Regina Hall & Tracey E. Edmonds – With This Ring

By starrymag | January 24, 2015

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) Regina, what was it about this film that really made you want to be a part of it?

Regina: Well originally this really started with this script. I read this script and I thought it was smart and poignant. And I thought I love the characters in the film, the women. And then when I found out who was behind the film-it was Tracey Edmonds and then also Gabrielle Union it made a really big difference? Because then you knew the film was going to be shot and done with integrity. And Nzhinga was directing. And I just always loved her work. So there were so many components. And then of course when the movie had the cast it was wonderful, not just the women but the men in the film as well. So it kind of was like all the elements came together so it was exciting to be a part of.

Q) Was there something about your role then that you added that may not have originally been scripted for you?

Tracey: Well, Regina has a Regina flavor to every role she plays. And I mean that’s what so unique about her. I mean she brings something interesting to every role that she plays. And there’s a certain like just humor and wit and comedic timing that only Regina has and also a loveability factor. And so when you see Regina in this role you as an audience you are rooting for her to get what she wants in life and also having fun with her as during her journey. We were very, very blessed to have Regina as our leading lady as the first actress that actually signed on to join our cast. And then once everybody else found out that Regina was on board it became that much easier just to get Jill and Eve and round out the cast. And so she’s amazing and wonderful in this role.

Regina: That was more than I even expected but I love that answer. But also really I think all the women involved in the movie are so smart and so amazing. And sometimes the women we’re talking to and talking about are women just like us who are ambitious and who have careers. And we want every woman to know that life is exactly perfect where it is and not wait for the moment that this happens or that happens. And I think it’s about friendship. And one of the things I also loved about working on this film was all the women, I feel like we all liked each other. And that was really nice. Like I loved talking to Tracey and finding out way more stuff that we had in common that I wouldn’t have known and all the other women. And that’s an amazing kind of situation to work in.

Tracey: Like off-camera and on the screen I mean we experienced sisterhood. And so this film and we’re all out in Cleveland, there was really a beautiful sisterhood that’s taking place on this set. And as Regina was describing you had Regina and Jill and Eve and myself and and Brooklyn. And we were all bonding and sharing secrets about life and health secrets and beauty secrets. And we were talking about men and and really, really bonding and sharing.

Q) Regina, you recently joined Twitter. Are you looking forward to that instant fan feedback you’re going to be receiving when the film premieres?

Regina: Oh my goodness, I have been trying to get myself Twitter ready. I am trying. Because honestly when you’re not on – when you’re not really abreast of technology in that capacity like it’s new for me. And people keep saying oh, Regina you haven’t. And I’m like okay, but I am just learning how to work Instagram. But I am having fun and I’m like okay so now I have to – like I’ve got to – the Twitter’s a little – I have to – like I’m having some issues on the phone with my Twitter. But it’s okay because the sign in is different but the accounts are linked. But I really look forward to being able to like correspond and like here I think I’m looking forward to it and hearing what people’s thought are. So it’s exciting. It’s like a whole new world. I’m a fish on dry land now but I am about to get rid of these fins and walk. I’m going – in like the next month or two I think I’ll be like really know what I’m doing. But this is a great way to start.

Q) I spoke with Denene and Angela a couple of the authors of the original book. They did say this project was a long time coming. At what point Tracey did you get involved?

Tracey: I got involved way back in 2000 – late 2008 early 2009. Gabrielle brought me their book and made it a book now and wanted me to read it because she thought that it would make a great movie which it did. And so we took it over to Lifetime and set it up over at Lifetime way back in 2009. And believe it or not it has taken this long to actually get made. There were some regime changes that took place over at the network and we had a few false starts but it did not go into production on this until the summer of 2014.

Q) Gabrielle I heard was really, really keen on this, right? She had it at the top of her lens for a long time. And I guess she finally was able with you to finally get this going.

Tracey: Yes absolutely. And I was and I shared her passion. And the book itself is a page turner and I can so relate to these four women that were featured in the book because they reminded me so much of myself and my girlfriends. And so we felt that the story was – the stories were very relatable and that people would really embrace these characters.

Q) Do you feel like even though the book was set like ten years ago it still works in 2015?

Tracey: Absolutely. I mean the themes are still the same and the issues are still the same. You still have these amazing fabulous women who for whatever reason are still single.

Q) The initial title of the book was going to be the title of the movie, but they ended that because of some other movie with Channing Tatum or something kind of stole the title right?

Tracey: Correct.

Q) Do you think it’s actually a better title? Do you think With this Ring is actually a better title? What’s kind of your take on that?

Tracey: I mean I think both titles are great titles. I think With this Ring has a certain level – a certain amount of catchiness to it. And I can tell you on social media that there’s a tremendous amount of excitement and everyone has been hash tagging With this Ring already over the past couple weeks. And I think the people did really grab onto the new title.

Q) Regina, overall I got a sense you said it was very relatable. What was kind of your favorite part about doing this role ultimately?

Regina: Well I mean I am a woman who is single. Who has also made that vow. And it has been my friends that have gotten me through a lot of situations and who remind me of so many great things in my life. So that the scenes in the book and in the script which I think has did an amazing job of adapting to it I mean they resonate with me like so much. And what doesn’t resonate with me resonates with friends in my life. So I think it was just – it’s just a very well done well written script. And I always relate to that. But there were a lot of things about this woman that I relate to a lot. And I think the writers did a fabulous job in catching that.

Q) Were you cast first before the others or was there a particular order?

Regina: She worked yes, yes. Yes and it was. That was another thing too. Because when you go into a project and you’re starting you also have to trust and you’re the team that you’re working with your producers. And hearing that Tracey was involved made it easy because she’s had so many great projects that she’s done. So there’s a safety that you feel where you don’t need to know well who else is in it? But, of course they had names that they were thinking about and all of those things were very exciting. And so it’s kind of just like you get to really focus on what you’re there to do. And I think one of the things too is when you as a – I don’t know the – it’s the general public knows this but before a script even gets to an actress sometimes there’s years where producers have been working and toiling to get it to the screen. And so that also gives you another reason to want to show up and do your best.

Q) And have you worked with the other ladies before in other situations?

Regina: Only Gabrielle. No I actually met Tracey before. But it was the first time I actually got to know Tracey. I didn’t know Jill. I didn’t know Brooklyn and I didn’t know Eve. But I have to say there wasn’t a woman on that set and even there wasn’t a woman on that set who I just didn’t really like. I mean, obviously I respected them and had admired their work. But I liked them as women. And that was wonderful. And just I mean I learned a lot from them and I didn’t expect that. So the movie became much, it was not just shooting a movie. It was really a really wonderful experience all of it from beginning to end.

Q) Did it matter to either of you whether this was a TV movie or a film in the theater or in this day and age doesn’t matter that much? Maybe budgetary, but otherwise did it matter from a creative standpoint or where it landed?

Regina: I mean it didn’t matter to me. I don’t know how Tracey feels. It didn’t matter to me.

Tracey: I can tell you we were just really happy to get this movie made. We set out to make this movie look and feel like a theatrical movie. And so from a production perspective we wanted the look of the film to feel like a big theatrical movie. And of course, we had A list actresses that were delivering amazing performances and Nzhinga as a writer and director wrote an amazing script. And so we really we even though we ended up on television we wanted to give the viewer a theatrical viewing experience on television. So production value the caliber of actresses that we had and the whole component — all those components.

Q) Are you happy with the result ultimately? I’m sure you were there from all the way through the end of post-production, right? Did the pieces all fall together? Was there anything that you regret in retrospect or when you’re done now and you’re like, “okay I’m cool with this?”

Tracey: No. To be honest with you and I’m not just saying this because sometimes you produce films that don’t come out the way that you had envisioned…This particular movie is everything that I had envisioned and more. And so I mean I am so proud of our actresses. I am so proud of our writer and our director. And it’s a beautiful looking movie. We have really strong positive female characters in this movie and the positive messaging. And I’m really excited for everybody to see it.

Q) I just want to talk a little bit about the production and the staff thing. You guys have had people of color especially women in a lot of decision-making roles for this film. So I wanted to get your idea on where you think we are in the process of moving into having our own production and having black folks cast in the leading roles and do we have a long way to go with that or have we moved a lot in that area and we’re striving there? What are your thoughts on that whole process?

Tracey: Yes. Well and I think that we have made some strides. And so the blessings are that you see a lot more African-American females especially on television in leading roles. And so that’s amazing to see. Kerry Washington in Scandal, Viola Davis in How to Get Away with Murder, Alfre Woodard also on another network show, Taraji Henson. So I mean we do see a lot more African-American women in empowered and in leading roles. And so I’m very, very excited about that so we’ve made some strides. The challenges are still the lack of slots for what I’d call all African-American cast films where basically your entire cast is African-American, or African-American stories. For example like With this Ring, all of our leads are African American women and but that is still pretty rare to see. And so it’s a blessing that Lifetime is creating slots to allow these types of stories to be told. Because these types of stories even though you have African-American casting the scenes are still relatable across the board. And so there are still fabulous single women of all colors that are still single that are still dealing with the dynamics that we’re exploring in the story. So there is still a long way to go especially on the theatrical side of things. There are very few studio films that are being made for African American casts. And so they’re only a couple slots a year for urban films versus the hundreds of slots that are available for mainstream films. So we still have a long ways to go in that arena.

Q) And Tracey just really quickly on a scale of 1 to 10 how do you rate Deion’s acting skills in this movie?

Tracey: Oh I rate it a 10. He came in and he did his thing and he did not disappoint at all. He played the heck out of that role.

Regina: He was so much fun to watch too. No, it was. I mean we were all left kind of wishing that we had a little bit more because his character was so much fun.

Tracey: No, it was. I mean we were all left kind of wishing that we had a little bit more because his character was so much fun.

Q) You guys have done so much together for the last few years and you guys have really great chemistry. So is that title indicative of your relationship with him and how is it working with him?

Regina: We are definitely we just we have so much fun together. And I like Kevin Hart as a person. But we definitely have great working chemistry. I mean we’re obviously good friends. I don’t speak to him every day, but I do consider him a very, very close friend. And I’m really happy for all of his success. And we do, we have a great time every time we work together. We just I don’t know we I guess we were probably married in another life or something and it all comes back on screen.

Q) You’ve had a lot of great roles in your career. Would you pick one as your best or if there’s a dream role for you what would that be?

Regina: Every role I’ve played just teaches me I learn every single one of them. There’s not one that I would say that’s more special. They’re all special. I mean any time I show up and I’m blessed enough to be able to work whatever I’m doing at that time it is just I feel really blessed. It’s not an easy profession. And as Tracey just explained there are not a bazillion roles so just to have had this much longevity. it’s humbling and I thank God for it. With this Ring is amazing for me because it’s really like my first leading role. So to have Tracey an the producers and Nzhinga as the director just allow me that opportunity, I mean that really means a lot to me especially at this point. So they’re all special but this is a different type of film that I’ve been able to do type of movie. And it’s just to have that kind of support system also it’s been really great. And I mean we’re talking about female it’s about parts. But there are not a lot of female producers of color and there are not a lot of female directors. So to be able to get all of that and then have a book written by two African-American women and then have those women all be African-American I mean that’s a rarity. Sheila Duckworth is one of our producers. So I mean so all of that was an extremely amazing support system. So it I think this was very – really special to me.

Q) Was there a soundtrack or any songs affiliated with the movie or that will come with it?

Tracey: The answer is no. There is no soundtrack. We didn’t have a budget for a soundtrack unfortunately. So we have a great score but no soundtrack.

Q) Did Gabrielle Union’s recent marriage to Dwayne Wade have an impact on the film? Did she bring anything extra in it to the film with going through that experience?

Regina: I don’t know. You’d have to ask Gabrielle. I don’t know.

Tracey: Yes. Yes I think you would have to ask Gabrielle that question. So, but I know I mean Gabrielle having been single and married and me kind of having shared those same experiences as well I think Gabrielle really understood and could relate to these characters. And so she was an awesome executive producer to have on board.

Regina: Yes she was.

Tracey: She knew these characters inside and out because she had traveled similar journeys that these characters have traveled and so have I.

Q) Regina, your comedic antics were superb in this film. Did you start out as a serious actors and transition into comedy or is this something that has always been your passion, you just been into comedic acting?

Regina: it was kind of neither. I mean I studied and I had a wonderful acting coach. I studied in New York at Bill Esper. And I worked with Barbara Marchant for three years at that studio. And then I still like I’ll call her. And I never thought of comedy or drama. I mean we did a lot of plays and so we do everything, but I always thought of character and like what nuances and like what situations in life are relatable that can still be humorous without always making it weighted. And humor is universal and if certain things in life that happened to all of us beyond race or culture. I just happen to end up I guess booking a lot of comedies first. And I guess it’s just how you – when you read a script it’s how it translates in your brain. I don’t know it’s hard to describe. So it was not an intentional choice but I certainly do love it. And I love comedies. And I mean one of the things I did today is I co-hosted “The View.” And one of the reasons that was so special was because I looked at Whoopi Goldberg a lot. I remember loving her in Ghost so much. And I looked at how she just could be vulnerable but really funny. And I loved her in the Color Purple. And I watched her go back and forth. And that was really amazing to me. And I always felt like she was neither like she transcended being A or B comedic or dramatic. She was both. And she could do both in one role. And I don’t know maybe because I looked at that a lot it could have informed how I maybe make choices. But I love them both. I said all that to say in 2 seconds I love them both.

Q) I want to know was there a very personal catalyst that may have pushed you into acting?

Regina: I was in grad school getting my Masters in journalism and my father died. He died very, very suddenly of a stroke my very first semester. And it pushed me into really grasping the brevity of life. And then that pushed me into what would I really like to do? It’s not like I had journalism always was very interesting to me and I actually loved it as well. But I had so many deeper questions to having lost a parent so young. So I think that was very big because it was after. And then I just did finish that but it was after that that I decided that I would pursue acting. And I think that was probably that was the biggest catalyst.

Q) Regina, do feel that you’ve had any parallel moments or views of the character that you portrayed in the movie?

Regina: Oh my God yes. I made that vow. And clearly didn’t stick to it so I must of come to the same conclusion that she did. But I’ve had moments where my friends and I have been like look at this – bye this time next year we’re going to be married. It doesn’t matter. But I think the whole point of the movie — and I certainly resonate with this — is that and especially as a black woman I say we can’t wait to be happy. Like…and there’s not an event or relationship or something that you have planned in your head that creates that. And I have a lot of amazing women. And I think that was the important thing that I thought about when reading this character and reading the script is that we’re not – it’s not like okay they’re not married because they’re uptight, or they’re not married because their frigid or they’re not married because they have bad personalities. Sometimes we’re just not in a relationship. We’re just single. Maybe it’s a numbers game or maybe it’s just not what we have. But we do have so many other things. And I think of course I relate to that.

Q) Lifetime network has a heavy demographic among ladies. And for this particular film is there anything about the storyline that will be appealing other than the beautiful ladies in the cast of course but is there anything about the movie that men can gain something from or would encourage them to want to watch this movie?

Regina: Absolutely. We’ve got a lot of amazing men in the movie I mean and a lot of characters and different characters. There’s the amazing support of dad. And I don’t mean stereotypical men. I mean there are lots of wonderful images of men in this film. And they are a huge, an integral part of the story. And I actually think men would find a lot of humor just in the situations that the men are in. And they find a lot of similarities. And the same thing that women would find they’re in their relationships there are a lot of parallels that men could find as well.

Q) So now that the movie is about to be released and your girlfriends obviously probably have seen it, have you ladies renewed that pact again?

Regina: None of my friends have seen it. But no, I think like the ladies in the movies we came to the realization that we didn’t need the pact that there’s that trust and everything is just as it should be and that your wonderful just as you are and kind of like opening up to the realization and the trust that life doesn’t begin when. Life is right now. I’m sure come this time like six months later we’ll probably make it another pact. We’ll be like maybe we should make it another pact again. But, for now, one of the biggest things I want is I just want women to value themselves with or without a relationship.

Q) Have you been a bridesmaid a lot throughout your life?

Regina: I have been a bridesmaid three times, one in my cousin’s wedding, one in my brother’s wedding. And then my best friend from childhood got married and I was her maid of honor so bridesmaid the bridesmaid twice and maid of honor once.

Q) When thinking about casting were you guys the first ones on their minds or did they have you guys in mind when they were thinking about casting, I mean, when they were kind of sitting around the table like oh, we’d love to see Regina in this or Jill Scott or Eve?

Regina: Oh, I’m going to say definitely they wanted me. But I truthfully I would imagine just in conversation with them that they definitely had people in mind you know what I mean? They definitely had people that they liked. I mean there’s a lot of amazing talent out there. And you usually have a couple of choices because someone could be busy or not available sometime. I’m sure that they had people in mind. But I will say I do know that the way it all came together was actually perfect. And I don’t know who they did or didn’t have in mind. But I know that everyone agreed that when it all came together it couldn’t have been more perfect. And that’s from the casting of all the women in the film and the men. We really I think we really like assembled an amazing cast.

Q) What was your favorite scene to shoot during the film?

Regina: Oh, the favorite scene to shoot? I love my scene – this – here I go again. I love two things. I like my blind date seen because they were just fun to do because I had all these funny guys who were just crazy. And then I loved my scene, I love the scene with the ladies too when we get to actually hang out and be girlfriends. I don’t know, I kind of like them all. It’s hard. I got I don’t know, what was yours? That should be the question. I had a couple. I liked the wedding. Too much, see, it’s too much. You can’t give me all the options.

Q) I just wanted to know in your opinion from film whether to teach women about how to be happy just within themselves whether they have that perfect love or not?

Regina: I remember when I was speaking with Nzhinga with the director one day. She said, “Oh, I have so many friends who are waiting thinking that their life will begin.” I know before this movie started I was living in my house but I wanted a yard in my house. It was about three years ago I wanted to move. And I remember the first thought is, oh, you know what? I should probably wait until I get married and then I’ll move. And then I thought well, I don’t know when that is. And I could enjoy my yard right now because right now is really all I have. And I think that’s the message that I really hope women take away from it like just there as so many wonderful things and so many wonderful pieces that make up life as a whole. There’s so many different elements. So just because it’s not the way you necessarily envisioned or dreamed it doesn’t mean that it’s not deliciously wonderful. And I hope women really can know that and know that they themselves are the most valuable component in their life. And like making that choice to really acknowledge and just delight in that is really the most important step to real true happiness.

Q) And by doing this then have any of your personal views about love changed?

Regina: Honestly, I think that the reason that the song resonated with me so much was because I – that’s how I felt. And I felt the other way too. Oh, my gosh I thought I was going to be this by now. I thought I’d be married by now. But I think one of the things that it reminded me of more so than change was how important friendships are. I love the sisterhood of the movie. I love that there were – there are also a lot of amazing guys. I mean we have really good guys in this movie. I mean Jill Scott’s character is a really nice guy and is a really great father. And there are really good guys out there too. And I think it’s always nice to be reminded of that and just know that love comes in so many different forms. It can come in an intimate relationship. It can also come in your relationship with family and with friends. And we have to kind of remind ourselves of that regularly so we don’t focus on what we don’t have or what we think we want.

Q) Now that this movie is finally a reality, what other projects are you working on?

Regina: I’m actually going to shoot a film called When the Bough Breaks with Morris Chestnut at the end of this month in January. But this is a thriller.

Q) How does it feel to really be the first person on the paper, that everyone else is kind of thinking who’s there and they say it’s Regina and now they want to be a part of it too?

Regina: Well, one it just it feels really good to have had a career to be able to stay in you know what I mean? There’s so much appreciation I have in that. I’ve had a chance to work in the most amazing ensembles with just people I get to watch and learn from like my friends that have a lot of friends including Taraji who just women whose work I respect who are so talented. You have this thought of what it’s going to be like but it’s like you’re just in more scenes. But every single part is so important in – yes, it’s just, year more scenes. But every single person and every single part and everything is – single character is so important in a movie that…you begin to say oh gosh, it’s the moment that you think oh, I can’t wait but like it’s perfect when it’s a role that resonates with you when you feel comfortable when you have a great cast. It’s like everything that surrounds you is as important as the part itself. But in this particular time I’ve had a gigantic amount of support from the women, our director-producer and from Lifetime meaning Lifetime has really been just I mean wonderful in supporting the movie. I mean wonderful. They have really done a lot of hard work in making sure people are aware of the movie and making sure people watch it and making sure that they are a part of promoting the images so all of that feels wonderful when you’re one on the call sheet. Without it you just get a really bad feeling that this could be awful. But it’s a great it is a great opportunity to be able to have worked so long. So like for me if there’s a part that has one super movie that’s a good movie it has one scene or if I’m doing 30 scenes I realize it’s all just as valuable.

Q) Do you realize how much of a sex symbol that you’ve become? Guys love you. I don’t know a guy who like if you ask him they’re favorite actress as far as of course they love you as an actress, but like attractiveness or who they say with natural beauty that you’ve become a sex symbol?

Regina: Well what there’s two answers to that. No. Well I’m in sweats and a baseball cap. And look your husband would be like wait a minute who was that? But I think the other part too is because I haven’t been in social media so you don’t get to – until five days ago and I’m still not good at it you may not know you don’t hear it as much. And also I don’t necessarily think you need to hear it’s always wonderful to be supportive. Like the fact that you are an amazing woman and there is anything that you’re on, like you’re taking time out to say I really like which you do or that’s just – that’s kind of the beautiful part of it because it’s a real sincere part of it. And that’s kind of what you love. And maybe people resonate with that, but it’s a weird thing feel like sex symbol especially as I’ve gotten older. I thought after I did Best Man people are going to ask – no one asked me to show up again I got offended. Oh, I’m going to be typecast. Not one role. Not one person asked me to take my clothes off again. I was like I haven’t been asked to get on the casting couch. This isn’t Hollywood. And now it’s even worse. I’m just working around smart women. No you never really are aware of that. But it’s certainly always beautiful to hear. I mean yeah, it’s very nice.

Q) Is that something that you look for when you can have a cast that you can feel like we’re friends, we’re sisters, we hang out, does that make it easier to like look for that kind of role?

Regina: All of those honestly have been just pretty organic. I had never met Jill or Brooklyn. Oh, I did meet Jill once at – but she didn’t remember. I have never met Joe, Brooklyn or Eve. And so you’re like I hope they like me when you go on a set especially when you’ve got to play friends. I didn’t even know anyone on Best Man. Like it’s like I mean I love that I get to meet all these just – and that’s behind the camera and in front of the camera. So it’s not what I look for but it’s a bonus. It’s such a bonus and especially even Nia Long I had Nia near for so long I’m like, oh, my goodness it’s Nia Long. But then you work with people and you get to know them and you’re like wow they’re just great women. Gabrielle I love. And you don’t know what you’re going to be like. I met Gabrielle actually even before we worked. And so when I would find out oh, Gabrielle is in it? Yes. And you’re going to go to work and you’re going to be in each other’s trailers so it’s definitely a bonus.

Q) I want to know what it was like working with Gabrielle in the executive producer capacity?

Regina: Oh it was wonderful. It was a little bit of pressure because you’re like oh, I don’t want my friend to think I suck. You don’t think about it when you’re both acting but she’s got a different lens on. But she was great. I mean Gabrielle just herself is very smart and extremely supportive and was very like if you need anything like I always knew that she was there and just backing me up all the way. So it was wonderful, a little scary but wonderful.

Q) What dating advice would you give to single women who are looking to get married?

Regina: Don’t. I think enjoy the process of dating. And I mean I do think if you want to get married then date like someone who wants to get married. I think one of the most interesting things in the movie is with Eve’s character and really kind of amazing guy that she overlooked for her own reason and then she was able to see him. I’m not someone that has the most amazing dating advice nor do I feel that comfortable giving it since I mean I don’t have any secrets to getting you to I do. Clear – look clearly I don’t. But I think enjoy your time single just as much as you will enjoy it married.

Q) What your favorite look and what is your favorite outfit to wear?

Regina: Oh, my goodness I had so many. I love the clothes in the movie. I don’t even know if the – I hope the lens could capture some of those looks because I love them. Let me think. You couldn’t see it but there was a there is a scene between Eve and I. And it’s a denim oh, I can’t think of makes it. I’m so mad. It was a denim jumpsuit. And I love the jumpsuit so much I wanted to stand up in the scene but it just wouldn’t have made sense. But I did – I loved that because it’s something I would wear in my real in my everyday life.

Q) Is that something you would do more of, more talk shows in the future?

Regina: It was really fun. I have to tell you I liked it. I mean I’m a fan of all of those women. They’re so just smart and they’ve been trailblazers and gosh their career speaks volumes. That what you know that has taken for them to have that amount of success in the business and balance their lives as mothers and their personal lives. So I love those opportunities and I had a great time today.

Q) It’s really inspiring to see you in your first leading role and this being a film that came from a book that was written by black women author and then to be executive produced by two black women. And directed by a black woman. And we’re seeing a lot of black women on TV and starring roles in both shows and movies. And so and it’s a really great time in television to be a black woman watching all of this. Do you think that that’s a trend and if so how do you think we can make it a lasting change in the entertainment industry?

Regina: I think people of all races are really open to stories now from I think there’s obviously always work to continue. But I think as long my belief system is is that if a money – if a movie makes money or is successful and gets viewership then they will make more. And I think as we support our films and support one another and we watch televisions and television and we wouldn’t support those television shows. And I even think that if we write characters that resignation with all women of all races which themes of love and heartbreak and disappointment and not being married do and then I think we get a lot of support. And I think we get more by when one does develop and then there’s another one. And Lifetime is an example of that. They have a lot of films with African-American cast who have done well. And they make them. I think when we watch them they’ll keep making them. So hopefully if success continues to be a trend then it will stay.

 

 

*CONFERENCE CALL*