Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:11,177 --> 00:00:13,646
"Queen Sugar" is a drama about family.
2
00:00:13,747 --> 00:00:14,948
It's one of the few shows
3
00:00:15,048 --> 00:00:18,518
that centers black family
life in a dramatic sense.
4
00:00:18,618 --> 00:00:20,487
We are all here, Daddy.
5
00:00:20,587 --> 00:00:24,290
We will pour our life
and love to the land
6
00:00:24,391 --> 00:00:25,859
and keep the farm going.
7
00:00:25,959 --> 00:00:28,725
We will live out the legacy you left us.
8
00:00:30,997 --> 00:00:33,520
I know exactly where I want to be.
9
00:00:33,602 --> 00:00:36,168
It's love, choices.
10
00:00:38,772 --> 00:00:45,957
Circumstances,
discovery, and reinvention.
11
00:00:46,079 --> 00:00:49,616
Welcome to Vi's Pies and Diner.
12
00:00:51,584 --> 00:00:55,155
Really, it's a conversation
that unfolds around family
13
00:00:55,255 --> 00:00:57,957
and community and legacy.
14
00:00:58,058 --> 00:00:59,826
We hug around here, baby.
15
00:00:59,926 --> 00:01:01,895
I think you'll find yourself
16
00:01:01,985 --> 00:01:03,563
identifying with little
parts of everyone.
17
00:01:05,965 --> 00:01:09,135
Hi, I'm Ava DuVernay, and I'm
taking you inside the making
18
00:01:09,235 --> 00:01:10,103
of "Queen Sugar."
19
00:01:10,203 --> 00:01:12,572
We're here for those men and women
20
00:01:12,672 --> 00:01:17,010
locked up for no other reason
than because they're poor.
21
00:01:17,110 --> 00:01:18,745
With never before heard stories
22
00:01:18,845 --> 00:01:22,382
from the cast and an exclusive
sneak peek at season 5...
23
00:01:22,482 --> 00:01:23,750
This is good land.
24
00:01:23,850 --> 00:01:26,886
...I'm so excited to share with
you all the triumphs and all
25
00:01:26,986 --> 00:01:29,322
the stories that you've not yet heard
26
00:01:29,422 --> 00:01:31,257
and tell you all about what it took
27
00:01:31,357 --> 00:01:32,792
to get this season on its feet.
28
00:01:32,892 --> 00:01:34,727
No more running.
29
00:01:34,828 --> 00:01:37,030
No more taking the easy way out.
30
00:01:37,130 --> 00:01:38,692
We ain't going nowhere.
31
00:01:43,603 --> 00:01:45,538
Looking back, when I first
started working on "Queen
32
00:01:45,638 --> 00:01:47,140
Sugar," I was terrified.
33
00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:49,342
It's going to take a lot of hard work,
34
00:01:49,442 --> 00:01:52,846
and if you work
together, it can be done.
35
00:01:52,946 --> 00:01:55,348
A few days before episode
one, I remember thinking,
36
00:01:55,448 --> 00:01:56,583
what am I doing?
37
00:01:56,683 --> 00:01:57,917
This is television.
38
00:01:58,017 --> 00:02:00,220
People have to want to watch
this every single week.
39
00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:01,421
Hear me now.
40
00:02:03,256 --> 00:02:06,126
I'm the only farmer in this
parish capable of bringing
41
00:02:06,226 --> 00:02:09,392
in a crop on this land on time.
42
00:02:11,197 --> 00:02:13,333
Can you give us a few
days to think about it?
43
00:02:13,433 --> 00:02:14,474
A week maybe?
44
00:02:14,569 --> 00:02:16,336
A week? Mercy.
45
00:02:16,436 --> 00:02:18,059
Try two days.
46
00:02:18,505 --> 00:02:20,932
After that, that land's
not worth anything to me.
47
00:02:23,309 --> 00:02:24,811
It wasn't until I got into the flow
48
00:02:24,911 --> 00:02:27,113
and I started to understand,
oh, people are watching
49
00:02:27,213 --> 00:02:28,114
it like you watch things.
50
00:02:28,214 --> 00:02:29,315
They look forward to the characters.
51
00:02:29,415 --> 00:02:30,683
They talk about it all week.
52
00:02:30,783 --> 00:02:32,620
Charley and I,
53
00:02:32,746 --> 00:02:34,859
we think you and Boo should
move into Daddy's house.
54
00:02:42,662 --> 00:02:44,430
What about the farm?
55
00:02:44,531 --> 00:02:49,035
Like I said, I'm not
signing up to be no farmer,
56
00:02:49,135 --> 00:02:51,604
- but we got a plan.
- Yeah.
57
00:02:51,629 --> 00:02:55,416
It won't be easy, but we
think we should go for it.
58
00:02:55,441 --> 00:02:59,078
I truly had so much
anxiety, and never imagined
59
00:02:59,179 --> 00:03:02,482
we'd be going into writing season six
60
00:03:02,582 --> 00:03:04,951
and I'd be here talking
to you about season five.
61
00:03:05,051 --> 00:03:07,592
This is a badass deal,
62
00:03:10,761 --> 00:03:12,725
and I'm proud as hell
63
00:03:12,825 --> 00:03:14,559
for you trying to pull it off.
64
00:03:15,428 --> 00:03:19,399
Can you imagine a Black woman owning
65
00:03:19,499 --> 00:03:22,001
and operating her own mill?
66
00:03:22,101 --> 00:03:23,730
Come on, what?
67
00:03:23,807 --> 00:03:25,004
It's crazy.
68
00:03:25,104 --> 00:03:25,972
Congratulations.
69
00:03:26,072 --> 00:03:27,607
This is the longest time I've told
70
00:03:27,707 --> 00:03:31,945
one story, and every season,
with the various show runners...
71
00:03:32,045 --> 00:03:34,647
Anthony Sparks has been with
us a couple of seasons now...
72
00:03:34,747 --> 00:03:37,884
They all have done a lovely
job of keeping the story
73
00:03:37,984 --> 00:03:39,953
where the characters should go.
74
00:03:40,053 --> 00:03:42,125
This redfish looks so good.
75
00:03:44,424 --> 00:03:46,059
I'm never disappointed.
76
00:03:46,159 --> 00:03:47,660
That's the truth. Right.
77
00:03:49,095 --> 00:03:52,031
Wow. This is a feast fit for daddy.
78
00:03:52,131 --> 00:03:55,314
And also just becoming
enamored with the idea
79
00:03:55,413 --> 00:04:00,740
that we can have a drama series
that is not based on spectacle.
80
00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,009
It's not based on humor.
81
00:04:03,109 --> 00:04:04,937
I love spectacle and I love humor,
82
00:04:05,026 --> 00:04:07,714
but a true hardcore drama.
83
00:04:07,814 --> 00:04:09,415
Is everything OK?
84
00:04:09,515 --> 00:04:11,192
Just a crazy day.
85
00:04:12,525 --> 00:04:13,786
That's all.
86
00:04:13,886 --> 00:04:16,256
You have a lot on your
shoulders, Ralph Angel.
87
00:04:16,356 --> 00:04:18,291
You're handling it, though.
88
00:04:18,391 --> 00:04:20,026
I'm proud of you.
89
00:04:20,126 --> 00:04:21,561
Appreciate it.
90
00:04:21,661 --> 00:04:25,531
Like those kinds of shows, the
thirtysomethings and the
91
00:04:25,632 --> 00:04:28,501
kinds of shows that I see white
people being the center
92
00:04:28,601 --> 00:04:30,336
of for decades and decades.
93
00:04:30,436 --> 00:04:31,878
Have you seen a flamingo?
94
00:04:31,981 --> 00:04:33,406
They're really tall.
95
00:04:33,506 --> 00:04:34,874
Taller than me?
96
00:04:34,974 --> 00:04:35,975
They're not that tall.
97
00:04:36,075 --> 00:04:37,243
They're not that tall.
98
00:04:37,343 --> 00:04:39,345
And so it's just a family drama.
99
00:04:39,445 --> 00:04:41,681
It's nothing more splashy than that.
100
00:04:41,781 --> 00:04:43,349
But you get to know
these family members.
101
00:04:43,449 --> 00:04:44,717
You get to know the siblings.
102
00:04:44,817 --> 00:04:46,819
You get to know their histories,
their backgrounds, what they
103
00:04:46,919 --> 00:04:49,010
like, what they don't like,
what's going to work
104
00:04:49,136 --> 00:04:51,057
when they get together and what's
not going to work,
105
00:04:51,157 --> 00:04:54,694
and all the revelations of
people who are destined to live
106
00:04:54,794 --> 00:04:58,197
their lives together, which
is what a family sometimes is,
107
00:04:58,298 --> 00:04:59,732
for those of us who are lucky.
108
00:04:59,832 --> 00:05:03,336
And so I became really
attached to the idea
109
00:05:03,436 --> 00:05:05,104
of making something like that.
110
00:05:05,204 --> 00:05:07,307
It's become important, but it started
111
00:05:07,407 --> 00:05:09,509
just out of a place of love.
112
00:05:09,609 --> 00:05:10,925
I love you.
113
00:05:12,178 --> 00:05:13,379
Oh.
114
00:05:13,479 --> 00:05:14,714
I choose you.
115
00:05:14,814 --> 00:05:16,749
Embrace the future.
116
00:05:16,849 --> 00:05:19,450
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
117
00:05:19,812 --> 00:05:20,964
Yeah.
118
00:05:23,556 --> 00:05:24,590
And mark.
119
00:05:24,691 --> 00:05:26,292
And action.
120
00:05:40,073 --> 00:05:41,859
And action.
121
00:05:42,508 --> 00:05:45,311
First day of filming on
the first season,
122
00:05:45,411 --> 00:05:48,548
well, I shot the first two
episodes... it was in Charley
123
00:05:48,648 --> 00:05:50,950
and Davis and Micah's house.
124
00:05:51,050 --> 00:05:54,554
I remember we found this
like glass chic house,
125
00:05:54,654 --> 00:05:55,888
and we wanted to create something
126
00:05:55,988 --> 00:05:58,691
that was very much in contrast
to the Bordelon farmhouse.
127
00:05:58,791 --> 00:06:01,627
And we had a little driving
scene, where we shot down
128
00:06:01,728 --> 00:06:05,798
Sunset Boulevard and she
sees the billboard of Davis,
129
00:06:05,898 --> 00:06:07,233
and he's the gentleman.
130
00:06:07,333 --> 00:06:10,570
And she created this persona for him.
131
00:06:10,670 --> 00:06:11,804
Those were the first days.
132
00:06:11,904 --> 00:06:16,075
This is when Davis comes
home from a hard day
133
00:06:16,175 --> 00:06:18,144
at the office, which is the NBA game,
134
00:06:18,244 --> 00:06:20,346
and she's outside at the pool.
135
00:06:20,446 --> 00:06:21,948
And he's like...
136
00:06:22,048 --> 00:06:23,182
All the work, baby.
137
00:06:23,282 --> 00:06:25,785
I know, but it's not over.
138
00:06:27,954 --> 00:06:29,222
It is.
139
00:06:29,322 --> 00:06:32,024
He picks her up and
carries her to the bedroom.
140
00:06:32,125 --> 00:06:34,360
And we had a very short amount of time
141
00:06:34,460 --> 00:06:39,165
to establish their connection
before the famous scene,
142
00:06:39,265 --> 00:06:41,267
where she walks out on
the basketball court.
143
00:06:41,367 --> 00:06:44,737
I remember when I wrote that
scene, I was like, too much?
144
00:06:44,837 --> 00:06:45,918
What did you do?
145
00:06:46,010 --> 00:06:48,541
What? What are you talking about?
146
00:06:48,641 --> 00:06:49,542
What?
147
00:06:50,043 --> 00:06:54,859
What did you do?
148
00:06:58,084 --> 00:06:59,952
What did you do?
149
00:07:00,052 --> 00:07:01,788
You're a liar. You're a liar.
150
00:07:01,888 --> 00:07:03,923
Baby, what is going... hold on.
151
00:07:04,023 --> 00:07:05,925
What did you do?
152
00:07:08,336 --> 00:07:09,704
You liar.
153
00:07:09,804 --> 00:07:11,706
What did you do?
154
00:07:11,806 --> 00:07:13,708
You're a liar, Davis.
155
00:07:13,808 --> 00:07:18,113
I remember Oprah saying,
it's going to depend on the way
156
00:07:18,213 --> 00:07:19,347
you shoot it.
157
00:07:19,447 --> 00:07:20,782
I was like, OK.
158
00:07:20,882 --> 00:07:22,584
And she came that day.
159
00:07:22,684 --> 00:07:24,853
We shot that in New
Orleans in the Superdome,
160
00:07:24,953 --> 00:07:26,855
and there are pictures
of her on set that day.
161
00:07:26,955 --> 00:07:29,257
And I remember like, oh,
gosh, is this going to work?
162
00:07:29,357 --> 00:07:30,925
She's actually here watching me.
163
00:07:31,025 --> 00:07:32,127
But we had fun that day.
164
00:07:32,227 --> 00:07:33,228
It was great.
165
00:07:33,328 --> 00:07:35,263
Dawn-Lyen Gardner, an
incredible actress,
166
00:07:35,363 --> 00:07:38,199
made it feel believable
and she made it feel real.
167
00:07:38,299 --> 00:07:40,802
She was a woman scorned, and nothing
168
00:07:40,902 --> 00:07:42,804
else mattered except confronting him
169
00:07:42,904 --> 00:07:45,473
in the middle of an NBA game.
170
00:07:46,741 --> 00:07:47,976
- Your...
- Oh, yeah.
171
00:07:48,076 --> 00:07:49,878
This is how I normally start
playing, because by the time
172
00:07:49,978 --> 00:07:51,491
- I'm finished...
- That's just not right.
173
00:07:51,613 --> 00:07:53,681
Anyway those were some fun days,
174
00:07:53,782 --> 00:07:56,618
and I really enjoyed shooting them both.
175
00:07:56,718 --> 00:07:59,187
And it's been challenging
not to shoot more
176
00:07:59,287 --> 00:08:03,057
because I love the show so much,
but any show that I direct,
177
00:08:03,158 --> 00:08:05,026
any episode that I direct, means that I
178
00:08:05,126 --> 00:08:06,528
can't give another woman director
179
00:08:06,628 --> 00:08:08,129
the opportunity to direct.
180
00:08:08,229 --> 00:08:10,331
And a big part of our show is making
181
00:08:10,431 --> 00:08:13,003
sure that we get more women
directors in front of the camera.
182
00:08:13,027 --> 00:08:16,396
So I probably won't
direct until the finale,
183
00:08:16,481 --> 00:08:20,134
and God willing, I'll be
able to handle that one
184
00:08:20,218 --> 00:08:22,703
and cap off the season
whenever that day comes.
185
00:08:22,803 --> 00:08:24,345
My favorite director.
186
00:08:28,175 --> 00:08:30,411
The top of every season, we get together
187
00:08:30,511 --> 00:08:33,547
and I outline what I feel
should happen in that season.
188
00:08:33,647 --> 00:08:35,783
And there are debates and there are
189
00:08:35,883 --> 00:08:37,822
ideas that come in
from the writers room,
190
00:08:37,846 --> 00:08:38,926
all of our writers.
191
00:08:39,010 --> 00:08:40,554
Shout out to the folks
who've been with us
192
00:08:40,654 --> 00:08:42,122
across all the episodes.
193
00:08:42,223 --> 00:08:44,058
Are you doing business with the Landrys?
194
00:08:44,158 --> 00:08:46,861
I almost lost everything.
195
00:08:46,961 --> 00:08:50,698
But now my 1% is the first
step to taking back the power.
196
00:08:50,798 --> 00:08:53,067
So you betray our family
and get in bed with an enemy
197
00:08:53,167 --> 00:08:55,169
and all you got was 1%?
198
00:08:55,792 --> 00:08:57,271
You're not seeing the big picture.
199
00:08:57,371 --> 00:09:00,139
If Charley got a chance to change things
200
00:09:00,247 --> 00:09:03,777
and take down Atlantis, I say she do it.
201
00:09:03,878 --> 00:09:05,179
But I think the thing that surprised
202
00:09:05,279 --> 00:09:09,850
me is the way that the story
has unfolded season to season.
203
00:09:09,950 --> 00:09:12,386
As I'm in the hiatus and I'm
thinking about what can happen
204
00:09:12,486 --> 00:09:14,989
to these characters next, I'm shocked
205
00:09:15,089 --> 00:09:17,424
that ideas continue to come.
206
00:09:17,525 --> 00:09:22,930
And both my ideas about where
this season should go and ideas
207
00:09:23,030 --> 00:09:25,633
from the room, as to how
to provide scaffolding
208
00:09:25,733 --> 00:09:28,762
for those ideas, the power of creativity
209
00:09:28,849 --> 00:09:31,137
is an amazing and beautiful thing.
210
00:09:31,228 --> 00:09:34,875
So it's been a really
beautiful experience.
211
00:09:34,975 --> 00:09:37,378
I'm so blessed by it.
212
00:09:37,478 --> 00:09:44,159
Daddy, give me the
strength to see this through.
213
00:09:47,121 --> 00:09:49,990
I just think he represents
the best of humanity.
214
00:09:50,090 --> 00:09:51,458
And it's not because he's perfect.
215
00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:53,427
It's just because he's imperfect.
216
00:09:53,527 --> 00:09:57,565
His duality is what makes him so
lovable and so understandable.
217
00:09:57,665 --> 00:10:00,968
This is in episode one,
and it teases what's to come.
218
00:10:01,068 --> 00:10:04,204
Because this season, we're
going to be able to finally see
219
00:10:04,305 --> 00:10:07,459
Ralph Angel and Darla happy.
220
00:10:08,530 --> 00:10:11,879
Hi, I'm Ava DuVernay, and this
is fan question time,
221
00:10:11,979 --> 00:10:14,281
"Queen Sugar" fans asking questions.
222
00:10:14,381 --> 00:10:15,549
Let's get into it.
223
00:10:15,649 --> 00:10:17,851
Hey, I'm from Charlotte, North Carolina,
224
00:10:17,952 --> 00:10:19,687
and I'm a fan of "Queen Sugar."
225
00:10:19,787 --> 00:10:22,957
Which "Queen Sugar" character
resonates with you the most?
226
00:10:23,057 --> 00:10:25,192
Well, all of them are a
little bit of a part of me.
227
00:10:25,292 --> 00:10:27,661
Definitely I'm a little bit
Nova and a little bit Charley.
228
00:10:27,761 --> 00:10:33,334
And Ralph Angel is so many
things that I want to be...
229
00:10:33,434 --> 00:10:36,303
A fighter who doesn't give up, no matter
230
00:10:36,403 --> 00:10:38,005
what life throws at him.
231
00:10:42,910 --> 00:10:47,475
"Queen Sugar" is family like
you know family,
232
00:10:47,595 --> 00:10:50,575
but rendered in a way
that is more compelling
233
00:10:50,608 --> 00:10:52,653
and rich than you've ever seen.
234
00:10:52,753 --> 00:10:57,057
So much of the show is
about coming together.
235
00:10:57,157 --> 00:11:00,032
It begins with these
three siblings, who are
236
00:11:00,173 --> 00:11:02,074
fairly estranged, reuniting.
237
00:11:02,216 --> 00:11:03,584
I want to fix things.
238
00:11:05,966 --> 00:11:08,959
We'll earn your trust,
but you got to let me in.
239
00:11:10,270 --> 00:11:11,905
We're going to fight these people who
240
00:11:12,006 --> 00:11:13,507
hate everything we stand for.
241
00:11:17,077 --> 00:11:18,746
We can't be at war with each other.
242
00:11:18,846 --> 00:11:23,784
Nova is an activist with
sometimes questionable morals.
243
00:11:23,884 --> 00:11:26,620
She has a lot of,
gumption a lot of gusto.
244
00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:29,490
I think the most beautiful
aspect of Nova is her spirit.
245
00:11:29,590 --> 00:11:32,192
She lives by speaking truth to power.
246
00:11:32,292 --> 00:11:36,664
Be a Negro in this country
and to be relatively conscious
247
00:11:36,764 --> 00:11:40,625
is to be in a rage almost all the time.
248
00:11:41,368 --> 00:11:43,003
James Baldwin said that.
249
00:11:43,103 --> 00:11:44,571
You can change the world.
250
00:11:44,672 --> 00:11:46,106
You are who I think you are.
251
00:11:46,206 --> 00:11:48,442
And Charley is a fixer.
252
00:11:48,542 --> 00:11:50,144
She will fix the problem.
253
00:11:50,244 --> 00:11:52,513
She will put it on her
shoulders and carry it
254
00:11:52,613 --> 00:11:54,581
over the finish line, even if it is
255
00:11:54,682 --> 00:11:56,383
sacrificing her own happiness.
256
00:11:56,483 --> 00:11:59,820
She is really driven
by the bigger picture.
257
00:11:59,920 --> 00:12:02,925
I'm going to burn the entire
Landry family to the ground.
258
00:12:03,524 --> 00:12:07,092
And when I own Landry Enterprises,
259
00:12:08,196 --> 00:12:12,066
we'll finally bring power to
the people where it belongs.
260
00:12:12,091 --> 00:12:13,826
Yeah, I can take that.
261
00:12:15,536 --> 00:12:18,038
And then you have Ralph Angel, the baby.
262
00:12:18,138 --> 00:12:19,986
Oh, boy, he's a handful.
263
00:12:20,084 --> 00:12:22,876
I just think he represents
the best of humanity.
264
00:12:22,976 --> 00:12:24,378
And it's not because he's perfect.
265
00:12:24,478 --> 00:12:26,346
It's just because he's imperfect.
266
00:12:26,447 --> 00:12:30,563
His duality is what makes him so
lovable and so understandable.
267
00:12:30,641 --> 00:12:35,362
When I was growing
up, I kept my head down.
268
00:12:35,459 --> 00:12:37,958
Ain't bothered nobody.
Nobody bothered me.
269
00:12:38,058 --> 00:12:39,760
I know that's not how it is.
270
00:12:39,860 --> 00:12:41,846
You let this happen to you,
271
00:12:42,945 --> 00:12:44,264
but you can't give up.
272
00:12:44,364 --> 00:12:46,700
Well, Aunt Vi is the
matriarch of the family
273
00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:49,803
and is often the final word.
274
00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:52,139
What drives her, what makes her tick
275
00:12:52,239 --> 00:12:57,057
is family, the love that she
feels for her man, Hollywood.
276
00:12:57,142 --> 00:13:02,392
You wanted this, and now it's all yours.
277
00:13:03,117 --> 00:13:05,519
Only this time you ain't
got to share with nobody.
278
00:13:05,619 --> 00:13:07,588
All you got to do is say yes.
279
00:13:07,688 --> 00:13:10,991
Hollywood, this is a
lot to give somebody.
280
00:13:11,091 --> 00:13:12,892
You ain't somebody.
281
00:13:13,740 --> 00:13:16,059
I deserve to give you whatever I want.
282
00:13:16,997 --> 00:13:19,600
Hollywood, hardworking brother,
283
00:13:19,700 --> 00:13:24,438
who just wants to support
his lady, all the time.
284
00:13:24,538 --> 00:13:26,573
I like to think of
Hollywood as like maybe
285
00:13:26,673 --> 00:13:28,362
the rock of the family.
286
00:13:28,469 --> 00:13:32,012
He's an uncle, and sometimes
he's a brother and sometimes
287
00:13:32,112 --> 00:13:33,680
to everybody in the family.
288
00:13:33,781 --> 00:13:36,583
Whenever you and Aunt
Vi getting married,
289
00:13:36,683 --> 00:13:38,218
are you going to have a baby?
290
00:13:38,318 --> 00:13:39,353
No.
291
00:13:39,453 --> 00:13:43,023
I think that's OK if
you don't have a baby.
292
00:13:43,123 --> 00:13:44,525
Oh, yeah?
293
00:13:44,625 --> 00:13:46,774
Is that OK with you, your highness?
294
00:13:46,863 --> 00:13:47,842
Yeah.
295
00:13:47,923 --> 00:13:49,129
Cheers to real meat.
296
00:13:49,722 --> 00:13:51,025
Chicken cheer.
297
00:13:52,132 --> 00:13:54,807
Nick Ashe, it's
been beautiful to see him
298
00:13:54,911 --> 00:13:58,605
echo and evolve as artists
and performers and actors
299
00:13:58,705 --> 00:13:59,773
in these roles.
300
00:13:59,873 --> 00:14:02,643
Little known fact, they're
the exact same age.
301
00:14:02,743 --> 00:14:06,280
Michael West is a
teenager from Los Angeles.
302
00:14:06,380 --> 00:14:09,917
He has two incredibly awesome,
talented, famous parents,
303
00:14:10,017 --> 00:14:13,253
and is tackling what it
means to be a Black man
304
00:14:13,353 --> 00:14:15,422
in modern United States.
305
00:14:15,522 --> 00:14:19,526
If they build that jail, the prison,
306
00:14:19,626 --> 00:14:20,894
they're going to fill it.
307
00:14:20,994 --> 00:14:25,999
The real cost of the prison
isn't in dollars and cents, OK?
308
00:14:26,109 --> 00:14:28,935
Prisons aren't made
of bricks and mortar.
309
00:14:29,032 --> 00:14:33,307
They're made of bodies and blood.
310
00:14:33,407 --> 00:14:35,713
I truly believe that we,
311
00:14:36,252 --> 00:14:38,979
we are the ones we've been waiting for.
312
00:14:45,385 --> 00:14:48,055
And Darla, her struggle with addiction,
313
00:14:48,155 --> 00:14:50,858
I wanted to see the other side of it
314
00:14:50,958 --> 00:14:54,261
and the real world challenge
that is every single day.
315
00:14:54,361 --> 00:14:56,230
She's a recovering addict, and she's
316
00:14:56,330 --> 00:14:59,811
going through an internal
evolution right now,
317
00:14:59,835 --> 00:15:02,792
trying to overcome
the demons of her past.
318
00:15:04,438 --> 00:15:05,759
I'm proud of you.
319
00:15:08,208 --> 00:15:10,155
I respect how you stay straight
320
00:15:12,153 --> 00:15:13,559
for our little man.
321
00:15:15,115 --> 00:15:16,269
Thank you for that.
322
00:15:16,356 --> 00:15:17,751
What are you guys doing?
323
00:15:17,851 --> 00:15:18,932
Just talking.
324
00:15:19,042 --> 00:15:20,821
Talking about you.
325
00:15:20,921 --> 00:15:22,322
Blue is our hope.
326
00:15:22,422 --> 00:15:25,792
Blue is the promise
of a brighter future.
327
00:15:25,893 --> 00:15:30,264
He's understanding about his family
328
00:15:30,364 --> 00:15:32,675
and what his family really is
329
00:15:32,793 --> 00:15:34,982
and understanding how
the world really works.
330
00:15:35,075 --> 00:15:36,970
Are we mad at Auntie Nova?
331
00:15:37,459 --> 00:15:38,906
Who said I was mad at her?
332
00:15:39,006 --> 00:15:41,141
I heard you this morning.
333
00:15:41,241 --> 00:15:42,959
You sounded upset.
334
00:15:43,911 --> 00:15:45,212
It's just like when Marcus said it
335
00:15:45,312 --> 00:15:47,247
was his turn to play Minecraft.
336
00:15:47,347 --> 00:15:48,602
It was actually mine.
337
00:15:48,735 --> 00:15:50,484
So how did you and Marcus work this out?
338
00:15:50,584 --> 00:15:53,387
We decided to each take two turns,
339
00:15:53,487 --> 00:15:55,732
because Marcus' mom said,
340
00:15:55,756 --> 00:15:59,180
it's not worth not being friends
over the game,
341
00:15:59,204 --> 00:16:02,763
and we have more in common
than we have different.
342
00:16:02,863 --> 00:16:05,365
So you're a big boy now.
343
00:16:05,465 --> 00:16:06,767
Smart, too, huh?
344
00:16:08,735 --> 00:16:10,570
- Come here.
- I love you.
345
00:16:10,671 --> 00:16:11,872
I love you more.
346
00:16:11,972 --> 00:16:13,040
I love you even more.
347
00:16:13,140 --> 00:16:16,734
I think one of the
things that we should look at
348
00:16:16,850 --> 00:16:19,880
when we think about incarceration
is these aren't statistics.
349
00:16:19,980 --> 00:16:25,886
These are people with real life
circumstances and experiences
350
00:16:25,986 --> 00:16:27,792
and stories to tell.
351
00:16:28,610 --> 00:16:34,061
These police officers,
they're trying to intimidate us.
352
00:16:34,161 --> 00:16:36,430
They want us to fear them.
353
00:16:36,530 --> 00:16:38,092
But we're not afraid.
354
00:16:39,166 --> 00:16:43,370
They want us to fade away, but we won't.
355
00:16:43,470 --> 00:16:49,643
They want to erase our humanity,
to act as if we don't exist.
356
00:16:49,743 --> 00:16:54,025
But these Black bodies are real.
357
00:16:57,584 --> 00:17:01,488
We recognize, our souls recognize,
358
00:17:01,588 --> 00:17:07,527
that enough is enough, and it's
time to speak to the unspoken.
359
00:17:07,627 --> 00:17:12,165
It's time to shed light into the dark.
360
00:17:12,265 --> 00:17:16,870
It's time to actually
talk about those things...
361
00:17:16,970 --> 00:17:21,375
The injustices, the inequities, the pain
362
00:17:21,475 --> 00:17:26,721
that is a part of our
American experience,
363
00:17:26,838 --> 00:17:30,017
not just African American experience.
364
00:17:30,117 --> 00:17:34,955
And "Queen Sugar" does that
through great storytelling.
365
00:17:35,055 --> 00:17:36,156
Right now.
366
00:17:44,264 --> 00:17:47,334
It's really hard to talk
about the tough stuff,
367
00:17:47,434 --> 00:17:51,972
whether it's police brutality, or even
368
00:17:52,072 --> 00:17:54,007
with Nova, mass
incarceration, like the stuff
369
00:17:54,107 --> 00:17:55,409
that you know is going on.
370
00:17:55,509 --> 00:17:59,513
It's really hard to talk about
it because we do talk about it,
371
00:17:59,613 --> 00:18:01,715
so people tune out because
they hear it all the time.
372
00:18:01,815 --> 00:18:04,284
So how can you say it in a
way that makes people go,
373
00:18:04,384 --> 00:18:06,253
I didn't think about it that way.
374
00:18:06,353 --> 00:18:08,059
When do I get out?
375
00:18:09,089 --> 00:18:10,429
Aunt Vi,
376
00:18:13,748 --> 00:18:15,325
I did my time.
377
00:18:18,398 --> 00:18:20,092
When am I done?
378
00:18:21,701 --> 00:18:23,670
One of the things that I want
people to learn and experience
379
00:18:23,770 --> 00:18:27,674
through Ralph Angel's journey
is to know someone who
380
00:18:27,774 --> 00:18:31,244
was formerly incarcerated,
to believe them
381
00:18:31,344 --> 00:18:36,283
when they are moving forward
in the world in a new way,
382
00:18:36,383 --> 00:18:38,297
to support them in that,
383
00:18:38,438 --> 00:18:42,289
and to be able to applaud them
and cheer them on,
384
00:18:42,389 --> 00:18:47,594
to get rid of that stigma, to really
385
00:18:47,694 --> 00:18:52,399
allow folks to be more than the
worst thing that they've done.
386
00:18:52,499 --> 00:18:53,959
I was in prison.
387
00:19:00,225 --> 00:19:01,441
You know what prison is?
388
00:19:01,541 --> 00:19:02,959
Where Black people go.
389
00:19:07,514 --> 00:19:09,749
Are you a bad person, Pop?
390
00:19:09,850 --> 00:19:13,086
No, I'm not a bad person.
391
00:19:13,186 --> 00:19:15,155
I did some bad things.
392
00:19:16,756 --> 00:19:20,400
I think one of the
things that we should look at
393
00:19:20,492 --> 00:19:21,895
when we think about incarceration
394
00:19:21,995 --> 00:19:23,563
is these aren't statistics.
395
00:19:23,663 --> 00:19:29,536
These are people with real life
circumstances and experiences
396
00:19:29,636 --> 00:19:31,304
and stories to tell.
397
00:19:31,404 --> 00:19:33,341
"Ralph Angel Bordelon,
398
00:19:37,203 --> 00:19:39,079
on behalf of the state of Louisiana
399
00:19:39,179 --> 00:19:40,905
and the Board of Probation and Parole,
400
00:19:42,645 --> 00:19:46,459
this letter serves you as
your official notice.
401
00:19:47,921 --> 00:19:51,336
Parole period for Ralph
Angel Bordelon concluded
402
00:19:53,492 --> 00:19:56,129
on May 13th of this year.
403
00:19:56,229 --> 00:19:57,964
No further obligations in connection
404
00:19:58,064 --> 00:20:00,133
with the below listed conviction
405
00:20:00,233 --> 00:20:03,703
are due to the state of Louisiana."
406
00:20:03,803 --> 00:20:07,641
And when we don't
make them invisible statistics,
407
00:20:07,741 --> 00:20:10,844
and we actually listen
and learn and lean in
408
00:20:10,944 --> 00:20:14,414
to what has happened to them
and what is happening to them,
409
00:20:14,514 --> 00:20:16,516
we become a better society,
410
00:20:16,616 --> 00:20:20,887
a better culture, a better people,
and everything kind of rises.
411
00:20:33,033 --> 00:20:35,902
Let me see your registration now.
412
00:20:36,002 --> 00:20:37,204
In season two, where
413
00:20:37,304 --> 00:20:40,227
he is stopped by the police
and is assaulted,
414
00:20:40,311 --> 00:20:44,244
harassed by an officer, and
really traumatized by it,
415
00:20:44,344 --> 00:20:46,012
we wanted to make sure
that this wasn't just
416
00:20:46,112 --> 00:20:47,514
a very special episode of "Queen Sugar."
417
00:20:47,614 --> 00:20:48,882
We don't do that.
418
00:20:48,982 --> 00:20:53,887
So we plotted out that storyline
going over multiple seasons.
419
00:20:53,987 --> 00:20:56,759
He put me in the back
with cuffs on, right?
420
00:20:59,059 --> 00:21:00,974
He drove past the police station.
421
00:21:01,075 --> 00:21:03,096
He said we were going for a ride.
422
00:21:03,196 --> 00:21:05,031
When you have a dramatic interaction
423
00:21:05,131 --> 00:21:08,335
with police, it leaves a
scar that doesn't heal.
424
00:21:08,435 --> 00:21:10,437
It changes the way you see the world.
425
00:21:10,537 --> 00:21:14,241
It changes your relationship
to safety, to defense.
426
00:21:14,341 --> 00:21:15,792
I'm just tired of it.
427
00:21:16,943 --> 00:21:19,012
We can never get so
tired we started letting
428
00:21:19,112 --> 00:21:21,715
other folks tell us who we are.
429
00:21:22,273 --> 00:21:24,024
- You hear me?
- Yes, sir.
430
00:21:24,126 --> 00:21:25,151
You keep your head up.
431
00:21:25,252 --> 00:21:28,459
Don't let them put you in
that place, that dark place.
432
00:21:30,223 --> 00:21:33,727
You keep living, loving, growing
433
00:21:33,752 --> 00:21:35,817
and doing for others, that's the key.
434
00:21:37,864 --> 00:21:40,645
People would tell me how they feel about
435
00:21:40,669 --> 00:21:42,068
Nova and Charley.
436
00:21:42,168 --> 00:21:45,492
They want to ask, is
Darla going to be OK?
437
00:21:46,039 --> 00:21:47,725
They love this family.
438
00:21:48,807 --> 00:21:51,177
Hi, Ava. "Queen Sugar" superfan here.
439
00:21:51,278 --> 00:21:54,180
So one question that I would
like to know, from up high,
440
00:21:54,281 --> 00:21:56,916
all the way down to Boo, these
characters are very relatable.
441
00:21:57,017 --> 00:21:58,785
What was your thought
process in developing
442
00:21:58,885 --> 00:22:00,220
them and their storylines?
443
00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:02,789
And were they inspired by
people in your own life?
444
00:22:02,889 --> 00:22:04,391
Let us know.
445
00:22:04,491 --> 00:22:05,525
Yeah.
446
00:22:05,625 --> 00:22:07,594
Almost everyone on
"Queen Sugar" is inspired
447
00:22:07,694 --> 00:22:09,223
by someone that I know.
448
00:22:09,306 --> 00:22:12,085
The beautiful thing about
the family in "Queen Sugar"
449
00:22:12,181 --> 00:22:14,601
is all of them represent
a different segment
450
00:22:14,701 --> 00:22:16,403
of black cultural life.
451
00:22:16,503 --> 00:22:20,949
And so the goal is to have
someone on "Queen Sugar,"
452
00:22:21,081 --> 00:22:23,897
both the core family and the
other people that we bring in,
453
00:22:23,921 --> 00:22:26,246
that we feel touches
every aspect of Black culture.
454
00:22:26,346 --> 00:22:27,480
That's our goal.
455
00:22:27,580 --> 00:22:30,350
And by the time we get
through the end of the run,
456
00:22:30,450 --> 00:22:31,988
whenever that will be,
457
00:22:32,125 --> 00:22:33,438
that everyone will be able to say,
458
00:22:33,462 --> 00:22:35,322
I see a little bit of myself in there,
459
00:22:35,422 --> 00:22:38,358
if you are Black and live in America,
460
00:22:38,458 --> 00:22:40,927
because this is an
homage to Black family,
461
00:22:41,027 --> 00:22:44,759
to Black community, and it is for us.
462
00:22:47,267 --> 00:22:50,370
One of the gifts of my life
is being an artist who's
463
00:22:50,470 --> 00:22:53,540
been allowed to make things that people
464
00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:55,508
have consumed on a mass level.
465
00:22:55,608 --> 00:23:01,448
So here is to Michael
West, a beloved son.
466
00:23:01,548 --> 00:23:02,917
And nephew.
467
00:23:02,942 --> 00:23:03,864
Yeah.
468
00:23:05,018 --> 00:23:07,487
You have so much to give the world.
469
00:23:07,587 --> 00:23:08,655
Congrats, baby.
470
00:23:08,755 --> 00:23:09,984
- Cheers.
- Cheers.
471
00:23:10,009 --> 00:23:11,099
Cheers.
472
00:23:11,958 --> 00:23:13,993
The people would tell me how they
473
00:23:14,094 --> 00:23:16,262
feel about Nova and Charley.
474
00:23:16,363 --> 00:23:19,725
They want to ask, is
Darla going to be OK?
475
00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:21,368
They love this family.
476
00:23:21,468 --> 00:23:23,770
They want to be friends
with Vi and Hollywood
477
00:23:23,870 --> 00:23:26,940
and go over to the house and get
some food and go to Vi's Pies.
478
00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:31,077
They've become a part of
their lived experience.
479
00:23:31,177 --> 00:23:33,079
You get to see people
that you love and you know
480
00:23:33,179 --> 00:23:34,848
and you root for.
481
00:23:34,948 --> 00:23:37,183
"Queen Sugar" is real.
482
00:23:37,283 --> 00:23:39,959
We're talking real stuff.
483
00:23:41,287 --> 00:23:44,457
We are literally holding a mirror up
484
00:23:44,557 --> 00:23:48,328
and our audience is seeing
themselves, and seeing
485
00:23:48,428 --> 00:23:53,666
themselves in a way that you
haven't seen on television,
486
00:23:53,767 --> 00:23:57,504
and it feels good to see yourself.
487
00:23:57,604 --> 00:24:00,340
We see every shade of skin tone.
488
00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:02,208
We see every walk of life.
489
00:24:03,676 --> 00:24:05,178
And we see it celebrated.
490
00:24:05,278 --> 00:24:08,615
Everybody say congratulations
to Councilwoman Bordelon.
491
00:24:10,950 --> 00:24:14,187
I think that people
gravitate toward them
492
00:24:14,287 --> 00:24:18,558
because they have these layers
and these dimensions that
493
00:24:18,658 --> 00:24:19,972
are included.
494
00:24:19,997 --> 00:24:21,928
They don't have to be perfect.
495
00:24:22,028 --> 00:24:24,030
They don't have to be one thing.
496
00:24:24,130 --> 00:24:29,335
They can be contradictions and
flawed and beautifully human.
497
00:24:29,436 --> 00:24:32,071
If there's one thing that
Charley walks with that
498
00:24:32,172 --> 00:24:35,442
is unlike any other woman I've played,
499
00:24:35,542 --> 00:24:40,113
it's complete trust in herself.
500
00:24:40,213 --> 00:24:44,017
When you come for me and
the people of St. Joe,
501
00:24:44,117 --> 00:24:49,389
you better not miss, and you missed.
502
00:24:49,489 --> 00:24:52,826
I think in this time, exactly
who we need to be seeing
503
00:24:52,926 --> 00:24:55,106
on screen is a trailblazer,
504
00:24:55,228 --> 00:25:00,500
someone who is unafraid to
take on spaces that she
505
00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:02,525
isn't necessarily welcome.
506
00:25:03,203 --> 00:25:04,737
Charley.
507
00:25:04,838 --> 00:25:07,192
I say this out of love.
508
00:25:08,125 --> 00:25:10,343
Your mama made you a control freak.
509
00:25:10,443 --> 00:25:11,892
She did.
510
00:25:12,612 --> 00:25:17,692
But you have a blank slate,
with yourself and with Micah.
511
00:25:18,518 --> 00:25:22,655
Just being a leading,
dark-skinned woman of color
512
00:25:22,733 --> 00:25:26,993
in a show like this,
you don't see a lot.
513
00:25:27,093 --> 00:25:30,630
Also, maybe I think we don't
see Black journalists a lot
514
00:25:30,730 --> 00:25:32,298
in that world.
515
00:25:32,398 --> 00:25:36,669
I meet a lot of people who are
very much Novas in the world
516
00:25:36,769 --> 00:25:39,572
and have said, I've
never seen myself on TV.
517
00:25:39,672 --> 00:25:41,441
You go through your whole
life knowing exactly
518
00:25:41,541 --> 00:25:43,325
why you're the way you are.
519
00:25:45,745 --> 00:25:47,507
And then you get one
new piece of the puzzle
520
00:25:47,603 --> 00:25:49,148
and the whole picture changes.
521
00:25:49,249 --> 00:25:50,650
Because I've gotten a lot of chocolate
522
00:25:50,750 --> 00:25:53,586
little girls that come up to me
and say, you look like my mom,
523
00:25:53,686 --> 00:25:55,655
or you remind me of...
524
00:25:55,755 --> 00:25:57,857
And it gets me all choked up.
525
00:25:57,957 --> 00:26:02,462
A lot of times as a kid, I
didn't have examples on TV,
526
00:26:02,562 --> 00:26:04,898
so I had to like dream it up.
527
00:26:04,998 --> 00:26:08,434
But as soon as I started seeing
Viola Davis and Angela Bassett,
528
00:26:08,535 --> 00:26:09,769
I was like, oh.
529
00:26:09,869 --> 00:26:12,892
I should have discussed
what I was doing with you,
530
00:26:13,540 --> 00:26:14,892
with everyone.
531
00:26:16,213 --> 00:26:17,614
I got your blessing.
532
00:26:17,639 --> 00:26:22,425
And if I had said no, don't
do it, would you have listened?
533
00:26:24,684 --> 00:26:29,155
Violet is an important
addition to television
534
00:26:29,255 --> 00:26:33,493
because there's so many
Violets in the world,
535
00:26:33,593 --> 00:26:37,530
and television doesn't usually share
536
00:26:37,630 --> 00:26:42,459
that woman's life in the way
that Violet is representing it.
537
00:26:43,436 --> 00:26:47,006
A lot of times, when you see
Black mamas on TV or in film,
538
00:26:47,106 --> 00:26:48,875
especially when it's not
done by Black people,
539
00:26:48,975 --> 00:26:50,243
they're going to be the old Black mama.
540
00:26:50,343 --> 00:26:52,412
Now, old Black mamas are fine, but
541
00:26:52,512 --> 00:26:55,949
most Black moms are still fine.
542
00:26:56,049 --> 00:27:01,054
And Vi is a hat tip, a
genuflection, and a bow
543
00:27:01,154 --> 00:27:03,790
with a flourish to these women.
544
00:27:03,890 --> 00:27:06,859
Just by virtue of her presence,
545
00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:11,531
there's all of these women
that are being able to imagine
546
00:27:11,631 --> 00:27:14,513
themselves as fully alive,
547
00:27:14,621 --> 00:27:18,538
still having the right to dream,
imagining themselves
548
00:27:18,638 --> 00:27:21,047
in love late in life.
549
00:27:21,136 --> 00:27:26,879
She's exciting because she gives
permission to women over 50
550
00:27:26,980 --> 00:27:28,281
and above.
551
00:27:28,381 --> 00:27:31,259
But family is family, and now we are.
552
00:27:33,979 --> 00:27:35,214
Thank you, Ms. Vi.
553
00:27:35,239 --> 00:27:39,325
There's something about showing
the humanity, as you say,
554
00:27:39,425 --> 00:27:42,061
of addiction and the reality of it.
555
00:27:42,161 --> 00:27:45,898
And it's not in some
exaggerated, super heightened,
556
00:27:45,999 --> 00:27:51,417
melodramatic way, but it's
like the real day-to-day basic
557
00:27:51,512 --> 00:27:54,253
details of just what it is
to get through each moment,
558
00:27:54,339 --> 00:27:57,630
get through each day in
a real time feeling way.
559
00:27:57,736 --> 00:27:59,045
How are you doing?
560
00:27:59,145 --> 00:28:06,719
I'm, um, I'm feeling stable and helpful.
561
00:28:06,819 --> 00:28:11,624
My main question that I get
so, so often on the street,
562
00:28:11,724 --> 00:28:17,030
on social media, especially
in seasons three and four,
563
00:28:17,130 --> 00:28:19,732
were please don't let
anything happen to Darla.
564
00:28:19,832 --> 00:28:21,427
Please don't let her backslide.
565
00:28:21,511 --> 00:28:22,995
Please keep her on the
straight and narrow.
566
00:28:23,097 --> 00:28:24,390
Please keep her safe and healthy.
567
00:28:24,497 --> 00:28:28,174
People have really come
to be attached to her.
568
00:28:28,274 --> 00:28:31,611
The fragility that Bianca
Lawson brings to the character
569
00:28:31,711 --> 00:28:35,214
is something that has really
resonated with people.
570
00:28:35,314 --> 00:28:37,917
I was at the airport in Houston
571
00:28:38,017 --> 00:28:40,386
and a woman came up to
me, and she was like,
572
00:28:40,486 --> 00:28:43,056
does anyone ever tell you
you look just like Darla?
573
00:28:43,156 --> 00:28:44,390
And I was like, actually, I'm Darla.
574
00:28:44,490 --> 00:28:45,558
She's like, oh my god.
575
00:28:45,658 --> 00:28:46,893
I am Darla.
576
00:28:46,993 --> 00:28:48,825
That is my story.
577
00:28:49,395 --> 00:28:52,532
And I haven't seen it told
in television that way,
578
00:28:52,632 --> 00:28:54,867
in such a realistic way.
579
00:28:54,967 --> 00:28:59,872
Dear God, help me make the best
use of what is in my power.
580
00:28:59,972 --> 00:29:03,425
It's just been an honor to be
in people's homes in that way.
581
00:29:04,577 --> 00:29:06,112
I remember saying to him,
582
00:29:06,212 --> 00:29:07,947
I don't think your life's
going to be the same
583
00:29:08,047 --> 00:29:13,292
after you do this part, because
I'm making him my dream man.
584
00:29:14,151 --> 00:29:17,623
My name is Rochelle and
I live in Los Angeles,
585
00:29:17,724 --> 00:29:21,060
and "Queen Sugar" is my favorite show.
586
00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:22,462
I just want to know, what was one
587
00:29:22,562 --> 00:29:24,964
of the more emotionally
challenging scenes
588
00:29:25,064 --> 00:29:27,600
that you had to film, and why?
589
00:29:27,700 --> 00:29:28,968
Thank you.
590
00:29:29,068 --> 00:29:30,892
Well, thank you for watching.
591
00:29:31,608 --> 00:29:33,973
There's so many, my goodness.
592
00:29:34,073 --> 00:29:39,118
I shot the episode where Ernest
passes away in the hospital bed
593
00:29:39,224 --> 00:29:42,025
on episode one, season one.
594
00:29:45,051 --> 00:29:47,420
One of the hardest
things I've ever shot...
595
00:29:47,520 --> 00:29:51,525
It was the first time that
I ever cried after a take.
596
00:29:54,260 --> 00:29:58,231
It's a very deeply emotional
scene, for me deeply personal,
597
00:29:58,331 --> 00:30:02,201
and it was the hardest thing
I think I've ever shot.
598
00:30:02,301 --> 00:30:05,037
And I'm so happy that I
did and that it's on film
599
00:30:05,138 --> 00:30:06,873
to be shared with folks.
600
00:30:06,973 --> 00:30:08,541
I think it means a lot
to a lot of people,
601
00:30:08,641 --> 00:30:11,043
and it was a real honor to shoot it.
602
00:30:11,144 --> 00:30:12,759
Amen, brother Ernest.
603
00:30:13,746 --> 00:30:16,025
May you rest in peace.
604
00:30:21,454 --> 00:30:23,990
And then I keep saying,
I don't need this fuss.
605
00:30:24,090 --> 00:30:26,826
Well, you're about to get one right now.
606
00:30:26,926 --> 00:30:27,760
Surprise.
607
00:30:30,196 --> 00:30:31,964
The Hollywood and Vi relationship
608
00:30:32,064 --> 00:30:34,233
is just extremely important.
609
00:30:34,333 --> 00:30:37,003
We have to see this love,
no matter Black love,
610
00:30:37,103 --> 00:30:39,472
or people in their 40s, 50s,
60s, or whatever, it's really
611
00:30:39,572 --> 00:30:42,341
good to show two people who
are so supportive of each other
612
00:30:42,441 --> 00:30:43,876
and will uplift each other.
613
00:30:43,976 --> 00:30:46,192
Oh, we needed this, baby.
614
00:30:46,913 --> 00:30:48,014
No Diana.
615
00:30:48,114 --> 00:30:50,483
No family. Just us.
616
00:30:50,925 --> 00:30:53,553
I don't remember the last
time I was this relaxed.
617
00:30:53,653 --> 00:30:57,523
Omar Dorsey and I met and
became friends on "Selma."
618
00:30:57,623 --> 00:31:00,459
Then I asked him to do "Queen Sugar."
619
00:31:00,560 --> 00:31:02,628
And I said to him, I
remember saying to him,
620
00:31:02,728 --> 00:31:03,963
I don't think your life's going to be
621
00:31:04,063 --> 00:31:06,899
the same after you do
this part, because I'm
622
00:31:06,999 --> 00:31:10,225
making him my dream man.
623
00:31:14,607 --> 00:31:15,608
I knew.
624
00:31:15,708 --> 00:31:17,410
I knew you were going
to take it too far.
625
00:31:17,510 --> 00:31:18,544
I knew you were.
626
00:31:18,644 --> 00:31:20,046
What I like most about Hollywood
627
00:31:20,146 --> 00:31:21,547
is just the way that he treats his lady.
628
00:31:21,647 --> 00:31:23,916
It's this southern gentleman.
629
00:31:24,016 --> 00:31:28,421
It's this blue collar, hard-working man,
630
00:31:28,521 --> 00:31:31,891
what I always envisioned
what a man should be.
631
00:31:31,991 --> 00:31:36,028
Oh, man, I ain't never had
nothing like you in my life.
632
00:31:36,128 --> 00:31:38,831
She is in love in a way
633
00:31:38,931 --> 00:31:44,136
that she never imagined
would be her possibility,
634
00:31:44,237 --> 00:31:46,072
and she's loving every minute of it.
635
00:31:46,172 --> 00:31:47,406
Where are you going?
636
00:31:47,506 --> 00:31:52,612
I am a lady and it is time
for me to do my lady things.
637
00:31:52,712 --> 00:31:55,715
Then I'm coming back, and when I do,
638
00:31:55,815 --> 00:31:58,718
I do not intend to be a lady.
639
00:31:58,818 --> 00:32:02,688
Hollywood's my man, and he's always
640
00:32:02,788 --> 00:32:05,324
fighting for our relationship.
641
00:32:05,424 --> 00:32:07,927
I'm not fighting against him, but he's
642
00:32:08,027 --> 00:32:10,129
still always fighting for it in a way
643
00:32:10,229 --> 00:32:11,831
that just makes you swoon.
644
00:32:11,931 --> 00:32:16,292
I done left my job to be with you.
645
00:32:17,770 --> 00:32:19,972
Does that sound like somebody
who doesn't want to be with you
646
00:32:20,072 --> 00:32:21,307
for the rest of their life?
647
00:32:21,407 --> 00:32:22,708
I love the character.
648
00:32:22,808 --> 00:32:24,343
Omar plays it perfectly.
649
00:32:24,443 --> 00:32:27,179
But he is unconditional love and support
650
00:32:27,280 --> 00:32:30,950
within the realm of
traditional Black masculinity.
651
00:32:31,050 --> 00:32:34,453
I just wanted to show a Black
man because I know them.
652
00:32:34,553 --> 00:32:35,588
I know them.
653
00:32:35,688 --> 00:32:40,059
My father was one who
just loves his woman.
654
00:32:40,993 --> 00:32:45,892
You have to ask yourself if
tomorrows are for other folk.
655
00:32:47,066 --> 00:32:53,272
I really admire Oprah for
seeing a void in television
656
00:32:53,372 --> 00:32:55,308
and seeing a void in representation
657
00:32:55,408 --> 00:32:57,977
and filling that void very simply.
658
00:32:58,077 --> 00:32:59,879
Just like that.
659
00:32:59,979 --> 00:33:01,814
That's what I'm talking about, buddy.
660
00:33:01,914 --> 00:33:04,817
I think what's really
extraordinary about Darla
661
00:33:04,917 --> 00:33:06,786
and Ralph Angel is there's
something very real
662
00:33:06,886 --> 00:33:08,688
about the relationship to me.
663
00:33:08,788 --> 00:33:13,659
Because it's not a
simplistic, idealized fantasy.
664
00:33:14,193 --> 00:33:18,597
They really get into the depths
and the dirt and the darkness
665
00:33:18,698 --> 00:33:20,366
and the light, everything.
666
00:33:21,767 --> 00:33:24,659
Maybe you'll see things
differently if you hear me out.
667
00:33:27,673 --> 00:33:28,708
I'm listening.
668
00:33:28,808 --> 00:33:31,610
Darla and Ralph Angel,
their whole relationship
669
00:33:31,711 --> 00:33:34,113
is just so dimensional.
670
00:33:34,213 --> 00:33:37,917
There's so many micro
worlds within this one,
671
00:33:38,017 --> 00:33:41,854
I guess, macro love, from Blue
to who they are as individuals,
672
00:33:41,954 --> 00:33:43,622
who they are together, who they were,
673
00:33:43,723 --> 00:33:46,392
and now these parents
they've grown into.
674
00:33:46,492 --> 00:33:51,959
I would still choose
you, 100 times over,
675
00:33:52,932 --> 00:33:54,525
just like your daddy.
676
00:33:55,835 --> 00:33:58,237
The love story of
the series, some people
677
00:33:58,337 --> 00:33:59,472
think it's Charley and Davis.
678
00:33:59,572 --> 00:34:01,140
Some people think it's Micah and KeKe.
679
00:34:01,240 --> 00:34:02,842
Some people think it's
Violet and Hollywood
680
00:34:02,942 --> 00:34:03,976
or Calvin and Nova.
681
00:34:04,076 --> 00:34:05,511
It's not even Ralph Angel and Darla.
682
00:34:05,611 --> 00:34:07,546
It is Ralph Angel and Blue.
683
00:34:07,646 --> 00:34:09,125
That's my boy.
684
00:34:09,782 --> 00:34:11,677
From the very, very first scene of them
685
00:34:11,766 --> 00:34:17,590
is Ralph Angel's dogged
determined, dynamic, radical
686
00:34:17,690 --> 00:34:18,858
love for his son.
687
00:34:18,958 --> 00:34:22,728
That has taken us as creators, artists,
688
00:34:22,828 --> 00:34:26,732
and the viewers and fans of
the show, on quite a ride.
689
00:34:26,832 --> 00:34:30,069
We've been able to
explore Black fatherhood
690
00:34:30,169 --> 00:34:35,274
in ways that are very exciting
to me, very important to me.
691
00:34:35,374 --> 00:34:36,742
Close your eyes.
692
00:34:36,842 --> 00:34:38,292
All right.
693
00:34:42,181 --> 00:34:43,525
OK, are can open them.
694
00:34:46,459 --> 00:34:47,853
You like it?
695
00:34:47,953 --> 00:34:50,890
Nah, I love it.
696
00:34:50,990 --> 00:34:52,792
It's one of Aunt Vi's pies.
697
00:34:53,659 --> 00:34:54,892
I'm proud of it.
698
00:34:56,659 --> 00:34:57,997
You should be proud of it.
699
00:34:58,097 --> 00:34:59,532
That central relationship
700
00:34:59,632 --> 00:35:02,568
is such a pleasure to create, to write,
701
00:35:02,668 --> 00:35:04,737
to direct, to produce, to edit.
702
00:35:04,837 --> 00:35:06,972
I love any scene with the two of them.
703
00:35:07,073 --> 00:35:08,808
And that bond is really
sacred for all of us
704
00:35:08,908 --> 00:35:10,643
who work on "Queen Sugar."
705
00:35:10,743 --> 00:35:14,613
In the midst of a year unlike any other,
706
00:35:14,713 --> 00:35:17,216
it felt like we had to
stop and do whatever
707
00:35:17,316 --> 00:35:19,925
we could to tell the story.
708
00:35:20,839 --> 00:35:23,289
My name is Billye Moutra and I am a
709
00:35:23,389 --> 00:35:28,294
Huge fan of "Queen Sugar."
710
00:35:28,394 --> 00:35:31,030
Ava, you are a visionary
and you have opened up
711
00:35:31,130 --> 00:35:34,467
so many doors for
women and women of color
712
00:35:34,567 --> 00:35:36,035
with "Queen Sugar."
713
00:35:36,135 --> 00:35:37,703
Women are our future.
714
00:35:37,803 --> 00:35:40,439
Do you believe that this
will be a stepping stone
715
00:35:40,539 --> 00:35:43,142
for the entertainment
industry, and maybe they
716
00:35:43,242 --> 00:35:46,145
will take heed and do
something about their lack
717
00:35:46,245 --> 00:35:48,347
of representation?
718
00:35:48,447 --> 00:35:50,683
Well, love her.
719
00:35:50,783 --> 00:35:51,917
Thank you, Billye.
720
00:35:52,017 --> 00:35:54,086
I don't know what the
industry is going to do.
721
00:35:54,186 --> 00:35:55,788
We can lead by example.
722
00:35:55,888 --> 00:35:57,890
We can handle and take
care of ourselves.
723
00:35:57,990 --> 00:35:59,892
We do that on all of our productions.
724
00:35:59,992 --> 00:36:01,360
And so we're doing it.
725
00:36:01,460 --> 00:36:03,655
If other people want
to follow, they can.
726
00:36:03,744 --> 00:36:06,992
If they want to ask us how we
do it, we're here to tell them.
727
00:36:10,536 --> 00:36:14,540
Well, I'm so proud of our
"Queen Sugar" directorial team.
728
00:36:14,640 --> 00:36:16,542
I'll get emotional if I'm not careful,
729
00:36:16,642 --> 00:36:18,577
so I'll be very careful.
730
00:36:18,677 --> 00:36:21,614
Most of the women who
directed "Queen Sugar"
731
00:36:21,714 --> 00:36:24,717
over the past five seasons,
it was their first episode
732
00:36:24,817 --> 00:36:25,751
of television.
733
00:36:25,851 --> 00:36:27,453
They come from different walks of life,
734
00:36:27,553 --> 00:36:29,088
but they were ready, in my opinion,
735
00:36:29,188 --> 00:36:31,757
and I handpicked them all to direct.
736
00:36:31,857 --> 00:36:34,593
Victoria Mahoney became the first woman
737
00:36:34,693 --> 00:36:37,229
to ever touch a camera on
the "Star Wars" franchise,
738
00:36:37,329 --> 00:36:39,899
and her first episode of
television was "Queen Sugar."
739
00:36:39,999 --> 00:36:42,268
Salli Richardson-Whitfield,
she starred in my first movie,
740
00:36:42,368 --> 00:36:43,588
"I Will Follow."
741
00:36:43,666 --> 00:36:44,770
I said, you should direct.
742
00:36:44,870 --> 00:36:46,939
Now she's got this massive deal at HBO.
743
00:36:47,039 --> 00:36:49,508
She's directed over 13 different series.
744
00:36:49,608 --> 00:36:52,778
Amanda Marsalis was an
independent filmmaker.
745
00:36:52,878 --> 00:36:56,282
She's gone on to direct
"Westworld" and "Ozark."
746
00:36:56,382 --> 00:36:59,685
DeMane Davis, she was doing commercials.
747
00:36:59,785 --> 00:37:02,688
Now she's the producer
and director on "Clarice,"
748
00:37:02,788 --> 00:37:04,223
the big CBS shows.
749
00:37:04,323 --> 00:37:08,160
Kat Candler was an
independent film director who
750
00:37:08,260 --> 00:37:09,774
I was friends with at Sundance.
751
00:37:09,866 --> 00:37:12,898
She ended up directing
episodes, eventually becoming
752
00:37:12,998 --> 00:37:14,733
the producing director, and eventually
753
00:37:14,833 --> 00:37:16,435
becoming the show runner.
754
00:37:16,535 --> 00:37:18,938
This season, there are
three women directors.
755
00:37:19,038 --> 00:37:21,674
Only three women directors directed
756
00:37:21,774 --> 00:37:24,677
all 10 episodes of this
season of "Queen Sugar"...
757
00:37:24,777 --> 00:37:30,449
Lisa France, Lauren
Wolkstein, and Cierra Glaude.
758
00:37:30,549 --> 00:37:33,752
So the journey with all these
women and more, so many more,
759
00:37:33,852 --> 00:37:35,154
has been spectacular.
760
00:37:35,254 --> 00:37:37,923
It's one of the things
I'm most proud of.
761
00:37:38,023 --> 00:37:42,995
And I have worked really hard
with all of the producing team
762
00:37:43,095 --> 00:37:45,064
to say, we're going to make a set where
763
00:37:45,164 --> 00:37:47,366
crew members can look around
and see other people who
764
00:37:47,466 --> 00:37:48,634
look like them.
765
00:37:48,734 --> 00:37:50,069
If you're a woman, you're
going to see other women.
766
00:37:50,169 --> 00:37:52,404
If you are Black, you're going
to see other Black folks...
767
00:37:52,504 --> 00:37:57,109
Brown folks, Asian, Middle
Eastern, across the board,
768
00:37:57,209 --> 00:38:01,814
making sure that our crews
reflect the real world.
769
00:38:01,914 --> 00:38:03,315
I think that's the
beauty of "Queen Sugar."
770
00:38:03,415 --> 00:38:04,550
It's just reflective.
771
00:38:04,650 --> 00:38:07,152
In the most simple ways,
it's showing people dealing
772
00:38:07,253 --> 00:38:09,989
with everyday situations,
family situations,
773
00:38:10,089 --> 00:38:12,157
personal identity situations.
774
00:38:12,258 --> 00:38:14,693
And it just makes it so presentable.
775
00:38:14,793 --> 00:38:18,130
Together, we will reclaim our parish.
776
00:38:18,230 --> 00:38:23,435
We are St. Josephine's parish
in the grand state of Louisiana,
777
00:38:23,535 --> 00:38:26,069
and we ain't going anywhere.
778
00:38:28,374 --> 00:38:29,642
Our show is about a Black family
779
00:38:29,742 --> 00:38:31,610
in a very specific place.
780
00:38:31,710 --> 00:38:35,147
And it was a lost opportunity
if we went ahead and used
781
00:38:35,247 --> 00:38:37,216
the scripts that we had for season five
782
00:38:37,316 --> 00:38:42,254
and shot them in the midst
of a year unlike any other.
783
00:38:42,354 --> 00:38:45,958
It felt like we had to stop and
do whatever we could to tell
784
00:38:46,058 --> 00:38:49,461
the story, but it took the
studio and the network,
785
00:38:49,561 --> 00:38:53,599
Warner Brothers and OWN, to say,
OK, if you think you can do it.
786
00:38:53,699 --> 00:38:55,434
Because there wasn't a lot of time.
787
00:38:55,534 --> 00:38:59,538
Paul Garnes and I, my
producing partner, my writer, Di,
788
00:38:59,642 --> 00:39:01,206
we had big ideas about how we
789
00:39:01,307 --> 00:39:03,609
wanted to do this, a whole
different shooting style...
790
00:39:03,709 --> 00:39:06,412
How we would keep the crew
and cars safe in COVID,
791
00:39:06,512 --> 00:39:09,014
and basically creating this
kind of "Queen Sugar" hotel.
792
00:39:09,114 --> 00:39:11,850
We had so many ideas about
the way we'd pull it off,
793
00:39:11,950 --> 00:39:14,953
it really took a well-oiled
machine to put together.
794
00:39:15,054 --> 00:39:16,722
It took a lot of faith
all of our partners,
795
00:39:16,822 --> 00:39:18,157
and I'm really grateful to them.
796
00:39:18,257 --> 00:39:20,059
I think the season's quite special.
797
00:39:25,392 --> 00:39:28,167
You're about to see an exclusive
clip from "Queen Sugar," one
798
00:39:28,267 --> 00:39:29,668
of my favorite little scenes.
799
00:39:29,768 --> 00:39:34,206
Nothing huge is going on,
but this is in episode one,
800
00:39:34,306 --> 00:39:37,142
and it teases what's to
come, because this season,
801
00:39:37,242 --> 00:39:40,179
we're going to be able to
finally see Ralph Angel
802
00:39:40,279 --> 00:39:43,055
and Darla happy for a little while.
803
00:39:43,165 --> 00:39:44,592
Isn't that going to be nice?
804
00:39:46,051 --> 00:39:47,820
Rise and shine, Mommy.
805
00:39:47,920 --> 00:39:49,659
Rise and shine.
806
00:39:52,791 --> 00:39:55,392
Breakfast in bed.
807
00:39:55,627 --> 00:39:57,525
The fourth time this week.
808
00:39:58,330 --> 00:40:00,359
You're spoiling me.
809
00:40:01,800 --> 00:40:03,625
You both are.
810
00:40:04,036 --> 00:40:06,038
I got the toast right this time.
811
00:40:06,063 --> 00:40:07,047
Taste.
812
00:40:07,072 --> 00:40:09,459
- OK.
- Go ahead and taste that.
813
00:40:14,213 --> 00:40:15,314
Mm.
814
00:40:15,920 --> 00:40:17,690
- It's very good.
- Yes.
815
00:40:17,715 --> 00:40:18,957
It's very good.
816
00:40:19,058 --> 00:40:20,986
Somebody's got to get ready for school.
817
00:40:21,425 --> 00:40:23,589
I got to drop you off
for the family's big day.
818
00:40:23,689 --> 00:40:25,624
Every day is a big day
now that Mom is here.
819
00:40:25,724 --> 00:40:27,059
That's right.
820
00:40:28,026 --> 00:40:29,725
- Bye.
- Bye.
821
00:40:32,731 --> 00:40:33,899
You know that toast is burnt.
822
00:40:34,800 --> 00:40:36,535
Why do you lie to that boy?
823
00:40:36,635 --> 00:40:37,623
Come here.
824
00:40:46,691 --> 00:40:47,925
I'm happy.
825
00:40:48,814 --> 00:40:52,551
Me, too, especially today.
826
00:40:52,651 --> 00:40:55,421
The goal is to make sure
that we can change our space
827
00:40:55,521 --> 00:40:58,257
and create an autonomous zone,
828
00:40:58,357 --> 00:41:02,261
where we can tell our
stories with agency
829
00:41:02,361 --> 00:41:05,464
and with love and with depth.
830
00:41:05,564 --> 00:41:08,901
And we're doing that,
now five seasons strong.
831
00:41:09,001 --> 00:41:11,703
And are grateful to
everyone who's watched
832
00:41:11,804 --> 00:41:13,305
and made that possible.
833
00:41:13,405 --> 00:41:16,108
My favorite character,
personally, is Ralph Angel.
834
00:41:16,208 --> 00:41:19,011
We wouldn't be able to do
it without you, so much love.
835
00:41:19,111 --> 00:41:21,079
Well, my favorite character is Nova.
836
00:41:21,180 --> 00:41:22,548
I'm like, our fans
are very enthusiastic.
837
00:41:24,082 --> 00:41:28,020
The person that resonated
with me the most is Aunt Violet.
838
00:41:28,120 --> 00:41:33,659
We thank you so much for
tuning in and letting us know.
839
00:41:33,759 --> 00:41:36,195
My favorite character on "Queen Sugar"
840
00:41:36,295 --> 00:41:37,796
is Charley Bordelon.
841
00:41:37,896 --> 00:41:41,400
We love you, and thank you.
64299
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.