Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Trey Haley.
🎯 Purpose of the Interview
The interview aims to:
- Inspire creatives and entrepreneurs by sharing Trey Haley’s journey in the entertainment industry.
- Highlight the importance of persistence, self-belief, and strategic networking.
- Promote Haley’s current work, especially the BET+ series The Family Business.
- Educate listeners on the realities of Hollywood and the long-term mindset needed for success.
🔑 Key Takeaways 1. Origin Story & Early Influences
- Trey Haley grew up in Dallas-Fort Worth, with a mother in corporate sales and a father who was a criminal defense attorney.
- His passion for entertainment began early, influenced by music, Spike Lee scripts, and editing during college at North Texas.
2. Leap of Faith to Los Angeles
- Moved to LA with no backup plan, driven by passion.
- Took a courier job to network and eventually landed an internship with Morgan Freeman’s company, Revelations Entertainment.
3. Building Tri Destin Studios
- Co-founded Tri Destin Studios with Nikita De Brown Jones.
- Emphasized creating their own lane and owning their content.
- Their goal: “Change the perception of the world” through storytelling where “we always win.”
4. The Family Business
- Based on Carl Weber’s bestselling book series.
- Independently produced before BET+ picked it up.
- Features a star-studded cast including Ernie Hudson, Valerie Pettiford, Michael Jai White, and Javicia Leslie.
5. Industry Wisdom
- Success in Hollywood is about relationships, consistency, and character.
- Warns against shortcuts and “hook-up culture” in entertainment.
- Encourages young creatives to focus on talent, value, and long-term growth.
🗣️ Notable Quotes
-
On taking risks:
“My mother said, go jump off the ledge and go fly like a bird.” -
On self-belief:
“Who told you you could be an attorney? Nobody. You figured it out. I’m going to figure it out too.” -
On breaking into the industry:
“I took a courier job just to meet people in the studios. I dressed like I worked there so they’d see me the way I needed to be seen.” -
On creating value:
“The most powerful people create their own companies, their own stories, and tell them consistently.” -
On longevity:
“If your roots aren’t settled and strong, anything can take you out.” -
On perspective:
“Your perspective in life is the key. If you see negative, you’ll get negative. If you see the win, you’ll fly high.”
📺 Current Project Highlight
The Family Business
- Streaming on BET+
- Multi-season crime drama with layered storytelling and strong character development.
- Haley serves as executive producer and director.
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
Steve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm Rashan McDonald. I host the weekly Money Making
Conversation Masterclass show. The interviews and information that this show
provides off for everyone. It's time to stop reading other
people's success stories and start living your own. If you
want to be a guest on my show, Money Making
Conversation Masterclass, please visit our website, Moneymakingconversations dot com and
click to be a guest button. If you are a
(00:22):
small business owner, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, influencer, or nonprofit now
let's get busy. My guest is President and partner at
Tri Destined Studios. He is also the company's lead director
with more than sixty TV episodes and feature lengths storytelling.
His latest project is the BT plus hit crime drama
(00:43):
The Family Business, where he serves as both director and
co executive producer. Please welcome to Money Making Conversation Master Class.
Trey Hayley. HOI you doing, Tray, I'm doing well?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
How you doing? Thank you for having me cool?
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Where are you based at, Trey?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
I'm based out of Los Angeles.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
I'm in I'm in the Dallas for Ward area right now,
but which is home for me?
Speaker 2 (01:04):
But like I'm born and raised, but I live in
Los Angeles.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Oh. I lived in Los Angeles fifteen years and I've
lived there from nineteen ninety. When I went out there,
thought I was going to be the next Eddie Murphy.
Okay until two thousand and five with Steve Harvey and
I then we moved from LA to New York and
WLS to start radio syndication, the Steve hard Morning Show.
So very familiar with that industry. What allows you to
(01:31):
live in a life in Los Angeles but also maintain
a residency or a lifestyle in Dallas.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Yeah, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Like eighty percent of the time I'm in Los Angeles
obviously filming and working, but home is still here.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
My family is here.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Like as far as my family, you know, my roots
are from the Dallas for Worth area Arly team specifically,
and you know, I come out here and make sure
I keep it cool with my dad and make sure
everybody's you know, everybody is good. You know.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
The reason I bring it up because I was born
in Houston, And yeah, you know, I've got a degree
in mathematics that work for IBM minor and sociology, and
that's what everybody understood. That's that's well, you're doing it man.
You got a great job. And then when I started
going towards stand up comedy, people didn't understand that. They
(02:22):
couldn't put two and two together. They can understand a
mailman's job, a bankman's job, a banker's job, but they
couldn't understand the industry of entertainment. Talk about your life
when you you went to college in North Texas state,
correct Texas. Yes, and say so when you start looking
at this entertainment factor as part of your dream.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Yeah, you know it's funny, did you say that? You
know you have something to come with? My mother she
was a sales who was in sales.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
At IBM Kodac. She was that was her industry as well.
You know me growing up around that.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
My father is a defense attorney here in the Daubts
Forward area, Leon Haley Jr. A lot of people knowing
he does all the crazy criminal trials and all that
kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
He was a trial lawyer.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
So being around that is the exact opposite of what
I ended up doing. Right, So, now you know what
I told him, I'm ready to go to Los Angeles
and I found my passion. It really came from man.
You know, like I knew early on, I wanted to
get in entertainments. I thought it was going to probably
be in the music. A lot of my friends, a
particular friend of mine, he was in high school. He
was always into acting. We would read the Spike Lee
(03:33):
script books and all these kind of things, and just
was really vibing all this stuff. And I was really
getting into. Like I said, I played instruments all my
life as a kid, but the whole behind the scenes
and the creation of making films TV, all this came
really really intriguing to me. Came, I mean, and it
got deeper when I realized I had a craft for editing.
(03:56):
I learned it when I was at North Texas. I
did an internship there, and that's where it triggered. When
I was up till two three o'clock at night working
at that cable station, and I was editing my own stuff, man,
while everybody was down. And that's when I knew I needed,
you know, the passion for doing this. I had to
(04:17):
move that time. Nowadays, you know, you can do this everywhere,
but that time I knew I needed to get to
Los Angeles and really pursue.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
This and I had no backup plan. This was it.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
My mother was like, go jump off the ledge and
go fly like a bird. My dad said, when I
was waiting, waiting, who do you know in Los Angeles?
Speaker 1 (04:39):
My dad?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
I said, Dad, remember this. My dad came from a very, very,
you know, humble beginning. He was one of six seven kids,
the oldest, two bedroom house, all of them living together.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
And I said, who told you? I remember this story?
Who told you you could be an attorney? You? Your
mama didn't know, your gaddy didn't know nothing about it.
So parallel here we are parallels. You just went out
to d C. You went to college, You went to
college and UTA and then went to law school in
d C. Now who told this man he could do this?
(05:13):
So I said, so, Dad, you did it. I'm doing
it just like you believed in yourself and you figured
it out. I'm gonna go figure it out.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
You know what.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
He said, let's go, We'll moving to LA.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
But liked now you tis University of Texas all the time,
Texas born, you know, Texas born and raised. So I
know all those little numbers, those little letters when you
start putting this together, because it's important that I bring
that up because so many people who are listening to
this car are afraid. They're afraid to tell people what
(05:43):
they want to be. Yes, afraid of the backlash, afraid
of people laughing at afraid of people questioning their direction.
And you had the great parent, a great conversation with
your parents and parents, and I know the story you
just told wasn't this. They had a lot more more too.
Layers do it, a lot of layers. But making the
(06:05):
transition to go to LA because I went from Houston
and I was very successful in Houston. I went to
New York stayed there two years. Then I went to
Los Angeles and I stayed there for fifteen years because,
like you said, those were the places you had to
go to really understand the business and become a part
of the business. Yes, talk about that journey when you
(06:26):
decided to go because you didn't know anybody, Tray.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
I didn't when I moved to Los Angeles, no joke.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
All I knew was to sign when I saw when
I got there, I saw that sign Hollywood, and I
knew I was there. I was seeing all these trailers
and all the movie stuff, and I saw the studios.
I was like Okay, Now I got to figure this out.
And but you know, when you do these things, you
don't go blindly. I did come out there about three
or four months prior to that checked it out. I
knew I didn't know someone in my family that had
(06:53):
a place a friend of theirs had a place for
me to I could possibly stay, right. I knew I
had that part in the next phase. I knew I
knew it was smart enough to get a job, right,
So I got on. I got me a nine to
five job when I moved out there quick to just thought.
I know I was going to have some income until
I could figure it out. So I did have that plan.
I said, let me get a job and I'm gonna
figure this thing out step by step. And along the way, man,
(07:16):
I ended up going to like different film festivals and
just putting myself into the mix.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
And along the way.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Three or four months later, I ended up meeting my
business partner, who's my business partners today, Nicaio d Brown Jones.
She's the showrunner of Family Business, and we created Try
Destined together, and the whole group of friends I met
them all at this at a film festival a little
or Not and we shot short films and we were
doing things together and then that's when we realized, Yo,
(07:46):
we might do something here, you know. And we just
all had a dream and we said, all of us
came from different places. A lot of people came from
the HBCUs, a heavy portion of our company from Florida
A and M University, and we all just had a dream, man,
and we said as a team, we realized as a
team effort, you got to stick together, find group of
(08:07):
people with the common goals. And it worked out. I
ended up doing funny enough. The first person who got
me a job in the industry, though, was a gentleman
named Darren Grant. Darren Grant is a you know, music
video director. He's sent a lot of movies and stuff
like that. But at the time he was doing all
the big he was doing all the big like Destiny's
(08:30):
Child videos and.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
All that million dollar videos.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Back then when they were doing the big super videos.
It was like Hype Williams, him and a couple of
people with Maya. He was doing all those big videos.
And I remember him letting me on set man, and
he gave me a first opportunity to to be a
PA on set and I learned from there, and I
went from there, man, and and it just I ended
(08:52):
up doing that.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
For a while.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Let's talk about that timeline. I'm very familiar with that timeline. Yes,
when the music videos were because the group will remember
the power of B E T. Yeah, mem TV were
talking about B E T E music. Williams. Well, these
videos were ranging from anywhere from a million dollars to
five million dollars. I mean you go on the set,
(09:16):
I mean casting sessions. It was an incredible it was
an incredible experience. Tell people that timeline. And then when
you started to notice in the business change in the
music industry, because it just got out of control as
far as.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
The videos, the videos, Like I said, I got a
chance to see this, and you know, for me at
that time, I thought this was the way to break
in as a director doing music videos, doing this type
of stuff. And then because from what I saw is
the trajectory was music videos, that kind of stuff. And
then they hired and you know, they see what you do,
(09:53):
and all these guys are starting to get jobs as
directors to do movies and all this other stuff.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Right, So.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Seeing that, man, and along the way, it just was
strange because it went it went to total opposite way.
And that's what the interesting thing about this industry is,
there's no one way to make it. You just the
one way to make it is to be consistent and
do good work and be good to people, you know
what I'm saying, for sure, and add value to people's
(10:23):
lives so hopefully they can add value back to your life.
But finding ways to be of value to people I
found is also really crucial along the way. But doing
those videos and then, like I said, I end up
realizing the way as I started seeing the video world
kind of transitioning a little bit out of the big
video world, and I was like, maybe this might not
(10:44):
be let me, let me find my own journey, right,
so to say, like, let's not try to do what
everybody else is doing.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Just do you whatever God is telling you to go go.
And I end up being getting a job.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
I did a courier job because I wanted to meet
people in the studios, so I ain't taking a courier
driving at that time. We you know, now everything is digital.
Back in the day, you used to have scripts that
was delivered to you from a courier job or like
a headshots coming to you from different people coming in
and dropping it off. Why did this look we had
(11:17):
an outfit on and everything. You used to have these
little but you know, polo outfits. Hey, I would take
the shirt off and put a button down shirt on
and some slacks. And I was coming in walking around
with these things and walking in and they were like, man,
you work for the courier Service while while you dressed
up like you work with us.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
I needed them to see me the way.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
I needed them to see the way, not what I
was doing, but I needed them to see me right.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
And it ended up working out.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
I meeting someone at TNT and because my route was
TNT and Century City Fox Studios, that was the route
I did. And a young lady worked to TNT said, hey,
you know there's some internships that go through the studio
system that a lot of people don't know about.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
You should submit for them. I submitted.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Long story short, I end up get an internship with
Morgan Freeman's company, Relevations Entertainment, and I worked. I was
with them for six months man two days a week
for free, uh huh. And it was one of the
best educations I ever had because part of what they
gave you in return is putting you in the room
(12:18):
while they were doing everything. So not only was I
doing coverage on scripts, when they had meetings or they
would or at the end of the day, they would
show us about pitch decks and this and this and this,
and that was their way of giving back to us, right.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
It was amazing.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
Wow, I'm talking to Trey Daniels. I mean trade, I apologize,
Trey Hayley is Hey, Trey. The thing about it is that,
this is what I love about this conversation is that
to get where I got in life, I did a
lot of things for free. Yep. And a lot of
people think you should ask for money. I'm not telling
(12:53):
you shouldn't ask for money, but a lot of your
best lessons and your best opportunities are in your case
into are you volunteer? Obviously can I come along, but
in a professional manner. But what he showed in changing
out there was our fits was commitment and consistency. And
he's a handsome guy, so I can imagine back there
(13:14):
he was this young, handsome guy, eager, and the people
saw that. They saw that. I know that in the industry,
it's the hustle man, and how you hustle and how
you present yourself. And that's what this show is about, Trey,
is that a lot of people understand that you have
a career. And I know that, and I always talking.
(13:35):
I love talking to people who have a career because
when you're young, you don't think about thirties, you don't
think about forties, you don't think about fifties. You just
think about that moment. Now you know. Right now, I'll
introduce you tied the family business and you different TV
shows you've been tied to over years. When you look back,
what do you smile the most about? We go all
(13:56):
to your career, Traye.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Know what, man, when I look back, it's a great question.
When I look back, and when I smile the most
about is that I stuck with it. Yeah, I didn't
allow any See what everybody thinks, it's all you know.
You go to Los Angeles or where are you going
to this industry and it's all they see, all the
glitz and the glamour. They know and you hear the stories.
Everybody's got a story, right, but nobody really understands until
(14:22):
they're really in it. And I think that's what happens.
Why when it's that fear when people come into this
type of industry, what they don't know. You know the
things that you hear, but what you don't know what
you're going to go through the journey, the ups and
the downs, and and there isn't a book that just the.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Truly there's books out there, but they will never truly
tell you this, truly tell you.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
How to what's you know, it's a prominent word, be
resilient through the journey and that no matter what, you
have to go down into like you have to. And
when I say you have to dig deep, set your
roots and be strong and know that it's gonna work out.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
And you have to be consistent.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
You can't just sit at the house and do nothing either, right,
you do have to put yourself out there and be
able to do this thing and wake up every morning
and feel good about yourself why you're doing it right.
And that's what I really feel good about is I
can wake up every morning man, today, yesterday, and tomorrow,
and I can say I feel good about myself about
(15:32):
this journey and how I did it and the way.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
I just stuck through it.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
I stuck around good people I've been blessed to be
around some really good people and a lot of people
who over time, when people start seeing you and seeing
you doing this thing and you're really serious about it,
it starts to catch like fire and people start to
trust you, and then people start to want to help you,
and people start trying to because like I said, I'm
(15:58):
helping everybody else. I'm trying to jump in and do
whatever I can't anybody else because I'm trying to learn.
While the process of learning, people are trying to end
up giving back to you. And so once again looking back,
just feeling good about that I put into work the
right way.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
This is what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Stay with us. More Money Making Conversation master Class coming
up next. Welcome back to Money Making Conversation master Class
with me Rashaun McDonald. I want to I want to
move a current here because I want to. They don't
want to go back, because your story is so such
a blessing to share because it's very similar to some
(16:36):
of the courses I've applied to my life, you know,
and it's been consistency has been hard work. But now
the show you're currently doing that you are directing co
ex Extribusa. I'm very familiar. It is one of the
shows I watch a lot. Tell my audience about the
family business and who's starring in it.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
Yes, so, man, they bugging me right next today Today's
the day is October to dy buzzing me right now.
That was just Ernie Hudson telling me about how proud
he was.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Man.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
So speaking of talent, you know we have so actually
we have Ernie Hudson. Okay, So this is the Duncan family, right,
the Duncans. If you don't know about it, this is
about This is based on the New York Times best
selling book by Ernie Hutt. I mean by a Carl Weber.
Carl Weber's a you know, prolific writer. And this is
(17:26):
an ongoing book series to this day, still running. The
stars Ernie Hudson as Elsie Duncan. Valerie Pettiford, she's Chippy Duncan.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
That's his wife.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Then you got everybody from Michael chih White, Darren Henson,
he's a you got the family, the kids, Darren Henson,
he's Orlando javc A Leslie who plays Paris Duncan. She
was also Batwoman. Y'all know her from Batwoman.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
One w she came in with, she came in, she
start here, she.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Started with family business and then end up blowing up
and becoming Batwoman.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
You know what I'm saying. You got a gentleman named
Sean Ringold who's Tammy.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Roman Arrington of Brayley Evans is in it.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Man.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
We got then Lit and Bernadette's stands. You know, we
all know her from back in the day. You know,
she's a FA favorite. So we got Ben. We got
some new people coming in. But I mean, we gotta
look at we gotta star stud the cast. Christian Keys
comes in and does some things. Ron Rico, Lee, Trisha Man, y'all.
I mean, look, man, Anthony, I can go down the
(18:31):
list with this thing. Flex Alexander comes in and does
a really great job. So it's look, Pat, we don't
even have Patrick Duffy man that right, Emilio Rivera. Then
we all got it's a very multi cultural, you know,
very you know it's it's about an afternoon.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
It's a sexy series because you bought Christian Keys.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Christian comes in and he does his name. Come on,
you know, christ.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Man, I just like the series because you know, I'm
just stepping in as a fan too. Yes, because I've
done television a lot that I've been fortunate to do
blockbuster movies. But I love character development, and that's where
a lot of people miss is the character that the layers.
Because sometimes watching your series you have like three different
(19:22):
storylines running.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
You got to keep the fire. You gotta find ways too, yes,
and tie them all together.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
And that's really important for people to understand that storytelling
is the key to longevity. Now when you listening now,
because I want everybody to hear by what you're working
on so they can see us. But more important, I
want people to talk about your story. Because let's go
on back to North Texas. Because editing caught your attention.
You gave a big speech your dad. You can't have
(19:53):
to think okay, you got me, you got okay with La.
You met two other gentlemen that's created the tried.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
My business partner. It's a lady.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Her name is Nikayah d Brown Jones, and she's my
she's my business partner.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
We created it together.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
But then there was a gentleman named Darren Grant. Now
Darren is on his own. He was a big time music,
big time music video director and he is the one
who though gave me that first gig, the opportunity of chance.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Now you went from an editor to an executive.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
Yeah, editing and heights in college to a pa in
La to a own but you know what the executive,
I created my own lane. And that's what I really
want people to understand. You got to create. We created
a company. My business partner I, she's went to FAM
you she was at that you know, their their graduate program,
(20:49):
their business school.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
So she did understands the numbers and all of that,
and I knew all the creative and the technical stuff.
And we came together and made this thing happen. But
we created our own lane.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
And what wet realizes if you go to get a
pay out here and doing this, the most powerful people
create their own companies. They create their own stories and
they tell something in a consistent way. And we were
One of our goals was destined to change the perception
of the world. That was the vision. But all of
our stories we always win. That was the key. It's like,
(21:21):
what is it going to be about our stories that
we always want to tie into is that no matter
what happens at the end of that story, We're gonna
always win.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
You know, it's really interesting. I remember that open the
comedy club in Houston and back in ninety two, ninety
three and before my father passed away. You know, he
came into the comedy club and he really understood who
I was, you know, because because he didn't want me
to go to college. He thought, you know, I had
six sisters, two bro all the girls to go to college.
(21:50):
He thought I'd be just like him, a blue collar worker.
He was a truck driver that worked for him. Why
came to work for you?
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Right?
Speaker 1 (21:58):
And so and he really really he really saw what
his son could be. And he said, so you're successful.
I said, well, I said that I'm not where I
want to be, but I'm happy where I'm at. And
so with that being said, what project did? It really
dawned on your parents that you that you? Ah? Did
(22:18):
you did?
Speaker 3 (22:19):
You?
Speaker 2 (22:20):
I was on my way. I was on my way?
Speaker 3 (22:23):
Who you know what they saw me go through the
You know, when we had first we were doing a
lot of independent films making it.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
But it was really like.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
That for our third or fourth film, let me tell
you the one I think really stood out for everybody
was a movie was It was the first movie we
did actually with Carl Weber, and it was called The
Man in Three B. Right, yeah, I directed that, and
that's our company, The Man in three B with Lebron
Rutgers and that movie. Because it went we got a
(22:56):
you know, a small theatrical release on that.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Because I did the that movie. I saw that movie.
Didn't know you were associated because you got a big
old your resume strong was. Uh we did it at
the Bronze Lynz Festival.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
Bronze Lynz Festival, So let's speak on that. So I'm
now one of the man that's the beautiful thing you
just said that. Yes, it was the opening night film
at the Bronze Lynz Film Festival. And let me tell you,
I am now one of the board members of the
Lands Film Festival. Defintely that's that's a phenomenal film festival.
But that movie right there, hands down showed a lot
(23:35):
of people, Oh these guys are they're in it, you know,
and not in family, friends, everybody. I think it changed
the course of everything as far as how people looked
at us as a company.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
Great people don't really. I talked to my staff a
lot because so many people want to be in Hollywood
from talking from the actors and actresses, and when you
start becoming successful, you take on a lot of power
and you have to be smart and allow that power
to consume you. I'm talking about because really, you know,
(24:10):
when when I look at the ugliness of what he did,
he did, I know why it happened because he's a
very powerful man that offered opportunity that people dreamed of.
And when you get in that position. I'm not saying
that associated with you, but I saw it. I know,
you know, but you have to be you have to
be conscious of who you are and not a lot
(24:31):
of power consume you talk to us about that journey trade.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
That's such a good point.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
You know.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
Once as you keep elevating and you get into these positions,
like you said, where you can when you get into
the hiring and.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Really it can open doors for a lot of people's lives.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Yeah, I think it's the next level.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
You just have to make sure this is why I
go about what's what, what's your why in this business
and what is it really trying to do and what
it and to be able to wake up in the morning,
like you just say, you know and feel good about
things because people are gonna be able to gonna throw
a lot of things that you. People are gonna come
at you in a lot of different ways and suggest
(25:13):
a lot of things.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
To help you. What can I do to make you know?
Speaker 3 (25:20):
People are trying to do a lot of I guess
transactions right, right, And so you got to be careful
about these things because in the end of the day,
people's intentions of where they are today and where they
are tomorrow and how they the hustle.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Is real out here, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
So where people may think that they're gonna get with
something may not be you know, like this is everybody
has a different journey. So like let's just say you
take a transaction and you help someone out, they don't
get to where they want to get to. They may
come back to you and say you did me dirty right, right,
And these are where you have to really understand character
(26:00):
with people and really go through the right processes and
vet the scenarios out really clearly when you're working with people.
Yes's why it's important to have a team, have people
that protect you through the journey because things are coming
at you and everybody and people who have the right
intentions to protect you. And then and you got to
(26:22):
ask yourself, are these people truly If somebody comes to
you with a transaction that doesn't feel professional, right, it's
just no, it just is no, or you know what,
I don't feel good about that. But if you really
want to try this, here are the people that do this,
reach out to them, and then this is the process.
(26:43):
And that's it, you know what I mean, Like, there's
ways to play that without you know, but it is
a difference.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
It's a dangerous game, it is.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
And that's why I wanted to bring up bringing it
into this conversation because so many young people and even
older people. Yeah, they get out there and they see Hollywood.
They they don't realize. That's why I used the word
career when I was when I've been talking to Trey,
because he if you listen to this conversation, it was
always the long game with him. It was never the
(27:12):
short game or the hook up. Not ever get in
a situation where it's a hookup. Allow people to introduce
you into the business because of your talent, not because
of your look. If your look gets you through the door,
make sure your talent keeps you in that door, because
that where people can abuse the relationship, abuse you, and
(27:36):
then you on the outside feeling taking advantage of That's
what we're talking about. I know, I know Trey, he
was he was couching the terms, but and I respect that.
But it's important that he and I tell the people
out there who are interested. And I'm talking to Trey Hayley.
He is the co executive producer and director of Family,
(28:00):
Here's a hit series on BT Plus.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Actually and actually that watched this. It was the co
executive producer. That was executive producer.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
And it's really now all that drama coming to you
now with all that stuff.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
You know what I'm saying right right, because as you
keep as it keeps coming up, they're like, wait a minute,
wait a minute, you own this company? They say, Oh,
but see this is what I tell people right now.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
I love this. I love I love this because I'm
really into the conversation with.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
What I'm about to say with this.
Speaker 3 (28:30):
There's a lot of people who go in this business
and they think they're gonna get the quick fix. Yes,
but you're gonna get the quick fixed in, quick fix in,
and you're gonna get the quick fix out.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
Yes, what I'm saying, that's the truth.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
Let me tell you why. Because when you see all
these people with the long game, because your your roots
aren't settled in strong, anything's gonna take you out, right, that's.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
The short game.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
But when you planned your roots strong and you've watered
them roots and it's dug deep, there's another level that's
gonna have to for you to get taken out. It's
gonna have to be something else.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
You know what I'm saying. It's gonna be God itself
come to me, take me out this game.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
But but but people come in and they think they're
gonna make these moves through the looks, they're gonna suggest
things through sexuality, whatever thing about this.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
It's a hundred thousand people, two hundred. It's so many
people in this game. So let's go through phase A.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
A guy over here or a lady over here suggesting
and gets a small gig real quick, or doing something.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Maybe it's one hundred of thousand, other it's a five.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
It's all kind of people submitting and trying to get
into this movie. For instance, you may try to go
out there and do something that you don't feel good
about later on in your you're not gonna feel good
about it, may not even get.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
The job, right the guy and the girl.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
Who didn't do anything got the job or the guy
who didn't do So my point is there's that's not
even a chance on that either. So people think they're
gonna come in and do all this stuff and oh
I look good or I have this and oh look
at how I look and all this that does not
get you in the game because it's so many people,
like you just said, super talented. It's so many phases
(30:23):
of people having to make a decisions on who's gonna
get parts and who's gonna get this behind in front
of the scenes that it is gonna be based on
talent and your character and people seeing your passion and
and and and you just just staying just just knowing stick.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
Always do good. It always gonna come back to you.
Speaker 1 (30:50):
Good, and always about when he's talking about I'm talking
about trade and tray, you say I should change your
title to executive producer. Yeah, yeah's negative producer. You know
he already told us. Ernie Hudson just calling and say,
Ernie busy too, because he's on Boston Boston Blood, Boston
(31:10):
Blood Boston there's on Friday.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
Yeah, I know Blood. He's on another show.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
Yeah, this's on that's on the CBS. I watched it.
I watch Fire Country, then Sheriff Country then or Boston Blood. Yeah. Yeah.
And so the thing about it is it's about relationships, man,
And that's what he's talking about. What he's talking about
roots and not being able to take it out because
the reality is is that whether you're in business or entertainment,
(31:38):
it comes back to your relationships because when you go down,
because you're gonna fall, you're gonna have those slow times,
and the relationship will see you through because that relationship
respects what you have accomplished or the individual that you
are and what you bring to the table. And I
always tell people that you get paid based on what
(31:59):
people will value you there you go. If they value you,
they will pay you. If they don't value they will
use you.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
And you also have to know when you're where you
are with when this scenario you're working in.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
Now, if you're a.
Speaker 3 (32:15):
Rookie coming into a situation, you can't get Lebron James money.
Speaker 1 (32:20):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
And a lot of people in this game, they come
in swinging like.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
They now you make them play good, right, but you
haven't proven yourself to get the level of sometimes where
you can't and you make no. Look, it's good to
know your value and you have to allow everybody else
has to see that value too. And it's not upfront.
It's the result of what you do, not like you
coming in saying let me tell you what I can do.
(32:47):
I tell people you say you're a director, then go
direct something. You're a writer, go write something, But don't
say I'm a writer but you ain't got a script.
Speaker 1 (32:54):
Right, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
But also, and you got to ask yourself, like you know,
I always tell people when you're when you're involving yourself
in productions or any capacity, what is the value for you?
If it's only money, that's gonna be a fledgling situation,
it's not gonna ever be good. But if you say,
it's not just the money, but this is gonna help
(33:17):
me with this too, and it's gonna be it's gonna
be like a force multiplier where it's gonna take you
want to do things that add value triple time, right,
not just money because money is gonna come and go.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
Right, we know, here's the thing. I'm thank you for
doing this interview because education as much as what I try,
It's what I've tried to do in this show. Now
on BT Plus, where the family Business can be found.
The beauty of streaming is you can see all the seasons. Yes,
you know, you click one, two, three, four, five, six
(33:51):
and show you all the episode. So if you're just
hearing about the family Business right now, don't worry BT
Plus sign up, you go online, you can start episode
one because you really want to see the character development.
Let me ask you this, well, have you been on
this series from day one?
Speaker 3 (34:09):
Yes, So my company tried Uston Studios, teamed up with
Carl Weber Urban Books team and we made this from
the beginning. We had a relationship with BT really strong
relationship with BT And let me tell you the power
of this movie. Most people don't mean the show once
again vision We shot this independently. First, I'd heard about
two movies are one in part two. We casted it.
(34:32):
This cast that you've seen is all up in it
from the beginning. But we said, no matter what, we've
always been shooting movies and selling and do and all
the plus with movies. We know we can sell it
as a movie, but we know even a cast new
and because of the ongoing book series, this has the
potential to be a great TV show. And so then
we went around and multiple people. Most people say, well,
(34:52):
who else did you take it to? We had four
about four or five other all together people interested in
our show, and BT is the one who saw the
vision and took it on. So we always appreciated them,
and we also partnered with them, so this is you know,
they We are truly an ownership company with this. Tried
(35:13):
destining my company with Nakaya and Carl. We own the
property and we are partners with BT with this. So
it's but but it was because we filmed it. We
put the money, and we put that investment in investment
on ourselves, and we bet on ourselves.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
And I tell people that all the time.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
People say, y'all walking around and it's nothing wrong with
TV shows getting picked up with other networks and then
putting the money in. But when you bet on yourself,
you have more power to take it around and and
and and and put yourself in a winning position.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
Trade, Man, this has been an outstanding interview.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
Man.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
I really appreciate you taking the time to come on
the show. Not only allow us to understand the work
that you're doing now, but there's a journey to everything.
And closing, what would you like to leave with my
audience on money making conversation masterclass.
Speaker 3 (36:03):
With your audience, I would just like to leave this.
Your perspective in life is gonna be the key along
with your spiritual journey. But your perspective and how you
see things. If you see negative, you're gonna get the negative.
But if you see the if a journey, if you're
in a front right now, your perspective is the key
(36:24):
because you're never gonna be there. But so long if
you stay positive and you say, I know I'm here now,
but I'm gonna see my way out of it. I
know I'm gonna win. And if you have that winning mindset,
you'll go, you'll fly high. So just stay focused on
what is not what isn't.
Speaker 1 (36:45):
He's the president and partner at Triy Deathtin Studios. He's
also the company lead director with more than sixty TV
episodes and feature Lynch storytelling. His latest project is the
BT hit crime drama The Family Business, where he serves
both director and executive producer. My brother Thank you for
coming on Money Making Conversation Masterclass.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
Thank you brother.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
Hey, I'd love to anytime come down to Houston. Whatever, man,
I'm all for it, brother.
Speaker 1 (37:13):
No you special man. I really appreciate you. This has
been money Making Conversations Masterclass with Rashawn McDonald thanks to
I Guess and our audience. Visit Moneymakingconversations dot com to
listen and register to be a guest.
Hi, I'm Rashan McDonald. I host the weekly Money Making
Conversation Masterclass show. The interviews and information that this show
provides off for everyone. It's time to stop reading other
people's success stories and start living your own. If you
want to be a guest on my show, Money Making
Conversation Masterclass, please visit our website, Moneymakingconversations dot com and
click to be a guest button. If you are a
(00:22):
small business owner, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, influencer, or nonprofit now
let's get busy. My guest is President and partner at
Tri Destined Studios. He is also the company's lead director
with more than sixty TV episodes and feature lengths storytelling.
His latest project is the BT plus hit crime drama
(00:43):
The Family Business, where he serves as both director and
co executive producer. Please welcome to Money Making Conversation Master Class.
Trey Hayley. HOI you doing, Tray, I'm doing well?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
How you doing? Thank you for having me cool?
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Where are you based at, Trey?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
I'm based out of Los Angeles.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
I'm in I'm in the Dallas for Ward area right now,
but which is home for me?
Speaker 2 (01:04):
But like I'm born and raised, but I live in
Los Angeles.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Oh. I lived in Los Angeles fifteen years and I've
lived there from nineteen ninety. When I went out there,
thought I was going to be the next Eddie Murphy.
Okay until two thousand and five with Steve Harvey and
I then we moved from LA to New York and
WLS to start radio syndication, the Steve hard Morning Show.
So very familiar with that industry. What allows you to
(01:31):
live in a life in Los Angeles but also maintain
a residency or a lifestyle in Dallas.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Yeah, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Like eighty percent of the time I'm in Los Angeles
obviously filming and working, but home is still here.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
My family is here.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Like as far as my family, you know, my roots
are from the Dallas for Worth area Arly team specifically,
and you know, I come out here and make sure
I keep it cool with my dad and make sure
everybody's you know, everybody is good. You know.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
The reason I bring it up because I was born
in Houston, And yeah, you know, I've got a degree
in mathematics that work for IBM minor and sociology, and
that's what everybody understood. That's that's well, you're doing it man.
You got a great job. And then when I started
going towards stand up comedy, people didn't understand that. They
(02:22):
couldn't put two and two together. They can understand a
mailman's job, a bankman's job, a banker's job, but they
couldn't understand the industry of entertainment. Talk about your life
when you you went to college in North Texas state,
correct Texas. Yes, and say so when you start looking
at this entertainment factor as part of your dream.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Yeah, you know it's funny, did you say that? You
know you have something to come with? My mother she
was a sales who was in sales.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
At IBM Kodac. She was that was her industry as well.
You know me growing up around that.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
My father is a defense attorney here in the Daubts
Forward area, Leon Haley Jr. A lot of people knowing
he does all the crazy criminal trials and all that
kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
He was a trial lawyer.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
So being around that is the exact opposite of what
I ended up doing. Right, So, now you know what
I told him, I'm ready to go to Los Angeles
and I found my passion. It really came from man.
You know, like I knew early on, I wanted to
get in entertainments. I thought it was going to probably
be in the music. A lot of my friends, a
particular friend of mine, he was in high school. He
was always into acting. We would read the Spike Lee
(03:33):
script books and all these kind of things, and just
was really vibing all this stuff. And I was really
getting into. Like I said, I played instruments all my
life as a kid, but the whole behind the scenes
and the creation of making films TV, all this came
really really intriguing to me. Came, I mean, and it
got deeper when I realized I had a craft for editing.
(03:56):
I learned it when I was at North Texas. I
did an internship there, and that's where it triggered. When
I was up till two three o'clock at night working
at that cable station, and I was editing my own stuff, man,
while everybody was down. And that's when I knew I needed,
you know, the passion for doing this. I had to
(04:17):
move that time. Nowadays, you know, you can do this everywhere,
but that time I knew I needed to get to
Los Angeles and really pursue.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
This and I had no backup plan. This was it.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
My mother was like, go jump off the ledge and
go fly like a bird. My dad said, when I
was waiting, waiting, who do you know in Los Angeles?
Speaker 1 (04:39):
My dad?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
I said, Dad, remember this. My dad came from a very, very,
you know, humble beginning. He was one of six seven kids,
the oldest, two bedroom house, all of them living together.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
And I said, who told you? I remember this story?
Who told you you could be an attorney? You? Your
mama didn't know, your gaddy didn't know nothing about it.
So parallel here we are parallels. You just went out
to d C. You went to college, You went to
college and UTA and then went to law school in
d C. Now who told this man he could do this?
(05:13):
So I said, so, Dad, you did it. I'm doing
it just like you believed in yourself and you figured
it out. I'm gonna go figure it out.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
You know what.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
He said, let's go, We'll moving to LA.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
But liked now you tis University of Texas all the time,
Texas born, you know, Texas born and raised. So I
know all those little numbers, those little letters when you
start putting this together, because it's important that I bring
that up because so many people who are listening to
this car are afraid. They're afraid to tell people what
(05:43):
they want to be. Yes, afraid of the backlash, afraid
of people laughing at afraid of people questioning their direction.
And you had the great parent, a great conversation with
your parents and parents, and I know the story you
just told wasn't this. They had a lot more more too.
Layers do it, a lot of layers. But making the
(06:05):
transition to go to LA because I went from Houston
and I was very successful in Houston. I went to
New York stayed there two years. Then I went to
Los Angeles and I stayed there for fifteen years because,
like you said, those were the places you had to
go to really understand the business and become a part
of the business. Yes, talk about that journey when you
(06:26):
decided to go because you didn't know anybody, Tray.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
I didn't when I moved to Los Angeles, no joke.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
All I knew was to sign when I saw when
I got there, I saw that sign Hollywood, and I
knew I was there. I was seeing all these trailers
and all the movie stuff, and I saw the studios.
I was like Okay, Now I got to figure this out.
And but you know, when you do these things, you
don't go blindly. I did come out there about three
or four months prior to that checked it out. I
knew I didn't know someone in my family that had
(06:53):
a place a friend of theirs had a place for
me to I could possibly stay, right. I knew I
had that part in the next phase. I knew I
knew it was smart enough to get a job, right,
So I got on. I got me a nine to
five job when I moved out there quick to just thought.
I know I was going to have some income until
I could figure it out. So I did have that plan.
I said, let me get a job and I'm gonna
figure this thing out step by step. And along the way, man,
(07:16):
I ended up going to like different film festivals and
just putting myself into the mix.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
And along the way.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Three or four months later, I ended up meeting my
business partner, who's my business partners today, Nicaio d Brown Jones.
She's the showrunner of Family Business, and we created Try
Destined together, and the whole group of friends I met
them all at this at a film festival a little
or Not and we shot short films and we were
doing things together and then that's when we realized, Yo,
(07:46):
we might do something here, you know. And we just
all had a dream and we said, all of us
came from different places. A lot of people came from
the HBCUs, a heavy portion of our company from Florida
A and M University, and we all just had a dream, man,
and we said as a team, we realized as a
team effort, you got to stick together, find group of
(08:07):
people with the common goals. And it worked out. I
ended up doing funny enough. The first person who got
me a job in the industry, though, was a gentleman
named Darren Grant. Darren Grant is a you know, music
video director. He's sent a lot of movies and stuff
like that. But at the time he was doing all
the big he was doing all the big like Destiny's
(08:30):
Child videos and.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
All that million dollar videos.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Back then when they were doing the big super videos.
It was like Hype Williams, him and a couple of
people with Maya. He was doing all those big videos.
And I remember him letting me on set man, and
he gave me a first opportunity to to be a
PA on set and I learned from there, and I
went from there, man, and and it just I ended
(08:52):
up doing that.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
For a while.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Let's talk about that timeline. I'm very familiar with that timeline. Yes,
when the music videos were because the group will remember
the power of B E T. Yeah, mem TV were
talking about B E T E music. Williams. Well, these
videos were ranging from anywhere from a million dollars to
five million dollars. I mean you go on the set,
(09:16):
I mean casting sessions. It was an incredible it was
an incredible experience. Tell people that timeline. And then when
you started to notice in the business change in the
music industry, because it just got out of control as
far as.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
The videos, the videos, Like I said, I got a
chance to see this, and you know, for me at
that time, I thought this was the way to break
in as a director doing music videos, doing this type
of stuff. And then because from what I saw is
the trajectory was music videos, that kind of stuff. And
then they hired and you know, they see what you do,
(09:53):
and all these guys are starting to get jobs as
directors to do movies and all this other stuff.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Right, So.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Seeing that, man, and along the way, it just was
strange because it went it went to total opposite way.
And that's what the interesting thing about this industry is,
there's no one way to make it. You just the
one way to make it is to be consistent and
do good work and be good to people, you know
what I'm saying, for sure, and add value to people's
(10:23):
lives so hopefully they can add value back to your life.
But finding ways to be of value to people I
found is also really crucial along the way. But doing
those videos and then, like I said, I end up
realizing the way as I started seeing the video world
kind of transitioning a little bit out of the big
video world, and I was like, maybe this might not
(10:44):
be let me, let me find my own journey, right,
so to say, like, let's not try to do what
everybody else is doing.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Just do you whatever God is telling you to go go.
And I end up being getting a job.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
I did a courier job because I wanted to meet
people in the studios, so I ain't taking a courier
driving at that time. We you know, now everything is digital.
Back in the day, you used to have scripts that
was delivered to you from a courier job or like
a headshots coming to you from different people coming in
and dropping it off. Why did this look we had
(11:17):
an outfit on and everything. You used to have these
little but you know, polo outfits. Hey, I would take
the shirt off and put a button down shirt on
and some slacks. And I was coming in walking around
with these things and walking in and they were like, man,
you work for the courier Service while while you dressed
up like you work with us.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
I needed them to see me the way.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
I needed them to see the way, not what I
was doing, but I needed them to see me right.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
And it ended up working out.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
I meeting someone at TNT and because my route was
TNT and Century City Fox Studios, that was the route
I did. And a young lady worked to TNT said, hey,
you know there's some internships that go through the studio
system that a lot of people don't know about.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
You should submit for them. I submitted.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Long story short, I end up get an internship with
Morgan Freeman's company, Relevations Entertainment, and I worked. I was
with them for six months man two days a week
for free, uh huh. And it was one of the
best educations I ever had because part of what they
gave you in return is putting you in the room
(12:18):
while they were doing everything. So not only was I
doing coverage on scripts, when they had meetings or they
would or at the end of the day, they would
show us about pitch decks and this and this and this,
and that was their way of giving back to us, right.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
It was amazing.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
Wow, I'm talking to Trey Daniels. I mean trade, I apologize,
Trey Hayley is Hey, Trey. The thing about it is that,
this is what I love about this conversation is that
to get where I got in life, I did a
lot of things for free. Yep. And a lot of
people think you should ask for money. I'm not telling
(12:53):
you shouldn't ask for money, but a lot of your
best lessons and your best opportunities are in your case
into are you volunteer? Obviously can I come along, but
in a professional manner. But what he showed in changing
out there was our fits was commitment and consistency. And
he's a handsome guy, so I can imagine back there
(13:14):
he was this young, handsome guy, eager, and the people
saw that. They saw that. I know that in the industry,
it's the hustle man, and how you hustle and how
you present yourself. And that's what this show is about, Trey,
is that a lot of people understand that you have
a career. And I know that, and I always talking.
(13:35):
I love talking to people who have a career because
when you're young, you don't think about thirties, you don't
think about forties, you don't think about fifties. You just
think about that moment. Now you know. Right now, I'll
introduce you tied the family business and you different TV
shows you've been tied to over years. When you look back,
what do you smile the most about? We go all
(13:56):
to your career, Traye.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Know what, man, when I look back, it's a great question.
When I look back, and when I smile the most
about is that I stuck with it. Yeah, I didn't
allow any See what everybody thinks, it's all you know.
You go to Los Angeles or where are you going
to this industry and it's all they see, all the
glitz and the glamour. They know and you hear the stories.
Everybody's got a story, right, but nobody really understands until
(14:22):
they're really in it. And I think that's what happens.
Why when it's that fear when people come into this
type of industry, what they don't know. You know the
things that you hear, but what you don't know what
you're going to go through the journey, the ups and
the downs, and and there isn't a book that just the.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Truly there's books out there, but they will never truly
tell you this, truly tell you.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
How to what's you know, it's a prominent word, be
resilient through the journey and that no matter what, you
have to go down into like you have to. And
when I say you have to dig deep, set your
roots and be strong and know that it's gonna work out.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
And you have to be consistent.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
You can't just sit at the house and do nothing either, right,
you do have to put yourself out there and be
able to do this thing and wake up every morning
and feel good about yourself why you're doing it right.
And that's what I really feel good about is I
can wake up every morning man, today, yesterday, and tomorrow,
and I can say I feel good about myself about
(15:32):
this journey and how I did it and the way.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
I just stuck through it.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
I stuck around good people I've been blessed to be
around some really good people and a lot of people
who over time, when people start seeing you and seeing
you doing this thing and you're really serious about it,
it starts to catch like fire and people start to
trust you, and then people start to want to help you,
and people start trying to because like I said, I'm
(15:58):
helping everybody else. I'm trying to jump in and do
whatever I can't anybody else because I'm trying to learn.
While the process of learning, people are trying to end
up giving back to you. And so once again looking back,
just feeling good about that I put into work the
right way.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
This is what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Stay with us. More Money Making Conversation master Class coming
up next. Welcome back to Money Making Conversation master Class
with me Rashaun McDonald. I want to I want to
move a current here because I want to. They don't
want to go back, because your story is so such
a blessing to share because it's very similar to some
(16:36):
of the courses I've applied to my life, you know,
and it's been consistency has been hard work. But now
the show you're currently doing that you are directing co
ex Extribusa. I'm very familiar. It is one of the
shows I watch a lot. Tell my audience about the
family business and who's starring in it.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
Yes, so, man, they bugging me right next today Today's
the day is October to dy buzzing me right now.
That was just Ernie Hudson telling me about how proud
he was.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Man.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
So speaking of talent, you know we have so actually
we have Ernie Hudson. Okay, So this is the Duncan family, right,
the Duncans. If you don't know about it, this is
about This is based on the New York Times best
selling book by Ernie Hutt. I mean by a Carl Weber.
Carl Weber's a you know, prolific writer. And this is
(17:26):
an ongoing book series to this day, still running. The
stars Ernie Hudson as Elsie Duncan. Valerie Pettiford, she's Chippy Duncan.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
That's his wife.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Then you got everybody from Michael chih White, Darren Henson,
he's a you got the family, the kids, Darren Henson,
he's Orlando javc A Leslie who plays Paris Duncan. She
was also Batwoman. Y'all know her from Batwoman.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
One w she came in with, she came in, she
start here, she.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Started with family business and then end up blowing up
and becoming Batwoman.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
You know what I'm saying. You got a gentleman named
Sean Ringold who's Tammy.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Roman Arrington of Brayley Evans is in it.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Man.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
We got then Lit and Bernadette's stands. You know, we
all know her from back in the day. You know,
she's a FA favorite. So we got Ben. We got
some new people coming in. But I mean, we gotta
look at we gotta star stud the cast. Christian Keys
comes in and does some things. Ron Rico, Lee, Trisha Man, y'all.
I mean, look, man, Anthony, I can go down the
(18:31):
list with this thing. Flex Alexander comes in and does
a really great job. So it's look, Pat, we don't
even have Patrick Duffy man that right, Emilio Rivera. Then
we all got it's a very multi cultural, you know,
very you know it's it's about an afternoon.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
It's a sexy series because you bought Christian Keys.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Christian comes in and he does his name. Come on,
you know, christ.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Man, I just like the series because you know, I'm
just stepping in as a fan too. Yes, because I've
done television a lot that I've been fortunate to do
blockbuster movies. But I love character development, and that's where
a lot of people miss is the character that the layers.
Because sometimes watching your series you have like three different
(19:22):
storylines running.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
You got to keep the fire. You gotta find ways too, yes,
and tie them all together.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
And that's really important for people to understand that storytelling
is the key to longevity. Now when you listening now,
because I want everybody to hear by what you're working
on so they can see us. But more important, I
want people to talk about your story. Because let's go
on back to North Texas. Because editing caught your attention.
You gave a big speech your dad. You can't have
(19:53):
to think okay, you got me, you got okay with La.
You met two other gentlemen that's created the tried.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
My business partner. It's a lady.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Her name is Nikayah d Brown Jones, and she's my
she's my business partner.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
We created it together.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
But then there was a gentleman named Darren Grant. Now
Darren is on his own. He was a big time music,
big time music video director and he is the one
who though gave me that first gig, the opportunity of chance.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Now you went from an editor to an executive.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
Yeah, editing and heights in college to a pa in
La to a own but you know what the executive,
I created my own lane. And that's what I really
want people to understand. You got to create. We created
a company. My business partner I, she's went to FAM
you she was at that you know, their their graduate program,
(20:49):
their business school.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
So she did understands the numbers and all of that,
and I knew all the creative and the technical stuff.
And we came together and made this thing happen. But
we created our own lane.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
And what wet realizes if you go to get a
pay out here and doing this, the most powerful people
create their own companies. They create their own stories and
they tell something in a consistent way. And we were
One of our goals was destined to change the perception
of the world. That was the vision. But all of
our stories we always win. That was the key. It's like,
(21:21):
what is it going to be about our stories that
we always want to tie into is that no matter
what happens at the end of that story, We're gonna
always win.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
You know, it's really interesting. I remember that open the
comedy club in Houston and back in ninety two, ninety
three and before my father passed away. You know, he
came into the comedy club and he really understood who
I was, you know, because because he didn't want me
to go to college. He thought, you know, I had
six sisters, two bro all the girls to go to college.
(21:50):
He thought I'd be just like him, a blue collar worker.
He was a truck driver that worked for him. Why
came to work for you?
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Right?
Speaker 1 (21:58):
And so and he really really he really saw what
his son could be. And he said, so you're successful.
I said, well, I said that I'm not where I
want to be, but I'm happy where I'm at. And
so with that being said, what project did? It really
dawned on your parents that you that you? Ah? Did
(22:18):
you did?
Speaker 3 (22:19):
You?
Speaker 2 (22:20):
I was on my way. I was on my way?
Speaker 3 (22:23):
Who you know what they saw me go through the
You know, when we had first we were doing a
lot of independent films making it.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
But it was really like.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
That for our third or fourth film, let me tell
you the one I think really stood out for everybody
was a movie was It was the first movie we
did actually with Carl Weber, and it was called The
Man in Three B. Right, yeah, I directed that, and
that's our company, The Man in three B with Lebron
Rutgers and that movie. Because it went we got a
(22:56):
you know, a small theatrical release on that.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Because I did the that movie. I saw that movie.
Didn't know you were associated because you got a big
old your resume strong was. Uh we did it at
the Bronze Lynz Festival.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
Bronze Lynz Festival, So let's speak on that. So I'm
now one of the man that's the beautiful thing you
just said that. Yes, it was the opening night film
at the Bronze Lynz Film Festival. And let me tell you,
I am now one of the board members of the
Lands Film Festival. Defintely that's that's a phenomenal film festival.
But that movie right there, hands down showed a lot
(23:35):
of people, Oh these guys are they're in it, you know,
and not in family, friends, everybody. I think it changed
the course of everything as far as how people looked
at us as a company.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
Great people don't really. I talked to my staff a
lot because so many people want to be in Hollywood
from talking from the actors and actresses, and when you
start becoming successful, you take on a lot of power
and you have to be smart and allow that power
to consume you. I'm talking about because really, you know,
(24:10):
when when I look at the ugliness of what he did,
he did, I know why it happened because he's a
very powerful man that offered opportunity that people dreamed of.
And when you get in that position. I'm not saying
that associated with you, but I saw it. I know,
you know, but you have to be you have to
be conscious of who you are and not a lot
(24:31):
of power consume you talk to us about that journey trade.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
That's such a good point.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
You know.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
Once as you keep elevating and you get into these positions,
like you said, where you can when you get into
the hiring and.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Really it can open doors for a lot of people's lives.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Yeah, I think it's the next level.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
You just have to make sure this is why I
go about what's what, what's your why in this business
and what is it really trying to do and what
it and to be able to wake up in the morning,
like you just say, you know and feel good about
things because people are gonna be able to gonna throw
a lot of things that you. People are gonna come
at you in a lot of different ways and suggest
(25:13):
a lot of things.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
To help you. What can I do to make you know?
Speaker 3 (25:20):
People are trying to do a lot of I guess
transactions right, right, And so you got to be careful
about these things because in the end of the day,
people's intentions of where they are today and where they
are tomorrow and how they the hustle.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Is real out here, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
So where people may think that they're gonna get with
something may not be you know, like this is everybody
has a different journey. So like let's just say you
take a transaction and you help someone out, they don't
get to where they want to get to. They may
come back to you and say you did me dirty right, right,
And these are where you have to really understand character
(26:00):
with people and really go through the right processes and
vet the scenarios out really clearly when you're working with people.
Yes's why it's important to have a team, have people
that protect you through the journey because things are coming
at you and everybody and people who have the right
intentions to protect you. And then and you got to
(26:22):
ask yourself, are these people truly If somebody comes to
you with a transaction that doesn't feel professional, right, it's
just no, it just is no, or you know what,
I don't feel good about that. But if you really
want to try this, here are the people that do this,
reach out to them, and then this is the process.
(26:43):
And that's it, you know what I mean, Like, there's
ways to play that without you know, but it is
a difference.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
It's a dangerous game, it is.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
And that's why I wanted to bring up bringing it
into this conversation because so many young people and even
older people. Yeah, they get out there and they see Hollywood.
They they don't realize. That's why I used the word
career when I was when I've been talking to Trey,
because he if you listen to this conversation, it was
always the long game with him. It was never the
(27:12):
short game or the hook up. Not ever get in
a situation where it's a hookup. Allow people to introduce
you into the business because of your talent, not because
of your look. If your look gets you through the door,
make sure your talent keeps you in that door, because
that where people can abuse the relationship, abuse you, and
(27:36):
then you on the outside feeling taking advantage of That's
what we're talking about. I know, I know Trey, he
was he was couching the terms, but and I respect that.
But it's important that he and I tell the people
out there who are interested. And I'm talking to Trey Hayley.
He is the co executive producer and director of Family,
(28:00):
Here's a hit series on BT Plus.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Actually and actually that watched this. It was the co
executive producer. That was executive producer.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
And it's really now all that drama coming to you
now with all that stuff.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
You know what I'm saying right right, because as you
keep as it keeps coming up, they're like, wait a minute,
wait a minute, you own this company? They say, Oh,
but see this is what I tell people right now.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
I love this. I love I love this because I'm
really into the conversation with.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
What I'm about to say with this.
Speaker 3 (28:30):
There's a lot of people who go in this business
and they think they're gonna get the quick fix. Yes,
but you're gonna get the quick fixed in, quick fix in,
and you're gonna get the quick fix out.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
Yes, what I'm saying, that's the truth.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
Let me tell you why. Because when you see all
these people with the long game, because your your roots
aren't settled in strong, anything's gonna take you out, right, that's.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
The short game.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
But when you planned your roots strong and you've watered
them roots and it's dug deep, there's another level that's
gonna have to for you to get taken out. It's
gonna have to be something else.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
You know what I'm saying. It's gonna be God itself
come to me, take me out this game.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
But but but people come in and they think they're
gonna make these moves through the looks, they're gonna suggest
things through sexuality, whatever thing about this.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
It's a hundred thousand people, two hundred. It's so many
people in this game. So let's go through phase A.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
A guy over here or a lady over here suggesting
and gets a small gig real quick, or doing something.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Maybe it's one hundred of thousand, other it's a five.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
It's all kind of people submitting and trying to get
into this movie. For instance, you may try to go
out there and do something that you don't feel good
about later on in your you're not gonna feel good
about it, may not even get.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
The job, right the guy and the girl.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
Who didn't do anything got the job or the guy
who didn't do So my point is there's that's not
even a chance on that either. So people think they're
gonna come in and do all this stuff and oh
I look good or I have this and oh look
at how I look and all this that does not
get you in the game because it's so many people,
like you just said, super talented. It's so many phases
(30:23):
of people having to make a decisions on who's gonna
get parts and who's gonna get this behind in front
of the scenes that it is gonna be based on
talent and your character and people seeing your passion and
and and and you just just staying just just knowing stick.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
Always do good. It always gonna come back to you.
Speaker 1 (30:50):
Good, and always about when he's talking about I'm talking
about trade and tray, you say I should change your
title to executive producer. Yeah, yeah's negative producer. You know
he already told us. Ernie Hudson just calling and say,
Ernie busy too, because he's on Boston Boston Blood, Boston
(31:10):
Blood Boston there's on Friday.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
Yeah, I know Blood. He's on another show.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
Yeah, this's on that's on the CBS. I watched it.
I watch Fire Country, then Sheriff Country then or Boston Blood. Yeah. Yeah.
And so the thing about it is it's about relationships, man,
And that's what he's talking about. What he's talking about
roots and not being able to take it out because
the reality is is that whether you're in business or entertainment,
(31:38):
it comes back to your relationships because when you go down,
because you're gonna fall, you're gonna have those slow times,
and the relationship will see you through because that relationship
respects what you have accomplished or the individual that you
are and what you bring to the table. And I
always tell people that you get paid based on what
(31:59):
people will value you there you go. If they value you,
they will pay you. If they don't value they will
use you.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
And you also have to know when you're where you
are with when this scenario you're working in.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
Now, if you're a.
Speaker 3 (32:15):
Rookie coming into a situation, you can't get Lebron James money.
Speaker 1 (32:20):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
And a lot of people in this game, they come
in swinging like.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
They now you make them play good, right, but you
haven't proven yourself to get the level of sometimes where
you can't and you make no. Look, it's good to
know your value and you have to allow everybody else
has to see that value too. And it's not upfront.
It's the result of what you do, not like you
coming in saying let me tell you what I can do.
(32:47):
I tell people you say you're a director, then go
direct something. You're a writer, go write something, But don't
say I'm a writer but you ain't got a script.
Speaker 1 (32:54):
Right, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
But also, and you got to ask yourself, like you know,
I always tell people when you're when you're involving yourself
in productions or any capacity, what is the value for you?
If it's only money, that's gonna be a fledgling situation,
it's not gonna ever be good. But if you say,
it's not just the money, but this is gonna help
(33:17):
me with this too, and it's gonna be it's gonna
be like a force multiplier where it's gonna take you
want to do things that add value triple time, right,
not just money because money is gonna come and go.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
Right, we know, here's the thing. I'm thank you for
doing this interview because education as much as what I try,
It's what I've tried to do in this show. Now
on BT Plus, where the family Business can be found.
The beauty of streaming is you can see all the seasons. Yes,
you know, you click one, two, three, four, five, six
(33:51):
and show you all the episode. So if you're just
hearing about the family Business right now, don't worry BT
Plus sign up, you go online, you can start episode
one because you really want to see the character development.
Let me ask you this, well, have you been on
this series from day one?
Speaker 3 (34:09):
Yes, So my company tried Uston Studios, teamed up with
Carl Weber Urban Books team and we made this from
the beginning. We had a relationship with BT really strong
relationship with BT And let me tell you the power
of this movie. Most people don't mean the show once
again vision We shot this independently. First, I'd heard about
two movies are one in part two. We casted it.
(34:32):
This cast that you've seen is all up in it
from the beginning. But we said, no matter what, we've
always been shooting movies and selling and do and all
the plus with movies. We know we can sell it
as a movie, but we know even a cast new
and because of the ongoing book series, this has the
potential to be a great TV show. And so then
we went around and multiple people. Most people say, well,
(34:52):
who else did you take it to? We had four
about four or five other all together people interested in
our show, and BT is the one who saw the
vision and took it on. So we always appreciated them,
and we also partnered with them, so this is you know,
they We are truly an ownership company with this. Tried
(35:13):
destining my company with Nakaya and Carl. We own the
property and we are partners with BT with this. So
it's but but it was because we filmed it. We
put the money, and we put that investment in investment
on ourselves, and we bet on ourselves.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
And I tell people that all the time.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
People say, y'all walking around and it's nothing wrong with
TV shows getting picked up with other networks and then
putting the money in. But when you bet on yourself,
you have more power to take it around and and
and and and put yourself in a winning position.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
Trade, Man, this has been an outstanding interview.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
Man.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
I really appreciate you taking the time to come on
the show. Not only allow us to understand the work
that you're doing now, but there's a journey to everything.
And closing, what would you like to leave with my
audience on money making conversation masterclass.
Speaker 3 (36:03):
With your audience, I would just like to leave this.
Your perspective in life is gonna be the key along
with your spiritual journey. But your perspective and how you
see things. If you see negative, you're gonna get the negative.
But if you see the if a journey, if you're
in a front right now, your perspective is the key
(36:24):
because you're never gonna be there. But so long if
you stay positive and you say, I know I'm here now,
but I'm gonna see my way out of it. I
know I'm gonna win. And if you have that winning mindset,
you'll go, you'll fly high. So just stay focused on
what is not what isn't.
Speaker 1 (36:45):
He's the president and partner at Triy Deathtin Studios. He's
also the company lead director with more than sixty TV
episodes and feature Lynch storytelling. His latest project is the
BT hit crime drama The Family Business, where he serves
both director and executive producer. My brother Thank you for
coming on Money Making Conversation Masterclass.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
Thank you brother.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
Hey, I'd love to anytime come down to Houston. Whatever, man,
I'm all for it, brother.
Speaker 1 (37:13):
No you special man. I really appreciate you. This has
been money Making Conversations Masterclass with Rashawn McDonald thanks to
I Guess and our audience. Visit Moneymakingconversations dot com to
listen and register to be a guest.
Hosts And Creators
Steve Harvey
Shirley Strawberry
Thomas "Nephew Tommy" Miles
Carla Ferrell
Kier "Junior" Spates
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If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies!
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!