Loretta Devine exemplifies the new era of opportunity for blacks in Hollywood. The star of NBC’s The Carmichael Show won an Emmy in 2011 for Outstanding Guest Actress in Grey’s Anatomy and has appeared in blockbuster films that include Waiting to Exhale, The Preacher’s Wife and For Colored Girls.
Devine has the title role in a new film, Grandma’s House, the faith-based true story written by Kimberley Zulkowski about growing up in the care of her grandmother. Critics have embraced the indie film for its thoughtful and tender approach. Days after its April 2016 release, Devine told Reel Urban News, “I’m excited to hear that it got four stars, that’s so unusual when you produce an independent film.”
Devine shared her thoughts about working with the film’s young and talented cast during a time of great progress in Black Hollywood. The veteran actor maintains that new technology will have a positive impact on African Americans’ influence in the media. “It seems that we’re moving into a new day with the internet. People are able to Twitter, Instagram and Periscope and make their own films, put them up on the net – people are trying new things.”
Triple-threat pop star Coco Jones plays opposite Devine as her granddaughter. The young singer-songwriter-actor burst on the scene in the Disney Channel film Let It Shine. “Most of my scenes were with her,” says Devine. “She’s a very young new artist.”
Screenwriter Zulkowski is also the film’s executive producer. Though Grandma’s House was widely released by AMC Theatres, the film did not have national distribution. “When you don’t get total distribution,” says Devine, “I can’t say to my family in Houston, you can go see my film, which makes it hard. However, it opens the door for it to go to Redbox, Netflix and you can recoup all of your finances. And that’s what you want to do – building a well house, you’re able to make a number of movies.”
Devine is resolute that African Americans must create entertainment vehicles that reflect the reality of black lives. “We have to start doing that again.”
Though The Carmichael Show was not a part of NBC’s recent upfront presentation, Devine champions the show’s talented creator, comedian Jerrod Carmichael. “I’m so proud of the young people now. I’m on The Carmichael Show and the young man that created that show is 27. You just go, ‘God! They really know how to do it!’ It’s incredible. I think this new wave of ‘I can do it myself’ is going to last.”
When asked if blacks are experiencing a ‘golden era’ in the entertainment industry, Devine says, “They say when you’re in a resonance you don’t know it, you don’t really realize it. But I think it’s so blatant in so many ways. In my history, I’ve never seen so many black women on television – of all hues, all sizes and that are beautiful but are doing different and interesting things.”
Devine credits the many new media platforms for the increased interest in black actors and black stories. “You have so many outlets now. This past season they called it the Empire affect. There were 74 black pilots/shows that had leads that were black or co-stars that were black. [Laughs] Everybody got a chance to work … which is great! Finally! I’m hoping that it’s change that’s going to last.”
Devine believes that the quality of the projects will make movies by African Americans as addictive as potato chips. “The thing about black films is once you’ve seen one, you want to see another one. So I think all cultures are going to see these movies and are going to say, ‘Oh yeah – that’s my grandma. Yes, that’s my mother.’ I think people will begin to realize how much alike we are as opposed to how different we are.”
By: Michael Reel @GraceyReel
