- 19 hours ago
Variety's Entertainment & Technology: Shaping the Future of Entertainment
Join us for insightful keynotes, engaging panel discussions, and exclusive networking opportunities with the top executives, creators and disruptors shaping the future of Hollywood and beyond.
This one-day event will explore the trends, tools and strategies revolutionizing the way we experience entertainment from advancements in AI and gaming to creator marketing.
Join us for insightful keynotes, engaging panel discussions, and exclusive networking opportunities with the top executives, creators and disruptors shaping the future of Hollywood and beyond.
This one-day event will explore the trends, tools and strategies revolutionizing the way we experience entertainment from advancements in AI and gaming to creator marketing.
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PeopleTranscript
00:00Introducing a conversation with Gabrielle Union, interviewed by Angelique Jackson, senior entertainment writer, Variety.
00:09Well, thank you so much, Gabrielle, and again, congratulations.
00:14I love this award, and I love this idea, because what we're celebrating is the idea of making an impact.
00:19And you just said so beautifully that you felt as if you could do something for your family,
00:25and then maybe do something for others, you know, that would be lasting.
00:30That's the lasting change we're after.
00:31So I'm really curious to kind of trace that back just a little bit to recognizing you had that power.
00:38When did you realize that you had the power to make an impact?
00:41I think my first big press tour, right?
00:44And I'm sitting there with, you know, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, and we have a global audience.
00:52And they were asking me about who was the better kisser, you know, of all the love interests.
00:58And I was like, okay, well, it's Will Smith.
01:00I'm not just saying that because he's on the couch.
01:02But while I had that microphone in my hand, I knew I could speak truth to power, and I can make real change with my time in the sun.
01:12So that was the first time I was like, wow, people are listening to me, and they're printing what I'm saying.
01:18And it's traveling around the world.
01:20So maybe I should say something of substance that helps more than just me.
01:23And your business journey has taken you on to a bunch of different hyphenations.
01:29You are a best-selling author.
01:31You are the founder of Flawless, your hair care line.
01:35And then you have the hair, skin, and bum care beginnings of Proudly, and now you are into apparel there.
01:43There are so many different of those hyphenations.
01:45When did you kind of realize, not to mention, of course, film and television producer, when did you realize that kind of you could transition the entertainment aspect and what you were just saying, that people will listen to you talk about your movies into, like, actual consumer goods and trying to, you know, put products on the shelves?
02:05I think when I realized that as long as you tell the truth consistently, you live reasonably transparently, people will trust you, whether that's with a movie or a TV show or a product.
02:20And I've never betrayed that trust.
02:22And that allows me to tell different kinds of stories, to be in different kinds of stories, to create companies, again, that center the needs, wants, desires, fears of the most vulnerable.
02:36If those people can trust that I have their best interests at heart and I'm going to do right by them, I can do anything.
02:43I don't want to appeal to the 1%.
02:45You know what I mean?
02:48The trickle that we're all still waiting for that trickle down.
02:50Um, but if you, if you cover the masses, you know, um, you can't lose if you center those people.
03:00Um, and I realized that it starts with the truth, you know, uh, too many of us get a microphone in our hands and we just start to lie.
03:08Um, it's not, it's not the way the truth is the way and making sure that you use your time to cover, not just yourself, but other people.
03:20I'm always going to talk about the North side of Omaha, right?
03:25I'm always going to talk about, uh, what it is to be an actress of color in this town.
03:30And I'm always going to be fighting with BA if you, if there is BA in this room at any of the network studio, you know, me, um, I'm always going to be fighting for not just my money, but, but you know, my creatives as well.
03:43It's, but it all, it all starts with the truth and, and acknowledging it and calling a thing, a thing.
03:51I'm actually so glad you mentioned BA because I was really curious about, you know, it started out as film and TV productions.
03:58You produced being Mary Jane, of course.
04:01And yes, please.
04:02Yes.
04:03Definitely give that one a round of applause.
04:05And then also you just had these two big hits this past year with the perfect find and with the idea of you.
04:11So it has gone on and continued.
04:12I was wondering what lessons that you've learned from just the negotiations in the entertainment business that you then took to, you know, when you're working with somebody like JC Penney and trying to create those contracts.
04:23I think the, the, the, the biggest negotiation that, that left the lasting impact was my prenup, um, because your first offer tells me everything I need to know about the experience I'm about to have.
04:39Right.
04:40If I walk away with this amount, that's what you, you're okay with that.
04:47And if I don't think I have, if I'm worthy enough or I deserve more, you're okay with that.
04:54And that sets the tone.
04:56So I don't do that.
04:59You know, when I'm, when I'm fighting, um, with, you know, with BA on behalf of, of our, our creatives, get out of the way, the ego, the pride, the vibes, vibes.
05:15Look at the data.
05:17This person puts asses in the seats.
05:18This is how much they should make.
05:20I know it's not, they're not, they might not be the most popular in your circle, but for the rest of the world, they are the people's champ and they deserve to be treated with respect financially, structurally.
05:32Um, and you're leaving money on the table because your ego can't take a back seat.
05:37Right.
05:37Right.
05:38So, I mean, I, I'm reminded of this, um, one negotiation with a studio that shall remain nameless where we have a multi time, you know, nominated actress who all she wanted was a producer credit.
05:51And she wasn't asking for additional money, just credit for the work that she was putting in.
05:57And the studio was like, no, why?
06:04No.
06:05And I'm like, she's not asking for money.
06:06I'm like, are you guys confused?
06:07No, we just don't think like what she, what we're offering is good enough.
06:12For who she deserves this.
06:17And I had to personally threaten to walk away from the, from the project before they would finally acquiesce and give her the credit that it was due.
06:24But the whole deal could have fallen apart because of somebody's ego and what they decided someone else's worth.
06:30And I'm willing to fight, you know, I'm, I'm, I'm willing to fight.
06:35I'll fight harder for your money than my own.
06:37Well, we appreciate you fighting for us because it is, it, it's also inspiring just the way that you just said, you've always kind of lived so authentically and honestly.
06:46And I was watching an interview with you recently where somebody asked you about how you balance all of this.
06:52And you said the most striking thing.
06:54You said, I don't have balance.
06:57I have grace or not.
06:59I have grace.
07:00I get grace.
07:02And I thought that was so interesting because I think a lot of people think, oh, well I can do it all and I can do it all also at the same time.
07:10And you were very real about how you actually get it all done.
07:13So if you wouldn't mind sharing with this room also too, how it is that you have all these hyphenations in your title, the village, you know, I grew up believing that you are your brother and sister's keeper.
07:25And if I got it, you got it and my family and our extended, you know, family of blood relatives and chosen family helped me do that.
07:37And without them, I don't get to do much of anything.
07:41I need help, a lot of help with childcare.
07:43I need a lot of help just when I have, you know, when my PTSD is on my back and I feel frozen and I can't do anything and I want to literally hide under the table.
07:54I need someone to step in.
07:57And people have stepped in over and over and over and over again in my life to allow me the vastness of possibilities that have been presented to me.
08:09Same with my husband.
08:10And I also pointed out, I don't know if it was in that same interview, no one ever asked my husband, how, how do you balance it all?
08:16And the answer is he doesn't.
08:19Child, like, do you think Pat Riley was helping us at pickup?
08:23No.
08:25But somebody was like, and there's, there's no, there should be no shame in saying, I don't have it all.
08:32I don't have the answers.
08:33And when I screw up, I admit it.
08:35I hold myself accountable and I ask for help.
08:38And then I pivot, you know, and I have a large village that gives me grace and kind advice and nudging when necessary.
08:49But no, nobody has it all.
08:51You know, that's, it's, and I don't even know why we try to sell that pipe dream because then everyone just feels like they're failing constantly.
08:58I mean, and, and it also extends to the business element of what you all are doing as well, because you, you know, have actual investment from the people around you in flawless.
09:10I actually wanted to talk to you a little bit about that because you had this haircare line to begin and then you, you shuttered that and relaunched a few years later with your longtime hairstylist.
09:21What was your experience of, you know, starting something, realizing it wasn't working the way you wanted and now finding new success in it?
09:31Yeah.
09:31It's the power of the pivot when, when it's not working or it doesn't sit right in my soul.
09:37I'm losing sleep.
09:38It's wrong.
09:39I have to pivot and there's no shame in my game.
09:43I didn't like it.
09:44It did not work for me.
09:45I'm going to try again.
09:46I know I can create products that are, um, you know, effective, uh, put them in stores that are accessible to the community that needs them.
09:56And I can, I can get value.
09:59You know, I can lean into the value of it all affordability.
10:03Um, you know, the products that you need to, to function in society should not be luxury items, not in my opinion.
10:11And, and, and figuring that out.
10:14And then when we relaunched again, one of the things that they don't tell that they, that no one mentions is coming out the gate to extreme success and selling out over and over and over again as a small company, you're not seeing that money immediately.
10:30So you're already, you've sold out.
10:32Okay.
10:32Well, that's minimum 25 K askew sold out again.
10:36Okay.
10:37Now that's $50,000, that's $50,000.
10:38Okay.
10:39And you keep selling out and you have 12 skews and everything stays sold out.
10:43Where is the money coming from?
10:44Because as if anyone here has had to try to wait for the bill, but now for the payments to come in, good luck.
10:51It's never when you, when you need it.
10:52So you're always functioning off of a deficit and it, it can lead to trouble.
10:58And, um, we were not prepared for the enormous success that we came out of the gate with on our relaunch, um, to the point where now with the way the economy is and the tariffs and, and, you know, everything that is impacting business, I still want to stick to my values of affordability.
11:16And these issues that are facing our company, those are me problems.
11:21I don't want to put me problems onto the, onto our customers.
11:25You know what I mean?
11:26It's not their fault.
11:28They should still be getting a great value.
11:30And in trying to stick to our core values, we've found partnership.
11:35We have pretty exciting news to announce soon with another brand that shares our value and love of textured hair and inclusivity and being able to offer the best and brightest products, um, with key value at the center of it.
11:52Um, and it allows us to, to expand on a global level, but you can never be too proud.
11:58Your ego should never stand in the way of progress.
12:00And I have to check myself over and over and over again.
12:03Um, and the reality is I didn't make it here alone.
12:07I'm an actress.
12:08I don't have expertise in this.
12:11I have passion to make sure that people who need these products can get these products and they're affordable and accessible and they work.
12:18But why would I do this without one of my best friends and my hairstylist, the person with the expertise?
12:24So to me, that made sense to other people.
12:26They're like, you want to split that check?
12:28Yes, yes.
12:32My business manager hates when I say this, but I'll give up money because it's the right thing to do.
12:39I didn't get here by myself.
12:40I don't want to end here by myself.
12:41Having a seat at a table, at a long table without the people that got you there is fool's gold.
12:50You will never, that table will never be comfortable.
12:52That chair is going to hurt your butt.
12:55You know what I mean?
12:56It's, it's, it's never going to be right if you don't do right by people.
13:00You know, it was a big thing when, um, me and Jessica Alba did LA's finest and Jessica had just given birth and they were like, she's breastfeeding.
13:10And I'm like, uh, yeah, like she, well, she's got this company.
13:15I'm like, that's why I want her.
13:16She's, she's runs an empire.
13:18She can multitask.
13:19She's a mom.
13:20She could do anything.
13:21And when we would come in under budget ahead of time, you know, killed in the ratings, we literally launched a whole, you know, streaming service.
13:32They were like, oh, I'm like, yeah, women can do these things.
13:37We can multitask and she deserves every penny, but I had to be the one to lead the conversation and say, I'll give up money.
13:44Let's, I don't even want to haggle about her worth.
13:48I don't mind giving up money to make sure that she is whole.
13:51But you have to be, if that makes you uncomfortable, then get uncomfortable, get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
13:56It's the only way forward for all of us.
13:59Um, and if your advocacy or your entrepreneurship or your goodness only extends as far as your nose, that, that you're not a good person.
14:10You're a jackass.
14:11And I live my life to not be a jackass.
14:15That's a pretty good way to live your life.
14:18I would say that's a pretty good model for all of us to go by.
14:21I was thinking you've spent a lot of this week, I think, reflecting, um, because it was just recently the 25th anniversary of Bring It On.
14:29Yes.
14:29Uh, these aren't spirit fingers.
14:33These aren't spirit fingers.
14:34Yes.
14:34And the reason why I want to bring that up is because what we've spoken about kind of throughout this conversation is the idea that you have built an audience over these 25 years plus because there were quite a few projects we were riding with you before that one.
14:49But when you've had this longevity in this industry and you look back, maybe even just on her on ISIS or the, the Gabrielle who played ISIS, what would you tell her about finding that voice, finding that authenticity?
15:03You know, did she know then that all of this was possible?
15:09No, no.
15:11Cause if you don't, if you never look behind the curtain, if you never have access to look behind the curtain to see how the sausage is made, you think what they show you is all that there is.
15:21And the second I peek behind the curtain, I said, Oh hell no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
15:26There's more to this.
15:27And I want to be a part of making that happen.
15:29I want to be a part of how the sausage is made and not just eating whatever they hand me.
15:33And, um, yeah, with Bring It On, you know, ISIS didn't even have a last name.
15:41And I saw this poll not too long ago where it was like movie villains and ISIS gasp was listed as a villain.
15:48And I'm like, because she fought to be able to take credit for her own work, like because she was stolen from, but yet somehow she became the villain.
15:59And I said, Oh no, there's so much more story to this, um, to be told.
16:03And I look at my own life in the same way.
16:06I'm not a villain for calling out what is wrong, you know, in society.
16:12I'm not the villain for telling you about yourself when you, you know, you've exhibited his poor behavior.
16:17It's the, it's not the messenger that you should be slinging these arrows at.
16:22It's, it's the person you see in the mirror.
16:25So just like ISIS, bring it child.
16:29I'm ready.
16:31I'm ready.
16:31She's ready.
16:32And you never know that there could be more, bring it on in the universe.
16:41Dot, dot, dot.
16:42I mean, listen, you know exactly where you can, um, mention that later.
16:46We will be ready and ready, ready and waiting, um, at variety.
16:50And truly, I just want to say, thank you so much for always being that person that is not afraid to speak truth to power and continues to bring it for us both on screen and behind the scenes each and every day.
17:04Um, again, congratulations on proudly, congratulations on flawless, congratulations on it all.
17:11Thank you guys so much.
17:12Thank you guys.
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