,319 Speaker 1: or you want to open up bakery, that should be celebrated. 587 00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:28,680 Speaker 1: You know what I'm saying. No matter how big or 588 00:39:28,680 --> 00:39:32,080 Speaker 1: how small, those contributions are important. And I think the 589 00:39:32,120 --> 00:39:35,640 Speaker 1: world will be a much better place if people, um 590 00:39:36,160 --> 00:39:39,600 Speaker 1: recognize that in each other and encourage that. You know 591 00:39:39,640 --> 00:39:42,200 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. Yeah, I do know what you're saying. 592 00:39:42,800 --> 00:39:46,400 Speaker 1: And I do think that we have tended to value 593 00:39:47,239 --> 00:39:51,799 Speaker 1: something that's much more glamorous and lucrative as opposed to 594 00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:54,960 Speaker 1: valuing the sort of the whole landscape and the and 595 00:39:55,040 --> 00:39:58,080 Speaker 1: the small and the significance of the small. You know, 596 00:39:58,120 --> 00:40:02,000 Speaker 1: and I know you know you've for your mom and 597 00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:07,320 Speaker 1: and it's it's so it fills me with such joy 598 00:40:07,960 --> 00:40:10,960 Speaker 1: an emotion because you had your mom for seventeen years 599 00:40:11,840 --> 00:40:16,759 Speaker 1: and you the power that she gave you in that 600 00:40:16,920 --> 00:40:21,160 Speaker 1: short period of time absolutely is amazing, It really is. 601 00:40:21,320 --> 00:40:25,719 Speaker 1: And that power you have given to all of us. Yeah, 602 00:40:26,080 --> 00:40:29,680 Speaker 1: thank you for saying that. I feel very fortunate, and 603 00:40:30,040 --> 00:40:33,840 Speaker 1: uh what, I love quoting movies, especially the color purple. 604 00:40:34,280 --> 00:40:36,600 Speaker 1: But this isn't the color purple. This is Spider Man 605 00:40:37,480 --> 00:40:41,520 Speaker 1: too much, whom is given much as expected. And I 606 00:40:41,840 --> 00:40:48,160 Speaker 1: I I definitely believe that for my life and my career. 607 00:40:48,760 --> 00:40:52,759 Speaker 1: And I'm just I'm very I'm happy, you know, I'm 608 00:40:52,800 --> 00:41:01,319 Speaker 1: happy that I have those opportunities. It's always sad when 609 00:41:01,680 --> 00:41:06,120 Speaker 1: lunch ends, but luckily for Octavia, I'm sending her home 610 00:41:06,160 --> 00:41:09,520 Speaker 1: with a jug of Trader Joe Sangria and a ton 611 00:41:09,680 --> 00:41:13,080 Speaker 1: of leftowners. Hey, Eric, I'm taking I'm taking my stuff. 612 00:41:18,000 --> 00:41:26,439 Speaker 1: Mama doesn't cook and when you have diffud, So everybody, 613 00:41:26,440 --> 00:41:30,000 Speaker 1: thank you for plowing up ature with Octavia and I today. 614 00:41:30,040 --> 00:41:34,040 Speaker 1: This is a magnificent lunch. You gotta check out Truth 615 00:41:34,080 --> 00:41:39,080 Speaker 1: be Told on Apple. It's amazing. I love you too, 616 00:41:39,120 --> 00:41:41,279 Speaker 1: and thank you for having Thank you, thank you, and 617 00:41:41,320 --> 00:41:51,120 Speaker 1: thank you for my meal leisure. My Tree Table for 618 00:41:51,239 --> 00:41:53,760 Speaker 1: two with Bruce Bozzy is produced by ir Heart Radio 619 00:41:54,040 --> 00:41:57,879 Speaker 1: seven three seven Park and Airmail. Our executive producers are 620 00:41:57,880 --> 00:42:01,880 Speaker 1: Bruce Bozzy, Jonathan Hoss Dressed and Nathan King. Table for 621 00:42:01,960 --> 00:42:04,719 Speaker 1: two is edited and written by Tina Mullen and researched 622 00:42:04,760 --> 00:42:09,440 Speaker 1: and written by Bridget arsenalt Our sound engineers are Emil B. Klein, 623 00:42:09,840 --> 00:42:13,160 Speaker 1: Paul Bowman and Melyssa Midcalf. Table for two is l A. 624 00:42:13,200 --> 00:42:17,680 Speaker 1: Production team is Danielle Romo and Lorraine viz Our. Music 625 00:42:17,760 --> 00:42:21,560 Speaker 1: supervisor is Randall poster. Our talent booking is by James Harkin. 626 00:42:21,800 --> 00:42:26,440 Speaker 1: Special thanks to Amy Sugarman, Uni Share, Kevin Uvane, Bobby Bower, 627 00:42:26,600 --> 00:42:30,400 Speaker 1: Alison Cantor, Graber and Barburn Gen and Jeff Klein and 628 00:42:30,440 --> 00:42:32,760 Speaker 1: the staff at the Tower Bar in the world famous 629 00:42:32,760 --> 00:42:36,040 Speaker 1: Sunset Tower Hotel. For more podcasts from my Heart Radio, 630 00:42:36,360 --> 00:42:39,720 Speaker 1: visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever 631 00:42:39,800 --> 00:42:41,440 Speaker 1: you listen to your favorite shows.