Jussie Smollett, Mona Scott-Young, & Jabari Redd Join Angela Yee To Talk New Film 'The Lost Holliday' + More
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
What's up?
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Its way up at Angela.
Speaker 3 (00:04):
Ye, I'm here, and y'all know my guy Carlos King
has been guest hosting, and how could I not have
you here? While we talked to Mona, Scott Young, Jesse Smollett,
and Jabari Redy.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
And now the reason the.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Three of them are here is for The Lost Holiday.
That's a new movie that's going to be limited released
in theaters AMC theaters correct, correct Friday, Friday?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
All right, so let's get into it.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
So, Mona, this is something that you're executive producing, producing, producing.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Yes, trussa small Wood, shout out to Mega my media.
And Jesse's a super massive movie. Okay, that is actually
the name of his production. Absolutely a super massive movie.
So even if the movie ain't that good because it's
produced by a super massive movie, then you know, exactly that's.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
A smart move though, yes smart.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Super massive is good in many ways, exactly.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Many many ways.
Speaker 5 (01:01):
So whatever whatever industry we.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Do, you're super massive no matter way.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
All right, I'm sorry, Should I move out of.
Speaker 6 (01:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Now, Jabari I mention before the BET Awards with Jesse,
he was there. You guys were promoting Bee Boy Blues
and Mona you were involved in that too.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Absolutely, this is the family. This is the family.
Speaker 6 (01:31):
Yeah, you guys do great work together. Because Angela I
was watching the movie and it's really good. Hopefully gay
black man. I appreciated the fact that we're telling stories
that really can resonate to us. You know, the character
vibicat Fox is playing is a mom who isn't too
aware of what her son is going you know, through
(01:54):
in his personal life. And the sort of dynamic that
your character plays along bificault character is super funny.
Speaker 5 (02:04):
It really is.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
It's so funny because we've been screening. We screened at
a BFF in Miami and London. We did a screening
in d C. So you have people from all walks
of life, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, and every single person
has been able to take something away from you. We
did a screening in Atlanta and there was this incredible
testimony by that one young lady who talked about, you know,
(02:26):
just having been in the foster care system and it's
strange from her own mother and seeing herself in the characters.
So that's what I think is so special about this moment.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Well, let's discuss what the movie is about. So for
people who haven't seen it without giving too much away.
And by the way, I saw that you had my
guy from the Office, like one of my favorite favorite.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
And just did this this beautiful cameo and he listened.
He opens.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
I love that y'all got him on there, because yes, okay,
but what's.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
His name in Realize?
Speaker 5 (02:56):
Leslie David Baker?
Speaker 3 (02:57):
All right, Leslie David Baker. How did you even approach
him and get him for that role? I just have
to know because the Office and curb your enthusiasm, of course,
but Vibica was on that. You know, those are some
of my favorite shows. So talk to me about how
that happened.
Speaker 5 (03:08):
He became my friend. I randomly.
Speaker 7 (03:11):
I have the most random encounters with people, and then
they become my friends. I was driving one day and
I don't know what I was going through, but I
was driving.
Speaker 5 (03:17):
And he pulls up on the side of me.
Speaker 7 (03:19):
We're about to make a left onto Cold Water Canyon
from Ventura Boulevard in LA and I'm about to make
a left and he pulls up side of me and
he says, he says, like he said, he said, pick
up your head, young man, And I looked over it no, No,
I think I was looking a little he says, I
was looking a little down right, and so he said, he, yees,
pick up your head young man.
Speaker 5 (03:40):
I look over. I'm like Stanley.
Speaker 7 (03:44):
So I'm like, why Stanley in the office giving me
like from the off and give me a pep talk.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
And then he hit me up.
Speaker 7 (03:52):
No, I hit him up on social media and I said, hey, like,
I was actually going through it and you said pick
your head up.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
And I appreciate that.
Speaker 7 (03:57):
And we just started chatting and became friends, and a
couple of years later we were doing this film and
I called him. I actually called him for another project
that we did and he said yes to that. So
when I called him for this, he said yes, but
only if I can do a.
Speaker 5 (04:13):
Scene with Ms. Villica. Oh, and I said, and then
I went back to the Draum.
Speaker 7 (04:17):
I was like and wrote that damn scene with him,
and because it's just you know, he's just a wonderful
human thing. But every single person in this film was
was it was a phone pick up. You know, we
didn't have we didn't have it in the budget to
pay a cast in the.
Speaker 5 (04:32):
Record, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 7 (04:33):
So so we basically this was cast between myself and Jabari.
Jabari with Jabari is the one that brought us Brittany's Brittany.
Brittany as Hall plays my sister. You know, it's just
it really is a family, a family film, but it's
also created by a family.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Okay, I love that.
Speaker 7 (04:51):
That's good.
Speaker 6 (04:51):
So Jabar, let's talk about your character, because a lot
happens in the first couple of minutes.
Speaker 5 (04:56):
Give it away, But what drove you to doing this movie?
Speaker 8 (05:01):
First of all, call from Jesse, you know, but beyond
the call, it was as many topics that it covered.
You know, it covered the same gender loving couple, it
covered the same heterosexual couples, it covered different relationships of family.
(05:21):
So I was very inspired to you know, really play
along all the things that it had to offer. And
you know, we really don't get that nowadays, especially with
the concept with what was going on on black black,
same gender loving couples leading a movie. So it was
just really fun to do. And I was also very excited.
Speaker 5 (05:45):
You know.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
It's interesting because Carlos and I had a conversation it
wasn't even about this movie, but behind the scenes, we
were talking about a show that you had Carlos. Maybe
you want to expand on that and how difficult it
is to get you know, the movies made that it's
same gender and that all so they can be critically acclaimed,
but are the numbers there?
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Are they commercially?
Speaker 8 (06:04):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (06:05):
I was telling her how to show with Jason Bosen
and Derek Curtis. You know a mary you know, gay
black couple on Netflix called Styling Hollywood.
Speaker 5 (06:12):
Oh, I used to love that show. Yeah, good, that
was good. I love Jason. No, they're amazing.
Speaker 6 (06:17):
The show lasted for one season because on Netflix, your
shows are seeing in one hundred and ninety countries and
unfortunately the reach was yea, yeah, yeah. And I was
telling Angela that, you know, when it comes to having
movies unscripted shows as well, it is challenging to have
movies and unscripted shows green Lid that features that.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Features solely, like I tried as well for a very
long time. It's so funny before legendary.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Yes, I don't know if you remember this.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
I had a show that was about the ballroom scene,
right because I thought it was so fascinating when you
talk about family, that entire culture is about family, you know,
becoming a family, and I always thought with all of
the things that you have to go through to become
part of a house, right, that it had an inherent
like competitive element to it.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
So I was like, there's a great formatted show.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
And could not get anyone, not even Logo that was
at the time the network for the community.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
They would not even bite into it.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
And so for me personally, it's always about shining a
light on and providing a platform for you know, marginalized
And I'm doing air quotes because it's only perceived marginalization, right.
Speaker 5 (07:32):
We are all part.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
Of the wider humanity. So the fact that we still
have to you know, segregate ourselves in that way. Oh,
this is a movie for the LGBTQ community. This is
a black movie. Like, my goal every day is just
to do good projects that tell the stories that are
relatable across all people. And that's what I love about
(07:54):
the way just right. Yeah, you read that script and
it didn't you know, you forget even with B Boy
Blues that oh.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Wait, this is the same sex couple. It was just
a loving couple.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
It was just a guy that was kind of an asshole.
Speaker 5 (08:05):
Yeah, I mean, but we audated. We've all dated, toxic people.
We've all you know, experienced that, so I feel like, yeah,
that's the.
Speaker 7 (08:14):
Way to I also find that the problem is a
lot of times is you may find it more difficult
for somebody to license or purchase something based on a story.
That's why, for instance, B Boy Blues, I can't tell
you that B Boy Blues would have been made had
we not gone and done it. That was self financed
by myself, only my company, and so so I don't
know that if it were if I tried to go
(08:35):
into a corporation or some sort of network or studio
and get money for that, I don't think that I
would have gotten it made. So I think that bet
stepped in Mona literally walked it into be et, but
it was already made. And then as far as the
Lost Holiday, again, I don't know if we would have
gotten anything like this green lip, but we greenlited ourselves.
(08:56):
So I think that as long as we keep doing that,
because a lot of these space that are very broad
they're too they're too small for gay storylines. And then
a lot of this, a lot of the places that
are broad enough for gay storylines, they're not broad enough
for black gay storylines. So just pushing that forward, showing
that we are so much more alike than not is
(09:17):
really what our goal has been with all of these projects.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
I hate, yeah, I hate the term normalized right right,
right right, but it's really just about creating a space
for all stories to be That's just what the agenda
is good stories. And this is a good story. The writing,
the directing, the acting, you know, and.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
I love I love the fact that we started off
not liking Vivica right because that was like, but that
was to her. She did a great shot.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
Owns that role. And you know that woman, We've all.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
Her everything from the nuance facial expression. She is brilliant.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Shout out to Vivocated, the wonderful yes she did, Yes,
she did, Yes.
Speaker 5 (10:01):
She did.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
Just to see like the progress that she makes, you know,
I think it was I had no idea where it
was going to go. So that's why at first, when
I actually watched some of it before I brought it in,
I started it over because I was like, come on, Carlos,
I didn't know if he was going to be able
to stay and do the interview.
Speaker 6 (10:17):
But you know, after watching, I was like, I got
all right, that's wonderful. This is my community and I
wanted to make sure that I co signed that people
should go and watch this movie. It's really fascinating interesting
to see our stories being told. So thank you Mona
for also hoping for It takes allies to really help.
Speaker 5 (10:36):
Us get these things to the finish. Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Why was it important for you guys to have this
in theaters? I know it's a limited release in AMC,
but why was that important?
Speaker 4 (10:43):
Well, because of the support that's needed. Right this was
an independent project. We need people to go out and
support these movies because that's how we're able to get into,
you know, the mainstream buyers and the distributors.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
But we needed to go.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Out and create some momentum around Okay, so it's not
going to be somewhere else right after that? Is it
still creating momentum by having the limited release.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
Because we want people to go out, We want them
to be talking about the movie, and that allows us
to walk into these buyers with some leverage.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Because I'm it's done, it's packaged. It's an amazing project.
I would think this would be an easy sou I
thought that it was a limited release in theaters and
then right after that we'll be able.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
To Well that's the goal, girl, that's the goal.
Speaker 5 (11:23):
But here's the thing on top of that.
Speaker 7 (11:24):
It also is a thing of this is the type
of project that I want to see in theaters. It's
when I was growing up. If I had seen these
type of films, I would have had a different understanding
of myself much earlier on. And I think that I
want for people who will watch a project like this
to have the same experience when they were in the
in the theaters watching Soul Food, when they were in
the theaters watching Still Magnolia's. I want them to have
(11:45):
that experience, and they should. I don't want us to look.
D Boy Blues was incredible and it went to be
et plus and that is that is wonderful. But for
this film, I really wanted people to be able to
have the theater experience, and that to me is it's
special to be able to see representation on the big screen.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
You know, let's go talk about what is the last
movie y'all went to the movie there to to see.
Speaker 7 (12:08):
Oh the Burial with my little sister and Jamie Fox
because that was in limited theaters as well, and then
they went to streaming. That's the last film that I saw.
Speaker 5 (12:15):
I'm a movie vib.
Speaker 6 (12:15):
I went to go see Speak No Evil last Saturday.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
I can't even remember.
Speaker 5 (12:23):
I'm not actually I missed that.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Because I'm saying honestly, like when you think about it,
because I used to go to the movie so much
and I still do. I'm gonna go see Pharrell's movie.
Oh yeah, definitely gonna go see Smile Shout out.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
Missy Elliotts rhymes there represented in that. Oh you're talking
about the Lego movie Lego Pie Piece.
Speaker 7 (12:50):
I want to go see Halle Berry's movie just I
can put on a wig because she was doing that
whole like everybody.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
Go see her movie. Way, I think that is so fun.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
So things like that I think really up, Like when
people were going to see I mean, the Barbie movie
was such a big deal when it came out, but
people really got dressed up, or like Sex and the City,
you know the movie. People got dressed up to go
out and go to the movies. And the experience is
different now because I feel like when I go to
the movies, I need to be able to order drinks
from my seat.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Yes, no way, you.
Speaker 5 (13:17):
Are so theater spoiled.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Yeah, I am.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
It's a special.
Speaker 5 (13:21):
Thing, but yeah, it's fun.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
All right.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Well, let's talk some more about, you know, just the
whole plot of this movie, because, like I said, we're
not giving away too much, but were there certain scenes
for you Jabari that were emotional?
Speaker 1 (13:33):
While all these.
Speaker 8 (13:34):
Things were emotional because the movie embodies so much feeling
like laughter, of sadness, grief, of forgiveness, grace, like it
embodies a whole range of emotion. And you know, my, my,
my castmates are so such professionals in the craft, so
(13:58):
you know, you got to bring it and they bring.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
It right back. You brought it though, thank you.
Speaker 8 (14:03):
So it really allowed to exploration of you know, of
feeling and truth and reality.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
So yeah, yeah, I just think about the flashback scenes.
Speaker 7 (14:14):
Oh my god.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Yeah, Like to me, I can't even imagine the grief
of like losing your partner. You know, that has to
be something that is one of the hardest things besides
I think losing a child, because yeah, you know that's
something that should that's like the most devastating thing according
to the natural order of how things should happen, right right, right,
You know, you don't want to have to deal with that.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
And I think just so when you talk about, especially
in your community, when you know you would lose a partner,
you get extra Yeah.
Speaker 5 (14:41):
That's exactly what we were so inspired by.
Speaker 7 (14:44):
That is so I tell this often that I have
so many mentors that are in their sixties or even seventies,
who particularly in the at the height of the ages
pandemic in the eighties, and they lost their partners, they
lost their their their life partners, and maybe were extracted
from their legacy.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
We're not allowed in room, were not allowed to go
to the funeral.
Speaker 7 (15:02):
Maybe their family kind of stepped back in and took
them out of the.
Speaker 5 (15:08):
Life.
Speaker 7 (15:09):
That yeah, and that is such a it's so unfortunate.
So it kind of is you know that. And I
was also inspired by my mother. I keep saying that
this film was absolutely inspired by my mother. As a
black woman who married into a non black family in
the seventies and raised us in the eighties and the nineties,
it was not always easy to navigate that and my
father was not speaking to my grandmother for a very
(15:30):
long time, and when he passed, that's when I saw
my mother and my grandmother bond. So that really is
what we see here in this film, and one of
the lines that I tell Vivica's character of do you
know how better our lives would have been if you
had actually been a mother? And you know that's what
so many go through, not just because of sexuality, but
because of race, because of religion, because you know, you know,
(15:53):
so that is that's definitely something that inspired us for
the film.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
Yeah, let me ask you this because it's interesting when
you trust me, I know, did you feel that there
was something in the movie that kind of connected to
an element of your life?
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Well, yeah, I was gonna say, even with my father
being Chinese, when my grandfather passed, he wouldn't speak to
me or my brother our whole lives because my father
married a black woman. They didn't want the kids, They
didn't want my aunts and uncles to come to the
wedding or anything. And so even like he had suffered
from a stroke and we could see that, you know,
the end was near, and my dad would be like, oh,
sit next to your grandfather, but he was not having
(16:25):
a Wow.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Yeah, even in all of that.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
But my grandmother wasn't really like that, But I feel
like she would kind of follow behind what my grandfather
wanted and so once he passed, it was but it
was already just so like you know, strained.
Speaker 5 (16:40):
I feel like absolutely so.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
And that's when this movie, you know, we hope people
take away from it that, you know, it's about family,
finding family, you know, loving each other while you're here
and while they're here for you to love on them
and appreciating that. And then you know, forgiveness, nay, not
only yeah, the other person, for forgiving yourself.
Speaker 7 (17:02):
Because the sad reality of the situation is is that
someone may pass unfortunately without you getting to say everything
that you wanted to say, and dare I say, without
even being able to make amends with someone maybe that
you have fallen out with, and that is so unfortunate.
But even still, there's still work that you've got to
do because you're still here, so you have to do something.
You have to try to make amends, if not with them,
(17:24):
then at least with the situation because you're here, So
what are you going to do with yourself for the
rest of your life?
Speaker 1 (17:29):
Right?
Speaker 3 (17:29):
Yeah, No, that's a great point because I know so
many people we are strange from certain family members and
it's not an easy thing. And forgiveness is sometimes difficult
because there's a lot of pain that comes with that.
And I also feel like, you know, certain the older generation,
they're not as open to going to therapy or doing
things that they need to do to work on themselves,
or being even open to having conversations. And you know,
(17:53):
it is something that you can't turn back the hands
of time and if something does happen, are you going
to live with regrets from that?
Speaker 1 (18:01):
So many themes we touch on in the Last Theaters.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Being cremated, like what do you want to do after whatever?
That is something that came up in the movie and
I was like, man, you know, I don't know, like
I haven't thought about is that something that I wouldn't
want to do?
Speaker 2 (18:21):
But these are things that we are real life conversation.
Speaker 5 (18:24):
But that's what it's here for. Though. It's like we're
not pastors, we're not preachers.
Speaker 7 (18:27):
We're just artists who are here to like hold up
a mirror and just be like, yo, Angela, you thinking
about that?
Speaker 8 (18:32):
Now?
Speaker 5 (18:32):
You think about that?
Speaker 7 (18:33):
You know, like I want to be wrapped in sheet
cloth and plant it into a tree. So I really
do I want to be I want to be I
want to be buried and then I want a tree
planting over me.
Speaker 5 (18:43):
So I could be a treat. Okay, that's what I want, y'all.
Speaker 7 (18:47):
So if you see anybody and they're doing the other stuff,
tell them to put me under the.
Speaker 5 (18:52):
Tree that Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
Now, Jesse, I have to ask you, you know, everything
that you've been through, do you have to ask yes,
by getting into getting back into Hollywood, do you feel
like okay? Because I do think the best thing to
do is keep working and keep going, and you can't
stop doing that. So do you feel like things are
getting better? You feel like okay? You know, people are
more receptive now because it was a tough time.
Speaker 7 (19:19):
It certainly was a tough time. I mean unless anybody
was living under a rock. Yeah, it's been rough. But
you know, this is what I do. You know, I
create art, and I hopefully create art that affects people
in a really important, impactful and loving way. Anything else
for me is just noise. Even if the rest of
the world has not moved on from it, I am
in the process of moving on from it. So all
(19:41):
I can really do is keep working, is keep keeping
myself mentally healthy and physically healthy and you know, spiritually healthy.
And I have been working very, very hard in every
single element of myself. So you know, people are going
to say what they want to say. And I hope
to God you know, I can't lie to you and
sit there and be like, Oh, it doesn't it doesn't
(20:01):
bother me if they just brushes right off. Now it
bothers me. Sometimes it hurts my feelings. Sometimes it really
pisses me off. But at the same time, there are
so much more important things that I know factually the
world needs to see.
Speaker 5 (20:15):
And so I'm not interested.
Speaker 7 (20:16):
In necessarily giving everybody what they want, but I will
give them what they need.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
And that's the truth from me and some good art.
That's all I can do.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
And that is forgiveness for you, because people have made
jokes and comments, and like you said, they can be
really hurtful.
Speaker 5 (20:30):
But now that you're I ain't forgiving sh.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
You're running to people, and I know that there's times
that like maybe somebody now it's like, oh, yeah, I
want to get him on the show.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
I want to do X, Y and Z. How are
you with that?
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Because like you said, forgiveness is one of the themes
of this movie.
Speaker 7 (20:45):
Ask over there, I'll publish this. How many times it's like, no,
but you know what you do.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Say because I think like you're full of crap right now,
because I have heard you so many times say I
get it. I unders stand why people have thought the
things that they've thought.
Speaker 5 (21:03):
You know, Look, I mean that's the that's that is
very true. Look at the end of the day, no, no, no,
I can, I can, and I do.
Speaker 7 (21:15):
But at the same time, you know, I get Here's
the thing, as far as the public goes, I understand
why they would feel the way that they did based
on the narrative that was spun and then on top
of it, the way that it was served in such
a horrendous, egregious way that it's just not.
Speaker 5 (21:30):
Did not happen, you know what I mean.
Speaker 7 (21:31):
But at the same time, so I understand that when
I take out my emotions, I'm a very emotional person.
Speaker 5 (21:37):
I'm a cancer. I'm a very.
Speaker 7 (21:40):
Very emotional, very very emotional I am if I whatever.
But people think that that just means that you're sad
when you're cancer, like, no whatever feeling I feel, you know,
And so I understand that on a public on a
public level, as far as media or people like that,
I don't have have to talk to you if I
(22:00):
don't want to, Like, I'm not going to go to
your show and just do it just because I need
to promote the movie. There are really great people around
that are nice, that ask questions that they need to
ask that they do need to ask. You know, that
give me an opportunity to explain certain things, and I
appreciate that. But if you're going to come to me
in a way that is malicious or vindictive or the gotcha,
(22:22):
gotcha situation, no, and I know who that is. And
those are the shows that you have not seen us on.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Okay, there you go.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
Things.
Speaker 6 (22:31):
One of the biggest things in this movie is love
and Mona Scott Young and I recently did an interview
on my podcast where she gave me so much insight
about her relationship and does love and all those things.
So I want to ask you, Jessine Jabari, are you
guys in love?
Speaker 5 (22:49):
Wait?
Speaker 2 (22:49):
What no came up from.
Speaker 5 (22:57):
Understand your question? We just trying to understand your question.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Is also got.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Lightweight because he's single and so he's trying to do
some digging.
Speaker 5 (23:13):
I'm the best ones.
Speaker 8 (23:15):
Answer first, I'm unavailable and I'm in love.
Speaker 5 (23:26):
Some being like that's right to a wonderful man named Sean.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Okay, no, she lets us know. We love se Let's
got don't forget the young, forget right, don't forget the young.
So it's been a year for you.
Speaker 6 (23:39):
Okay, congratulations, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 5 (23:42):
I'm yeah just about you? Are you?
Speaker 7 (23:45):
Are you dating to Carlos and unavailable and deeply in love?
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Wow?
Speaker 5 (23:51):
Okay, been going on, leave me alone. Let's talk after
the show.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
That makes me feel like he can't say a date
because it's with people who might think, no, I'm kidding,
was talking about it, but we've been together. But you
know what, honestly, but that's not an easy thing. Mona's
got young to achieve to be in, you know, in
this business doing the things that you've been doing, going
(24:17):
on the road, going on to have since somebody that's
understanding of all of that too, that's that is all
going on.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
That's really what it boils down to, having somebody who's
secure enough to see what your destiny is and to
support that unconditionally.
Speaker 7 (24:30):
And he does because listen, we get emails all the
time from Sean handling things we needs.
Speaker 5 (24:39):
He's businessman.
Speaker 6 (24:40):
I was like Mona's understudy.
Speaker 5 (24:43):
You know, Mona has taught me so much in this business.
Speaker 6 (24:45):
And what I will say is watching this phenomenal woman
build this business.
Speaker 5 (24:50):
And one thing she checked me on our interview.
Speaker 6 (24:52):
Because I said like, well, how does it feel to
be like, you know, the bread wunner.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
She said, wow, Carlos, because you know a messy.
Speaker 5 (25:01):
Questions and she said, we built this company together.
Speaker 6 (25:06):
And that's what made me realize when it comes to
the excellence that she you know, entails with everything she does,
is because she does have somebody and they work alongside
each other.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
Now, listen, having the right partner is so important because
that person can either bring you down, stress you out,
make you unable to work, you know, and steal money
from you who.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Knows you.
Speaker 5 (25:31):
Are? You know what I stress?
Speaker 4 (25:33):
I talk about all the time when I speak to
women and they're like, oh, how did you have children
and pursue a career and have a real I would
never have been able to do it right if I
did not have someone there that I could trust, that
I didn't have to think about, that didn't stress me out,
get into any dumb ship that was gonna have me,
you know, so not Cotton Woods. Listen, don't do that.
(26:00):
Have no relationship. Kirk and Rashida have a relationship that
works for them with them, do you know?
Speaker 1 (26:07):
That's what I say?
Speaker 4 (26:08):
Well, listen, and if that's part of what works for them,
then so be it.
Speaker 7 (26:13):
Right.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
They know who they are, they know who they are
to each other, they know what their relationship is, they
know what their limitations are and what they are willing
to put up with and deal with. Right, who are
we to sit at home and decide what she should
leave him? She should do whatever the hell makes her happy.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
But that's reality.
Speaker 5 (26:32):
People are going to.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
Do that.
Speaker 5 (26:34):
Personally.
Speaker 6 (26:35):
And one thing I will add to that is Kirk
and Rashida, in my opinion, and you may agree with me,
they are tailor made.
Speaker 5 (26:42):
For each other.
Speaker 6 (26:43):
Yes they are. I have never met two people who
are more perfect for each other. It doesn't make sense
of the world.
Speaker 5 (26:50):
And I but it doesn't.
Speaker 6 (26:53):
Yeah, But when you know them and you've been around
them and you see them, they are ying and yang.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
They are like absolutely, And there's something to be said
for how long they've been together, how many years they're
going on? I don't know thirty plus thirty, right, So listen,
my mind they're doing some.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
But my my business right and now, Jesse, you have
a new song out too, by the way, I want
to make sure we talk about that as well.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
All right, So does this.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
Mean a full length album, because I know singing is
your love as well.
Speaker 7 (27:25):
Yes, there is a full length album that has already
completed and has been for a little bit. But you know,
now we're now I'm confident to put it out, So
probably by the end of the year or top of
next it definitely will be out. But the first single
is my Mind. It's on the it's on the soundtrack
of It's on the it's in the film The Lost Holiday,
and among other other songs of mine. So yeah, we're
(27:50):
back to music. A large part of the reason why
I am even sitting here though, honestly, is and able
to and came back outside and like stop hiding up
in my apartment and back and up in Harlem. Like
it's just it's really because of Mona. Mona is the
one that would call me and say, yeah, it's true.
Mona is the one that came to me and was like,
you've got to go outside, You've got to you know,
(28:11):
you got to live your hands. Yeah, she would literally
call and be like let's go, and I'd be like, well,
I don't want to let Scout boats Scout. And you
know what, So she really is, she really is that person.
And this is the thing. It was before we were
really working together, you know, it was before so it
wasn't like she was trying to get anything from me.
She wasn't trying to like, she wasn't trying to be like, yo,
(28:32):
come do a reality show or anything like that. She
really was. She became my friend. And and you know,
I've been held up and pushed in a loving way,
pushed by Mona and Tresa and Vivica and Sheila and
my mom who's an executive producer on the film, and
all of these black women that are so powerful in
their own right, and decided to cut out all of
(28:52):
the noise and just be like, you've got to go
and you've got to do what you do.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
And just be like, you're incredibly talented. Thank you, stand in.
Speaker 5 (28:59):
That, thank you.
Speaker 6 (29:00):
Yes, would you do a reality show?
Speaker 7 (29:03):
Just never Carlos, Well, I don't know, Carlos, Bring me
the contract and we'll see what they're paying.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
If he was gonna do a reality show, we'd be
doing it.
Speaker 5 (29:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (29:17):
Yeah, I think Mona was like if I if I
was going to do it, that I would, I would
do it with with her.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
They they've been reaching out to him. I know.
Speaker 5 (29:25):
Everybody has has reached out. Everybody has reached out.
Speaker 7 (29:27):
I mean but even before everything, you know, my family,
you know when I remember when the Kardashians popped on
the scene, and then that became a thing of like, oh,
who's the next who's like the black the black family
that we can do this with. So we were We've
been approached for years. I think that we're just far
too private of a family.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
I love your sister. I don't know her person, I
love her.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
She is my favorite actor. I am not biased the.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Whole damn family.
Speaker 4 (29:50):
Because then his brother and sister have a show where
they do makeovers and they design.
Speaker 5 (29:56):
They did done.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
I'm doing my backyard.
Speaker 5 (30:03):
Right now, wait hold on the next season.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
Like literally, while we sit here.
Speaker 5 (30:12):
My back they did. They did Mona's backyard, they did
Heather B's backyard. They did. Come on and they did.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
A fantastic job.
Speaker 4 (30:20):
And you know, I'm a control free right I know,
I left and they did and I came in and
it's beautiful and I hate the fact that I haven't
been home.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
I was out on Torols summer, so I didn't get
a chance.
Speaker 5 (30:31):
To my backyard. But you'll be able to do like
winter barbecues and stuff.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Okay, thank you guys so much.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
I really appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
And Friday limited in theaters the Lost Holiday. You can
listen to some new Jesse small up music on there
as well. And thank you again. Very good to see
you again, Mona. Always a pleasure. Thank you so much
for having us and Carlos. You know I love when
you sit in so thank you.
Speaker 6 (30:56):
Thanks for having me here, like to be surrounded by friends.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
Might come guest host one day.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
I don't know I would be.
Speaker 4 (31:02):
I told you that the last time I know you
booked and I was like, you got Carlos.
Speaker 6 (31:08):
Oh my god, I'm kidding.
Speaker 5 (31:15):
You can tell me. Y'all are real friends. That's a
real friendship.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Thank you guys.
Speaker 5 (31:24):
Wall
What's up?
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Its way up at Angela.
Speaker 3 (00:04):
Ye, I'm here, and y'all know my guy Carlos King
has been guest hosting, and how could I not have
you here? While we talked to Mona, Scott Young, Jesse Smollett,
and Jabari Redy.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
And now the reason the.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Three of them are here is for The Lost Holiday.
That's a new movie that's going to be limited released
in theaters AMC theaters correct, correct Friday, Friday?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
All right, so let's get into it.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
So, Mona, this is something that you're executive producing, producing, producing.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Yes, trussa small Wood, shout out to Mega my media.
And Jesse's a super massive movie. Okay, that is actually
the name of his production. Absolutely a super massive movie.
So even if the movie ain't that good because it's
produced by a super massive movie, then you know, exactly that's.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
A smart move though, yes smart.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Super massive is good in many ways, exactly.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Many many ways.
Speaker 5 (01:01):
So whatever whatever industry we.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Do, you're super massive no matter way.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
All right, I'm sorry, Should I move out of.
Speaker 6 (01:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Now, Jabari I mention before the BET Awards with Jesse,
he was there. You guys were promoting Bee Boy Blues
and Mona you were involved in that too.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Absolutely, this is the family. This is the family.
Speaker 6 (01:31):
Yeah, you guys do great work together. Because Angela I
was watching the movie and it's really good. Hopefully gay
black man. I appreciated the fact that we're telling stories
that really can resonate to us. You know, the character
vibicat Fox is playing is a mom who isn't too
aware of what her son is going you know, through
(01:54):
in his personal life. And the sort of dynamic that
your character plays along bificault character is super funny.
Speaker 5 (02:04):
It really is.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
It's so funny because we've been screening. We screened at
a BFF in Miami and London. We did a screening
in d C. So you have people from all walks
of life, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, and every single person
has been able to take something away from you. We
did a screening in Atlanta and there was this incredible
testimony by that one young lady who talked about, you know,
(02:26):
just having been in the foster care system and it's
strange from her own mother and seeing herself in the characters.
So that's what I think is so special about this moment.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Well, let's discuss what the movie is about. So for
people who haven't seen it without giving too much away.
And by the way, I saw that you had my
guy from the Office, like one of my favorite favorite.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
And just did this this beautiful cameo and he listened.
He opens.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
I love that y'all got him on there, because yes, okay,
but what's.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
His name in Realize?
Speaker 5 (02:56):
Leslie David Baker?
Speaker 3 (02:57):
All right, Leslie David Baker. How did you even approach
him and get him for that role? I just have
to know because the Office and curb your enthusiasm, of course,
but Vibica was on that. You know, those are some
of my favorite shows. So talk to me about how
that happened.
Speaker 5 (03:08):
He became my friend. I randomly.
Speaker 7 (03:11):
I have the most random encounters with people, and then
they become my friends. I was driving one day and
I don't know what I was going through, but I
was driving.
Speaker 5 (03:17):
And he pulls up on the side of me.
Speaker 7 (03:19):
We're about to make a left onto Cold Water Canyon
from Ventura Boulevard in LA and I'm about to make
a left and he pulls up side of me and
he says, he says, like he said, he said, pick
up your head, young man, And I looked over it no, No,
I think I was looking a little he says, I
was looking a little down right, and so he said, he, yees,
pick up your head young man.
Speaker 5 (03:40):
I look over. I'm like Stanley.
Speaker 7 (03:44):
So I'm like, why Stanley in the office giving me
like from the off and give me a pep talk.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
And then he hit me up.
Speaker 7 (03:52):
No, I hit him up on social media and I said, hey, like,
I was actually going through it and you said pick
your head up.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
And I appreciate that.
Speaker 7 (03:57):
And we just started chatting and became friends, and a
couple of years later we were doing this film and
I called him. I actually called him for another project
that we did and he said yes to that. So
when I called him for this, he said yes, but
only if I can do a.
Speaker 5 (04:13):
Scene with Ms. Villica. Oh, and I said, and then
I went back to the Draum.
Speaker 7 (04:17):
I was like and wrote that damn scene with him,
and because it's just you know, he's just a wonderful
human thing. But every single person in this film was
was it was a phone pick up. You know, we
didn't have we didn't have it in the budget to
pay a cast in the.
Speaker 5 (04:32):
Record, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 7 (04:33):
So so we basically this was cast between myself and Jabari.
Jabari with Jabari is the one that brought us Brittany's Brittany.
Brittany as Hall plays my sister. You know, it's just
it really is a family, a family film, but it's
also created by a family.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Okay, I love that.
Speaker 7 (04:51):
That's good.
Speaker 6 (04:51):
So Jabar, let's talk about your character, because a lot
happens in the first couple of minutes.
Speaker 5 (04:56):
Give it away, But what drove you to doing this movie?
Speaker 8 (05:01):
First of all, call from Jesse, you know, but beyond
the call, it was as many topics that it covered.
You know, it covered the same gender loving couple, it
covered the same heterosexual couples, it covered different relationships of family.
(05:21):
So I was very inspired to you know, really play
along all the things that it had to offer. And
you know, we really don't get that nowadays, especially with
the concept with what was going on on black black,
same gender loving couples leading a movie. So it was
just really fun to do. And I was also very excited.
Speaker 5 (05:45):
You know.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
It's interesting because Carlos and I had a conversation it
wasn't even about this movie, but behind the scenes, we
were talking about a show that you had Carlos. Maybe
you want to expand on that and how difficult it
is to get you know, the movies made that it's
same gender and that all so they can be critically acclaimed,
but are the numbers there?
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Are they commercially?
Speaker 8 (06:04):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (06:05):
I was telling her how to show with Jason Bosen
and Derek Curtis. You know a mary you know, gay
black couple on Netflix called Styling Hollywood.
Speaker 5 (06:12):
Oh, I used to love that show. Yeah, good, that
was good. I love Jason. No, they're amazing.
Speaker 6 (06:17):
The show lasted for one season because on Netflix, your
shows are seeing in one hundred and ninety countries and
unfortunately the reach was yea, yeah, yeah. And I was
telling Angela that, you know, when it comes to having
movies unscripted shows as well, it is challenging to have
movies and unscripted shows green Lid that features that.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Features solely, like I tried as well for a very
long time. It's so funny before legendary.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Yes, I don't know if you remember this.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
I had a show that was about the ballroom scene,
right because I thought it was so fascinating when you
talk about family, that entire culture is about family, you know,
becoming a family, and I always thought with all of
the things that you have to go through to become
part of a house, right, that it had an inherent
like competitive element to it.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
So I was like, there's a great formatted show.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
And could not get anyone, not even Logo that was
at the time the network for the community.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
They would not even bite into it.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
And so for me personally, it's always about shining a
light on and providing a platform for you know, marginalized
And I'm doing air quotes because it's only perceived marginalization, right.
Speaker 5 (07:32):
We are all part.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
Of the wider humanity. So the fact that we still
have to you know, segregate ourselves in that way. Oh,
this is a movie for the LGBTQ community. This is
a black movie. Like, my goal every day is just
to do good projects that tell the stories that are
relatable across all people. And that's what I love about
(07:54):
the way just right. Yeah, you read that script and
it didn't you know, you forget even with B Boy
Blues that oh.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Wait, this is the same sex couple. It was just
a loving couple.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
It was just a guy that was kind of an asshole.
Speaker 5 (08:05):
Yeah, I mean, but we audated. We've all dated, toxic people.
We've all you know, experienced that, so I feel like, yeah,
that's the.
Speaker 7 (08:14):
Way to I also find that the problem is a
lot of times is you may find it more difficult
for somebody to license or purchase something based on a story.
That's why, for instance, B Boy Blues, I can't tell
you that B Boy Blues would have been made had
we not gone and done it. That was self financed
by myself, only my company, and so so I don't
know that if it were if I tried to go
(08:35):
into a corporation or some sort of network or studio
and get money for that, I don't think that I
would have gotten it made. So I think that bet
stepped in Mona literally walked it into be et, but
it was already made. And then as far as the
Lost Holiday, again, I don't know if we would have
gotten anything like this green lip, but we greenlited ourselves.
(08:56):
So I think that as long as we keep doing that,
because a lot of these space that are very broad
they're too they're too small for gay storylines. And then
a lot of this, a lot of the places that
are broad enough for gay storylines, they're not broad enough
for black gay storylines. So just pushing that forward, showing
that we are so much more alike than not is
(09:17):
really what our goal has been with all of these projects.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
I hate, yeah, I hate the term normalized right right,
right right, but it's really just about creating a space
for all stories to be That's just what the agenda
is good stories. And this is a good story. The writing,
the directing, the acting, you know, and.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
I love I love the fact that we started off
not liking Vivica right because that was like, but that
was to her. She did a great shot.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
Owns that role. And you know that woman, We've all.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
Her everything from the nuance facial expression. She is brilliant.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Shout out to Vivocated, the wonderful yes she did, Yes,
she did, Yes.
Speaker 5 (10:01):
She did.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
Just to see like the progress that she makes, you know,
I think it was I had no idea where it
was going to go. So that's why at first, when
I actually watched some of it before I brought it in,
I started it over because I was like, come on, Carlos,
I didn't know if he was going to be able
to stay and do the interview.
Speaker 6 (10:17):
But you know, after watching, I was like, I got
all right, that's wonderful. This is my community and I
wanted to make sure that I co signed that people
should go and watch this movie. It's really fascinating interesting
to see our stories being told. So thank you Mona
for also hoping for It takes allies to really help.
Speaker 5 (10:36):
Us get these things to the finish. Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Why was it important for you guys to have this
in theaters? I know it's a limited release in AMC,
but why was that important?
Speaker 4 (10:43):
Well, because of the support that's needed. Right this was
an independent project. We need people to go out and
support these movies because that's how we're able to get into,
you know, the mainstream buyers and the distributors.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
But we needed to go.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Out and create some momentum around Okay, so it's not
going to be somewhere else right after that? Is it
still creating momentum by having the limited release.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
Because we want people to go out, We want them
to be talking about the movie, and that allows us
to walk into these buyers with some leverage.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Because I'm it's done, it's packaged. It's an amazing project.
I would think this would be an easy sou I
thought that it was a limited release in theaters and
then right after that we'll be able.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
To Well that's the goal, girl, that's the goal.
Speaker 5 (11:23):
But here's the thing on top of that.
Speaker 7 (11:24):
It also is a thing of this is the type
of project that I want to see in theaters. It's
when I was growing up. If I had seen these
type of films, I would have had a different understanding
of myself much earlier on. And I think that I
want for people who will watch a project like this
to have the same experience when they were in the
in the theaters watching Soul Food, when they were in
the theaters watching Still Magnolia's. I want them to have
(11:45):
that experience, and they should. I don't want us to look.
D Boy Blues was incredible and it went to be
et plus and that is that is wonderful. But for
this film, I really wanted people to be able to
have the theater experience, and that to me is it's
special to be able to see representation on the big screen.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
You know, let's go talk about what is the last
movie y'all went to the movie there to to see.
Speaker 7 (12:08):
Oh the Burial with my little sister and Jamie Fox
because that was in limited theaters as well, and then
they went to streaming. That's the last film that I saw.
Speaker 5 (12:15):
I'm a movie vib.
Speaker 6 (12:15):
I went to go see Speak No Evil last Saturday.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
I can't even remember.
Speaker 5 (12:23):
I'm not actually I missed that.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Because I'm saying honestly, like when you think about it,
because I used to go to the movie so much
and I still do. I'm gonna go see Pharrell's movie.
Oh yeah, definitely gonna go see Smile Shout out.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
Missy Elliotts rhymes there represented in that. Oh you're talking
about the Lego movie Lego Pie Piece.
Speaker 7 (12:50):
I want to go see Halle Berry's movie just I
can put on a wig because she was doing that
whole like everybody.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
Go see her movie. Way, I think that is so fun.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
So things like that I think really up, Like when
people were going to see I mean, the Barbie movie
was such a big deal when it came out, but
people really got dressed up, or like Sex and the City,
you know the movie. People got dressed up to go
out and go to the movies. And the experience is
different now because I feel like when I go to
the movies, I need to be able to order drinks
from my seat.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Yes, no way, you.
Speaker 5 (13:17):
Are so theater spoiled.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Yeah, I am.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
It's a special.
Speaker 5 (13:21):
Thing, but yeah, it's fun.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
All right.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Well, let's talk some more about, you know, just the
whole plot of this movie, because, like I said, we're
not giving away too much, but were there certain scenes
for you Jabari that were emotional?
Speaker 1 (13:33):
While all these.
Speaker 8 (13:34):
Things were emotional because the movie embodies so much feeling
like laughter, of sadness, grief, of forgiveness, grace, like it
embodies a whole range of emotion. And you know, my, my,
my castmates are so such professionals in the craft, so
(13:58):
you know, you got to bring it and they bring.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
It right back. You brought it though, thank you.
Speaker 8 (14:03):
So it really allowed to exploration of you know, of
feeling and truth and reality.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
So yeah, yeah, I just think about the flashback scenes.
Speaker 7 (14:14):
Oh my god.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Yeah, Like to me, I can't even imagine the grief
of like losing your partner. You know, that has to
be something that is one of the hardest things besides
I think losing a child, because yeah, you know that's
something that should that's like the most devastating thing according
to the natural order of how things should happen, right right, right,
You know, you don't want to have to deal with that.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
And I think just so when you talk about, especially
in your community, when you know you would lose a partner,
you get extra Yeah.
Speaker 5 (14:41):
That's exactly what we were so inspired by.
Speaker 7 (14:44):
That is so I tell this often that I have
so many mentors that are in their sixties or even seventies,
who particularly in the at the height of the ages
pandemic in the eighties, and they lost their partners, they
lost their their their life partners, and maybe were extracted
from their legacy.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
We're not allowed in room, were not allowed to go
to the funeral.
Speaker 7 (15:02):
Maybe their family kind of stepped back in and took
them out of the.
Speaker 5 (15:08):
Life.
Speaker 7 (15:09):
That yeah, and that is such a it's so unfortunate.
So it kind of is you know that. And I
was also inspired by my mother. I keep saying that
this film was absolutely inspired by my mother. As a
black woman who married into a non black family in
the seventies and raised us in the eighties and the nineties,
it was not always easy to navigate that and my
father was not speaking to my grandmother for a very
(15:30):
long time, and when he passed, that's when I saw
my mother and my grandmother bond. So that really is
what we see here in this film, and one of
the lines that I tell Vivica's character of do you
know how better our lives would have been if you
had actually been a mother? And you know that's what
so many go through, not just because of sexuality, but
because of race, because of religion, because you know, you know,
(15:53):
so that is that's definitely something that inspired us for
the film.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
Yeah, let me ask you this because it's interesting when
you trust me, I know, did you feel that there
was something in the movie that kind of connected to
an element of your life?
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Well, yeah, I was gonna say, even with my father
being Chinese, when my grandfather passed, he wouldn't speak to
me or my brother our whole lives because my father
married a black woman. They didn't want the kids, They
didn't want my aunts and uncles to come to the
wedding or anything. And so even like he had suffered
from a stroke and we could see that, you know,
the end was near, and my dad would be like, oh,
sit next to your grandfather, but he was not having
(16:25):
a Wow.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Yeah, even in all of that.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
But my grandmother wasn't really like that, But I feel
like she would kind of follow behind what my grandfather
wanted and so once he passed, it was but it
was already just so like you know, strained.
Speaker 5 (16:40):
I feel like absolutely so.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
And that's when this movie, you know, we hope people
take away from it that, you know, it's about family,
finding family, you know, loving each other while you're here
and while they're here for you to love on them
and appreciating that. And then you know, forgiveness, nay, not
only yeah, the other person, for forgiving yourself.
Speaker 7 (17:02):
Because the sad reality of the situation is is that
someone may pass unfortunately without you getting to say everything
that you wanted to say, and dare I say, without
even being able to make amends with someone maybe that
you have fallen out with, and that is so unfortunate.
But even still, there's still work that you've got to
do because you're still here, so you have to do something.
You have to try to make amends, if not with them,
(17:24):
then at least with the situation because you're here, So
what are you going to do with yourself for the
rest of your life?
Speaker 1 (17:29):
Right?
Speaker 3 (17:29):
Yeah, No, that's a great point because I know so
many people we are strange from certain family members and
it's not an easy thing. And forgiveness is sometimes difficult
because there's a lot of pain that comes with that.
And I also feel like, you know, certain the older generation,
they're not as open to going to therapy or doing
things that they need to do to work on themselves,
or being even open to having conversations. And you know,
(17:53):
it is something that you can't turn back the hands
of time and if something does happen, are you going
to live with regrets from that?
Speaker 1 (18:01):
So many themes we touch on in the Last Theaters.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Being cremated, like what do you want to do after whatever?
That is something that came up in the movie and
I was like, man, you know, I don't know, like
I haven't thought about is that something that I wouldn't
want to do?
Speaker 2 (18:21):
But these are things that we are real life conversation.
Speaker 5 (18:24):
But that's what it's here for. Though. It's like we're
not pastors, we're not preachers.
Speaker 7 (18:27):
We're just artists who are here to like hold up
a mirror and just be like, yo, Angela, you thinking
about that?
Speaker 8 (18:32):
Now?
Speaker 5 (18:32):
You think about that?
Speaker 7 (18:33):
You know, like I want to be wrapped in sheet
cloth and plant it into a tree. So I really
do I want to be I want to be I
want to be buried and then I want a tree
planting over me.
Speaker 5 (18:43):
So I could be a treat. Okay, that's what I want, y'all.
Speaker 7 (18:47):
So if you see anybody and they're doing the other stuff,
tell them to put me under the.
Speaker 5 (18:52):
Tree that Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
Now, Jesse, I have to ask you, you know, everything
that you've been through, do you have to ask yes,
by getting into getting back into Hollywood, do you feel
like okay? Because I do think the best thing to
do is keep working and keep going, and you can't
stop doing that. So do you feel like things are
getting better? You feel like okay? You know, people are
more receptive now because it was a tough time.
Speaker 7 (19:19):
It certainly was a tough time. I mean unless anybody
was living under a rock. Yeah, it's been rough. But
you know, this is what I do. You know, I
create art, and I hopefully create art that affects people
in a really important, impactful and loving way. Anything else
for me is just noise. Even if the rest of
the world has not moved on from it, I am
in the process of moving on from it. So all
(19:41):
I can really do is keep working, is keep keeping
myself mentally healthy and physically healthy and you know, spiritually healthy.
And I have been working very, very hard in every
single element of myself. So you know, people are going
to say what they want to say. And I hope
to God you know, I can't lie to you and
sit there and be like, Oh, it doesn't it doesn't
(20:01):
bother me if they just brushes right off. Now it
bothers me. Sometimes it hurts my feelings. Sometimes it really
pisses me off. But at the same time, there are
so much more important things that I know factually the
world needs to see.
Speaker 5 (20:15):
And so I'm not interested.
Speaker 7 (20:16):
In necessarily giving everybody what they want, but I will
give them what they need.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
And that's the truth from me and some good art.
That's all I can do.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
And that is forgiveness for you, because people have made
jokes and comments, and like you said, they can be
really hurtful.
Speaker 5 (20:30):
But now that you're I ain't forgiving sh.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
You're running to people, and I know that there's times
that like maybe somebody now it's like, oh, yeah, I
want to get him on the show.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
I want to do X, Y and Z. How are
you with that?
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Because like you said, forgiveness is one of the themes
of this movie.
Speaker 7 (20:45):
Ask over there, I'll publish this. How many times it's like, no,
but you know what you do.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Say because I think like you're full of crap right now,
because I have heard you so many times say I
get it. I unders stand why people have thought the
things that they've thought.
Speaker 5 (21:03):
You know, Look, I mean that's the that's that is
very true. Look at the end of the day, no, no, no,
I can, I can, and I do.
Speaker 7 (21:15):
But at the same time, you know, I get Here's
the thing, as far as the public goes, I understand
why they would feel the way that they did based
on the narrative that was spun and then on top
of it, the way that it was served in such
a horrendous, egregious way that it's just not.
Speaker 5 (21:30):
Did not happen, you know what I mean.
Speaker 7 (21:31):
But at the same time, so I understand that when
I take out my emotions, I'm a very emotional person.
Speaker 5 (21:37):
I'm a cancer. I'm a very.
Speaker 7 (21:40):
Very emotional, very very emotional I am if I whatever.
But people think that that just means that you're sad
when you're cancer, like, no whatever feeling I feel, you know,
And so I understand that on a public on a
public level, as far as media or people like that,
I don't have have to talk to you if I
(22:00):
don't want to, Like, I'm not going to go to
your show and just do it just because I need
to promote the movie. There are really great people around
that are nice, that ask questions that they need to
ask that they do need to ask. You know, that
give me an opportunity to explain certain things, and I
appreciate that. But if you're going to come to me
in a way that is malicious or vindictive or the gotcha,
(22:22):
gotcha situation, no, and I know who that is. And
those are the shows that you have not seen us on.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Okay, there you go.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
Things.
Speaker 6 (22:31):
One of the biggest things in this movie is love
and Mona Scott Young and I recently did an interview
on my podcast where she gave me so much insight
about her relationship and does love and all those things.
So I want to ask you, Jessine Jabari, are you
guys in love?
Speaker 5 (22:49):
Wait?
Speaker 2 (22:49):
What no came up from.
Speaker 5 (22:57):
Understand your question? We just trying to understand your question.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Is also got.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Lightweight because he's single and so he's trying to do
some digging.
Speaker 5 (23:13):
I'm the best ones.
Speaker 8 (23:15):
Answer first, I'm unavailable and I'm in love.
Speaker 5 (23:26):
Some being like that's right to a wonderful man named Sean.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Okay, no, she lets us know. We love se Let's
got don't forget the young, forget right, don't forget the young.
So it's been a year for you.
Speaker 6 (23:39):
Okay, congratulations, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 5 (23:42):
I'm yeah just about you? Are you?
Speaker 7 (23:45):
Are you dating to Carlos and unavailable and deeply in love?
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Wow?
Speaker 5 (23:51):
Okay, been going on, leave me alone. Let's talk after
the show.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
That makes me feel like he can't say a date
because it's with people who might think, no, I'm kidding,
was talking about it, but we've been together. But you
know what, honestly, but that's not an easy thing. Mona's
got young to achieve to be in, you know, in
this business doing the things that you've been doing, going
(24:17):
on the road, going on to have since somebody that's
understanding of all of that too, that's that is all
going on.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
That's really what it boils down to, having somebody who's
secure enough to see what your destiny is and to
support that unconditionally.
Speaker 7 (24:30):
And he does because listen, we get emails all the
time from Sean handling things we needs.
Speaker 5 (24:39):
He's businessman.
Speaker 6 (24:40):
I was like Mona's understudy.
Speaker 5 (24:43):
You know, Mona has taught me so much in this business.
Speaker 6 (24:45):
And what I will say is watching this phenomenal woman
build this business.
Speaker 5 (24:50):
And one thing she checked me on our interview.
Speaker 6 (24:52):
Because I said like, well, how does it feel to
be like, you know, the bread wunner.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
She said, wow, Carlos, because you know a messy.
Speaker 5 (25:01):
Questions and she said, we built this company together.
Speaker 6 (25:06):
And that's what made me realize when it comes to
the excellence that she you know, entails with everything she does,
is because she does have somebody and they work alongside
each other.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
Now, listen, having the right partner is so important because
that person can either bring you down, stress you out,
make you unable to work, you know, and steal money
from you who.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Knows you.
Speaker 5 (25:31):
Are? You know what I stress?
Speaker 4 (25:33):
I talk about all the time when I speak to
women and they're like, oh, how did you have children
and pursue a career and have a real I would
never have been able to do it right if I
did not have someone there that I could trust, that
I didn't have to think about, that didn't stress me out,
get into any dumb ship that was gonna have me,
you know, so not Cotton Woods. Listen, don't do that.
(26:00):
Have no relationship. Kirk and Rashida have a relationship that
works for them with them, do you know?
Speaker 1 (26:07):
That's what I say?
Speaker 4 (26:08):
Well, listen, and if that's part of what works for them,
then so be it.
Speaker 7 (26:13):
Right.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
They know who they are, they know who they are
to each other, they know what their relationship is, they
know what their limitations are and what they are willing
to put up with and deal with. Right, who are
we to sit at home and decide what she should
leave him? She should do whatever the hell makes her happy.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
But that's reality.
Speaker 5 (26:32):
People are going to.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
Do that.
Speaker 5 (26:34):
Personally.
Speaker 6 (26:35):
And one thing I will add to that is Kirk
and Rashida, in my opinion, and you may agree with me,
they are tailor made.
Speaker 5 (26:42):
For each other.
Speaker 6 (26:43):
Yes they are. I have never met two people who
are more perfect for each other. It doesn't make sense
of the world.
Speaker 5 (26:50):
And I but it doesn't.
Speaker 6 (26:53):
Yeah, But when you know them and you've been around
them and you see them, they are ying and yang.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
They are like absolutely, And there's something to be said
for how long they've been together, how many years they're
going on? I don't know thirty plus thirty, right, So listen,
my mind they're doing some.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
But my my business right and now, Jesse, you have
a new song out too, by the way, I want
to make sure we talk about that as well.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
All right, So does this.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
Mean a full length album, because I know singing is
your love as well.
Speaker 7 (27:25):
Yes, there is a full length album that has already
completed and has been for a little bit. But you know,
now we're now I'm confident to put it out, So
probably by the end of the year or top of
next it definitely will be out. But the first single
is my Mind. It's on the it's on the soundtrack
of It's on the it's in the film The Lost Holiday,
and among other other songs of mine. So yeah, we're
(27:50):
back to music. A large part of the reason why
I am even sitting here though, honestly, is and able
to and came back outside and like stop hiding up
in my apartment and back and up in Harlem. Like
it's just it's really because of Mona. Mona is the
one that would call me and say, yeah, it's true.
Mona is the one that came to me and was like,
you've got to go outside, You've got to you know,
(28:11):
you got to live your hands. Yeah, she would literally
call and be like let's go, and I'd be like, well,
I don't want to let Scout boats Scout. And you
know what, So she really is, she really is that person.
And this is the thing. It was before we were
really working together, you know, it was before so it
wasn't like she was trying to get anything from me.
She wasn't trying to like, she wasn't trying to be like, yo,
(28:32):
come do a reality show or anything like that. She
really was. She became my friend. And and you know,
I've been held up and pushed in a loving way,
pushed by Mona and Tresa and Vivica and Sheila and
my mom who's an executive producer on the film, and
all of these black women that are so powerful in
their own right, and decided to cut out all of
(28:52):
the noise and just be like, you've got to go
and you've got to do what you do.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
And just be like, you're incredibly talented. Thank you, stand in.
Speaker 5 (28:59):
That, thank you.
Speaker 6 (29:00):
Yes, would you do a reality show?
Speaker 7 (29:03):
Just never Carlos, Well, I don't know, Carlos, Bring me
the contract and we'll see what they're paying.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
If he was gonna do a reality show, we'd be
doing it.
Speaker 5 (29:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (29:17):
Yeah, I think Mona was like if I if I
was going to do it, that I would, I would
do it with with her.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
They they've been reaching out to him. I know.
Speaker 5 (29:25):
Everybody has has reached out. Everybody has reached out.
Speaker 7 (29:27):
I mean but even before everything, you know, my family,
you know when I remember when the Kardashians popped on
the scene, and then that became a thing of like, oh,
who's the next who's like the black the black family
that we can do this with. So we were We've
been approached for years. I think that we're just far
too private of a family.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
I love your sister. I don't know her person, I
love her.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
She is my favorite actor. I am not biased the.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Whole damn family.
Speaker 4 (29:50):
Because then his brother and sister have a show where
they do makeovers and they design.
Speaker 5 (29:56):
They did done.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
I'm doing my backyard.
Speaker 5 (30:03):
Right now, wait hold on the next season.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
Like literally, while we sit here.
Speaker 5 (30:12):
My back they did. They did Mona's backyard, they did
Heather B's backyard. They did. Come on and they did.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
A fantastic job.
Speaker 4 (30:20):
And you know, I'm a control free right I know,
I left and they did and I came in and
it's beautiful and I hate the fact that I haven't
been home.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
I was out on Torols summer, so I didn't get
a chance.
Speaker 5 (30:31):
To my backyard. But you'll be able to do like
winter barbecues and stuff.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Okay, thank you guys so much.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
I really appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
And Friday limited in theaters the Lost Holiday. You can
listen to some new Jesse small up music on there
as well. And thank you again. Very good to see
you again, Mona. Always a pleasure. Thank you so much
for having us and Carlos. You know I love when
you sit in so thank you.
Speaker 6 (30:56):
Thanks for having me here, like to be surrounded by friends.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
Might come guest host one day.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
I don't know I would be.
Speaker 4 (31:02):
I told you that the last time I know you
booked and I was like, you got Carlos.
Speaker 6 (31:08):
Oh my god, I'm kidding.
Speaker 5 (31:15):
You can tell me. Y'all are real friends. That's a
real friendship.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Thank you guys.
Speaker 5 (31:24):
Wall
Host
Angela Yee
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