February 7, 2025 • 43 mins
It’s barely been a month and One of Them Days is already on track to be one of the best comedies of the year! Today, I’m joined by a few members of the team; podcast producers Tyree Rush and Ellice Ellis and Social Media Manager Alyssa Green, to unpack some of the best moments in this instant cult classic. We also chatted about the implications that the success of this film has for the industry at large, especially as it pertains to Black women lead comedies. So sit back and enjoy the first team chat of the new year!
About the Podcast
The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves.
Resources & Announcements
Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals.
Vote for Therapy for Black Girls in the Best Lifestyle/Self-Help Podcast category of the NAACP Image Awards!
Where to Find Our Guests
Alyssa Green
All Socials: @AlyssaExplores
Ellice Ellis
Instagram: @ellicellis
Tyree Rush
All Socials: @Tyrelvin
Stay Connected
Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox.
If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory.
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The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession.
Make sure to follow us on social media:
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Our Production Team
Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Maya Cole Howard
Senior Producer: Ellice Ellis
Producer: Tyree Rush
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Welcome to the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast, a weekly
conversation about mental health, personal development, and all the small
decisions we can make to become the best possible versions
of ourselves. I'm your host, doctor Joy hard and Bradford,
a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information or
(00:32):
to find a therapist in your area, visit our website
at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com. While I hope you
love listening to and learning from the podcast, it is
not meant to be a substitute for a relationship with
a licensed mental health professional. Hey, y'all, thanks so much
(00:57):
for joining me for the special bonus episode of the
Therapy for Black Girls Podcast. We'll get right into our
conversation afterword from our sponsors. We're so honored to be
nominated for the Outstanding Lifestyle and Self Help Podcast category
at the fifty six annual NAACP Image Awards, but we
(01:20):
cannot win without your support. Please take a second to
go to vote dot Naacpimage Awards dot net and vote
for Therapy for Black Girls. It's been out for barely
a month, and one of them days is already on
track to be one of the best comedies of the year. Today,
I'm joined by some members of my team, podcast producers
(01:43):
Tyree Rush and Elise Ellis, and social media manager Alyssa
Green to unpack some of the best moments in this
instant cult classic. We also chatted about the implications that
the success of this film means for the industry at large,
especially as it pertains to black women comedies. So sit
back and get ready for our first team chat of
(02:03):
the year. If something resonates with you while enjoying our conversation,
please share with us on social media using the hashtag
TBG in session. Here's our conversation. Well, I am very
excited for us to be back with another team chat.
We have some new members of the team to join us.
(02:24):
These are always my favorite conversations, So let us get
started with introductions and we will start with you. Tyree.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Am Tyree Rush.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
I'm the newest producer for Therapy for Black Girls and
also TBGU I am an Atlanta native and a New
York currentor yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Hi everyone, I am Alissa the social media manager for
Therapy for Black Girls. I am a Chicago native but
Los Angeles resident.
Speaker 5 (02:49):
Hey everyone, you've heard my voice before.
Speaker 6 (02:52):
I'm the veteran, but I'm released the senior producer of
the podcast. I am here based in Los Angeles, originally
from Washington, DC.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Perfect, So we are a symbol today to chat about
one of them days. So this is the newest Esray production,
so to speak. Very excited to chat with you all
about it. So what were your thoughts kind of heading
into the movie, because I feel like we got some
trailers and you kind of saw it as like this
buddy comedy, But did you have any initial thoughts even
(03:21):
before you went to see them.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
One of the big things for me, coming somewhat from
the film space, is that it takes a long time
for a movie to get made, and I knew it
was an es Ray project, So when I've heard about it,
I thought that it was based on this tweet that
came out of like twenty sixteen about Rihanna and Lupite
Nyango project that Esiray was gonna do. So I thought
that this is just what that turned into. And I
(03:44):
was kind of expecting it to be in the lane
of that like heist film sort of situation. So then
when I saw the trailer, I was looking at it
at that lens, but it was something else entirely.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
I had completely forgotten about that, so that is not
at all what this was, right, but there was the tweet.
They kind of went viral about that and then picked
up some steam, so that may still be coming at
some point, but this was not that. Yeah, I appreciate
you for reminding us, what about you to listening at
least any initial thoughts.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
Yeah, before heading into it, because I probably watched it
a week after it came out, so people had already
seen it, and there had been the hype around it.
Speaker 7 (04:20):
But everyone kept saying it was going.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
To be like the Friday series, right, like this is
the next one, but like women centered, and so that
it was going to be, as my dad.
Speaker 7 (04:28):
Likes to call it, fine black cinema. You'll get your
black card revoked if you haven't seen this movie ten
years from now.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
So huh. Okay.
Speaker 6 (04:38):
I am a really big fan of Buddy comedies. I
just enjoyed them so much. I don't think they have
to be like the most profound, and so I went
into it thinking like, Okay, we're gonna get a little
bit of Friday, maybe a little bit of super Bad,
some like Judd Apatow type film, but I also was
really excited because I felt like Saysa and Kiki Palmer
(05:01):
were just gonna be too really strong lead and kind
of like Alyssa said, this was gonna be one of
those movies where ten years from now, you couldn't not
watch it because of who they are and like who
they are as celebrities in this moment. So it excited
me in that way, like, oh, Okay, we finally have
a black woman buddy comedy. But then the talent that
they chose to lead it is really defines like what
(05:25):
culture is in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
So I have to confess I am not a buddy
comedy person at all. So black women had not been involved,
this is probably not a.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Movie I would have seen.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
I feel like I may bee sa super Bad, but
I cannot remember what it was like. This would have
likely been something I would have seen when it came
on like HBO or something like. I would not have
purchased a ticket to go and see it, but I'm
very happy that I did. I really enjoyed it, but
it definitely would have been something I would have waited
to come out on a streaming if it were not
black women involved. So Alyssa, you bring up a good point.
(05:59):
There been lots of comparisons to Friday, like seeing it
as like the new iteration, but black girl, black women's centered.
What do y'all feel about that comparison? Do you feel
like it was accurate and are there any concerns with
it being compared to Friday.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
I definitely feel like it was an accurate description, and
it takes place in la I mean it's in Baldwin Village,
so like a slightly different neighborhood than I think that
Friday was competent, but it definitely was that feeling around it,
like high jinks. I also think that there's no real
girls from the hood story that's like comedy and like
not trauma field, but like that's what Friday is to me.
(06:37):
It's like the opposite of boys in the Hood or
like men's society, showing that like there's still like levity
and like happiness in these sort of communities.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
So I thought it was the appropriate description.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
I think that the description was associated with it so that.
Speaker 7 (06:53):
People would get a reference so they would go watch
the film.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
I think that it stands on its own two legs
with it takes the movie and how it shows the
Los Angeles community and really talks too about topics that
we're dealing with, right, Like they're trying to get their
money right, and they go to the loan office, you.
Speaker 7 (07:11):
Know, and it's just the cash advance, you know. Right.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
It's like, I've never been one of those, but I've
seen them, right, you know, I've been a point where
it's like, oh, okay, you know what is this like? Right?
And so getting to see these characters explore their options
and have these moments and just like the gentrification in
Los Angeles and apartment complex is turning over and things
like that. So I think that Friday touched upon a
lot of topics. It's kind of similar, not the same ones,
(07:34):
but definitely friendship, family dynamics, different things that we deal with.
Speaker 7 (07:39):
That helps to see on screen.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
So what were your initial thoughts of the characters? So
we see Keiki Palmer's character first, she plays Drew, who
is a waitress at a restaurant, and then we see
her best friend, who is played by Sizza, who is
coming to pick her up from her shift. So what
were your initial impressions of the characters.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Despite not resonate with everyone, but I was literally watching
it and thinking, Kiki is playing a Queen Latifa character.
This is how Queen Latifah would show up in any
sort of leading role that she's in, always kind of
like around the Way homegirl, like very.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Relatable, and it was an interesting thing.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
I picked that up the first five minutes of the
movie because Keiky Palmer also occupies this interest in space
now with young black woman in Hollywood creating different sort
of films. Queen Latifa's a kind of actress who could
be a part of a large blockbuster, but they could
also put out a Beauty Shop, which is like a
smaller made film that she independently produced. So it was
(08:39):
cool seeing her play that sort of character because I
also think that, like as a professional, that's the sort
of role she's stepping in.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
You know.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
It's funny because when I watched the film, I did
get a Queen Latifa esque right, Like there was some
movie that she was in. I think, was she like
a house sitter for like a.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Rich man break down the house?
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Yes, And I was like, this kind of it feels
like that to me. So it's interesting that you make
that connection. What about you, at least, what were your
initial impressions of the characters.
Speaker 6 (09:07):
I thought the supporting characters were extremely well written, and
sometimes I struggle with in movies, is the supporting characters
kind of popping in and popping out, which I do
think happened in this movie a little bit like with
Little RELs cameo. But overall between Maniac who the actor's
(09:27):
name is escaping me, but also Kat Williams and even
maud Apatow, I felt like they really enhanced the story
but also held their own as comedians, and it was
really good to see the balance of how do these
people show up in this kind of la apartment complex
in this La day that they're showing in the movie,
but also how do they bring what we know and
(09:49):
love them for to the film? And I think the
movie married that really really well. Kat Williams, something that
I love about him is it always feels like he
is pleading. I would say, like he always has. His
comedy is very wise, and so to see him as
this unk, for lack of a better word, crackhead on
the corner, but being like the wise one in the film,
(10:11):
I'm like, this is what we know Kat Williams for.
I think that's also why we loved his Shannon Sharp interview.
It was funny, but there was this like wisdom he
brought to it. And with maud appatality, it's like she's
clearly smart but also a little aloof at the same time,
which is like the perfect thing for a white woman
who chooses.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
To live in the hood. And then with Patrick Cage Maniac, his.
Speaker 6 (10:32):
Character was like obviously supposed to be like sexy and intimidating,
but also so chill that he let Keky Palmer shine
in those moments. And so what I appreciated was how
well thought out those supporting characters were. Aside from like
Keky Palmer and to the being great leads, it was
the supporting characters that I think I'm gonna go back
(10:53):
to and fawn over when I watch the film.
Speaker 7 (10:55):
I feel like that was like such deep character the
both of you.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
So you mentioned the scene was set Sissu's picking up
Kekey and she's late, right that scene, I was like, oh,
that's me.
Speaker 7 (11:05):
I'm late.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
I'm always late, fifteen minutes late, Like she had to
lie to her friends that she was on time, you know.
And you added great comedic realief at the top, and
you could see how close the relationship was because they
just like Kiki k news, Sissa wasn't gonna be on time,
and so I have that dynamic with a friend. But
if people were to watch this, my friends would be like, oh,
you're Keky's character. And the whole movie, I saw myself
(11:26):
as Siss's character, right. I'm a creative and I just
loved how I could see myself on the screen. And
the most impactful part of the movie for me was
where Sissus hyping up ke Key before the thing and
she's like, you're not the two and he's like, I'm
the one, You're not the two, and you know, it
was just it was such like sisterhood to me. So
(11:46):
that made the moment later on in the film where
they have the big rift is supposed to happen between
them a part where I then became introspective, right, because
when they were arguing, I was.
Speaker 7 (11:56):
Like, siss is the one that's wrong.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
She lost the money, Kik, He's been doing all this
stuff to get it back right. And so I think
that the way that these characters were written and how
you could see yourself in it really made the dynamics
more impactful when everything played out.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
H great ideas a littlea I love that. I think
something else that I feel like Ia has almost like
the background becomes an additional character in a lot of
her productions, And so initially when we were introduced to
the apartment complex, I was like, is this gonna be
the dudes? But it was course a different apartment complex,
but it very much became like a part of the movie,
(12:32):
like it is an additional character.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
Now.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
I wanted to ask y'all thoughts because I wasn't sure
who Kat Williams was supposed to be. Like, Okay, so
he pops up at the check cashing place, but then
he like follows them throughout the movie, and I'm like,
is this some kind of like lepre Khanish? Like how
does he How does he show up in all these
places when he had no prior connection to them.
Speaker 6 (12:56):
I think that was his role in the film, Like oh,
he's I hate to say, like the hood Leprechaun, but
him kind of being in front of this check cashing place,
which is like could be symbolically like a pot of gold,
and it's like, Okay, you're seeing him at all these
moments where they're kind of almost touching their goal and
(13:16):
something happens because it's like, Okay, we can get the
money from the cash advance or pay day advanced place,
but that doesn't work out. Oh we can sell these Jordans,
which they do, but also they end up in not
the emergency room but in an ampelance. It's like, Okay,
they were almost there, and then he's at the art
show or the art pop up and it's like, Okay,
you're almost here. So I think he was supposed to
(13:38):
represent them finding kind of their solution or they're like
winning streak per se.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
It just reminded me of one of my favorite movies,
Don't Be a Menace in South Central While drinking your
juice Keena Ivory Wayne's character always just pops in like
message like and that's kind of like the gag. So
that's how Cat showed up for me. Also kind of
him as like it's a movie that definitely is not
leaning into any sort of like black trauma at all.
(14:07):
So like even giving people in the lower quote unquote
positions in life, like the opportunity to be community members
and elders, and like in part wisdom like it can
come from anyone, like he's the wise fool.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
I guess archetype.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
I liked it for that reason because especially as it
is a movie about female friendship, like showing what having
greater access to community looks like in like our communities.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
Because I have that, and I agree with a least
sentiment that the supporting characters. Now I'm thinking about it,
they no one is forgettable in this film, right.
Speaker 7 (14:43):
You know you had the.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
Friend who was supposed to braid her hair off the top, right, who.
Speaker 7 (14:46):
Helped them find Homeboys' location.
Speaker 4 (14:49):
You know, they had the drive through guy who's like,
I'm not one to stitch, but if I was. You know, like,
you just have so many different people in this film
that really stood out. So I think the writers must
have had a fun time doing this and coming off
with the different characters, because they did a great job.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
M I can imagine it was a hoot in the
writer's room. More from our conversation after the break, So
I can't even think about, what is the last black
(15:26):
women led comedy that you can think of before this one?
What was the last one that we even had?
Speaker 7 (15:33):
The first one that comes to me is A Girls Trip?
Speaker 1 (15:35):
Okay, okay, so maybe that makes sense. So you know,
I'm thinking about that and thinking like, they tend to
do really well in the box office, right, Like we
know Girls Trip like was a huge box office success
and then turned into a huge success for Essence Festival
in the city of New Orleans, and that it like
exploded attendance to Essence Fest afterwards. But given that they
(15:56):
are often so successful, why do you think we don't
see them more often? And write like black women live comedies.
Speaker 6 (16:02):
I think with comedy there is supposed to be an
air of relatability. And I don't personally agree with this,
but I do think at surface level it is perpetuated that, like,
you can't relate to black women, And I'm not going
to say I understand where that comes from, but the
experience like Kiki taking down her hair and the middle
(16:26):
of it isn't done and Jamille is like, yeah.
Speaker 5 (16:29):
I'm auf to you later. Okay, other people cannot relate
to that.
Speaker 6 (16:32):
But I do think when you're talking about big budget films,
everyone's like relatability, relatability, general audience, and I do think
black women get left out of that conversation, and so
I think that is definitely part of it. But then
we also just know how difficult it is to bring
productions alive, but also how difficult it is for black
(16:52):
writers producers to bring their productions alive as well. And
so this is probably one of hundreds of ideas that
could have been a box office smash, high budget film
that just didn't get approved because of some of the
systemic hurdles there are for black people who want to
make films. And I do think with the success of Insecure,
(17:14):
like Issa Ray is obviously not the pioneer, but she's
someone who has been able to be accepted by the
film industry and so one to see her put on
other talent is really inspiring because now my hope is
that a lot of these people become comedy staples and
we'll see them in other films, whether they're black films
or not. But yeah, I definitely want to see more
(17:35):
black women comedies. But I do think about just knowing
what the development and producing process is like for podcasting
and the feedback that people give that it's probably the
same in film as well.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Coming from the film world, it is this conflicting story
with data, especially with like the advent of streaming. Studio
executives will tell you that this is what their audience
likes and sure their audience shows up in this way
for these like soap dramas or these dramatic stories or
(18:08):
these heroin things. But it's also all that you've invested in,
So you have to both explain to a studio exec
why a thing would work and then convince them that
they could either make more money or change their revenue
model investing in something like comedy that features black women.
(18:29):
And for whatever reason, like this movie only had a
budget of fourteen million, which is considered shoestring budget in
terms of like filmmaking, and it's more than five times
you know, recoup that budget in the box office and
it's only been out for less than a month. Box
office history for black people, black women especially never seems
(18:50):
to matter. That's a big thing that I saw, Like
Gabrielle Union and Taraji p Henson mentioned where it's like,
if you are a white actor, your box office history,
for example, Robert or Downie Junior would then give you
a higher calling car or you know, make you more
accessible as or more viable as the lead of a film.
But for whatever reason, you can be Tarrogi Penson and
(19:12):
have ten successful seasons of Empire and then you know,
be in an Oscar Worthy film, but the next project
is still kind of like touch and go, and that's
like just more related to systemic issues with who gets
to be decision makers and filmmaking.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
So listen, how did you feel about the movie ending?
Speaker 2 (19:31):
So?
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Do you feel like it was a satisfying ending? Did
it leave you wanting more? Were your thoughts there?
Speaker 7 (19:37):
I liked the ending.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
I liked that they were able to strengthen their friendship
and make it through what this was for them, because
they could have broken up. And I think that what
happens right in your early if not early thirties, but
all the thirties is you start growing apart from your
friends and having these like friendship breakups. And I've had
a few of them recently, and I liked how they
were able to move through by supporting each other's I
(20:03):
don't want to say weaknesses, but lifting each other up
and kind of looking past what happened and deciding to
work through the moment because they could have just walked away,
like on the street. And that shot was also shot
really well, you know, seeing each other the split shot,
you know on top and bottom of you know, one
person working this way and you see the other person.
Speaker 7 (20:21):
It was really nicely shot.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
So hm, at least I see you shaking your head
at the vision. The visual that we got of them
on opposite sides of the street.
Speaker 6 (20:30):
Is always going to give us a striking visual moment
and I appreciate that every time. And I think, circling
back to your early question, that was something I was
looking forward to. I was like, where is she going
to give us scenery? Because I knew we were going
to get the shots of La but ooh, well, what's.
Speaker 5 (20:49):
The episode of Insecure where her and Lawrence like reconcile?
Speaker 7 (20:53):
What is it?
Speaker 5 (20:53):
Low key happy?
Speaker 1 (20:54):
I think they.
Speaker 6 (20:56):
Have a similar shot in front of the art fair
that they go to, and that is something that I'm
always coming back to for Insecure, and so to get
that in this film, I was really really excited about that.
Speaker 5 (21:08):
But you know, credits wise, at.
Speaker 6 (21:10):
The ending, they do the ending card where they tell
you like where everyone ended up.
Speaker 5 (21:16):
I love that. I thought it was perfect. I look
you want like a poster, like a little book of
those things. I thought it was really cute.
Speaker 6 (21:25):
But I think the story it felt like perfectly finished
and they didn't try to like force any overarching lesson
on us, Like, yes, there were these kind of preachy,
uplifting moments, but they felt woven into the film instead
of having this big conclusion at the end, Like the
(21:46):
big conclusion probably was like the fire and how much
they loved each other, but it still felt comedic, and
I think that is I don't want to be shady,
but back to Alyssa's point, sometimes with a lot of
black films, it feels like you have to see it
because there's this lesson that you're going to get out
of it.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
And obviously that wasn't this, but I.
Speaker 6 (22:05):
Do think there was this tone of friendship or this
theme of friendship and trust, like building trust over the day,
and I really did appreciate how it was woven in
instead of some like huge conclusion at the end that's like,
oh my god, I got to think about what the
movie taught me.
Speaker 5 (22:23):
It's like, okay, I got it throughout, So I really enjoyed.
Speaker 6 (22:26):
That, and then just seeing people win at the same time,
Like it wasn't a heavy movie. There were heavy moments,
but I was rooting for the characters throughout, and so
to have that conclusion was also really I like that
a lot.
Speaker 4 (22:40):
I will say in real life, I probably wouldn't my
friendship wouldn't have made it. I mean, yes, it is
a comedy, but there were parts that I was concerned
about right where I chopped it up to like that's
the storyline, right, but just Sizza not thinking she had
done anything wrong. And it's kind of like you kind
of destroyed a career opportunity for when you're like close
friends that they had really been working towards. You also
(23:02):
kind of put them in danger multiple times, like the
poor choice in men that you had right, because this
man wasn't just didn't just take their money. He's now
helping this woman who's trying to get back at them
track them down, and that's dangerous because I've seen that
happen before. People get set up right and they're led
to a place. So it's just like there were problematic parts.
I don't know if it's a storyline just like these characters,
(23:23):
but I will say that guy who the gentleman, who's
the boyfriend, I remember seeing him from TikTok like popping
off and like and I'm so glad he's on the
big screen. But he does these characters so well. But
I was just like man, his character is a little
little messy.
Speaker 6 (23:40):
I think to piggyback off of that, I'm actually glad
they kind of had a shouting match scene because there
was clearly passive aggressiveness building up over the course of
the movie and they needed that release, and I think
I really appreciate that.
Speaker 5 (23:56):
And at that.
Speaker 6 (23:57):
Point it felt like a good I'm gonna say conclusion,
but you then kind of knew, like, Okay, things are
going to get lighter from here. It was a perfect climax.
But I think this is a mental health podcast. I
think a lot of the times when we think about friendships,
we don't talk about moments where someone may get cursed
out or you have to say a really hard thing
to someone or something that's unfavorable, probably not nice, but
(24:21):
you've been thinking about it and you're that frustrated and
it comes out. And I'm glad they showed that they
weren't physically fighting, but it was like, I am this
frustrated with you.
Speaker 5 (24:28):
I'm just gonna say the thing, And it.
Speaker 6 (24:31):
Felt like through the rest of the movie it was
such a relief for them.
Speaker 5 (24:34):
It's like, Okay, I finally said it.
Speaker 6 (24:36):
Even though there was after that there was tension, but
they put that aside, like, Okay, we have to do
this thing, we have to do this little art show,
we have to make this money. I really appreciated kind
of seeing their relationship Eban flow throughout and not having
it all be perfect or all be toxic. I liked
how it felt very representative of having a friend who
you're just fed up with.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
Yeah, and that definitely was where my psychology ain't turned on, Like, oh,
how can we have avoided this shouting match? Right like?
Because I think things tend to boil over in that
way when you have not been saying a thing right
And so, how many times has she been frustrated with,
you know, her poor choice in a partner, And how
many times has sister's character been frustrated that Kiki's character
(25:19):
does not believe in herself more right? Like, So, there
are clearly things that need to be expressed to one
another that you are not saying that then boil over
into this large argument. So it definitely felt like there
was some sisterhood heels moments. I definitely was thinking like, oh,
how can we have said this to each other in
a kinder, more loving fashion. But the part that I
really loved about their relationship, and you know, I talk
(25:41):
about this in Sisterhood heels is that it kind of
felt to me that there was this idea of, like,
are we as girlfriends? Can we not also choose to
be each other's soulmates? Right? And I felt like that
they played with that a lot, that platonic love is
something to be celebrated, and like, how can we cherish
one another and really see each other as life partners
in some way? And so I really thought that that
(26:03):
angle kind of came out as well. What were your
thoughts on the endings, Harry.
Speaker 3 (26:08):
Well, to your point about sisterhood and like platonic soulmates,
I would say that we have to think of a
really big shout out to the writer, Sarta Singleton, because
even though it's her first film that she's written, she
was a writer on Insecure and she was a producer
on Rap Shit, so she's really kind of built a
career exploring that very theme.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
The ending I really loved. Well.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
I saw it like very close to the premiere, so
you know, the La wild fires were happening, so I
was like, ah, I wish it was a slightly different,
but I really enjoyed it because I feel like a
lot of what Keiki's character Drew was dealing with is
something that a lot of just black people in general
deal with, the idea that in order to like advance
(26:50):
our lives or elevate, we have to escape our community.
But the real solution came from her relying on it,
relying on her friendships, relying on the people that she
lived in an apartment with.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
Sure, bringing in mad.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
Apatos characters, access, but everything that she needed to succeed
was already there. And I thought that was like a
thing about me is that if you throw a rock
into the ocean, I will give it meeting. But I
thought that was the big message in this movie, and
I was like really like looking around seeing the homegirls,
(27:22):
seeing the people in the theater like resonate and have
the aha moment.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
So that was great for me.
Speaker 3 (27:27):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
I love that. I also thought the community angle was
really beautiful that everybody came together and like worked for
a common goal, So I thought that that was really sweet.
Any other thoughts about any of the plot points or
things that you feel like you would have liked to
maybe see different in the film.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Who Big Shout out to Aziza Scott, who plays Miss Bernice.
One of the things that I will say it didn't
bother me, just like as I watched it, I didn't
necessarily feel like Keiki and Sissa gave LA native, like
they didn't feel like they were from La proper. But
Bernice was from seventy third to Normby, I know her,
(28:07):
like she felt like an LA person all the way through.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
So I really liked that acting.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
And then also I think there's this interesting tradition, or
maybe it's probably not a tradition, it's probably just a
misogyny at work.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
But Lawrence Lamont, this is his directorial debut.
Speaker 3 (28:23):
But when I think about the last Buddy comedy that
we got for black women, that was Will Packer, one
of my favorite movies. Who can play that game? I
feel like it was also a black male director. I'm
slipping on his name. And then like even Waiting for
Exhil was Forest Whitaker. So I really enjoy especially as
a black man that works on a black women's mental
health podcast, like there's a responsibility to like carefully telling
(28:46):
these stories and like protecting people involved.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
And I feel like he did a really good job with.
Speaker 7 (28:50):
That speaking of Black Men.
Speaker 4 (28:53):
I appreciated how there was the redirect in the movie,
how they kind of led us to a bias, right,
like Maniac is she's like, Oh, I think you might
be in a gang, and then the axe came out
in the car and she's starting to freak out, right,
and then at the end it's like he's a firefighter.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
Right.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
It was a reminder that, like, yes, they set us up,
but it's a good reminder that even though you're in
the community, you can also check yourself. So I appreciated
just all the little different things that they threw into
this movie.
Speaker 5 (29:19):
It's so funny.
Speaker 6 (29:20):
My friend she said something similar just about how like
you can be of community with someone and still stereotype them,
and I was like, I agree. But his name was maniac,
And I was like, I feel like she had just
cause to be concerned if I already know you had
to pass and your nickname is maniac.
Speaker 5 (29:39):
And then I'm in your car and I see an ax.
Speaker 6 (29:42):
I think there's a fair person to be like, oh, dug,
he's a firefighter. But then there's also a person who's like,
I don't know what's going on here. But I really
thought that was a cool. I guess the best way
to put it is almost like a double entendra plot
point there.
Speaker 5 (29:55):
But another thing that.
Speaker 6 (29:56):
Stood out to me in the film and Doctor Joy,
you touched on the community being a character. I thought
that was really special and I thought it was really
important because I think so many times when we talk
about like the Hood or black communities, it's the plight
(30:16):
of what's going on and not how people find levity
or just exist in that plight. So it wasn't like
a war with the tenants versus the landlord, like it
was in a comedic way, and it's like, we don't
get this treatment around here, like kids go get some cookies,
and so like those little moments where it's like this
could actually be like a bad situation and they could
(30:39):
have had tension here, but instead of having tension, they
added the levity. And I think that's what really made
the community as a whole its own character in the movie,
which is something I really appreciated just watching other films
where there's no moments for levity and I don't even
want to say what's tragic, but what one could view
as unfavorable. So I think that was what the film
(31:02):
did really well. And it's something that Insecure also did
really well, and so I appreciate as Ray not like,
oh my gosh, there's a silver lining of living in
the hood, but it's like, no, this is just people's life,
like you don't have to view it, and those two
extremes on the topic of people's lives.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
I loved how I don't remember her name in the film,
but Eva from Abbot Elementary was in there, and just
the whole I loved the in card right, it was
like went to law school, you know, and then ended
up back like all these different kind of schools and
then ended up back stripping. It was really funny and
I when I was watching it, I thought, like with my.
Speaker 7 (31:36):
Social media brain, I was just like, if we did
those like in cards.
Speaker 4 (31:39):
For like everybody on the team, like what would they're
happily a record a happy ending backplate b It was
a fun little exercise because some people on the team
definitely stuck out of my.
Speaker 1 (31:47):
Head more from our conversation after the break. So I
had a cute moment after watching the film. So I
walked out of the theater and then I saw an
Aka at the door, right, and I'm an Aka y'all
(32:10):
have heard me talk about this on the podcast. And
then I turned the corner and there was a whole
lobby full of akas.
Speaker 5 (32:15):
And I was like, oh, what's going on here?
Speaker 1 (32:17):
Like, hey, Sorrows And so then I started talking to
them and it was like their chapter Gallentine's Day Outing
and so it was like Sorrows of All Ages And
so one of the things that I wanted to chat
with you all about because I started thinking, like, how
are the older sorrows going to feel about this? Because
I don't feel like it is a particularly raunchy kind
of movement, but it isn't something that I would think
(32:39):
I would go see with like my older aunts or
like my grandmother. So how do you think about the
universality of this film, Like do you think it is
something that both younger and older generations might appreciate?
Speaker 6 (32:52):
I think, circling back to the point I was making
earlier about the levity and moments that may seem like
unfavorable or trodden or whatever, I do think that is
something that I don't want to say older generations struggle.
Speaker 5 (33:08):
With, But I could see people.
Speaker 6 (33:11):
Not liking the film through the lens of like respectability politics,
and I have seen comments around that, and so for me,
that's where I would be kind of hesitant to show
to someone who was of a different generation because some
of the things that's like, oh, this is funny, they
may be like, this.
Speaker 5 (33:28):
Is portraying black people in a bad light.
Speaker 6 (33:31):
Which I also think is are things that people commented
on about Insecure as well. So that's really the only
qualm I think there could be our tension between me
as like a twenty six year old versus someone maybe
who's like even older than my mom, like in their
late sixties or something like that. But overall, I think
(33:53):
it's one of those films that if you're younger, it's
like a fun introduction into the who's of like youth
culture today.
Speaker 5 (34:02):
So what's about the actual film?
Speaker 6 (34:04):
But like they may know Kicky Palmer from Aquila and
the b and it's like, no, she has grown into
like the one of the top comedic talents of her time.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
Well you know, and you do have Vanessa Belle Callaway
in the movie as well, who's like, also, she's on
the motherboard of Black Hollywood.
Speaker 1 (34:20):
Yes she is.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
But Doctor Joy's funny because el Ray's grandmother is an
Aka so I do wonder if she saw it or
if she put the apb out like, hey, this is what.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
It's very possible because they were they definitely chose this
because it was a black director in black actresses, right,
and so they chose this as their thing to support,
so it would be interesting, and she put the call out.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
Was the feedback that you got from people that they
enjoyed it, Because honestly, when I was home, my aunt,
who's in her late sixties, was begging me to go
watch it with her, and I.
Speaker 7 (34:51):
Kept curving her because I thought I was gonna watch
it with a lease, and.
Speaker 5 (34:54):
So I was like, I can't, I can't.
Speaker 7 (34:55):
I'm gonna go to a coworker.
Speaker 4 (34:59):
So she got together some people and things like that.
But I think also too, once it comes out on
TV or whatever stream platform it comes on, people are
gonna watch it, people are gonna talk about it, and
you know, like maybe by like Christmas time or Thanksgiving,
it'd be something funny to put on with the family,
you know, because the thing is they may not relate
to it, but I'm sure there's a character that they're like, oh,
I could see you know, someone in my family doing that.
If it's not me like I might have a niece
(35:20):
like that or a nephew like that or something like that.
I think it'll be something at least to talk about
around the dinner table.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
Mm hmm. So y'all mentioned we have definitely seen Isa
and Kiki in Sisa doing all the press. It feels
like they've had lots of hits, a lot in places
that typically are known for telling black stories. What have
y'all thought about like the press run leading up to
the film and even post release.
Speaker 6 (35:44):
I think we see these press runs where the behind
the scenes talent, so whether it's the writers, the producers,
they're obviously excited about the film, and there's this rapport
between the cast and the little inside jokes says a
Kiki Palmer and Lisa Ray took that and did it
times ten. They are always keyking, they're always laughing. I
(36:04):
like want the behind the scenes footage like bring back DVDs,
bring back the extra the uncut version, and I think
they have showcased like it was fun to work on
this film. Obviously it's a comedy. But that's what I've
enjoyed about these press tour moments is just seeing their
trio and how much joy they bring to each other,
(36:25):
and it's just funny how they can be so candid
with each other and still be themselves as like these
great professionals that they are. And so I've just enjoyed
the it as a window into like their personality and
who they really are, because honestly, I don't think they
talk much about the film in these press tours.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
I don't think I've seen them talk about the film
at all.
Speaker 4 (36:45):
Honestly, I personally prefer this press run to the Wicked
one because I felt like some press runs can be
like oversaturating, right, you're just like, Okay, I'm so done,
and I think it too is like the length of it.
But their rapport just felt more like, at least said real,
they were actually friends, like they actually had this chemistry.
Not saying that Cynthia and Ariana don't, but it was
(37:08):
just there are these weird moments that they pulled out
of the press tour versus like genuinely funny moments. But
that also could be due to the differentiation of the
different types of films. But I was wondering, for y'all,
are there two women you'd like to see in another
film like this. After seeing it, I was just like,
I would like to sit through something else like this,
because Girls Triple was a four person dynamic, right, you know,
(37:30):
this was a two person dynamic.
Speaker 7 (37:31):
What does a trio look like?
Speaker 3 (37:33):
Right?
Speaker 4 (37:33):
When you have two friends that are doing something and
the third one gets left out. I just like, there's
so many combinations of this that could happen.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
I definitely have two in mind.
Speaker 3 (37:43):
And what I loved about this film is that it
was like I feel like when you see the Homegirl film,
they always kind of felt distant from me, Like this
was an age range that I'm actively a part of.
So two that I want to see is Storm Read
and Marseille Martin and just kind of like that young
girl coming up Paul and Janelle James who's on Apple Elementary.
Speaker 1 (38:02):
Oh, I feel like I was thinking, I want to say,
I was thinking Regina Hall and really anybody, like really
just her and anybody would be hilarious. But Janelle James
is a good match.
Speaker 6 (38:14):
I would love to see Iowa Debris and Coco Jones
as like best friends or like college roommates freshman year
who have like clearly different personalities but like meet up
for something and whatever.
Speaker 5 (38:31):
Happens.
Speaker 6 (38:32):
I think Coco Jones is a comedian, like to me,
like she's an amazing singer, she's a good actress, but
where she shines is comedy, Like she's a naturally funny person.
And I envision like there's a cameo from like Victoria
Monett or someone like that. But I think the two
of them would be really good together.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
Oh so that was my next question at least, like
what other backgrounds could we see something like this working in?
So you're talking about like a college campus maybe, or
like lightly postgrid because I feel like we get a
lot of like La New York like apartment building or
something based right like residence base. What other backdrops do
you think could add an interesting layer to a comedy
(39:13):
like this.
Speaker 4 (39:14):
Sports if they're teammates like like at a college, or
teammates and like WNBA, you know, or or best friends
but they're on different teams, things like that, that really
adds it. I am right, because then it's like where
does your loyalty lie with your teammates or with your
friend or is there a way to kind of like
be there for both.
Speaker 5 (39:35):
I think borrowing from the white lotus format in like
a resort, Yes, a resort, a bachelorette trip.
Speaker 6 (39:46):
I do want to see a younger black or even
like multi racial but like black led version of Bridesmaids.
I think that would be an incredible Yeah, that would
be an incredible movie. I also think like a retail store,
like high end retail, like the people that work there,
(40:07):
or even like a spa with the employees, like a
comedy based around them and their interactions with the customers.
I think that would be really good too, especially because
the opportunity for celebrity cameos.
Speaker 3 (40:20):
As someone who begrudgingly watches own reality TV, I think
that the reason why like Love and Marriage Huntsville works
is because who the hell is in Huntsville. I don't
think about it as being like glamorous, but they're like
these real stories there. And as somebody who watches like
TV and film, I'm so tired of watching black people
in Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta, like I'm interested
(40:43):
in what happens in Milwaukee.
Speaker 6 (40:46):
I think DC has missed opportunity too, But like not
and as a dcname, I'm saying this like not, oh
I work for the government or I like work in
corporate just thing that's like I don't even want to
say exactly, or like I work at a nonprofit or
(41:07):
doing social media for somewhere, like something that's a little
more random. That does allow the city to be the backdrop.
Because I will say that's what made Insecure really well
was that nobody was like an actor or a singer,
and I think that's what kind of let the personality
shine because it deviated from the stereotypes of that city.
Speaker 4 (41:25):
I will plug a show I've been talking about since
it came out, and I know y'all know I have
heard me talk about it, dr from Detroit.
Speaker 5 (41:32):
Detroit is a great lokay and.
Speaker 4 (41:33):
Like it was, that show is hilarious and I feel
like it. You know, if you don't make if you
don't do season two, just make it into a mini movie,
you know.
Speaker 5 (41:40):
But that's I.
Speaker 4 (41:41):
Think that's the city too, that would really like the
city can just shine and something like that.
Speaker 1 (41:47):
Oh okay, So somebody needs to cut some checks because
you see, the team has some great ideas. So if
you're looking for ideas, definitely hit us up. So I
have appreciated all of the thoughts that y'all have shared
such a great way. I think to kind of of
round out the movie because I think this just adds
another layer to the conversations. So let us know where
we can find you online in case people want to
(42:07):
chime in and say they love some of your ideas
or they have opposing ideas what you have shared, So listen,
where can the people find you online?
Speaker 4 (42:15):
I'm on all social media platforms because I am the
social media manager.
Speaker 7 (42:19):
But you can find me at Alyssa Explorers.
Speaker 1 (42:22):
Yeah, on all the places, Perfect and Elise.
Speaker 6 (42:25):
You can find me on Instagram at e l l
I C E l l I S.
Speaker 3 (42:31):
And know what about you, Tyrey, I am on all
of the social media's as well and my handle list
Tyrrelvin t y R E l v I N Perfect.
Speaker 1 (42:41):
Thank y'all so much for breaking down the movie with me.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (42:45):
Always a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (42:49):
I'm so glad the team was able to join me
for this conversation. To learn more about them and their work,
visit the show notes at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com
slash one of them Days. If you're interested in finding
a therapist in your area, visit our therapist directory at
Therapy for Blackgirls dot com slash directory and don't forget
to share this episode with two of your girls right now.
(43:12):
If you're interested in suggesting other movies that we should
talk about or books, or if you have a question
that you might want answered on the podcast, drop us
a voice note at memo dot fm slash Therapy for
Black Girls and we just might highlight it on the podcast.
This episode was produced by Elise Ellis and Tyree Rush.
Editing was done by Dennison Bradford. Thank y'all so much
(43:34):
for joining me for this conversation. We'll be back next
Wednesday with your regular episode. Until then, take good care.
Speaker 7 (43:44):
What's
Welcome to the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast, a weekly
conversation about mental health, personal development, and all the small
decisions we can make to become the best possible versions
of ourselves. I'm your host, doctor Joy hard and Bradford,
a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information or
(00:32):
to find a therapist in your area, visit our website
at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com. While I hope you
love listening to and learning from the podcast, it is
not meant to be a substitute for a relationship with
a licensed mental health professional. Hey, y'all, thanks so much
(00:57):
for joining me for the special bonus episode of the
Therapy for Black Girls Podcast. We'll get right into our
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at the fifty six annual NAACP Image Awards, but we
(01:20):
cannot win without your support. Please take a second to
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for Therapy for Black Girls. It's been out for barely
a month, and one of them days is already on
track to be one of the best comedies of the year. Today,
I'm joined by some members of my team, podcast producers
(01:43):
Tyree Rush and Elise Ellis, and social media manager Alyssa
Green to unpack some of the best moments in this
instant cult classic. We also chatted about the implications that
the success of this film means for the industry at large,
especially as it pertains to black women comedies. So sit
back and get ready for our first team chat of
(02:03):
the year. If something resonates with you while enjoying our conversation,
please share with us on social media using the hashtag
TBG in session. Here's our conversation. Well, I am very
excited for us to be back with another team chat.
We have some new members of the team to join us.
(02:24):
These are always my favorite conversations, So let us get
started with introductions and we will start with you. Tyree.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Am Tyree Rush.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
I'm the newest producer for Therapy for Black Girls and
also TBGU I am an Atlanta native and a New
York currentor yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Hi everyone, I am Alissa the social media manager for
Therapy for Black Girls. I am a Chicago native but
Los Angeles resident.
Speaker 5 (02:49):
Hey everyone, you've heard my voice before.
Speaker 6 (02:52):
I'm the veteran, but I'm released the senior producer of
the podcast. I am here based in Los Angeles, originally
from Washington, DC.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Perfect, So we are a symbol today to chat about
one of them days. So this is the newest Esray production,
so to speak. Very excited to chat with you all
about it. So what were your thoughts kind of heading
into the movie, because I feel like we got some
trailers and you kind of saw it as like this
buddy comedy, But did you have any initial thoughts even
(03:21):
before you went to see them.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
One of the big things for me, coming somewhat from
the film space, is that it takes a long time
for a movie to get made, and I knew it
was an es Ray project, So when I've heard about it,
I thought that it was based on this tweet that
came out of like twenty sixteen about Rihanna and Lupite
Nyango project that Esiray was gonna do. So I thought
that this is just what that turned into. And I
(03:44):
was kind of expecting it to be in the lane
of that like heist film sort of situation. So then
when I saw the trailer, I was looking at it
at that lens, but it was something else entirely.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
I had completely forgotten about that, so that is not
at all what this was, right, but there was the tweet.
They kind of went viral about that and then picked
up some steam, so that may still be coming at
some point, but this was not that. Yeah, I appreciate
you for reminding us, what about you to listening at
least any initial thoughts.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
Yeah, before heading into it, because I probably watched it
a week after it came out, so people had already
seen it, and there had been the hype around it.
Speaker 7 (04:20):
But everyone kept saying it was going.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
To be like the Friday series, right, like this is
the next one, but like women centered, and so that
it was going to be, as my dad.
Speaker 7 (04:28):
Likes to call it, fine black cinema. You'll get your
black card revoked if you haven't seen this movie ten
years from now.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
So huh. Okay.
Speaker 6 (04:38):
I am a really big fan of Buddy comedies. I
just enjoyed them so much. I don't think they have
to be like the most profound, and so I went
into it thinking like, Okay, we're gonna get a little
bit of Friday, maybe a little bit of super Bad,
some like Judd Apatow type film, but I also was
really excited because I felt like Saysa and Kiki Palmer
(05:01):
were just gonna be too really strong lead and kind
of like Alyssa said, this was gonna be one of
those movies where ten years from now, you couldn't not
watch it because of who they are and like who
they are as celebrities in this moment. So it excited
me in that way, like, oh, Okay, we finally have
a black woman buddy comedy. But then the talent that
they chose to lead it is really defines like what
(05:25):
culture is in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
So I have to confess I am not a buddy
comedy person at all. So black women had not been involved,
this is probably not a.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Movie I would have seen.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
I feel like I may bee sa super Bad, but
I cannot remember what it was like. This would have
likely been something I would have seen when it came
on like HBO or something like. I would not have
purchased a ticket to go and see it, but I'm
very happy that I did. I really enjoyed it, but
it definitely would have been something I would have waited
to come out on a streaming if it were not
black women involved. So Alyssa, you bring up a good point.
(05:59):
There been lots of comparisons to Friday, like seeing it
as like the new iteration, but black girl, black women's centered.
What do y'all feel about that comparison? Do you feel
like it was accurate and are there any concerns with
it being compared to Friday.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
I definitely feel like it was an accurate description, and
it takes place in la I mean it's in Baldwin Village,
so like a slightly different neighborhood than I think that
Friday was competent, but it definitely was that feeling around it,
like high jinks. I also think that there's no real
girls from the hood story that's like comedy and like
not trauma field, but like that's what Friday is to me.
(06:37):
It's like the opposite of boys in the Hood or
like men's society, showing that like there's still like levity
and like happiness in these sort of communities.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
So I thought it was the appropriate description.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
I think that the description was associated with it so that.
Speaker 7 (06:53):
People would get a reference so they would go watch
the film.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
I think that it stands on its own two legs
with it takes the movie and how it shows the
Los Angeles community and really talks too about topics that
we're dealing with, right, Like they're trying to get their
money right, and they go to the loan office, you.
Speaker 7 (07:11):
Know, and it's just the cash advance, you know. Right.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
It's like, I've never been one of those, but I've
seen them, right, you know, I've been a point where
it's like, oh, okay, you know what is this like? Right?
And so getting to see these characters explore their options
and have these moments and just like the gentrification in
Los Angeles and apartment complex is turning over and things
like that. So I think that Friday touched upon a
lot of topics. It's kind of similar, not the same ones,
(07:34):
but definitely friendship, family dynamics, different things that we deal with.
Speaker 7 (07:39):
That helps to see on screen.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
So what were your initial thoughts of the characters? So
we see Keiki Palmer's character first, she plays Drew, who
is a waitress at a restaurant, and then we see
her best friend, who is played by Sizza, who is
coming to pick her up from her shift. So what
were your initial impressions of the characters.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Despite not resonate with everyone, but I was literally watching
it and thinking, Kiki is playing a Queen Latifa character.
This is how Queen Latifah would show up in any
sort of leading role that she's in, always kind of
like around the Way homegirl, like very.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Relatable, and it was an interesting thing.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
I picked that up the first five minutes of the
movie because Keiky Palmer also occupies this interest in space
now with young black woman in Hollywood creating different sort
of films. Queen Latifa's a kind of actress who could
be a part of a large blockbuster, but they could
also put out a Beauty Shop, which is like a
smaller made film that she independently produced. So it was
(08:39):
cool seeing her play that sort of character because I
also think that, like as a professional, that's the sort
of role she's stepping in.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
You know.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
It's funny because when I watched the film, I did
get a Queen Latifa esque right, Like there was some
movie that she was in. I think, was she like
a house sitter for like a.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Rich man break down the house?
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Yes, And I was like, this kind of it feels
like that to me. So it's interesting that you make
that connection. What about you, at least, what were your
initial impressions of the characters.
Speaker 6 (09:07):
I thought the supporting characters were extremely well written, and
sometimes I struggle with in movies, is the supporting characters
kind of popping in and popping out, which I do
think happened in this movie a little bit like with
Little RELs cameo. But overall between Maniac who the actor's
(09:27):
name is escaping me, but also Kat Williams and even
maud Apatow, I felt like they really enhanced the story
but also held their own as comedians, and it was
really good to see the balance of how do these
people show up in this kind of la apartment complex
in this La day that they're showing in the movie,
but also how do they bring what we know and
(09:49):
love them for to the film? And I think the
movie married that really really well. Kat Williams, something that
I love about him is it always feels like he
is pleading. I would say, like he always has. His
comedy is very wise, and so to see him as
this unk, for lack of a better word, crackhead on
the corner, but being like the wise one in the film,
(10:11):
I'm like, this is what we know Kat Williams for.
I think that's also why we loved his Shannon Sharp interview.
It was funny, but there was this like wisdom he
brought to it. And with maud appatality, it's like she's
clearly smart but also a little aloof at the same time,
which is like the perfect thing for a white woman
who chooses.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
To live in the hood. And then with Patrick Cage Maniac, his.
Speaker 6 (10:32):
Character was like obviously supposed to be like sexy and intimidating,
but also so chill that he let Keky Palmer shine
in those moments. And so what I appreciated was how
well thought out those supporting characters were. Aside from like
Keky Palmer and to the being great leads, it was
the supporting characters that I think I'm gonna go back
(10:53):
to and fawn over when I watch the film.
Speaker 7 (10:55):
I feel like that was like such deep character the
both of you.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
So you mentioned the scene was set Sissu's picking up
Kekey and she's late, right that scene, I was like, oh,
that's me.
Speaker 7 (11:05):
I'm late.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
I'm always late, fifteen minutes late, Like she had to
lie to her friends that she was on time, you know.
And you added great comedic realief at the top, and
you could see how close the relationship was because they
just like Kiki k news, Sissa wasn't gonna be on time,
and so I have that dynamic with a friend. But
if people were to watch this, my friends would be like, oh,
you're Keky's character. And the whole movie, I saw myself
(11:26):
as Siss's character, right. I'm a creative and I just
loved how I could see myself on the screen. And
the most impactful part of the movie for me was
where Sissus hyping up ke Key before the thing and
she's like, you're not the two and he's like, I'm
the one, You're not the two, and you know, it
was just it was such like sisterhood to me. So
(11:46):
that made the moment later on in the film where
they have the big rift is supposed to happen between
them a part where I then became introspective, right, because
when they were arguing, I was.
Speaker 7 (11:56):
Like, siss is the one that's wrong.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
She lost the money, Kik, He's been doing all this
stuff to get it back right. And so I think
that the way that these characters were written and how
you could see yourself in it really made the dynamics
more impactful when everything played out.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
H great ideas a littlea I love that. I think
something else that I feel like Ia has almost like
the background becomes an additional character in a lot of
her productions, And so initially when we were introduced to
the apartment complex, I was like, is this gonna be
the dudes? But it was course a different apartment complex,
but it very much became like a part of the movie,
(12:32):
like it is an additional character.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
Now.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
I wanted to ask y'all thoughts because I wasn't sure
who Kat Williams was supposed to be. Like, Okay, so
he pops up at the check cashing place, but then
he like follows them throughout the movie, and I'm like,
is this some kind of like lepre Khanish? Like how
does he How does he show up in all these
places when he had no prior connection to them.
Speaker 6 (12:56):
I think that was his role in the film, Like oh,
he's I hate to say, like the hood Leprechaun, but
him kind of being in front of this check cashing place,
which is like could be symbolically like a pot of gold,
and it's like, Okay, you're seeing him at all these
moments where they're kind of almost touching their goal and
(13:16):
something happens because it's like, Okay, we can get the
money from the cash advance or pay day advanced place,
but that doesn't work out. Oh we can sell these Jordans,
which they do, but also they end up in not
the emergency room but in an ampelance. It's like, Okay,
they were almost there, and then he's at the art
show or the art pop up and it's like, Okay,
you're almost here. So I think he was supposed to
(13:38):
represent them finding kind of their solution or they're like
winning streak per se.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
It just reminded me of one of my favorite movies,
Don't Be a Menace in South Central While drinking your
juice Keena Ivory Wayne's character always just pops in like
message like and that's kind of like the gag. So
that's how Cat showed up for me. Also kind of
him as like it's a movie that definitely is not
leaning into any sort of like black trauma at all.
(14:07):
So like even giving people in the lower quote unquote
positions in life, like the opportunity to be community members
and elders, and like in part wisdom like it can
come from anyone, like he's the wise fool.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
I guess archetype.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
I liked it for that reason because especially as it
is a movie about female friendship, like showing what having
greater access to community looks like in like our communities.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
Because I have that, and I agree with a least
sentiment that the supporting characters. Now I'm thinking about it,
they no one is forgettable in this film, right.
Speaker 7 (14:43):
You know you had the.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
Friend who was supposed to braid her hair off the top, right, who.
Speaker 7 (14:46):
Helped them find Homeboys' location.
Speaker 4 (14:49):
You know, they had the drive through guy who's like,
I'm not one to stitch, but if I was. You know, like,
you just have so many different people in this film
that really stood out. So I think the writers must
have had a fun time doing this and coming off
with the different characters, because they did a great job.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
M I can imagine it was a hoot in the
writer's room. More from our conversation after the break, So
I can't even think about, what is the last black
(15:26):
women led comedy that you can think of before this one?
What was the last one that we even had?
Speaker 7 (15:33):
The first one that comes to me is A Girls Trip?
Speaker 1 (15:35):
Okay, okay, so maybe that makes sense. So you know,
I'm thinking about that and thinking like, they tend to
do really well in the box office, right, Like we
know Girls Trip like was a huge box office success
and then turned into a huge success for Essence Festival
in the city of New Orleans, and that it like
exploded attendance to Essence Fest afterwards. But given that they
(15:56):
are often so successful, why do you think we don't
see them more often? And write like black women live comedies.
Speaker 6 (16:02):
I think with comedy there is supposed to be an
air of relatability. And I don't personally agree with this,
but I do think at surface level it is perpetuated that, like,
you can't relate to black women, And I'm not going
to say I understand where that comes from, but the
experience like Kiki taking down her hair and the middle
(16:26):
of it isn't done and Jamille is like, yeah.
Speaker 5 (16:29):
I'm auf to you later. Okay, other people cannot relate
to that.
Speaker 6 (16:32):
But I do think when you're talking about big budget films,
everyone's like relatability, relatability, general audience, and I do think
black women get left out of that conversation, and so
I think that is definitely part of it. But then
we also just know how difficult it is to bring
productions alive, but also how difficult it is for black
(16:52):
writers producers to bring their productions alive as well. And
so this is probably one of hundreds of ideas that
could have been a box office smash, high budget film
that just didn't get approved because of some of the
systemic hurdles there are for black people who want to
make films. And I do think with the success of Insecure,
(17:14):
like Issa Ray is obviously not the pioneer, but she's
someone who has been able to be accepted by the
film industry and so one to see her put on
other talent is really inspiring because now my hope is
that a lot of these people become comedy staples and
we'll see them in other films, whether they're black films
or not. But yeah, I definitely want to see more
(17:35):
black women comedies. But I do think about just knowing
what the development and producing process is like for podcasting
and the feedback that people give that it's probably the
same in film as well.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Coming from the film world, it is this conflicting story
with data, especially with like the advent of streaming. Studio
executives will tell you that this is what their audience
likes and sure their audience shows up in this way
for these like soap dramas or these dramatic stories or
(18:08):
these heroin things. But it's also all that you've invested in,
So you have to both explain to a studio exec
why a thing would work and then convince them that
they could either make more money or change their revenue
model investing in something like comedy that features black women.
(18:29):
And for whatever reason, like this movie only had a
budget of fourteen million, which is considered shoestring budget in
terms of like filmmaking, and it's more than five times
you know, recoup that budget in the box office and
it's only been out for less than a month. Box
office history for black people, black women especially never seems
(18:50):
to matter. That's a big thing that I saw, Like
Gabrielle Union and Taraji p Henson mentioned where it's like,
if you are a white actor, your box office history,
for example, Robert or Downie Junior would then give you
a higher calling car or you know, make you more
accessible as or more viable as the lead of a film.
But for whatever reason, you can be Tarrogi Penson and
(19:12):
have ten successful seasons of Empire and then you know,
be in an Oscar Worthy film, but the next project
is still kind of like touch and go, and that's
like just more related to systemic issues with who gets
to be decision makers and filmmaking.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
So listen, how did you feel about the movie ending?
Speaker 2 (19:31):
So?
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Do you feel like it was a satisfying ending? Did
it leave you wanting more? Were your thoughts there?
Speaker 7 (19:37):
I liked the ending.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
I liked that they were able to strengthen their friendship
and make it through what this was for them, because
they could have broken up. And I think that what
happens right in your early if not early thirties, but
all the thirties is you start growing apart from your
friends and having these like friendship breakups. And I've had
a few of them recently, and I liked how they
were able to move through by supporting each other's I
(20:03):
don't want to say weaknesses, but lifting each other up
and kind of looking past what happened and deciding to
work through the moment because they could have just walked away,
like on the street. And that shot was also shot
really well, you know, seeing each other the split shot,
you know on top and bottom of you know, one
person working this way and you see the other person.
Speaker 7 (20:21):
It was really nicely shot.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
So hm, at least I see you shaking your head
at the vision. The visual that we got of them
on opposite sides of the street.
Speaker 6 (20:30):
Is always going to give us a striking visual moment
and I appreciate that every time. And I think, circling
back to your early question, that was something I was
looking forward to. I was like, where is she going
to give us scenery? Because I knew we were going
to get the shots of La but ooh, well, what's.
Speaker 5 (20:49):
The episode of Insecure where her and Lawrence like reconcile?
Speaker 7 (20:53):
What is it?
Speaker 5 (20:53):
Low key happy?
Speaker 1 (20:54):
I think they.
Speaker 6 (20:56):
Have a similar shot in front of the art fair
that they go to, and that is something that I'm
always coming back to for Insecure, and so to get
that in this film, I was really really excited about that.
Speaker 5 (21:08):
But you know, credits wise, at.
Speaker 6 (21:10):
The ending, they do the ending card where they tell
you like where everyone ended up.
Speaker 5 (21:16):
I love that. I thought it was perfect. I look
you want like a poster, like a little book of
those things. I thought it was really cute.
Speaker 6 (21:25):
But I think the story it felt like perfectly finished
and they didn't try to like force any overarching lesson
on us, Like, yes, there were these kind of preachy,
uplifting moments, but they felt woven into the film instead
of having this big conclusion at the end, Like the
(21:46):
big conclusion probably was like the fire and how much
they loved each other, but it still felt comedic, and
I think that is I don't want to be shady,
but back to Alyssa's point, sometimes with a lot of
black films, it feels like you have to see it
because there's this lesson that you're going to get out
of it.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
And obviously that wasn't this, but I.
Speaker 6 (22:05):
Do think there was this tone of friendship or this
theme of friendship and trust, like building trust over the day,
and I really did appreciate how it was woven in
instead of some like huge conclusion at the end that's like,
oh my god, I got to think about what the
movie taught me.
Speaker 5 (22:23):
It's like, okay, I got it throughout, So I really enjoyed.
Speaker 6 (22:26):
That, and then just seeing people win at the same time,
Like it wasn't a heavy movie. There were heavy moments,
but I was rooting for the characters throughout, and so
to have that conclusion was also really I like that
a lot.
Speaker 4 (22:40):
I will say in real life, I probably wouldn't my
friendship wouldn't have made it. I mean, yes, it is
a comedy, but there were parts that I was concerned
about right where I chopped it up to like that's
the storyline, right, but just Sizza not thinking she had
done anything wrong. And it's kind of like you kind
of destroyed a career opportunity for when you're like close
friends that they had really been working towards. You also
(23:02):
kind of put them in danger multiple times, like the
poor choice in men that you had right, because this
man wasn't just didn't just take their money. He's now
helping this woman who's trying to get back at them
track them down, and that's dangerous because I've seen that
happen before. People get set up right and they're led
to a place. So it's just like there were problematic parts.
I don't know if it's a storyline just like these characters,
(23:23):
but I will say that guy who the gentleman, who's
the boyfriend, I remember seeing him from TikTok like popping
off and like and I'm so glad he's on the
big screen. But he does these characters so well. But
I was just like man, his character is a little
little messy.
Speaker 6 (23:40):
I think to piggyback off of that, I'm actually glad
they kind of had a shouting match scene because there
was clearly passive aggressiveness building up over the course of
the movie and they needed that release, and I think
I really appreciate that.
Speaker 5 (23:56):
And at that.
Speaker 6 (23:57):
Point it felt like a good I'm gonna say conclusion,
but you then kind of knew, like, Okay, things are
going to get lighter from here. It was a perfect climax.
But I think this is a mental health podcast. I
think a lot of the times when we think about friendships,
we don't talk about moments where someone may get cursed
out or you have to say a really hard thing
to someone or something that's unfavorable, probably not nice, but
(24:21):
you've been thinking about it and you're that frustrated and
it comes out. And I'm glad they showed that they
weren't physically fighting, but it was like, I am this
frustrated with you.
Speaker 5 (24:28):
I'm just gonna say the thing, And it.
Speaker 6 (24:31):
Felt like through the rest of the movie it was
such a relief for them.
Speaker 5 (24:34):
It's like, Okay, I finally said it.
Speaker 6 (24:36):
Even though there was after that there was tension, but
they put that aside, like, Okay, we have to do
this thing, we have to do this little art show,
we have to make this money. I really appreciated kind
of seeing their relationship Eban flow throughout and not having
it all be perfect or all be toxic. I liked
how it felt very representative of having a friend who
you're just fed up with.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
Yeah, and that definitely was where my psychology ain't turned on, Like, oh,
how can we have avoided this shouting match? Right like?
Because I think things tend to boil over in that
way when you have not been saying a thing right
And so, how many times has she been frustrated with,
you know, her poor choice in a partner, And how
many times has sister's character been frustrated that Kiki's character
(25:19):
does not believe in herself more right? Like, So, there
are clearly things that need to be expressed to one
another that you are not saying that then boil over
into this large argument. So it definitely felt like there
was some sisterhood heels moments. I definitely was thinking like, oh,
how can we have said this to each other in
a kinder, more loving fashion. But the part that I
really loved about their relationship, and you know, I talk
(25:41):
about this in Sisterhood heels is that it kind of
felt to me that there was this idea of, like,
are we as girlfriends? Can we not also choose to
be each other's soulmates? Right? And I felt like that
they played with that a lot, that platonic love is
something to be celebrated, and like, how can we cherish
one another and really see each other as life partners
in some way? And so I really thought that that
(26:03):
angle kind of came out as well. What were your
thoughts on the endings, Harry.
Speaker 3 (26:08):
Well, to your point about sisterhood and like platonic soulmates,
I would say that we have to think of a
really big shout out to the writer, Sarta Singleton, because
even though it's her first film that she's written, she
was a writer on Insecure and she was a producer
on Rap Shit, so she's really kind of built a
career exploring that very theme.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
The ending I really loved. Well.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
I saw it like very close to the premiere, so
you know, the La wild fires were happening, so I
was like, ah, I wish it was a slightly different,
but I really enjoyed it because I feel like a
lot of what Keiki's character Drew was dealing with is
something that a lot of just black people in general
deal with, the idea that in order to like advance
(26:50):
our lives or elevate, we have to escape our community.
But the real solution came from her relying on it,
relying on her friendships, relying on the people that she
lived in an apartment with.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
Sure, bringing in mad.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
Apatos characters, access, but everything that she needed to succeed
was already there. And I thought that was like a
thing about me is that if you throw a rock
into the ocean, I will give it meeting. But I
thought that was the big message in this movie, and
I was like really like looking around seeing the homegirls,
(27:22):
seeing the people in the theater like resonate and have
the aha moment.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
So that was great for me.
Speaker 3 (27:27):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
I love that. I also thought the community angle was
really beautiful that everybody came together and like worked for
a common goal, So I thought that that was really sweet.
Any other thoughts about any of the plot points or
things that you feel like you would have liked to
maybe see different in the film.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Who Big Shout out to Aziza Scott, who plays Miss Bernice.
One of the things that I will say it didn't
bother me, just like as I watched it, I didn't
necessarily feel like Keiki and Sissa gave LA native, like
they didn't feel like they were from La proper. But
Bernice was from seventy third to Normby, I know her,
(28:07):
like she felt like an LA person all the way through.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
So I really liked that acting.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
And then also I think there's this interesting tradition, or
maybe it's probably not a tradition, it's probably just a
misogyny at work.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
But Lawrence Lamont, this is his directorial debut.
Speaker 3 (28:23):
But when I think about the last Buddy comedy that
we got for black women, that was Will Packer, one
of my favorite movies. Who can play that game? I
feel like it was also a black male director. I'm
slipping on his name. And then like even Waiting for
Exhil was Forest Whitaker. So I really enjoy especially as
a black man that works on a black women's mental
health podcast, like there's a responsibility to like carefully telling
(28:46):
these stories and like protecting people involved.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
And I feel like he did a really good job with.
Speaker 7 (28:50):
That speaking of Black Men.
Speaker 4 (28:53):
I appreciated how there was the redirect in the movie,
how they kind of led us to a bias, right,
like Maniac is she's like, Oh, I think you might
be in a gang, and then the axe came out
in the car and she's starting to freak out, right,
and then at the end it's like he's a firefighter.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
Right.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
It was a reminder that, like, yes, they set us up,
but it's a good reminder that even though you're in
the community, you can also check yourself. So I appreciated
just all the little different things that they threw into
this movie.
Speaker 5 (29:19):
It's so funny.
Speaker 6 (29:20):
My friend she said something similar just about how like
you can be of community with someone and still stereotype them,
and I was like, I agree. But his name was maniac,
And I was like, I feel like she had just
cause to be concerned if I already know you had
to pass and your nickname is maniac.
Speaker 5 (29:39):
And then I'm in your car and I see an ax.
Speaker 6 (29:42):
I think there's a fair person to be like, oh, dug,
he's a firefighter. But then there's also a person who's like,
I don't know what's going on here. But I really
thought that was a cool. I guess the best way
to put it is almost like a double entendra plot
point there.
Speaker 5 (29:55):
But another thing that.
Speaker 6 (29:56):
Stood out to me in the film and Doctor Joy,
you touched on the community being a character. I thought
that was really special and I thought it was really
important because I think so many times when we talk
about like the Hood or black communities, it's the plight
(30:16):
of what's going on and not how people find levity
or just exist in that plight. So it wasn't like
a war with the tenants versus the landlord, like it
was in a comedic way, and it's like, we don't
get this treatment around here, like kids go get some cookies,
and so like those little moments where it's like this
could actually be like a bad situation and they could
(30:39):
have had tension here, but instead of having tension, they
added the levity. And I think that's what really made
the community as a whole its own character in the movie,
which is something I really appreciated just watching other films
where there's no moments for levity and I don't even
want to say what's tragic, but what one could view
as unfavorable. So I think that was what the film
(31:02):
did really well. And it's something that Insecure also did
really well, and so I appreciate as Ray not like,
oh my gosh, there's a silver lining of living in
the hood, but it's like, no, this is just people's life,
like you don't have to view it, and those two
extremes on the topic of people's lives.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
I loved how I don't remember her name in the film,
but Eva from Abbot Elementary was in there, and just
the whole I loved the in card right, it was
like went to law school, you know, and then ended
up back like all these different kind of schools and
then ended up back stripping. It was really funny and
I when I was watching it, I thought, like with my.
Speaker 7 (31:36):
Social media brain, I was just like, if we did
those like in cards.
Speaker 4 (31:39):
For like everybody on the team, like what would they're
happily a record a happy ending backplate b It was
a fun little exercise because some people on the team
definitely stuck out of my.
Speaker 1 (31:47):
Head more from our conversation after the break. So I
had a cute moment after watching the film. So I
walked out of the theater and then I saw an
Aka at the door, right, and I'm an Aka y'all
(32:10):
have heard me talk about this on the podcast. And
then I turned the corner and there was a whole
lobby full of akas.
Speaker 5 (32:15):
And I was like, oh, what's going on here?
Speaker 1 (32:17):
Like, hey, Sorrows And so then I started talking to
them and it was like their chapter Gallentine's Day Outing
and so it was like Sorrows of All Ages And
so one of the things that I wanted to chat
with you all about because I started thinking, like, how
are the older sorrows going to feel about this? Because
I don't feel like it is a particularly raunchy kind
of movement, but it isn't something that I would think
(32:39):
I would go see with like my older aunts or
like my grandmother. So how do you think about the
universality of this film, Like do you think it is
something that both younger and older generations might appreciate?
Speaker 6 (32:52):
I think, circling back to the point I was making
earlier about the levity and moments that may seem like
unfavorable or trodden or whatever, I do think that is
something that I don't want to say older generations struggle.
Speaker 5 (33:08):
With, But I could see people.
Speaker 6 (33:11):
Not liking the film through the lens of like respectability politics,
and I have seen comments around that, and so for me,
that's where I would be kind of hesitant to show
to someone who was of a different generation because some
of the things that's like, oh, this is funny, they
may be like, this.
Speaker 5 (33:28):
Is portraying black people in a bad light.
Speaker 6 (33:31):
Which I also think is are things that people commented
on about Insecure as well. So that's really the only
qualm I think there could be our tension between me
as like a twenty six year old versus someone maybe
who's like even older than my mom, like in their
late sixties or something like that. But overall, I think
(33:53):
it's one of those films that if you're younger, it's
like a fun introduction into the who's of like youth
culture today.
Speaker 5 (34:02):
So what's about the actual film?
Speaker 6 (34:04):
But like they may know Kicky Palmer from Aquila and
the b and it's like, no, she has grown into
like the one of the top comedic talents of her time.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
Well you know, and you do have Vanessa Belle Callaway
in the movie as well, who's like, also, she's on
the motherboard of Black Hollywood.
Speaker 1 (34:20):
Yes she is.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
But Doctor Joy's funny because el Ray's grandmother is an
Aka so I do wonder if she saw it or
if she put the apb out like, hey, this is what.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
It's very possible because they were they definitely chose this
because it was a black director in black actresses, right,
and so they chose this as their thing to support,
so it would be interesting, and she put the call out.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
Was the feedback that you got from people that they
enjoyed it, Because honestly, when I was home, my aunt,
who's in her late sixties, was begging me to go
watch it with her, and I.
Speaker 7 (34:51):
Kept curving her because I thought I was gonna watch
it with a lease, and.
Speaker 5 (34:54):
So I was like, I can't, I can't.
Speaker 7 (34:55):
I'm gonna go to a coworker.
Speaker 4 (34:59):
So she got together some people and things like that.
But I think also too, once it comes out on
TV or whatever stream platform it comes on, people are
gonna watch it, people are gonna talk about it, and
you know, like maybe by like Christmas time or Thanksgiving,
it'd be something funny to put on with the family,
you know, because the thing is they may not relate
to it, but I'm sure there's a character that they're like, oh,
I could see you know, someone in my family doing that.
If it's not me like I might have a niece
(35:20):
like that or a nephew like that or something like that.
I think it'll be something at least to talk about
around the dinner table.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
Mm hmm. So y'all mentioned we have definitely seen Isa
and Kiki in Sisa doing all the press. It feels
like they've had lots of hits, a lot in places
that typically are known for telling black stories. What have
y'all thought about like the press run leading up to
the film and even post release.
Speaker 6 (35:44):
I think we see these press runs where the behind
the scenes talent, so whether it's the writers, the producers,
they're obviously excited about the film, and there's this rapport
between the cast and the little inside jokes says a
Kiki Palmer and Lisa Ray took that and did it
times ten. They are always keyking, they're always laughing. I
(36:04):
like want the behind the scenes footage like bring back DVDs,
bring back the extra the uncut version, and I think
they have showcased like it was fun to work on
this film. Obviously it's a comedy. But that's what I've
enjoyed about these press tour moments is just seeing their
trio and how much joy they bring to each other,
(36:25):
and it's just funny how they can be so candid
with each other and still be themselves as like these
great professionals that they are. And so I've just enjoyed
the it as a window into like their personality and
who they really are, because honestly, I don't think they
talk much about the film in these press tours.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
I don't think I've seen them talk about the film
at all.
Speaker 4 (36:45):
Honestly, I personally prefer this press run to the Wicked
one because I felt like some press runs can be
like oversaturating, right, you're just like, Okay, I'm so done,
and I think it too is like the length of it.
But their rapport just felt more like, at least said real,
they were actually friends, like they actually had this chemistry.
Not saying that Cynthia and Ariana don't, but it was
(37:08):
just there are these weird moments that they pulled out
of the press tour versus like genuinely funny moments. But
that also could be due to the differentiation of the
different types of films. But I was wondering, for y'all,
are there two women you'd like to see in another
film like this. After seeing it, I was just like,
I would like to sit through something else like this,
because Girls Triple was a four person dynamic, right, you know,
(37:30):
this was a two person dynamic.
Speaker 7 (37:31):
What does a trio look like?
Speaker 3 (37:33):
Right?
Speaker 4 (37:33):
When you have two friends that are doing something and
the third one gets left out. I just like, there's
so many combinations of this that could happen.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
I definitely have two in mind.
Speaker 3 (37:43):
And what I loved about this film is that it
was like I feel like when you see the Homegirl film,
they always kind of felt distant from me, Like this
was an age range that I'm actively a part of.
So two that I want to see is Storm Read
and Marseille Martin and just kind of like that young
girl coming up Paul and Janelle James who's on Apple Elementary.
Speaker 1 (38:02):
Oh, I feel like I was thinking, I want to say,
I was thinking Regina Hall and really anybody, like really
just her and anybody would be hilarious. But Janelle James
is a good match.
Speaker 6 (38:14):
I would love to see Iowa Debris and Coco Jones
as like best friends or like college roommates freshman year
who have like clearly different personalities but like meet up
for something and whatever.
Speaker 5 (38:31):
Happens.
Speaker 6 (38:32):
I think Coco Jones is a comedian, like to me,
like she's an amazing singer, she's a good actress, but
where she shines is comedy, Like she's a naturally funny person.
And I envision like there's a cameo from like Victoria
Monett or someone like that. But I think the two
of them would be really good together.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
Oh so that was my next question at least, like
what other backgrounds could we see something like this working in?
So you're talking about like a college campus maybe, or
like lightly postgrid because I feel like we get a
lot of like La New York like apartment building or
something based right like residence base. What other backdrops do
you think could add an interesting layer to a comedy
(39:13):
like this.
Speaker 4 (39:14):
Sports if they're teammates like like at a college, or
teammates and like WNBA, you know, or or best friends
but they're on different teams, things like that, that really
adds it. I am right, because then it's like where
does your loyalty lie with your teammates or with your
friend or is there a way to kind of like
be there for both.
Speaker 5 (39:35):
I think borrowing from the white lotus format in like
a resort, Yes, a resort, a bachelorette trip.
Speaker 6 (39:46):
I do want to see a younger black or even
like multi racial but like black led version of Bridesmaids.
I think that would be an incredible Yeah, that would
be an incredible movie. I also think like a retail store,
like high end retail, like the people that work there,
(40:07):
or even like a spa with the employees, like a
comedy based around them and their interactions with the customers.
I think that would be really good too, especially because
the opportunity for celebrity cameos.
Speaker 3 (40:20):
As someone who begrudgingly watches own reality TV, I think
that the reason why like Love and Marriage Huntsville works
is because who the hell is in Huntsville. I don't
think about it as being like glamorous, but they're like
these real stories there. And as somebody who watches like
TV and film, I'm so tired of watching black people
in Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta, like I'm interested
(40:43):
in what happens in Milwaukee.
Speaker 6 (40:46):
I think DC has missed opportunity too, But like not
and as a dcname, I'm saying this like not, oh
I work for the government or I like work in
corporate just thing that's like I don't even want to
say exactly, or like I work at a nonprofit or
(41:07):
doing social media for somewhere, like something that's a little
more random. That does allow the city to be the backdrop.
Because I will say that's what made Insecure really well
was that nobody was like an actor or a singer,
and I think that's what kind of let the personality
shine because it deviated from the stereotypes of that city.
Speaker 4 (41:25):
I will plug a show I've been talking about since
it came out, and I know y'all know I have
heard me talk about it, dr from Detroit.
Speaker 5 (41:32):
Detroit is a great lokay and.
Speaker 4 (41:33):
Like it was, that show is hilarious and I feel
like it. You know, if you don't make if you
don't do season two, just make it into a mini movie,
you know.
Speaker 5 (41:40):
But that's I.
Speaker 4 (41:41):
Think that's the city too, that would really like the
city can just shine and something like that.
Speaker 1 (41:47):
Oh okay, So somebody needs to cut some checks because
you see, the team has some great ideas. So if
you're looking for ideas, definitely hit us up. So I
have appreciated all of the thoughts that y'all have shared
such a great way. I think to kind of of
round out the movie because I think this just adds
another layer to the conversations. So let us know where
we can find you online in case people want to
(42:07):
chime in and say they love some of your ideas
or they have opposing ideas what you have shared, So listen,
where can the people find you online?
Speaker 4 (42:15):
I'm on all social media platforms because I am the
social media manager.
Speaker 7 (42:19):
But you can find me at Alyssa Explorers.
Speaker 1 (42:22):
Yeah, on all the places, Perfect and Elise.
Speaker 6 (42:25):
You can find me on Instagram at e l l
I C E l l I S.
Speaker 3 (42:31):
And know what about you, Tyrey, I am on all
of the social media's as well and my handle list
Tyrrelvin t y R E l v I N Perfect.
Speaker 1 (42:41):
Thank y'all so much for breaking down the movie with me.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (42:45):
Always a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (42:49):
I'm so glad the team was able to join me
for this conversation. To learn more about them and their work,
visit the show notes at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com
slash one of them Days. If you're interested in finding
a therapist in your area, visit our therapist directory at
Therapy for Blackgirls dot com slash directory and don't forget
to share this episode with two of your girls right now.
(43:12):
If you're interested in suggesting other movies that we should
talk about or books, or if you have a question
that you might want answered on the podcast, drop us
a voice note at memo dot fm slash Therapy for
Black Girls and we just might highlight it on the podcast.
This episode was produced by Elise Ellis and Tyree Rush.
Editing was done by Dennison Bradford. Thank y'all so much
(43:34):
for joining me for this conversation. We'll be back next
Wednesday with your regular episode. Until then, take good care.
Speaker 7 (43:44):
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