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Calling all aspiring actors and actresses! Are you ready to put your skillset to the test of all tests? Come prepared for the chance to read a script live in front of an audience and receive realtime feedback from some of the top casting directors, producers and entertainers in the business. Plus, get their unfiltered perspectives on what it really takes to nail your auditions, land that dream role, or take that next step towards a future career in casting.
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00:00Give yourselves a round of applause please are y'all ready for this next half of Essence
00:24Hollywood House thank you guys so much for being with us thank you guys all who are
00:29streaming this so we're holding for live hold for live remember I have to do it all over again
00:34you're right hold hold hey oh we are live keep going we're live hello everyone my name is Sidra Smith
00:43I'm the head of Essence Studios thank you guys for being here are you having fun can you give
00:50yourselves a round of applause because you're fabulous I'm so happy to be here with two of
00:57my dear friends I'd like to bring up Robbie Reed hey everybody and and that's our OBI and I'd like
01:13to bring up Anthony Hemingway the Anthony Hemingway now I know we all know Robbie Reed but I need
01:26Robbie Reed to just tell you a little bit about Robbie Reed real quick okay all right no mind if I do
01:33no hey everybody happy Friday I'm Robbie Reed I'm a casting director I've been at it for a long time
01:40I'm currently at BET head of talent and casting fair I've been in this business for decades we won't
01:48say how long I was five when I started though but I love what I do still you know I continue to enjoy
01:55meeting new talent discovering or rediscovering talent I've worked on a lot of film and television
02:02and I just really enjoy the process casting is a process I always tell the producers and directors
02:08I work with and it never fails no matter how much you guys have done it you forget that it's a
02:14process but it's fun because oftentimes it's like I tell folks you have to go around the mulberry bush
02:21and you know you oftentimes come right back to where you started right but you know if you're out there
02:28and you love what you do keep at it because if it's what you were born to do and that's what you believe
02:33then your opportunity will arise so don't give up and Anthony Hemingway is just one of my favorite
02:42directors in this business and I want you to tell this audience a little bit about yourself and some
02:47of the amazing projects you've directed hello everybody happy Friday um I am Anthony Hemingway of
02:55Anthony Hemingway Productions I'm a director and producer I think directing is my first love
03:01um I love the complete process and uh just from you know the the infinite stage all the way to the
03:08screen and I think there's a there's a connection a synergy and an energy that is shared amongst I
03:16think the collaborative effort of doing the work that we do and I love it I'm it I really feel like
03:21it's my my my purpose um I've been doing it for a very long time I started off as a PA so I went from
03:29from a PA to the DGA as I say it um uh uh joined the DGA uh I was the youngest person to join the guild
03:37as an assistant director um and then I started directing when I was 30 I'm not going to say hold
03:41on now but uh it's been a while but um I've done things that I'm very proud of from underground to the
03:49wire to red tails to power to give it up give it up for Anthony Hemingway you guys
03:55I love I love the work so I'm excited to see what you guys are going to put down in front of us
04:01today yeah Robbie can you tell them some of your movies that you've directed just in case they need
04:06to be reminded well I do want to direct but I cast well not direct it cast it oh my god yes I'll try
04:14to remember because whenever anybody asks me that it's like I draw a blank um but I did a lot of the
04:20movies with spike in the early days so from school days do the right thing no better blues jungle fever
04:27Malcolm X Crooklyn clockers um set it off the more better blues um she's like what else
04:36poetic justice uh soul food the best man and then tv and oh gosh and living color the new edition story
04:46Bobby Brown um their eyes are watching God can we give it up for Robbie though Robbie is an icon
04:54oh no one I won the Emmy for the Tuskegee Airmen how can I forget that one my god but can I tell you
05:00one of the most amazing things about Robbie is that she makes stars because they all it all starts with
05:10the casting director so it starts with her seeing you and then bringing you to the director
05:17so this is such a blessing like I just I'm crazy about what casting directors do so today we're
05:26gonna have some fun we chose a few actors in the audience and we gave them some sides and we are going
05:34to have you do a cold reading for us today um where are the actors that we chose I know Anthony picked
05:41two people where are you can I get two mics on the stand right here please and I want to bring the
05:47two actors that Anthony chose first where are you
05:53you ready for them Anthony let's go now are y'all nervous y'all live face the mics face the mics
06:08towards each other because you're talking to each other did y'all read together no
06:13uh-oh I hope y'all read together the other ones out there it's cold so so let me let me just ask
06:23Robbie or or Anthony do you have anything that you want to give these actors as they're preparing
06:28for this for this yeah so I'll just give you a couple of notes because I realize that there are no
06:32directions or at all so um we'll have fun with it okay so this is from a show um where they're the
06:42the main characters are really good friends they're 30 something and they've known each other
06:47like they all went to college 10 years out of school now they're all kind of at a crossroads
06:51of what are we going to do with our lives and are we on the right paths Lane has a really cool little
06:56vintage store in Five Points Georgia yes she's real quirky in fact in this show she breaks the fourth wall
07:04and refers to the audience with what's going through her mind while she's in the scene and I can't
07:10remember if the sides um indicate that but that's what's happening so she's breaking the fourth wall
07:14you could do that toward them and then Willie grew up in this we're not I said that before but he
07:19actually lived in this neighborhood you know Five Points went through gentrification as so many
07:25communities have done in our world right and um as a result he lost his home job and such right but
07:32he still is around and he remembers the neighborhood of how of the way it was but new people have moved in
07:38and now he's a nuisance and what they would love to see to sleep right move away but Lane has found
07:46she he's endeared himself to her so she is has opened her mind and and her store to him and you know
07:56they they're cool but he's still just a little something that's a little not right not quite right
08:01where you will see and I won't spoil it for you guys but at the end where he has that line where he
08:07says oh I think I accidentally did something you know and then you're like oh my god why did I let
08:12this guy in right what was I thinking so just have fun and um oh I couldn't wait I mean shoot I could go
08:27almost a week without you
08:30you
08:32you
08:34you
08:36you
08:38you
08:40you
08:42you
08:44you
08:46you
08:47you
08:48you
08:49like this
08:50this ain't worth making a fool of yourself in public though
08:53I mean that's for sure
08:55I mean well when you're hungry I
08:57I mean you don't have to tell me now
08:59I'll tell you
09:00who could bake they ass off
09:03Aunt Honey
09:04owner of Aunt Honey's sold food
09:07she's put these people to shame
09:09oh yeah
09:10where is it I have to try it
09:13okay
09:14You know, you gentrifiers don't know nothing about what this neighborhood used to be like.
09:26My Aunt Honey's used to be right here.
09:29Before this white lady and her downward dog invaded.
09:32I would ride my bike down here every day and take out Aunt Honey's trash.
09:37She would pay me in the day-old biscuits.
09:40Tasted like Jesus baked it herself.
09:42You lived here?
09:43Yeah, born and raised.
09:47Now, Dave's Hardware Store, that's where I got the wood built, my first treehouse.
09:51You know, F&M's, where I used to, you know, don't tell nobody.
09:57Got all my candy from me.
09:59And Bubbles Liquor Store, where I first drank my first beer and then kissed my first friend.
10:06Right over there.
10:07Enjoy.
10:17I will.
10:19And next time, maybe not the ones with the goofy stuff inside.
10:22Freaks me out.
10:23That's the first scene.
10:29You just want to do the first one?
10:30Okay, great.
10:32Good job.
10:33Very nice.
10:37I would love to give them a note to take with them.
10:44Only because of time, I won't have them do it again.
10:46But I would love for you to give them a note to take with them.
10:51Awesome.
10:52Great job, both of you.
10:53Especially doing cold reads.
10:54It's not easy.
10:55But I loved how you were finding things as you were going and starting to really kind of, you know, digest the material and understand it.
11:03I want to start with Lane, the character.
11:05In the scene, there are two kind of perspectives, two personalities of Lane, right?
11:11It's the one that she shared the camera, which is her truth, her authenticity, and it's the one she's given Willie.
11:18You know, so just if you were to do that again, just think about really separating those two, you know.
11:23So that way, right now, I don't think you totally understood just kind of that breaking the fourth wall.
11:28But that's what that means is you talk straight to the camera, you know.
11:32So and that's basically you kind of first person at that point, right?
11:37Very good.
11:38And for Willie, I think, you know, Willie feels like he's showy.
11:42You know, he's always performing.
11:44He's just trying to, you know, always kind of the loudest one in the room.
11:48You know, he's lived on this block.
11:50He has pride here.
11:51And so he has a lot that he doesn't want to see change.
11:54He's kind of that tradition of just not wanting to see the things change, even though sometimes we know change is important, right?
12:01So it's about really trying to understand that psychologically and figuring out how to do that.
12:06And then also, you know, you just want to own something.
12:09It's about finding that ownership in it, right?
12:12So it's like just trying to do that.
12:13And then also there's a connection between you and this female.
12:18I mean, he says it in one of the lines, you know, that made me feel like something, but not like a woman.
12:22Like, you know, so I want to see that connection kind of flirtatious in a way, right?
12:28Willie, he's the man.
12:30So we'd see that next time.
12:31And for all those that are coming up, that's some notes for you right there.
12:34So think about it.
12:35And then I do have one more thing to add to that.
12:38Whenever you go for an audition and you're giving a scene with another person and that person's in the room, get with that person and run the lines when you can.
12:45Just take, you know.
12:48Oh, okay.
12:48All right.
12:49Boom.
12:49There it is.
12:50Can you both tell us your names?
12:51Yes, my name is Tabitha.
12:53Tabitha, thank you.
12:54My name is Terrell.
12:56Great work.
12:59That was great.
13:00I would have been scared to death.
13:04I would have been scared.
13:06Do y'all realize this is streaming live?
13:10Like, this is like a whole lot of people can see you.
13:13You just auditioned for a lot of people.
13:15Literally.
13:16Now, where are our other actors?
13:24You two come.
13:25I hope y'all took those notes.
13:28I hope y'all took those notes.
13:31Y'all ready?
13:34Hey.
13:34Now, tell us your names.
13:42I'm Shelly Fort.
13:44Hi.
13:44Yay.
13:45Happy to be here.
13:47My name is Randy T. Brewer.
13:49Hey.
13:50Awesome.
13:51Did you have something, Robbie?
13:53Or Anthony?
13:54I just wanted them to move closer together.
13:55Yes, please.
13:55Because there's a connection in the scene that you guys need to kind of touch.
13:58Now, are you sure you want to hold that mic?
14:06Yeah, I am.
14:07Let's put that mic there so you can be free.
14:11I'll be free.
14:12You doing too?
14:12Put that mic down.
14:14Put that mic down.
14:15Are they going to be able to hear it, please?
14:16Yeah, talking to the mic.
14:19Which, you don't want to have all them things in your hands.
14:22Okay.
14:23Turning the page with a mic.
14:27Okay.
14:27Okay.
14:28I'll get this.
14:36I'll get it.
14:37I'm just a shorty.
14:38All right.
14:39This is fun.
14:39Are y'all enjoying yourselves?
14:42This is the tech part.
14:43The tech part.
14:44Okay.
14:44Okay.
14:45The tech part.
14:48I ain't worried about that.
14:50Oh, shit.
14:50I ain't worried about that.
14:54You can't wait.
14:55I can go about a whole week without eating.
15:03Does it make me a bad person for not wanting to do it?
15:06Lane.
15:12Lane.
15:16I ain't worried about that.
15:18That's the show.
15:19Well, you're hungry.
15:22Oh, yeah? Where is it? I'll have to try it.
15:52You lived here?
16:22You lived here right now where they used to have a bubble liquor store at, and y'all probably
16:34don't know about Jewel, Jewel, but yeah, I used to feel over there, and I had my first
16:44time to enjoy.
16:54Oh, yeah, appreciate you for letting me use y'all bathroom, though. Them muffins do something
16:59special for a man, but not quite like a lady, you know what I mean? Oh, yeah, by the way,
17:06what did that yoga lady want? She want to get rid of me or something? These bougie-ass
17:13old people always harassing me like I'm supposed to be here or something. Like, this ain't
17:18my hood. Like, they be scared to come through in their car. They act like they own it. I swear,
17:23they ain't happy to let somebody else, they taking something from somebody else.
17:28Well, Mr. Willie, I enjoy your presence and your stories. Please come back soon and share
17:39your story. I will. Appreciate it. Oh, yeah, by the way, y'all might want to call somebody
17:43to clean the bathroom, because I made a mistake of shit in y'all's sink.
17:46Excuse me? Wait, wait, what'd you say?
17:48That was fantastic. Wait, we're going to get, let's hear from Anthony and Robbie.
18:04Great job. Really great job. Nice job. Really quickly, I'm going to give you a technical note.
18:10First of all, I loved your choices. I loved you taking choices and really finding something,
18:15making the character yours. But what I want to say to you technically is the need for,
18:21in this space, to use that mic so you can be heard, right? Or you need to project to be heard, right?
18:30But that mic is what I'm going to give you the correlation to finding your light,
18:36finding the lens, the camera. If you're not in the camera, in the lens or in your light,
18:42you're not going to be seen or it's not going to be used. Just as well as being heard in that mic,
18:47the sound is not used. So all the great work that you use, and this is actors, when you sometimes see an edit,
18:53this is one reason on sometimes when you see an edit and you put something into a performance and it didn't land
19:00or make it as you would have hoped it to be, it could have been something that you did not correctly do technically.
19:08It's not to say that it was bad performance, but it could have been a technical reason on why that performance could not be used.
19:13And in this situation, that sound would have been terrible for you. So all your coverage would not have been used.
19:20Right? So just think about that just technically. But great job. I loved your approach to that.
19:25And can I just add to what Anthony said, and this is something for you actors.
19:30Sound is everything. Because let me tell you, not only will you end up on the cutting room floor,
19:36but then you could end up costing production a whole lot of money trying to clean up the sound because you weren't projecting.
19:43Or reshoots. Or reshoots.
19:45I just want to add to that too, with all of the self tapes that are being used, which is kind of where the business has gone.
19:52You don't have to spend a lot of money going to a studio and doing a professional kind of tape.
19:58Just make sure whatever your setup is at home has the lighting so we can see you and the mic so we can hear you.
20:05Those are the two main things. And your backdrop should just be blank, plain, so we're not distracted by what's behind you.
20:12And just focused on you. That's all I wanted to add.
20:15Amazing. Y'all did an amazing job. Thank you so much. You're so funny.
20:21You did great. You're so funny. Thank you.
20:24Great job. I loved your dry approach to it. I love that. It just made it great. It was awesome.
20:31You know, that's just a different, different approach and different version and it works. So great job. Thank you.
20:36Aw, give them a hand everyone. So wait, we have one more. Where are you?
20:41Look, I hope y'all ready. Y'all ready? Did y'all get those notes?
20:48Yes. Yeah. Can we give them a round to you guys?
20:59Just thank you guys for being here. I mean, you guys could be anywhere on a Friday in the rain and you chose to be here with us at Essence Hollywood House. Thank you.
21:09Okay. What are your names?
21:18Um, hi, I am Gabrielle Gulledge, a graduate of Hampton University.
21:22Hi. Hey.
21:23Hampton University. My name is Ali Khan, uh, Loachin, from the Bay Area.
21:29Hey.
21:32All right. Well, let's see what you got.
21:38Shit.
21:39Couldn't wait.
21:42Shoot. I can almost go a week without food.
21:48Mmm.
21:51Does it make you a bad person?
21:56I mean.
22:02Mmm.
22:03Now I'll say this, mmm.
22:05And this ain't worth making a fool of yourself in public. That's for sure.
22:07Mmm-hmm.
22:08Mmm-hmm.
22:09Mmm-hmm.
22:10Mmm-hmm.
22:11Mmm-hmm.
22:12Well, when you're hungry.
22:13Mmm, you ain't gotta tell me. Mmm-hmm.
22:15Now, you see, now I'll tell you, I can tell you who could bake they ass off. You know, that's our Honey. Okay? Owner of Aunt Honey's soul food. Okay? She put these people to shame. Mmm-hmm.
22:24Oh, yeah. Well, where is it? I'll have to try it.
22:29Mmm-mmm. Mmm-mmm.
22:31See, you gentrifieds don't know nothing about what this neighborhood used to be like.
22:36See, Aunt Honey's used to be right here. Okay? Before this white lady and her downward dog invaded, I would ride my bike down here every day and take Aunt Honey's trash. Okay?
22:49She would pay me in day-old biscuits. Tasted like Jesus made them himself.
22:56You lived here.
22:57Born and raised.
22:58Mmm-hmm.
22:59See, uh, you got Dave's Hardware Store. That's where I got the wood to build my first treehouse. Mm-hmm. Okay? Okay. Now, see, we got F&M's, where I used to steal, get all my candy from. Mm-hmm. Okay?
23:12Okay, now, look. And we got Bubbles Liquor Stove, where I drank my first beer and kissed my first girlfriend. Okay? Right over there. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
23:23Wow. Enjoy.
23:25Mm-hmm. I will. Mm-hmm. Oh, and next time, maybe not the ones with the gooey stuff inside. It freaks me out.
23:33Mm-hmm.
23:42Whew. Thanks for letting me, uh, use your bathroom again. You know, them brand muffins, they do something special for a man, okay? Not quite like a woman, but close. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
23:56Now, see, what that yoga lady want to get rid of me, I'm sure. Mm-hmm. See, these bougie-ass store people always harassing me like I don't belong here when they was too damn scared to even come here in their damn car, okay?
24:13Now, see, they act like they own it. I swear they ain't happy till they take something away from a motherfucking person, okay?
24:19Well, Mr. Willie, I enjoy your presence and your story. Please come back soon and share more.
24:34Mm-hmm. I will. Mm-hmm. Thank you. Oh, and, uh, by the way, I accidentally, uh, shit in your sink. Y'all have a good night now, okay? Thank you.
24:46That was amazing. Let's hear from Anthony.
24:57Nice work. Really good. Um, it was fun. I love seeing different perspectives and different approaches to the, to the character and the scenes and all that. Like, it's really refreshing.
25:06Because it really just helps even myself to kind of really, really see the complexity of the character and it's really great.
25:13It just shows you that there's more, you know, it's so subjective in a way. So, again, once, don't take it personal when you get a no.
25:20Because it just can be some other reason. It's not necessarily a performance. Um, just segue into that. But, brother, I like what you did.
25:28One thing to think about is, in comedy, I feel the best comedy is the comedy that has heart. And that's sometimes the drama in the scene, right?
25:38And it's the important, the importance to really figure out to find that drama and to shift gears into that drama, you know?
25:46And you can play it different colors, different ways, but it's just that moment when he starts talking about what has changed and what hurts him.
25:52You know, he's been looking for something and he wants something and he completely keeps finding himself out, you know?
25:59Disconnected and pushed out and not with anything, you know? And it's just, oh, you want to, I want to feel that.
26:04You need to make me really feel that emotion. So, it's a moment to really kind of put the comedy aside, right?
26:10And just lean into that drama so you can really find the emotion in the humanity and the character. Great job.
26:18Um, really nice. I would just, would love to see you bring more energy to it. Because I liked your approach.
26:24You know, comedy, again, is an ability just to, sometimes my note is just faster and funnier. You know?
26:30And it's just translating that in a sense of just moving through it, you know? It's in the words.
26:35You don't have to think about it or lean into it too much. It's there, you know?
26:39So, have confidence in that. And it'll allow you some freedom to just get lost in it, you know?
26:45But you did great with the time that you had. Thank you.
26:48Wow. What a beautiful blessing. Thanks, you guys. You did an amazing job.
26:55I'm just curious. I would love to see someone do a monologue on the fly.
27:00Do you have time for like a one-minute monologue?
27:03Yeah. I want y'all to raise your hand. Who has a one-minute monologue ready?
27:09Comedy or drama. Ready. Every actor should have one in their pocket.
27:12Don't play. Angela Bassett still has.
27:14Don't get up here and embarrass yourself. Every single act.
27:18Amazing. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Wait, wait, wait.
27:20Which, which, she was the first one. This woman right here.
27:24Okay. Well, one minute. She jumped up.
27:28Time for three. We got one minute.
27:30You have a monologue ready?
27:33It's a poetry, though. No, no, no. I said monologue.
27:36It's a poetry monologue conversation.
27:39What you think, Robbie?
27:41We can do it. If you get one minute, we'll see. If you go over, we'll cut you.
27:45Oh, we still have a little bit of time. Yeah, we do.
27:47Ooh, we might be able to get two. Let me just tell y'all something.
27:51One thing every actor needs to have ready, period, is a monologue.
27:56That's one minute. Okay.
27:58Was that one minute? Did she just read?
28:01I'm kidding. And let's go.
28:05Are we wrong for asking for equality?
28:08I mean, can I at least go to the store without you bothering me?
28:13Earn success without you discrediting me?
28:16Racism is a prodigy of Satan's philosophy.
28:20Still killing, destroying, and dividers entirely.
28:23Conspiring.
28:25A world without minorities.
28:27Directed by pedophiles and authority who only tend to the majority
28:30and never once supported me.
28:32Nevertheless, afforded me my birthrights, justice, and liberties.
28:36Enticing hopelessness.
28:38And using their privilege for immunity.
28:41Shit, I'm still trying to figure out how my tax dollars are employing my enemies.
28:45You made it clear to me that you ain't kin to me.
28:48You'd rather kill me in the streets than sit next to me.
28:51I mean, we can't even coexist in society without you positioning yourself to look down on me.
28:56It wasn't enough that you stripped me from the motherland and took the crown off me.
29:00Just to make a pretty dime off me?
29:03It's incriminating when I smoke weed, yet we have politicians administering unauthorized hysterectomies.
29:10Make that shit make sense to me.
29:12We obviously need to shift our value systems and priorities.
29:15Because from my point of view, it's looking like a whole lot of white noise and hypocrisy.
29:20Walking around projecting your insecurities.
29:22How delusional of you to think that I'm responsible for your lack of self-esteem and anxiety.
29:27So consumed in all that bitter envy.
29:30You don't even see how you've been conditioned to live a life of bigotry.
29:33And yeah, I'm gonna speak up every time I don't like how you're talking to me.
29:38Because no, I will not address you as if you're some deity.
29:42I don't mind to feel deceit's meant to direct and protect our society.
29:47So when y'all done, flexing y'all little frail egos, y'all think we can get back to this democracy?
29:54Thank y'all.
29:59What is your name?
30:01It's not a monologue right here.
30:03It's amazing.
30:07Tell us your name in a mic, so we know who you are.
30:11My name is Naya Mahi, you guys.
30:13I am a visual artist.
30:15I have an art book.
30:16I'm a poet.
30:17I'm a writer.
30:18And I'm a social activist.
30:20And I love my people.
30:21Hey, let's give her a hand.
30:23That's beautiful.
30:24That's what you call being ready, sis.
30:27Okay.
30:28Let me tell you.
30:29That's what I'm talking about.
30:30So should we do a little Q&A?
30:33Do we have time for one question, two questions?
30:35No?
30:36All right.
30:37So give us one.
30:38Okay.
30:39Let's have one question.
30:40It's a question, right?
30:41Oh, no, no.
30:42I want to do the monologue.
30:43Oh, no, no.
30:44We have time for a question.
30:45One question.
30:46A question.
30:47Oh, this mic is intense.
30:48Okay.
30:49Hi, y'all.
30:50My name is Toni.
30:51I am a post-production story producer, archival producer.
30:52And I also have a collective called Queens of Production, where I help to advocate, educate
31:08those who want to get into industry.
31:10I think the biggest thing for me in regards to mainly focusing on the DEI initiatives.
31:18I know that there's with the writer's strike happening.
31:21I know that with mergers happening, a lot of shows are getting canceled left and right.
31:25And a lot of opportunities are not being open.
31:28For my questions for both of you, how do you feel with the state of the industry right
31:34now?
31:35Do you think that there is going to be more of, where do you see more improvement in regards
31:41to bringing more of us into the forefront, like your position as a casting director?
31:46For you as a director, how are we able to give more spaces like us to give, to bring more
31:52of us into the pipeline?
31:55I think that, well, I think we've definitely come a long way.
31:59I believe that one of the things that is necessary is that we are aware and conscious of it, right?
32:06And that our, we have to be intentional and deliberate about our efforts.
32:11And don't assume that someone else is thinking about us the way we think about us.
32:16And, you know, perceive our, you know, each other.
32:21So, I think, you know, having folks that look like us in positions that, you know, can make decisions
32:28is one, you know, way to do it.
32:31And once people are in those positions, supporting them, too.
32:36Yeah.
32:37I would echo what Robbie said.
32:39You know, participation and support is necessary.
32:42It's supporting these events.
32:44What Essence does, keep supporting, tell people.
32:48So, next year and the following years, it continues to be successful and useful and productive, right?
32:54So, it's a beneficial thing.
32:56And so, I think it's being able to make relationships, you know, be, the visibility is so important
33:03just in terms of getting out there, being confident to open your mouth.
33:08You're closed mouth and you're getting fake, right?
33:10You know, so I think it's being able to come to the mic and say things, you know, to bring,
33:15even elevate a consciousness that's already there that can continue to, you know, magnetize itself into the space
33:23and the universe so that way it continues to, you know, multiply.
33:28But it's just a matter of, you know, everyone has an ability to do something these days.
33:33I think, you know, in terms of not waiting, I think let's be proactive with stuff.
33:37You know, social media has purposes and beneficial uses.
33:42You know, I think it's being able, you know, I was talking to someone earlier and they wanted to make a transition into,
33:48from being a playwright into scripted television and film.
33:52And it's like, there are, if you don't have representation, one way to do it is to put yourself out there.
33:58Like, but when you're doing it, be careful on what you're saying about yourself.
34:04Curate your page, your social media platforms.
34:08Don't have, you know, it's tricky because you want to, some people want to use it for just to be a vehicle for, you know,
34:19their perspective on things and that's fine, you know, but next, tomorrow night you want to be in the club,
34:26dropping it, you know, bouncing all over your, and I'm not judging anyone, but I'm just saying this to think about how you present yourself.
34:34Because if you're using that platform as a way or a vehicle or a vessel for people to learn about you,
34:40what are you saying about yourself that you're trying to make other people, you know, aware of?
34:46So there's so many ways on how to do it, you know, I think, but it's important.
34:50I think we're doing it right now, you know, continuing.
34:53So thank you Essence for doing that and allowing us this space to continue to share our voices and love and support.
35:01Thank you for answering my question.
35:03Thank you all so much for being here today.
35:06And again, you know we have the Essence Film Festival happening at Essence Fest.
35:10If any of you have a short film, a script, or anything you'd like to, you know, submit,
35:16please go to Essence.com and you can find our page for you to submit your work.
35:23And just thank you guys so much for being here.
35:25Give yourselves a hand.
35:26And let's give a hand to Anthony and to Robbie Reed and Anthony Hemingway.
35:32Thanks, you guys.
35:39Give it up one more time for that.
35:53Bye.
36:13Bye.
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