1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,040 Speaker 1: Welcome to Money Making Conversations Masterclass. I am your host, 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:06,519 Speaker 1: Rashan McDonald. I recognized that we all have different definitions 3 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:08,720 Speaker 1: of success. For you and may be the size of 4 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 1: your paycheck. Mine is inspiring people to accomplish their goals 5 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: and live their very best life. It's time to stop 6 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:17,759 Speaker 1: reading other people's success stories and start writing your own. 7 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 1: Please always talk about because people always talk about their 8 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:23,759 Speaker 1: gifts to their purpose. If you have a gift, leave 9 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:26,159 Speaker 1: with your gift and don't let your friends, primarily or 10 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 1: cord cut stop you from planning or living your dream. 11 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 1: My next guest is Regina Taylor, a two time in 12 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: Double A CP Image Award winning actress, playwright and activists. 13 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:40,200 Speaker 1: She plays the role of Marion Shields Robinson, Michelle Obama's 14 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: mother in the ten week anthology series The First Lady, 15 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:47,879 Speaker 1: which appears on Showtime every every Sunday night PM. I've 16 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 1: been watching it very very well, talking about more detail, 17 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 1: Mrs Reginia Taylor's first film was the made for TV 18 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: movie Crisis at Central High, which started Jordan Woodward and 19 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 1: when she portrayed one of the first black students to 20 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 1: integrate the Arkansas school system. Taylor next going to praise 21 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 1: for a role as Mrs Carter remember that drug addictive 22 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 1: mother in the eighteen and nine Lean On Me with 23 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: Morgan Freeman. Other film roles include Spike LEAs Clockers, a 24 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 1: fly away series which we would talk about, The Unit, 25 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:19,040 Speaker 1: and love Craft Country. On today's show, will be discussing 26 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,760 Speaker 1: her career, longevity and the anthology series The First Lady. 27 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 1: Please welcome to Money Making Conversation Masterclass the incredible Regina Taylor. 28 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 1: How are you doing? I'm great? Thank you so much. Well, 29 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:36,839 Speaker 1: first of all, a career uh enacting. I mentioned because 30 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:39,399 Speaker 1: I wanted to mention your first role and then the 31 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 1: current role, because that's a body of work in between. 32 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:45,199 Speaker 1: There there's a testimonial to your skill set, but also 33 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 1: the ability to not just hang around, but to be 34 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 1: a part of the process, the creative process, to be 35 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 1: able to make your make a name for yourself and 36 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 1: a respected name for yourself. But tell us how it 37 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: all started for you, miss Taylor. I started out as 38 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 1: a later I've been writing since I was a baby. 39 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: My mother taught me to write children's books. She wanted 40 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 1: me and she was a teacher, so it's very mindful 41 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 1: that she wanted me to be able to write my 42 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 1: own story right, my own narrative plays a little chocolate 43 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 1: girl in the center of the story, and Bill whirls 44 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 1: around her perspective. She thought that was survival to creativity. Uh, 45 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: and to to start channeling that early. So I always wanted, 46 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 1: I always wrote, always loved writing. Went into college as 47 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 1: a journalism major, and uh that that was my path 48 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: until I took an acting class. Just about a credit 49 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 1: was just really always we talked about because doing the 50 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:54,639 Speaker 1: pandemic in the word pivot became a very popular term. 51 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: You know, being able to make adjustment. You see your 52 00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: path going one way and then you pivot to make 53 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 1: an adjustment. So you went to college, journalism was your dream, 54 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,359 Speaker 1: your goal. You you dreamed of a life in that 55 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 1: put an acting class. What in that acting class? Ms? 56 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: Regina Taylor made you go wow? Or was it a 57 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 1: series of things that happened once you took that class. 58 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 1: But in the same way that I love I love books, 59 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 1: I love writing because you get to immerse yourself into 60 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 1: someone else's life, learned to their skin, seat that their 61 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 1: eyes take, that turney with them. I love books and 62 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: I love writing for that. When I took that acting class, 63 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 1: and still am a very shy person, uh bit timid 64 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: and in public. So to be able to then give 65 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: myself to another character, uh that I am again stepping 66 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 1: into someone else's shoes, seeing the world with their eyes, 67 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 1: I am speaking, uh, with their voice and still my own. Uh. 68 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 1: That was very um challenging, and it was exhilarating and 69 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: it got me over my shyness a bit and uh, 70 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 1: just owning my voice in a different way. So that 71 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: was that was very exciting. I still didn't consider myself 72 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:23,799 Speaker 1: an actor. That was like acting class one on one. 73 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:31,799 Speaker 1: What did it was? Henry Bonda was at the school 74 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 1: Southern Memphis University here in Dallas, Texas. And yeah, and 75 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 1: uh he was doing a live broadcast UM from the 76 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:49,480 Speaker 1: school for TV of oldest living graduates. So he was 77 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: right there on campus, right there in the theater department. 78 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 1: I had finished a class and I was following him 79 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 1: down the hallway because I was too shy to say hallo. Uh. 80 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: And this agent saw me stalking him and came over 81 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 1: said are you an actress? I said sure, And she 82 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 1: said there's this audition this weekend off of the freeway 83 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 1: in Motel six and she was like, do you want 84 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:26,039 Speaker 1: to go to this audition? I said, okay, because I'm 85 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:31,040 Speaker 1: no fool. I brought my biggest cousin with me, Philip 86 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: uh and made up a resume. Uh, took a polaroid 87 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: camera uh and and took a picture. And I went 88 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 1: in and I got the I got the job. It 89 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 1: was starring Joeanne Woodward, Crisis at Central High about the 90 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: first to integrate the Arkansas scho system, Little Rock nine, 91 00:05:54,560 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 1: And I played Minny Jeene Brown, this real person. Um. 92 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 1: I got to embody her spirit for the TV movie. 93 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: So that was my first professional job. This opportunity came 94 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 1: from following Henry Father down the hallway in school. You know, 95 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 1: you took an acting class s m U University and 96 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 1: an audition and you went in. Did you get that? There? 97 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:26,799 Speaker 1: Was it a cold audition that give your lives before 98 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:31,280 Speaker 1: you walked in? Yeah? If they gave me lines, yeah, 99 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: and I read yeah. Wow. Now you know when you 100 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 1: when you walk into that, because you go from every 101 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:39,600 Speaker 1: fund Now you're Joe and Woodward, okay, which is another 102 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 1: incredibly talented actress in her in her time. Yes, and 103 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:46,839 Speaker 1: then you're talking about a very dramatic role, which is 104 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:51,119 Speaker 1: historical but based what were you a emotionally at this part? 105 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: You know, you're still in school. What was happening here 106 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 1: with you? Uh? Well, I was just very excited too, 107 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 1: M get to at this experience. Uh was what it 108 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: was about. My first time on a plane to go 109 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: from Dallas, Texas to Arkansas to the actual school where 110 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 1: we shot was was very exciting. And as we were shooting, 111 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 1: there are people who were watching the shoot living across 112 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: the streets, some of them who were coming across and saying, oh, 113 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 1: I was here the day that the military came in 114 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 1: to escort these students into the school, and I was going, 115 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: this is real. And I think it really made a 116 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 1: last impression about how art social justice um can be 117 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 1: bridged in the work, through the work, and that's your 118 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 1: entire career. So now we fast forward to the First Lady, 119 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 1: another role where you plan somewhat the reality you're you're 120 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 1: you're watching something out in this series. Now, my takeaway 121 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 1: in this series is that I will be right back 122 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: with more Money Making Conversations Masterclass with Rushan McDonald. Now 123 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 1: let's return to Money Making Conversations Masterclass with Rashan McDonald. 124 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 1: You know we always see the final product. You know, 125 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 1: them making it to the White House. There's a there's 126 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 1: a role that they played, there's a life there. So 127 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 1: you really don't see you don't really don't peel back 128 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 1: the covers of who they were as a child, who 129 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: they were as teenagers, how did they meet, what, how 130 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 1: did a relationship come about? And this series does that 131 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:37,599 Speaker 1: for me, and I was and and and and it 132 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: goes he's life, he's person's life is layered in each 133 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 1: episode and in different time periods, like in episode I 134 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 1: Sold last Night, all three of them got married on 135 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:50,720 Speaker 1: the same day in this particular episode, you know, and 136 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 1: and so what was your take on this series when 137 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: the opportunity came to you and then as you're watching 138 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: the series play itself out. Yes, I think it's really 139 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: great series. And seeing these three powerful women, uh, from 140 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: Michelle Obama, Betty Ford, Eleanor Roosevelt in these powerhouse actors, 141 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 1: in these roles Viola Davis to Michelle Peiffer, Jillian Anderson. 142 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 1: Uh take on uh, these roles and what it is 143 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: to be a first lady. Definition of first lady keeps changing. 144 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 1: Rogerson steps into those shoes. Uh, and certainly with these 145 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:38,079 Speaker 1: particular women. Uh. They are conscious women making a statement, 146 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 1: going outside, pushing the boundaries of what the role of 147 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 1: first Ladies should be. From Eleanor Roosevelt uh speaking out 148 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:52,079 Speaker 1: on women's rights and rights of people across the board 149 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 1: in her time, UH to UH Betty Ford talking about 150 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 1: help and mental health and physical health and speaking out 151 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 1: when people were mainly silent about certain issues. UH. And 152 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:17,600 Speaker 1: with Michelle Obama embracing so many issues including being uh 153 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 1: the issue of being a black woman as the first 154 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 1: Lady for the very first time in our country's history. UH. 155 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:31,200 Speaker 1: The challenges of each women, each woman is to have 156 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 1: a voids one of being a woman and and challenging 157 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 1: what the expectations, what the boundaries are, and being a 158 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:46,959 Speaker 1: woman uh continues to be uh challenges that we face today. 159 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 1: So it's really I think interesting how these stories interweave 160 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 1: different times, different women and similar challenges. I'm thinking of 161 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 1: Mrs Regina Taylor, you know, one of the stars of 162 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,680 Speaker 1: the anthology series First Lady This Errand on showtime every 163 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 1: Sunday night at nine pm Eastern Standard Time and Pacific. 164 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:10,840 Speaker 1: The thing that my takeaway was that you know, you 165 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:13,839 Speaker 1: do have Jillian Anderson, you do have Fallola Davis, you 166 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 1: do have Michelle Peiffer, But the young actresses who played 167 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: the roles, Oh my, they were just so I was. 168 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 1: I was. They threw me into the series. I'm gonna 169 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:25,320 Speaker 1: tell you right now, even before I got to them, 170 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:28,080 Speaker 1: they drew me. If they if they didn't do their job, 171 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 1: if they weren't magnetic, if they wasn't uh, and they 172 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:34,640 Speaker 1: they got me, They got my heart, they got my spirit. 173 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:39,840 Speaker 1: I feel for their lifestyle, their concerns. They're not being mentioned. 174 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: I have to take a few moments with you and 175 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:44,840 Speaker 1: also allow you to speak on them, because to me, 176 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:47,559 Speaker 1: they're the key to the series because, like I said, 177 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:51,599 Speaker 1: we know who Michelle Obama is because we as a 178 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:53,960 Speaker 1: first lady as well as Eleanor Rose, but as a 179 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 1: first lady as is you know Betty Ford as a 180 00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 1: first lady. But that journey to be in that first 181 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:05,440 Speaker 1: lady is so important. And they are fantastic, can yes 182 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 1: all each one? Because you go uh in terms of 183 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 1: seeing them as adults, uh, in in the role in 184 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:17,319 Speaker 1: the White House and thing you do. Uh going back 185 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:22,560 Speaker 1: in terms of history drawing bath curtain, who were they before? Uh? 186 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:30,200 Speaker 1: And certainly speaking on Jamie Lawson and Um who's playing 187 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 1: also playing Michelle Obama as she goes to high school 188 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 1: through law school, uh college, and you also have young 189 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:49,679 Speaker 1: Man de Niro Um who is Julian de Niro who 190 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:56,559 Speaker 1: is playing at the young uh Mr Obama how they 191 00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:02,080 Speaker 1: met night as we're watching. So it's so, you know, 192 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:04,960 Speaker 1: it's like, you know, black love, real love is uh. 193 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 1: You know she was his boss, you know, uh, and 194 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 1: you know, you know the thing about it is that 195 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 1: we don't this we're called pivot that we talked about 196 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:17,199 Speaker 1: earlier in your career. You went to school as a 197 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:20,679 Speaker 1: journalist major and then actress. The acting bug hit you 198 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:22,800 Speaker 1: once you hear the class took a class in acting, 199 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:24,600 Speaker 1: and next time you know, you're one of the most 200 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:28,840 Speaker 1: talented actresses in our era. And in this situation, like 201 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:31,680 Speaker 1: she says she didn't like public speaking. That's why she 202 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 1: intentionally flunked a course. That's what she says in the storyline, 203 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 1: so she wouldn't be valid victory because she didn't want 204 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:40,120 Speaker 1: to make a speech. And then speech so and then 205 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 1: she becomes one of the most pronounced speakers of our generation. 206 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,640 Speaker 1: That's really interesting. That's why I say it's important because 207 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 1: what you see here was not what now in her 208 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:53,320 Speaker 1: final version. You know, when you go high, you know 209 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 1: when you go low, we go high. You know all 210 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 1: those quotable statements that she said in our lifetime and 211 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 1: become a leader, not on for black women and but 212 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 1: but our people, for people in general. Let you know 213 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: why this series is important because you need to see 214 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 1: HI started Hi, I built momentum and how the final 215 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 1: product was able to play itself out because of that journey, correct, Taylor, 216 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 1: That's right. Um. We get to see also foundationally where 217 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: they come from. Um. Michelle Obama's I was talking about 218 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 1: her family, family ties that keeper rooted Chicago south side, mother, 219 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: bothered stable, uh and always also playing this role. Uh. 220 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 1: Marian Robinson seeing uh the strong bond between Michelle Obama 221 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 1: and her mother that she brought her into the White 222 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: House with there to live, I was going, yes, yes, absolutely, 223 00:14:54,960 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 1: that makes sense. If they're facing new challenges, new terrain, uh, 224 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:08,520 Speaker 1: coming up against a major obstacles on a world stage. 225 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 1: She wanted to bring her mother with her at that 226 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 1: when you instabilitate that backbone, not only for herself, when 227 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 1: you when you play these roles, you know, these roles 228 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 1: these real life roles which you are playing here and 229 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:26,360 Speaker 1: you know and somewhat played a character that was built 230 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 1: into Lean on Me when the Lean character was a 231 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:31,280 Speaker 1: real life role. And and then of course we talked 232 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 1: about your first introduction in Crisis Central High. But then 233 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:41,040 Speaker 1: our Our fly Away the period. Yes, yes, Our fly 234 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:43,800 Speaker 1: Away was a period piece, but it's also based on 235 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 1: a life, a period of how we were treated and 236 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 1: how people a period of time. These pieces seem to 237 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 1: be part of your signature. Do you go after these roles, 238 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 1: this Taylor or they just see us this dramatic actress 239 00:15:56,960 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 1: who can handle this body of work. I am blessed. 240 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 1: I'm blessed these roles that have come to me until 241 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: they are in mind, and I am encouraged by this 242 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 1: path now whenever run though I think it was with 243 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 1: any One to ninety three was the series of Our 244 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 1: fly Away and reason it was important to me because 245 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 1: you know, I guess what, there were many black people 246 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 1: on TV and lead actors, of black leite actors leading 247 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 1: in that role. When when someone brought that project to you, 248 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 1: you know, do you do you? Are you aware of 249 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:33,479 Speaker 1: what's happening? Are you just just happy for the opportunity. 250 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:40,080 Speaker 1: I am happy for the opportunity and certainly you know, 251 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: uh with these roles. Fly Away was my first TV series. Uh, 252 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 1: and I think on Friday Night. I think it was 253 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 1: Aaron on Friday Night. I believe I want them. I 254 00:16:56,440 --> 00:17:00,040 Speaker 1: got the script they said, you know, coming audition, and 255 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:03,920 Speaker 1: what I did bring with me. I brought my roots. 256 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:07,960 Speaker 1: I brought my family, I brought my my my grandmother. 257 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 1: I brought myself fully to uh that audition where I 258 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 1: come from. Uh, this was a black woman in the 259 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 1: fifties in the South. I was shot in Atlanta, Georgia. 260 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 1: That was a housekeeper. And Uh, it was when I 261 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 1: first read the script, I said, oh, well I know her. 262 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 1: I I and I've experienced her, and I've never seen 263 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 1: her fully embodied on the screen. Uh that this woman. 264 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 1: Usually at that time, what you saw was a stereotype 265 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:04,959 Speaker 1: of a black right. Uh. What you saw were hands 266 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 1: and not much beyond the hands, maybe the back. But 267 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:14,400 Speaker 1: with this it was it was very special in that 268 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 1: you got inside her mind. You knew she had dreams. 269 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:25,119 Speaker 1: She and it was expressed every day. Every day she 270 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 1: would write in her journal and was shared every week. 271 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 1: At the time of the show, so, uh, you knew 272 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:35,880 Speaker 1: she had a mind. That's where you began. And then 273 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:39,399 Speaker 1: with that it expanded into not only is she the 274 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:46,440 Speaker 1: black woman in the white household, um, and those relationships. 275 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:49,440 Speaker 1: You saw her at home, you saw her in her 276 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: community as a woman, you saw her as a woman. 277 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:57,120 Speaker 1: She had boyfriend right right right, right, right right right, 278 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: and that's that that that father, she had a order, 279 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:03,359 Speaker 1: she had a past, and she got involved in the 280 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:08,479 Speaker 1: Civil rights movement right as a foot soldier. And that's why, 281 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 1: that's why, that's why, that's why. We'll be right back 282 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 1: with more Money Making Conversations Masterclass with Rushan McDonald. Now, 283 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:22,639 Speaker 1: let's return to Money Making Conversations Masterclass with Rashan McDonald. 284 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 1: Your life as a as an actress, as a person 285 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:28,119 Speaker 1: excites me when I had an opportunity to set up 286 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:30,639 Speaker 1: this interview because there's always a journey a story we 287 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: try to tell, and your story has always been something 288 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,879 Speaker 1: that that plays out and it's layered. That's just like 289 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 1: I said, these are just some of the stories that 290 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 1: movies and series that you've been impactful impacted our lives, 291 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:45,880 Speaker 1: especially in African Americans, because we look if we look 292 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 1: for that role, we look for that mentor we look 293 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 1: for that phase that it's relatable. You have been very 294 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 1: relatable to us with that with that statement I'm making 295 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 1: is that pressure with that because you know you said 296 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 1: you're naturally shy, you're not full What as far as 297 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:03,640 Speaker 1: coming out and speaking randomly during this interview, I feel 298 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 1: has to be something unique for me because I feel 299 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:08,919 Speaker 1: that you know, you don't step out there doing them 300 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:11,119 Speaker 1: all the time, but when you do them, you're fantastic 301 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 1: at doing them. So that role that you play, that 302 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 1: responsibility is it Is it important for you to value 303 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 1: what you bring into the table when you do interviews 304 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:24,440 Speaker 1: like this, Yes, it is absolutely. I try and be 305 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 1: mindful and conscious with all the work that I do, 306 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:31,119 Speaker 1: but that's with acting, whether that's with writing. I have 307 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:34,440 Speaker 1: a sense of where I come from. I have a 308 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:42,080 Speaker 1: sense of UH connecting with community communities, either through interviews 309 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 1: or hands on work, mentoring, teaching. I'm constantly doing classes 310 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 1: at different universities or high schools or uh through whatever 311 00:20:54,880 --> 00:21:00,200 Speaker 1: channels are available or making those channels UH. At the 312 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 1: same time, I am UH. It has been a wonderful 313 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:09,440 Speaker 1: continues to be a wonderful career in being able to 314 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 1: make those bridges between entertainment industry and UM. The socialistes 315 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:24,000 Speaker 1: that are important to me and UM continue to strengthen 316 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 1: our community. You know, when when I when I see 317 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:29,560 Speaker 1: the anthology series, because you playing a certain role, You're 318 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:32,360 Speaker 1: playing Michelle Obama's mother, but you also have these other 319 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:35,320 Speaker 1: to play. How does that? How does that information delivered 320 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:37,159 Speaker 1: to you as an actress? Do they give you the 321 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:40,240 Speaker 1: entire body of work to see how it plays out? 322 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:43,359 Speaker 1: You know, what is happening with Eleanor Roosevelt's role, What 323 00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:47,600 Speaker 1: is happening with with Betty Ford's role? How's that played 324 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 1: out strip wise? For you? Is that important that you 325 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:52,680 Speaker 1: know what's happening in their lives so you can understand 326 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:56,760 Speaker 1: what's happening in your role with Michelle Obama's character. They 327 00:21:56,960 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 1: shot each of the women's stories, it's ten parts. Each 328 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 1: one had ten parts put together. So I did not read, 329 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:13,920 Speaker 1: uh the ten scripts for the other two ladies, only 330 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 1: at the ten scripts uh that involved Michelle Obama. Because 331 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:22,080 Speaker 1: it was really interesting because, like I said, as a viewer, 332 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:24,720 Speaker 1: you know, I'm seeing the final product. You know, I'm 333 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:28,439 Speaker 1: watching Michelle Obama's role being layered in here, and then 334 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:31,639 Speaker 1: I'm watching Betty Forge and her characters, like, you know 335 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:33,960 Speaker 1: she I didn't know she was a divorced woman. I 336 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 1: didn't know she drink alcohol. I didn't know she smoked cigarettes. 337 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: I didn't know that at least in the series they 338 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:44,680 Speaker 1: showed that they participated in premarital sect you know, and 339 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 1: things like this. You know, it really was like I said, 340 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 1: that's the final product is what you get to the 341 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 1: White House. And that's all right, but always know, these 342 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:54,760 Speaker 1: people are human and we tend to put them in 343 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:57,520 Speaker 1: the in the White House, and we started putting standards 344 00:22:57,560 --> 00:22:59,680 Speaker 1: and not even that the every day person can live 345 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:02,080 Speaker 1: up too. And that's why I was important to see, 346 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:06,399 Speaker 1: you know, Michelle say, you know, I don't like public speaking, 347 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:08,960 Speaker 1: But that didn't mean that she didn't eventually rise to 348 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:11,920 Speaker 1: the occasion of being a public speaker. You can see, 349 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:14,200 Speaker 1: you know, she was a daddy's girl. You know that. 350 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:16,879 Speaker 1: You know she had a proud father, you know, and 351 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:20,040 Speaker 1: and had to deal with that. And remember the scene 352 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:21,800 Speaker 1: in the hospital show, I write to check how much 353 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 1: you're gonna cost to get my dad up front front 354 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 1: of the line and get him out of this lobby. 355 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 1: You know, when you when you're reading these scripts and 356 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:31,080 Speaker 1: you're taking this information? What did you learn about Michelle 357 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:34,879 Speaker 1: Obama Rutina Taylor? But I've always known she was fierce. 358 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:38,919 Speaker 1: You know who know she's a fierce woman, right. Uh? 359 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:43,840 Speaker 1: We know that she stands for what she believes in. Uh, 360 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 1: she is outspoken? How did she get that way? And 361 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:53,320 Speaker 1: in studying forward this, I went through a lot of video, 362 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:59,000 Speaker 1: but also book was was very central where she outlines 363 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:04,200 Speaker 1: her past, her family, uh, the sources of strength in 364 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:12,240 Speaker 1: her life. Uh yeah, Uh I think, Um, I'm a 365 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:17,280 Speaker 1: huge and admirer believer in Michelle Obama. Well I think 366 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 1: we all are. But guess what, we are huge admirers 367 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:26,920 Speaker 1: and fans of Regina Taylor. When I see you, know, 368 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:29,840 Speaker 1: it's always fun when I see somebody which I could 369 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 1: I use the word legend and I don't use the 370 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:33,560 Speaker 1: word let loosely when I say that about you. When 371 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:36,439 Speaker 1: I can think a body of works that can vividly 372 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:39,120 Speaker 1: come to my mind, clockers that that body of work 373 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:41,920 Speaker 1: by Spike Lee always stays in my mind when I 374 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:44,600 Speaker 1: saw it in a movie theater. And and then you 375 00:24:44,680 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 1: know the The Unit and Lovecraft Country. You know, all 376 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:50,440 Speaker 1: them are different for you, all them player role and 377 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 1: all of them leave a lasting impression, Miss Taylor, Is 378 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:57,399 Speaker 1: that your goal when you get on that screen to 379 00:24:57,720 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 1: you know, when you lay down the work that you 380 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:02,800 Speaker 1: want to even impression on the on, the on, the viewers, 381 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:04,960 Speaker 1: on the people who are seeing your work are just 382 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:09,560 Speaker 1: the work that you're participating in. My my goal is 383 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:15,480 Speaker 1: always to try and find the truth, uh, multifaceted truths 384 00:25:16,359 --> 00:25:21,440 Speaker 1: of the characters that I play uh to uh in 385 00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:32,320 Speaker 1: this body to um give insight to share who um 386 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 1: we are body work, who we are uh, and we 387 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:44,160 Speaker 1: are complicated, we are multifaceted. We we are both light 388 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:47,320 Speaker 1: and dark and how we make these journeys and a 389 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:52,720 Speaker 1: lot of times we discovering this uh, the the resilience 390 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:56,080 Speaker 1: of the human spirit a lot of times and in 391 00:25:56,160 --> 00:26:00,359 Speaker 1: the characters that play uh that that's always I'm always conscious. 392 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:06,639 Speaker 1: I remember being a child and uh uh seeing a 393 00:26:06,720 --> 00:26:10,960 Speaker 1: black person on the screen, thank you, and uh you 394 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:13,680 Speaker 1: would hollow down the street and say, oh, there's a 395 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:20,680 Speaker 1: black person. There's a black person after come on, come on, 396 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:25,560 Speaker 1: come on, had to go see you, Samon David Jr. 397 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:31,040 Speaker 1: Come on, Yes, Diane Carol, Oh my god, Bessie Tyson, 398 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:35,280 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh um clip Wilson. The list was short, 399 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:40,560 Speaker 1: you know, it was just uh it, yes, thank you, 400 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:43,520 Speaker 1: thank you. And I got a chance to work with him. 401 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:47,920 Speaker 1: You know, I remember as a child being going, oh 402 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 1: my god, what a beautiful black man on the screen. 403 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:58,679 Speaker 1: And he's showing us as us as us uh, fully 404 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:04,920 Speaker 1: and holy and unabashedly with no shame. They called me, 405 00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:10,520 Speaker 1: mr Tis, I know you're gonna go there, and he 406 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:17,360 Speaker 1: slapped that sheriff. Oh my yes. It took our breaths away. Yes, yes, 407 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 1: and I'm sure some TVs went off forgets what we 408 00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:24,760 Speaker 1: were cheering. We were cheering in the community. Yes, yes, yes, yes, 409 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:29,040 Speaker 1: absolutely so. Uh. To to be able to work with 410 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:32,960 Speaker 1: someone like that, uh and and a piece uh that 411 00:27:33,119 --> 00:27:37,960 Speaker 1: was a Western uh called a good day to die 412 00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:44,119 Speaker 1: uh and then to have him as mentor and friend 413 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:53,760 Speaker 1: uh is is awesome and I'm quite um it's grateful, 414 00:27:55,040 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 1: humble uh in terms of of the journeys that I've through, 415 00:28:01,640 --> 00:28:05,400 Speaker 1: the work that you've done well. Her journey is continues 416 00:28:05,480 --> 00:28:08,239 Speaker 1: every Sunday night. It's called The First Lady, a ten 417 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:11,120 Speaker 1: week anthology series. You gotta catch it. Please go back 418 00:28:11,119 --> 00:28:13,080 Speaker 1: to the First when you catch it. But she's a 419 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:16,480 Speaker 1: multiple in double ACP Image Award winner, she's a multiple 420 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:20,399 Speaker 1: Emmy nominated actress. She's an activist, she's a playwright. And 421 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:23,800 Speaker 1: I'm from Texas. So I'm gonna claim you're okay, Houston, Texas, 422 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:27,440 Speaker 1: Dallas girl okay, and we're gonna win together. But more importantly, 423 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:30,879 Speaker 1: You're talent will forever be stored on DVD, v C 424 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 1: or digital. You're brilliant. Please thank you for coming on 425 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:38,360 Speaker 1: Money Making Conversation. Mr Regina Taylor, thank you, thank you. 426 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:40,760 Speaker 1: If you want to see you catch any episodes of 427 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:44,000 Speaker 1: Money Making Conversation, please go to money Making Conversation dot com. 428 00:28:44,360 --> 00:28:46,440 Speaker 1: I with Sean McDonald. I am your host,