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00:00Motherland, and we'll keep innovating and creating new centers that help you get the life.
00:05It is great to know how to set up the day.
00:07I'm going to sell on to the pageant table.
00:10You can see what I see here on the pageant table.
00:12Brain, twist, block, man, balance, all day to day, every day.
00:16We are here.
00:30I'm going to sell on to the pageant table.
01:00So please, have a seat, sit around.
01:03My name is DJ Tracy Steele, probably at Tracy Steele.
01:06I'm not probably going to tell you if you're going to get the tickets at Tracy Steele.
01:11Try to run this next week.
01:13When you get these tickets, you're welcome.
01:42Bye bye.
04:49This is Beauty Carnival!
04:58How are you guys feeling?
05:01You guys look so amazing!
05:04My name is Chassidy Saunders, and I'm a plus-size bottle actress and host,
05:08and I am so, so excited about this next meal.
05:12Are you guys ready for what's bulky, beautiful, and Hollywood?
05:16Yeah?
05:16So this next conversation I'm so excited about is going to be talking about
05:21the mass spectrum of beauty represented in today's next Hollywood landscape
05:27and what it means for the next generation of Hollywood vocals.
05:31I'm so excited about my panelists that are going to be joining me up here today as well.
05:34So please welcome to the stage Senior Vice President of Creative here at This Is,
05:41okay, Tori Svelts and actor Armand Fields.
05:46Let's get it started.
05:57Let's get it started, y'all.
05:59First of all, let's talk about how amazing Tori and Armand look.
06:03I mean, come on!
06:05This is Beauty Carnival, so you guys already know how we were coming today, right?
06:10Our plaque is beautiful and it's bold, and we're so excited to be here.
06:14So guys, let's just hop right into it.
06:17I don't think it's going to answer one.
06:19So diversity and inclusion in Hollywood and being entertainment at large, you know,
06:24it's a lot going on with us in the media, right?
06:28So in regards to this topic, what do you guys think the state of today's ministry says about
06:32what's to come in the future?
06:35Because it's already changing, right?
06:36We're already a part of the change.
06:38But what do you think what's happening says about what's to come in our future in Hollywood?
06:43So I'll keep saying, and I know what you mean, you say diversity and inclusion, right?
06:49But I'm really, in essence, it's really all about well, right?
06:54And I want to make sure that when we're talking about diversity and inclusion here at Essence,
06:59it's about the communities, right?
07:02And that our students, Black people, right?
07:04Supporting us because when you talk about diversity and inclusion from a corporate standpoint, right?
07:09You know what that means.
07:10And that's covering, you know, women, um, um, you know, Asians and everyone.
07:18But couples were a little bit different, which is a lot.
07:22Absolutely.
07:23Right?
07:23Absolutely.
07:24And that's what it's like, it's about putting up a black square.
07:27You're actually putting some action behind it.
07:29Yes.
07:30And so what I will say is that with the looking now, right, with the nuances and the, you know,
07:36range of black creatives that are coming out from celebrities and kind of terrorists to
07:41just creatives, right, um, we're in a really great place for the future where it's not going
07:47to, it's almost going to be more of a noir, right?
07:49You know, it doesn't necessarily seem to someone out always, right?
07:53But I want to make sure that even if it does it in the noir, we're still highlighting it in
07:58a real way, right?
07:58So I'm right here as a, you know, this beautiful pathway, right, from the way to, like, this
08:04inclusion of everyone, I just want to make sure that we're all of them, we're forcing
08:07these companies and going into the town of all, right?
08:10Yes.
08:10And so, you know, the priority of what it's going to be just, I'm glad there's going to be
08:15all the ones that are, you know, starting these trends and really, you know, being the
08:19top leaders of all these conversations.
08:22Absolutely.
08:22Aren't we always the trendsetters?
08:24We've been the trends, right?
08:25And right here, this is, that's what we love about this, it's like, we're the only ones
08:30that actually put it out there first, and I love everything about that, so thank you.
08:34Well, see, and I think for the longest time, you know, Hollywood has seen us and recognized
08:43us and led us into some spaces, but now it's like, where's things you're like in all of the
08:50spaces, but now what's most important, I think, is that black people are in those positions
08:57now to create more opportunity to tell more diverse stories.
09:02Absolutely.
09:03So, for the longest time, we've had, like, one of the executives, green lighting shows
09:08and tell the stories about black queer individuals, but now we have black executive producers,
09:13we have black theater studios, we have black casting directors, we're saying that, like,
09:18no, we need these people that arise and represent this community to come in here and tell these,
09:22like, stories.
09:23Yeah.
09:24That's bullshit matters.
09:25Oh my gosh.
09:26That's bullshit matters.
09:27And we love that business is now bled on all the other things that we love as well.
09:32Yeah.
09:33So, we love the rich that just knows.
09:35Yeah, you love rich.
09:36Chad's rich.
09:37Um, Corey, so we all know that, you know, black people are mad at monoliths, but the rise
09:42of more black directors like we're just talking about in producers.
09:45The nuances of the culture are gradually being captured for the masses to digest.
09:50However, let's keep it real, Hollywood is still white dominant.
09:55Okay, so as senior vice president of creator and business, how can you ensure that the
10:02meaning that lies between the black community is depicted through the work they should do
10:05in your creative strategy?
10:07I think the biggest, right, and this is basically very simple, right?
10:11What is about being intentional, right?
10:13That's really what it all is about being intentional.
10:16And that's what each scene has, like, left for a very long time in these spaces, right?
10:22And when PA companies are covering, right, or highlighting black creators is that they
10:28don't really, they're not really intentional.
10:30They're just like, okay, this is my history month.
10:32Right.
10:33Let's grab, you know.
10:34Right, right.
10:35You just pop, right?
10:36You just pop right now.
10:38You want a little sale or something like that.
10:40Exactly.
10:41That's good enough.
10:42Yeah, and so, you know, for me, it's really still being intentional and thinking about,
10:46okay, making sure that we're not just checking things off the books or checking boxes,
10:51all of this, but really, you know, making sure that we're having people that speak to our vision,
10:58right, and making sure that we're covering the breadth of the podcast, right?
11:03Along with that, it's making sure that, you know, it's not as the head of creative, right?
11:08I also have to, you know, take credit to my team, you know, speaking for the people that
11:12you're wearing.
11:13You ain't remember so long, let me just stop for one second right there, because we're
11:16never doing this alone, right?
11:18All of us have so many people who do support us, and they're with us at all times, so having,
11:22like, the amazing team behind you is so important.
11:25Yeah.
11:26And giving them the authority, right, and the power to give suggestions and to give calls,
11:32because that's how you actually get that inclusive, you know, down path, right?
11:38So you make sure that everyone is giving an opinion on it.
11:41Yeah.
11:42And you guys are doing such a great job with InEssence.
11:43I mean, we're here at InEssence Festival.
11:44You guys are enjoying Disney Festival.
11:45I've had the most amazing time, especially now that we're coming back off of the pandemic.
11:58All of us are here.
11:59We're happy.
12:00We're healthy.
12:01We're celebrating each other.
12:02InEssence is the place, the hub, black girl magic, black boy joy.
12:05It's the black joy for me.
12:07And I just love, love, love hearing about your strategy with your team.
12:11I always look forward to all of the things that InEssence put on, whether it's black women
12:15in Hollywood, or Turned Fashion Week, or, you know, Hollywood House.
12:19There's so many amazing activations that InEssence does.
12:22It always keeps us in the know, you know what I mean?
12:25And keeping us happy and knowing that black people, we're idiots.
12:29We're the one and not the two.
12:31You know, no matter where we go in this space, like, we're all welcome.
12:35Like, no matter what activation outside of this, like, convention center or concert, like, we are never feeling like we're the only ones.
12:46Yeah.
12:47I mean, that's the thing.
12:48I mean, how many times have we walked into spaces and we're like, oh, I'm the only black person here.
12:53Oh, I'm the only person here.
12:54Too many times.
12:55You know what I'm saying?
12:56But it's like to come into a space where we are celebrating, where we are seen, where we are welcomed.
13:02I mean, this is the reverberating event.
13:05No, for sure.
13:06In our mind, that one is actually an actual question.
13:09How do you navigate in an industry that has not always been inclusive or accepting of the intersectionality of black and queer?
13:17And how does it feel to be a part of a production that is challenging the traditional beauty standards here in Hollywood?
13:24What?
13:25What?
13:26I know.
13:27That's the only one.
13:29You know, it's interesting my career because I've always felt that I needed to downplay my queerness or my feminine traits.
13:37I always thought that I needed to be a certain size before I worked.
13:41It's TV and film.
13:42It's as young as I can't really sit down to, you know.
13:45Yeah.
13:46But.
13:47Same.
13:48It's a plus-ass quote on that.
13:49I know.
13:50I absolutely feel you on that.
13:51And so, it was one of those things where, until I just started living in my truth,
13:57and being comfortable with who I was as an aunt, as an actor, as a drag performer,
14:03and really, TV and film and all of these casting artists started paying attention to me.
14:09And I wasn't walking into a room apologizing for who I was.
14:13And when you walk into a room unapologetically-
14:16I don't give it up for that.
14:17I don't give it up for that.
14:18I don't give it up for that.
14:19I don't give it up for that.
14:20Absolutely.
14:21But when you walk into a room unapologetically you, authentically you, people sit up, they pay attention,
14:28and they see you, and they're like, oh, this person needs to be seen.
14:32This person needs to be in this room.
14:34In that respect, you know what I'm saying?
14:37Now, I mean, you have to work on the path, you have to do the training, you have to practice what you do,
14:44and you have to be ready.
14:45Like, preparation needs opportunity.
14:49And so, it was, like, until I was, like, fully started living my truth,
14:54and I started to, you know, do work in progress on showtime to the shy.
14:59Like, you know, on clear smoke on TV.
15:02It's like, yeah, go watch it.
15:03Go watch it, okay?
15:04Yeah, for some reason.
15:06But, I mean, getting to portray these characters empowered me.
15:11Because I was part of my, like, afraid to wear certain things, right?
15:18Certain ways and spaces.
15:20But getting to tell these stories and these fearless ass queer people who are just like,
15:25holy man, it empowered me.
15:27So, now, you know, we're getting to a space in Hollywood where they're not just looking at us to play the drag queen
15:37or to play the side king with the kitchen flips.
15:42You know what I mean?
15:43But they're friends.
15:44They're seeing us.
15:45They're not just being, you know, the third one or the funny one or whatever they want to say about us.
15:51When they're, you know, having these people, oh, okay, you can be this one or that one, but you can't be the lead
15:56or you can't be the love interest.
15:57Not anymore.
15:58Not anymore.
15:59And Queerspoke was great because they listened to me when it came to building my character.
16:05I told them I wanted a partner.
16:08I told them that I wanted my partner to be black.
16:11And they listened.
16:12And I think because...
16:13And being old enough, hello, only beautiful Hollywood to actually ask for what you want.
16:19Maybe.
16:20It's scary.
16:21Because, you know, it's funny.
16:22People are like, we're done.
16:23And I want to get these amazing opportunities where I just sit there.
16:26And be real.
16:27Yeah.
16:28You know what I'm saying?
16:29Because there's only room for one.
16:30And two.
16:31And it's not true.
16:32Especially now when we're taking ownership and creating for ourselves.
16:36So, yes, yes, yes, yes.
16:37And, like, so I came into this production.
16:41The makeup wasn't great.
16:42The...
16:43It was just...
16:44It was...
16:45I was able to speak up.
16:47And I was able to give Macy Marcus in Chicago her first, like, TV show.
16:51And I was like, she does incredible work.
16:54We need to get her and you listen to me.
16:56You know what I'm saying?
16:57You know what I'm saying?
16:58And just when it came to the outfit side more.
17:01Like, there's a scene in this season where my character is buying a business.
17:05And I said, okay, but this is important.
17:08We have a black queer person buying a business in New Orleans.
17:11Like, buying a black guinea bar.
17:14You know what I'm saying?
17:15Yeah.
17:16So, like, I wanted to make sure that my costume represented the culture.
17:19He was saying, like, I'm black as fuck.
17:21Have you ever seen that?
17:22Oh, yeah.
17:23You know what I'm saying?
17:24You know what I'm saying?
17:25You know what I'm saying?
17:26You know what I'm saying?
17:27Like, you know, and it was just so important.
17:29And that was, like, key.
17:31And so, it was...
17:33And it couldn't have happened.
17:35You know what?
17:36So many other people not being in the way for me.
17:39You know what I'm saying?
17:40Absolutely.
17:41Because speaking of people leaving the way,
17:43we have so many amazing creators that are doing that.
17:46Like, the Issa Rae is a plural.
17:47We've seen so many, of course.
17:49I mean, so many.
17:51Like, and I know that Issa recently announced that she always makes sure now that her staff
17:57is at least 60% diverse.
17:59So, I want to know, like, what are other ways you guys feel like we can make sure that we're
18:03keeping that diversity flow going, Corey?
18:05You know, this is, you know, and being on a show that is so diverse.
18:09Like, how do we keep that happening?
18:12I think, you know, it's quite that pressure and keeping, you know, everyone responsible
18:19for it.
18:20You know, it's nice to do that for the past two years when, you know, please shoot someone
18:25down on the street.
18:26You know, shoot a black man down on the street.
18:28You know, but I think it's about doing it when there isn't something right to it, when
18:32there isn't a travesty attached to it, right?
18:34It's really just making it a norm, and it's kind of been into those, those, like, the,
18:41like, what am I, what am I, what am I, what am I talking about?
18:44Kind of like in the fabric of it all.
18:46Yeah, it's like a culture of the company.
18:48Yeah.
18:49And, like, the, you know, the, you know.
18:52It starts there.
18:53It starts there, where it's like, this is what we're going to do from a country from the
18:57beginning.
18:58So there's no question of, like, well, what happened?
19:00How did we miss it?
19:01You know?
19:02Absolutely.
19:03And I think, too, it's like, we recognize that nobody can do what we do.
19:07Nobody can do what we do.
19:08Nobody can do what we do.
19:09I just said, okay, like, what do you have to do?
19:12I'm giving that again to the people that are writing.
19:13Nobody can do what we do.
19:15Nobody can do what we do.
19:16Right.
19:17Nobody can play our plan or launch a good project or whatever, like, we can.
19:21So it's just like, when they see that, it's like, okay, well then you need to plus.
19:25And I know what I'm talking about.
19:27When I say that we need to do this, we need to bring this person in.
19:30We need to make sure that there's somebody in the department that looks like me.
19:34You know what I'm saying?
19:36So, yeah.
19:37Absolutely.
19:38And another thing that is literally with black ownership.
19:42Right.
19:43To make sure that we're at the top.
19:45Right.
19:46We know black women fought over this pandemic.
19:48We're the fastest growing number of entrepreneurs.
19:51So give it up for yourselves.
19:53For me.
19:54Yes.
19:55I just love it.
19:56I got to meet the mayor of New Orleans.
19:58And she talks about all of the different things that they're implementing so that black
20:01businesses can actually benefit all of businesses as well.
20:05Because for so many years, it wasn't being circulated here.
20:08So I just love seeing how we're moving forward as a culture all together.
20:11And how many folks out there do we have that are inspiring to be in Hollywood or inspiring
20:17to be a creative?
20:18Do we have some?
20:19Yeah.
20:20Yeah.
20:21So I want to ask you guys if you could just give some advice to people that want to be
20:27singing where you're sitting one day.
20:28Because first of all, congratulations to you both because this is major.
20:31But how can the people out there that are inspiring to be in your scene reach those goals?
20:37Boldly.
20:39I want to let you know.
20:40Okay.
20:41Let's go.
20:42Let's go.
20:43Let's go.
20:44Let's go.
20:45Let's go.
20:46School uprising.
20:47There are extensiveами.
20:48Many people in Hollywood who want to see few people out there.
20:51I just want you guys to give them some takeaway of how they can pursue the dream and, you know,
20:58be successful in it.
20:59Yeah, and I'm getting 100 with y'all.
21:01There is.
21:02No, there's going to be doubt.
21:03The creeps in.
21:04There's going to be fear...
21:06I wrestled with that even in my position.
21:09But, like, for some reason, I call it God.
21:15You call it your heart of God whenever you need to.
21:17But there is a vision that has God placed in me that is so much more important.
21:23Because sometimes I'm just like, really, God?
21:24Like, I'm here dragging in the dirt, but they still want me to continue to do this.
21:28And God is like, yes.
21:30And I'm like, okay.
21:31And God places people in my life that lift me up and support me.
21:35Like, I have two amazing women here that are, like, my rocks.
21:38And it's just, like, surround yourself with people who don't think their vision is crazy.
21:44You know what I'm saying?
21:45Because there will be people that doubt you.
21:47There will be people that are naysayers.
21:49But, like, don't give up because there's a vision in you even when you feel, like, awful.
21:54It's lost.
21:55Like, just, I'm here because of perseverance and prayer.
21:58Like, you know, I mean, sometimes I think it's blind and it's you.
22:03And sometimes I'm just like, I have no idea.
22:06I'm feeling in the dark.
22:07I'm feeling in the dark, but I'm feeling in the dark, but I'm feeling in the dark for a reason.
22:11So I'm just sitting here and I'll eventually find it.
22:15You know what I'm saying?
22:16And they find me.
22:17But it's just like, don't give up.
22:20I'll give up when I'm 39 years old about to be 40.
22:22I'm still a good one.
22:23I love being so young and beautiful.
22:25I mean, you're so very young and beautiful.
22:27I'm just a good one.
22:28You're holding me that big thing.
22:29There's no way.
22:30I'll be giving up my senior career resume at full 39.
22:34But, you know, you just stick with it.
22:38You know what I mean?
22:39And just continue to hone the craft.
22:42You know what I mean?
22:43To be the sponge.
22:44To be the student.
22:45Stay green.
22:46You know what I'm saying?
22:47I'm always learning.
22:48I always look forward to my next job because I'm like, okay, like, I'm ready to learn something new.
22:54Turn to my team.
22:55Sounds like a great point.
22:57I have a great answer.
22:59I would say that the biggest thing about making sure that, you know, if you're looking to go into this path or whatever path you've been going to,
23:06find someone whose career path, right, is something that maybe it's what you like to do.
23:12And kind of follow that, right?
23:14Under full speed to it.
23:15But follow that, right?
23:16Tap into them.
23:17Reach out to them, right?
23:19Follow that career path because that's what you do.
23:22Because if it worked for them, right, it's going to work for you until some point where you have to do it.
23:27You may have to do it through your own way.
23:29Right.
23:29But tap into that person.
23:31So not human, it's eating with him, you lady.
23:33Exactly.
23:33Use it as a blueprint.
23:35I love it.
23:35Yes.
23:36I think that's what I did.
23:38You know, I had a lot of mentors that I looked up to, right?
23:41But I didn't have, you know, the big team mentors are in the line.
23:45But, you know, I followed my path and basically came across them, right?
23:49And then to that space that we were in, right?
23:52And then to the end of the moment, then I had to, like, figure out what, you know, right?
23:57And what makes sense for me.
23:58Yeah.
23:59And I would love to hear that too, because life, and that's the thing, you're having that awareness that it's blueprinting being made.
24:06Because if you have that awareness, it may not look like someone else's, but you know that it's being made, like something's happening, you know what I'm saying?
24:12Like, I remember in 2018, I quit my job to pursue the parenting and drag both home.
24:18Wow.
24:18And I love myself.
24:19I love that.
24:20And you know, you have to take those things away.
24:23You do.
24:23You really have to be called.
24:25And you have to listen and be still.
24:28And that was the thing.
24:28I was still, and I listened.
24:30And I was like, okay, God, I'm going to take this huge risk and just step away from this, like, you know, bubble job.
24:36Yeah.
24:36And I grabbed my little drag suitcase, and I was up and down in Chicago, like, you know, boys and I were doing every competition that I could.
24:45Yeah.
24:45And I made a name for myself in that scene.
24:48And it was just like, and then from there, I was able to build on it.
24:50And, like, after that year, I'm just like in the trenches, like, Chicago fire.
24:54And it was just like, no, no, no, no, no.
24:55Yeah.
24:56But it's just like, there was no real blueprint for me.
24:59I'd seen, like, the drag race girl.
25:01Those are seen, you know, like, some drag queens on TV.
25:04But I also had to realize that I was like, I'm just even a mile away.
25:08You know what I'm saying?
25:08But I will, like you said, take little bits from here, little bits from there, and, like, figure out what breath needs for me.
25:16What makes it to my, like, James Hopper or something.
25:19I love it.
25:20You guys, I could literally sit up here and talk to these guys all day.
25:24And hours and hours and hours.
25:28So we have to let you guys go shortly.
25:30I just want you guys to say, give it up to yourselves, okay?
25:34Thank you guys so much for being here.
25:36And one more time for my panelists as well.
25:39Corey Sox and Armand Fields.
25:42I'm so excited.
25:43I'm so excited.
25:46Thank you, you guys.
25:46It's totally beautiful in Hollywood.
25:49That's what we're doing here in Innocence.
25:51And we hope that you guys walk away being more bold from hearing from us today.
25:55Love you guys so much.
25:56Enjoy the rest of the festival.
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