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00:00:05,708 --> 00:00:09,125
("Honesty" by
Pink Sweat$ playing)
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00:00:09,208 --> 00:00:14,208
Woman:
That is a series wrap
on our queen, Issa Rae.
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00:00:14,291 --> 00:00:16,916
(cheering and applause)
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♪ She said, baby,
I'm afraid to fall in love ♪
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Issa Rae:
You guys, I am
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00:00:25,375 --> 00:00:30,500
just incredibly...
humbled, blessed, uh...
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(crying):
I love you.
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00:00:37,916 --> 00:00:39,041
I love you, too.
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(laughing)
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This show has been
a part of the revolution.
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The way you showcase
our humanity,
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00:00:51,458 --> 00:00:55,291
and portray us with grace
and accountability.
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The way you love your city.
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The way you love your people,
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Black people in your city,
is part of the revolution.
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The way you always
give and share credit
where credit is due
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is part of the revolution.
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The way you created
and collaborated
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with the intention
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of our fucked up, incredible,
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and beautiful Black
full humanity...
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baked into the identity
and heart of this show
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00:01:23,041 --> 00:01:24,625
is part of the revolution.
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00:01:24,708 --> 00:01:27,583
The way you look
so damn good...
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00:01:28,208 --> 00:01:29,208
(cheering)
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even when you ashy...
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(all laughing)
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is part of the revolution.
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The way you recognize
every step of the way,
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that it's a collaborative
and collective effort.
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There are no heroes.
We get us free.
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00:01:44,583 --> 00:01:47,666
With this show,
you made big girls feel seen,
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00:01:47,750 --> 00:01:50,125
you made dark-skinned
women feel seen,
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you made toxic
Black men feel...
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toxic...
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00:01:54,541 --> 00:01:56,333
(all laughing)
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and understood.
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You made people realize things
about their mental health.
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Together,
y'all shifted culture.
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There is no revolution
without art.
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(applause)
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("Life's A Bitch" by
Radiant Children playing)
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♪ La, la, la, la, la, la ♪
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♪ La, la, la, la, la, la ♪
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♪ Oh, it's easier
said than done ♪
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♪ But don't you worry
'bout those little things ♪
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Prentice Penny:
I would've never thought
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00:02:33,916 --> 00:02:35,500
six years ago we'd all be here,
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but I just
want to say that
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00:02:37,291 --> 00:02:38,500
making a show,
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00:02:38,583 --> 00:02:40,166
just working in
for a long time,
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and not bein' able to see
people that look like me.
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To be able to do
a show like that here,
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that, like, now
sets the groundwork
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that people wanna make
more shows like us
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is just really special.
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You don't get to be
a part of those things a lot.
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00:02:52,083 --> 00:02:54,208
(cheering)
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00:02:54,291 --> 00:02:56,750
Let's shoot this shit
for another three months,
guys!
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00:02:56,833 --> 00:02:58,083
Season six!
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00:02:58,166 --> 00:02:59,916
(laughing)
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You know,
I came into this not knowing
anything about television,
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and not necessarily feeling
confident in my role.
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I had a web series,
and, you know,
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to have a mentor
who's so selfless,
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and has put his ego aside
time and time again
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to make sure that I was
able to create the show
that I wanted to make
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with the people
I wanted to make it with,
I'm coming out of this
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a different person,
a better person,
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and I hope you guys are, too.
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Thank you to the love
of my life, my brother.
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(laughing)
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(downtempo music playing)
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Issa:
We are back at Stanford
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shooting the very first episode
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00:03:44,208 --> 00:03:47,625
of the final season
at my alma mater.
This is crazy.
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Nobody gets to do this.
Stanford has never
done this before,
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and they let us shoot here.
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I actually got mad
because I didn't want
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the characters
to go to Stanford.
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Because of a props
mistake in season one,
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00:03:58,416 --> 00:04:00,208
we just ended up
establishing them as that,
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so, I was like, "Fuck!"
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But then,
we just went with it,
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so, no, I did not imagine
we'd be back here shooting,
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but when we came out
with the idea for a reunion,
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it just made so much sense,
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and felt so meta perfect
for this season.
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We're coming back to the place
where Issa and Molly
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became friends.
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(indistinct chatter)
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It feels so good to be back.
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00:04:20,916 --> 00:04:23,666
Laura Kittrell:
It's sort of picking up
from last season,
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00:04:23,750 --> 00:04:25,125
post Issa-Molly fight
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with them, sort of,
on their road to reconciliation.
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00:04:27,916 --> 00:04:30,208
Things are still
a little bit awkward,
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00:04:30,291 --> 00:04:33,125
but you can tell they both want
to be back in that good place.
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When I was at Stanford,
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I was into theater because
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I had been in plays
all of high school.
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And then,
I was super into film
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00:04:41,583 --> 00:04:44,125
because of
"Love & Basketball,"
specifically.
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00:04:44,208 --> 00:04:46,041
I wasn't really
thinking about TV
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00:04:46,125 --> 00:04:48,833
because TV wasn't
really that poppin' then.
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There just wasn't enough
representation then,
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and there was nothing
on television that
made me feel like,
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"Oh, I wanna make
what they're making."
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I mean, I love "The Office,"
I love those kind of shows,
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and, obviously, "Curb"
and, and "Seinfeld,"
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and that's what
influenced me to try to write
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television later on,
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but I never thought about
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starring in my own TV show.
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(on computer):
Stupid bitch nigga,
I hope you drown.
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That'll turn my frown
upside down.
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Amy Gravitt:
I first heard about Issa Rae,
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the way a lot of people did,
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seeing her web series.
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I think what she showed
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in "Awkward Black Girl"
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is something that we look
for in all of our shows,
which is...
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we want the audience
to be able to recognize
themselves,
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and on the comedy side,
specifically,
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we want them to be able
to laugh in recognition.
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What Issa showed
was that she was willing
to put herself out there,
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and mine her own
humanity for laughs.
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(raps):
♪ Call me Lil' Kim ♪
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♪ 'Cause I got a crush on you ♪
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00:05:47,666 --> 00:05:48,916
♪ Wanna make you my boo ♪
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00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,291
♪ Carpool with you to school ♪
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00:05:51,375 --> 00:05:52,833
♪ Be starin' at you
in geometry ♪
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♪ Fantasize about you
on top of me ♪
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♪ I'm a virgin,
but I promise thee ♪
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♪ I got that ill nana, no
foxy ♪
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00:05:59,583 --> 00:06:01,291
The development process with HBO
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00:06:01,375 --> 00:06:03,375
was long, but it was necessary.
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00:06:03,458 --> 00:06:05,625
Issa had an initial
idea for the show,
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00:06:05,708 --> 00:06:07,041
we went into HBO,
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00:06:07,125 --> 00:06:09,083
we pitched it
to Amy Gravitt
and Casey Bloys.
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00:06:09,166 --> 00:06:11,166
It was set
in the nonprofit world,
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and it was just
about my experiences,
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and it still was,
kind of, similar
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to "Awkward Black Girl,"
but I didn't wanna do
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00:06:17,791 --> 00:06:19,625
"Awkward Black Girl"
all over again.
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00:06:19,708 --> 00:06:21,583
And in doing that pitch,
I was nervous as fuck.
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I was reading off
of the paper in the meeting
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00:06:23,583 --> 00:06:26,541
because I'm not the type to be
able to just engage people,
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and, "Oh, look at my show."
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I was just like,
this is what it's 'bout to be.
This is it.
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They bought it in the room.
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They said,
"Exciting. Let's do it."
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00:06:33,375 --> 00:06:34,625
And then,
we were in development,
probably, about
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00:06:34,708 --> 00:06:35,958
a year and a half, two years.
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When I tell you,
comin' from the internet world,
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I was like, "I can
make this shit right now.
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Like, what is the problem?"
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She had this notion
that she wanted to
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do a workplace comedy.
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00:06:45,208 --> 00:06:47,375
The idea was centered
much more around
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what, ultimately,
became We Got Y'all.
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We would meet
from time to time
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00:06:51,791 --> 00:06:54,041
as she was
developing the outline,
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and talk about the script,
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but also, she would have
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these stories about
a friend of hers,
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00:06:59,291 --> 00:07:01,750
and I think, at one point,
she even showed us a text,
167
00:07:01,833 --> 00:07:04,750
and it was in that moment
that Casey was like,
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00:07:04,833 --> 00:07:06,000
"That's the show.
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00:07:06,083 --> 00:07:07,583
"It's you and your friend,
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00:07:07,666 --> 00:07:09,750
and the world around
both of you."
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He did not sad face you.
I will slap you right--
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Bish, what?
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That's my life.
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Issa:
I got to rewriting,
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00:07:18,500 --> 00:07:20,166
and then, I was also like,
"Ooh, fuck it."
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Like, I'm puttin' all
elements of my life in here.
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You hungry?
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00:07:24,583 --> 00:07:26,000
-Just--
-Take it!
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00:07:26,083 --> 00:07:28,958
Pop, pop, pop.
Pot pie.
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So, I can say this
is rooted in authenticity,
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00:07:31,791 --> 00:07:33,041
this is a real story.
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And that's when they were
like, "Okay, green light."
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00:07:36,041 --> 00:07:38,916
TT The Artist:
♪ Welcome to the life
of the rich and the fly ♪
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00:07:39,041 --> 00:07:40,500
Issa:
I had to find a showrunner.
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00:07:40,583 --> 00:07:42,375
HBO sent a couple
people my way.
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00:07:42,458 --> 00:07:43,916
Ashley Holland,
who is an agent,
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00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:45,833
was like, "You should
think about Prentice Penny."
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First time we met in person
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00:07:47,375 --> 00:07:49,166
was when you came
to my book signing
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00:07:49,250 --> 00:07:50,875
-in Eso Won.
-Yes, Eso Won, yep.
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00:07:50,958 --> 00:07:53,625
Issa:
And then, we ended up usin'
Eso Won so much for the show--
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00:07:53,708 --> 00:07:55,250
-Yes, I wrote you a letter--
-Yeah.
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00:07:55,333 --> 00:07:57,833
to see like,
"Hey, this is what I thought
I would bring to it."
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00:07:57,916 --> 00:08:00,166
But I'm curious,
what was it like
to get the letter?
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00:08:00,250 --> 00:08:01,500
'Cause people don't
send each other, like,
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00:08:01,583 --> 00:08:03,208
-letters anymore for anything.
-Issa: No.
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00:08:03,291 --> 00:08:05,041
It went such a long way.
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00:08:05,125 --> 00:08:07,041
Obviously, I hadn't gotten
a letter from anybody,
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00:08:07,125 --> 00:08:09,541
and to see, like,
what you identify with
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00:08:09,625 --> 00:08:11,500
knowin' that, you know,
we were in the same area,
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00:08:11,583 --> 00:08:13,416
-knowin' that you had worked
in the nonprofit world.
-Right.
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00:08:13,500 --> 00:08:15,791
I was like,
"Oh, this guy seems to get it."
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00:08:15,875 --> 00:08:18,333
So, that letter,
by the time you came
to the book signing,
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00:08:18,416 --> 00:08:20,750
I was already like,
"Oh, this dude seems cool."
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00:08:20,833 --> 00:08:27,750
And I hadn't read shit
that you did until...
I had already said yes.
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00:08:27,833 --> 00:08:30,125
-'Cause I was just like,
"Oh yeah, he--"
-"He seems cool."
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00:08:30,208 --> 00:08:32,041
Which is almost how
we made every decision.
208
00:08:32,125 --> 00:08:33,958
(laughing)
209
00:08:34,041 --> 00:08:36,416
Director:
And camera, action!
210
00:08:36,500 --> 00:08:40,708
The director process,
to find one, was soul-crushing.
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00:08:40,791 --> 00:08:42,625
HBO wanted someone,
uh, established,
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00:08:42,708 --> 00:08:45,083
and I think for them,
they wanted someone
213
00:08:45,166 --> 00:08:46,250
who had a name.
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00:08:46,333 --> 00:08:48,250
And so, we found someone,
215
00:08:48,333 --> 00:08:51,750
and they flew me to New York
to meet this director,
216
00:08:51,833 --> 00:08:54,458
and after that meeting,
I was like,
217
00:08:54,541 --> 00:08:56,041
"I don't think
he gets the show."
218
00:08:56,125 --> 00:08:59,041
We had several other
directors who I was fans of,
219
00:08:59,125 --> 00:09:00,916
but still didn't quite
get the show to me.
220
00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:04,541
Casey was like,
"If you had to take a risk,
who would you want?"
221
00:09:04,625 --> 00:09:06,500
And I was like,
"There's this director
I've been following,
222
00:09:06,583 --> 00:09:09,250
Melina Matsoukas,
who could be dope."
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00:09:09,333 --> 00:09:12,666
People really didn't
give opportunities
to directors like me.
224
00:09:12,750 --> 00:09:14,750
I had done, primarily,
music videos and commercials,
225
00:09:14,833 --> 00:09:17,041
and I had really
broken in that space,
226
00:09:17,125 --> 00:09:18,916
but it didn't translate
to film and TV.
227
00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:22,583
And so, I was offered
a lot of series that
I didn't relate to.
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00:09:22,666 --> 00:09:24,791
When I read this,
I saw myself in the words,
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00:09:24,875 --> 00:09:26,708
fell in love
with her on the page,
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00:09:26,791 --> 00:09:29,125
and then, I met her,
and I was like,
"She ain't so bad.
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00:09:29,208 --> 00:09:30,291
Maybe we can collaborate."
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00:09:30,375 --> 00:09:33,666
We did a Skype meeting,
and it was terrible.
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00:09:33,750 --> 00:09:35,250
(chuckles)
It was like, "Girl,
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00:09:35,333 --> 00:09:37,791
"you knew that we've
been going and seeing
these other directors.
235
00:09:37,875 --> 00:09:39,041
You ain't come prepared."
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00:09:39,125 --> 00:09:39,958
I was on the East Coast.
237
00:09:40,041 --> 00:09:41,708
I was visiting my family,
238
00:09:41,791 --> 00:09:44,458
and, you know,
the WiFi wasn't working.
239
00:09:44,541 --> 00:09:46,750
It was just really
hard to connect.
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00:09:46,833 --> 00:09:49,458
I knew I liked them.
They weren't sure
if they liked me yet.
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00:09:49,541 --> 00:09:51,458
Her rep was like,
"What happened?
How did it go?"
242
00:09:51,541 --> 00:09:53,166
And I was like,
"Bitch, what the fuck?
What happened?
243
00:09:53,250 --> 00:09:54,666
Like, tell her to come correct."
244
00:09:54,750 --> 00:09:56,791
And she was like,
"Let me get her another meeting.
245
00:09:56,875 --> 00:09:57,916
I will prep her."
246
00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:00,500
I watched every
comedy pilot possible,
247
00:10:00,583 --> 00:10:03,666
and I put together a real
treatment and pitch deck,
248
00:10:03,750 --> 00:10:04,958
and I brought it with me,
249
00:10:05,041 --> 00:10:06,833
and that meeting
was phenomenal.
250
00:10:06,916 --> 00:10:08,958
It was everything.
She blew us all away,
251
00:10:09,041 --> 00:10:10,875
and we knew that
she was the one.
252
00:10:10,958 --> 00:10:12,375
Melina Matsoukas:
When we were
creating the pilot,
253
00:10:12,458 --> 00:10:13,625
I didn't really
think about it
254
00:10:13,708 --> 00:10:15,333
as something that hadn't
been done before.
255
00:10:15,416 --> 00:10:17,416
I just thought about it as
256
00:10:17,500 --> 00:10:18,791
how I approach any project.
257
00:10:18,875 --> 00:10:20,000
I wanted to
258
00:10:20,083 --> 00:10:23,000
really get inside
of who Issa Dee was,
259
00:10:23,083 --> 00:10:26,541
what influenced her,
and who she spoke to and for,
260
00:10:26,625 --> 00:10:29,833
and I wanted everything
to feel really authentic
to that character.
261
00:10:29,916 --> 00:10:32,708
So, do y'all have any questions?
262
00:10:32,791 --> 00:10:34,625
Don't be shy, guys.
Fire away.
263
00:10:34,708 --> 00:10:35,958
When she was editing,
264
00:10:36,041 --> 00:10:38,000
she called me up, and said,
"Hey, would you come down,
265
00:10:38,083 --> 00:10:40,125
"and watch my cut
before I show them?
266
00:10:40,208 --> 00:10:41,833
I just want to get
someone else's feedback."
267
00:10:41,916 --> 00:10:43,666
And she played it back for me,
268
00:10:43,750 --> 00:10:46,166
and I'll never forget this,
but I watched that cut,
269
00:10:46,250 --> 00:10:47,958
I got... really emotional,
270
00:10:48,041 --> 00:10:49,416
and it was almost--
I was silent.
271
00:10:49,500 --> 00:10:51,791
And she was like, "Ya hate it."
And I was like...
272
00:10:51,875 --> 00:10:53,625
"No, I think they're
gonna love it."
273
00:10:53,708 --> 00:10:55,666
It was the first time I realized
274
00:10:55,750 --> 00:10:57,541
how important a show
like this could be,
275
00:10:57,625 --> 00:11:02,333
and how... I hadn't seen
a Black woman represented
in that way.
276
00:11:02,416 --> 00:11:03,833
The show was
gonna be a success.
277
00:11:03,916 --> 00:11:06,000
Like, I knew--
I was like, there is no way
278
00:11:06,083 --> 00:11:09,833
people can see this
beautifully crafted pilot,
279
00:11:09,916 --> 00:11:12,250
beautifully shot,
beautifully acted,
280
00:11:12,333 --> 00:11:15,500
and the humanity in the comedy,
and the relatability,
281
00:11:15,583 --> 00:11:18,291
and how could you not give
a show like this a chance?
282
00:11:18,375 --> 00:11:20,791
And, um, you know,
legend has it that, uh,
283
00:11:20,875 --> 00:11:23,083
when they turned in the edit,
and we got a series pickup,
284
00:11:23,166 --> 00:11:25,208
it was, supposedly,
like one of the fastest
285
00:11:25,291 --> 00:11:28,416
pickups in HBO's history,
and I think that shows just
286
00:11:28,500 --> 00:11:30,208
how much work and love
and, and energy
287
00:11:30,291 --> 00:11:32,833
was really put into
getting that pilot right.
288
00:11:32,916 --> 00:11:34,375
It's my fault,
okay.
289
00:11:34,458 --> 00:11:35,291
I'm sorry, guys.
290
00:11:35,375 --> 00:11:36,958
("Blessed" by
Saint Bodhi playing)
291
00:11:37,041 --> 00:11:38,791
♪ I just walked up
on my boyfriend ♪
292
00:11:38,875 --> 00:11:39,708
♪ Kissing on ♪
293
00:11:39,791 --> 00:11:41,708
♪ The next-door neighbor ♪
294
00:11:41,791 --> 00:11:43,291
♪ But it's cool ♪
295
00:11:45,083 --> 00:11:47,291
(indistinct chatter)
296
00:11:49,291 --> 00:11:50,750
Shall we?
297
00:11:50,833 --> 00:11:51,958
Look at us...
298
00:11:52,041 --> 00:11:53,958
lookin' like
a diversity brochure.
299
00:11:54,041 --> 00:11:55,791
(all laughing)
300
00:11:55,875 --> 00:11:57,583
Amanda Seales:
I just remember,
the first audition,
301
00:11:57,666 --> 00:12:00,291
I had went in
for jalapeño poppers.
302
00:12:00,375 --> 00:12:01,458
-Tasha.
-Amanda: For Tasha.
303
00:12:01,541 --> 00:12:04,541
The description said
"hood hot."
304
00:12:04,625 --> 00:12:07,500
And I was like,
"I am not hood hot,"
305
00:12:07,583 --> 00:12:08,833
'cause you have
to know your strengths,
306
00:12:08,916 --> 00:12:10,625
and I'm shaped
like an iPhone,
307
00:12:10,708 --> 00:12:12,083
sleek lines and rounded edges,
308
00:12:12,166 --> 00:12:15,791
so I knew that
I wasn't going to...
get cast in that role.
309
00:12:15,875 --> 00:12:17,416
So, I went in,
and I was like,
"Vickie,
310
00:12:17,500 --> 00:12:19,041
I'm never gonna book this.
Is there anything else?"
311
00:12:19,125 --> 00:12:20,458
And she was like,
"What else we
got back there?"
312
00:12:20,541 --> 00:12:22,291
And she's like,
"Oh, they got early 30s.
313
00:12:22,375 --> 00:12:24,625
Ivy League graduate."
And I was like,
"That's my life!"
314
00:12:24,708 --> 00:12:26,208
Speaker:
Sophomore year,
you hooked up with that chick
315
00:12:26,291 --> 00:12:27,416
that looked like Lisa Turtle.
316
00:12:27,500 --> 00:12:29,375
That's different.
See, with women,
317
00:12:29,458 --> 00:12:31,666
we can hook up with each other,
and we're not considered gay.
318
00:12:31,750 --> 00:12:32,833
It's different for men.
319
00:12:32,916 --> 00:12:35,166
So, my very first audition
with Vickie was like,
320
00:12:35,250 --> 00:12:37,125
"How come I don't know you?"
I was like, "'Cause it's L.A.,
321
00:12:37,208 --> 00:12:39,333
"and nobody knows
a little Black girl like me
322
00:12:39,416 --> 00:12:41,666
who don't have
no agent, no nothing."
323
00:12:41,750 --> 00:12:43,000
After it was done,
she was like,
324
00:12:43,083 --> 00:12:45,625
"You're good... You're good."
325
00:12:45,708 --> 00:12:47,333
And she really
kind of stepped up
326
00:12:47,416 --> 00:12:49,666
every time she came
back to audition.
327
00:12:49,750 --> 00:12:51,500
You'd give her a note,
she'd take it.
328
00:12:51,583 --> 00:12:53,500
She was like a diamond that
you just needed to, kind of,
329
00:12:53,583 --> 00:12:54,458
shine a little bit.
330
00:12:54,541 --> 00:12:56,000
"Sorry, but I'm not looking
331
00:12:56,083 --> 00:12:57,583
for a relationship..."
332
00:12:57,666 --> 00:12:58,625
Sad face.
333
00:12:58,708 --> 00:13:00,250
The fourth one,
that was like,
334
00:13:00,333 --> 00:13:03,958
"Oh, if y'all don't want me."
(laughs)
335
00:13:04,041 --> 00:13:05,791
That's how I felt
walkin' down...
336
00:13:05,875 --> 00:13:08,875
Rodeo Drive and Beverly.
I think I skipped--
337
00:13:10,708 --> 00:13:12,875
It was the scene
where we had...
338
00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:14,291
the fight in the car,
339
00:13:14,375 --> 00:13:17,208
and I added the like,
okay, the slam lock is on,
340
00:13:17,291 --> 00:13:19,083
and, like, I just--
I couldn't get out.
341
00:13:19,166 --> 00:13:21,000
I was like,
I'mma, I'mma do it.
I'mma go for it,
342
00:13:21,083 --> 00:13:23,666
and I was like,
"Open this damn door!"
343
00:13:23,750 --> 00:13:24,833
Muthafucka, open the door!
344
00:13:24,916 --> 00:13:26,583
-The child lock's on.
-Shut the fuck up!
345
00:13:26,666 --> 00:13:27,875
Yvonne Orji:
They were like,
"Ah, that's funny."
346
00:13:27,958 --> 00:13:29,291
I was like,
"Oh, that was a choice."
347
00:13:29,375 --> 00:13:30,791
Didn't know how
this was gonna go,
so I felt
348
00:13:30,875 --> 00:13:32,041
really good after that.
349
00:13:32,125 --> 00:13:33,833
Between audition
three and four,
350
00:13:33,916 --> 00:13:36,208
it was between paying
my cell phone bill,
351
00:13:36,291 --> 00:13:38,250
and getting
a private coach.
352
00:13:38,333 --> 00:13:41,083
And I was like...
"I'mma have to get
this private coach."
353
00:13:41,166 --> 00:13:44,375
If I get the job,
I hope they can
contact me another way
354
00:13:44,458 --> 00:13:46,458
'cause Sprint is dead, okay?
355
00:13:46,541 --> 00:13:48,000
I'm the only one on the show
356
00:13:48,083 --> 00:13:51,458
that's been a director,
cast member, and writer,
357
00:13:51,541 --> 00:13:52,708
and it's been incredible.
358
00:13:52,791 --> 00:13:55,000
Natasha went from
359
00:13:55,083 --> 00:13:57,250
being a writer
in the room
to being Kelli
360
00:13:57,333 --> 00:13:59,416
in a very specific way.
361
00:13:59,500 --> 00:14:01,208
A lot of times,
we'll read it as a room
362
00:14:01,291 --> 00:14:02,583
to kind of see,
like, how does it feel.
363
00:14:02,666 --> 00:14:05,625
She just read Kelli so great,
364
00:14:05,708 --> 00:14:08,916
that we couldn't imagine
anybody else being as funny
365
00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:10,916
as Natasha was being Kelli.
366
00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,083
You ever see
"Lock Up Abroad"?
367
00:14:13,166 --> 00:14:15,875
-The gon' lock a broad up.
-(laughing)
368
00:14:15,958 --> 00:14:18,041
Oh god, a favorite Kelli line.
369
00:14:18,125 --> 00:14:19,375
That is so hard.
370
00:14:19,458 --> 00:14:21,000
I improvise so much,
so sometimes
371
00:14:21,083 --> 00:14:22,708
I don't remember
what's an actual line,
372
00:14:22,791 --> 00:14:23,875
or something I've said,
373
00:14:23,958 --> 00:14:26,916
or something I've said
never made the air.
374
00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,125
I do like,
"Remember me different."
375
00:14:29,208 --> 00:14:33,125
Only because I say that
in my, my real life
376
00:14:33,208 --> 00:14:34,291
all the time.
377
00:14:34,375 --> 00:14:36,958
Fuck it!
You said Beyoncé.
378
00:14:37,041 --> 00:14:40,458
(electricity zapping)
379
00:14:40,541 --> 00:14:41,958
Remember me different.
380
00:14:42,041 --> 00:14:43,458
Just like, don't look
at me doing this.
381
00:14:43,541 --> 00:14:45,000
And I also love,
382
00:14:45,083 --> 00:14:46,833
"You know what that is?"
383
00:14:46,916 --> 00:14:47,958
Growth.
384
00:14:48,041 --> 00:14:48,916
You a big girl.
385
00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:50,083
Issa:
You know, we wanted to make
386
00:14:50,166 --> 00:14:51,208
-a good--
-Prentice: Yeah.
387
00:14:51,291 --> 00:14:52,791
-show at the end of the day.
-Prentice: Yeah.
388
00:14:52,875 --> 00:14:54,500
And I remember,
I was talkin' to Jonathan,
389
00:14:54,583 --> 00:14:55,750
we were wrapping,
and he was like,
390
00:14:55,833 --> 00:14:57,500
"You know this never works."
391
00:14:57,583 --> 00:14:59,125
He was like,
"You know, like a creator,
392
00:14:59,208 --> 00:15:00,958
"and a showrunner
who come together,
393
00:15:01,041 --> 00:15:03,208
there's always,
like, a power play."
394
00:15:03,291 --> 00:15:04,916
I, I feel like
the first time that you
395
00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:06,708
bucked up, and then,
bucked up is the wrong word
396
00:15:06,791 --> 00:15:08,666
was just in the depiction
of, of Lawrence.
397
00:15:08,750 --> 00:15:10,250
-Mm-hm.
-That, that made
such a difference.
398
00:15:10,333 --> 00:15:12,208
-He could've been written
in such a different way--
-Right.
399
00:15:12,291 --> 00:15:15,500
-if we didn't have, like,
your perspective, your as a man.
-Yeah.
400
00:15:15,583 --> 00:15:18,875
-(laughing)
-As a man, what he not gon' do.
401
00:15:20,458 --> 00:15:22,958
I actually
heard about "Insecure"--
402
00:15:23,041 --> 00:15:24,208
I'mma give
this brother a shout-out.
403
00:15:24,291 --> 00:15:25,833
Clarence Hammond
calls me one day,
404
00:15:25,916 --> 00:15:27,875
and he was like,
"Yo, have you
heard of 'Insecure'?"
405
00:15:27,958 --> 00:15:29,333
And I was like,
"No, what's that?"
And he was like,
406
00:15:29,416 --> 00:15:31,458
"It's Issa Rae's
new pilot at HBO,
407
00:15:31,541 --> 00:15:33,083
"and it just got greenlit.
You should read it.
408
00:15:33,166 --> 00:15:35,000
There's a character
in there you're perfect for."
409
00:15:35,083 --> 00:15:37,500
And now mind you,
I read the script,
and I'm,
410
00:15:37,583 --> 00:15:40,958
literally, thinking
he's talkin' about
Daniel, not Lawrence.
411
00:15:41,041 --> 00:15:42,625
Lawrence is sittin'
on the couch,
412
00:15:42,708 --> 00:15:45,166
he's eatin' cereal,
he forgot his girl's birthday.
413
00:15:45,250 --> 00:15:46,833
You know, I'm just
gettin' my shit together.
414
00:15:46,916 --> 00:15:49,416
You've been gettin'
your shit together for
four years, Lawrence.
415
00:15:49,500 --> 00:15:52,375
In no way in my mind
did I think that this dude
416
00:15:52,458 --> 00:15:55,458
was talkin' about Lawrence bein'
the perfect character for me.
417
00:15:55,541 --> 00:15:59,291
And I remember walkin' in,
and I did Lawrence first.
418
00:15:59,375 --> 00:16:01,541
My shoulders were,
kind of like hunched over,
419
00:16:01,625 --> 00:16:03,000
very didn't want to be there,
420
00:16:03,083 --> 00:16:05,208
but I felt like that's where
Lawrence was in his head,
421
00:16:05,291 --> 00:16:06,958
and then, I remember I,
like, put my sides down,
422
00:16:07,041 --> 00:16:09,625
turned around,
and I was like, "Bam!"
Like, "Let's do this."
423
00:16:09,708 --> 00:16:12,458
And, like, all of a sudden,
was like a whole new person
424
00:16:12,541 --> 00:16:13,500
to do Daniel.
425
00:16:13,583 --> 00:16:14,875
I was like,
"Oh, I booked that."
426
00:16:14,958 --> 00:16:16,333
Three weeks later,
I get a phone call,
427
00:16:16,416 --> 00:16:18,000
and they're like,
"Hey, they wanna test you
428
00:16:18,083 --> 00:16:20,000
-on 'Insecure.'"
-All right, cool.
429
00:16:20,083 --> 00:16:23,583
But I never asked my rep
what character they wanted
to test me on,
430
00:16:23,666 --> 00:16:27,208
so I actually thought
I was going to read
for Daniel again.
431
00:16:27,291 --> 00:16:29,750
And then, found out that
I was going to do Lawrence.
432
00:16:29,833 --> 00:16:33,583
-So, what're you sayin'?
-Issa: I didn't think that
Lawrence would make it past
433
00:16:33,666 --> 00:16:37,416
the first season,
let alone the first episode.
434
00:16:37,500 --> 00:16:40,250
Jay Ellis is so great.
Like I think about
"Breaking Bad."
435
00:16:40,333 --> 00:16:42,958
Jesse wasn't supposed
to be a main character.
436
00:16:43,041 --> 00:16:44,333
It was supposed
to just follow Walt,
437
00:16:44,416 --> 00:16:45,958
and Jesse is,
obviously, the show,
438
00:16:46,041 --> 00:16:47,583
and I think about
that with Jay Ellis.
439
00:16:47,666 --> 00:16:49,083
Like he was just so phenomenal
440
00:16:49,166 --> 00:16:50,375
that every single time
we'd break stories,
441
00:16:50,458 --> 00:16:52,333
we'd wanna see what
Lawrence was doing.
442
00:16:52,416 --> 00:16:55,875
The hands-down moment
I knew the show was a success
443
00:16:55,958 --> 00:16:57,875
was after our season finale.
444
00:16:57,958 --> 00:16:59,916
I remember Prentice bein' like,
445
00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:02,791
"Yo, the finale.
People gonna go crazy
when they see the finale."
446
00:17:02,875 --> 00:17:04,791
And I read it,
and I was like,
"I don't think so.
447
00:17:04,875 --> 00:17:06,791
"Like, it's, it's, it's
not that crazy of a ending.
448
00:17:06,875 --> 00:17:08,916
Like what are
you talkin' about?"
But I read the ending,
449
00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:11,333
and realized I was
gonna be butt naked.
450
00:17:11,416 --> 00:17:14,416
(moaning)
451
00:17:14,500 --> 00:17:18,291
Issa:
When I logged onto Twitter,
just independent of anything,
452
00:17:18,375 --> 00:17:20,958
saw people tweeting
about Issa and Lawrence.
453
00:17:21,041 --> 00:17:23,666
And I was like,
I'm not on the hashtag.
454
00:17:23,750 --> 00:17:26,250
It was just--
My entire timeline was
455
00:17:26,333 --> 00:17:28,083
people I followed
or people retweeting
456
00:17:28,166 --> 00:17:29,708
arguing about these
two characters.
457
00:17:29,791 --> 00:17:31,833
And I was like,
"This is incredible."
I'm getting chills now.
458
00:17:31,916 --> 00:17:33,375
Like, they're just talkin'
about these characters,
459
00:17:33,458 --> 00:17:35,625
and they're invested
in these characters.
460
00:17:35,708 --> 00:17:36,750
That was amazing.
461
00:17:36,833 --> 00:17:38,125
I didn't see it comin', man,
462
00:17:38,208 --> 00:17:39,791
but it hit people in a way that,
463
00:17:39,875 --> 00:17:42,041
still to this day,
I just don't know if I've seen
464
00:17:42,125 --> 00:17:43,958
a sex scene hit people
like that before.
465
00:17:44,041 --> 00:17:47,666
Issa:
We wanted to celebrate
the bodies of men on this show
466
00:17:47,750 --> 00:17:50,583
in the way that they weren't
celebrated on other shows,
467
00:17:50,666 --> 00:17:54,083
as opposed to the female body
'cause we've seen that before.
468
00:17:54,166 --> 00:17:56,916
(indistinct chatter)
469
00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:58,208
Prentice:
I like that wording.
470
00:17:58,291 --> 00:17:59,916
I did a interview
with a magazine, and--
471
00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:01,041
Did I ever tell you this?
472
00:18:01,125 --> 00:18:03,125
A woman asked me,
"Why...
473
00:18:03,208 --> 00:18:05,250
"is the sex so
graphic on the show?
474
00:18:05,333 --> 00:18:07,041
Is that the way
Black people do it?"
475
00:18:07,125 --> 00:18:10,125
-(laughing)
-What?
476
00:18:10,208 --> 00:18:11,833
Jay Ellis:
On God.
477
00:18:11,916 --> 00:18:13,750
-On--
-Amanda: A white woman?
478
00:18:13,833 --> 00:18:15,708
Like, but what
kind of white?
Like, Euro white?
479
00:18:15,791 --> 00:18:18,000
-Like, American white?
-Wade Allain-Marcus: Yeah,
you talkin' like Karen white?
480
00:18:18,083 --> 00:18:19,625
-A Karen.
-Kendrick Sampson:
I, literally, just
481
00:18:19,708 --> 00:18:20,833
told my family not to watch.
482
00:18:20,916 --> 00:18:22,500
I tried to tell my family,
they said--
483
00:18:22,583 --> 00:18:25,166
But you naked
half the time
on Instagram anyway.
484
00:18:25,250 --> 00:18:27,875
-What's the issue?
-But it's my titties,
not my dick.
485
00:18:27,958 --> 00:18:29,791
-Okay.
-Or like my ass.
486
00:18:32,750 --> 00:18:35,958
-Cue marker.
-Issa: Ahh!
487
00:18:36,041 --> 00:18:39,083
-Hey.
-Hey, sorry, I, I wasn't
tryin' to scare you.
488
00:18:39,166 --> 00:18:42,250
You know,
when you ended things,
I, I understood.
489
00:18:42,333 --> 00:18:43,625
You know, I had
a son on the way,
490
00:18:43,708 --> 00:18:44,958
and I was movin',
but...
491
00:18:45,041 --> 00:18:46,375
things are different now.
I'm different now.
492
00:18:46,458 --> 00:18:50,041
And... I would hate
to leave here tonight
493
00:18:50,125 --> 00:18:51,625
knowin' that,
I don't know,
494
00:18:51,708 --> 00:18:53,541
I could've said somethin'
and I didn't.
495
00:18:53,625 --> 00:18:56,541
Or like I didn't...
fight hard enough for you.
496
00:18:56,625 --> 00:18:58,541
(indistinct chatter)
497
00:18:58,625 --> 00:18:59,708
Issa:
That was passion!
498
00:18:59,791 --> 00:19:02,041
I loved how you were,
were makin' that point.
499
00:19:02,125 --> 00:19:05,125
I want to try a take where
time is of the essence,
500
00:19:05,208 --> 00:19:06,708
-the whole conversation for you.
-Run it?
501
00:19:06,791 --> 00:19:08,791
-Yeah, just, just run it
'cause you don't know--
-Okay.
502
00:19:08,875 --> 00:19:10,666
-how much of a window
you, actually, have.
-Yeah.
503
00:19:10,750 --> 00:19:13,166
-Okay. Okay.
-Okay? Cool.
504
00:19:13,250 --> 00:19:15,583
Kendrick:
Prentice is mad at me
'cause he's team Lawrence.
505
00:19:15,666 --> 00:19:18,333
It's very thinly veiled.
(chuckles)
506
00:19:18,416 --> 00:19:21,000
He be actin' like
he's unbiased,
but he's not.
507
00:19:21,083 --> 00:19:24,958
I'mma get it out of him.
I'm figurin' out what's
gonna go on in the finale.
508
00:19:26,375 --> 00:19:28,291
I always rooted
for Issa and Lawrence.
509
00:19:28,375 --> 00:19:30,375
And then,
I honestly believe,
in season four,
510
00:19:30,458 --> 00:19:31,708
I got to a point
where I was like,
511
00:19:31,791 --> 00:19:33,041
"Yo, some things
just don't work out.
512
00:19:33,125 --> 00:19:34,333
They tried and it didn't work."
513
00:19:34,416 --> 00:19:35,583
Going into season five,
514
00:19:35,666 --> 00:19:37,500
I don't know if
I was team Lawrence.
515
00:19:37,583 --> 00:19:41,208
Early on in our conversations,
just breaking the stories,
516
00:19:41,291 --> 00:19:43,166
Issa, the person, was like,
517
00:19:43,250 --> 00:19:46,708
"Issa, the character,
would be a dumb bitch
to stay with Lawrence."
518
00:19:46,791 --> 00:19:48,958
But, throughout
breaking the season,
519
00:19:49,041 --> 00:19:51,291
I think she started
to come around to,
520
00:19:51,375 --> 00:19:52,666
"Well, does that
have to be the way?"
521
00:19:52,750 --> 00:19:54,083
And as we started
breaking the season,
522
00:19:54,166 --> 00:19:57,208
Issa, the person,
also got on board
523
00:19:57,291 --> 00:19:59,541
with that ending, too.
524
00:19:59,625 --> 00:20:02,250
Laura: Last year,
once we did the episode
525
00:20:02,333 --> 00:20:05,458
where Lawrence and Issa have
the whole night together,
526
00:20:05,541 --> 00:20:07,958
we basically wrote an episode
about how they're soulmates,
527
00:20:08,041 --> 00:20:10,166
and so, by the time we got
to this season, it's like,
528
00:20:10,250 --> 00:20:11,666
we've told the world
that they're soulmates,
529
00:20:11,750 --> 00:20:13,666
so they have
to end up together,
or we're
530
00:20:13,750 --> 00:20:15,833
basically saying that
the protagonist of our show
531
00:20:15,916 --> 00:20:17,458
doesn't deserve to be
with her soulmate.
532
00:20:17,541 --> 00:20:18,875
So, I think there, ultimately,
533
00:20:18,958 --> 00:20:20,291
was no other way
to end the show.
534
00:20:20,375 --> 00:20:22,333
Tonight made me happy.
535
00:20:23,791 --> 00:20:25,583
You make me happy.
536
00:20:26,541 --> 00:20:27,791
When we first started as a room,
537
00:20:27,875 --> 00:20:31,291
and we were talking about
Issa's arc as a character,
538
00:20:31,375 --> 00:20:36,416
we actually talked a lot
about what it meant for her
to stay at We Got Y'all.
539
00:20:36,500 --> 00:20:38,750
There was something
really limiting about that,
540
00:20:38,833 --> 00:20:41,375
and we we're just like,
"Why is she still here
541
00:20:41,458 --> 00:20:43,250
"if she, herself,
has established
542
00:20:43,333 --> 00:20:44,916
that she don't wanna be here?"
543
00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:46,791
And it makes me think
even her romantic arc.
544
00:20:46,875 --> 00:20:48,250
In the beginning,
we were like,
545
00:20:48,333 --> 00:20:49,708
"Oh, by the end of season one,
546
00:20:49,791 --> 00:20:51,375
she's gonna kiss Daniel."
547
00:20:51,458 --> 00:20:55,000
And if our goal is to show
a Black woman who is flawed,
548
00:20:55,083 --> 00:20:58,166
and a Black woman who isn't all,
like, you know, white suits,
549
00:20:58,250 --> 00:20:59,708
red wine, no spills,
550
00:20:59,791 --> 00:21:02,875
then we have to show her
make flawed decisions.
551
00:21:02,958 --> 00:21:04,666
And that means
quitting your job
without knowing
552
00:21:04,750 --> 00:21:06,000
exactly what you're doing next.
553
00:21:06,083 --> 00:21:07,375
That means fuckin' the dude,
554
00:21:07,458 --> 00:21:08,625
not just kissin' the dude.
555
00:21:08,708 --> 00:21:10,000
That means lying
to your partner,
556
00:21:10,083 --> 00:21:11,500
and saying,
"I'm in this," and then,
557
00:21:11,583 --> 00:21:12,708
turning around,
and, like,
558
00:21:12,791 --> 00:21:14,250
talkin' to this guy
at your event.
559
00:21:14,333 --> 00:21:15,708
We were like,
"What are the bad things
560
00:21:15,791 --> 00:21:18,000
"she can do that
she can correct from
561
00:21:18,083 --> 00:21:20,541
that make her more dynamic
and more believable
as a character?"
562
00:21:20,625 --> 00:21:23,125
(downtempo music playing)
563
00:21:23,208 --> 00:21:26,416
(indistinct chatter)
564
00:21:33,291 --> 00:21:35,000
Prentice:
One of the things
that I was looking for
565
00:21:35,083 --> 00:21:38,375
when I was assembling the room
was learning from the...
566
00:21:38,458 --> 00:21:41,958
certain way of things
I had been seeing
for the last seven years.
567
00:21:42,041 --> 00:21:46,083
I knew that I didn't
want repetitive voices.
568
00:21:46,166 --> 00:21:48,041
The thing is if--
"Oh, if I have a Black woman,
569
00:21:48,125 --> 00:21:49,583
I don't need any
other Black women."
570
00:21:49,666 --> 00:21:52,458
And no Black woman can speak
for all Black women, right?
571
00:21:52,541 --> 00:21:54,666
While the agents
were sending us
572
00:21:54,750 --> 00:21:56,500
voices that felt like,
573
00:21:56,583 --> 00:21:58,333
"Oh, I'm gonna send
you eight Issas."
574
00:21:58,416 --> 00:21:59,833
But I was like,
"I have Issa.
575
00:21:59,916 --> 00:22:01,125
"I don't need eight Issas.
576
00:22:01,208 --> 00:22:03,416
I need something that's
gonna be contrary to Issa."
577
00:22:03,500 --> 00:22:07,500
Writing on "Insecure" has been
one of the most fulfilling
experiences of my life.
578
00:22:07,583 --> 00:22:09,958
It's the safest
I've ever felt in a room.
579
00:22:10,041 --> 00:22:11,416
I never felt like...
580
00:22:11,500 --> 00:22:14,500
anything I pitched was
too stupid or, like, too bad.
581
00:22:14,583 --> 00:22:16,250
I felt like
I could say anything.
582
00:22:16,333 --> 00:22:17,666
Every season of the show,
583
00:22:17,750 --> 00:22:19,458
we just wanted to make
each other laugh,
584
00:22:19,541 --> 00:22:20,583
and make Issa laugh,
585
00:22:20,666 --> 00:22:22,416
and it just, honestly, felt like
586
00:22:22,500 --> 00:22:23,666
a conversation with friends
587
00:22:23,750 --> 00:22:26,333
where you happen to be
breaking plot at the same time.
588
00:22:26,416 --> 00:22:28,583
I always feel like you have
to let writers have lives.
589
00:22:28,666 --> 00:22:31,166
That's the tithe you have
to give to make a show.
590
00:22:31,250 --> 00:22:33,166
Otherwise, they're just
in a writers' room all the time.
591
00:22:33,250 --> 00:22:36,750
Prentice did a lot to be like,
"Okay, on Fridays, we're
gonna have a happy hour.
592
00:22:36,833 --> 00:22:40,041
We're going to have social
events on the weekends."
Like we went to Disneyland.
593
00:22:40,125 --> 00:22:42,541
We did things that made
us feel like friends,
594
00:22:42,625 --> 00:22:44,125
and it just made us
better at our jobs
595
00:22:44,208 --> 00:22:45,875
because we were
open and sharing,
596
00:22:45,958 --> 00:22:48,166
and, like, giving ourselves
to the content.
597
00:22:48,250 --> 00:22:51,000
I was very proud
of the rooms
that we assembled,
598
00:22:51,083 --> 00:22:52,583
and I think it spoke
to the fact that
599
00:22:52,666 --> 00:22:54,291
we didn't have a lot
of turnover in our room.
600
00:22:54,375 --> 00:22:57,000
From the first three seasons
were all the same writers,
601
00:22:57,083 --> 00:22:58,958
and then,
obviously as a blessing,
602
00:22:59,041 --> 00:23:00,458
those writers got
opportunities, right,
603
00:23:00,541 --> 00:23:01,791
as a part of being on the show,
604
00:23:01,875 --> 00:23:03,166
and then, we replenished with
605
00:23:03,250 --> 00:23:04,916
four more amazing writers,
and those writers
606
00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:06,125
stuck with us till the end.
607
00:23:30,125 --> 00:23:31,666
Issa:
Good morning.
608
00:23:40,916 --> 00:23:43,958
When Issa comes to me,
she goes on a vacation.
609
00:23:45,583 --> 00:23:47,708
She's on some island right now.
610
00:23:47,791 --> 00:23:50,500
I like early calls.
611
00:23:50,583 --> 00:23:54,541
Early calls mean
you get out earlier...
sometimes.
612
00:23:54,625 --> 00:23:56,875
It's always great
to be able to work,
613
00:23:56,958 --> 00:24:00,291
and my thing is...
this always starts at the top,
614
00:24:00,375 --> 00:24:04,083
and however the lead is,
is kinda what you get,
615
00:24:04,166 --> 00:24:09,458
and, I have to say,
we doin' really good
over here with our lead.
616
00:24:09,541 --> 00:24:10,958
I'm old-school.
617
00:24:11,041 --> 00:24:14,791
I can go back
to working on "Martin."
(chuckles)
618
00:24:14,875 --> 00:24:17,125
And I did
"The Bernie Mac Show."
619
00:24:17,208 --> 00:24:19,083
Been doin' this
for a minute,
620
00:24:19,166 --> 00:24:22,000
but this is such
an amazing talent
621
00:24:22,083 --> 00:24:25,541
because you're working
with younger, amazing
622
00:24:25,625 --> 00:24:30,375
group of people that's taken
this industry to another level.
623
00:24:32,625 --> 00:24:34,625
With their creativeness,
you know?
624
00:24:37,500 --> 00:24:38,708
I love that.
625
00:24:42,125 --> 00:24:45,833
This is my time
to make love to the hair.
626
00:24:45,916 --> 00:24:47,666
(laughing)
627
00:24:49,416 --> 00:24:54,291
I always say that...
her hair and my hands
have a love affair, so.
628
00:24:55,750 --> 00:24:58,291
(Issa speaking)
629
00:24:59,958 --> 00:25:01,750
(Felicia laughs)
I love you, too.
630
00:25:01,833 --> 00:25:04,166
You not gonna deny it? Wow.
631
00:25:04,250 --> 00:25:05,791
I love you, too.
632
00:25:05,875 --> 00:25:09,458
But this hair is everything.
It's my favorite.
633
00:25:09,541 --> 00:25:12,541
Now, I found out about,
uh, "Awkward Black Girl"
634
00:25:12,625 --> 00:25:16,083
because...
natural hair was emerging,
635
00:25:16,166 --> 00:25:19,416
and, uh... at that time,
I was runnin' around
636
00:25:19,500 --> 00:25:23,416
with Jill Scott who
really did help a lot of
637
00:25:23,500 --> 00:25:26,500
people to look at natural
hair very differently.
638
00:25:26,583 --> 00:25:29,208
I remember people sayin',
"Have you seen
'Awkward Black Girl'?
639
00:25:29,291 --> 00:25:31,208
You need to see it.
Her hair is natural."
640
00:25:31,291 --> 00:25:33,916
I just remember a time
in history where
641
00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:36,750
you would see a woman
with short hair or short afro,
642
00:25:36,833 --> 00:25:38,500
and not really
think much about it,
643
00:25:38,583 --> 00:25:41,208
but they made it
a really big deal...
644
00:25:41,291 --> 00:25:44,500
that Issa had natural hair
645
00:25:44,583 --> 00:25:47,083
and, um, and had cut it off.
646
00:25:47,166 --> 00:25:49,833
You know, and talked
about that on her show.
647
00:25:49,916 --> 00:25:53,125
So, I started watchin' it,
and I was like,
"Oh, this is good."
648
00:25:53,208 --> 00:25:55,291
You know... I get it,
649
00:25:55,375 --> 00:25:57,041
and then, every now and then,
650
00:25:57,125 --> 00:25:59,333
I'll get these messages...
651
00:25:59,416 --> 00:26:00,750
from women sayin'...
652
00:26:01,833 --> 00:26:03,166
"I can't wait
for the next season
653
00:26:03,250 --> 00:26:05,041
to see what you're
gonna do with the hair."
654
00:26:05,125 --> 00:26:07,708
'Cause then I get
ideas for work
655
00:26:07,791 --> 00:26:09,208
and goin' out,
and I'm like,
656
00:26:09,291 --> 00:26:11,500
"Well, that's great
that you really are
657
00:26:11,583 --> 00:26:13,833
"anticipating the next season,
658
00:26:13,916 --> 00:26:16,041
or the next episode
for the hair."
659
00:26:16,125 --> 00:26:18,333
When I look back
at all the photos...
660
00:26:18,416 --> 00:26:19,541
that I've taken
661
00:26:19,625 --> 00:26:22,333
of the hairstyles we've done,
it's like,
662
00:26:22,416 --> 00:26:24,916
it's like
a thousand hairstyles.
It's crazy.
663
00:26:25,041 --> 00:26:27,333
I do not plan
these styles, you guys.
664
00:26:27,416 --> 00:26:28,541
(Felicia laughs)
665
00:26:28,625 --> 00:26:30,166
They, literally, are
666
00:26:30,250 --> 00:26:33,083
kinda like a creation between
Issa and I in the morning.
667
00:26:33,166 --> 00:26:35,333
Sometimes, I have
an idea of what I want,
668
00:26:35,416 --> 00:26:37,875
but once I see the wardrobe,
it could change.
669
00:26:37,958 --> 00:26:40,041
Yeah, it's off the cuff.
670
00:26:40,125 --> 00:26:41,333
There's our superstar!
671
00:26:41,416 --> 00:26:43,500
-Hey, I'm so glad
we're doing this.
-Issa: Me too.
672
00:26:43,583 --> 00:26:48,000
Well... let me show you
what our brand partnership
looks like.
673
00:26:50,375 --> 00:26:53,625
Brand perception and awareness
are both up significantly
674
00:26:53,708 --> 00:26:55,375
coming off of the last
handful of events--
675
00:26:55,458 --> 00:26:57,291
Melina:
I didn't really
wanna make a comedy
676
00:26:57,375 --> 00:26:58,750
that looked like
any other comedy.
677
00:26:58,833 --> 00:27:00,166
Cinematically, I was like,
678
00:27:00,250 --> 00:27:02,541
"I think we can push this,
and we can allow it to live
679
00:27:02,625 --> 00:27:05,708
"in a different space
'cause it's a very
specific show,
680
00:27:05,791 --> 00:27:07,333
and so, it should
have its own look."
681
00:27:07,416 --> 00:27:09,625
Everything was kinda
based in authenticity,
682
00:27:09,708 --> 00:27:11,541
and having it feel
as real as possible,
683
00:27:11,625 --> 00:27:15,333
and lighting Black people
in a way that I was used to,
684
00:27:15,416 --> 00:27:17,208
where we're like
celebrating their bodies,
685
00:27:17,291 --> 00:27:19,083
and their skin,
and their joy.
686
00:27:19,166 --> 00:27:21,208
We were pretty
successful the first year.
687
00:27:21,291 --> 00:27:23,083
Second year,
Ava came on board,
688
00:27:23,166 --> 00:27:24,833
and she came from indie film,
689
00:27:24,916 --> 00:27:27,083
and I really loved
her work and aesthetic.
690
00:27:27,166 --> 00:27:29,166
I already had strong ideas
691
00:27:29,250 --> 00:27:31,458
on what I would do differently.
692
00:27:31,541 --> 00:27:34,750
I felt like there were
some missed opportunities,
693
00:27:34,833 --> 00:27:36,791
visually, in terms
of how to incorporate
694
00:27:36,875 --> 00:27:39,500
cinematography into
the DNA of the show.
695
00:27:39,583 --> 00:27:42,416
One of the things that I said
when I kinda went in there was,
696
00:27:42,500 --> 00:27:44,791
"You're missing how
cool this show is.
697
00:27:44,875 --> 00:27:48,708
"You're missing literal
color in people's skin,
698
00:27:48,791 --> 00:27:51,875
in Los Angeles, the warmth,
the architecture."
699
00:27:51,958 --> 00:27:54,708
I just wanted to feel
the environment more
700
00:27:54,791 --> 00:27:56,791
in this visual storytelling.
701
00:27:56,875 --> 00:28:00,041
I just think that "Insecure"
is more than just a comedy.
702
00:28:00,125 --> 00:28:02,583
It's part of
a cultural movement.
703
00:28:02,666 --> 00:28:03,833
It's part of visual culture,
704
00:28:03,916 --> 00:28:05,708
and I just wanted it to be that,
705
00:28:05,791 --> 00:28:07,166
to show up for that.
706
00:28:07,250 --> 00:28:08,791
♪ ♪
707
00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:11,291
(indistinct chatter)
708
00:28:11,375 --> 00:28:12,583
Okay, so I want
everybody to look at me.
709
00:28:12,666 --> 00:28:14,500
I just wanna make sure
nobody's being blocked.
710
00:28:14,583 --> 00:28:15,708
(laughs)
711
00:28:15,791 --> 00:28:17,375
Just make sure
I don't lose you.
712
00:28:17,458 --> 00:28:18,875
-Nathan?
-Kendrick: Uh, yeah.
713
00:28:18,958 --> 00:28:20,708
Sorry, would you look at me?
714
00:28:20,791 --> 00:28:22,041
(Prentice speaking)
715
00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:26,208
-She looks good, right?
-(Prentice speaking)
716
00:28:26,291 --> 00:28:27,458
Did you tell her that?
717
00:28:27,541 --> 00:28:29,375
I told her soon
as she got here.
I said, "You look--"
718
00:28:29,458 --> 00:28:30,916
I said,
"You look beautiful."
719
00:28:31,041 --> 00:28:32,625
-I'm gonna tell her again.
-Go for it.
720
00:28:32,708 --> 00:28:34,791
I mean, I mean,
I love this floral.
721
00:28:34,875 --> 00:28:36,375
Yvonne looks great.
Yvonne looks great,
722
00:28:36,458 --> 00:28:38,916
Issa looks great,
I think Issa's shoes
really set that outfit.
723
00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:40,833
-I think... Huh?
-(Shiona speaking)
724
00:28:40,916 --> 00:28:42,125
(Prentice speaking)
725
00:28:42,208 --> 00:28:44,791
(laughing)
726
00:28:44,875 --> 00:28:46,791
I guess costumes,
to me, is-is just like
727
00:28:46,875 --> 00:28:48,958
cinematography which is
like production design, right?
728
00:28:49,041 --> 00:28:50,458
There's a story in all of it.
729
00:28:50,541 --> 00:28:53,125
And I really believe in
how we tell a story visually.
730
00:28:53,208 --> 00:28:56,291
The show is also about,
like, the diversity
of Black people and women.
731
00:28:56,375 --> 00:28:58,708
Each person has to have
their own style,
732
00:28:58,791 --> 00:29:00,083
and their own
sense of expression.
733
00:29:00,166 --> 00:29:01,458
You know your neck's
not long enough
734
00:29:01,541 --> 00:29:02,583
for these turtlenecks?
735
00:29:02,666 --> 00:29:04,666
Well, girl,
I'm exchangin' all these.
736
00:29:04,750 --> 00:29:06,708
Condola got me meetin'
in all these fancy spots,
737
00:29:06,791 --> 00:29:08,750
and I gotta rotate
my wardrobe to keep up.
738
00:29:08,833 --> 00:29:10,750
Melina:
I remember first
and second season,
739
00:29:10,833 --> 00:29:13,458
we would have clothes,
but, you know, we had
limited budgets,
740
00:29:13,541 --> 00:29:14,708
and I remember
in the pilot, like,
741
00:29:14,791 --> 00:29:16,500
Issa on stage,
that's my outfit.
742
00:29:16,583 --> 00:29:18,500
Wore that for New Year's
one year, and I was like,
743
00:29:18,583 --> 00:29:19,458
"This is perfect."
744
00:29:19,541 --> 00:29:21,208
-You love this.
-I love that.
745
00:29:21,291 --> 00:29:22,416
Shiona Turini:
I think it's cute.
746
00:29:22,500 --> 00:29:24,166
Woman:
And I think it
looks good on her.
747
00:29:24,250 --> 00:29:25,708
Shiona: But then,
are we wasting it here?
748
00:29:25,791 --> 00:29:27,166
-Well, it's never a waste.
-Yeah.
749
00:29:27,250 --> 00:29:30,916
I loved this...
but with a different shirt.
750
00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:32,500
Shiona:
When I started at "Insecure,"
751
00:29:32,583 --> 00:29:34,625
the aesthetics
of the main characters
752
00:29:34,708 --> 00:29:36,708
were pretty much
already carved out,
753
00:29:36,791 --> 00:29:38,458
which was a unique challenge
754
00:29:38,541 --> 00:29:40,791
because I continued
that narrative,
755
00:29:40,875 --> 00:29:44,375
but added my own twist,
my own personal touch.
756
00:29:44,458 --> 00:29:46,625
For Issa,
we elevated her
a little bit,
757
00:29:46,708 --> 00:29:49,083
and that was
really exciting to see.
758
00:29:49,166 --> 00:29:51,250
Diversity's always top of mind.
759
00:29:51,333 --> 00:29:54,500
In addition to just
the team that we hire,
760
00:29:54,583 --> 00:29:59,458
we really try and focus
on using, and shooting,
and purchasing
761
00:29:59,541 --> 00:30:02,041
designers of color,
Black women,
762
00:30:02,125 --> 00:30:05,250
um, young
up-and-comers in L.A.,
763
00:30:05,333 --> 00:30:07,958
and that's a way
that we can support,
764
00:30:08,041 --> 00:30:12,375
and support financially
just designers of color
within our community.
765
00:30:12,458 --> 00:30:16,125
When it came to work
on episode 507 with Amy,
766
00:30:16,208 --> 00:30:19,000
I pitched her the idea
of only featuring
767
00:30:19,083 --> 00:30:23,125
Black female designers
on our principles.
768
00:30:23,208 --> 00:30:25,833
I wanted to try and feature
Black female designers
769
00:30:25,916 --> 00:30:28,083
for, like, every aspect from
770
00:30:28,166 --> 00:30:29,791
the earrings to the shoes
771
00:30:29,875 --> 00:30:31,833
to, of course,
all of the clothing.
772
00:30:31,916 --> 00:30:34,250
She was really,
really up for it.
773
00:30:34,333 --> 00:30:36,541
It presented a lot
of different challenges,
774
00:30:36,625 --> 00:30:38,750
but at the same time,
it really gave us an opportunity
775
00:30:38,833 --> 00:30:42,208
to champion and support
Black female designers
776
00:30:42,291 --> 00:30:44,666
in a way that we haven't
really done on the show.
777
00:30:44,750 --> 00:30:47,416
We've, obviously, incorporated
them in different costumes,
778
00:30:47,500 --> 00:30:49,041
but never a true focal point.
779
00:30:49,125 --> 00:30:51,750
And I think it really played
into the story of these women
780
00:30:51,833 --> 00:30:53,625
coming together,
one of the last times,
781
00:30:53,708 --> 00:30:55,791
and supporting each other
as they are moving through
782
00:30:55,875 --> 00:31:01,083
the world and now moving
on to different experiences.
783
00:31:01,166 --> 00:31:02,791
Amy Aniobi:
I'm directing episode 507,
784
00:31:02,875 --> 00:31:04,041
which is called,
"Chillin', Okay?"
785
00:31:04,125 --> 00:31:05,958
It's a really special episode
786
00:31:06,041 --> 00:31:07,875
'cause it's all
the girls together
787
00:31:07,958 --> 00:31:09,541
almost the entire episode.
788
00:31:09,625 --> 00:31:11,166
It's basically
one of these times,
789
00:31:11,250 --> 00:31:12,875
like you're plannin'
to go out with your friends,
790
00:31:12,958 --> 00:31:14,541
and then, you just
never make it out.
791
00:31:14,625 --> 00:31:15,916
So, it's playback,
action, camera.
792
00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:18,250
You start smoking,
and then, on action, Issa,
793
00:31:18,333 --> 00:31:20,333
that's when you
deliver your line.
794
00:31:20,416 --> 00:31:22,458
I've been working
on "Insecure" since
the very beginning.
795
00:31:22,541 --> 00:31:24,208
I feel like I worked
on pre-"Insecure"
796
00:31:24,291 --> 00:31:27,041
because I wrote for
"Misadventures of
Awkward Black Girl."
797
00:31:27,125 --> 00:31:30,375
"Insecure" is a show that
has really different
798
00:31:30,458 --> 00:31:32,750
levels of directors,
and a lot of new talent.
799
00:31:32,833 --> 00:31:34,750
And I had so many
friends ask me
800
00:31:34,833 --> 00:31:36,250
from season one, like,
"Are you gonna direct?"
801
00:31:36,333 --> 00:31:38,625
And I was always like,
"Ooh, no. The show?
It's so hard."
802
00:31:38,708 --> 00:31:41,208
Really it was growing
as a producer on set,
803
00:31:41,291 --> 00:31:45,125
and supporting so many
different types of directors,
and seeing how they work.
804
00:31:45,208 --> 00:31:48,083
I felt like, for four seasons,
I was shadowing directors.
805
00:31:48,166 --> 00:31:49,666
Issa:
I'm not about to argue
with someone who went to
806
00:31:49,750 --> 00:31:51,250
Scared Straight for high school.
807
00:31:51,333 --> 00:31:52,791
(laughing)
808
00:31:52,875 --> 00:31:56,208
-Kelli: I went there, too, so.
-All right, let's cut.
809
00:31:56,291 --> 00:31:57,333
When I came to "Insecure,"
810
00:31:57,416 --> 00:31:58,791
it was the first time
I'd been on a set
811
00:31:58,875 --> 00:32:01,166
where people of color
were at the top,
812
00:32:01,250 --> 00:32:03,666
and the vibe on set,
and the people,
813
00:32:03,750 --> 00:32:05,000
it was diverse for real.
814
00:32:05,083 --> 00:32:06,333
It wasn't "PA diverse,"
815
00:32:06,416 --> 00:32:08,541
it wasn't "one person
over here diverse."
816
00:32:08,625 --> 00:32:10,583
It was diverse in all aspects.
817
00:32:10,666 --> 00:32:13,250
This is the first show
that I've ever been on where
818
00:32:13,333 --> 00:32:16,333
when I get into a scout van,
which includes director,
819
00:32:16,416 --> 00:32:18,875
cinematographer,
assistant director,
820
00:32:18,958 --> 00:32:20,708
that I'm the only
white guy in the van.
821
00:32:20,791 --> 00:32:22,791
And that is the first
time in 30 years
822
00:32:22,875 --> 00:32:24,125
that that's ever happened,
823
00:32:24,208 --> 00:32:25,958
and I'm not straight,
824
00:32:26,041 --> 00:32:27,791
so there were no straight
white guys in the van.
825
00:32:27,875 --> 00:32:30,625
Ava Berkofsky:
I see a lot of women
in the camera department
826
00:32:30,708 --> 00:32:32,875
'cause I make it that way.
827
00:32:32,958 --> 00:32:35,875
This show has been all
about giving people that shot,
828
00:32:35,958 --> 00:32:39,458
and I was given that shot,
and I want to give that shot
to other people.
829
00:32:39,541 --> 00:32:41,583
When it comes
to giving people chances,
830
00:32:41,666 --> 00:32:43,458
people will show you
that they're ready,
831
00:32:43,541 --> 00:32:45,291
and I just love
passionate people.
832
00:32:45,375 --> 00:32:49,208
I love to be around people
who love to do the work,
who are about it.
833
00:32:49,291 --> 00:32:52,041
That kind of tells you
all you need to know.
834
00:32:52,125 --> 00:32:54,875
First time I met Issa was 2009,
835
00:32:54,958 --> 00:32:56,125
Issa did this workshop.
836
00:32:56,208 --> 00:32:57,916
I won the "Insecure"
On Set Contest
837
00:32:58,000 --> 00:32:59,166
that HBO put on.
838
00:32:59,250 --> 00:33:00,625
At the end of 2016,
839
00:33:00,708 --> 00:33:02,708
the winners of the contest
got to move to LA,
840
00:33:02,791 --> 00:33:05,000
and work on the show as set PAs.
841
00:33:05,083 --> 00:33:07,166
Afterwards, I,
like, stood in line
to talk to her.
842
00:33:07,250 --> 00:33:08,583
I'm like,
"Hey, you know,
I'm writing now."
843
00:33:08,666 --> 00:33:11,250
I really hadn't had any
real eyes on my work yet.
844
00:33:11,333 --> 00:33:12,541
I was so bold.
845
00:33:12,625 --> 00:33:14,500
Even though I was PA-ing,
I tried to let people know,
846
00:33:14,583 --> 00:33:16,625
"I'm a writer, and that's
what I'm trying to do,"
847
00:33:16,708 --> 00:33:19,041
talkin' to Issa whenever
I got an opportunity to do so.
848
00:33:19,125 --> 00:33:22,083
She read my pilot script,
and...
849
00:33:22,166 --> 00:33:23,708
Kindsey Young:
Issa personally emails me,
850
00:33:23,791 --> 00:33:26,416
and she was like,
"Hey Kindsey, not sure
what you're up to,
851
00:33:26,500 --> 00:33:28,750
"but we, potentially,
have a spot opening up
852
00:33:28,833 --> 00:33:31,541
for writer's assistant
in the writers' room
if you're interested."
853
00:33:31,625 --> 00:33:33,500
And I'm like,
"Duh, of course,
I'm interested."
854
00:33:33,583 --> 00:33:37,041
I dropped everything,
and I came to become
a showrunner's assistant,
855
00:33:37,125 --> 00:33:39,916
and a writer's PA for
season one of "Insecure."
856
00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:42,666
Now I'm a showrunner
of "Rap Shit" for HBO Max,
857
00:33:42,750 --> 00:33:45,333
so, I mean, I don't know.
(laughs) It's crazy.
858
00:33:45,416 --> 00:33:47,000
Prentice:
Six years ago,
none of those people
859
00:33:47,083 --> 00:33:48,375
had professional writing jobs,
860
00:33:48,458 --> 00:33:49,625
and now they're showrunners
861
00:33:49,708 --> 00:33:51,000
and writers on other shows.
862
00:33:51,083 --> 00:33:53,541
You know, I see how,
in five seasons,
863
00:33:53,625 --> 00:33:56,458
we've given, uh, eight
first-time directors,
864
00:33:56,541 --> 00:33:59,125
their, their opportunity
to direct their first
episode of TV.
865
00:33:59,208 --> 00:34:03,583
I think seven...
I think seven writers
over the last five seasons,
866
00:34:03,666 --> 00:34:05,458
go on to get
their own overall deals.
867
00:34:05,541 --> 00:34:08,541
We've seen six of our writers
from these five seasons,
868
00:34:08,625 --> 00:34:11,166
go on to become showrunners,
post-"Insecure."
869
00:34:11,250 --> 00:34:12,958
You know,
we've hired and broken in
870
00:34:13,041 --> 00:34:15,833
two costume designers,
a new DP to television,
871
00:34:15,916 --> 00:34:19,208
and across the board,
you really do see growth.
872
00:34:19,291 --> 00:34:21,041
That is a true testament
to their legacy,
873
00:34:21,125 --> 00:34:23,625
and to the legacy of the show,
is that we always, always,
874
00:34:23,708 --> 00:34:28,458
always tried to open many doors
for as many people as possible.
875
00:34:28,541 --> 00:34:31,625
Anthony Sims:
So, I met Issa Rae
at a 7-Eleven, randomly,
876
00:34:31,708 --> 00:34:33,541
years ago, before "Insecure."
877
00:34:33,625 --> 00:34:36,416
We talked about Hollywood,
and what we each do.
878
00:34:36,500 --> 00:34:39,375
So, fast forward years later.
She's very successful.
879
00:34:39,458 --> 00:34:42,000
I have a wife and kids,
and I'm tryin' to figure out
880
00:34:42,083 --> 00:34:44,041
the best way
to support my family.
881
00:34:44,125 --> 00:34:45,708
I thought getting into a union
882
00:34:45,791 --> 00:34:47,791
is probably one of
my best opportunities.
883
00:34:47,875 --> 00:34:49,291
When COVID hit,
I was pretty discouraged,
884
00:34:49,375 --> 00:34:50,708
didn't think it
was gonna happen.
885
00:34:50,791 --> 00:34:52,291
So, I happened to work on a show
886
00:34:52,375 --> 00:34:54,125
with one of the producers
from "Insecure."
887
00:34:54,208 --> 00:34:57,500
I was wearing, I think,
an "Insecure" hoodie or a hat.
888
00:34:57,583 --> 00:34:59,625
And he asked and said,
"Oh, do you know Issa?"
889
00:34:59,708 --> 00:35:02,666
Like, "Do you work on the show?"
And I said, you know, "I do."
890
00:35:02,750 --> 00:35:05,000
Was tellin' her about how
hard it is to get into a union,
891
00:35:05,083 --> 00:35:07,833
and she said to me,
"There's always a way."
892
00:35:07,916 --> 00:35:09,458
Let me see what I can do.
If I can get you on the show,
893
00:35:09,541 --> 00:35:12,125
and help count towards
your days, like,
that's a win, right?
894
00:35:12,208 --> 00:35:14,375
And it's also
a win for inclusion,
895
00:35:14,458 --> 00:35:17,916
and making sure that, again,
this show is continuing to
896
00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:19,125
create opportunities.
897
00:35:19,208 --> 00:35:22,458
Uh, fast forward a few months
and I got a call.
898
00:35:22,541 --> 00:35:25,875
It worked out.
This show means
so much to me.
899
00:35:25,958 --> 00:35:27,458
It's helpin' me
take care of my family.
900
00:35:27,541 --> 00:35:30,625
I can go home,
and look at my wife,
and she's proud of me.
901
00:35:31,875 --> 00:35:36,041
(smooth R&B playing)
902
00:35:44,791 --> 00:35:46,666
Amber Haley:
We were told at the beginning
of this season
903
00:35:46,750 --> 00:35:49,083
that we were going to have
an art walk in this area,
904
00:35:49,166 --> 00:35:52,666
and so, that we
should look for artists
in Crenshaw and Inglewood,
905
00:35:52,750 --> 00:35:54,333
Black artists in particular.
906
00:35:54,416 --> 00:35:56,000
Kay Lee: Creatively,
to put this all together,
907
00:35:56,083 --> 00:35:58,000
took a good three weeks,
908
00:35:58,083 --> 00:36:00,333
but to really, physically,
put it together,
909
00:36:00,416 --> 00:36:01,458
we did it in two days.
910
00:36:01,541 --> 00:36:04,125
Issa is very specific
in embracing
911
00:36:04,208 --> 00:36:06,375
all the locations
that we've seen
912
00:36:06,458 --> 00:36:09,000
in all five seasons
of "Insecure."
913
00:36:09,083 --> 00:36:12,583
If it wasn't gonna be
Leimert Park Plaza,
it wasn't gonna be--
914
00:36:12,666 --> 00:36:13,791
There wasn't really an option.
915
00:36:13,875 --> 00:36:17,250
(laughs) There wasn't
really an option.
916
00:36:17,333 --> 00:36:20,208
Hey, look who's
over here shoppin'--
917
00:36:20,291 --> 00:36:21,916
Kevin Bray:
The Black Art Walk is
918
00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:25,291
an event where Los Angelian
African-American artists
919
00:36:25,375 --> 00:36:26,625
are able to show
off their work.
920
00:36:26,708 --> 00:36:28,458
And as with everything
Issa does,
921
00:36:28,541 --> 00:36:30,875
there's a verisimilitude
that has to do with
922
00:36:30,958 --> 00:36:32,625
what the real world is doing,
923
00:36:32,708 --> 00:36:34,125
and what she's
doing in the show.
924
00:36:34,208 --> 00:36:37,041
Her master plan was she
was gonna come down here,
925
00:36:37,125 --> 00:36:38,833
and she was gonna
spend the money
926
00:36:38,916 --> 00:36:40,958
for us to be workin'
in this community.
927
00:36:41,041 --> 00:36:43,666
It ain't "Insecure" if we
don't have a block party,
928
00:36:43,750 --> 00:36:47,125
if we don't have--
In the neighborhood
where the Blacks are.
929
00:36:47,208 --> 00:36:49,291
(loud beeping)
Ooh... ooh. Hello?
930
00:36:49,375 --> 00:36:50,875
I'm tryna shoot over here.
931
00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:53,833
Oh, it's a black Yukon...
Suge Knight is comin' through.
932
00:36:53,916 --> 00:36:55,791
I don't know who's there,
but here we are.
933
00:36:55,875 --> 00:36:59,708
-I said, it's not "Insecure"
if we don't have a big--
-(speaker feedback)
934
00:37:01,416 --> 00:37:03,333
Y'all didn't disrespect
other actresses like this.
935
00:37:03,416 --> 00:37:05,958
-(rap music plays)
-Oh, oh, now it's a party.
936
00:37:06,041 --> 00:37:08,833
You know what?
This is, this is why
we do what we do.
937
00:37:08,916 --> 00:37:12,083
They said,
"Oh, the cameras is rolling?
We havin' a party."
938
00:37:12,166 --> 00:37:15,500
(laughs)
I love it!
939
00:37:15,583 --> 00:37:19,083
So, you were saying,
how does it feel to be shooting
in a Black neighborhood?
940
00:37:19,166 --> 00:37:21,333
(laughs)
This is, this is how it feels.
941
00:37:21,416 --> 00:37:23,583
They're like,
"It's a cookout.
It's a party.
942
00:37:23,666 --> 00:37:25,041
Well, we gon' get
in on it, too."
943
00:37:25,125 --> 00:37:26,583
I think that's
not only Issa Dee,
944
00:37:26,666 --> 00:37:28,416
but Issa Rae's
desire and mission
945
00:37:28,500 --> 00:37:29,875
is to promote
the Black community,
946
00:37:29,958 --> 00:37:32,416
especially, you know, one
where there's so much culture,
947
00:37:32,500 --> 00:37:34,000
and there's so much art,
and there's so much
948
00:37:34,083 --> 00:37:36,291
feeling here,
and that's what
"Insecure" does best.
949
00:37:36,375 --> 00:37:38,125
Like, we bring people
into this neighborhood,
950
00:37:38,208 --> 00:37:39,625
and we show how live it is.
951
00:37:39,708 --> 00:37:42,083
It's not just
the Hollywood Hills
or Sunset Boulevard.
952
00:37:42,166 --> 00:37:44,541
It's like,
"Yo, Inglewood, Leimert Park.
953
00:37:44,625 --> 00:37:46,125
We got stuff here, too."
954
00:37:48,083 --> 00:37:49,500
Alex Burns:
Three weeks ago,
955
00:37:49,583 --> 00:37:51,000
we were shootin' down
in Manhattan Beach,
956
00:37:51,083 --> 00:37:53,541
and I happened to go down
this street called Hyde Park,
957
00:37:53,625 --> 00:37:56,416
where The Dunes
apartment is located,
958
00:37:56,500 --> 00:37:59,625
and, literally, there was
three families takin' photos,
959
00:37:59,708 --> 00:38:03,000
and we shot The Dunes
like season two or three,
960
00:38:03,083 --> 00:38:04,583
and people are still
961
00:38:04,666 --> 00:38:08,291
goin' to The Dunes,
takin' photos of "Insecure."
962
00:38:08,375 --> 00:38:13,166
So, it has proven to be
a lot of positivity,
963
00:38:13,250 --> 00:38:15,708
acceptance from this show.
964
00:38:15,791 --> 00:38:18,833
I'm extremely proud of Issa,
extremely proud.
965
00:38:18,916 --> 00:38:21,333
It's wild to me
that The Dunes is
a cultural landmark,
966
00:38:21,416 --> 00:38:24,708
just 'cause you don't
think about those things
when you're filming.
967
00:38:24,791 --> 00:38:27,166
We moved out of those
apartments by season two.
968
00:38:27,250 --> 00:38:30,500
I get tagged at least
three or four times a day,
and people in pictures,
969
00:38:30,583 --> 00:38:32,041
and I think it's
the dopest thing ever.
970
00:38:32,125 --> 00:38:34,291
They treat it like
the Hollywood Sign.
971
00:38:35,958 --> 00:38:37,625
You know,
when "Insecure" started,
972
00:38:37,708 --> 00:38:39,333
I would say it was
like pulling teeth
973
00:38:39,416 --> 00:38:41,833
because we were
really dead set on
974
00:38:41,916 --> 00:38:43,958
creating a certain
authentic look to the show
975
00:38:44,041 --> 00:38:46,958
that we realized,
workin' with older people
in this industry
976
00:38:47,041 --> 00:38:50,833
who had been very
seasoned vets in their jobs,
weren't really used to.
977
00:38:50,916 --> 00:38:52,583
We were askin' them
to go to neighborhoods
978
00:38:52,666 --> 00:38:54,333
that other shows
didn't film in.
979
00:38:54,416 --> 00:38:56,416
We were askin'
them to show us
980
00:38:56,500 --> 00:38:59,416
locations that they
never even thought
about being filmed at.
981
00:38:59,500 --> 00:39:00,750
We fought really hard for that.
982
00:39:00,833 --> 00:39:04,666
It's really refreshing
being able to show new places,
983
00:39:04,750 --> 00:39:08,708
whether it's neighborhoods,
or businesses on television.
984
00:39:08,791 --> 00:39:11,083
It's a little different
in South LA than other places.
985
00:39:11,166 --> 00:39:12,958
It's different protocols
you have to go by.
986
00:39:13,041 --> 00:39:14,416
You go into
certain neighborhoods,
987
00:39:14,500 --> 00:39:17,541
it's the hood logistics
that needs to be dealt with.
988
00:39:17,625 --> 00:39:19,958
You have to have
somebody that knows
the politics of Leimert Park
989
00:39:20,041 --> 00:39:21,541
in order to go
in there and just film.
990
00:39:21,625 --> 00:39:23,333
Everybody knows Issa,
everybody loves Issa.
991
00:39:23,416 --> 00:39:25,583
She employs a lot
of Black people
in the community.
992
00:39:25,666 --> 00:39:29,333
She puts a spotlight
on a lot of communities
that other TV shows don't.
993
00:39:29,416 --> 00:39:31,250
We got to see
the wonderful people
994
00:39:31,333 --> 00:39:32,958
who live and make
this community work,
995
00:39:33,041 --> 00:39:36,708
and all of the great cultural
things that it has to offer.
996
00:39:36,791 --> 00:39:38,333
Kira Talise:
I grew up on Normandie
and Florence,
997
00:39:38,416 --> 00:39:40,416
so for anyone who's
outside of L.A.,
998
00:39:40,500 --> 00:39:41,791
the only reason why they
know my neighborhood is
999
00:39:41,875 --> 00:39:44,166
because that's where
the riots started in the '90s.
1000
00:39:44,250 --> 00:39:46,625
That's not the best
representation of
1001
00:39:46,708 --> 00:39:48,208
the city of Los Angeles,
but it is what it is.
1002
00:39:48,291 --> 00:39:50,791
I rep my city pretty hard,
and it just feels really good
1003
00:39:50,875 --> 00:39:53,916
to see the L.A. that we
know and love represented,
1004
00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:57,000
as opposed to the one
that Hollywood, typically,
portrays for us.
1005
00:39:57,083 --> 00:39:59,458
Everywhere we shoot
is my stomping ground.
1006
00:39:59,541 --> 00:40:01,333
When we were
in the Baldwin Hills Plaza,
1007
00:40:01,416 --> 00:40:03,500
people that I grew up with
is our security.
1008
00:40:03,583 --> 00:40:05,666
To be able to work,
and see my friends,
1009
00:40:05,750 --> 00:40:08,625
and they see me
doing this, it--
1010
00:40:08,708 --> 00:40:11,416
Look at my smile.
You know what I mean?
It's really dope.
1011
00:40:11,500 --> 00:40:14,750
I love the Thug Yoda
representation because
it's humanizing
1012
00:40:14,833 --> 00:40:17,166
somebody who's
quote unquote "blood"
from our neighborhood.
1013
00:40:17,250 --> 00:40:20,291
-Me and Nala was just about
to go watch the Bear Bears.
-"Care Bears," Daddy.
1014
00:40:20,375 --> 00:40:21,791
Chris Sanford:
You have these
type of relationships
1015
00:40:21,875 --> 00:40:23,333
with these people,
and it's a very
1016
00:40:23,416 --> 00:40:25,041
accurate description
because it represents
1017
00:40:25,125 --> 00:40:26,333
the side that's not shown.
1018
00:40:26,416 --> 00:40:28,000
Thug Yoda was based
off of someone
1019
00:40:28,083 --> 00:40:30,000
I had seen at
the post office when--
1020
00:40:30,083 --> 00:40:32,916
in Inglewood when I was
tryna drop my mail off.
1021
00:40:33,000 --> 00:40:34,875
Super, super hood post office.
1022
00:40:34,958 --> 00:40:36,833
And it was this dude
on the phone in a wifebeater
1023
00:40:36,916 --> 00:40:39,500
with his daughter in his arm
just cussin', like...
1024
00:40:39,583 --> 00:40:42,458
like, "Yeah, nigga.
Don't, don't, don't
fuckin' play me, my guy."
1025
00:40:42,541 --> 00:40:44,291
And he would be like,
"You good, baby girl?
You good?"
1026
00:40:44,375 --> 00:40:47,541
"All right, yeah, so..."
and I was like,
"This is a character."
1027
00:40:47,625 --> 00:40:50,125
I'm goin' to
the Crenshaw Mall.
1028
00:40:50,208 --> 00:40:53,333
Both:
Oh shit!
1029
00:40:53,416 --> 00:40:56,166
So glad when I see
a cafe that I go to,
1030
00:40:56,250 --> 00:40:59,208
or a barber shop
that my son goes to
1031
00:40:59,291 --> 00:41:01,500
on my street on, on HBO,
1032
00:41:01,583 --> 00:41:04,000
and with a whole bunch
of white people watchin'.
1033
00:41:04,083 --> 00:41:07,125
But just, you know, let's not
continue all the gentrification.
1034
00:41:07,208 --> 00:41:09,625
South L.A. is wonderful,
but if maybe you wanna
stay in another neighborhood,
1035
00:41:09,708 --> 00:41:10,916
that's also fine.
1036
00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:12,750
I don't know why I told
you about this neighborhood
1037
00:41:12,833 --> 00:41:15,708
because y'all take everything.
Can we have anything? Leave!
1038
00:41:15,791 --> 00:41:17,625
I've been blamed
for gentrification.
1039
00:41:17,708 --> 00:41:19,541
The show has been blamed
for gentrification.
1040
00:41:19,625 --> 00:41:21,708
Somethin' went
L.A. viral on Twitter
1041
00:41:21,791 --> 00:41:23,000
where this girl posted,
1042
00:41:23,083 --> 00:41:24,375
"I went to Worldwide Tacos.
1043
00:41:24,458 --> 00:41:26,666
"It was a four-hour wait
and I got the tacos,
1044
00:41:26,750 --> 00:41:27,958
and I didn't like it."
1045
00:41:28,041 --> 00:41:29,458
And she misquoted
1046
00:41:29,541 --> 00:41:31,791
Worldwide Tacos as
being in Inglewood,
1047
00:41:31,875 --> 00:41:34,000
so people were like,
"Bitch, you don't even know
what you talkin' about.
1048
00:41:34,083 --> 00:41:36,041
"Take your ass home.
That's why you
watchin' the show.
1049
00:41:36,125 --> 00:41:37,458
"This is Issa's fault.
1050
00:41:37,541 --> 00:41:40,791
Like, didn't nobody tell you
to review these tacos anyway."
1051
00:41:40,875 --> 00:41:44,333
And I was like,
"Damn, like, that's the...
1052
00:41:44,416 --> 00:41:47,250
it's the beauty
and the blessin' of, like,
exposin' these businesses,
1053
00:41:47,333 --> 00:41:52,291
but then, residents and locals
being mad that people
are coming in here...
1054
00:41:52,375 --> 00:41:55,083
being overly familiar
with these places
1055
00:41:55,166 --> 00:41:56,583
that are so dear to us.
1056
00:41:56,666 --> 00:42:00,541
("Feng Shui" by Jidenna playing)
1057
00:42:02,500 --> 00:42:04,625
♪ Talk down,
niggas call it luck ♪
1058
00:42:06,291 --> 00:42:08,625
♪ Rubber band,
baby wanna fuck ♪
1059
00:42:10,000 --> 00:42:12,291
♪ I been doing well,
up andup ♪
1060
00:42:13,791 --> 00:42:15,375
♪ Caught'em in aspell,
fuck you up ♪
1061
00:42:15,458 --> 00:42:18,000
Issa:
We had a night shoot
on Saturday...
1062
00:42:18,083 --> 00:42:20,125
which means, you know,
I got called at 6:00 PM,
1063
00:42:20,208 --> 00:42:22,750
and we didn't finish until--
1064
00:42:22,833 --> 00:42:24,916
5:50, we were in the van
going back to set.
1065
00:42:25,041 --> 00:42:29,125
6:05, I was on my way home.
1066
00:42:29,208 --> 00:42:32,666
And then... here we are.
Today is Monday,
1067
00:42:32,750 --> 00:42:35,791
and I got picked up
at 3:54 AM to come here.
1068
00:42:35,875 --> 00:42:37,833
-Tristen J. Winger:
It's Wednesday.
-"Hi, I'm Issa Rae.
1069
00:42:37,916 --> 00:42:40,708
Life is so hard.
Oh my god.
I didn't have a--"
1070
00:42:40,791 --> 00:42:42,958
She didn't work on Saturday.
She didn't work on Saturday.
1071
00:42:43,041 --> 00:42:46,250
She was getting a massage,
posting shirtless pictures
of her doctor.
1072
00:42:46,333 --> 00:42:48,416
-That's what she was doin'.
-Sounds like hatred.
1073
00:42:48,500 --> 00:42:50,666
Sounds like someone's
mad at my life.
1074
00:42:50,750 --> 00:42:53,791
"But I'm just Issa Rae.
I own everything, boo-hoo."
1075
00:42:53,875 --> 00:42:58,083
-(all laughing)
-Why you have to laugh?
1076
00:42:58,166 --> 00:43:01,250
-Laughin' that hard
in the background.
-(indistinct chatter)
1077
00:43:01,333 --> 00:43:04,291
-(mocking laughter)
-(chatter continues)
1078
00:43:04,375 --> 00:43:06,833
Kendrick: You know
you gotta make it worse.
1079
00:43:08,666 --> 00:43:12,250
-What happened to you?
-Yvonne: He's so bad.
1080
00:43:12,333 --> 00:43:14,166
Kendrick:
"I own everything."
1081
00:43:14,250 --> 00:43:16,416
(indistinct chatter, laughter)
1082
00:43:19,166 --> 00:43:22,833
(James speaking)
1083
00:43:22,916 --> 00:43:23,916
It did.
1084
00:43:24,000 --> 00:43:25,375
(James speaking)
1085
00:43:25,458 --> 00:43:27,333
Good, it's out there.
You know, we can retweak--
1086
00:43:27,416 --> 00:43:29,125
We're gonna keep retweaking it.
1087
00:43:29,208 --> 00:43:33,000
You can ask Kira,
our script coordinator,
but I hit her up.
1088
00:43:33,083 --> 00:43:36,583
I finished it on Saturday...
1089
00:43:36,666 --> 00:43:38,875
and then, was like,
"Cool, bet. We'll send
it out in the morning."
1090
00:43:38,958 --> 00:43:41,458
And then, I dreamt about it,
and I was like, "Oh fuck,
I want change something."
1091
00:43:41,541 --> 00:43:42,958
I was like,
"Kira, did you send it?"
She was like,
1092
00:43:43,041 --> 00:43:45,291
"I sent it,
but I can recall it."
1093
00:43:45,375 --> 00:43:48,750
And so, I made another change,
and then, had another idea.
1094
00:43:48,833 --> 00:43:50,041
I was like,
"Kira, did you send it?"
1095
00:43:50,125 --> 00:43:51,875
And she was like,
"I was just about to press send.
1096
00:43:51,958 --> 00:43:53,208
I can send it back."
1097
00:43:53,291 --> 00:43:54,333
And then,
I read something else--
1098
00:43:54,416 --> 00:43:55,958
Like, like,
literally, three times
1099
00:43:56,041 --> 00:43:58,375
just 'cause I was like,
this is the cast
and crew seeing it,
1100
00:43:58,458 --> 00:44:02,333
and I, I want the first
impression to at least be--
1101
00:44:02,416 --> 00:44:04,708
Like, we know that we're
gonna continue to work on this,
1102
00:44:04,791 --> 00:44:06,708
but, like, I still
feel confident in it.
1103
00:44:06,791 --> 00:44:08,666
And when I think about,
1104
00:44:08,750 --> 00:44:10,500
you know, actors who
have dedicated five years
1105
00:44:10,583 --> 00:44:13,375
of their lives to this show,
and crew members,
1106
00:44:13,458 --> 00:44:16,666
if it just ends with a,
"Aw, man, that's it?"
1107
00:44:16,750 --> 00:44:18,500
Like, I don't want
that feeling of,
1108
00:44:18,583 --> 00:44:21,041
"I dedicated my life
for five years. This is it?"
1109
00:44:21,125 --> 00:44:23,708
So, I just wanted to make sure
that it was all represented,
1110
00:44:23,791 --> 00:44:26,666
um, and I'm excited that we
get to do a table read for it,
1111
00:44:26,750 --> 00:44:29,458
but it feels like a weight has
been lifted off my shoulders.
1112
00:44:29,541 --> 00:44:34,583
("Cold War" by
Cautious Clay playing)
1113
00:44:34,666 --> 00:44:37,416
Amy Aniobi:
"Issa sighs as Quoia opens
the door wide to Crenshawn's
1114
00:44:37,500 --> 00:44:38,833
"warehouse main room.
1115
00:44:38,916 --> 00:44:40,916
It's completely dark.
Issa steps inside."
1116
00:44:41,000 --> 00:44:43,666
Quoia, why is it so dark?
You got a night plumber?
1117
00:44:43,750 --> 00:44:46,083
Amy Aniobi:
She flips on a switch and...
1118
00:44:46,166 --> 00:44:47,916
Cast:
Surprise!
1119
00:44:48,000 --> 00:44:49,250
Amy Aniobi:
It's Issa's 33rd birthday,
1120
00:44:49,333 --> 00:44:51,083
and they're all gathered
to celebrate her.
1121
00:44:51,166 --> 00:44:53,000
(indistinct chatter)
1122
00:44:53,083 --> 00:44:55,458
("Black Truck"
by Mereba playing)
1123
00:44:55,541 --> 00:44:58,208
♪ Ooh... ♪
1124
00:45:00,208 --> 00:45:03,291
(laughs)
1125
00:45:03,375 --> 00:45:05,791
With this show, I'm most proud
of the doors that it's opened.
1126
00:45:05,875 --> 00:45:08,875
It's showing Black
people's humanity and
1127
00:45:08,958 --> 00:45:11,416
regular-ness during a time when
1128
00:45:11,500 --> 00:45:15,041
that wasn't the focus
for anything else
on television.
1129
00:45:15,125 --> 00:45:20,125
And opening doors for so much
other talent behind the scenes,
1130
00:45:20,208 --> 00:45:21,166
in front of the camera.
1131
00:45:21,250 --> 00:45:22,833
I think that's what
we'll be known for
1132
00:45:22,916 --> 00:45:25,041
in the same way that,
you know, "Girlfriends" did,
1133
00:45:25,125 --> 00:45:29,291
and all these other
legendary shows that,
that came before us.
1134
00:45:29,375 --> 00:45:30,958
Thank you guys
so much for coming,
1135
00:45:31,041 --> 00:45:33,083
and making me look good
in front of my new client.
1136
00:45:33,166 --> 00:45:34,291
-No problem.
-We got you.
1137
00:45:34,375 --> 00:45:35,666
Let's take a photo.
1138
00:45:35,750 --> 00:45:37,125
You got it.
1139
00:45:38,375 --> 00:45:40,041
-(camera clicks)
-Now, let's do a fun one.
1140
00:45:40,125 --> 00:45:41,750
-Nah.
-Nah, we're good.
1141
00:45:41,833 --> 00:45:43,333
Like, I love that
I got to play Tiffany.
1142
00:45:43,416 --> 00:45:45,166
I think
in the beginning,
it was more
1143
00:45:45,250 --> 00:45:47,500
a trope of like
the bougie, light skin, AKA.
1144
00:45:47,583 --> 00:45:49,083
Where's Tiffany?
Is she mad at me?!
1145
00:45:49,166 --> 00:45:51,166
-I don't know.
She hide in the closet.
-Tiffany: Yes, I know
1146
00:45:51,250 --> 00:45:53,125
he's our little weed baby.
1147
00:45:53,208 --> 00:45:55,541
(Tiffany cries)
1148
00:45:55,625 --> 00:45:58,500
But I just wanna
be home with you.
1149
00:45:58,583 --> 00:46:01,291
And we really got to see her
1150
00:46:01,375 --> 00:46:03,791
develop into a mom,
1151
00:46:03,875 --> 00:46:06,333
into a more
compassionate friend,
1152
00:46:06,416 --> 00:46:08,166
into, like,
the truth-teller
of the gang.
1153
00:46:08,250 --> 00:46:11,750
We're all doing great things.
Look at you getting fit.
Look at Kelli.
1154
00:46:11,833 --> 00:46:14,833
Look at Molly,
taking interviews,
taking names.
1155
00:46:14,916 --> 00:46:17,416
Look at Issa... hmm.
1156
00:46:17,500 --> 00:46:20,041
I feel like people
have come to see Tiffany
1157
00:46:20,125 --> 00:46:23,125
as part of this legacy of
1158
00:46:23,208 --> 00:46:25,250
bougie Black women in television
1159
00:46:25,333 --> 00:46:28,791
from Hilary Banks
to Whitley Gilbert,
1160
00:46:28,875 --> 00:46:31,208
and so, like, to be
in the company of that
1161
00:46:31,291 --> 00:46:34,583
within the African-American
cultural canon is just like
1162
00:46:34,666 --> 00:46:35,750
a dream.
1163
00:46:37,125 --> 00:46:38,541
Melina: All right.
Let's do it, everybody.
1164
00:46:38,625 --> 00:46:39,708
Picture's up.
1165
00:46:43,333 --> 00:46:46,375
(indistinct chatter)
1166
00:46:50,875 --> 00:46:53,333
-Prentice: Good, cut.
-Speaker: It is time to say...
1167
00:46:53,416 --> 00:46:58,125
series wrap on...
Natasha Rothwell.
1168
00:46:58,208 --> 00:47:01,333
(cheering and applause)
1169
00:47:05,166 --> 00:47:07,000
Natasha Rothwell:
I remember when
I first got the show,
1170
00:47:07,083 --> 00:47:08,458
and I was just like,
"I don't know if
1171
00:47:08,541 --> 00:47:10,666
Issa's made a huge mistake,
or if I can do this."
1172
00:47:10,750 --> 00:47:12,625
It's very vulnerable
for me to say,
1173
00:47:12,708 --> 00:47:14,041
but it's just true.
1174
00:47:14,125 --> 00:47:16,000
What the show has taught
me over six years
1175
00:47:16,083 --> 00:47:19,083
is that you can grow
into those positions,
1176
00:47:19,166 --> 00:47:21,541
and into those--
You know, to meet
those expectations,
1177
00:47:21,625 --> 00:47:23,250
and that we're only
limiting ourselves
1178
00:47:23,333 --> 00:47:25,625
when we don't, sort of,
take those risks and chances,
1179
00:47:25,708 --> 00:47:28,000
and have the courage
to just try.
1180
00:47:28,083 --> 00:47:31,125
And I think that, again,
it's about visibility, right,
1181
00:47:31,208 --> 00:47:35,708
and not one singular
Black female voice.
1182
00:47:35,791 --> 00:47:37,458
And yet,
Issa's voice is singular,
1183
00:47:37,541 --> 00:47:40,541
and I think I'm excited
for... disruption,
1184
00:47:40,625 --> 00:47:43,291
shaking the table,
and infusing the culture
1185
00:47:43,375 --> 00:47:46,333
of Hollywood with more
Black female voices.
1186
00:47:46,416 --> 00:47:49,041
Amy Aniobi:
"Now we are inside
of an international hotel.
1187
00:47:49,125 --> 00:47:51,375
"We're at a poppin' ass party.
Everyone's dressed to the nines,
1188
00:47:51,458 --> 00:47:53,541
drinking and mingling as
the DJ hypes the crowd."
1189
00:47:53,625 --> 00:47:55,875
(indistinct chatter)
1190
00:47:58,875 --> 00:48:00,000
(laughs)
1191
00:48:02,541 --> 00:48:04,833
At a certain point,
I'll crane back out,
but we're craning in.
1192
00:48:04,916 --> 00:48:06,958
-So, it'll just be super loose,
and then--
-Yvonne: Okay.
1193
00:48:07,041 --> 00:48:09,333
That's just what the scene is.
It'll be like getting
in on steadicam.
1194
00:48:09,416 --> 00:48:11,125
-Yeah, yeah, yeah.
-Like, coming behind you guys.
1195
00:48:11,208 --> 00:48:12,333
All right, let's make a wedding.
1196
00:48:12,416 --> 00:48:14,416
(cheering and applause)
1197
00:48:17,708 --> 00:48:19,083
Smile, Leonard, yeah.
1198
00:48:19,166 --> 00:48:23,708
Just listen to me-- Don't--
Just smile. Smile at her.
1199
00:48:23,791 --> 00:48:28,125
Molly has really been
a delicious character
to embody.
1200
00:48:28,208 --> 00:48:31,250
She has taught me things.
I think I've taught
her some things,
1201
00:48:31,333 --> 00:48:33,083
though these
are writers' words,
1202
00:48:33,166 --> 00:48:35,541
but I would like
to think that I brought
1203
00:48:35,625 --> 00:48:37,583
my growth
and my healing to her,
1204
00:48:37,666 --> 00:48:40,125
but she also brought her growth
and her healing to me.
1205
00:48:40,208 --> 00:48:43,791
By the time we get
to the end of season five,
1206
00:48:43,875 --> 00:48:46,916
it's just like...
she found herself.
1207
00:48:47,000 --> 00:48:49,500
Prentice:
And... cue Jay.
1208
00:48:49,583 --> 00:48:51,375
Jay:
I don't think
I've ever thought about
1209
00:48:51,458 --> 00:48:53,166
where Lawrence's
story should go
1210
00:48:53,250 --> 00:48:55,166
as we've gone
from season to season.
1211
00:48:55,250 --> 00:48:57,583
In my mind, it was always like,
"Yo, I'm here for Issa's story."
1212
00:48:57,666 --> 00:49:01,500
So, whatever Issa wants
at the end of the day
is, like, what I wanna do.
1213
00:49:01,583 --> 00:49:03,458
And being able to bring...
1214
00:49:03,541 --> 00:49:07,791
Lawrence's journey
full circle from who he was
in the beginning,
1215
00:49:07,875 --> 00:49:11,000
from a dude sittin'
on the couch,
crippled in fear,
1216
00:49:11,083 --> 00:49:12,541
who couldn't take
care of himself,
1217
00:49:12,625 --> 00:49:14,791
much less take care
of anyone else.
1218
00:49:14,875 --> 00:49:18,208
To see him come full circle,
to being a father,
1219
00:49:18,291 --> 00:49:20,041
going after what he wants,
1220
00:49:20,125 --> 00:49:22,500
being okay with just who he is,
1221
00:49:22,583 --> 00:49:24,958
and, like, knowin' that
I have figured myself out,
1222
00:49:25,041 --> 00:49:28,916
and this is the type
of relationship that
I want in my life.
1223
00:49:29,000 --> 00:49:31,833
And it's crazy 'cause
it just feels so real.
1224
00:49:31,916 --> 00:49:34,750
Speaker:
We have to wrap
up this day with
1225
00:49:34,833 --> 00:49:38,708
the very multifaceted,
emotional news
1226
00:49:38,791 --> 00:49:45,166
that this is an "Insecure"
series wrap on Jay Ellis.
1227
00:49:45,250 --> 00:49:48,291
(cheering and applause)
1228
00:49:51,958 --> 00:49:53,916
Jay: You know,
now that we're done...
1229
00:49:55,083 --> 00:49:57,166
it's the people, man.
1230
00:49:58,833 --> 00:50:01,291
(indistinct chatter)
1231
00:50:02,458 --> 00:50:04,166
Nigga, we did it.
1232
00:50:04,250 --> 00:50:05,333
Nigga, that shit.
1233
00:50:05,416 --> 00:50:08,083
(all laughing)
1234
00:50:08,166 --> 00:50:09,416
He did it.
1235
00:50:09,500 --> 00:50:12,666
You still got--
Y'all still got somethin' to do.
1236
00:50:12,750 --> 00:50:15,416
It's really rare to go
to work every day...
1237
00:50:16,541 --> 00:50:17,666
and love...
1238
00:50:19,250 --> 00:50:20,666
not only the work...
1239
00:50:21,708 --> 00:50:23,291
but, like...
1240
00:50:23,375 --> 00:50:24,666
the people that you're with,
1241
00:50:24,750 --> 00:50:26,833
and for all of us...
1242
00:50:26,916 --> 00:50:28,625
to walk out of this show
six years later,
1243
00:50:28,708 --> 00:50:30,333
and still love each other?
1244
00:50:32,958 --> 00:50:35,500
It's all you could dream for.
Like, it's all you could--
1245
00:50:36,291 --> 00:50:37,416
Thank you.
1246
00:50:37,500 --> 00:50:39,333
It's all, uh...
1247
00:50:41,666 --> 00:50:43,541
It's all you could
dream for in a show.
1248
00:50:43,625 --> 00:50:44,875
...more wrap gifts, man.
1249
00:50:45,000 --> 00:50:47,541
It's the Black Santa.
You know what I'm sayin'?
Boom.
1250
00:50:47,625 --> 00:50:51,416
I'mma miss every single person
we've had on our production,
1251
00:50:51,500 --> 00:50:55,041
from sound to camera and Issa.
1252
00:50:55,625 --> 00:50:56,708
Um...
1253
00:50:58,833 --> 00:51:00,500
and Issa.
1254
00:51:00,583 --> 00:51:02,916
It is very rare to have...
1255
00:51:05,208 --> 00:51:08,250
the creator of your show
also be your co-star,
1256
00:51:08,333 --> 00:51:09,791
also be your biggest champion,
1257
00:51:09,875 --> 00:51:11,916
and I'mma miss
the shit out of that.
1258
00:51:12,000 --> 00:51:13,666
Amy Aniobi:
"We're in the hotel room.
The party's over.
1259
00:51:13,750 --> 00:51:15,625
"Issa helps Molly take
her wedding dress off.
1260
00:51:15,708 --> 00:51:18,416
"As Issa unzips and unclips
the complicated dress,
1261
00:51:18,500 --> 00:51:20,041
and Molly sways, still tipsy."
1262
00:51:20,125 --> 00:51:23,416
Okay, just one more row.
How you feelin', girl?
1263
00:51:23,500 --> 00:51:29,291
Happy.
Like really, really,
really happy.
1264
00:51:29,375 --> 00:51:33,666
(sighs)
As long as you're around,
I'mma be okay.
1265
00:51:33,750 --> 00:51:35,375
Yeah.
1266
00:51:38,125 --> 00:51:39,375
Me too.
1267
00:51:41,125 --> 00:51:44,375
-I love you.
-I love you, too.
1268
00:51:46,083 --> 00:51:48,125
And, uh, cut.
1269
00:51:48,208 --> 00:51:50,083
Speaker:
All right, let's cut.
Let's keep it quiet, yeah?
1270
00:51:50,166 --> 00:51:51,791
-And that's it.
-(bells rings)
1271
00:51:51,875 --> 00:51:53,208
Speaker:
All right, everybody.
1272
00:51:53,291 --> 00:51:55,291
Bring up the house lights,
and come on out here.
1273
00:51:55,375 --> 00:51:59,291
I'm gonna stay lyin'
or I'm gonna start cryin'.
Let's go. Come out here.
1274
00:52:02,333 --> 00:52:04,916
Oh no.
1275
00:52:06,708 --> 00:52:09,541
This is a series wrap--
Damnit.
1276
00:52:09,625 --> 00:52:12,833
This is series wrap
on Yvonne Orji.
1277
00:52:12,916 --> 00:52:15,375
(applause)
1278
00:52:21,458 --> 00:52:23,500
Man, thank you all so mu--
1279
00:52:23,583 --> 00:52:27,541
Come on, man... um, for real,
thank you guys so much.
1280
00:52:27,625 --> 00:52:32,125
Issa, I owe
so much to you.
We all do.
1281
00:52:32,208 --> 00:52:35,750
I'm so grateful that I got
to rock with you by your side
1282
00:52:35,833 --> 00:52:38,666
as your number two
for six years.
1283
00:52:38,750 --> 00:52:41,625
You changed the heck
outta my life.
1284
00:52:41,708 --> 00:52:45,791
Everybody, cast, crew,
writers, Prentice...
1285
00:52:45,875 --> 00:52:47,166
I love the heck outta y'all.
1286
00:52:47,250 --> 00:52:50,041
Like, we did it.
We made a show.
1287
00:52:50,125 --> 00:52:54,500
The role that I'm most proud of
is not even really being Molly,
1288
00:52:54,583 --> 00:52:57,125
it's just being
able to serve you.
1289
00:52:57,208 --> 00:52:59,666
That's what I take
so much pride in.
1290
00:52:59,750 --> 00:53:01,958
I wanted to protect you
1291
00:53:02,041 --> 00:53:04,875
'cause you, literally,
were the head,
1292
00:53:04,958 --> 00:53:08,916
and I know that
heavy is the head
that wears the crown.
1293
00:53:09,000 --> 00:53:12,875
We did it.
We did it, yo!
We did it!
1294
00:53:12,958 --> 00:53:14,416
We always discussed in the room
1295
00:53:14,500 --> 00:53:16,875
that the true love story
of "Insecure" is Issa and Molly,
1296
00:53:16,958 --> 00:53:20,083
and we wanted to show that
you can get to a place, like,
1297
00:53:20,166 --> 00:53:23,375
not with every friend,
but in this friendship
at least,
1298
00:53:23,458 --> 00:53:26,208
that they were growing
at different paces,
1299
00:53:26,291 --> 00:53:29,625
and, eventually, lined up
and grew in sync again
by the end of the show,
1300
00:53:29,708 --> 00:53:32,375
that they really realized that,
"No, you're my person.
1301
00:53:32,458 --> 00:53:35,208
You're my friend...
for life."
1302
00:53:35,291 --> 00:53:38,000
This wasn't a friendship
for a reason or a season.
1303
00:53:38,083 --> 00:53:39,875
This is a friendship
for a lifetime.
1304
00:53:39,958 --> 00:53:43,291
We ain't shit
but some tricks.
Hello, what?
1305
00:53:43,375 --> 00:53:45,833
-Pick up the phone. Hello?
-Oh, you so stupid.
1306
00:53:45,916 --> 00:53:49,291
-(both laughing)
-Bottoms up.
1307
00:53:50,333 --> 00:53:51,958
This spiked?
1308
00:53:52,041 --> 00:53:53,000
I love you.
1309
00:53:55,583 --> 00:53:58,125
Speaker:
We are saying
goodbye and goodnight
1310
00:53:58,208 --> 00:54:00,125
and a series finale
to Prentice Penny.
1311
00:54:00,208 --> 00:54:03,333
(cheering and applause)
1312
00:54:07,375 --> 00:54:10,333
I don't know why
I still have this on.
I'm COVID tested.
1313
00:54:10,416 --> 00:54:12,125
Um...
1314
00:54:12,208 --> 00:54:16,333
When we met, I always felt
like if I was a young Issa,
1315
00:54:16,416 --> 00:54:19,416
how would I want my person,
a showrunner to be?
1316
00:54:19,500 --> 00:54:22,875
And, uh, I--
It was very important
for me that...
1317
00:54:22,958 --> 00:54:26,541
I walk away from this,
that you could always say,
1318
00:54:26,625 --> 00:54:29,541
"He helped me make the show
I wanted to make...
1319
00:54:29,625 --> 00:54:31,250
and he never got
in the way once."
1320
00:54:31,333 --> 00:54:34,083
And that was always
like my North Star.
1321
00:54:34,166 --> 00:54:38,291
And, you know, you realize,
sometimes, you're just a brick
in somebody else's story,
1322
00:54:38,375 --> 00:54:40,500
and you have a bigger
function to serve.
1323
00:54:40,583 --> 00:54:43,833
I would think about all
the times I was the only
Black writer in rooms,
1324
00:54:43,916 --> 00:54:48,541
and goin' through the things
I went through for 17 years,
good and bad,
1325
00:54:48,625 --> 00:54:50,958
I tried to pour...
1326
00:54:51,041 --> 00:54:55,458
all of what I knew,
everything I learned,
every skill set I had
1327
00:54:55,541 --> 00:54:57,375
was just to pour it into you,
1328
00:54:57,458 --> 00:55:02,375
and you have exceeded,
and have gone farther than
I could've dreamed for you.
1329
00:55:02,458 --> 00:55:05,625
And the beauty is
that you'll never know
those things that I saw,
1330
00:55:05,708 --> 00:55:10,333
you only create a new path,
and I will miss you...
1331
00:55:11,500 --> 00:55:14,708
so much.
I love you.
And, um...
1332
00:55:14,791 --> 00:55:17,166
yeah, I don't know.
I love you.
1333
00:55:17,250 --> 00:55:19,666
I love you so much.
Thank you.
1334
00:55:19,750 --> 00:55:22,833
(applause)
1335
00:55:22,916 --> 00:55:27,250
-What I'mma do without you now?
-You fine. You got 18 shows.
1336
00:55:27,333 --> 00:55:29,791
-You good.
-(all laughing)
1337
00:55:32,750 --> 00:55:37,041
(indistinct chatter)
1338
00:55:38,875 --> 00:55:41,916
Melina:
And... action.
1339
00:55:42,000 --> 00:55:44,500
Poor thing.
She went to bed at 4:00.
1340
00:55:44,583 --> 00:55:48,833
Had a 8:42 call time,
I just looked at it.
1341
00:55:48,916 --> 00:55:52,166
That's what happens when
you have your own show.
1342
00:55:53,500 --> 00:55:55,333
(laughter)
1343
00:55:55,416 --> 00:55:56,916
Speaker:
Go lie down, baby.
1344
00:55:57,000 --> 00:55:59,291
Anthony:
Y'all got her talent ready.
1345
00:56:02,541 --> 00:56:04,750
Melina:
I hope, in the future, that
1346
00:56:04,833 --> 00:56:08,041
people can take away from this,
that it was a classic.
1347
00:56:08,125 --> 00:56:13,250
I really feel like it
was a beautiful picture
of how we live now.
1348
00:56:13,333 --> 00:56:16,500
When you think back to our era,
you'll think back to "Insecure."
1349
00:56:16,583 --> 00:56:20,041
But I also hope that there's
so many other shows that
1350
00:56:20,125 --> 00:56:25,375
follow in our footsteps,
and really diversify
that landscape.
1351
00:56:27,541 --> 00:56:29,375
And that's a cut...
1352
00:56:29,458 --> 00:56:34,458
of the last shot of "Insecure,"
the HBO series.
1353
00:56:34,541 --> 00:56:37,958
Speaker:
That is... a series wrap
1354
00:56:38,041 --> 00:56:41,291
-on our queen, Issa Rae.
-Let's go!
1355
00:56:41,375 --> 00:56:47,250
You guys, I am just
incredibly humbled, blessed.
1356
00:56:47,333 --> 00:56:48,250
Uh...
1357
00:56:54,500 --> 00:56:57,291
but I'm just honored
to know a lot of you.
1358
00:56:59,416 --> 00:57:04,125
When I, when I
set out to do this--
Y'all know me.
1359
00:57:04,208 --> 00:57:06,166
I'm not, I'm not
the topmost talented person,
1360
00:57:06,250 --> 00:57:07,791
I'm not the funniest person.
1361
00:57:07,875 --> 00:57:10,541
I'm not... I'm not
1362
00:57:10,625 --> 00:57:13,833
-the, the best person--
-You're Issa Rae!
1363
00:57:13,916 --> 00:57:18,750
But, you know, you aspire
and you dream and you imagine,
1364
00:57:18,833 --> 00:57:22,083
and, and I never imagined
that I would get to work
1365
00:57:22,166 --> 00:57:25,875
with all of you...
in support of this,
1366
00:57:25,958 --> 00:57:28,625
and to meet so many
amazing, talented people.
1367
00:57:28,708 --> 00:57:31,708
I think about my loved ones,
1368
00:57:31,791 --> 00:57:34,916
uh, my brothers
and sisters in cast,
1369
00:57:35,000 --> 00:57:37,916
and how you guys
have elevated me,
1370
00:57:38,000 --> 00:57:40,541
how I've learned so much
from you along the way.
1371
00:57:40,625 --> 00:57:43,500
I've learned so much
about myself through you,
1372
00:57:43,583 --> 00:57:46,791
and am just so blessed
1373
00:57:46,875 --> 00:57:48,041
to, to be in your presence,
1374
00:57:48,125 --> 00:57:50,083
and to know that
I have family for life.
1375
00:57:50,166 --> 00:57:53,250
-That's a wrap!
-(cheering)
1376
00:57:53,333 --> 00:57:56,375
("Kinda Love" by
TeaMarrr playing)
1377
00:58:03,791 --> 00:58:05,708
Prentice:
When I look at other
shows growing up,
1378
00:58:05,791 --> 00:58:07,458
I had not seen a family
that looked like mine
1379
00:58:07,541 --> 00:58:10,000
in Black television till
I saw "Cosby," right?
1380
00:58:10,083 --> 00:58:11,625
So, when I look
at that show, I'm like,
1381
00:58:11,708 --> 00:58:13,333
that show inspired me
to think that, like,
1382
00:58:13,416 --> 00:58:16,291
my representation of life
can be on screen,
1383
00:58:16,375 --> 00:58:18,375
and it just made me
believe it was possible.
1384
00:58:18,458 --> 00:58:20,291
So, if I had
to distill it down,
1385
00:58:20,375 --> 00:58:23,083
I would hope that people
would watch "Insecure" and go,
1386
00:58:23,166 --> 00:58:25,000
"Oh, like, achieving
1387
00:58:25,083 --> 00:58:29,750
at a high level, creatively,
opportunity-wise is possible."
1388
00:58:29,833 --> 00:58:31,625
And, sometimes,
in this country,
1389
00:58:31,708 --> 00:58:35,208
you don't always get
to think that things that
look like you are possible.
1390
00:58:35,291 --> 00:58:37,750
So, that's what I would hope
the legacy behind it is,
1391
00:58:37,833 --> 00:58:41,916
whatever people need it to be,
to know that it's possible.
1392
00:58:42,000 --> 00:58:45,250
(cheering)
1393
00:58:47,958 --> 00:58:51,208
(laughing)
1394
00:58:51,291 --> 00:58:55,083
-How you feel to be done, baby?
-Baby, I'm tired, aight.
1395
00:58:55,166 --> 00:58:56,416
You too pretty, baby,
you too pretty.
1396
00:58:56,500 --> 00:58:59,041
I started this shit,
I poured out into this shit.
1397
00:58:59,125 --> 00:59:01,666
-We done, baby.
"Insecure," bitch!
-We done!
1398
00:59:01,750 --> 00:59:03,833
Yay!
1399
00:59:07,416 --> 00:59:11,375
-I love you.
-I love you. I love you.
1400
00:59:12,375 --> 00:59:14,000
Can we go eat?
1401
00:59:16,208 --> 00:59:18,750
All: Hey!
1402
00:59:18,833 --> 00:59:21,958
-The hardest-working people
in, in show business.
-We did it!
1403
00:59:22,041 --> 00:59:23,708
Yvonne:
Right here!
Right here!
1404
00:59:26,541 --> 00:59:29,250
-Love you, boo.
-I love you more.
1405
00:59:29,333 --> 00:59:32,166
I just wanna go down
as people's favorite show.
It's super simple.
1406
00:59:32,250 --> 00:59:36,583
Like, in the way that
I talk nostalgically about
the shows that shaped me,
1407
00:59:36,666 --> 00:59:38,875
that make me smile
when I think about them,
1408
00:59:38,958 --> 00:59:43,000
that I reflect on a specific
time in my life, happily.
1409
00:59:43,083 --> 00:59:45,250
Like, I want our show
to do the same for people.
1410
00:59:45,333 --> 00:59:49,458
I want them to think about
scenes and the first time
they watched something,
1411
00:59:49,541 --> 00:59:52,791
and imagine where
they were at the time
that they watched it,
1412
00:59:52,875 --> 00:59:54,083
where they were
in their lives.
1413
00:59:54,166 --> 00:59:57,000
I want it to be
a part of who they are.
1414
00:59:57,083 --> 00:59:58,333
That would make me happy.
1415
00:59:58,416 --> 01:00:00,500
("Kinda Love" continues)
1416
01:00:09,750 --> 01:00:13,708
♪ I want that won't creep,
won't sneak kinda love ♪
1417
01:00:13,791 --> 01:00:17,166
♪ That so deep,
I'm freak kinda love ♪
1418
01:00:17,250 --> 01:00:19,541
♪ That, ooh ♪
1419
01:00:19,625 --> 01:00:23,208
♪ Yeah, I want you ♪
1420
01:00:23,291 --> 01:00:26,500
♪ Can you give me
one good reason ♪
1421
01:00:26,583 --> 01:00:29,666
♪ Not to f...
with you like that ♪
1422
01:00:29,750 --> 01:00:33,083
♪ Can you give me
one good reason ♪
1423
01:00:33,166 --> 01:00:36,416
♪ Not to f...
with you like that ♪
1424
01:00:36,500 --> 01:00:39,791
♪ Can you give me
one good reason ♪
1425
01:00:39,875 --> 01:00:43,041
♪ Not to f...
with you like that ♪
1426
01:00:43,125 --> 01:00:49,666
♪ Can you give me one good,
one good, one good reason ♪
1427
01:00:49,750 --> 01:00:53,000
♪ Not to f... it
up like that, oh ♪
1428
01:00:53,083 --> 01:00:56,083
♪ No, no, no, no, no, no ♪
1429
01:00:56,166 --> 01:00:59,333
♪ Don't wanna f...
this up like that ♪
1430
01:01:03,583 --> 01:01:05,208
♪ You're the boom to the bang ♪
1431
01:01:05,291 --> 01:01:06,916
♪ When my front
side get close ♪
1432
01:01:07,000 --> 01:01:08,375
♪ When we bang
when we boom ♪
1433
01:01:08,458 --> 01:01:11,208
♪ What's the punchline
for (pop)... ♪