NAACP+ Inside The Industry

The Woman Behind the NAACP Image Awards for 22 Years Finally Tells the Inside Story

NAACP+ — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Every year, millions of people watch the NAACP Image Awards and celebrate Black excellence in entertainment. But have you ever wondered how it all actually comes together?

In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, host Ariana Drummond sits down with Robin Harrison — Vice President of the NAACP Hollywood Bureau and the woman who has been producing the NAACP Image Awards for over 22 years — for an inside look at the Image Awards like never before.

Robin breaks down:

→ How submissions actually work and what every filmmaker, creator, and label needs to know before the deadline

→ What the nominating committee is, who's on it, and how nominees are actually selected → Why there is absolutely no grace period on the submission deadline — and what happens in the two weeks after it closes

→ The full Image Awards Week calendar — from the nominees luncheon to the fashion show to the after-party — and why it's so much more than just one night

→ How the Hollywood Bureau operates with a team of 6 to produce one of the biggest nights in Black entertainment

→ Why the Image Awards was created in the early 60s and why it is more necessary now than ever

→ What makes the Image Awards different from every other award show — including the Oscars, the Emmys, and the Grammys

→ The resources the Hollywood Bureau offers to filmmakers and creators of color right now

→ The Viola Davis moment that Robin says she will never forget and why it captures exactly why she does this work

→ What she hopes the Image Awards looks like in another 60 years

This episode is for every creator, filmmaker, and industry professional who has ever wanted to know what's really going on behind the curtain.

️ Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations

Guest: Robin Harrison — Vice President, NAACP Hollywood Bureau; 22-Year Producer, NAACP Image Awards

New episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one.

Watch more Inside the Industry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807

Learn more about NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus

#InsideTheIndustry #NAACPPlus #RobinHarrison #NaacpImageAwards #ImageAwards #BlackExcellence #HollywoodBureau #ArianaDrummond #BlackCreatives #ImageAwards58 #BlackEntertainment #NaacpHollywood #AwardsSubmissions #BlackAwards #representationmatters

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Opening: Why the Image Awards Still Matters
(00:00:24) - Welcome & Introduction
(00:01:17) - Being a Producer Who's Now in Front of the Camera
(00:01:41) - 22 Years at the Image Awards and What Has Changed the Most
(00:03:29) - What Robin Harrison Actually Does: The Hollywood Bureau Explained
(00:04:29) - How She Got Here: From D.C. Event Producer to NAACP Full Time
(00:06:34) - Why the Image Awards Exists and What Makes It Different From Every Other Show
(00:09:15) - Submissions: How It Works, Deadlines, and How to Make Your Project Stand Out
(00:12:15) - From Nominations to Show Night: The Full Timeline Explained
(00:13:55) - Image Awards Week: Every Event From Start to Finish
(00:16:02) - What Is Actually Running Through Her Mind on Show Night
(00:18:29) - Why the Image Awards Feels Like a Family Reunion
(00:19:27) - The Resources the Hollywood Bureau Offers Creators Right Now
(00:21:20) - Legacy, Growth & What 22 Years of This Work Has Built
(00:23:06) - Advice for Creators Who Don't Think Their Project Can Compete
(00:25:58) - The Moment She Will Never Forget and Why She Does This Work
(00:28:04) - Inside Your Industry Bag (Game)

From TikTok to Ryan Coogler's Red Carpet — Film Critic & Creator Juju Green (Straw Hat Goofy)

NAACP+ — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:00:00 +0000

He wasn't trying to become famous. Juju Green was working in advertising, talking about movies to anyone who would listen. And one night, his TikTok about Tom Holland breaking character in Avengers: Endgame went viral. That was just the beginning.

In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, host Ariana Drummond sits down with film critic, creator, podcaster, and voice actor Juju Green — better known as Straw Hat Goofy — for one of the most fun, honest, and genuinely insightful conversations in the series about what it actually takes to build a career out of pure passion in the digital age.

Juju gets into: → his love for film starting in his childhood — and how that became the foundation of everything he’s built → How he decides which films are worth his time to watch and review → Conversations with Ryan Coogler and Steven Spielberg— and why their cosign is the credential he's most proud of → Landing a debut voice acting role in Ruby Gilman: Teenage Kraken → Why knowing what you're NOT is just as important as knowing what you ARE → Signing with CAA and the advice he gives every independent creator about building a team → The debate over creators vs. journalists on red carpets → How TikTok, iHeartMedia, and what he’s building is all part of a bigger plan → What keeps him going when the algorithm is not cooperating, and the numbers aren't there

This episode is for every creator who's been told that what you've been building isn't enough to be a real career.

️ Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations

Guest: Juju Green (Straw Hat Goofy) — Film Critic, Content Creator, Podcaster, Voice Actor; iHeartMedia, CAA

New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one.

Watch more Inside the Industry:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T

Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807

Learn more about NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus

#InsideTheIndustry #NAACPPlus #JujuGreen #StrawHatGoofy #FilmCritic #contentcreatortips #BlackCreators #TikTokFilm #ArianaDrummond #BlackCreatives #GetReelPodcast #iHeartMedia #CAA #BlackExcellence #MovieCritic

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Opening: Chase Integrity, Not the Algorithm
(00:00:30) - Welcome & Introduction
(00:01:57) - The Origin of Straw Hat Goofy and Where the Name Actually Came From
(00:03:24) - Half a Million Followers, Red Carpets & Ryan Coogler — Did He Ever See This Coming?
(00:05:10) - From Advertising Copywriter to Viral TikToker: How It Actually Happened
(00:07:31) - Building a Team, Signing With CAA & Advice for Independent Black Creators
(00:15:32) - Algorithm vs. Passion: Why He Walked Away From Spider-Verse Virality
(00:20:56) - The Real Work Behind Making Content and Managing the Comment Section
(00:22:42) - Creators vs. Journalists on Red Carpets: Where He Actually Stands
(00:27:00) - His First Film Role: Ruby Gilman, One Line, 45 Minutes in a Booth & Jane Fonda
(00:32:28) - Future-Proofing Your Career When Platforms Can Disappear Overnight
(00:34:13) - The Press Trip Story: What She Said, What He Said, and the Hyena
(00:38:25) - The Economics of Influencer Pay and Why It's More Complicated Than You Think
(00:41:38) - Get Reel Podcast, His Favorite Guest & What Hosting Taught Him About Himself
(00:46:38) - What Keeps Him Going When Nothing Is Working
(00:47:49) - Inside Your Industry Bag (Game)

The Woman Who Brought the Black Soap Opera Back — Beyond the Gates EP Sheila Ducksworth

NAACP+ — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 18:00:00 +0000

For over 25 years, there was no Black daytime soap opera on television. Sheila Ducksworth decided that was going to change.

In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, host Ariana Drummond sits down with Sheila Ducksworth — president of the CBS Studios NAACP venture, executive producer of Beyond the Gates, and influential architect in Black television — for a conversation about what it actually took to bring the first Black-led daytime soap opera in over 25 years from a childhood dream to network television. Sheila gets into:

→ How a conversation at her 5th college reunion changed the entire trajectory of her career — and led her to buy a one-way ticket to Los Angeles

→ What her father told her in the early 90s about work that she had never heard before and never forgot

→ How she spent three and a half years getting Beyond the Gates greenlit before a single camera rolled

→ The two-month sprint to build 27 sets from scratch — and how she snuck into country clubs in the DMV to get the look exactly right

→ Why she called her key team members years before they had a green light and asked them to trust her

→ What makes Beyond the Gates different from every other soap opera in the history of the genre

→ The cotillion episode, the HBCU storyline, and why cultural specificity is central to the show's mission

→ The Young and the Restless crossover that drew 1.8 million viewers — and what's coming next

→ What an executive producer actually does — and why the successful ones know how to do everything

→ What she wants television historians to write about Beyond the Gates 100 years from now → Her message to the Black girl watching right now who thinks her dream might be too big

This episode is for every creative who has been sitting on a dream for decades and wondering if it's finally time.

️ Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations

Guest: Sheila Ducksworth — Executive Producer, Beyond the Gates; President, CBS Studios NAACP Venture; Soul Food, Will Packer Media

New episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one.

Watch more Inside the Industry:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T

Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807

Follow NAACP+:

https://www.instagram.com/naacpplus/

https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Opening: Do Something You'd Do Even If You Weren't Getting Paid
(00:00:35) - Welcome & Introduction
(00:02:24) - What 10-Year-Old Sheila Would Think About the Life She Built
(00:03:30) - From Yale and Banking to Hollywood: The Origin Story
(00:06:24) - Working Every Side of the Industry and What Each Side Taught Her
(00:08:37) - What Owning Her Own Production Company Taught Her About Leading With Intention
(00:11:16) - What an Executive Producer Actually Does — The Full Breakdown
(00:12:43) - The CBS Studios NAACP Venture and the Conversation That Started Everything
(00:14:54) - Three and a Half Years to a Green Light: The Beyond the Gates Origin Story
(00:18:02) - Building the Show: The Team She Called Before Anyone Had Permission
(00:23:03) - The Country Club Set and the DMV Research Trip Nobody Knew About
(00:26:48) - Why Cultural Specificity Is Central to the Mission of the Show
(00:29:35) - The Cotillion Episode, the HBCU Storyline & Modernizing Black Tradition
(00:33:46) - The Young and the Restless Crossover,1.8 Million Viewers & What's Coming Next
(00:37:19) - What Having a Black Woman at the Helm Changes About What Makes It to Screen
(00:39:27) - Advice for Anyone Who Wants to Become a TV Producer Right Now
(00:43:17) - Legacy: What She Wants Historians to Write About Beyond the Gates in 100 Years
(00:44:46) - Her Message to the Black Girl Watching Right Now
(00:47:37) - Inside Your Industry Bag (Game)

All American Is Ending After 8 Seasons. The Woman Who Built It Is Finally Telling Her Whole Story

NAACP+ — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:32:12 +0000

Before she was one of the most powerful showrunners in Black television, Nkechi Okoro Caroll was stabilizing banking systems at the Federal Reserve by day, and writing plays in New York by night.

In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, host Ariana Drummond sits down with Nkechi Okoro Carroll — the showrunner and creator behind All American, All American: Homecoming, and Found, and one of the few Black women in history to have three shows running simultaneously on one network — for one of the most candid conversations about what it actually takes to run a show, protect your creative vision, and build something that lasts.

Nkechi gets into:

→ How she went from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to her first day in a TV writers' room without ever working as an assistant

→ Why she spent her vacation days doing background work on sets just to learn how a camera crew operates

→ What her mentor Gina Prince-Bythewood told her before her first day in a writers' room that changed everything

→ How Black Women Who Brunch went from 12 writers in her living room to 270 members and a Hollywood Reporter photo shoot

→ The origin story of Found — the anger that sparked it, the risk of putting a Black woman's kidnapper in her basement in the pilot, and why she never looked back

→ Why the All American franchise exists — and how her sons inspired every frame of it

→ What it felt like to be blindsided by Found's cancellation — and how she's still processing it

→ The collaborative pitch that became All American's most groundbreaking moment — and why it didn't come from her

→ How her background in economics and corporate America made her a better showrunner

→ What motherhood taught her about patience, leadership and grace under pressure

→ The project she created because she never got to attend an HBCU — and why she still wears the Brinkston swag everywhere she goes

→ What she's developing next — including a project with Onyx inspired by Governor Wes Moore's story

This episode is for every creative who ever took the unconventional path and wondered if it would work out.

️ Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations

Guest: Nkechi Okoro Carroll — Showrunner & Creator, All American, All American: Homecoming, Found; Rock My Soul Productions

New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one.

Watch more Inside the Industry:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T

Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807

Follow NAACP+:

https://www.instagram.com/naacpplus/

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Opening: Mentorship, Collaboration & Creating Your Own Path
(00:00:32) - Welcome & Introduction
(00:01:33) - From the Federal Reserve to Hollywood:The Origin Story
(00:03:36) - How Corporate America Made Her a Better Showrunner
(00:04:32) - Creating Her Own Masterclass: Background Work, Short Films & Breaking In Without the Traditional Path
(00:06:58) - What Theater Taught Her About Writing, Rewriting & Living in the Moment
(00:08:51) - First TV Credits and Walking Into a Writers Room for the First Time
(00:10:45) - What Gina Prince-Bythewood Told Her Before Day One That Changed Everything
(00:13:35) - Advice for Anyone Who Can't Find an Entry Point Right Now
(00:16:12) - Black Women Who Brunch: 12 Writers, One Living Room, 270 Members
(00:18:49) - On Mentorship, Representation & Why She Does It From the Heart
(00:20:21) - What the Industry Still Needs to Do for Black Women Behind the Camera
(00:23:03) - What Calls Her to a Project: Found All American & Writing From Anger
(00:25:28) - The Found Pilot: The Risk, the Testing & the Response That Blew Her Hair Back
(00:30:42) - Joining All American and Saying Yes Before She Was Ready
(00:34:52) - Why She Created All American: Homecoming and Built Her Own HBCU
(00:37:34) - Eight Seasons Later: Pride, Grief & Gratitude
(00:39:35) - What She Is Most Proud of Behind the Scenes
(00:41:45) - The Spencer Gets Shot Pitch and Why the Best Idea Didn't Come From Her
(00:44:27) - The Found Cancellation and What Came After
(00:46:18) - What's Coming Next: New Projects and Rock My Soul Productions
(00:47:51) - What She Wishes Someone Had Told Her and Why She's Glad They Didn't
(00:50:55) - Motherhood, Balance & the Village That Holds the Faith When You Can't
(00:54:46) - Legacy: Of Course You Can
(00:56:02) - Inside Your Industry Bag (Game)

He Grew up on The Chi. Now He's Building the Blueprint — Actor & Entrepreneur Shamon Brown Jr.

NAACP+ — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 18:00:00 +0000

He's been in front of the camera since he was five years old. Shamon Brown Jr. grew up on one of the most important Black shows on television. And now — at 21 — he's really getting started.

In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, host Ariana Drummond sits down with actor, recording artist, entrepreneur, and voice of Michelangelo, Shamon Brown Jr. — best known as Papa from Showtime's The Chi — for one of the most candid and genuinely inspiring conversations in the series so far.

Shamon gets into:

→ What it was like growing up on The Chi from age 12 to 21, and what those years took and gave him

→ The audition story behind booking Papa — six callbacks, a year and a half of silence, and then one final read

→ What Papa's journey across eight seasons taught him about his own capabilities as a human being

→ How he became the first Black teenager to voice Michelangelo in the Ninja Turtles franchise

→ The Ninja Turtles sequel coming to theaters — and why he says it hits even harder than the first one

→ Why he launched Shamonsta LLC — and what he's building across music, clothing, and entertainment consulting

→ His approach to financial literacy: saving a percentage of every check, even after he turned 18, as if the Coogan account never ended

→ Why he's teaching young people in Chicago about set etiquette, contracts, taxes, and how to build a team

→ His music — Juke in the Club, Chicago Girls, and why this is the year he's taking it all the way seriously

→ Advice for parents of child actors, young creatives trying to break in, and aspiring musicians who don't know where to start

→ What he wants his legacy to say when it's all said and done

This episode is for every young creative who has ever wondered if it was possible to build something real from nothing — and for every parent who believes in a kid the world hasn't discovered yet.

️ Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations

Guest: Shamon Brown Jr. — The Chi (Papa), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Michelangelo), Shamonsta LLC

New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one.

Watch more Inside the Industry:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T

Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807

Follow NAACP+:

https://www.instagram.com/naacpplus/

#InsideTheIndustry #NAACPPlus #ShamonBrownJr #TheChi #TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles #TMNT #NinjaTurles #Shamonsta #BlackCreatives #ArianaDrummond #ChicagoActors

#YoungBlackEntrepreneurs #BlackExcellence #ChildActor #MutantMayhem

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Opening: "Be 100% Into It"
(00:00:36) - Welcome & Introduction
(00:01:37) - Growing Up in the Industry: Starting at 5, Knowing at 8, and the Village That Built Him
(00:04:56) - Advice for Parents and Kids Who Want to Act
(00:07:17) - Chicago Roots: Disney Channel Dreams and Growing Up on the South Side
(00:08:08) - Early Audition Stories and Finding the Fun Before the Fame
(00:09:54) - Building a Team: Mom, Agent, and What Authentic Looks Like
(00:13:59) - The Chi Audition: Six Callbacks, 18 Months of Silence, and One Final Read
(00:15:50) - What The Chi Got Right About Chicago — and What's Still Missing
(00:19:39) - Papa: Who He Is, How He Grew, and What Eight Seasons Taught Shamon About Himself
(00:22:44) - Championing Black Stories On and Off Screen
(00:24:44) - The Chi Is Ending — and the Finale Is Going to Go Crazy
(00:25:50) - The Chi Family: Luke James, Jacob Latimore, and Found Family On Set
(00:28:40) - What It Means to Be Part of the Next Generation of Hollywood
(00:30:12) - Shamonsta LLC: Building a Pipeline for the Next Generation
(00:31:57) - Why Giving Back Has Always Been in His DNA
(00:33:21) - Ninja Turtles: How He Booked Michelangelo and What Voice Acting Taught Him
(00:40:51) - The Sequel Is Coming — and It Hits Harder
(00:42:42) - Music, Monsta Season & the Shamonsta Brand
(00:50:33) - Financial Literacy: Taxes, Coogan Accounts, and Saving Like Nobody's Watching
(00:53:42) - What Growing Up in the Industry Took From Him — and What It Gave Him Back
(00:58:26) - Fan Moments, Starstruck Stories & Meeting Phylicia Rashad on Set
(01:04:36) - Legacy: Being the Same Person With More Wisdom
(01:06:31) - Inside Your Industry Bag (Game)

Mario Van Peebles: New Jack City, His Father's Legacy & Why Black Stories Must Be Owned

NAACP+ — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:00:41 +0000

Thirty-five years after New Jack City changed Hollywood, Mario Van Peebles is still at it — and this conversation proves exactly why.

In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, host Ariana Drummond sits down with actor, director, writer, and producer Mario Van Peebles for one of the most wide-ranging, genuinely funny, and deeply important conversations in the series so far.

Mario gets into:

→ What it felt like to direct New Jack City for Warner Brothers at the same time his father, Melvin, made Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song the top-grossing independent hit of 1971 — twenty years apart, same game

→ The iconic turkey giveaway scene that almost didn't happen — and how a warehouse fire, rain, and some street hustle made it legendary

→ Why he cast Ice-T as the cop and Wesley Snipes as the gangster — and how he had to convince them both

→ How playing his own father in Baadasssss was "psychotherapy on celluloid"

→ The two questions he asked Melvin in the Mojave Desert after graduating from Columbia — and the answers that shaped everything

→ What his father taught him about joy, bitterness, and why "pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional"

→ His philosophy on building a 40-year career: love what you do, work with people you love, say something you love

→ Why Black storytellers controlling their own imagery is the most urgent issue in entertainment right now

→ The Huxtables, Obama, and the direct line between what we see on screen and what we believe is possible

→ Directing Nemesis for Netflix, Power's Raising Kanan, and what keeps him coming back to the Power universe

→ Why AI will never replace what happened on Lenox Avenue the day everything went wrong

→ His advice to every aspiring filmmaker, actor, and creative watching right now

This is the episode for anyone who has ever wondered what it means to build a legacy — and fight to protect it at the same time.

️ Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations

Guest: Mario Van Peebles — New Jack City, Posse, Panther, Baadasssss, Roots, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, Nemesis

New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one.

Watch more Inside the Industry:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807

Follow NAACP+:

https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus

#InsideTheIndustry #NAACPPlus #MarioVanPeebles #NewJackCity #MelvinVanPeebles #BlackCinema #PowerRaisingKanan #Nemesis #BlackDirectors #ArianaDrummond #BlackStorytelling #BlackExcellence #HollywoodInsider #BlackCreatives

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Opening: "Love what you do"
(00:00:35) - Welcome & Introduction
(00:02:18) - Where He Is Now: Nemesis, Raising Kanan & What Keeps Him Going
(00:05:32) - New Jack City at 35 — Then and Now
(00:07:35) - Growing Up Van Peebles: Mom, Dad & the Filmmaking Family
(00:11:33) - Playing His Father in Baadasssss & the Circle of Legacy
(00:15:08) - Two Questions in the Mojave Desert: What Melvin Taught Him
(00:18:55) - Spreading His Father's Ashes
(00:19:22) - Found Family, Collaboration & The Three Loves in Life
(00:21:48) - Why Black Storytellers Must Control Their Own Imagery
(00:25:00) - The Huxtables, Obama & What We Put on Screen Changes Everything
(00:26:13) - The Night a Stranger Spoke to Both Van Peebles at Once
(00:27:19) - New Jack City: Walking the Line Between Glorifying and Condemning
(00:30:47) - Acting vs. Directing: Job Seeking vs. Job Creating
(00:34:37) - Favorite Projects — As an Actor & As a Director
(00:39:07) - The Biggest Risk He Took With New Jack City
(00:43:07) - The Power Universe, Raising Kanan & His NAACP Image Award
(00:45:22) - How to Build a 40-Year Career in Hollywood
(00:50:10) - AI, Technology & the Magic That Can't Be Replaced
(00:52:22) - The Turkey Scene: Rain, a Warehouse Fire & Lenox Avenue
(00:56:04) - Advice for the Next Generation of Creatives
(00:57:52) - What He Wants the Van Peebles Name to Mean
(01:00:00) - Inside Your Industry Bag (Game)

Casting Is the First Act of Storytelling — The Woman Who Cast Black Hollywood | Robi Reed

NAACP+ — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Before Beyoncé was Beyoncé. Before Jamie Foxx was Jamie Foxx.Before Halle Berry won her Oscar. Someone saw them first. That someone is Robi Reed — and in this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, she finally steps into the spotlight.

Host Ariana Drummond sits down with Emmy Award-winning casting director and producer Robi Reed — one of two Black women in history to win an Emmy for casting, a Hampton University alumna, and the woman responsible for some of the most culturally defining films and television in Black Hollywood history.

Robi breaks down:

→ What a casting director actually does — from breakdown to callback to chemistry read

→ How she started calling herself a casting director at 15 before she ever became one, and why that mindset matters

→ The night she introduced Spike Lee to Ruth E. Carter and how that one moment changed everything

→ What it was like to cast School Daze, Malcolm X, Do the Right Thing, Love Jones, Set It Off, Soul Food, The Best Man, For Colored Girls, and all 125 episodes of In Living Color

→ Why casting is the first act of storytelling — and what happens when Black casting directors aren't in the room

→ The BET Experience Open Casting Call she created and why she built it

→ The biggest mistakes talented people make when they finally get in the room

→ Her audition advice: if it's not going right, just stop and start again — you don't need permission

→ What she would tell her younger self during every moment of self-doubt

→ Why you should never want to be the smartest person in the room

→ The Don King project that almost made her quit — and what stopped her

→ What she hopes never changes about the role of the casting director

This is the episode for every actor, every aspiring creative, and every person who has ever wondered who really decides who gets to be a star.

️ Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations

Guest: Robi Reed — Emmy Award-winning Casting Director

New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one.

Watch more Inside the Industry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807

Follow NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus

#InsideTheIndustry #NAACPPlus #RobiReed #CastingDirector #BlackHollywood #ArianaDrummond #BlackCreatives

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Speak it into existence — Robi's opening philosophy
(00:00:33) - Welcome to Inside the Industry
(00:01:00) - Robi Reed introduction
(00:02:18) - Fellow Hamptonians — the connection between Ariana and Robi
(00:02:44) - What it feels like to have shaped an era ofBlack cinema
(00:03:05) - The BET Experience Open Casting Call — what it is and why she created it
(00:05:23) - What she's actually looking for when people walk in
(00:06:06) - The craziest thing she's ever seen at an open call
(00:06:46) - The inspiration behind scaling an open casting call to this size
(00:07:11) - Before the credits — the dream that started at 15
(00:08:00) - How her brother's auditions planted the seed
(00:08:43) - The mentor who asked: " Do you love it or can't you live without it?"
(00:09:27) - Cold calls, interns, and how she got her foot in the door
(00:09:45) - What Hampton University did to her sense of what was possible
(00:11:46) - Did Hampton prepare her for Hollywood?
(00:12:15) - How she became one of the first Black women nominated and to win an Emmy for casting
(00:12:32) - Her very first project — and how she claimed the title before she earned it
(00:14:16) - What a casting director actually does (the full breakdown)
(00:17:36) - The skill set you need to be a great casting director
(00:18:33) - Her favorite projects and why
(00:19:46) - How Love Jones, Set It Off, and The Best Man got their authenticity
(00:20:35) - How she built the world of In Living Color from scratch
(00:21:29) - Casting is the first act of storytelling — what that means
(00:22:35) - What changes when Black casting directors aren't in the room
(00:22:53) - What has actually changed in Hollywood around diversity — and what hasn't
(00:24:48) - Advice for someone building industry relationships from nothing
(00:25:38) - What she wishes someone had told her earlier
(00:26:44) - Has she ever taken a chance on someone and been surprised?
(00:27:12) - The biggest mistakes people make when they get in the room
(00:28:46) - How her instincts shift between dramatic and comedic projects
(00:29:48) - Casting Terrence Howard in a sitcom — and why it worked
(00:30:06) - If she could change one structural thing about how Hollywood discovers Black talent
(00:31:29) - What legacy means to her
(00:32:11) - One thing she hopes never changes about this industry
(00:32:41) - Inside Your Industry Bag (game)
(00:35:08) - The Don King project that almost made her quit
(00:36:54) - Casting directors being added to the Academy
(00:37:30) - Final gems for anyone wanting to follow in her footsteps

50+ Shows. No Film School. How Tony McCuin Became One of TV's Most Powerful Live Directors

NAACP+ — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Most people have watched the NAACP Image Awards for years without knowing his name. Tony McCuin is the director who makes it all happen — and in this episode, he finally steps out from behind the camera.

In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, host Ariana Drummond sits down with an award-winning live television director, Tony McCuin — the man behind the NAACP Image Awards, Password with Keke Palmer, Big Brother, the Super Bowl, BET's Celebration of Gospel, Soul Train Awards, and over 50 major productions — for one of the most behind-the-scenes conversations we've ever had.

Tony breaks down:

→ What a live TV director actually does during a telecast while the show is happening in real time

→ Why the NAACP Image Awards "just hit different" and how he shoots it almost entirely in the round

→ The night Whitney Houston walked out, and he couldn't take the camera off her — not for a single reaction shot

→ What it felt like to be the first Black man directing Password — TV history in real time

→ How Big Brother taught him to let the audience pick the shots they wanted to see

→ The Deon Cole and Leslie Jones moment that went viral — and how he set it up in advance

→ His philosophy on protecting your talent – no matter what

→ Why he treats every act like its own separate little show

→ How he went from South Central to public access cable to the Super Bowl without ever going to college

→ "Pray Rich" — his spiritual philosophy that has carried him through 40+ years in television

→ The team of angels around him that keeps him going

This is the episode for every aspiring director, camera operator, and behind-the-camera creative who has ever wondered what it really looks like to command a live set.

️ Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations

Guest: Tony McCuin — NAACP Image Awards, Password, Big Brother, Super Bowl, BET Celebration of Gospel, Soul Train Awards

New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one.

️ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=a5a8e1df47ba4084

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807

Watch the full playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T&si=nge5yZhBmU8SIZ9D

Learn more about NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus

Follow Tony McCuin: https://www.instagram.com/tonymccuin/

Follow Ariana Drummond: https://www.instagram.com/arianad_pr/

#InsideTheIndustry #NAACPPlus #TonyMcCuin #LiveTV #NaacpImageAwards #BlackDirectors #BehindTheCamera #Password #BigBrother #WhitneyHouston #ArianaDrummond #BlackCreatives #TVDirector #EntertainmentIndustry #BlackExcellence

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Rule number one: protect the talent
(00:00:31) - Welcome to Inside the Industry
(00:01:26) - What it feels like to be powerful and invisible
(00:02:05) - Why the Image Awards shoot in the round
(00:03:17) - How you build a reputation behind the camera
(00:04:46) - How Tony got hired for the NAACP Image Awards
(00:05:55) - Directing Password with Keke Palmer and Jimmy Fallon
(00:08:32) - The overwhelming feeling of seeing your name on screen
(00:09:44) - Imposter syndrome? His answer might surprise you
(00:11:41) - Decompressing after a live show — and thanking God first
(00:12:44) - Advice for creatives dealing with burnout
(00:13:28) - What happens when your confidence starts to wane on set
(00:15:15) - What a director is actually doing during a live telecast
(00:16:12) - The most chaotic moments he's ever had to direct live
(00:17:22) - How to read and react when comedians go off script
(00:18:55) - How he surveys the room before every show
(00:20:26) - When things fall apart on live TV — and how to stay calm
(00:21:53) - How does someone become a live television director?
(00:23:12) - Why there is no simulation for live directing
(00:24:13) - Trust your heart — his message to Black creatives
(00:25:04) - Password vs Big Brother — which show he loves most
(00:26:23) - How Big Brother changed his directing style forever
(00:28:08) - Why being a Black director in these spaces matters
(00:29:44) - Gospel shoots differently — and why Black camera operators knew not to put the camera down
(00:30:50) - Mastering every genre of television without film school
(00:32:01) - His mentor Pamela Fryman and the sitcom training that changed everything
(00:33:34) - How 80s music videos live in his directing brain
(00:34:53) - Directing Whitney Houston's last performance
(00:38:05) - The moment he couldn't take the camera off her
(00:39:43) - The year after — directing Kelly Price's Whitney Houston tribute
(00:41:45) - Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, and why he puts on headsets
(00:43:08) - How live TV has changed and how he's evolved with it
(00:44:48) - Cutting everything tight from the first show
(00:45:37) - Black directors behind the camera — what's changed and what hasn't
(00:46:36) - Inviting young Black PAs into the director's booth
(00:47:03) - What legacy means to him
(00:48:41) - Pray Rich — his secret to 40+ years in this business
(00:49:37) - Inside Your Industry Bag (Game)

Algee Smith: From Broke in LA to Euphoria, Jamie Foxx & Owning His Music

NAACP+ — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Algee Smith has never played it safe — and this conversation proves exactly why that's his superpower.

From sleeping on a friend's couch in North Hollywood, surviving on El Pollo Loco and 7-Eleven Slurpees, to booking the New Edition Story AND Detroit in the same month — Algee's journey is one of radical faith, relentless study, and a refusal to shrink. In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, host Ariana Drummond sits down with the actor, recording artist, and NAACP Image Award nominee to talk craft, ownership, representation, and what it really takes to build a career across two industries.

In this episode, we unpack:

→ How Algee chooses roles — and why the script always comes first

→ Working with Jamie Foxx on Netflix's Fight for 84 and what he learned watching Jamie set the tone on set with a boombox

→ The story behind his EP Love Lost — the breakup, the healing, and why men needed to hear it

→ Flying from Atlanta to Connecticut just to track down clearance for a sample on 'Spiraling.'

→ What it felt like to book New Edition and Detroit while broke and days away from flying home

→ How playing both a Black Panther and a cop forced him to wrestle with his own identity

→ His tribute to late co-star James Van Der Beek and the gems shared in an RV between scenes

→ The real difference between working on Black-led sets versus majority-white productions

→ Why ownership is legacy — and why he's never signing another deal without equity

→ Practical advice on contracts, AI, community building, and protecting your peace in Hollywood

Subscribe to NAACP+ Inside the Industry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T

️ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807

Follow Algee Smith: https://www.instagram.com/itsalgee/ https://youtube.com/@itsalgee?si=se6LrU3mfdh-2oxu

Follow Ariana Drummond: https://www.instagram.com/arianad_pr/

Learn more about NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Cold Open: Jamie Foxx Sets the Tone
(00:00:37) - Introducing Algee Smith
(00:01:24) - Choosing Roles That Speak to You
(00:02:40) - Who Is Algee Off Camera?
(00:03:34) - Tribute to James Van Der Beek & Filming The Gates
(00:05:19) - What The Gates Says About the Black Experience
(00:07:26) - Playing a Cop in American Blue After Playing a Black Panther
(00:08:58) - NAACP Image Nomination & Balancing Music and Acting
(00:10:28) - Fight for 84: The Netflix Boxing Film With Jamie Foxx
(00:12:04) - The Responsibility of Playing Real People
(00:14:28) - Growing Up in Michigan, Moving to Atlanta, and Early Influences
(00:16:07) - What His Parents Taught Him About Business
(00:17:21) - Making Love Lost as an Independent Artist
(00:19:04) - The Wild Story Behind 'Spiraling' and the Sample Clearance Chase
(00:21:17) - His Sound and Identity as an Artist
(00:22:47) - What Music Gives Him That Acting Doesn't
(00:24:32) - What Ownership Means to Him
(00:25:34) - Building a Music Career in Today's Industry
(00:27:02) - Advice for Breaking Into Entertainment
(00:28:54) - The Actor-Musician Perception Problem
(00:30:47) - Preparing for the New Edition Story in 30 Days
(00:31:55) - The Couch-Surfing, Broke-in-LA Origin Story
(00:34:59) - What the NAACP Image Nomination Meant to Him
(00:35:34) - The Importance of Relationships in the Industry
(00:37:17) - Representation On and Off Screen
(00:39:12) - The Difference Between Black-Led and Other Sets
(00:41:10) - Euphoria: What He Knew and What He Didn't
(00:43:04) - How He Protects His Spirit on Heavy Roles
(00:44:56) - What Hollywood Should Have Told Him Earlier
(00:46:27) - Navigating AI and the Changing Landscape
(00:47:41) - What Keeps Him Motivated in the Valleys
(00:48:41) - Contract Advice for Artists Starting Out
(00:50:40) - His Favorite Career Moment (It's Right Now)
(00:51:47) - Legacy: What He Wants to Leave Behind
(00:53:24) - Inside the Industry Bag Game
(00:55:30) - Wrap-Up

Hollywood's Top Publicist Reveals What It Really Takes to Make Stars | Shannon Barr

NAACP+ — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 21:00:00 +0000

What does it actually take to shape the careers of Hollywood's biggest stars — and survive the chaos behind the scenes? Veteran publicist Shannon Barr pulls back the curtain on 20+ years in entertainment PR, from her early days at ICM to managing crises at 3 am, losing client John Singleton, and what it really costs to get the press you deserve.

In this episode, Shannon covers:

→ How she got her start — and the friend named Caprice who changed everything

→ The toxic ICM boss she finally quit on (out loud, by accident)

→ Why braids cost her job opportunities and the racism she faced climbing Hollywood's ladder

→ What publicists actually do during a celebrity crisis (yes, the Will Smith slap comes up)

→ Why PR is a marathon, not a sprint — and what that means for your career

→ The real cost of hiring a publicist and why boutique pricing matters

→ Her 20-year relationship with Kenya Moore and why she fell in love with her instantly

→ The deeply emotional story of losing John Singleton and writing his final statement

→ How she represented Damson Idris, Isaiah John, and Malcolm Mays as emerging talent

→ What she wants her legacy to be as a star maker

️ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807

Watch the full playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T

Learn more about NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus

Follow Shannon Barr: https://www.instagram.com/sbarr06/?hl=en

Follow Ariana Drummond: https://www.instagram.com/arianad_pr/

Chapters

(00:00:00) - PR Is a Marathon: Opening Quote
(00:00:23) - Introducing Shannon Barr
(00:01:11) - Shannon's Origin Story: Wanting to Make Stars at Age 8
(00:02:56) - Shout Out to Caprice: The Internship That Started It All
(00:04:00) - Landing at ICM and the Worst Boss in Hollywood
(00:07:10) - The Moment She Quit Out Loud
(00:08:45) - Staying On to Find a Replacement — and Getting Paid
(00:10:25) - Finding a Mentor She Still Loves
(00:11:40) - How Braids Cost Her a Job
(00:13:00) - Starting a Talent Department From Scratch
(00:14:03) - Barriers Black Professionals Still Face in PR
(00:16:00) - Building Lasting Success: Only Taking Clients She Believes In
(00:17:10) - The Poet, the Publishing House, and Letting Someone Out of a Contract
(00:19:20) - Why Having a Publicist Only Matters When You Have the Right Project
(00:21:00) - What Publicists Actually Cost and Why It Matters
(00:22:09) - ow Low-Balling Destroys the Industry
(00:24:10) - What Happens Behind the Scenes During a Celebrity Crisis
(00:25:12) - The Will Smith Slap and the Group Chat
(00:27:10) - Why Some Celebrities Survive Scandal and Others Don't
(00:29:30) - The Me Too Attempt on Her Client — and How She Killed the Story
(00:30:41) - Why She Doesn't Represent Influencers
(00:33:15) - Influencers at Premieres and Why Publicists Stopped Pitching Them
(00:34:44) - Remembering John Singleton
(00:39:58) - The Emotional Side of Being a Publicist
(00:40:20) - Balancing Professionalism and Humanity
(00:42:24) - The Legacy Shannon Wants to Leave
(00:43:13) - Inside Your Industry Bag Game
(00:43:55) - Closing Thoughts from Ariana

From Interning at Hot 97 to the Met Gala with Rihanna — Entertainment Journalist Gia Peppers

NAACP+ — Wed, 27 May 2026 18:10:00 +0000

What does it actually take to build a two-decade career in entertainment journalism — across NBC's Today Show, Hot 97, Essence, Access Hollywood, BET, and the Met Gala red carpet with Rihanna?

In this episode of NAACP+'s Inside the Industry, host ArianaDrummond sits down with her close friend and NAACP Image Awards-nominated journalist, podcaster, and host Gia Peppers for one of the most candid, funny, and genuinely inspiring conversations in the series so far.

Gia breaks down:

→ How she went from overnight shifts at CBS Radio News to the Met Gala carpet — and what happened in between

→ What her dad's 23 years at NPR taught her about storytelling before she ever stepped into a newsroom

→ How she co-created Black Girl Podcast before Black women podcasting was even a thing — and what it feels like to have built a blueprint you don't always get credit for

→ What it was really like interviewing Rihanna, Kobe Bryant, and Vice President Kamala Harris

→ How to navigate microaggressions as a Black woman in media without losing your voice or your career

→ Why she did the New York to D.C. commute for four years straight while working at Hot 97, Essence, and hosting for the Washington Wizards simultaneously

→ The pay equity conversation that changed how she thinks about negotiating forever

→ Why she's launching Creatives of Faith — and what it means to keep creatives on assignment from God

→ The state of Black media right now and what we all need to do about it

→ Why dragging the rooms you want to be in is her most unpopular industry opinion

Plus — her most honest reflection on legacy, what she still wants to build, and the moment at her friend's funeral that made her decide to go all the way in on her dreams.

This is the episode for every aspiring journalist, content creator, and Black woman trying to take up space in an industry that wasn't built for her.

Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations

Guest: Gia Peppers — Today Show, Hot 97, Essence, More Than That with Gia Peppers, Healed Girl Era, Black Girl Podcast

New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one.

Watch more Inside the Industry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807

Follow NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus

Chapters

(00:00:00) - You create the environment — Gia's philosophy on hosting
(00:00:28) - Welcome to Inside the Industry
(00:01:22) - Who is Gia Peppers — in her own words
(00:02:35) - Creatives of Faith — what it is and why she finally did it
(00:05:12) - The resume — Today Show, BET, Essence, Hot 97 and more
(00:05:44) - Where it all started — her dad, NPR, and Coming to America
(00:08:09) - The process of getting booked and staying booked
(00:08:33) - Overnight shifts at CBS Radio News and the Sandy Hook moment
(00:13:31) - How she hustled her way from CBS to every major platform
(00:14:15) - How she got the Washington Wizards gig — and what it taught her
(00:16:10) - What kept her motivated through the grind
(00:17:00) - The funeral that changed everything — faith and going all in
(00:19:32) - Navigating microaggressions as a Black woman in media
(00:22:12) - How to protect your voice without burning bridges
(00:23:24) - Pay equity, negotiating, and why she's still learning
(00:24:28) - What Rodney Rakai taught her about taking up space
(00:27:32) - Interviewing Rihanna, Kamala Harris, and Kobe Bryant
(00:29:52) - The first time ESSENCE was ever on the Met Gala carpet
(00:33:08) - Kobe Bryant — her favorite interview of her career
(00:35:43) - The Golden Globes — her hardest room and what she learned
(00:37:10) - The state of Black media and what we have to do right now
(00:39:42) - Misinformation, voter rights, and why the tea can wait
(00:41:30) - Black Girl Podcast — building the blueprint before it existed
(00:43:33) - What it means to hear that the blueprint is still being used
(00:45:18) - Was there ever pressure to make it more palatable?
(00:45:56) - Legacy — what Gia Peppers wants to leave behind
(00:48:23) - Inside Your Industry Bag (game)

Tribeca Film Festival Programmer Reveals Why Your Film Really Got Rejected

NAACP+ — Wed, 20 May 2026 18:00:00 +0000

If your film has been rejected by festival after festival, this episode is going to change how you think about everything.

In this episode of NAACP+'s Inside the Industry, host Ariana Drummond sits down with Kimberley Browning — veteran film programmer, festival director, and Senior Associate Short Film Programmer for the Tribeca Film Festival — to pull back the curtain on how film festivals actually work, what programmers are really looking for, and the costly mistakes filmmakers make that have nothing to do with the quality of their films.

Kimberley breaks down:

→ How programmers actually decide which films get selected

→ Why most festival rejections have nothing to do with your filmmaking

→ The biggest mistake filmmakers make when building a festival strategy

→ Why you should stop obsessing over the top 10 festivals you can name

→ How to build a festival strategy unique to the film you actually made

→ What really happens after your film gets accepted to a major festival

→ How to qualify for the Oscars without spending thousands of dollars

→ The insider tip on completion dates that most filmmakers don't know

→ Why submitting a rough cut could cost you more than just this festival

→ How film festivals are evolving in the streaming era

→ What the rise of virtual festivals means for filmmakers worldwide

→ The one music licensing mistake that's killing independent films

Plus — Kimberley shares the story of the film that helped a woman get clemency, why rejection letters are not commentary on your talent, and what she wants her legacy in this industry to be. This is the episode every filmmaker needs to watch before their next submission. Period.

Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations

Guest: Kimberley Browning — Tribeca Film Festival, HBO, AFI, ABFF

New episodes every Wednesday.

Subscribe so you never miss one.

Watch more Inside the Industry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807

Follow NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus

#InsideTheIndustry #NAACPPlus #FilmFestival #TribecaFilmFestival#IndependentFilm #Filmmaking #BlackFilmmakers #FilmFestivalStrategy#KimberleyBrowning #ArianaDrummond #ShortFilms #IndieFilm#FilmDistribution #BlackCreatives #OscarQualifying

Chapters

(00:00:00) - The truth about festival rejection — straight from a programmer
(00:00:24) - Welcome to Inside the Industry
(00:01:01) - What submissions look like at Tribeca this year
(00:02:06) - How quickly can a programmer tell if a film is working?
(00:03:42) - How programmers advocate for filmmakers beyond just selection
(00:04:52) - What filmmakers don't see happening behind the scenes
(00:06:22) - Does cultural timing or relevance affect your chances?
(00:09:49) - Does runtime, pacing, or format affect selection?
(00:12:13) - How to increase your chances of getting selected
(00:14:22) - Why your first films are often "working out your stuff"
(00:16:33) - Why you need to meet filmmakers in every city
(00:18:24) - How festival laurels work as industry endorsements
(00:18:50) - The premiere status question — what filmmakers get wrong
(00:20:40) - You are the least qualified person to evaluate your own film
(00:21:44) - Every film needs its own unique festival strategy
(00:23:00) - When to hire a festival strategist — and why you can't afford not to
(00:25:07) - Moonlight wasn't Barry Jenkins' first film — give yourself time
(00:26:20) - Can programmers tell if your film was rejected elsewhere?
(00:27:09) - The completion date insider tip you need to know
(00:28:10) - How to think about top tier vs. regional vs. niche festivals
(00:31:53) - Build a quilt of festivals — not a ladder
(00:33:04) - The emotional journey of festival rejection
(00:35:00) - The offers that come after acceptance — and which ones to ignore
(00:40:18) - How to get on the Oscar shortlist — the real pathways
(00:44:50) - How streaming and COVID changed the festival circuit forever
(00:47:55) - The evolution of festivals and Black storytelling worldwide
(00:52:24) - What filmmakers need to give themselves permission to do
(00:54:34) - Kimberly's legacy — truth and encouragement
(00:56:13) - Real Talk or Industry Cap (game)
(01:03:16) - Inside Your Industry Bag (game)

Ted Lasso Writer Reveals What Hollywood Won't Tell You About Breaking In

NAACP+ — Mon, 11 May 2026 20:44:34 +0000

What does it actually take to become a working television writer in Hollywood?

In this episode of NAACP+'s Inside the Industry, host Ariana Drummond sits down with writer and producer Chuck Hayward — whose credits include Ted Lasso, WandaVision, and Dear White People — for one of the most honest conversations we've had about the realities of building a writing career.

Chuck breaks down:

→ How TV writers actually get staffed on shows

→ The difference between a spec script and a pilot (and which one to write first)

→ What showrunners are really looking for when they read your script

→ How to handle notes without killing your creative vision

→ The mistakes that quietly stall careers — even for talented writers

→ Why the streaming bubble burst changed everything for writers

→ How to stay competitive when the industry is shrinking

Plus, Chuck shares the writing philosophy that drives everything he does: more Black weirdos on screen. And why writing authentically — not to the market— is the only strategy that actually works long term. Whether you're an aspiring writer, a creative trying to break in, or someone already in the industry looking to level up, this episode is your blueprint.

Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations

Guest: Chuck Hayward — Ted Lasso, WandaVision, Dear White People

New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one.

Watch more Inside the Industry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnLI7v57zoc&list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T&pp=sAgC

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807

Follow NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus

#InsideTheIndustry #NAACPPlus #TVWriter #HowToBeAWriter#BreakingIntoHollywood #Screenwriting #TedLasso #WandaVision#BlackCreatives #EntertainmentIndustry #ChuckHayward #ArianaDrummond

Chapters

(00:00:00) - What it Really Takes to Become a Professional Writer
(00:01:13) - Chuck's background and what sets him apart in the room
(00:04:26) - What writers do beyond just writing
(00:05:20) - How Show-runners assign episodes
(00:06:44) - How many writers are in a room — and the diversity problem
(00:07:14) - Passionate writer vs. Professional writer: What's the difference?
(00:09:09) - Where Chuck's love of writing started
(00:10:21) - Was There a defining moment that really, like, started you on
(00:11:14) - The decisions that took him from aspiring to professional
(00:12:12) - His Core Writing Ethos: More Black Weirdos
(00:13:43) - The Career Ladder and where writers get stuck
(00:16:40) - Specs vs. Pilots — Which should you write first?
(00:21:09) - How to actually get staffed on a show
(00:23:00) - Mistakes that quietly stall careers
(00:26:16) - How to handle notes and rewrites like a pro
(00:29:57) - How to stay competitive right now
(00:33:53) - Where the industry is headed
(00:38:04) - How rejection feels at his level — and how he keeps going
(00:41:28) - A mistake he made and what he learned from it
(00:45:44) - What makes a script hireable vs. just good
(00:47:25) - How to know when you've found your voice
(00:48:36) - The legacy Chuck wants to leave
(00:49:38) - Real Talk or Industry Cap (game)
(00:53:14) - Inside Your Industry Bag (game)

He Started as an Intern - here’s What Changed Everything

NAACP+ — Wed, 06 May 2026 18:00:00 +0000

DeVon Franklin rose from intern to executive producer in Hollywood—but how did that actually happen?

In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, DeVon Franklin—producer behind films like "The Pursuit of Happyness," "Moneyball," and "The Karate Kid"—shares what it really takes to grow in this business, navigate opportunity, and build a career with purpose.

We'll cover topics such as:

- What it takes to stand out early in your career

- What ownership means in today’s entertainment industry

- Where the biggest opportunities are for creatives right now

From studio systems to independent production, this conversation breaks down what it takes to create and lead projects at the highest level of filmmaking.

About Devon Franklin:

Devon Franklin is a producer, author, and former studio executive at Columbia Pictures. His work spans major box office films, faith-based storytelling, and independent production, with a focus on purpose-driven content and long-term impact.

Subscribe to NAACP+ Inside the Industry for weekly conversations with leaders across film, television, and digital media.

Follow NAACP+ ITI: @naacpinsidetheindustry

Instagram: @naacpplus

YouTube: @naacpplus

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Sneak Peek into the Episode
(00:01:00) - Episode Starts
(00:01:35) - The Key to His Success
(00:04:03) - Black Producer on Me and Tuscany
(00:06:06) - Does it Feel Harder to Get Faith Based Films Greenlit?
(00:09:29) - In the Elevator With Steven Spielberg
(00:11:01) - Tyler Perry on His Cross-Discipline
(00:13:44) - Black Storytellers: The Future of Creativity
(00:16:04) - When Did You First Fall in Love with Film?
(00:18:27) - The Artist's Service in Work
(00:20:25) - Pastor Jefferson on Divorce Sisters
(00:24:24) - Tom Holland on Shaping the Film Industry
(00:26:44) - What A Producers Do
(00:29:09) - Paul Feist on Heaven Is for Real Box Office Success
(00:35:03) - Sony's Amy Pascal on Patience
(00:37:38) - What Do Producers Need To Know To Become a Producers?
(00:40:30) - What's The Hard Part of Making It in Hollywood?
(00:42:09) - How to Manage Relationships
(00:46:11) - What Draws You To a Project?
(00:47:48) - Black Storytellers on the Future
(00:50:05) - The Role of a Producers
(00:52:07) - The Legacy of Steven Spielberg
(00:54:21) - Inside Your Industry Bag
(00:55:09) - Independent Producers: You Have to Know Somebody to Break In
(00:59:13) - Devon Franklin on Talking To People

The Making of a Fashion Powerhouse | Brandon Gray on Building House of Gray and Dressing Hollywood

NAACP+ — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:00:00 +0000

The making of a fashion powerhouse—how does a designer go from starting out to dressing Hollywood’s biggest stars?

Brandon Gray has built a brand that commands attention on the red carpet—from the NAACP Image Awards to the Oscars and the Met Gala. But behind those moments is a story of persistence, strategy, and learning how to build in an industry that rarely gives you a clear path.

In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, Brandon Gray breaks down how he turned House of Gray into a sought-after fashion brand, how he broke into the industry without connections, and what it really takes to build something that lasts in fashion.

We'll also cover:
- What it takes to dress high-profile clients
- How to turn talent into a real business
- How designers can stay relevant as fashion evolves

If you’re a designer, creative, or entrepreneur trying to build something of your own, this conversation gives you a real look at what it takes to go from starting out to becoming a recognized name.

About Brandon Gray:
Brandon Gray is the founder of House of Gray, a fashion brand known for dressing top talent at major events, including Colman Domingo, Tyler Perry, and Niecy Nash.

Subscribe to NAACP+ Inside the Industry for weekly conversations with leaders across film, television, fashion, and digital media.

Follow NAACP+ ITI: @naacpinsidetheindustry
Instagram: @naacpplus
Facebook: @naacpplus

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Sneak Peek at Brandon Gray
(00:01:14) - Episode Start
(00:01:35) - Designing for The Met Gala
(00:03:15) - How Brandon Defines Fashion
(00:05:26) - His Responsibility as a Black Designer
(00:06:27) - How Fashion Became his Profession
(00:09:04) - What Influences his Style
(00:10:14) - Moving from Inglewood to Paris
(00:14:52) - Gaining Confidence in Your Abilities
(00:16:31) - How he Overcome Imposter Syndrome
(00:16:50) - Navigating Access and Opportunity as you Elevate
(00:18:17) - Stay Ready so you Don't Have to Get Ready
(00:19:24) - Making it Through the Pandemic
(00:25:46) - Why it's Important to Travel and Network
(00:27:03) - Your Network is your Net-worth
(00:29:39) - Connecting to your Audience through Social Media
(00:31:21) - Mistakes to Avoid
(00:33:10) - Originality vs Following Trends
(00:36:26) - The Next Era of Fashion
(00:37:59) - Habits you Need to Succeed in Fashion
(00:39:36) - What Aspiring Designers Should Focus on Now
(00:40:59) - What his Legacy Will Be
(00:44:38) - 3 Tips to Break into Fashion
(00:44:40) - Who you Dress Matters
(00:45:38) - Nothing Changes Overnight
(00:46:08) - Originality is Still a Thing
(00:46:49) - Exposure doesn't Always Pay the Bills
(00:48:30) - Realizing I didn't Want to be a Lawyer

Breaking Into Hollywood without Connections | Inside the Industry with James Swoope

NAACP+ — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:46:54 +0000

How do you break into Hollywood without connections?

For most people, the biggest barrier to entering the entertainment industry isn’t talent—it’s access. So how do careers actually get started when you don’t know anyone?

In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, James Swoope—Partner at M88—breaks down how aspiring creatives can break into Hollywood, how talent managers identify potential, and how opportunities are built behind the scenes.

From building relationships to creating leverage without traditional access, this conversation reveals how careers gain traction in today’s entertainment industry.

We cover:

How to break into Hollywood without connections
How talent managers discover and develop talent
How opportunities and deals get made
How relationships create long-term leverage
What aspiring creatives should focus on right now

If you’re trying to get into the entertainment industry—or build a career from the ground up—this is your starting point.

About James Swoope:

James Swoope is a Partner at M88, where he helps guide talent strategy, package projects, and build opportunities for clients across entertainment and sports.

Subscribe to NAACP+ Inside the Industry for weekly conversations with leaders across film, television, music, and digital media.

Follow NAACP+ ITI: @naacpinsidetheindustry
Instagram: @naacpplus
Facebook: @naacpplus

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Intro to James Swoope
(00:00:42) - Episode Start
(00:05:28) - The Moment He Knew Management Was His Path
(00:12:30) - The Hardest Part Of Breaking Into This Industry
(00:13:31) - How He Overcame Imposter Syndrome
(00:15:20) - First Step to Becoming a Manager
(00:18:16) - Defining What a Manager Does
(00:20:36) - Misconceptions about What Managers Do
(00:22:51) - One Mistake that Aspiring Managers Make
(00:25:13) - A Hard Lesson James Swoope Learned
(00:26:21) - Mental Health and Overcoming Burnout
(00:29:35) - How to Stay Competitive Today in the Industry
(00:32:25) - What James Swoope Looks for in a Client
(00:34:55) - Tips on Breaking Into Entertainment Without Connections
(00:37:32) - Game: Real Talk or Industry Cap
(00:40:31) - One Decision That Changed Everything For James Swoope
(00:42:54) - James Shares a Question for the Next Guest

How Vertical Storytelling Is Changing Hollywood | Inside the Industry with Wendy Calhoun

NAACP+ — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the vertical storytelling era.

But how do you actually break into vertical storytelling and short-form content right now?
Short-form content is reshaping the entertainment industry—and creating new opportunities for writers, producers, and creators looking to build in vertical storytelling.

In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, Wendy Calhoun—writer, showrunner, and co-executive producer behind Empire—shares how she built a powerhouse career across traditional television and the rapidly growing world of micro dramas.

We cover:

Why vertical storytelling is growing across platforms
How short-form content is changing audience behavior
What makes micro dramas successful
How to approach writing and producing for vertical content
Where creators can find real opportunities right now

If you’re a writer, producer, or creative trying to understand how to get into vertical storytelling and short-form content, this conversation gives you a clear look at where the industry might be headed.

About Wendy Calhoun:
Wendy Calhoun is a writer, showrunner, and executive producer known for her work on Empire, and is now building projects in vertical storytelling and micro drama formats.

This episode explores vertical storytelling, short-form content, and micro dramas, and how these formats are changing the entertainment industry. If you’re interested in TV writing, digital storytelling, or building a career in film and television, this conversation breaks down how the industry is evolving.

Subscribe to NAACP+ Inside The Industry for weekly conversations with industry leaders across film, television, and digital media.

Follow NAACP+ ITI: @naacpinsidetheindustry
Instagram: @naacpplus
Facebook: @naacpplus

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Inside the Industry: Introductions
(00:01:06) - Intro to Wendy Calhoun
(00:07:44) - How Wendy got into storytelling
(00:09:45) - Wendy on breaking through in her career
(00:14:25) - Wendy on overcoming microaggressions
(00:17:21) - Defining Micro Dramas and a Vertical Dramas
(00:18:47) - How dopamine keeps us watching this content
(00:20:22) - How Microdramas have changed the way we consume stories
(00:23:23) - Shocking Microdrama statistics
(00:25:29) - How you can get into Verticals now
(00:30:39) - Why it's important to own your content
(00:31:30) - The importance of authentic voices and representation
(00:35:20) - How KPop Demon Hunters changed the game
(00:38:34) - Why emerging creators today have the advantage
(00:39:51) - Will AI change the way stories are made?
(00:44:09) - Hollywood is trying to play catch up to YouTube
(00:45:36) - What Creators should be doing right now to get into Verticals
(00:48:39) - 3 tips for producing a Micro Drama or Vertical

Introducing NAACP+ Inside the Industry | A New Original Podcast Series (Official Teaser)

NAACP+ — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:36:53 +0000

What does it take to build a career in entertainment today?

NAACP+ Inside The Industry is a new original series exploring how film, television, music, fashion, and digital culture actually operate—through conversations with the professionals shaping the business.

Hosted by Ariana Drummond, a publicist with over 15 years of experience across multiple areas of the industry, the series connects the dots between creative work and the business behind it.

Each episode features real stories, practical insight, and the decisions that define long-term success across entertainment careers.

Guests include producers, executives, designers, and creatives working at the highest levels of the industry.

- New episodes drop weekly on NAACP+.

Follow NAACP+ ITI: @naacpinsidetheindustry
Instagram: @naacpplus
Facebook: @naacpplus

Chapters

(00:00:01) - Inside the Industry: How to Get Your Job