1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,320 Speaker 1: So it's everyone needs a great pair of wireless earbuds. 2 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:06,480 Speaker 1: But before you go dropping hundreds of dollars on a pair, 3 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:10,040 Speaker 1: you need to check out the wireless earbuds from Recon. 4 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: Recon earbuds start off about half the price of any 5 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: other premium wireless earbuds on the market, and they sound 6 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:18,760 Speaker 1: just as amazing. The company was actually co founded by 7 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:21,760 Speaker 1: Ray j and celebrities like Stoop Dog, Melissy Athridge, Cardib, 8 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:25,800 Speaker 1: Brandy j R. Smith and Moore are already obsessed. Recon's 9 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 1: wireless earbuds are so comfortable and so easy to take anywhere. 10 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 1: Unlike some of your other wireless options, Recon earbuds are 11 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 1: both stylish and discreet, with no dangling wires or stems. 12 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 1: And of course they don't just look great, they sound 13 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:40,880 Speaker 1: great too, and they're perfect for listening to all your 14 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 1: favorite I heart radio podcasts on the go. Recon offers 15 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: their wireless earbuds for everyone in a range of fun 16 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 1: colors and at an unbeatable price. So go to buy 17 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: Recon dot com slash I heart to get off your 18 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 1: order that's by Recon dot com slash I heart for 19 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 1: off Recon why or list of ear buds. If you've 20 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 1: been eyeing a parent, now is the time to get 21 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:06,479 Speaker 1: an amazing deal one more time by raycon dot com. 22 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:10,319 Speaker 1: Slash my Heart My next guest is an accomplished actor 23 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 1: on shows like Falcolm Crest's Fame, Hill Street, Blues, Knots, Landing, 24 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 1: Dallas or Dallas whoa Boy back in the Day who 25 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 1: shot j R? And New York Undercover off on fox 26 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: Man That was the Show. His film critics include Get 27 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:28,760 Speaker 1: Rich or Die Trying, Hoodling, Predator, Minister Society. That is 28 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 1: a movie. If you've not seen it, you should catalog 29 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 1: that that is one of the best urban um interestited 30 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 1: movies of how dry bys and interstity violence. I was 31 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:40,119 Speaker 1: living in l A at the time when that movie 32 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: came out, so it was really very relatable and anymore. 33 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: He's a TV and film director and UH deep Cover 34 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 1: when he was with Jeff goldbloom Man. We gotta talk 35 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: about that man s the act two, UH, producer, writer, 36 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 1: and the author of the new book that we're gonna 37 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: talk about on the show today. Bill Duke for your 38 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 1: career on screen and behind in the cameras. As I 39 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: said his name, Please welcome the money making conversations Bill Duke, God, 40 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:08,960 Speaker 1: bless you, my brother. Thanks for having me. Hey Bill, 41 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: how are you doing? My friend? I'm blessed man, thank 42 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 1: you for having me on your show. Well, first of all, uh, 43 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 1: you know, you know, I know your talents. We we've 44 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: we've we kind of met a couple of times when 45 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: you came by Steve always the morning show, and uh, 46 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:23,799 Speaker 1: he was always quiet but always had a message about 47 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 1: giving back man evening. That's that's about my fifteen years 48 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 1: ago when we had that conversation, and I see you 49 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: still maintaining that with your foundation. Talk to us about 50 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 1: it before we get into the book. Well, it's the 51 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 1: Duke Media Foundation and you can see it online at 52 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: Duke Media Foundation dot org. Just Media Foundation dot org. 53 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 1: And we teach young people who are interested in our industry. Uh. 54 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 1: Two things. One is media literacy. We've gone from some 55 00:02:51,200 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: television to Hulu, Crackical, Amazon, Netflix, augmented reality for reality, 56 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: cell phone apps. I mean it goes on and on 57 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 1: and on, and it's not about just purchasing those things. 58 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 1: What are the jobs behind those issues? And the second 59 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 1: thing we teach young people is financial literacy. We are 60 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: taught how to spend money, but now to use money. 61 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 1: So we teach them about what is the FBI C 62 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 1: what's the Federal Reserve? Was the stock market? What is 63 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 1: Wall Street? What's debt with his credit with his compound interest? 64 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: What are the phones? So that they're given the information 65 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: that they can utilize to their benefit in terms of 66 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: leveraging dollars for themselves. That's really amazing. And what's the 67 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: age group? And how can one uh I get a 68 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 1: young person assuming this male and female? And what's the 69 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:47,440 Speaker 1: age group that participates in this in your foundation program? 70 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 1: They're high schools from fourteen to eighteen years old. And 71 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: we try to hold it four times a year. UM. 72 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: We are constantly raking funds for it because we think 73 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 1: we want to eventually take a national sir. Particularly, financial 74 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: literacy is so important. You know, we were how to 75 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 1: spend money for now to use this absolutely well? You 76 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 1: know the thing about it is always used me as 77 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 1: an asset, you know when you're doing it again? And Bill, 78 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,040 Speaker 1: first of all a fan. You've been like a mentor 79 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 1: to me because I've watched your talent. Uh. People don't 80 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 1: understand you don't have to know somebody for somebody to 81 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 1: be your mentor. It's just what they how they carry themselves, 82 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,600 Speaker 1: how they present themselves on screen, the accomplishments. And watching 83 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: your career, I have to say, you're you have been 84 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 1: a mentor to me because you've laid the groundwork to 85 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 1: say this can happen. This can happen. And you have 86 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 1: a production company there that produces film and television show 87 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 1: called Duke Media Entertainment. Let them Let the fans and 88 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 1: the listeners know about that. Well, we um try our best, 89 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: you know, to collaborate with other companies, network, studios, online, 90 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:59,599 Speaker 1: et cetera, to create content. We call it entertainment and 91 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: we don't creature or anything, but we think that, you know, 92 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: you can entertain people but also give them a little 93 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 1: nothing to think about, uh without you know, because we 94 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: don't know everything. But you know, there are issues that 95 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:14,840 Speaker 1: raise their head that should be addressed and you can 96 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 1: do it in an entertaining way. So we try our 97 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:20,159 Speaker 1: best to do that. And so um, that's that's that's 98 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: our goal. Well, you know the interesting thing about having 99 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 1: a production company, because I have one, is and uh 100 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 1: but yours is way more advanced in mind, Bill, and 101 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 1: is that when you think about how do people what 102 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 1: are the wrong the incorrect way that people present ideas 103 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:38,799 Speaker 1: to try to pitch ideas to you aught your production company, 104 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:42,119 Speaker 1: if you can give by my listeners, Uh, how quick? 105 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 1: How to and how don't to pitch an idea? Well? 106 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 1: First of all, um, today pitching an idea? UM A 107 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: lot of the creative executives industry or accountants and UM, 108 00:05:56,760 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 1: you know you're going to pitch an idea verbally. I 109 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:04,920 Speaker 1: think you protect yourself better if you have what it's 110 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 1: called the deck, and it's a visual digital presentation of 111 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 1: the vision. Um, who is your basic audience? How many 112 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 1: of them are there? What is your gender, et cetera. 113 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:18,359 Speaker 1: Have a little sizzle reel, would be great to have 114 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:23,600 Speaker 1: the script plus a synopsis. But to answer your vital questions, 115 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: I used to go pitching with passion and all kinds 116 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 1: of well my grandfather, big grandfather was a slave or whatever, 117 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 1: and that of that. This is why it's important. I 118 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:36,359 Speaker 1: used to pick those ideas. And I go back to 119 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: my agent because no one picked the ideas up, and 120 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:40,800 Speaker 1: I said, what in the name, but what's going on? 121 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 1: And so he said, hey, Bill, did you answer the 122 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: essential questions in the first three minutes of the pitch 123 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:52,360 Speaker 1: and said, what is that question? He said, Bill, what 124 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:56,280 Speaker 1: they want to know is I want the hell you're 125 00:06:56,320 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 1: gonna make me mo money? Then yeah, that's true, that's true. 126 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 1: I never thought about that. But you you couldn't have 127 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 1: all the past that you want if you can't tell 128 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 1: them how you can make them the money back and 129 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 1: ain't gonna work too well, that's not gonna work at all. 130 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 1: So that's so it means they definitely having that deck. 131 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: And I also have a sense of what a per 132 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 1: episode costs is gonna be if that's if you're talking 133 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: about because I was talking to a president of a 134 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 1: network the other day and they asked me, uh, I 135 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: was talking about a cooking show, he said. He immediately asked. 136 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 1: He immediately asked me, okay, what's the prayer episode calls? 137 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 1: And I went, oh, I would uh, let me let 138 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 1: me get back with you. And because you know, because 139 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 1: a lot of people thought, you know, I had to 140 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: go there, you know, me, me, me had to go uh, 141 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 1: I didn't expect that to come out in this conversation 142 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 1: so fast. I like that idea, what's the what's the 143 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 1: proy episode costs? I went, uh, because you know you 144 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: want to throw out the wrong number. You throwing the 145 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: wrong number kill the deal, or you throw out the 146 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 1: wrong number and you can lose money because you could 147 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: have made more money. So you So I hesitated. And 148 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 1: so because everybody is talking about digital, they're talking about streaming, 149 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 1: they're talking about cable, they're talking about television, and each 150 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 1: one of those carry a different price tag or what 151 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: you can actually charge per episode or what you can 152 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 1: accomplish production quality. So it's really amazing that you said 153 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 1: that because I was victim of that last week, Bill. 154 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 1: So that's so, let's talk about this book. Let's talk 155 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 1: about this book. Man. I've read the book, Bill Duke 156 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 1: for your career on screen and behind the camera. Um My, my, 157 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 1: my first takeaway of this book because you were born 158 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 1: and raised in Bookkeepsie in New York. That's where IBM. 159 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 1: I used to work for IBM. Sorry immediately uh related 160 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 1: to that story. UM, tell me about why did you 161 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 1: write this book, Bill? Well, I wrote it for several reasons. 162 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 1: You know, it's um the legacies from my family, you know. UM, 163 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 1: I really wanted people to know about the era in 164 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 1: which I grew up in and the people who guided 165 00:08:55,960 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 1: me through that time up doing it. I'm a segregation yes, sir, um. 166 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 1: And my mother and father came from I followed from Orange, Virginia. 167 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,200 Speaker 1: My mother was from West Point, Mississippi. And they saw 168 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 1: things that I can't even you know. They saw lynchings 169 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 1: and they called nigger barbecues where they put up on 170 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 1: and turned us we were, we were alive and turn 171 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 1: us around spitch to we dehydrated. Um. So I wanted 172 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:28,680 Speaker 1: to to leave an understanding of our history and what 173 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: we came from and where we are now and who 174 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 1: contributed to the fact that we have the freedoms that 175 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:37,679 Speaker 1: we have now. Um. And I wanted to pay homage 176 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 1: to the people that helped me get where I am. Uh. 177 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:44,719 Speaker 1: It wasn't just me that people care about me. When 178 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 1: they saw we're gonna be right back from now we 179 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 1: will arle more. Bill, we're talking more about this book 180 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 1: or Bill do for your career on screen and behind 181 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 1: the camera. Got a lot more questions, a lot more 182 00:09:55,040 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 1: movies to talk about. Don't go nowhere. It's Sean mcdonwald. 183 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 1: You're listening to money making conversations on the phone as 184 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 1: the incredible Bill Duke. He's talking about this new book, 185 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:09,680 Speaker 1: Bill Duke for your career on screen and behind the camera. Uh, Bill, 186 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 1: you were talking about while you decided to write the book, 187 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: we was ending the first break. Uh please, Uh you 188 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:17,320 Speaker 1: had some more thoughts there if you can wrap it up, 189 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:19,560 Speaker 1: and I have a tremendous amount of more could I 190 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 1: read the book, and I'm really excited about sharing. I 191 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:25,839 Speaker 1: won't give away the book sharing some of the uh 192 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:28,560 Speaker 1: things that moved me about your book. So, Uh did 193 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 1: you did you complete your thought on why you wrote 194 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 1: the book? Yeah? I got it. Yeah, I wrote it 195 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 1: because I wanted to also get back and uh maybe 196 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:39,959 Speaker 1: get some negative information that could be helpful to young 197 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 1: people are getting into the business. Also because the business 198 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 1: of discipline not just passion, and the business understanding the 199 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 1: business of the industry. So I wanted to give that back. Also. 200 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 1: You know when I when I read the book, because 201 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 1: of the fact that you know, race played a major 202 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:59,120 Speaker 1: role in your upbringing. You know your skin color. Um. 203 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 1: Uh parents who are blatant victims of racism. Uh, you 204 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:07,720 Speaker 1: will beat down because of you didn't stop. You were 205 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 1: walking and some people beat you down because you didn't stop. Um. 206 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: And now a man who's lived this life, this journey 207 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 1: talk about race, like can you can you talk about 208 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 1: race every decade in your life or every twenty years? 209 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 1: Has it changed over the years your your relationship with 210 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:29,440 Speaker 1: race and racial discrimination, or just expound on that if 211 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:34,720 Speaker 1: you can. Well, I think there have been some changes, 212 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:38,320 Speaker 1: There has been some progress, but it doesn't mean that 213 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 1: it has all gone away. An unfortunate time of division, 214 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 1: and I think that you know, it's because of basic 215 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 1: ignorance and it's not just how can I say this? Um? 216 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 1: I used to think it was just black against white 217 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: for those kinds of things. But I I did a 218 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 1: documentary a couple of years ago called Dark Girls, another 219 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:08,320 Speaker 1: one called Light Girls. There's racism in the black community. Uh, 220 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: and it came from slavely. You know, light is considered 221 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:16,079 Speaker 1: better over dark. Sometimes, i'mline if you go to hashtag 222 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 1: team Mike skin and hashtag team darkkins black women over 223 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: trying to members. You know in each group they're clean 224 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 1: over a skin color and those kinds of things. So 225 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 1: our humanity is the foundation of everything, but sometimes we 226 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: are pre occupied with our differences rather than our semi similarities. 227 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 1: That's really important. Now, what is the questions I want 228 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 1: to ask about your home? Life, and it was it 229 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:47,440 Speaker 1: was interesting. But your uncle's they stayed in the in 230 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 1: your room with you, which I think is either sitcom 231 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 1: or nice drama series man Uncle Albert, Uncle Eddie, and 232 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 1: Uncle Howard of day some I'm saying, you know, I 233 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:02,959 Speaker 1: read this book. You know I read your book. Now, 234 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 1: you don't just start talking about these three dudes. If 235 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 1: you had read this book. Now, now, those three people 236 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 1: each was individually to each other. Did I'm like, I'm 237 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 1: each had their own um blend talk about their effect 238 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:18,680 Speaker 1: and then you know, we're gonna sit down me and you. 239 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 1: You might read all eight. You might be ahead of 240 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 1: the curve already because that right there, my friend, is 241 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 1: a TV show. Talk to me about those those three uncles. 242 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:30,440 Speaker 1: I'll talk to the faith basically, well basically my my 243 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:34,160 Speaker 1: my family with the guardians of our entire family. Whenever 244 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 1: there was a problem. Um, my mother and father had 245 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: great kind hearts and they would help our relatives. And 246 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 1: the place where they would stay when they had a problem, 247 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 1: it would come to our house and they stay in 248 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 1: my bedroom and there were two beds there, and so 249 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:54,679 Speaker 1: I was like that was the motel to them. And 250 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: I love them all, but they had very strong personalities 251 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:02,360 Speaker 1: and a lot. That's what you're gonna say. That's what 252 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 1: you're gonna say, strong, huh. I give an example. My 253 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 1: cousin Ernest, who stayed with us. He um didn't have 254 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 1: health insurance, so I used to pull his own teeth. 255 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 1: And I had to observe this. I had observed them. 256 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 1: He drink half a bottle of liquor. Uh, take a 257 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 1: knife and cut around his gums. TI this string to 258 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 1: his tooth and then to a door knob and closed 259 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 1: the door. That's how it was. But he didn't do 260 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 1: it just one time, though, Yeah, and and and and 261 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:43,840 Speaker 1: then and then one day I made the mistake of 262 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 1: letting him know I had a toothache, and he volunteered 263 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: to help me. I said, no, thank you, sir. In 264 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 1: the book, he did it several times. It was like 265 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 1: he was drunk one day and decide, no, no, this 266 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 1: was the way of dentistry. That's right, that's right. He 267 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 1: was the dentist. I'm saying. And then we would and 268 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: if he would put it wasting our money on the 269 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 1: white man, you know what I'm saying. This was turning. 270 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 1: So you hadn't even talked about them, Uncle, This was 271 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 1: cousin Ernest. He was. He came after the first three 272 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 1: uncle did currently cousin Ernest came into his life. Now, yeah, 273 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 1: you had you had Eddie and then you had a Howard. 274 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 1: M that's right, Uncle uncle uncle, um uncle um uh Albert, 275 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: Uncle Howard. You know, they had both been in the 276 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 1: service and they came back, you know, not physically wounded, 277 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 1: but I would say mostly wounded because they fought for 278 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:48,520 Speaker 1: a nation. But they came back and they were treated 279 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 1: like you know, black folks, you know, and that was very, 280 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:56,160 Speaker 1: very hurtful to them. And many times they set up 281 00:15:56,200 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 1: like you know, um, uncle Uncle Albert used to up 282 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 1: in the bed and talked to himself and um. And 283 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 1: you know, after a while he got himself back together, 284 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 1: but he would talk to himself in my room. And 285 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:16,400 Speaker 1: then Uncle Howard he was. He was an angry, angry 286 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 1: guy because of how society had treated him. And if 287 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 1: you've looked at him, he would ask me, not only 288 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 1: what what are you looking at? But did you want 289 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:32,400 Speaker 1: a confrontation? Um? You know, it's those kinds of things. Um. 290 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 1: And but Uncle Eddie was a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant dancer, singer, 291 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 1: comedian person never got a break and became an alcoholic 292 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 1: and a drug head. And he stayed in my room 293 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 1: and he told jokes and he sang songs, and I 294 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 1: was his audience right right and writing this book and 295 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 1: when I was going through it, just the different levels 296 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 1: because drugs played a negative role in your life and 297 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:03,560 Speaker 1: and you was able to overcome that. But you know, 298 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 1: the one thing that in your in the relationship because 299 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:10,560 Speaker 1: you were molested early on by a babysitter and that 300 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:14,879 Speaker 1: affected your your your your relationship with women over the years. 301 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:17,639 Speaker 1: And but I want I don't want to talk about that. 302 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 1: I want to talk about you, the pioneer, you know, UH, 303 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:25,879 Speaker 1: you know, early days of television, directing hit shows, you know, 304 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 1: doing incredibly uh, I feel movies that I without who 305 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:32,560 Speaker 1: I mean deep Cover, which is one of my all 306 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 1: time favorite movies. How did you make that transition to directing? Well, Um, 307 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 1: I was directing uh stage played uh in New York 308 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 1: and out here in l A also, But I was 309 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 1: always and I wrote my own stuff, but I was 310 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 1: always intimidated by the equipment of you know, the cameras 311 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 1: in there, the dolly grip, the dollies and UH and 312 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:00,200 Speaker 1: the lights and everything, and I just overwhelmed. But at 313 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 1: and so UM I got um a show called Promise 314 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:09,639 Speaker 1: Town USA by um, you know normally and how Silly 315 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:12,920 Speaker 1: produced it. I was on a couple of seasons um 316 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:15,119 Speaker 1: Janelle Allen on myself, but then I didn't work two 317 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:17,800 Speaker 1: years after that, and I said I would I reready 318 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:20,119 Speaker 1: get over the sphere because I'd have more than one skill. 319 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:24,280 Speaker 1: I applied to the American Film Institute, got in and 320 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 1: thank god ahead, I said, wow, that's awesome, and uh, 321 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 1: I got a film out of that called The Hero 322 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: and it got some recognition. I shot it around to everybody. 323 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:37,919 Speaker 1: They wouldn't take it and so they won't let me directly. 324 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 1: I went away on a retreat for um meditations. I'm 325 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:46,879 Speaker 1: a transple meditation practitioner, and I wanted to cheat. My 326 00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 1: agent close and he says, David Jacobs wants to see 327 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:53,439 Speaker 1: you from Notch Landing music producer. I said what, so 328 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:57,000 Speaker 1: I flew. I went back and met with David Jacobs. 329 00:18:57,080 --> 00:18:59,439 Speaker 1: It was like a strange little meeting, very brief, and 330 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:02,399 Speaker 1: then m for my age, it's not gonna happen. A 331 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:04,920 Speaker 1: week later, the agent calls me, said, David Jacobs wants 332 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:09,120 Speaker 1: you to direct the first episode of Not Landing. I cheered. 333 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 1: I was so happy. Then I went to work and 334 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 1: I was there for like, you know, prepping the h 335 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 1: And the last day of prep, Joe Wallentine comes says, 336 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:21,160 Speaker 1: do you know we know you're gonna be a great 337 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:25,159 Speaker 1: director from your reel? I said, what reel? Well, the 338 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 1: view you turn into David? I said, no, I just 339 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 1: got to af He's to wait a minute. He goes 340 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: to the David Jacob's office. David Jacobs had mixed my 341 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 1: box up with someone else's. That's why I got my 342 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 1: first job. That's a blessing. That's a blessing, but God, 343 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:44,919 Speaker 1: God blessed me. But also the obviously I was going 344 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,119 Speaker 1: to tell you was about my first day on Dallas. 345 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 1: I was the first black director on Dallas. And I 346 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:52,560 Speaker 1: go to the gates and I rolled the window down 347 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:55,359 Speaker 1: and the security guard says to me, who are you 348 00:19:55,400 --> 00:20:01,160 Speaker 1: delivering for? That was That was a moment. And that's 349 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 1: the I read that in the book. I'm gonna everybody 350 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 1: know that. I don't want to give wear all of 351 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 1: them nuggets Bill, because I remember that, and you you 352 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 1: you pause momentarily because you didn't want to like become 353 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:13,720 Speaker 1: a come a black panther back in the day black 354 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:18,679 Speaker 1: pather on. But do me a favor. Uh. First of all, 355 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:20,400 Speaker 1: thank you for taking the time to come on my show. 356 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:23,120 Speaker 1: I really want to bring you back because man, well, 357 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: just like I've been like a conversation. A conversation would 358 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:30,359 Speaker 1: be can you send me? Can you send me a 359 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 1: banner so I can post this Thursday? I got over 360 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 1: media social media followers. Okay, Bill, you'd be saved, my friend. 361 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 1: You need to check out the wireless earbuds from Recon. 362 00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:40,640 Speaker 1: Raycon earbuds start off about half the price of any 363 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 1: other premium wireless earbuds on the market, and they sound 364 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 1: just as amazing. Unlike some of your other wireless options. 365 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:48,520 Speaker 1: Recon earbuds are both stylish and discreet with no dangling 366 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 1: wires or stems. And of course they don't just look great, 367 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:53,439 Speaker 1: they sound great too, and they're perfect for listening to 368 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:56,280 Speaker 1: all your favorite I heart radio podcasts on the go. 369 00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:59,640 Speaker 1: So go to buy Recon dot com slash I heart 370 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:02,120 Speaker 1: to get twenty percent off your order. That's by Recon 371 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:06,000 Speaker 1: dot com Slash I Heart for off Recon wireless earbuds. 372 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:07,640 Speaker 1: If you've been eyeing a pair. Now is the time 373 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 1: to get an amazing deal. One more time by recon 374 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:11,960 Speaker 1: dot com slash I Heart