REEL Lady: Gina Prince Bythewood

GINA PRINCE-BYTHEWOOD (Writer/Producer/Director) wrote and directed the widely acclaimed feature film “Love & Basketball,” which premiered at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. Prince-Bythewood won an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature and a Humanitas Prize for her work on the film. Her other feature directing credits include the HBO film “Disappearing Acts.”

Currently, Prince-Bythewood is directing her adaptation of the best-selling novel, “The Secret Life of Bees” with Dakota Fanning and Queen Latifah for Fox Searchlight. It will be released this fall.

Gina Prince Bythewood

Prince-Bythewood obtained her first feature film producer credit in 2003 on “Biker Boyz,” a Dreamworks film which was co-written and directed by her husband, Reggie Rock Bythewood.

Prince-Bythewood studied at UCLA Film School, where she received the Gene Reynolds Scholarship for Directing and the Ray Stark Memorial Scholarship for Outstanding Undergraduate. Upon her graduation in 1991, she was immediately hired as a writer on the television series “A Different World.” She continued to write and produce for network television on series such as “Felicity,” “South Central,” “Courthouse” and “Sweet Justice” before making the transition to directing.

Her television directorial debut was the CBS Schoolbreak Special “What About Your Friends,” which won Prince-Bythewood an NACCP Image Award for Best Children’s Special and two Emmy nominations for writing and directing. She has also directed episodes of the hit television comedies “Everybody Hates Chris” and “Girlfriends.”

Prince-Bythewood currently resides in Southern California with her husband Reggie and their sons Cassius and Toussaint.

READ BELOW her interview with REEL Ladies!

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RL: HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU DECIDED TO PURSUE FILM?

GPB: When I was in high school, my career goal was to write for a soap opera. I watched four a day and was convinced that was what I wanted to do. Despite wanting to play college basketball, I went to UCLA (where I was not offered a scholarship) because of their film program. I started hanging out at the film school and agreed to help out on a student film. That first day on set was one of those light bulb moments. I remember the intense feeling that came over me as I realized suddenly what I wanted to do was direct.

RL: YOU LANDED A JOB STRAIGHT FROM COLLEGE ON THE POPULAR SITCOM “A DIFFERENT WORLD”. HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT? WHAT STEPS DID YOU HAVE TO TAKE?

GPB: First let me say, I was extremely lucky to start my career at “A Different World”. It was my favorite show and it was run by black women. It was an incredibly nurturing environment.
I met Bill Cosby at a track meet (I ran track my sophomore year) and I told him about my ambitions. He introduced me to Yvette Lee Bowser, who was a producer on the show, and she got me a meeting for the open writer’s apprentice position. It was the worst interview of my life. I was completely ill prepared and shy and gave monosyllabic answers to their questions. I was 22, and in the room with my heroes who were TV veterans and I choked. It was heartbreaking. But miraculously the they hired did not take the job seriously and they called me up a couple months later and asked me to come aboard.

RL: YOUR FIRST DAY, WERE YOU NERVOUS?

GPB: Petrified. I don’t think I pitched a joke for the first two weeks. The room was tough and they would cut you down in a second if the joke you pitched sucked. But after getting a couple laughs, my confidence grew.

RL: WERE YOU CONFIDENT IN YOUR SKILLS YET AS A WRITER? OR WERE YOU DOUBTFUL?

GPB: I knew I had a lot to bring to the table given the show was about college and I had just graduated. The great thing about the job was that they had the apprentices write select scenes from the episodes they were working on and then they would critique us. After a while, my stuff was being put into the actual episodes and that helped my confidence tremendously.

RL: HOW DID YOU LAND THE CBS SCHOOLBREAK SPECIAL AS A DIRECTOR?

GPB: Because I had written it, I pitched myself as the one person who knew the story of these girls better than anybody. They took a big chance on me and I am grateful for that.

RL: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DIRECTING STYLE THEN?
WHAT HAS CHANGED IN YOUR STYLE FROM THEN TO NOW?

GPB: I cannot define my visual style because I change it up with each new film. But I am much better at working with actors. My goal is to make them as comfortable as possible so they can give me all of themselves. It is all about building a trust and that is what I work on from the moment I meet them.

RL: HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE THE SCRIPT FOR LOVE & BASKETBALL?

GPB: A year and a half.

RL: WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE LIKE FOR YOU TO SHOP IT AROUND?

GPB: Soul-crushing. Every single studio passed, from major to minor. I thought I was dead in the water, that I had just wasted a year and a half of my life. Then miraculously, the Sundance Program called me. They had heard about my script, and wanted to meet. From that meeting I was invited to attend their writer’s workshop. It was an amazing experience.

RL:HOW DID YOU TEAM UP WITH SPIKE?

GPB: Sundance put on a staged reading of my script and invited industry folks. Sam Kitt from Spike’s company came and loved it.

RL: THIS WAS YOUR FEATURE FILM DIRECTORIAL DEBUT, AND YOU HAD SOME GREAT NAMES ATTACHED! THIS FILM PUT SANAA LATHAN ON THE MAP. HOW WAS IT WORKING WITH HER?

GPB: Sanaa is great, and we click as director/actor. She sold me during the audition process. She worked with a basketball coach for three months with no guarantee of a part to prove she could play ball. A director dreams of having an actor with that kind of work ethic. We laugh about it now, but we didn’t become friends until after the film. She says I was really hard on her. But I was just incredibly focused. This was my first film and I had to make sure everything was right. And that meant pushing her hard so that her performance was always believable. Her chemistry with Omar was off the chain. I was blessed with that.

RL: BEING THE WRITER AND DIRECTOR, HOW FREQUENTLY DO YOU LET THE ACTORS IMPROV?

GPB: Improv happens in rehearsal, and sometimes I will incorporate things that come out of that. But by the time we get to set the script is pretty locked.

RL: YOUR NEXT FILM DISAPPEARING ACTS, STARRED SANAA LATHAN AS WELL. WAS THAT YOUR DOING?

GPB: Yes. Sanaa is a great actress and we worked well together so I wanted to work with her again. But I made her audition because the part was so different from Monica. She was pissed about that. But she ripped the audition and earned the part. And she was great in the film.

RL: WAS THAT THE FIRST TIME YOU WERE DIRECTING SOMEONE ELSE’S SCRIPT OTHER THAN YOUR OWN? IS EASIER OR HARDER FOR YOU?

GPB: Yes, it was the first time and it was a little more difficult. When I direct what I have written it is 100% my vision, but here I was trying to marry my vision with another writer’s. But I loved the book so much that it ended up working out.

RL: YOU WERE DOING PROJECTS BACK TO BACK IT SEEMS LIKE. WORKING WITH SOME GREAT ACTORS, WRITERS, AND PRODUCERS. BUT I KNOW IT WASN’T ALL JUST A PIECE OF CAKE. WERE THERE ANY OBSTACLES THAT YOU WERE FACING AT THE TIME? OR ANY PROJECT THAT WAS DIFFICULT FOR YOU?

GPB: I did “Disappearing Acts” right after “Love and Basketball” and I will never do that again. Making a film is emotionally and physically draining, even when it goes well, and I was just burnt out. You need time to refuel in between projects to give your best because it is all consuming.
The toughest obstacle I ever faced was working with an actor who was an incredible jerk. He showed up to set late every day, sometimes hung over. He was rude to the cast and the crew….Just unprofessional and mean. But I still had to get a performance out of him. It was emotionally draining and really discouraging.

RL: HOW DID YOU GET PAST THAT?

GPB: I had to put my ego aside because at the end of the day folks coming to see the movie have no idea what happened on set. They just care if the performances are good. It was tough. But it made me very choosey about who I work with now. You understand why some directors work with the same people over and over. There is a comfort in working with people you like, and where there is a mutual respect.

RL: YOU, LIKE MANY OF US, PUT ON YOUR PRODUCER HAT AS WELL FOR “BIKER BOYZ.” WHICH DO YOU PREFER; WRITING, DIRECTING, OR PRODUCING?

GPB: Directing by far. Writing is tough and lonely. Directing is giving life to the words. It’s exciting. Producing is just not my forte. I don’t like not having the final say.

RL: HOW DO YOU JUGGLE YOUR FILM CAREER AND YOUR FAMILY?

GPB: Honestly I am still trying to figure it out. Directing is all consuming and I miss my family terribly. And it takes a toll on everybody. The positive thing is that most of the time I am home writing. It is just when I am making a film that everything is crazy.

RL: WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?

GPB: I just directed my adaptation of the best-selling novel “The Secret Life of Bees.” It comes out Oct. 17th. I am very excited about it. It stars Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Sophie Okonedo, Alicia keys and Paul Bettany. They are all phenomenal.

RL: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO WOMEN IN FILM OUT THERE?

GPB: Always remember that talent has no gender. There is zero reason for this fallacy that men are inherently better suited to direct than women. You will be tested and challenged on set but if you show them what you got that first day, that b.s. will go away real quick. And write. The best way to direct is to attach yourself to your own good material. That will always be your ace.

REEL Lady: Jillian Bullock

Reel Ladies talks to Philadelphia Filmmaker, Jillian Bullock. Jillian is a writer, actress, and Producer. Her production company, Jaguar Productions, is currently working on the feature film, “The Champion Inside”.Growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she graduated with a degree in Communications from La Salle University. During the summer of 1991, Jillian had her first taste of real filmmaking as an intern on the set of Spike Lee’s film “Malcolm X.” Jillian wrote “The Champion Inside™” with inspiration coming from her own experiences as a boxer and a cancer survivor. It is our goal to gather support from the entertainment community, especially those who have been affected by cancer, in order to bring more awareness to this devastating disease. Since cancer is the number one killer among American people, and 1 in 3 people will get cancer sometime in their lifetime, Jillian and Portia are certain that a film such as The Champion Inside™ will not only be entertaining, but educational as well.

RL:  When did the entertainment bug bite you? 

JB: When I was a little girl, my stepfather, who was a white, Mobster in Philadelphia during the 60’s and 70’s, taught me not only about the ways of the Mafia, but about films. Every Saturday, he’d take me to see a movie, mostly gangster movies; that was our special time together and it was a relaxing time for him. He would say, “This is my time not to think about work and the ugliness I deal with on a daily basis.” It was my stepfather who always told me I would one day become a writer and a director, because he wanted to go to the movies one day and see my name up there on the big screen. But I thought he was crazy, because during that time I had never seen a female director, especially not a black, female director. But I held on to that dream especially after my stepfather died when I was 15.

 

RL:  You’ve had an amazing journey with trials, tribulations and victories. Can you share some of that with us?

 

JB: Most of my trials came while I was growing up. I witnessed my first Mob hit, by the hands of my stepfather, when I was nine years old. When other little girls my age were outside playing with dolls, jumping rope, playing jacks, I was learning about extortion, racketeer, drugs, prostitution, and murder. At age 11, a family friend raped me. My stepfather took care of the offender, who was found dead the next day. Then, when I was 15 my stepfather died and I had to deal with my mother and her new husband, who was emotionally and physically abusive to my mother. I almost killed him one night after he beat my mother up, but she sided with him over me. So, I had no other choice, but to leave home. We lived in Florida at the time, and I had no idea where I was going or what I would do for money. I ended up getting involved in criminal activity, drugs, and prostitution in order to survive. I only got off the streets, at age 16, when I learned I was pregnant. These experiences helped me be strong and determined to give my baby and myself a better life, but it also made me cold and distrustful of people, especially men. I had to do a lot of soul searching over the years to put the past behind me and rid myself of the negative habits I acquired.

 

RL: You worked as an intern on Spike Lee’s ‘Malcolm X’, tell us about that experience and what you gained from it.

 

JB: In 1991 after I graduated from La Salle University, I did about two months on the set of Malcolm X. I continued afford to do the whole internship because I wasn’t being paid and I had to commute to New York daily. But what I did learn was interesting. Denzel Washington was a complete gentleman, a true professional. When he was preparing to transform in Malcolm X no one could bother him. He was in a deep trance. Spike, well, let’s just say, I learned what I wouldn’t do as a director. I know he was under a lot of stress and pressure because the movie had a big budget, and he ran out of money and had to go to his ‘celebrity’ friends for help. So, I’ll just say he wasn’t the nicest or most open director, but again I’ll attribute that to the stress he was under to bring the film to completion. But talking to the other crew members and just observing did help me see the pros and cons of filmmaking. The experience was extremely stressful. I mean, I was an intern and interns don’t get any respect. They’re the lowest on the crew and do all the grunt work, which I hated. I knew, however, it was part of the learning process. Still, I did think about just being a writer and not dealing with the day to day headaches of production, but I remembered my promise to my stepfather, and I hung in there.

 

RL: Tell us about your first project as a producer, “A Filmmaker’s Personal Journey” and the award you received.

 

JB: In 1997, I had a friend, my best male friend, Dominic, who helped me secure funding for my first feature film entitled Totally Wicked. I didn’t expect to do anything with the film. I just wanted to get my feet wet as a writer, director, and producer. The production was grueling, especially since I was working with film students as my crew. Dominic, who was in remission from cancer, wanted to do something to keep his spirits up, so I suggested he work with me on Totally Wicked.

 

After we finished Totally Wicked, Dominic learned the cancer had returned. The first time he had stomach cancer; this time he had brain cancer. While the doctors operated, I thought about doing a documentary on Dominic, his life as a former Chicago Bulls team member. How he lived life dealing with cancer. While I was finishing up the documentary, I learned I had ovarian cancer. Dominic and I had many nights where we held each other and cried in each other’s arms. It was a scary time for us both. Dominic died about six months after his operation.

 

In 1998, Paris Moore, another independent filmmaker, had an award ceremony for filmmakers in Philadelphia. He presented me with the Mickey Michaux award for my documentary.

 

RL:  Why the name “Jaguar Productions”?

 

JB: When I was a young girl I loved writing and drawing. I won a contest after I did an oil painting of a jaguar (the cat, not the car). That was a proud moment for me, so years later I named my company Jaguar Productions.

 

RL: What do filmmakers need to know about the Philadelphia film market?

 

JB: Philadelphia is really growing in terms of film productions. This year and last year, Philadelphia was ranked in the top 10 cities for filming movies. The Philadelphia Film Office is really drawing filmmakers to the city with tax cuts and incentives. Each year the number grows for Hollywood movies that are being filmed in Philadelphia. It’s a great place to do business for big budgets and independent films.

 

RL: What is the hardest part about raising children and being in the industry?

 

JB: I was a single parent and I didn’t have support from my family. They felt I was just a dreamer. They didn’t understand why I couldn’t just be happy doing a 9 to 5 job. Not saying anything is wrong with that, but it just wasn’t me. I had a dream since I was a little girl and I was determined to fulfill my dream for my stepfather and myself.

 

Not only was I raising children when I started my production company in 1995, I also worked a full-time job as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, I was in college full-time, and I was in R.O.T.C. Army. So, to say I had a lot on my plate is an understatement. My children didn’t always understand why I worked all the time, but I kept telling them I’m doing this for you, so you can have a better life than I ever had. They didn’t understand it until they became adults.

 

RL: When were you diagnosed with cancer and how did you battle through that?

 

JB: In 1998, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I went through the stages of cancer, like most people do – depression, why me, hating God and the world, acting reckless because I didn’t care about life anymore; then acceptance, and then dealing with it by fighting back. But even when I was in remission, I was in a state of depression for three years. Dominic had died and my sister-in-law, Tara, died about a year later. I just knew I was doing to die as well.

 

It was my son, Andre, who helped me get off the couch and stop feeling sorry for myself. He introduced me to wrestling – the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). We’d watch it each week together and for some strange reason I really got into the show. A few months later, not only was I off the couch, I was training in Allentown, PA with the Wild Samoan Wrestling School. The owner, Afa Anoa’i, is a former 3-time WWE tag team champion with his brother Sika, and Afa is also the uncle of former WWE champion and now actor The Rock. Afa’s school is the only organization sanctioned to train people to do professional wrestling for the WWE. Training with those guys, along with getting into boxing, which made my martial arts skills even better, was an amazing experience.  I began writing my next project Spirit, which involved boxing, martial arts and wrestling.

 

RL: What are you working on currently?

 

JB: Right now I’m in pre-production on a film entitled The Champion Inside. I wrote the script, which centers on a female, champion boxer, who is forced to retire after she learns she has cancer. Her return to boxing is complicated by her age; she’s 39, and her fear and lack of confidence to get back into the ring after five years in boxing exile.

 

We are shooting a trailer in October, breast cancer month, to gather support from the community and attract investors and producers for funding. We’re also linking with cancer organizations to bring more attention to cancer, not just breast cancer. Along with myself, my other producer is Chris Mann. He plays the lead male role in the film. He’s an accomplished actor. He can be seen in Ocean’s 11, Michael Clayton and the HBO series The Wire. His mother and brother both died from cancer, so the film is a special project for him as well.

 

RL: What is your dream project?

 

JB: To get my life story, Killing Of Innocence, produced. I wrote the script and I will begin shopping it around. I want the world to know about my stepfather and the special relationship we had. Even though he was a killer, he had his soft side, especially when he dealt with me. If I could sum up Killing Of Innocence, it would be a cross between Good Fellas and The Professional.

 

RL: What’s next for Jaguar?

 

JB: I’m developing a reality television show entitled Blood, Bruises & Broken Bones, which is a show I plan to host. The show will have me going around the country each week doing unique, dangerous, unusual and exciting jobs that women may have never thought of doing as a career, e.g. bodyguard, S.W.A.T. boxer, race car driver. I was inspired to write this show, this concept, while I watched the television shows Dirty Jobs and Man vs. Wild. Shows like those are geared toward men and I wanted to do a show that would gather interest from females, but be educational, as well as entertaining.

 

I’m also working on my first exercise video, which will be for beginners through advanced. It’s called Total Extreme w/ The Jaguar. I’m combining boxing, martial arts and wrestling moves with lightweights. With cardio conditioning and strength moves, my video will whip anybody into excellent shape in just 30 days, if they follow my program and eat a healthy diet.

 

RL: As a woman who has been a rape victim, a cancer survivor, mother of three and STILL going after your dreams, what thoughts or motivation can you leave with our audience?

 

JB: “When your dreams die, you die.” That’s my motto. As long as God has blessed you with breath in your body and you’re in your right mind, you must push through any obstacle, resistance, or problem and continue your quest to fulfill your dreams and goals. Don’t depend on family or friends to understand your vision. It’s nice if they do, but don’t count on it, and don’t make them or anything or anybody an excuse for why you ‘can’t’ make your dreams become a reality. I am living proof that no matter what obstacles come your way, anyone can succeed if they have the three D’s – determination, discipline and dedication. 

 Visit The Champion Inside official site for more information!