00:00We got a product that creates this own demand, as long as we got my vision in your brains.
00:09Can't nobody mess with us, man.
00:12Everybody in the game knows the risk.
00:15Getting arrested, robs, or even killed.
00:18The Stars is kind of becoming known for these family, you know, crime dramas.
00:22And so being meth is really adding to that category.
00:25What would you say is unique about this story and an important story for audiences to see?
00:31That these people, they come from a broken neighborhood, but not a broken family.
00:36And you don't often see that, you know, that they have instilled love and spirituality in these boys.
00:43And they've done everything to set up their family for success.
00:49And, but the opportunities in their neighborhood are limited.
00:57And so I really hope that people will be able to acknowledge that and have a deeper compassion and understanding for what happens in communities like this.
01:08And I hope that support will be created for it.
01:11Yeah, I mean, I echo Nicole's sentiment.
01:15One and the same.
01:16I just think, by and large, what you're hoping to put a proper context around this world and this time, you know, of what Detroit was in the 80s.
01:26A byproduct of how Detroit failed its people from the 60s and the 70s.
01:31And so we just get a full breath and depth of what that was like and that these folk, these brothers, this was the choices that they made were born out of necessity, not out of desire.
01:47And I think that this, this is, puts a unique, a fine point on that, on that aspect of this, the world in this time.
01:57Yeah.
01:58And, you know, thinking about that, because I think in cases like this, we often think, you know, what could the parents have done?
02:03You know, kind of different in that.
02:05And I loved, you know, from seeing the episodes, how significant the role the parents are.
02:11Like, can you kind of speak about that a little bit and just kind of shaping even, you know, Lucille and, you know, the husband just in that different light?
02:19I think it's important that audiences know that their parents were present, that their parents were working three and four jobs, that their parents were God-fearing, they were going to church, and that they were there.
02:31And that this was the period that the city let these folks down, they let the Flineries down, among other families in Detroit, Chicago, and Oakland.
02:43And so that's what you're hoping that audiences take away from the show, and that these parents were here because of their sense of purpose, their sense of duty, and their sense of love.
02:55And that the choices that kids make, or the choices that kids make as coming into adulthood, are the choices that they make.
03:04You know what I mean?
03:04And so it's not, so again, people were thinking that the family failed.
03:10Yeah.
03:11The society failed the family.
03:13Do you know what I mean?
03:14And so that's what I think we'll see.
03:17And that's what I think we'll get a vivid picture of that.
03:21Yeah.
03:21And, McCall, I know you had talked to one of our writers also for our print issue, and I'm curious about just this type of story being told, and also how you feel it's significant.
03:32I know we kind of spoke about, you know, that in the 90s, these weren't necessarily the stories that were being told.
03:38So can you kind of talk about this story being able to be told on the big screen, and seeing this context that maybe we wouldn't have in the 90s, you know?
03:45Yeah, I think at this point that we're able to show more multi-dimensions in stories and in a Black family where, you know, so now you see, you get to see both sides of, you see where they came from and the love, but you also see the challenges that they're really faced with and how you deal with them.
04:13And I think, I kind of think back, you know, in the 80s, 90s, that we were seeing shows that were more based on really positive families.
04:23You had to see everything that was just right, so we wouldn't put all the negative images and stuff out there, for lack of a better word.
04:31But, you know, it's a whole thing, and I think, you know, being able to see both sides and why the family became what it became is really, is important.
04:42And most important, again, is really seeing that they came from a place of love and a strong foundation to begin with.
04:50Yeah, I'm curious, you know, obviously Nietzsche's son, you know, stars, you know, in this project, but I'm curious also if any other family members you connect with, if you, you know, worked with Lucille on, you know, shaping her portrayal, and you as well, Russell, and how connected you were with the actual family.
05:06And, you know, Lucille is really alive today, so I got to really communicate with her, which was really just amazing to have the opportunity to see her in person and be able to just ask questions.
05:22I had so much to draw on, and then working with little Meech, that he's really, big Meech's son was just, it was just extraordinary to me, to be a part of this journey, and to be able to share where they really, truly came from, was amazing.
05:43I had a really deep connection with Meech, and, and it's just exciting to be a part of his healing and growth, and to help usher him into this new world, it's amazing.
05:56Awesome.
05:58And Russell, what about for you?
06:00You know, I had a, I had a moment to talk with Lucille Flannery, a brief time to talk with Nicole, and, you know, honestly, that was pretty much it, you know, other than the script,
06:11and a little bit of what Randy had told me, and then you just kind of use your creative, you know, inspiration, and who I am as an actor.
06:22And I think definitely the fact that I have, you know, been around for a while, and portrayed different roles, and different fathers helped as well.
06:30And, you know, at certain points, you just kind of take what you're given, put it all together, create a character, and hope that above all what you're doing is you're delivering truth.
06:41You know, and so that's what I like try to focus on the, the emotional truth, the, you know, his, his emotional integrity, the moral compass is his kind of aspect of conflict, you know, and just to deal with that.
06:57And I think that if we're honest, you know, as a black man, growing up in America, I have to be honest about his plight, because Charles's plight represents my father's plight, my uncle's plight, and everything else.
07:12So in knowing who my father, my father, and his life, uncles, family members, and whatnot, their struggles, I in turn know who Charles Flannery is.
07:22So it's, it's, it's about honoring and representing Charles, but it's also about honoring and representing all those other men who were dealing in and raising their families at the same time.
07:33Yes, absolutely. Well, thank you so much. It's been a pleasure to speak with both of you. I thank you for your time.
07:38Thank you so much.
Comments