September 29, 2025 • 43 mins
Today on The Breakfast Club, DeVon Franklin, Serayah & Tyler Lepley Talk Preserving Biblical Stories In "Ruth & Boaz" Film. Listen For More!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakfastClubPower1051FM
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 (00:01):
Every day a week ago up the Breakfast Club, y'all
done morning.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Everybody is d j Envy just hilarious. Charlamagne the gud
we are the breakfast Club.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
He got some special guests.
Speaker 4 (00:13):
In the building this morning.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Indeed, Von Franklin, Soria and Tyler Lepley welcome.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
If you call.
Speaker 5 (00:20):
Her Soriat.
Speaker 4 (00:25):
Soarriety something like something.
Speaker 6 (00:26):
I gotta go to CV.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
To get something for the sorit.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Can you just.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
About because I got a lot better. Don't do film
to the family.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
They have a movie on Netflix called Ruth and bow As, right,
and you know, if you know anything about Ruth and bos.
Speaker 7 (00:53):
A biblical story.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
So so what elements of the original biblical story of
Ruth and bow As did y'all preserve for this film?
Speaker 8 (01:00):
Man, We preserve the a lot of the elements. When
you go and you read the Book of Ruth and
then you look at the movie. You know, everything that
we did in the film was basically rooted in the word.
You know, her journey, you know with Naomi, her how
she finds Boaz, And we really wanted to say, okay,
this is what the scripture says, but then how do
we make it modern and so everything you see in
the film, it's I think we did a pretty good job,
(01:21):
you know, of making sure that anything that you see
in that film you can go back to a verse
and say this is where we got it from.
Speaker 5 (01:27):
Was it difficult modernizing the story though, I.
Speaker 8 (01:30):
Mean, there's no rule book on how to modernize a
Bible story, so it was challenging. But then there were
certain things that were pretty easy because the story itself
lays out like a movie, you know, And that's one
of the reasons why I wanted to produce it. This
is why I wanted to make it is because when
you see how Ruth and Boas come together, they're not
looking for love.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
They're actually looking to be.
Speaker 8 (01:49):
Of service, and as part of that commitment, they find
each other. And so when you see it, it was like, okay,
you know, well, what would Moab look like? Well, maybe
that's like the Atlanta music scene. And what would you know,
Bethlehem look like. Okay, well maybe that's like Pegrim, Tennessee.
So it was difficult, but ultimately we just had to
kind of take those creative license and hopefully the audience
will enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Now you have a deal with Tyler Perry how did
that come about?
Speaker 4 (02:10):
Man?
Speaker 3 (02:10):
So listen.
Speaker 8 (02:11):
So about a couple of years ago, after I did
my film Flaming Hot, I'm sitting at home and I
didn't have a production deal. So if you know anything
about Hollywood, in order to have a production company, you
have to have a production deal with the studio because
that's how you have employees and that's how you make
your films. So even though Flaming Hot did very well,
I did not have a deal. And so I was
sitting at home and I was like, Okay, God, what
do you want me to do? And out of the blue,
(02:33):
my phone rings and it's Tyler Perry and he said, hey, man,
I hear you're making a deal with Netflix.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Now.
Speaker 8 (02:37):
I had a meeting at Netflix a few months before,
but I didn't know. There wasn't really a whole lot
of follow ups, so I wasn't sure what was going on.
But he called me and said, yo, I hear you
you're making a deal with Netflix. Let's partner up and
do it together. And I was like, Yes, let's do it.
And so we negotiated a three picture deal with Netflix.
This is the first of its kind. You've never seen,
you know, two black men of faith coming to together
(03:00):
to make content and faith, you know, with the biggest
streamer in the world. And that to me, like when
you look at Tyler like, I don't know why God
put that on his mind, but here I am trying
to figure it out. Boom, and there was the answer.
And to be able to make Ruth and Boaz, I mean,
to be able to make it the way we wanted
to make it, to have the creative, creative autonomy and
the authority, and to be able to put it together,
you know, with such an incredible cast. It all came
(03:21):
from the partnership.
Speaker 9 (03:23):
How did it feel Because when the screen opens for
the movie, it's your name, It's.
Speaker 10 (03:28):
Tyler Perry Studios. And I was like, that is so cool.
Speaker 9 (03:30):
How did it feel for you the first time you
saw that?
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Listen, this is what faith works. That's how it felt.
It felt gratified. You know.
Speaker 8 (03:36):
As a kid, I always had the dream of making
my own films. That's why I came to Hollywood. I
wanted to have my own production company. And to see
that on screen Devon Franklin Entertainment, Tyler Perry Studios and
Ruth and Boaz, It's like, Wow, dreams do come true
and faith works.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
So it felt good.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
So sayan Tyler, did y'all know the story of Ruth
and Boy?
Speaker 4 (04:01):
I do that.
Speaker 7 (04:05):
And Tyler, did y'all know the story of Ruth and Boys?
Speaker 10 (04:08):
I did, like roughly, you know, just growing up in church,
you here of Ruth and Boaz. But I never really
explicitly read the book of Ruth and until doing this
this story getting more information on it.
Speaker 11 (04:22):
Yeah, I mean, not to sound like a heathen, but
I didn't grow up in the church or nothing like that.
But I have heard about you know, I have heard
about the story of Ruth and Bois a little bit.
So when it was time to actually dive into it once,
I you know, once I had booked it, you know,
I read up on it a little bit to to
you know, just at least have to have some type
of foundation in terms of, you know, find the truth
and how we're gonna figure it out.
Speaker 7 (04:41):
But after you read aster, how much of Ruth's story could.
Speaker 10 (04:44):
You relate to personally? I mean, she went through so much.
She has a lot of a lot of baggage and
trauma there, deep deep traumas. But I do resonate with
her on having like an instinct to reroute and change
things in my life and maybe stepping out on faith
(05:06):
on things that I'm not necessarily sure is going to
work out. But hey, I want to be an actress.
That sounds pretty far fetched to a lot of the world.
So I can. I can get where her fire and
her passion is coming from us.
Speaker 7 (05:20):
Oh go ahead, how are you? How are you?
Speaker 10 (05:23):
Baby? Well? Thank you? Thank you as well.
Speaker 5 (05:28):
Thank you as your mental everything is good. I mean
because you're working, you had that baby working out, you know,
your mommy, but now you're you're still actress, singer, mommy.
How does that all fit?
Speaker 10 (05:39):
It's it's actually one day at a time.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Yeah, you know.
Speaker 10 (05:43):
And just having that grace for myself that I don't
have to have all together has been the biggest I
guess lesson for me throughout all of this. But it's
been great, Thank god. I mean, you know after that
first month where I was like, yeah, you know, now
it's just like I could use some sleep. But that's
about it. I'm good. I'm good.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
I want to ask, you know, when doing a faith
based movie, right, growing up as a kid, when you
hear anything faith based, you thinking it's gonna be nothing
but Christian singing. It's not it's gonna be that type
of thing. Did you have Did you ever think about, well,
maybe I don't want to do it because it's faith based,
or did you just dive right in.
Speaker 10 (06:21):
Personally?
Speaker 4 (06:22):
No?
Speaker 10 (06:22):
I mean I feel like God has always been very
much a part of my life, and I do. I
do think that, yeah, because Devon Actually we worked on
Kingdom Business together at B and C Plus, which was
also a faith faith based and I really feel like
(06:43):
sometimes God is funny in the way of presenting me
with characters that I kind of like in life for
a little bit, mirroring as far as like their relationship
with God. So it's kind of funny for me to
to have played Rebel and Kingdom Business and now Ruth
and Ruth and Boaz. Right, So that's why I left.
But no, it really did not deter me at all.
(07:04):
If anything determined me was the music, because I played
so many music characters, so that that was the part.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
She took a little convincing.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
I was like, come on, she said no at first, Well, she.
Speaker 8 (07:16):
Didn't want to come in to audition because it was
a little music driven, so I had to hit her up.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
I was like, Yo, trust me, you're gonna want to
do this, come on in and so thankfully.
Speaker 7 (07:24):
So what was it mirroring in your life? Surreal?
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Because you know this this is like this story is
about God's timing and divine orchestration. So what was what
was going on in your life when you got to
call for this?
Speaker 4 (07:34):
Oh?
Speaker 10 (07:34):
My goodness so much. But I could say that love
was also on the brink for me, Like I was
in a new relationship with this role. I found out
I was pregnant. Like during while filming, there was a
lot of things kind of with Ruth that I was
(07:55):
in the in the script and some of the things
she says kind of just rang true for me.
Speaker 5 (08:02):
What about you?
Speaker 7 (08:03):
What you.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Did you? Yeah?
Speaker 11 (08:07):
I think I think for me, you know when I
when I got the call, I was just in a
space last year, I mean even before last year. Uh,
you know, like I said, I never grew up in
the church, but it was something that I was always seeking.
What I'm saying, it was sought after for me, and
you know it started spiritually. But then I you know,
then I kind of wanted to go to church more
and you know, just just show up in.
Speaker 6 (08:29):
The place of worship, not just to kind of feel
it on the inside.
Speaker 11 (08:32):
So I think for me outside of the artistry and
me wanting to be able to tackle roll like this,
I've never done a uh, you know, a love story before.
You know, the aspect of it being a faith based
film is actually something that was kind of right on
time for me. You know, I just I just proposed
to at the time, you know, my girlfriend, we were
(08:52):
obviously my fiance now so even just thank you, I
appreciate that, but but even miracle, but even you know,
make making a choice to go ahead and and and
honor our union under God, and you know, making that
choice and walking forward in it or uh, you know,
I've just I've had I've had some issues in life
(09:14):
where you know, choosing to handle it with with with
grace is something that's continuing to be on the forefront
of my mind and whatnot.
Speaker 6 (09:21):
So it was just it was just perfect time.
Speaker 11 (09:23):
And so I actually actually love diving into the to
the faith based aspect of it.
Speaker 9 (09:28):
In the movie, both of you guys spent the Soria
and tyler y'all spent a lot of time learning to
trust each other's love so that you guys can depend
on each other. What from your real aspects of your
relationship did you bring into that to be able to
like show it on screen.
Speaker 11 (09:44):
I think for me, just you know, without without getting
you know, too specific in terms of what's going on
day to day. I think just I think just the
idea of pouring into my relationship as opposed to you know,
showing up the table figuring out what I'm gonna eat.
Speaker 6 (09:58):
You know, let's let's let's pour into it and be
of service.
Speaker 11 (10:02):
And I feel like that's the best way that to,
you know, to bear the fruits of any of any flower,
you know. So that's that's probably what I, uh, you know,
what I connected with in terms of me and boas
being intentional, being intentional with what it is that we're
doing here. We're not just you know, we're not just
walking down this path aimlessly.
Speaker 10 (10:22):
I definitely resonated with her having a guard up. I
was in a past relationship, public relationship. I have gone
through different things in my life that just presented me
to like, well, it resulted me to being a little
more guarded. So I really understood her being guarded because
(10:46):
it wasn't that she wasn't trying to accept or excuse me.
She was trying to be difficult. I think she just
was tired of being let down. So her guard is like,
let me just keep everyone out there so that I
don't have to be hurt over here anymore.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
I was working with the icon the legend, Miss Felicia.
Speaker 10 (11:03):
My gosh, talk about it. She said something really cool.
I mean, it was amazing for me. I think we
all have really cool stories about her. She she brings
this or in this presence and this groundedness, and she's
also very humble, like to be the icon and the
person we're speaking about. She's like, oh, thank you, like
you know, you know, let's let's talk about you now.
(11:24):
And I think that's really cool aspect to her. We
many times in our cast shairs we're just talking about
like relationships and just different things like she's she's a
really really dope human being.
Speaker 7 (11:37):
Y'all did use a stunt double when she got pushed down.
Speaker 6 (11:43):
Just making about her.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
She was cool with being on the ground.
Speaker 8 (11:49):
Yes, the thing about her, she was like, y'all stop stopping,
like I got it.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
So she did do.
Speaker 8 (11:56):
She didn't get the hit part, but she definitely felt
on the wanted to.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
She wanted to.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
I'm yeah, enough to make in my heart.
Speaker 7 (12:07):
I was like, oh my god, why would you do that?
Speaker 10 (12:11):
Like you cannot just put her on the ground.
Speaker 8 (12:13):
She the reason why she is that way is because
she takes her craft serious. And not only that. I
mean to what Sorea was saying. You know, every day
that she was on set, her aura. You know, she brought,
you know, excellen, she brought grace, she brought a sense
of calm in peace, and I'll never forget.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
You know.
Speaker 8 (12:28):
One day we were shooting at the location for her
house and it overlooks a lake, and so in between setups,
you know, I hear this voice saying, you know, divine,
come here. And I turned around and it's Miss Felicia.
She's sitting on a bench. She says, come here, and
she pats on the bench. She says, sit down, and
I said yeah. She said, you know, you're working really hard,
this is your movie, but you got to breathe. You
got to take all this in. Don't just you know,
(12:50):
rush through the fruits of your labor.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
Take it in. And I said, wow.
Speaker 8 (12:54):
I took a moment to breathe, and then we started
talking about, you know, our histories and you know, sharing stories,
and I said, Wow, this is what it's like to
have an elder in your presence. They see the potential
and they see it, but they also want you to know, Hey,
life is a is a marathon, not a sprint, relaxed,
enjoy and so that that's a moment that just speaks
to who she is.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Do you ever get impostera syndrome in those moments, like
when you're doing a film and you have to think
to yourself like, oh man, I'm doing a film for Netflix.
Speaker 7 (13:18):
I got foolice arch, I got I got Tyler lovely.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
No, I don't.
Speaker 8 (13:23):
I don't get imposter syndrome. I mean because you know,
I've been working in entertainment since i was eighteen years old,
and I've been working specifically, you know, in film ever
since then. And so when I'm making a movie, you know,
I'm making a movie like from a place of experience
and expertise, and nobody knows how to make a movie
a faith that's commercial better than me. Yeah, and so
I and that's not based upon arrogance. That's just based
(13:44):
upon confidence and experience and having done it time and
time and time again. And so when I'm on set.
You know, if anything I'm like, Okay, what am I
not thinking about?
Speaker 3 (13:54):
You know, is there? And then also you know, wanting
to make sure that they're good.
Speaker 8 (13:58):
You know, at the end of the day, I can
do all things I can do, But at the end
of the day, if the talent doesn't feel if I'm saying, hey,
I want to make movies of inspiration and faith, and
the experience behind the scene isn't inspirational or positive, then
I think it kind of undermines what I'm trying to do.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
And I make sure that they're good.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Now, I'm glad you said that, because the film portrays
these ideas of worthiness and acceptance, especially in regard to
Boaz is like evolution and translations.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
Yeah, it was important.
Speaker 8 (14:23):
That was really important because I really wanted, you know,
you know, any man watching this movie, any woman as well,
but you know, specifically, you know, any man watching this
movie to see themselves in Boaz. And I think one
of the things that's so you know, noble and powerful.
And also the way that Tyler plays Boaz is you know,
with the care and the tenderness, and he's not looking
to get from Ruth, He's looking to give to Ruth,
(14:43):
you know, and I think that that is that is
that's a different dynamic, and I really wanted to make
sure that that was articulated and portrayed because that, to
me is where love is. You know, love comes out
of sacrifice. Like and I'm not trying to get from you.
He didn't need anything from her all, he really.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
I mean, what was cool about Ruth.
Speaker 8 (15:00):
All she provided him was was a safe space to
be able to talk, to be able to communicate, to
be heard, and that is how she expressed her love,
and he expressed his love through giving to make sure
she knew she was okay.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
So that was important to me as far.
Speaker 5 (15:12):
As casting went right, Like did you say because I
feel like every role that Tyler plays and every role
that Sarria plays, it seems like it's specifically for them.
Speaker 7 (15:23):
They just do a great job with it.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Did you know who you had in mind when you
were when you said, okay, I want to do Ruth
and BoA's story.
Speaker 8 (15:29):
When I started the process, I didn't. I just was
working on getting the script right. Mike Elliott and Corey
Tynan wrote the script, and our amazing director Lana Brown,
you know, directed the movie. And so once we got
into the casting process, That's when I said, oh, this
is Sorea, and so I kept hitting up her team
like hey, when she coming in, when she coming in audition,
(15:49):
and then that's when I finally ultimately called her and
said hey, come in. And then when she auditioned, it
was like, oh, well there's Ruthy. But with Boaz, I
didn't know that Tyler Lepley was going to come in.
I knew, like I wanted a guy who you know,
had the the grab TOAs had the sex appeal but
also had the heart. But I didn't know that he
was you know, I didn't. I didn't even it wasn't
even the thought. And then we had a couple of
(16:10):
guys we were chemistry reading with Sorea and at the
eleventh hour, Tyler Lepley sends in a self tape and
I watched the self tape and I'm like, well, there's
Boaz Ye. I mean, without any direction, he just dropped
into the essence of the character. And we were like, okay,
we did it, and we brought him in, did a
chemistry read, and it was evident that they were the
ones destined to play these parts.
Speaker 7 (16:30):
That's right.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
I had to finish real quick's plan because Tyler said
that it was right on time him because he was
already talking to the Lord.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
I was gonna say, you, how did you know this
one was for you? Because you sent in that tape immediately?
So how did you know that? Like this this part
for me?
Speaker 11 (16:50):
I think, I think it really dawned on me after
I after I had uh sent the tape in, we
did the chemistry read, which is funny too because we
were actually on a different set shooting something else together.
So you know, that was that was a unique experience.
But after I had after I had booked it, we
had a scheduling conflict with with this in p Valley,
(17:13):
we're shooting at the same time, and you know, there
was a period of time where, you know, per the
line producers, these are the ones who deal with the schedule.
Speaker 6 (17:22):
This this wasn't gonna work.
Speaker 11 (17:23):
So there was a few days like even me and
Devin were, you know, kind of chatting back and forth
on the text, and like, you know, the energy was
kind of like all right, well, you know, i'll see
i'll see you, I'll catch you next time, And it.
Speaker 6 (17:32):
Was like, damn, that's what I was.
Speaker 11 (17:34):
That's kind of I said, Man, I said, there was
something about this that just it just felt special because
kind of what I was talking about earlier, you know,
trying to get in touch with the Lord and then
you know it just it just felt like this was
going to be special.
Speaker 6 (17:48):
And and I was like, man, I ain't going down
without a fight.
Speaker 11 (17:52):
I played baseball for one year and I was always
I was always striking out, but I was always going down.
Looking my mom told me like, man, you at least
you're going down. You got to swing. So I was like,
all right, well, let me pick the phone up, let
me call, let me call Devine, and let me call
Katoi because you know, everybody, everybody at the studio saying
they can't figure this out. And uh, you know, really
really it was it was because of you and Katuri
(18:15):
the reason that I was. I was blessed enough to
be able to step into this role, you know what
I'm saying. So as I look back on it, you know,
hindsight is always twenty twenty. When I look at how
you know, God orchestrated it, it was like, man, it
was I was, I was right on point. This is
something that I felt like I was destined to do so, man,
I appreciate you.
Speaker 8 (18:30):
No absolutely, I would just interject on that you know,
what God has for you is for you. And so
you know, Katori and I you know, got on the
phone and went through that schedule and said, okay, you
need him here, I need him here. Okay, I can't
give you that date, but can you give me that date?
And then we went to the line producers and then
the studios and say this is what it is. And
a lot of times they're like, well, you got to
have insurance and said no, me and Katori a brother
(18:52):
and a sister, we worked it out as he needs
to be able to do bowl. So whatever is for you,
just stay in it and keep fighting for it because
when it's meant to be, it'll.
Speaker 6 (19:01):
Be No that.
Speaker 9 (19:07):
It's important to be working with people that understand you
look like you two because y'all advocated that's so big.
Having a person that will advocate.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
For you one thousand person.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
It's critical, you know, the secular ambitions that that roof
has right with the spiritual calling she's dealing with. To
have any of y'all ever had the deal with that
in the industry, and if so.
Speaker 7 (19:28):
How did you resolve?
Speaker 6 (19:30):
I'm sorry, what was it again?
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Secular ambitions that roof has also the spiritual calling she's
dealing with. Have you any have y'all ever had that
battle with y'all personal experiences in the industry.
Speaker 11 (19:40):
It's been a long week breaking down a seculars what's that?
Speaker 7 (19:44):
Secular?
Speaker 4 (19:44):
Worldly not non religious?
Speaker 7 (19:57):
No, I don't I want you to be over here?
Speaker 6 (19:58):
Yeah, yeah, for sure, I would say. I would say
for me.
Speaker 11 (20:03):
When I was coming out of uh now, I'm from
right outside of Philly, and I was, uh, you know,
on my own levels.
Speaker 6 (20:08):
You know, I was making a little bit of money.
Speaker 11 (20:10):
I was, I was kind of doing my thing, you know,
at least so I thought. But nothing made sense for
me to go out to l A. You know, but
something was, something was calling me. I felt like God was,
you know, God was pushed me in that direction, and
it was you know, it was a battle too, to
leave everything that I've ever known, you know, to chase
something that I've never seen, you know, I feel it,
(20:31):
and so so I do feel like I can connect
with Ruth on that because I forget what the actual
line is, but like it's it's one of those lines
one of those memorable lines where she talks about, you know,
God is leading me somewhere else, and it's nothing that
anybody else around me can may really be able to understand,
but it's something that I feel, and it's something that
I'm gonna honor, you know. So I really connected with
with Ruth on on that aspect for sure.
Speaker 7 (20:53):
What about you, Sarah, I.
Speaker 10 (20:57):
Don't know if I've ever felt like I was being
pulled away from what God wanted for me or what
I felt like innately inside of me, but I could
say that it is hard to navigate when you do
have that voice inside of you because there is a
(21:19):
lot to there's a lot to be involved with when
it comes to our industry. So when thinking about it
from that aspect, I can say I said no to
a lot of hangouts and dealings with people, and thank
god I did, because I didn't really know why I
was saying no, but I just knew I didn't feel
(21:39):
necessarily comfortable or I felt like a weird vibe. So
I just decided not to be out and about and
doing different things. And now looking back on that, I
am grateful that I kind of followed that voice because
there are a lot of situations I realized that, oh yeah,
that person was definitely up to no good asking me
to do it, you know what I mean. So I
(22:02):
think that there's there's definitely a lot of that while
navigating this industry.
Speaker 6 (22:06):
For sure.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
What about you, because you have answered your calling spiritual calling, Yeah,
but you still have you still want to be successful
in this business?
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Sure?
Speaker 8 (22:14):
Sure, I mean for me, it was like the ambition
always has been to go to a secular environment. Right
when you look at Hollywood and you know, some may
argue it's one of the most secular environments on the planet.
But for me, you know, when I first started, I
didn't know I was going to be making content that
would be inspirational or faith based at all. But I
did have a sense of I don't want to compromise
(22:35):
my soul to open the.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Door of this business.
Speaker 8 (22:39):
So like at eighteen years old, you know, first internship interview,
they asked me, you know, this is what it was
for the company that managed will Smith, and they said,
is there anything else you want us to know? And
I said, well, you know, I observe sabbath. So if
taking this internship would require me to work on the Sabbath.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
I won't take it.
Speaker 8 (22:54):
So at that point in time, I wasn't really doing
it consciously. I was just saying, this is my conviction,
you know, like I don't want to compromise who I
am in my identity for this business. And then what
happened was they said, sure, no problem, and I got
the internship and every job that I've ever had goes
back to that internship. And so what that showed me
is that you can be in a secular environment and
still maintain your spirituality because I don't believe that God
(23:17):
would ordain success for any of us that requires us
to compromise who we are. Because if it's like wait,
if it's God, no honor who you He always created
you to be.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
And if that door opens, walk through it.
Speaker 8 (23:28):
But if it doesn't, do not conform yourself to get that,
because what's on the other side of that door is
you're going to need the faith that you left in
the identity you left outside the door to be successful.
Speaker 10 (23:38):
Yeah, so that's the part, yeah.
Speaker 8 (23:42):
Yeah, yeah, So for me, it was it was just
about incorporating the essence of who I am and the
identity and in the spirituality and being a Christian and
allowing God to navigate my path in this you know,
secular environment.
Speaker 9 (23:54):
Earlier, Siria, when you guys are talking about you almost
not answering a call to do the role, did you
say it was because music will involved, So you don't
that was something you didn't want to do anymore? Well, yes,
and no, I think that there are Like I think
because of the last few roles that I have done
or been a part of, had that female who was
(24:16):
you know, navigating but also had a music element, and
I am also like putting out music, and so.
Speaker 10 (24:23):
I wanted to just be mindful of gotcha just where
that was placing me. But honestly, like Devon said, this,
this film is a lot more than the music. It's
not just the music. And I hadn't I didn't know
it at the time, but I got to work with Babyface,
so so that was amazing. So but yeah, that was
(24:44):
kind of like my reasoning behind behind it. Just wanting
to you know.
Speaker 7 (24:48):
Play different characters.
Speaker 10 (24:49):
That's that's really all it is, and expanding my creativity
and things like that.
Speaker 9 (24:53):
There's such a connection in the film between you mentioned
Atlanta and Tennessee. But like I feel like the way
that we watch you go from being in the group
that you were into, then getting into country music to
then go in the gospel. It tells a story about
like how all the music genres are intertwined. Can y'all
talk about like, you know, displaying that but also putting
that in the film and why that was important?
Speaker 10 (25:12):
Was it always country music?
Speaker 3 (25:13):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (25:14):
Oh it was?
Speaker 10 (25:14):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
I was so sure.
Speaker 10 (25:16):
Well because when I got the records to sing and
and you know, here here are the records of file
of records, I'm listening to him, like, Okay, they are
like very country, and I've never seen country. Although I
love country, I've just never recorded a country record. So
when I started to record them, and then when I
got in with Babyface, I was like, why I really
(25:37):
love this on my voice because you're able to really
like show a certain level of emotion in those records
that I really enjoyed.
Speaker 6 (25:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (25:45):
I mean it was our writer Mike Elliott, who was
inspired by Cowboy Cark and you know the renaissance you
know of black music and country, and he was the
one that said, you know, let's put her on a
journey where even though she's going back to tennessee what
she's discovering is her voice and this kind of you
know country music, you know, really becomes the vehicle.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
So that was that was his idea, and I was like, oh,
that's brilliant.
Speaker 8 (26:10):
And then when you see you know, Soria sing these
different records in the film, it feels very authentic. And
then when you talk about Babyface, you know coming in
and not only playing himself, but he actually produced the
song at the piano, his version of it, the Goodness
of God. And then the song that Ruth sings to
express her love to bo As is an original baby
Face song and he wrote and produced for the film,
(26:30):
which is pretty amazing.
Speaker 5 (26:31):
Wow, has somebody crying and one of us uh produces
sim She was crying that you were singing one of
the songs. It was like one of so it always
makes our cry. But she was like, her voice is
so beautiful, So she was actually crying. She was watching
a movie.
Speaker 4 (26:46):
You were singing that.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Wow, I wonder if that was the Goodness of God's song.
Speaker 5 (26:52):
And not coming there and talking about something about sexy
ring and she turned around crying. I was like, oh, wow,
time I didn't know what's secular.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
Many of them.
Speaker 7 (27:04):
Don't go to church and don't know what secular meaning.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
That he didn't grow up the church I did, and
ain none of my old folks, I would say, the
secular stuff, No, they did it.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
What does it mean for you to retell a Bible
story because I know the church full did you get
it wrong?
Speaker 8 (27:24):
I know, I know, and they might, you know, but
you know, for me, it's like when I think about,
you know, Tyler and I, Tyler Perry and I having
this deal. You know, the the genesis of this story
was very organic. I had been doing a sermon series
on you know, what it means to being what it
meant to be single? As I was navigating you know,
my single my serious season of singleness, and and in
(27:47):
the sermon series, I started studying the Book of Ruth.
And in the Book of Ruth, you know, as we
were talking about earlier, it's very interesting, you know, neither
of them are looking for love at all. You know,
as a matter of fact, when Ruth makes a commitment
to go serve now, Naomi says.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
Go back. You're not going to find love where I'm going.
Speaker 8 (28:06):
And Ruth says, it ain't about love, It's about you
and where you go. I go and that idea of
committing to something greater than ourselves, our purpose, our calling,
and then as a reward of that, as part of
the journey, then we receive love. That really spoke to me. So,
you know, I was like, I think we need to
make this a movie. I said, this has never been
(28:26):
done before, and then I did my research and there
had never been a modern version of this story that
had ever been told, and definitely not a modern version
you know, with people of colors. So I think this
is the first Bible, you know, inspired movie that has ever.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
Been done this way.
Speaker 8 (28:38):
And so what it meant to me was like being
able to start our deal rooted in the word was
really you know, strong and very significant. And again there
is no rule book on how to do it. So
everything that we did in this film and the creative
license that we took to interpret scripture for a modern time,
other filmakers would do something different, you know, but everything.
(29:00):
I feel very confident. When people see this film and
they read the word, they'll they'll say, oh, okay, you
know this is cool. And then there will be some
be like, well you left this part.
Speaker 3 (29:08):
Well, you're right. We had to make a ninety minute
film you know, so.
Speaker 6 (29:11):
It's found on that.
Speaker 7 (29:12):
What does it mean to tell this story thro a
black lens?
Speaker 6 (29:14):
Then?
Speaker 8 (29:14):
Oh, my goodness, it's everything because I feel like, especially
when you look at faith based content, faith based content,
the majority of it tends to be white evangelical content,
and there have rarely been you know, movies of faith
that feature you know, diversity that are made by you know, producers, directors,
writers of color like that.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
This is almost like a brand new thing.
Speaker 8 (29:37):
I mean, the last movie that I was involved with
that did that was Jumping the Broom and that was
when I was an executive at Sony and oversaw that
film and that was.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
You know what, twenty eleven.
Speaker 8 (29:46):
Yeah, so, you know, it's very significant to show that,
you know, people of color are people of faith and
not just that we want great content too, you know,
and that this segment you know, of the faith based
audience and the general market who you know, want content
that is diverse and that does celebrate that. This is
a type of movie to let people know like, we're
(30:08):
here and we want more. And so that was very
very important for me to make sure that that was represented.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
Now, the.
Speaker 5 (30:16):
It's a three picture deal, your picture deal, so the
other two are going to be rooted in the world
as well. Are you gonna do other biblical stories?
Speaker 8 (30:22):
No, you know, well I don't know what the third
one's gonna be. But the second one is actually going
to be a true story. I can't speak about it
yet because they go.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
If I speak about they gonna get me. But you're
gonna hear about it very soon. It's a true story.
Speaker 8 (30:33):
It's an amazing, uplifting story. We have one of Hollywood's
biggest stars that's gonna star in the film, and I'm.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
Really excited about it.
Speaker 8 (30:40):
So for me, like I'm excited to see what stories
come together, you know, and what story So I don't
go into it saying, okay, I want one, two, and
three to be this. You know, I pray, I stay
open to God and he just you know, aligns me
with the right stories to tell at the right time.
Speaker 5 (30:56):
And you know, the craziest thing is right because I've
been dealing with a lot, so I wasn't even gonna
come in to work today, but God and told me, like,
you know what, I gotta roll for you.
Speaker 7 (31:05):
So just so I was like, you know, I'm just coming.
Speaker 4 (31:12):
I got you, And you know, if you I got you.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
For real.
Speaker 8 (31:19):
In the new movie, there is a very significant part
that you would be like, you're like the prototype.
Speaker 7 (31:24):
Thank you, And I grew up in the church. It
would be easier for me.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
Saving and.
Speaker 7 (31:43):
Exactly take me away.
Speaker 6 (31:47):
I got a very pacific role.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
Ain't no crack, I know that, shut up.
Speaker 7 (31:54):
But you know one of the themes I love it.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
One of the themes about Rufe and Bow as his
faith in providence. Right y'all know what providence means, okay,
but but it talks about how God works through ordinary
people the shape history. And I wanted to ask you.
As a minister, we always hear about the Bible. In
the Bible talks about God working through ordinary people. What's
considered an extraordinary person?
Speaker 3 (32:15):
You know?
Speaker 8 (32:15):
I think that when you think of extraordinary, you think
of someone you don't feel you can become, right, you know,
so you look at the greatest of the greats and
you say, oh, well, I could never be that. And
when you look at the word God's like no, look
at David, look at Joseph. You know, these were people
that that nobody thought would be anything, but I use them.
Speaker 3 (32:37):
So I think that's what it means.
Speaker 8 (32:38):
I think when people think like, oh, someone who's extraordinary
is someone that I can't touch.
Speaker 1 (32:42):
Well, so are the examples of that in the Bible?
And the Bible is it's all full of just all
of us are just ordinary people?
Speaker 7 (32:49):
Well, this is true, this is very no.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
I agree with that. I mean, when you look at
the Bible, the.
Speaker 8 (32:55):
Bible is, and I think people highlight that as a
way to make sure that anyone reading the Bible reads
it from a lens of relatability, because sometimes you know,
when you're looking at these biblical stories and the amazing
things that happen, you can say, well, God, I don't
see you doing that in my life. So I think
it's more about relatability to understand that, you know, the
(33:17):
book is not about extraordinary people. It's about ordinary people
serving an extraordinary God. And if you can then relate
to that, then you can believe that that extraordinary God
can do something extraordinary and what you may perceive is
your ordinary life.
Speaker 2 (33:30):
You don't just want to know with all three of
you guys, all yeah, your relationships are all public, right,
how do you turn it off to say? You know, what?
F what's going on on social media? I got to
dive into a character. I gotta make sure I'm present
every time. I got to make sure that I'm the
best me. So Tyler is the best tile and that.
You know, how do y'all do that?
Speaker 3 (33:53):
Or do you maybe you don't?
Speaker 11 (33:54):
I mean, yeah, you know, I got a unique way
of thinking about it. I feel like it's a bit
it's a bit harsh, but it just, you know, it's
just my reality. It just is what it is. And
I've been like this since before I was in a relationship,
before I had kids. You know, it's kind of just
who I am.
Speaker 6 (34:09):
You know.
Speaker 11 (34:09):
I feel like I came from a life of excuse me,
of like mediocrity. I feel like I've done that. I
feel like I've settled, you know. It's what made me
kind of leave being from right outside of Philly. And
I think for me, the way I look at it
is like either either I'm gonna either I'm gonna be
that what I see when I close my eyes and
I think about like everything that I'm trying to be,
(34:30):
I'm be on the top of that mountain or or
I'm going to be you know, in a box. So
there is no in between really for me. So if
I'm really gonna go ahead and take that shot. You know,
what is it that you have to do in order
to get that? You're gonna have to really lock in
and be focused and really have like a you know,
an unwavering sense of it.
Speaker 6 (34:50):
So when it comes down to.
Speaker 11 (34:51):
That and I gotta you know, honest, they may be
calm me about this, so my parents may be calling
me about that, and you know, we're all humans outside
of our professional life. And when that feel was like
it's really starting to weigh on me, that's when I
know I'm right where I'm supposed to be. Even though
it's tough and it kind of sounds like it's a
little harsh to think about it like that. You know,
you you you uh, you know, no no one, no
one that leaves the storm. Uh, you know, the one
(35:14):
that leaves the storm isn't the one that walks into it.
That's what the storm is really about. No one likes
to get rained on. But you know, when you're in
those things, when you're in those storms, you got to
understand that God is really just sharpening your source that
you so that you can get to the top of
that mountain.
Speaker 7 (35:28):
What you said when you said, when you feel it
weighing on you.
Speaker 6 (35:30):
Yeah, you know you. I feel like that's that's the
fight now we're in it.
Speaker 7 (35:34):
Yeah, I can.
Speaker 10 (35:35):
I can definitely relate to that. I feel like for me, Yeah,
I just I've always had this kind of like work ethic,
that kind of just it's just it's in every fiber
of me. I think that that's something that the people
around me know and they accept and they appreciate and respect,
(35:56):
even my best friends, Like I've had to miss so
many things over the past ten years. You've known with
my best friends, with my family and just different things.
So I think that also choosing a partner that I
have understand he understands right because he has a similar
licensy right, also it helps a lot. But when, like
(36:18):
you said, when things do get overwhelming, I think that
for me it became very important this in this past
year to advocate for myself and to express that, hey,
this is excuse me, this is what's going on for me,
and today looks like this for me, and can we
talk about this you know later, Because sometimes everyone makes
(36:42):
their emergency like their emergency like your urgency, do you
know what I mean? And I'm such a person that
wants to satisfy everyone that I love so much, where
it can be to a fault sometimes. So I've really
had to learn how to just communicate what it is
I actually need and that, and it tends to work
(37:03):
because oh, you're right, my bad, I forgot. You may
be been at work since four thirty this morning, you know,
just different things. Sometimes you just have to kind of
like throw that out there so that they can be like,
all right, cool, we're gonna talk about this later, whatever
the case may be.
Speaker 9 (37:19):
Did you learn that? Did you learn that from new
motherhood or prepareing for other hood or did you I
know you said you took a lot away from leaving
the last relationship and having a transition into your happy place.
Now what did you learn that from?
Speaker 10 (37:30):
Yeah, you know what. To be honest, I give credit
to my partner, to Joey. He's an amazing communicator. Yeah,
and he also does the work on himself. He does,
and he really does. I'm there every day, he really does.
He's really reading all the books, he's doing, he's doing
it all. So I've really have learned how to communicate
(37:52):
better just from him kind of like just showing that
because sometimes I would feel before that community. Some people
can make you feel like communication is too much, so
you kind of learn how to hold you back what
you need to express so that you make them comfortable.
And I feel like in this relationship, I've really learned
to open up that communication and be like, hey, I'm
(38:14):
feeling like this today, just so you know. You know,
it's a lot, I'm tired, right, and then we can
go from there because everyone's not it's not always going
to be one hundred. Sometimes you only have thirty percent,
you know, But let me tell you today is my
thirty percent, So that you can have empathy and understand
where I'm coming from. And I think that that's just
(38:35):
how I navigate now, and I can't. I have to
express that for myself.
Speaker 1 (38:40):
And when you have that level of communication and you're
able to express those feelings, you enable each other to
not take things personal.
Speaker 10 (38:46):
Correct correct, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:48):
Guys, they have to go. Oh I can so much longer.
Speaker 7 (38:53):
There's one more question I want to ask.
Speaker 12 (38:56):
You.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
Ever try to help a person and then you realize
they are the reason they have problems, nothing it them.
Speaker 7 (39:02):
How do you convey that?
Speaker 6 (39:05):
Well? It's funny.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
Charlotte made is.
Speaker 1 (39:07):
Hilarious I'm to say you haven't tried to help a
person and then to realize they are the reason they
have problems.
Speaker 7 (39:15):
Ain't nothing external, Yes, it's you.
Speaker 8 (39:17):
Yes, Yes, I have been in that situation. And the
thing is to be compassionate, you know, compassion because a
lot of times it's very easy to well, let me
put it this way, it's very hard for all of
us to look in the mirror and actually hold and
look at what we see because we don't like to
(39:41):
look at the parts of ourselves that we want to change,
that we're not happy with. And so in those situations
it's like, Okay, before I'm just like trying to call
the person out or anything, I say, Okay, let's just
have compassion, you know, and like, hey, the problem you're
trying to solve, it may be because of the perspective
that you have.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
Okay, well, well why do you have that perspective? Well,
let's talk about it.
Speaker 8 (40:00):
Because I think just creating an environment where there's no
judgment and there's acceptance and that there can be communication
because trying to unpack something, whether it's trauma or tragedy
or disappointments or things that you may have gone through
years ago. Trying to unpack that takes time, and I
think sometimes we get so mad at people for not
being where we want them to be. And we're all
(40:21):
on a journey in this thing called life, and we're
at different stages. So I just try to approach it
with compassion and still clarity. You know, if someone comes
to me for help and they're asking my opinion, then
I will give it. I will say, hey, you know,
I think the reason why you know you may have
been going through different relationships is because you know, you
keep bringing that mentality to each relationship instead of being
(40:42):
the love you want to receive. You're looking for this
person to provide you with what you're not doing for yourself.
So you know, I'm still going to be honest, but
I'm going to do it hopefully in a compassionate and
loving way, so that then that they can actually take
it in. Because if I come with a sledgehammer, you know,
and I come with why aren't you doing this? Then
the help that I could have provided them I missed
(41:03):
the opportunity because I'm trying to impose my process on
them instead of being compassionate, loving.
Speaker 3 (41:10):
Hey, here's some things you could look.
Speaker 8 (41:11):
At and then everyone then has to make a committee
of one to make the decision. You know what, Okay,
I'm going to make some changes and I'm going to
do the work because I want the reflection of my
life to change.
Speaker 7 (41:20):
So be compassionate. Boldie, you say, you know what, you
got to figure this out on your own.
Speaker 8 (41:27):
Well, you know, again, I think every situation is different.
I mean, I think everyone always has to figure out
on their own, so you know, it's never that. But
if someone is coming to me, like specifically wanting me
to fix their problem, you know, at a certain point
I would be like, hey, you know, it's not my
responsibility to fix the problem, but I can give you information.
I can give you strategy, I can give you a
(41:48):
point of view that if you use it, given my experience,
I believe it'll work. But ultimately, if you're relying on
me to do your work, then you want me to
provide a subsidy to the work that you're not willing
to do. And if I do that for you, it's
not going to help you, and it's certainly not going
to help me. So it really it's a it's a process,
you know, but it's not I try not to like
(42:09):
cut people off, you know, even if they want me
to do something. Okay, I get that, but that's not
my responsibility. My responsibility is to be a support system,
and it's your responsibility to take on the charge to
do the work.
Speaker 12 (42:21):
Baptisms actually checking out, manmpathy, don't cut me, I said you.
Speaker 3 (42:35):
Well, we appreciate you guys for this.
Speaker 6 (42:37):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (42:38):
Make sure you check it out. It's on Netflix now
the way, Ron Franklin, Soreya and Tyler Lepley.
Speaker 3 (42:47):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (42:48):
I got your name.
Speaker 3 (42:51):
It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning, thank you.
Speaker 4 (42:54):
Every day a week. Click up The Breakfast Club
Every day a week ago up the Breakfast Club, y'all
done morning.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Everybody is d j Envy just hilarious. Charlamagne the gud
we are the breakfast Club.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
He got some special guests.
Speaker 4 (00:13):
In the building this morning.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Indeed, Von Franklin, Soria and Tyler Lepley welcome.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
If you call.
Speaker 5 (00:20):
Her Soriat.
Speaker 4 (00:25):
Soarriety something like something.
Speaker 6 (00:26):
I gotta go to CV.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
To get something for the sorit.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Can you just.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
About because I got a lot better. Don't do film
to the family.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
They have a movie on Netflix called Ruth and bow As, right,
and you know, if you know anything about Ruth and bos.
Speaker 7 (00:53):
A biblical story.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
So so what elements of the original biblical story of
Ruth and bow As did y'all preserve for this film?
Speaker 8 (01:00):
Man, We preserve the a lot of the elements. When
you go and you read the Book of Ruth and
then you look at the movie. You know, everything that
we did in the film was basically rooted in the word.
You know, her journey, you know with Naomi, her how
she finds Boaz, And we really wanted to say, okay,
this is what the scripture says, but then how do
we make it modern and so everything you see in
the film, it's I think we did a pretty good job,
(01:21):
you know, of making sure that anything that you see
in that film you can go back to a verse
and say this is where we got it from.
Speaker 5 (01:27):
Was it difficult modernizing the story though, I.
Speaker 8 (01:30):
Mean, there's no rule book on how to modernize a
Bible story, so it was challenging. But then there were
certain things that were pretty easy because the story itself
lays out like a movie, you know, And that's one
of the reasons why I wanted to produce it. This
is why I wanted to make it is because when
you see how Ruth and Boas come together, they're not
looking for love.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
They're actually looking to be.
Speaker 8 (01:49):
Of service, and as part of that commitment, they find
each other. And so when you see it, it was like, okay,
you know, well, what would Moab look like? Well, maybe
that's like the Atlanta music scene. And what would you know,
Bethlehem look like. Okay, well maybe that's like Pegrim, Tennessee.
So it was difficult, but ultimately we just had to
kind of take those creative license and hopefully the audience
will enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Now you have a deal with Tyler Perry how did
that come about?
Speaker 4 (02:10):
Man?
Speaker 3 (02:10):
So listen.
Speaker 8 (02:11):
So about a couple of years ago, after I did
my film Flaming Hot, I'm sitting at home and I
didn't have a production deal. So if you know anything
about Hollywood, in order to have a production company, you
have to have a production deal with the studio because
that's how you have employees and that's how you make
your films. So even though Flaming Hot did very well,
I did not have a deal. And so I was
sitting at home and I was like, Okay, God, what
do you want me to do? And out of the blue,
(02:33):
my phone rings and it's Tyler Perry and he said, hey, man,
I hear you're making a deal with Netflix.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Now.
Speaker 8 (02:37):
I had a meeting at Netflix a few months before,
but I didn't know. There wasn't really a whole lot
of follow ups, so I wasn't sure what was going on.
But he called me and said, yo, I hear you
you're making a deal with Netflix. Let's partner up and
do it together. And I was like, Yes, let's do it.
And so we negotiated a three picture deal with Netflix.
This is the first of its kind. You've never seen,
you know, two black men of faith coming to together
(03:00):
to make content and faith, you know, with the biggest
streamer in the world. And that to me, like when
you look at Tyler like, I don't know why God
put that on his mind, but here I am trying
to figure it out. Boom, and there was the answer.
And to be able to make Ruth and Boaz, I mean,
to be able to make it the way we wanted
to make it, to have the creative, creative autonomy and
the authority, and to be able to put it together,
you know, with such an incredible cast. It all came
(03:21):
from the partnership.
Speaker 9 (03:23):
How did it feel Because when the screen opens for
the movie, it's your name, It's.
Speaker 10 (03:28):
Tyler Perry Studios. And I was like, that is so cool.
Speaker 9 (03:30):
How did it feel for you the first time you
saw that?
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Listen, this is what faith works. That's how it felt.
It felt gratified. You know.
Speaker 8 (03:36):
As a kid, I always had the dream of making
my own films. That's why I came to Hollywood. I
wanted to have my own production company. And to see
that on screen Devon Franklin Entertainment, Tyler Perry Studios and
Ruth and Boaz, It's like, Wow, dreams do come true
and faith works.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
So it felt good.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
So sayan Tyler, did y'all know the story of Ruth
and Boy?
Speaker 4 (04:01):
I do that.
Speaker 7 (04:05):
And Tyler, did y'all know the story of Ruth and Boys?
Speaker 10 (04:08):
I did, like roughly, you know, just growing up in church,
you here of Ruth and Boaz. But I never really
explicitly read the book of Ruth and until doing this
this story getting more information on it.
Speaker 11 (04:22):
Yeah, I mean, not to sound like a heathen, but
I didn't grow up in the church or nothing like that.
But I have heard about you know, I have heard
about the story of Ruth and Bois a little bit.
So when it was time to actually dive into it once,
I you know, once I had booked it, you know,
I read up on it a little bit to to
you know, just at least have to have some type
of foundation in terms of, you know, find the truth
and how we're gonna figure it out.
Speaker 7 (04:41):
But after you read aster, how much of Ruth's story could.
Speaker 10 (04:44):
You relate to personally? I mean, she went through so much.
She has a lot of a lot of baggage and
trauma there, deep deep traumas. But I do resonate with
her on having like an instinct to reroute and change
things in my life and maybe stepping out on faith
(05:06):
on things that I'm not necessarily sure is going to
work out. But hey, I want to be an actress.
That sounds pretty far fetched to a lot of the world.
So I can. I can get where her fire and
her passion is coming from us.
Speaker 7 (05:20):
Oh go ahead, how are you? How are you?
Speaker 10 (05:23):
Baby? Well? Thank you? Thank you as well.
Speaker 5 (05:28):
Thank you as your mental everything is good. I mean
because you're working, you had that baby working out, you know,
your mommy, but now you're you're still actress, singer, mommy.
How does that all fit?
Speaker 10 (05:39):
It's it's actually one day at a time.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Yeah, you know.
Speaker 10 (05:43):
And just having that grace for myself that I don't
have to have all together has been the biggest I
guess lesson for me throughout all of this. But it's
been great, Thank god. I mean, you know after that
first month where I was like, yeah, you know, now
it's just like I could use some sleep. But that's
about it. I'm good. I'm good.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
I want to ask, you know, when doing a faith
based movie, right, growing up as a kid, when you
hear anything faith based, you thinking it's gonna be nothing
but Christian singing. It's not it's gonna be that type
of thing. Did you have Did you ever think about, well,
maybe I don't want to do it because it's faith based,
or did you just dive right in.
Speaker 10 (06:21):
Personally?
Speaker 4 (06:22):
No?
Speaker 10 (06:22):
I mean I feel like God has always been very
much a part of my life, and I do. I
do think that, yeah, because Devon Actually we worked on
Kingdom Business together at B and C Plus, which was
also a faith faith based and I really feel like
(06:43):
sometimes God is funny in the way of presenting me
with characters that I kind of like in life for
a little bit, mirroring as far as like their relationship
with God. So it's kind of funny for me to
to have played Rebel and Kingdom Business and now Ruth
and Ruth and Boaz. Right, So that's why I left.
But no, it really did not deter me at all.
(07:04):
If anything determined me was the music, because I played
so many music characters, so that that was the part.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
She took a little convincing.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
I was like, come on, she said no at first, Well, she.
Speaker 8 (07:16):
Didn't want to come in to audition because it was
a little music driven, so I had to hit her up.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
I was like, Yo, trust me, you're gonna want to
do this, come on in and so thankfully.
Speaker 7 (07:24):
So what was it mirroring in your life? Surreal?
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Because you know this this is like this story is
about God's timing and divine orchestration. So what was what
was going on in your life when you got to
call for this?
Speaker 4 (07:34):
Oh?
Speaker 10 (07:34):
My goodness so much. But I could say that love
was also on the brink for me, Like I was
in a new relationship with this role. I found out
I was pregnant. Like during while filming, there was a
lot of things kind of with Ruth that I was
(07:55):
in the in the script and some of the things
she says kind of just rang true for me.
Speaker 5 (08:02):
What about you?
Speaker 7 (08:03):
What you.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Did you? Yeah?
Speaker 11 (08:07):
I think I think for me, you know when I
when I got the call, I was just in a
space last year, I mean even before last year. Uh,
you know, like I said, I never grew up in
the church, but it was something that I was always seeking.
What I'm saying, it was sought after for me, and
you know it started spiritually. But then I you know,
then I kind of wanted to go to church more
and you know, just just show up in.
Speaker 6 (08:29):
The place of worship, not just to kind of feel
it on the inside.
Speaker 11 (08:32):
So I think for me outside of the artistry and
me wanting to be able to tackle roll like this,
I've never done a uh, you know, a love story before.
You know, the aspect of it being a faith based
film is actually something that was kind of right on
time for me. You know, I just I just proposed
to at the time, you know, my girlfriend, we were
(08:52):
obviously my fiance now so even just thank you, I
appreciate that, but but even miracle, but even you know,
make making a choice to go ahead and and and
honor our union under God, and you know, making that
choice and walking forward in it or uh, you know,
I've just I've had I've had some issues in life
(09:14):
where you know, choosing to handle it with with with
grace is something that's continuing to be on the forefront
of my mind and whatnot.
Speaker 6 (09:21):
So it was just it was just perfect time.
Speaker 11 (09:23):
And so I actually actually love diving into the to
the faith based aspect of it.
Speaker 9 (09:28):
In the movie, both of you guys spent the Soria
and tyler y'all spent a lot of time learning to
trust each other's love so that you guys can depend
on each other. What from your real aspects of your
relationship did you bring into that to be able to
like show it on screen.
Speaker 11 (09:44):
I think for me, just you know, without without getting
you know, too specific in terms of what's going on
day to day. I think just I think just the
idea of pouring into my relationship as opposed to you know,
showing up the table figuring out what I'm gonna eat.
Speaker 6 (09:58):
You know, let's let's let's pour into it and be
of service.
Speaker 11 (10:02):
And I feel like that's the best way that to,
you know, to bear the fruits of any of any flower,
you know. So that's that's probably what I, uh, you know,
what I connected with in terms of me and boas
being intentional, being intentional with what it is that we're
doing here. We're not just you know, we're not just
walking down this path aimlessly.
Speaker 10 (10:22):
I definitely resonated with her having a guard up. I
was in a past relationship, public relationship. I have gone
through different things in my life that just presented me
to like, well, it resulted me to being a little
more guarded. So I really understood her being guarded because
(10:46):
it wasn't that she wasn't trying to accept or excuse me.
She was trying to be difficult. I think she just
was tired of being let down. So her guard is like,
let me just keep everyone out there so that I
don't have to be hurt over here anymore.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
I was working with the icon the legend, Miss Felicia.
Speaker 10 (11:03):
My gosh, talk about it. She said something really cool.
I mean, it was amazing for me. I think we
all have really cool stories about her. She she brings
this or in this presence and this groundedness, and she's
also very humble, like to be the icon and the
person we're speaking about. She's like, oh, thank you, like
you know, you know, let's let's talk about you now.
(11:24):
And I think that's really cool aspect to her. We
many times in our cast shairs we're just talking about
like relationships and just different things like she's she's a
really really dope human being.
Speaker 7 (11:37):
Y'all did use a stunt double when she got pushed down.
Speaker 6 (11:43):
Just making about her.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
She was cool with being on the ground.
Speaker 8 (11:49):
Yes, the thing about her, she was like, y'all stop stopping,
like I got it.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
So she did do.
Speaker 8 (11:56):
She didn't get the hit part, but she definitely felt
on the wanted to.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
She wanted to.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
I'm yeah, enough to make in my heart.
Speaker 7 (12:07):
I was like, oh my god, why would you do that?
Speaker 10 (12:11):
Like you cannot just put her on the ground.
Speaker 8 (12:13):
She the reason why she is that way is because
she takes her craft serious. And not only that. I
mean to what Sorea was saying. You know, every day
that she was on set, her aura. You know, she brought,
you know, excellen, she brought grace, she brought a sense
of calm in peace, and I'll never forget.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
You know.
Speaker 8 (12:28):
One day we were shooting at the location for her
house and it overlooks a lake, and so in between setups,
you know, I hear this voice saying, you know, divine,
come here. And I turned around and it's Miss Felicia.
She's sitting on a bench. She says, come here, and
she pats on the bench. She says, sit down, and
I said yeah. She said, you know, you're working really hard,
this is your movie, but you got to breathe. You
got to take all this in. Don't just you know,
(12:50):
rush through the fruits of your labor.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
Take it in. And I said, wow.
Speaker 8 (12:54):
I took a moment to breathe, and then we started
talking about, you know, our histories and you know, sharing stories,
and I said, Wow, this is what it's like to
have an elder in your presence. They see the potential
and they see it, but they also want you to know, Hey,
life is a is a marathon, not a sprint, relaxed,
enjoy and so that that's a moment that just speaks
to who she is.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Do you ever get impostera syndrome in those moments, like
when you're doing a film and you have to think
to yourself like, oh man, I'm doing a film for Netflix.
Speaker 7 (13:18):
I got foolice arch, I got I got Tyler lovely.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
No, I don't.
Speaker 8 (13:23):
I don't get imposter syndrome. I mean because you know,
I've been working in entertainment since i was eighteen years old,
and I've been working specifically, you know, in film ever
since then. And so when I'm making a movie, you know,
I'm making a movie like from a place of experience
and expertise, and nobody knows how to make a movie
a faith that's commercial better than me. Yeah, and so
I and that's not based upon arrogance. That's just based
(13:44):
upon confidence and experience and having done it time and
time and time again. And so when I'm on set.
You know, if anything I'm like, Okay, what am I
not thinking about?
Speaker 3 (13:54):
You know, is there? And then also you know, wanting
to make sure that they're good.
Speaker 8 (13:58):
You know, at the end of the day, I can
do all things I can do, But at the end
of the day, if the talent doesn't feel if I'm saying, hey,
I want to make movies of inspiration and faith, and
the experience behind the scene isn't inspirational or positive, then
I think it kind of undermines what I'm trying to do.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
And I make sure that they're good.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Now, I'm glad you said that, because the film portrays
these ideas of worthiness and acceptance, especially in regard to
Boaz is like evolution and translations.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
Yeah, it was important.
Speaker 8 (14:23):
That was really important because I really wanted, you know,
you know, any man watching this movie, any woman as well,
but you know, specifically, you know, any man watching this
movie to see themselves in Boaz. And I think one
of the things that's so you know, noble and powerful.
And also the way that Tyler plays Boaz is you know,
with the care and the tenderness, and he's not looking
to get from Ruth, He's looking to give to Ruth,
(14:43):
you know, and I think that that is that is
that's a different dynamic, and I really wanted to make
sure that that was articulated and portrayed because that, to
me is where love is. You know, love comes out
of sacrifice. Like and I'm not trying to get from you.
He didn't need anything from her all, he really.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
I mean, what was cool about Ruth.
Speaker 8 (15:00):
All she provided him was was a safe space to
be able to talk, to be able to communicate, to
be heard, and that is how she expressed her love,
and he expressed his love through giving to make sure
she knew she was okay.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
So that was important to me as far.
Speaker 5 (15:12):
As casting went right, Like did you say because I
feel like every role that Tyler plays and every role
that Sarria plays, it seems like it's specifically for them.
Speaker 7 (15:23):
They just do a great job with it.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Did you know who you had in mind when you
were when you said, okay, I want to do Ruth
and BoA's story.
Speaker 8 (15:29):
When I started the process, I didn't. I just was
working on getting the script right. Mike Elliott and Corey
Tynan wrote the script, and our amazing director Lana Brown,
you know, directed the movie. And so once we got
into the casting process, That's when I said, oh, this
is Sorea, and so I kept hitting up her team
like hey, when she coming in, when she coming in audition,
(15:49):
and then that's when I finally ultimately called her and
said hey, come in. And then when she auditioned, it
was like, oh, well there's Ruthy. But with Boaz, I
didn't know that Tyler Lepley was going to come in.
I knew, like I wanted a guy who you know,
had the the grab TOAs had the sex appeal but
also had the heart. But I didn't know that he
was you know, I didn't. I didn't even it wasn't
even the thought. And then we had a couple of
(16:10):
guys we were chemistry reading with Sorea and at the
eleventh hour, Tyler Lepley sends in a self tape and
I watched the self tape and I'm like, well, there's
Boaz Ye. I mean, without any direction, he just dropped
into the essence of the character. And we were like, okay,
we did it, and we brought him in, did a
chemistry read, and it was evident that they were the
ones destined to play these parts.
Speaker 7 (16:30):
That's right.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
I had to finish real quick's plan because Tyler said
that it was right on time him because he was
already talking to the Lord.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
I was gonna say, you, how did you know this
one was for you? Because you sent in that tape immediately?
So how did you know that? Like this this part
for me?
Speaker 11 (16:50):
I think, I think it really dawned on me after
I after I had uh sent the tape in, we
did the chemistry read, which is funny too because we
were actually on a different set shooting something else together.
So you know, that was that was a unique experience.
But after I had after I had booked it, we
had a scheduling conflict with with this in p Valley,
(17:13):
we're shooting at the same time, and you know, there
was a period of time where, you know, per the
line producers, these are the ones who deal with the schedule.
Speaker 6 (17:22):
This this wasn't gonna work.
Speaker 11 (17:23):
So there was a few days like even me and
Devin were, you know, kind of chatting back and forth
on the text, and like, you know, the energy was
kind of like all right, well, you know, i'll see
i'll see you, I'll catch you next time, And it.
Speaker 6 (17:32):
Was like, damn, that's what I was.
Speaker 11 (17:34):
That's kind of I said, Man, I said, there was
something about this that just it just felt special because
kind of what I was talking about earlier, you know,
trying to get in touch with the Lord and then
you know it just it just felt like this was
going to be special.
Speaker 6 (17:48):
And and I was like, man, I ain't going down
without a fight.
Speaker 11 (17:52):
I played baseball for one year and I was always
I was always striking out, but I was always going down.
Looking my mom told me like, man, you at least
you're going down. You got to swing. So I was like,
all right, well, let me pick the phone up, let
me call, let me call Devine, and let me call
Katoi because you know, everybody, everybody at the studio saying
they can't figure this out. And uh, you know, really
really it was it was because of you and Katuri
(18:15):
the reason that I was. I was blessed enough to
be able to step into this role, you know what
I'm saying. So as I look back on it, you know,
hindsight is always twenty twenty. When I look at how
you know, God orchestrated it, it was like, man, it
was I was, I was right on point. This is
something that I felt like I was destined to do so, man,
I appreciate you.
Speaker 8 (18:30):
No absolutely, I would just interject on that you know,
what God has for you is for you. And so
you know, Katori and I you know, got on the
phone and went through that schedule and said, okay, you
need him here, I need him here. Okay, I can't
give you that date, but can you give me that date?
And then we went to the line producers and then
the studios and say this is what it is. And
a lot of times they're like, well, you got to
have insurance and said no, me and Katori a brother
(18:52):
and a sister, we worked it out as he needs
to be able to do bowl. So whatever is for you,
just stay in it and keep fighting for it because
when it's meant to be, it'll.
Speaker 6 (19:01):
Be No that.
Speaker 9 (19:07):
It's important to be working with people that understand you
look like you two because y'all advocated that's so big.
Having a person that will advocate.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
For you one thousand person.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
It's critical, you know, the secular ambitions that that roof
has right with the spiritual calling she's dealing with. To
have any of y'all ever had the deal with that
in the industry, and if so.
Speaker 7 (19:28):
How did you resolve?
Speaker 6 (19:30):
I'm sorry, what was it again?
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Secular ambitions that roof has also the spiritual calling she's
dealing with. Have you any have y'all ever had that
battle with y'all personal experiences in the industry.
Speaker 11 (19:40):
It's been a long week breaking down a seculars what's that?
Speaker 7 (19:44):
Secular?
Speaker 4 (19:44):
Worldly not non religious?
Speaker 7 (19:57):
No, I don't I want you to be over here?
Speaker 6 (19:58):
Yeah, yeah, for sure, I would say. I would say
for me.
Speaker 11 (20:03):
When I was coming out of uh now, I'm from
right outside of Philly, and I was, uh, you know,
on my own levels.
Speaker 6 (20:08):
You know, I was making a little bit of money.
Speaker 11 (20:10):
I was, I was kind of doing my thing, you know,
at least so I thought. But nothing made sense for
me to go out to l A. You know, but
something was, something was calling me. I felt like God was,
you know, God was pushed me in that direction, and
it was you know, it was a battle too, to
leave everything that I've ever known, you know, to chase
something that I've never seen, you know, I feel it,
(20:31):
and so so I do feel like I can connect
with Ruth on that because I forget what the actual
line is, but like it's it's one of those lines
one of those memorable lines where she talks about, you know,
God is leading me somewhere else, and it's nothing that
anybody else around me can may really be able to understand,
but it's something that I feel, and it's something that
I'm gonna honor, you know. So I really connected with
with Ruth on on that aspect for sure.
Speaker 7 (20:53):
What about you, Sarah, I.
Speaker 10 (20:57):
Don't know if I've ever felt like I was being
pulled away from what God wanted for me or what
I felt like innately inside of me, but I could
say that it is hard to navigate when you do
have that voice inside of you because there is a
(21:19):
lot to there's a lot to be involved with when
it comes to our industry. So when thinking about it
from that aspect, I can say I said no to
a lot of hangouts and dealings with people, and thank
god I did, because I didn't really know why I
was saying no, but I just knew I didn't feel
(21:39):
necessarily comfortable or I felt like a weird vibe. So
I just decided not to be out and about and
doing different things. And now looking back on that, I
am grateful that I kind of followed that voice because
there are a lot of situations I realized that, oh yeah,
that person was definitely up to no good asking me
to do it, you know what I mean. So I
(22:02):
think that there's there's definitely a lot of that while
navigating this industry.
Speaker 6 (22:06):
For sure.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
What about you, because you have answered your calling spiritual calling, Yeah,
but you still have you still want to be successful
in this business?
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Sure?
Speaker 8 (22:14):
Sure, I mean for me, it was like the ambition
always has been to go to a secular environment. Right
when you look at Hollywood and you know, some may
argue it's one of the most secular environments on the planet.
But for me, you know, when I first started, I
didn't know I was going to be making content that
would be inspirational or faith based at all. But I
did have a sense of I don't want to compromise
(22:35):
my soul to open the.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Door of this business.
Speaker 8 (22:39):
So like at eighteen years old, you know, first internship interview,
they asked me, you know, this is what it was
for the company that managed will Smith, and they said,
is there anything else you want us to know? And
I said, well, you know, I observe sabbath. So if
taking this internship would require me to work on the Sabbath.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
I won't take it.
Speaker 8 (22:54):
So at that point in time, I wasn't really doing
it consciously. I was just saying, this is my conviction,
you know, like I don't want to compromise who I
am in my identity for this business. And then what
happened was they said, sure, no problem, and I got
the internship and every job that I've ever had goes
back to that internship. And so what that showed me
is that you can be in a secular environment and
still maintain your spirituality because I don't believe that God
(23:17):
would ordain success for any of us that requires us
to compromise who we are. Because if it's like wait,
if it's God, no honor who you He always created
you to be.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
And if that door opens, walk through it.
Speaker 8 (23:28):
But if it doesn't, do not conform yourself to get that,
because what's on the other side of that door is
you're going to need the faith that you left in
the identity you left outside the door to be successful.
Speaker 10 (23:38):
Yeah, so that's the part, yeah.
Speaker 8 (23:42):
Yeah, yeah, So for me, it was it was just
about incorporating the essence of who I am and the
identity and in the spirituality and being a Christian and
allowing God to navigate my path in this you know,
secular environment.
Speaker 9 (23:54):
Earlier, Siria, when you guys are talking about you almost
not answering a call to do the role, did you
say it was because music will involved, So you don't
that was something you didn't want to do anymore? Well, yes,
and no, I think that there are Like I think
because of the last few roles that I have done
or been a part of, had that female who was
(24:16):
you know, navigating but also had a music element, and
I am also like putting out music, and so.
Speaker 10 (24:23):
I wanted to just be mindful of gotcha just where
that was placing me. But honestly, like Devon said, this,
this film is a lot more than the music. It's
not just the music. And I hadn't I didn't know
it at the time, but I got to work with Babyface,
so so that was amazing. So but yeah, that was
(24:44):
kind of like my reasoning behind behind it. Just wanting
to you know.
Speaker 7 (24:48):
Play different characters.
Speaker 10 (24:49):
That's that's really all it is, and expanding my creativity
and things like that.
Speaker 9 (24:53):
There's such a connection in the film between you mentioned
Atlanta and Tennessee. But like I feel like the way
that we watch you go from being in the group
that you were into, then getting into country music to
then go in the gospel. It tells a story about
like how all the music genres are intertwined. Can y'all
talk about like, you know, displaying that but also putting
that in the film and why that was important?
Speaker 10 (25:12):
Was it always country music?
Speaker 3 (25:13):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (25:14):
Oh it was?
Speaker 10 (25:14):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
I was so sure.
Speaker 10 (25:16):
Well because when I got the records to sing and
and you know, here here are the records of file
of records, I'm listening to him, like, Okay, they are
like very country, and I've never seen country. Although I
love country, I've just never recorded a country record. So
when I started to record them, and then when I
got in with Babyface, I was like, why I really
(25:37):
love this on my voice because you're able to really
like show a certain level of emotion in those records
that I really enjoyed.
Speaker 6 (25:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (25:45):
I mean it was our writer Mike Elliott, who was
inspired by Cowboy Cark and you know the renaissance you
know of black music and country, and he was the
one that said, you know, let's put her on a
journey where even though she's going back to tennessee what
she's discovering is her voice and this kind of you
know country music, you know, really becomes the vehicle.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
So that was that was his idea, and I was like, oh,
that's brilliant.
Speaker 8 (26:10):
And then when you see you know, Soria sing these
different records in the film, it feels very authentic. And
then when you talk about Babyface, you know coming in
and not only playing himself, but he actually produced the
song at the piano, his version of it, the Goodness
of God. And then the song that Ruth sings to
express her love to bo As is an original baby
Face song and he wrote and produced for the film,
(26:30):
which is pretty amazing.
Speaker 5 (26:31):
Wow, has somebody crying and one of us uh produces
sim She was crying that you were singing one of
the songs. It was like one of so it always
makes our cry. But she was like, her voice is
so beautiful, So she was actually crying. She was watching
a movie.
Speaker 4 (26:46):
You were singing that.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Wow, I wonder if that was the Goodness of God's song.
Speaker 5 (26:52):
And not coming there and talking about something about sexy
ring and she turned around crying. I was like, oh, wow,
time I didn't know what's secular.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
Many of them.
Speaker 7 (27:04):
Don't go to church and don't know what secular meaning.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
That he didn't grow up the church I did, and
ain none of my old folks, I would say, the
secular stuff, No, they did it.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
What does it mean for you to retell a Bible
story because I know the church full did you get
it wrong?
Speaker 8 (27:24):
I know, I know, and they might, you know, but
you know, for me, it's like when I think about,
you know, Tyler and I, Tyler Perry and I having
this deal. You know, the the genesis of this story
was very organic. I had been doing a sermon series
on you know, what it means to being what it
meant to be single? As I was navigating you know,
my single my serious season of singleness, and and in
(27:47):
the sermon series, I started studying the Book of Ruth.
And in the Book of Ruth, you know, as we
were talking about earlier, it's very interesting, you know, neither
of them are looking for love at all. You know,
as a matter of fact, when Ruth makes a commitment
to go serve now, Naomi says.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
Go back. You're not going to find love where I'm going.
Speaker 8 (28:06):
And Ruth says, it ain't about love, It's about you
and where you go. I go and that idea of
committing to something greater than ourselves, our purpose, our calling,
and then as a reward of that, as part of
the journey, then we receive love. That really spoke to me. So,
you know, I was like, I think we need to
make this a movie. I said, this has never been
(28:26):
done before, and then I did my research and there
had never been a modern version of this story that
had ever been told, and definitely not a modern version
you know, with people of colors. So I think this
is the first Bible, you know, inspired movie that has ever.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
Been done this way.
Speaker 8 (28:38):
And so what it meant to me was like being
able to start our deal rooted in the word was
really you know, strong and very significant. And again there
is no rule book on how to do it. So
everything that we did in this film and the creative
license that we took to interpret scripture for a modern time,
other filmakers would do something different, you know, but everything.
(29:00):
I feel very confident. When people see this film and
they read the word, they'll they'll say, oh, okay, you
know this is cool. And then there will be some
be like, well you left this part.
Speaker 3 (29:08):
Well, you're right. We had to make a ninety minute
film you know, so.
Speaker 6 (29:11):
It's found on that.
Speaker 7 (29:12):
What does it mean to tell this story thro a
black lens?
Speaker 6 (29:14):
Then?
Speaker 8 (29:14):
Oh, my goodness, it's everything because I feel like, especially
when you look at faith based content, faith based content,
the majority of it tends to be white evangelical content,
and there have rarely been you know, movies of faith
that feature you know, diversity that are made by you know, producers, directors,
writers of color like that.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
This is almost like a brand new thing.
Speaker 8 (29:37):
I mean, the last movie that I was involved with
that did that was Jumping the Broom and that was
when I was an executive at Sony and oversaw that
film and that was.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
You know what, twenty eleven.
Speaker 8 (29:46):
Yeah, so, you know, it's very significant to show that,
you know, people of color are people of faith and
not just that we want great content too, you know,
and that this segment you know, of the faith based
audience and the general market who you know, want content
that is diverse and that does celebrate that. This is
a type of movie to let people know like, we're
(30:08):
here and we want more. And so that was very
very important for me to make sure that that was represented.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
Now, the.
Speaker 5 (30:16):
It's a three picture deal, your picture deal, so the
other two are going to be rooted in the world
as well. Are you gonna do other biblical stories?
Speaker 8 (30:22):
No, you know, well I don't know what the third
one's gonna be. But the second one is actually going
to be a true story. I can't speak about it
yet because they go.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
If I speak about they gonna get me. But you're
gonna hear about it very soon. It's a true story.
Speaker 8 (30:33):
It's an amazing, uplifting story. We have one of Hollywood's
biggest stars that's gonna star in the film, and I'm.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
Really excited about it.
Speaker 8 (30:40):
So for me, like I'm excited to see what stories
come together, you know, and what story So I don't
go into it saying, okay, I want one, two, and
three to be this. You know, I pray, I stay
open to God and he just you know, aligns me
with the right stories to tell at the right time.
Speaker 5 (30:56):
And you know, the craziest thing is right because I've
been dealing with a lot, so I wasn't even gonna
come in to work today, but God and told me, like,
you know what, I gotta roll for you.
Speaker 7 (31:05):
So just so I was like, you know, I'm just coming.
Speaker 4 (31:12):
I got you, And you know, if you I got you.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
For real.
Speaker 8 (31:19):
In the new movie, there is a very significant part
that you would be like, you're like the prototype.
Speaker 7 (31:24):
Thank you, And I grew up in the church. It
would be easier for me.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
Saving and.
Speaker 7 (31:43):
Exactly take me away.
Speaker 6 (31:47):
I got a very pacific role.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
Ain't no crack, I know that, shut up.
Speaker 7 (31:54):
But you know one of the themes I love it.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
One of the themes about Rufe and Bow as his
faith in providence. Right y'all know what providence means, okay,
but but it talks about how God works through ordinary
people the shape history. And I wanted to ask you.
As a minister, we always hear about the Bible. In
the Bible talks about God working through ordinary people. What's
considered an extraordinary person?
Speaker 3 (32:15):
You know?
Speaker 8 (32:15):
I think that when you think of extraordinary, you think
of someone you don't feel you can become, right, you know,
so you look at the greatest of the greats and
you say, oh, well, I could never be that. And
when you look at the word God's like no, look
at David, look at Joseph. You know, these were people
that that nobody thought would be anything, but I use them.
Speaker 3 (32:37):
So I think that's what it means.
Speaker 8 (32:38):
I think when people think like, oh, someone who's extraordinary
is someone that I can't touch.
Speaker 1 (32:42):
Well, so are the examples of that in the Bible?
And the Bible is it's all full of just all
of us are just ordinary people?
Speaker 7 (32:49):
Well, this is true, this is very no.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
I agree with that. I mean, when you look at
the Bible, the.
Speaker 8 (32:55):
Bible is, and I think people highlight that as a
way to make sure that anyone reading the Bible reads
it from a lens of relatability, because sometimes you know,
when you're looking at these biblical stories and the amazing
things that happen, you can say, well, God, I don't
see you doing that in my life. So I think
it's more about relatability to understand that, you know, the
(33:17):
book is not about extraordinary people. It's about ordinary people
serving an extraordinary God. And if you can then relate
to that, then you can believe that that extraordinary God
can do something extraordinary and what you may perceive is
your ordinary life.
Speaker 2 (33:30):
You don't just want to know with all three of
you guys, all yeah, your relationships are all public, right,
how do you turn it off to say? You know, what?
F what's going on on social media? I got to
dive into a character. I gotta make sure I'm present
every time. I got to make sure that I'm the
best me. So Tyler is the best tile and that.
You know, how do y'all do that?
Speaker 3 (33:53):
Or do you maybe you don't?
Speaker 11 (33:54):
I mean, yeah, you know, I got a unique way
of thinking about it. I feel like it's a bit
it's a bit harsh, but it just, you know, it's
just my reality. It just is what it is. And
I've been like this since before I was in a relationship,
before I had kids. You know, it's kind of just
who I am.
Speaker 6 (34:09):
You know.
Speaker 11 (34:09):
I feel like I came from a life of excuse me,
of like mediocrity. I feel like I've done that. I
feel like I've settled, you know. It's what made me
kind of leave being from right outside of Philly. And
I think for me, the way I look at it
is like either either I'm gonna either I'm gonna be
that what I see when I close my eyes and
I think about like everything that I'm trying to be,
(34:30):
I'm be on the top of that mountain or or
I'm going to be you know, in a box. So
there is no in between really for me. So if
I'm really gonna go ahead and take that shot. You know,
what is it that you have to do in order
to get that? You're gonna have to really lock in
and be focused and really have like a you know,
an unwavering sense of it.
Speaker 6 (34:50):
So when it comes down to.
Speaker 11 (34:51):
That and I gotta you know, honest, they may be
calm me about this, so my parents may be calling
me about that, and you know, we're all humans outside
of our professional life. And when that feel was like
it's really starting to weigh on me, that's when I
know I'm right where I'm supposed to be. Even though
it's tough and it kind of sounds like it's a
little harsh to think about it like that. You know,
you you you uh, you know, no no one, no
one that leaves the storm. Uh, you know, the one
(35:14):
that leaves the storm isn't the one that walks into it.
That's what the storm is really about. No one likes
to get rained on. But you know, when you're in
those things, when you're in those storms, you got to
understand that God is really just sharpening your source that
you so that you can get to the top of
that mountain.
Speaker 7 (35:28):
What you said when you said, when you feel it
weighing on you.
Speaker 6 (35:30):
Yeah, you know you. I feel like that's that's the
fight now we're in it.
Speaker 7 (35:34):
Yeah, I can.
Speaker 10 (35:35):
I can definitely relate to that. I feel like for me, Yeah,
I just I've always had this kind of like work ethic,
that kind of just it's just it's in every fiber
of me. I think that that's something that the people
around me know and they accept and they appreciate and respect,
(35:56):
even my best friends, Like I've had to miss so
many things over the past ten years. You've known with
my best friends, with my family and just different things.
So I think that also choosing a partner that I
have understand he understands right because he has a similar
licensy right, also it helps a lot. But when, like
(36:18):
you said, when things do get overwhelming, I think that
for me it became very important this in this past
year to advocate for myself and to express that, hey,
this is excuse me, this is what's going on for me,
and today looks like this for me, and can we
talk about this you know later, Because sometimes everyone makes
(36:42):
their emergency like their emergency like your urgency, do you
know what I mean? And I'm such a person that
wants to satisfy everyone that I love so much, where
it can be to a fault sometimes. So I've really
had to learn how to just communicate what it is
I actually need and that, and it tends to work
(37:03):
because oh, you're right, my bad, I forgot. You may
be been at work since four thirty this morning, you know,
just different things. Sometimes you just have to kind of
like throw that out there so that they can be like,
all right, cool, we're gonna talk about this later, whatever
the case may be.
Speaker 9 (37:19):
Did you learn that? Did you learn that from new
motherhood or prepareing for other hood or did you I
know you said you took a lot away from leaving
the last relationship and having a transition into your happy place.
Now what did you learn that from?
Speaker 10 (37:30):
Yeah, you know what. To be honest, I give credit
to my partner, to Joey. He's an amazing communicator. Yeah,
and he also does the work on himself. He does,
and he really does. I'm there every day, he really does.
He's really reading all the books, he's doing, he's doing
it all. So I've really have learned how to communicate
(37:52):
better just from him kind of like just showing that
because sometimes I would feel before that community. Some people
can make you feel like communication is too much, so
you kind of learn how to hold you back what
you need to express so that you make them comfortable.
And I feel like in this relationship, I've really learned
to open up that communication and be like, hey, I'm
(38:14):
feeling like this today, just so you know. You know,
it's a lot, I'm tired, right, and then we can
go from there because everyone's not it's not always going
to be one hundred. Sometimes you only have thirty percent,
you know, But let me tell you today is my
thirty percent, So that you can have empathy and understand
where I'm coming from. And I think that that's just
(38:35):
how I navigate now, and I can't. I have to
express that for myself.
Speaker 1 (38:40):
And when you have that level of communication and you're
able to express those feelings, you enable each other to
not take things personal.
Speaker 10 (38:46):
Correct correct, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:48):
Guys, they have to go. Oh I can so much longer.
Speaker 7 (38:53):
There's one more question I want to ask.
Speaker 12 (38:56):
You.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
Ever try to help a person and then you realize
they are the reason they have problems, nothing it them.
Speaker 7 (39:02):
How do you convey that?
Speaker 6 (39:05):
Well? It's funny.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
Charlotte made is.
Speaker 1 (39:07):
Hilarious I'm to say you haven't tried to help a
person and then to realize they are the reason they
have problems.
Speaker 7 (39:15):
Ain't nothing external, Yes, it's you.
Speaker 8 (39:17):
Yes, Yes, I have been in that situation. And the
thing is to be compassionate, you know, compassion because a
lot of times it's very easy to well, let me
put it this way, it's very hard for all of
us to look in the mirror and actually hold and
look at what we see because we don't like to
(39:41):
look at the parts of ourselves that we want to change,
that we're not happy with. And so in those situations
it's like, Okay, before I'm just like trying to call
the person out or anything, I say, Okay, let's just
have compassion, you know, and like, hey, the problem you're
trying to solve, it may be because of the perspective
that you have.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
Okay, well, well why do you have that perspective? Well,
let's talk about it.
Speaker 8 (40:00):
Because I think just creating an environment where there's no
judgment and there's acceptance and that there can be communication
because trying to unpack something, whether it's trauma or tragedy
or disappointments or things that you may have gone through
years ago. Trying to unpack that takes time, and I
think sometimes we get so mad at people for not
being where we want them to be. And we're all
(40:21):
on a journey in this thing called life, and we're
at different stages. So I just try to approach it
with compassion and still clarity. You know, if someone comes
to me for help and they're asking my opinion, then
I will give it. I will say, hey, you know,
I think the reason why you know you may have
been going through different relationships is because you know, you
keep bringing that mentality to each relationship instead of being
(40:42):
the love you want to receive. You're looking for this
person to provide you with what you're not doing for yourself.
So you know, I'm still going to be honest, but
I'm going to do it hopefully in a compassionate and
loving way, so that then that they can actually take
it in. Because if I come with a sledgehammer, you know,
and I come with why aren't you doing this? Then
the help that I could have provided them I missed
(41:03):
the opportunity because I'm trying to impose my process on
them instead of being compassionate, loving.
Speaker 3 (41:10):
Hey, here's some things you could look.
Speaker 8 (41:11):
At and then everyone then has to make a committee
of one to make the decision. You know what, Okay,
I'm going to make some changes and I'm going to
do the work because I want the reflection of my
life to change.
Speaker 7 (41:20):
So be compassionate. Boldie, you say, you know what, you
got to figure this out on your own.
Speaker 8 (41:27):
Well, you know, again, I think every situation is different.
I mean, I think everyone always has to figure out
on their own, so you know, it's never that. But
if someone is coming to me, like specifically wanting me
to fix their problem, you know, at a certain point
I would be like, hey, you know, it's not my
responsibility to fix the problem, but I can give you information.
I can give you strategy, I can give you a
(41:48):
point of view that if you use it, given my experience,
I believe it'll work. But ultimately, if you're relying on
me to do your work, then you want me to
provide a subsidy to the work that you're not willing
to do. And if I do that for you, it's
not going to help you, and it's certainly not going
to help me. So it really it's a it's a process,
you know, but it's not I try not to like
(42:09):
cut people off, you know, even if they want me
to do something. Okay, I get that, but that's not
my responsibility. My responsibility is to be a support system,
and it's your responsibility to take on the charge to
do the work.
Speaker 12 (42:21):
Baptisms actually checking out, manmpathy, don't cut me, I said you.
Speaker 3 (42:35):
Well, we appreciate you guys for this.
Speaker 6 (42:37):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (42:38):
Make sure you check it out. It's on Netflix now
the way, Ron Franklin, Soreya and Tyler Lepley.
Speaker 3 (42:47):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (42:48):
I got your name.
Speaker 3 (42:51):
It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning, thank you.
Speaker 4 (42:54):
Every day a week. Click up The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club News
Hosts And Creators
Charlamagne Tha God
DJ Envy
Jess Hilarious
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
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.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.