Sanya On-Air
Sanya On-Air hosts intentional conversations with celebrities and influencers unpacking their celebrity pivotal moments while simultaneously sharing tools/resources on how to provide pipelines to access for marginalized communities.
Sanya On-Air also highlights luxury lifestyle experiences by showcasing the hottest cultural, entertainment, travel, dining, and fashion, must-haves.
Sanya On-Air
"Sistas" Actress Mignon Talks Sisterhood and Strength in Tyler Perry's Vision
Discover the vibrant world of entertainment and empowerment with our special guest, actress Mignon from BET's acclaimed show, Tyler Perry's "Sistas." We explore the transformative power of representation as Mignon opens up about her journey in Hollywood and how her character, Danni, inspires viewers to stand in their truth. This episode offers a rich exploration of the challenges and triumphs faced by Black women, both on and off the screen, and how these narratives can inspire resilience and growth.
Listeners will gain insightful tools and resources to navigate their own career and personal development, with an emphasis on creating pipelines for marginalized communities. We unravel the bold and unapologetic nature of Danni, as portrayed by Mignon, and discuss the creative process of bringing such a character to life. Through personal stories and experiences, we highlight the importance of staying informed and connected, leveraging online resources, and supporting Black-owned businesses as catalysts for success.
Finally, we celebrate the powerful themes of sisterhood and loyalty that "Sistas" presents, breaking cultural stereotypes and showcasing authentic friendships. This episode not only highlights the strength and patience demanded of Black women but also emphasizes the importance of embracing one's unique journey. Whether you're a fan of Mignon or seeking inspiration for your own path, tune in to appreciate the complex layers of Black womanhood and the valuable lessons they impart.
Sanya On-Air...Unpacking Celebrity Pivotal Moments & Milestones While Providing Pipelines to Access
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Links
Sanya On-Air Website: https://www.sanyaonair.net
Support Sanya On-Air: https://paypal.com/sanyahudson
What is the purpose? What am I trying to do? People are giving you keys, giving you gems, creating pipelines to access, talking to influential people, icons about how they've done it and sharing the tips so that you can enter into that space. One thing that I do know about marginalized communities is that the Pipeline to Access is often limited. Now, if you cleaned up on Saturday mornings and your parents played old school music, then this show is for you. Yes, darlings, I'm back. I'm back with an all new episode of Sonia on Air.
Speaker 1:An all new episode of Sonia on Air. I'm your host, sonia Hudson, and Sonia on Air interviews celebrities to unpack their pivotal moments and milestones, while providing you with pipelines to access. Now, I think that that's super important because, in this world of salaciousness, I want to make sure that you have the tools, the resources, the information and knowledge to get you from point A to point B, to point Z, that's, if you want to, if you're comfortable being where you are child, I mind my business and I'll keep it moving, but if you want to leverage your career or your personal life, then this is the platform for you. Now, before I go any further, there's a few things that I need you to do. I need to make sure that you subscribe, like, share and leave a comment If you're watching this on YouTube. Not only subscribe, like, share and leave a comment. Make sure you hit the notification bell. That way, every time I upload an all new Sonia On Air celebrity interview, you'll be the first ones to know. Okay, now let me give a super shout out to the Sonia On Air sponsor.
Speaker 1:Sonia On Air is sponsored by Eden's T-shirts and more LLC. I'm wearing one of their customized T-shirts See Sanya On Air if you are a business owner or something personal. Eden's T-shirts and more LLC customizes just about everything. Like I said, this T-shirt, they customize charcuterie boards, passport holders, pens, pencils, pants, panties. I went too far, but you get what I'm saying. They customize just about everything. And guess what? It's Black owned, female Black owned, which is so important in today's climate. So make sure that you head on over to the Edens t-shirts and more LLC website, which is located in the description section of this episode, and get your shop on when I tell you, when you go there, you're going to see one thing that you like is going to lead to two things, three things, four things, five things, six things. Just throw it all in the bag. Just throw it all in the bag. Trust me, you will not be disappointed, especially with the holidays coming around. So if you are a business owner, like I mentioned, or if you just want to customize something personally just for you, make sure you head on the hit show, the number one hit show on BET Tyler Perry's Sisters.
Speaker 1:Now, who doesn't watch Sisters? I know I do. Fans since day one and I love the evolution of her character, danny. It's a love-hate relationship for me. I don't know about you. Some days I love her, I hate her. I want to smack her, I want to give her a hug, I want to sit her down and just say woo, woo, woo. Let me just give you some information about how you can navigate relationships a little bit better. That's how you know when a character is done well, because you're invested, you feel like you're in that space too, experiencing the same things. I love the relationship that those women share on Sisters.
Speaker 1:So we're going to be talking about it all. We're going to be talking about her character, dani. We're going to be talking about her experience as an actor and the themes and messages that we see throughout every single episode, throughout every single season. And then we're going to be talking about the pipeline to access. How does she get in the room, how does she benefit from being in the room? And also, did she help someone else get into the room? So make sure that you stay tuned.
Speaker 1:We are just going to take a quick commercial break and I'll be right back with Sonia On Air and Mignon Vaughn. Stay tuned. Eating T-shirts and More LLC is a proud Sonya On Air sponsor. Get your customized tumblers, mugs, t-shirts, hoodies and passport holders for all of my fabulous Sonya On Air international travelers. But let's talk about these passport holders for a moment. Travel in style with a custom passport holder. This elegant holder not only protects your passport, but also personalizes it with space for up to four photos. So make sure you shop Edith's t-shirts and more LLC today. Now back to Sonia on Air.
Speaker 2:Hi, mignon, mignon, hi Pronounce it for me again, mignon, mignon.
Speaker 1:Thank you, because at first I was going to call you Danny. No, but this, this is how you know that you are doing it exceptionally well, because I've been watching you on Tyler Perry Sisters from day one up until last night and I am such a huge fan. I just want to tell you before we start this conversation no, thank you for giving us great TV.
Speaker 2:Oh, that is so kind Wow, thank you.
Speaker 1:No problem, so let's just jump right into it, because I know that time is limited and I'm like fanning out, so I just want to make sure that we get through it all. Talk about your character, danny, on Tyler Perry's hit show Sisters.
Speaker 2:How would you describe your character, dani Evolving? For sure, I think I don't need to really go make it super long and drawn out. As someone who's watched the show, you know she's gone through some serious ups and downs and you know she's chosen to. You know and downs, and you know she's chosen to. You know get better and not be bigger.
Speaker 1:So she's definitely evolving. Yes, she has definitely evolved, and I think that we've evolved with her as well. Once again, that's how you know that she is a great character because, like I said, as she grows, we're growing with her too. Now let's talk about the sister circle or the village. I love to see the camaraderie amongst the women on the show. What is Danny's connection to the women and how does she help them be better?
Speaker 2:I think Danny is an anti people pleaser in the sense that she knows that people are going to find something wrong with what she has to say, because most truth tellers know that people can't handle the truth, but she does it anyway. So she's made peace with the fact that you know this person might not accept this.
Speaker 2:This might not go over well, but I'm gonna say it anyway because nothing I have to say it's probably going to land well, because you know, most people aren't self-aware, and so I think one thing I like about Danny is that she's self-aware like she. She knows she can have her own BS and she just wants to keep her friends accountable as well. But what I like about her, she's gonna tell them the truth but also be like hey, but I also support women's rights and women's wrongs. Like if you want to do wrong, that's fine, we ride it on. But just so you know, like this is what it is. So that's what I like about her.
Speaker 1:And that's why we love her too, because she is such a mirror of so many Black women who currently occupy the space of I'm unapologetically bold and standing in my truth. And she also gives inspiration to other women of color who haven't found their voice or their truth yet to say it's okay. So, once again, your character is just so amazing and phenomenal in this space, where black women are often encouraged to just be seen and not heard. So, once again, thank you for that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, of course.
Speaker 1:So how did you go about developing the character of Dani? What did you do?
Speaker 2:So when I couldn't afford acting classes, I was watching YouTube videos. And so I was in school and I was in acting classes, and then I just got so broke where I couldn't even work classes anymore, and so I would watch interviews and talk facts.
Speaker 2:and Viola Davis, meryl Streep, ben Stiller they all had some things that really stuck with me. Ben Stiller talked about grounding a big, you know, larger than life character and just making sure you find the truth, no matter what, even though you know it's something that's larger than life. And Viola Davis and Meryl Streep spoke to the notion of you advocating for your character, and so that every time I read a script, even if she's doing stuff that I don't agree with and I don't understand it, it's me advocating for her, and so I lend to her the parts of myself that can relate to the essential truth of what she's trying to do, like in season one, when she told Sabrina to ask Karen to try using, like you know, Sabrina and Calvin had an intimate bedroom moment I remember and I remember reading that and I was like Tyler?
Speaker 2:why is Danny saying I don't understand this, but I, then I and it didn't come to me until like days before we shot it and I realized, oh, danny's trying to win, because her and zach had just went through this, will they once won't thing. And so they were just kind of in this weird space and so this is her just trying to like you know, one up that. And so I was able to ground it in that because I was like otherwise, like I don't know how to deliver this line so, and then when I saw a couple of people comment and say you know, danny's trying to like get back at that, I was like great, so like they get, what I was doing, it's just finding, you know, the reality of it, no matter how big it is, and advocating for her, and not looking at the action itself or the dialogue itself and like okay, what's the meta message here?
Speaker 1:and then also my mom and my aunt are a lot like Danny, not just the weed smoking and all that, but like to tell it like it is and being a lot of fun and being funny and um yeah, so I like that and I captured a lot because you know you said you were trying to find the voice for Danny and I'm glad that you found your voice somewhere on YouTube, listening to, like you said, viola Davis and Ben Stiller, because oftentimes the internet can be a place of salaciousness, but I'm glad that you found something positive. So that's encouragement for people, because so many people are just saying you know what? I'm just going to turn off social media, but there's still hope, and you just told us that there's still hope for us all out there. So thank you for that.
Speaker 2:It's out there if you look for it. I think a lot of people we ask for. It's like Jay-Z's question do you want to have dinner with me for a couple hours, or do? You want five thousand dollars. I mean, I think most people are smart enough to know that the right answer is to go to dinner with them, but in reality we just want the 500k because and I think that's because most of us don't have the wisdom to ask for wisdom.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so don't have the wisdom to ask for wisdom, yeah.
Speaker 2:So if you're looking for wisdom, it's out there.
Speaker 1:You just gotta ask for it, that's true. So that makes me think if you could choose any person, dead or alive, to spend 30 minutes just to have a conversation with, who would that person be?
Speaker 2:I mean, my first answer is always Jesus. But outside of like that obvious answer, I would say, ooh, maybe, maybe Harriet Tubman oh, I call myself Harriet Tubman.
Speaker 2:All the time, yeah yes, yes, I mean I mean just to have those dizzy spells and to be able to transmute that to God's trying to get messages, to me is incredible, because I think that's the truth to weakness in any of our lives, if we just believe that God is good and that sometimes God uses weakness because the enemy won't suspect it, and so by her having those dizzy spells and receiving the messages, those downloads from God, like that's incredible Because I mean I think we're all fighting for some sort of freedom emotional, spiritual, financial, relational something and so she was literally a freedom fighter. She was literally setting captives free. And that's why, again, my first answer was Christ, because you know where he is, there's freedom.
Speaker 2:But I think someone who literally came and whose purpose was to set people free and kind of be that depiction of divinity in that way, I think someone who literally came and whose purpose was to set people free and kind of be that depiction of divinity in that way, I think softened her and then, also being a Black woman and then a slave. You know, whenever I feel sorry for myself, it's like I mean I could have had it that far.
Speaker 1:It could be worse, yeah, so maybe here it is Got it, got it, and I spent some time thinking about what I wanted to ask you, but I love how conversations develop organically, and you mentioned that you would want to be in a room having a conversation with Harriet Tubman and you mentioned what she was fighting for. What are you currently fighting for?
Speaker 2:Oh so in. So in all vulnerability, in all vulnerability, right now, I am fighting to stay the course right and to continue upon my journey and clarity and understanding, because this industry from the outside, it was so exciting, it's like a wizard of oz, like I love that wicked just came out and it kind of touches on again how the wizard is a phony in this industry honestly is like oz and the wizard.
Speaker 2:So much of it is smoke and mirrors and it can be disillusioning and so I am really fighting hard to keep my head above that fray and and stay connected to that divine purpose in the way that I need to.
Speaker 2:I need to find my like in the way that I need to. I need to find my life alchemy, the way Harriet did like using those spells for to receive. Now knows, like, wherever that weakness is, you know, you know, like the scripture that says in his weakness, in my weakness, his strength is made perfect. I need to kind of find that so I can stay the course and um fulfill everything I was sent here to do. So like, truthfully, it's just keeping my head above water right now Because I mean it's kind of dead in the industry right now because of all the strikes and it's just hard, man, yeah yeah, it is.
Speaker 1:It is, I think, no matter what industry you're in, just living in today's space. It is very, very difficult. You're in just living in today's space. It is very, very difficult, like I just had to take off the entire day today just to refocus, refuel, so I can face tomorrow with a knowing my purpose, because yesterday was hard, it was hard. So what do you do in order to stay the course? Because, like I said, I take a day off. What do you do?
Speaker 2:do so. It's like a toolbox. You gotta have a lot of different tools. You can't use a hammer when you need a screwdriver, right, um. Sometimes it's as simple as self-care therapy, the neural cycle taking the day off watching old funny movies, um, trying to find inspiration, uh, taking a trip, uh, fasting, like fasting and prayer, um. But what? Right now I'm in a space where I'm starting to understand that sometimes you have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death like you just gotta walk through it and you gotta be okay with that, and then, once you get through, you'll see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Speaker 2:But you just gotta sometimes you just gotta walk through it.
Speaker 2:So right now I'm making peace with not knowing. I'm sitting in the difficulty. It's, I think, and um in the difficulty is, I think. In um, I want to say maybe the yogic tradition. I'm not a big yoga girl, I mean, but there's a term called on the journey of the warrior. Know it? Yeah, I think it's called the journey of the warrior and it's basically just sitting through that hot loneliness and that difficulty and so right now I'm trying not to avoid it and escape from it and numb it and just like, okay, what do you? What are you communicating to me right now, because you won't go away? So right now I'm just trying to accept.
Speaker 1:I'm glad you mentioned that because you know a lot of people pray for strength and little do you know that God is going to give you those trials and tribulations in order to make you stronger, to get that strength. People don't understand that this is a part of the process. So I wanted to really briefly touch upon this because this is the holidays and I know people are going through it and we're at the tail end of you know, a few years after the pandemic, but there's still so much residue and I just want to make sure that we're giving positive words and enlightenment to people who are listening, who may think that tomorrow may never come. This is a testimony that we will.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh gosh. For the people who feel that way, I'm begging you not to give up, because I'm a firm believer that the trials, the tribulations, are evidence that you have something valuable. Nobody robs an empty house, and even if they rob an empty house, they're going to have to bust through the walls to get the copper pipes out Like they're. They're going in because there's something valuable. So everything you're facing in life is not only evidence that you're valuable, but also it is the spiritual gem of the universe that you're in like. Anyone who lifts weights knows that weight and heaviness is how you get stronger. Your muscles literally tear and then rebuild stronger like. But you gotta go through that tearing so whatever you're dealing with.
Speaker 2:I mean, some stuff is generational, some stuff is ancestral, like that's a very real thing that you know. For instance, people who, um, have parents who are alcohol alcoholics have like a way higher chance of becoming alcohols themselves. So some people never touch it. Or you know what have you? So everything you're going through is not your fault. Some things you know have nothing to do with you, but it's like that mean that's been going around social media. You might have been given this mountain so you can show people that I can be moved.
Speaker 2:So don't give up, like you're here for a reason there's. There's some way that you're going to change the world. It doesn't have to be. You know, you're the first you know person from kansas on the moon. Like it doesn't have to be this huge thing. It could be as simple as you know. You change the environment of your office and your school, what happens, so we need you. Basically, yes, imagine Oprah gave up. Imagine my boss, right?
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Right. All the people who've been affected by him. Yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 1:So true, and you're always where you're supposed to be and you were meant to play the role of Danny. Did you audition or read for another character, or was your heart and mind set on danny?
Speaker 2:so what's funny is I saw I, I got the role before I um, I never had any representation right, and so I see the breakdown when after that says I'm like this, gotta be it you know because I had just gone through one of the valleys of the shadow of death, because in life you're going to go through many sorry wilderness, seasons and life.
Speaker 2:But I had just gone through that and that was the light at the end of the tunnel. I saw that but the breakdown was for the oval actually, and so I submitted for that and I didn't hear anything. And then the casting associate reached out and was like there's actually a role we think you would be perfect for that we want your audition for with danny and they I I didn't audition for any other role like ebony obsidian shout out to debbie obsidian, who just had the premiere for the 6888. She auditioned for Sabrina and like another character, Like a lot of us were.
Speaker 2:You know, they tried to see us in different ways, but me, I was always.
Speaker 1:Danny, nice, yeah, nice. Well, that's how you know that it was meant for you. So, now that you know that it was meant for you, did your character, danny, teach you about yourself?
Speaker 2:a lot. I think, honestly, the most important thing that danny taught me not just about myself, I honestly think for me the most important thing she taught me was like I understand my mom so much more now. In what way?
Speaker 2:like because I think a lot of us had that strong black mama and it was just like oh girl, like you're not good with the emotional stuff, like you know what I mean like we could you try a little tenderness, like and but playing danny helped me understand my mom because with danny, even when she went through things that were difficult like for instance that stuff with Jonah her friends kind of like gave, like try to like assign blame to her in a certain way, like hey, well, you know what you're doing anyway, like kind of you know, we did this stuff in college. Like why are you doing this right now? And not that that's not true. But we tend to kind of victim blame in our society and I feel like that is kind of connected to how we see black women and black women not being seen as vulnerable, not being seen as needed to be protected, because everyone sees us as strong and I like to say we're the, we're treated like the mules of society yeah because mules can't procreate.
Speaker 2:So a farmer saves the horse, the farmer will save the donkeys back, but you know, push the mule to death and my mom she literally can't sit still like she works so hard and she's the most reliable, dependable person in my family in my life.
Speaker 2:But sometimes she's just kind of difficult and I think playing danny helped me understand where that difficulty came from because, there's a study that shows, as early as five years old black girls are seen as less innocent yeah and I'm like, wow, it's crazy to adultify a girl like a five-year-old like if you, if you told me 10 fine, but five yeah this kid can't even read yet you know what I mean and so, and then my mom was born in the 60s and she saw a pink guy and you know her parents are depression babies and she's dark.
Speaker 2:and then my mom was born in the 60s and she saw a pink guy and you know her parents are depression babies and she's dark skinned and she grew up in the South and so it has made me have a lot more compassion for Black women who are? Not always the softest right, and I think there needs to be more of that, yeah, especially on screen, so it can kind of be reflected back in real life, like, for instance have you ever seen superman save a black woman from the burning building?
Speaker 2:no right so you never see, like whenever superheroes are doing all this saving, you never see a black woman being saved yeah people don't think about us in that sense and um, not that we need someone to smooth in, but everyone needs help, everyone needs tenderness and compassion, and I think black women are often forgotten about when it comes to that type of humanity. We always look to to provide for others.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Rather than the other way around.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I know that I'm in that current space of my life. The other way around. Yeah, I know that I'm in that current space of my life. I'm 52 years old and now I'm looking for spaces to be vulnerable in because, unfortunately, society, the workforce, all those things combined didn't really afford me the opportunity oftentimes to be soft and pink. So I show up oftentimes as Danny and my friends are like, listen, I need you to be more like Sabrina. But I don't know how, because my mom was tough as nails and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world, because it really prepared me for the world that I'm in. So you know, once again, another gem that you drop. But Tyler Perry is magnificent of creating the theme of friendship amongst women on the show. Talk about that like are you all friends in real life or is this just for the camera?
Speaker 2:yeah, yeah, that's. The funny thing is like we we talk about all the time how we know that we struck gold, like we know that this is not a thing yeah to be this close-knit and so, like I know, we're going to stay in touch even when the show ends, and so I mean, like we, we have gone on trips together and weddings no babies yet.
Speaker 2:Deval is the only baby. Oh no, anthony, duh, anthony and DeVile are on with. None of the girls have had babies yet. But you know, parents have lost, have been lost, family members like it's. We're really lucky, we're really lucky. I mean we, you know, even when we have fights and arguments, we make up and talk about it. It's a real relationship. It's not like everything is perfect, so sometimes we do disagree, but we come back together. It's real family.
Speaker 1:You can tell, you can tell, and I was going to talk about how the show defies cultural stereotypes, which you just mentioned it. Even though sometimes the characters on the show may disagree, there comes a moment where you all get together and you resolve your issues. You talk through it, and that's something that we, as women of color, we need to see, because once again, we don't see Superman rescuing us from a burning building, we don't see Batman carrying us out of a burning car. Sisters gives us the examples that we need to see to remember that we are loving beings, we are vulnerable and there's loyalty amongst the sisterhood. So you all are doing an amazing job. So let's talk about what's one thing about Danny's storyline that you did not like at all.
Speaker 2:I didn't like the way the dichotomy of her moral failing was posited next to Preston. I didn't, I didn't like that. I didn't like that she got beat and spat on because you know like there are a lot of women who have a hot girl summer, go through a hot girl phase without that ever happening.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean. You know what I mean, right.
Speaker 2:So I think that I wouldn't have written that. However the amount of people that were moved by that part of her storyline that said, hey, me too was like all right. That's why two heads are better than one. That's why multiple people create a story, because, no, I wouldn't have written that. Thank God that hasn't been my experience. It won't be amen, but I saw, but I think yeah just the I feel like her and Preston's dynamic.
Speaker 2:It was always kind of positioned to kind of look like it was her fault, even when things weren't her fault yeah and I just and I get it like you gotta have one guy on the show that's like the good guy, um, which I think is fine, but I but I don't think in order for someone to be the good guy, someone else has to be the bad guy Right.
Speaker 1:Okay, so that was a storyline that you did not like, but what storyline or narrative do you want audiences to take away by watching the character Dani? What do you want us to remember?
Speaker 2:My hope every time I read the script is like her humanity, because she is funny, right? That's the other thing. People who are funny just because someone's funny doesn't mean they're a clown, right, you know. And so again, she's a person, she's human, yes, she's a character, but for me the most important thing is her humanity, especially her humanity as a black woman, especially as a strong black woman. That's what I want people to take away.
Speaker 2:It's to even women like that give the benefit of the doubt, even women like that when you're interacting with them, I want you to imagine maybe maybe she just had a difficult phone call, maybe something just happened to her. The same way, we can kind of do that for people who are obviously vulnerable. I, I want people to do that for the black woman, who seems to have it together too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, for himself, yes yes, yeah, but danny is really showing us evolution and patience, because where she started is not where she currently is and she's starting to become more self-aware and seeking help, to say you know, I want to be better. And and once again it sends a message to audiences be patient with us, with black women. We still have your back. Just be patient with us with Black women. We still have your back. Just be patient with us. We're going to come out through the other side. There's so many positive messages and themes and sisters, and I think that's why audiences stay tuned in every single week. But let's talk about pipelines to access, because I think that that's super, super important, because we want to know how you got there, how you stay in the room and also, has anyone else benefited from your success? So how has this opened up other opportunities for you?
Speaker 2:Like I was able to start, you know, my podcast like that. That's one of the main things for me. That's one of the main things for me. Pipeline of assets. Baby, you better talk to the one who made you because, like I said, I had no agent, I had no manager.
Speaker 2:I don't have like an uncle or aunt or a best friend who you know what I mean. Like it was literally all by the mercies and grace of God that you know these doors were open for me. Um, I'll, I'll let casting know when one of my friends are auditioning for something, but ultimately it's just not my decision we don't really have that kind of pull on the show, which I think is a good thing, right, because I mean, nepotism can get tricky at some point.
Speaker 2:On one hand it makes sense, like why wouldn't you hire the people you trust? Why wouldn't you hire your friends, family, so on and so forth? But you don't necessarily want it to only be the people within these circles, because like we need that variety. So yeah, like my podcast, I think is the most immediate thing that has been able to come about from the show. That's outside of the show.
Speaker 1:Got it. You know, you're the first person who attributed your pipeline to access to God. Everyone has always attributed to some sort of worldly being, so I'm glad that your perspective was different and this is why I was very, very excited about this conversation, because when audiences see you on Sisters Playing Dani, I follow you on social media and I'm just like she's so different. Yeah, your layers, the fabric, I mean it is so intentional, it is so motivational and I was just like I gotta have her on my platform because people need to see the many layers of her and not just Danny. Um, I also with my daughter. Most recently, I saw the latest film that you're in, the Christmas film.
Speaker 2:Talk about that was like we uh, that was a little film that could we shot it in Shreveport post COVID, like we shot it. It came out last year, right.
Speaker 1:Well, I just saw it last week.
Speaker 2:I think it came out last oh, child, like I'm pretty sure we shot it 2022?.
Speaker 2:Really like I'm pretty sure we shot it 2022 really, yeah, like in shreveport, and so that's still kind of the stick of covis and you know how louisiana had the tax credit but it left, so shreveport had studios and then, uh, the tax credit left, and then there was covid, so, um, our film was one of the first films to come back to Shreveport. Um, but like it was like we shot it all across like different areas of Louisiana. We went to uh, nacogdoches for some of the uh, for like the um, french Quarter stuff, and we went to like we were in Dixieland. At one point this one couple decided to call the police on us.
Speaker 2:Yeah, girl, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh, wow it was our last day of filming too, and when they pulled out and they little CRV To try to like get things shut down, I ran to the because it was cold. I ran to the van. I was like I'm not doing this.
Speaker 1:In the middle of it.
Speaker 2:We were about to film a scene and she started questioning me and my co-star. I'm like, ma'am, I don't, I'm over it. Ma'am, I don't, I'm over it. It was so crazy, I'm so over it.
Speaker 1:I'm so over it, because just to hear that those things still happen in 2024. It ain't all marshmallows. Sometimes we want to put a little hot chocolate in there too. It's ridiculous, but we didn't even say the name of the film.
Speaker 1:It's called never alone for christmas yeah and talk about your character, because I saw some similarities between that character, um and danny, the boldness um, the, the, how she shows up in relationships. But tell my audience what is never alone for christmas, about, even though the title kind of gives it away, but it really doesn't.
Speaker 2:It's just about these two young people who are craving connection and family, who get together really quickly and then have to kind of go through this trial by fire in their relationship. They have to be tested from the outside and from within, and then they come back stronger.
Speaker 2:Uh, I think I might have spoiled it but, yeah, I mean it's just like a really uh sweet christmas uh movie and like never going to be alone for christmas is a banger. It is Like that song is a like. When I first heard it I was like this is a banger. I could not sing my verse, because the musicality was actually very sophisticated.
Speaker 1:I was like ooh chav, wait, wait, you sing, you sing.
Speaker 2:I do sing, but like not professionally in a really long time, I get you. So like I can and that was something I was talking about with my team a couple years ago I was like I need to get a vocal coach so I can kind of you know, because that's one of my dreams too is to at some point do like a musical, maybe even cut Like you know how Queen of the Keeper did like one jazz album Like do one.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean. Just use up all of my gifts so that when I die, I know that I'll pull it all out, got it?
Speaker 1:So I don't know if I'm correct, but Never Alone for Christmas. You wrote, directed and produced, am I?
Speaker 2:wrong. No, not just no.
Speaker 1:You just starred in it. Yeah, no.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, Kenny, our director wrote and directed it.
Speaker 1:Nice, Nice. Do you have any aspirations? I know you said to sing but to be behind the camera. Do you want to do anything like that?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I actually went to film school.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I actually went to film school and I have a short film that that was. That was a great time in my life, um. So yeah, I actually have more things coming down the pipeline. Actually this year I was trying to, um, get something in the cans, but again the strikes and just everything that's going on. It now kind of has to be postponed and we're we're working through it and like kind of reconceptualizing it so yeah, I write, I direct producing.
Speaker 2:I don't particularly like to do, but I'm good at it. Um yeah, Nice, nice.
Speaker 1:So we're about to end this conversation, but if there was one role that you dream of playing, what is that role?
Speaker 2:It's honestly one of my films. It's one of my films, but I know that there are some characters that I would love to play, like, for instance, like I'd love to play Beatrice in much to do about nothing. Shakespeare's much to do about nothing, uh, if you've seen the film version with denzel washington, yeah, so that's one role, um yeah I, I wouldn't mind doing a good biopic a real good one like a, if I could get me a ray if I could get a ray under my belt, that would be cool.
Speaker 2:Or some type of historical based on a true story, like Ida B Wells would be great Someone like her. Yeah, or someone even more unknown who we should know. For instance, I love what Tyler has done with the Six Triple Eight. When I tell you I had no clue, literally no clue, clues. I'm so excited to see it. Yeah, again, shout out to my cast mate Ebony and Tyler. That looks beautiful. Yeah, so something historical, like that Beatrice, but then, of course, mostly my own characters.
Speaker 1:Got it, got it. So one final question in this climate, in this space that we are currently in with this new election, what advice or words of encouragement do you have for women of color?
Speaker 2:God does not play about women of color. God don't play about women. Let's be clear God don't play about women. Let's be clear. He does not play about women. So do not fret, do not worry, do not fear, don't be afraid. You made it through the last time and your ancestors survived If you're. Japanese, your ancestors survived the internment camps of World War two yeah world to like if you're Latina, your ancestors survived all of the foolish, like fights that are going on in the West.
Speaker 2:Like if you're black, I mean slavery, do I have to say? Or if you're African black, like the colonization, like we have survived, that's what we do, right? The strongest infant, the infant with the highest survival rate, is the black female baby. It's literally written on our dna. So like you, like you are made of the same stuff as the stars. You're so strong, just by nature, literally so you got it.
Speaker 1:I needed to hear that. I definitely need to hear that, and I'm sure someone else did. Um, because life throws us so many curveballs and sometimes we forget, and I always want, whenever I'm having any type of conversation, I want to make sure that I'm leaving with something and they're leaving with something. So thank you for leaving my audience with a whole lot of something. I really appreciate your time. I respect and value your energy and keep on doing what you're doing in this space, because we are watching and we are applauding you. Job well done, thank you so much. Thank you so much. You take care. I'm going to log off of this and finish with this conversation. Take care, bye-bye. Oh my gosh, there you have it. Amazing conversation.
Speaker 1:I couldn't ask for a better conversation on television and film and listening to their music, that they supersede our wildest expectations. And I told you, when I watch her on Sisters, I'm like there's something more to her. Every woman just has so many different layers, and I started to stay connected to her on her Instagram page for the past couple of years I think pre-pandemic as soon as Sisters started airing on BET. That's when I started following her on social media and I started to notice the different layers of her and it is once again a reminder to the world at large. The Black woman has so many layers, so many complicated layers, so many vulnerable layers, so many strong layers, so many layers of joy, and it is our responsibility to be patient.
Speaker 1:So please watch this conversation, or listen to this conversation a second time, a third time. Make sure that you share it with your family and friends, because she's much more than what you see is dancing on Tyler Perry's record. So thank you so much for tuning in. This has been another amazing edition of Signing On Air. Make sure that you like, subscribe, leave a comment, hit the notification bell for all new Signing On Air conversations where I unpack celebrity pivotal moments and milestones and we talk about pipelines to access. Take care.