Keep it Positive, Sweetie - Where There's a Will, There's a Way with Will Packer

Episode Date: November 14, 2023

Season 2 Episode 10 | For our season finale, I sat down with my family and super producer, Will Packer. He's such a great conversationalist, so much so, that he started interviewing me. We talked about everything from our early beginnings in the business, THE Oscar's moment, the strike and much more. Thank y'all so much for tuning in this season! I love y'all and don't forget to keep it positive, sweetie!

Hey guys and welcome to this episode of Keep It Posit, sweetie. I'm Chris Renee Hazelid and today I have Whippie! My cousin! Oh my gosh, Will Packer. I'm good. Like we actually really got like real cousin, you know, black people just everybody. Everybody else is. But no, we actually, my wife is her maiden name is Heather Hazelick. Yes. So they actually are cousins. They're real family. Real family.

We're real cousins. Not like all the rest of y'all. You know, because you'll be calling anybody good. Absolutely. By everybody to the cook out, everybody are cousins. It's famed for real right here. How you doing. I'm amazing. Are you really really good good? Come on, absolutely you were down the street. I was like what you doing right we have planned other days I was driving by I was like what you do?

It's like pull up pull up they put a mic on me and I was like you know, let's do it see what happens. I love it Thank you. I appreciate that I really like, you know what, let's do it. See what happens. I love it. Thank you. I appreciate that. I appreciate that. Absolutely. No. I called you when we were deciding to do season two. And I was like, well, I really want to have you on. You were like, I'm there.

And I appreciate that. This whole series came about because my manager's like, we want, I think it's time for you to do a podcast. And I was like, is my boy, I don't really feel like I have that much to say. because I don't really talk that much. I talk, even saying to people I'm comfortable with, but like just talking to cameras, unless it's scripted, I really don't, then feel like I have much to say.

And it has been this amazing journey. So many people healing and laughing and all the things every single week. So I'm super excited about how it's come along. And I was like, yeah, keep you. Yeah. Keep it positive. Yes. Like, what is that about? OK.

So back story, little story time. Some of you guys may know this. But when I first moved into this house, I had a young lady who helped me organize. She organized my closet and I posted it because I like to support people in their businesses. And this girl was like, instead of showing off all your bags and purses and all this stuff, you need to go buy some land and some other things.

And I was like, who says I don't have that? So I had time and normally I had time to day. That day. I did. Okay. And my little fingers got to Texan and at the end of it I said, hashtag Keep It Piles of Sweetie. And it just ran.

Like all my friends were like, keep it Piles of Sweetie, keep it Positive Sweetie. And it just ran. Like all my fans were like, keep it positive, sweetie, keep it positive. So we were going to do just a segment of the show, because we were going to call it a bundle living with Christopher Nay. And I was like, we should do like a segment like Keep It Positive just to spread positivity. And they were like, no, that's the name of the show.

I like it. So keep it positive. I can't hear you. I also love how you took something that was negative, could have been negative. Yeah. And somebody was trying to be negative, right? Somebody was trying to clap a little bit. And now, look at this platform.

And today we want to thank you, little negative sister, love to you at, or brother, whatever. You know, we appreciate you. We sure do. Helping to give birth to this, to a great idea for a platform. We already had a platform. Yeah. I love the fact you are using your voice though. Thank you.

And in the name of positivity, we need more of that. We do. We live in such a negative world. And you get on Instagram or Twitter, turn on the news. Everything is so negative. Yeah. So just to that, I like it. And especially in the position you're in, right?

And we know, we a little bit too, but you'll be out in front of consumer facing, in front of the cameras, you know, me being behind, what I respect about you and your peers, you guys are constantly putting yourselves out there for judgment. Talk about it. Not just your characters, not just the roles, not just your shows and projects and movies, but also your self personally because these days you know are amazing consumers and fans don't often know the difference. Don't care to know the difference. Try to combine it all one. You're just a persona, right? That's it. Yeah. And as you know you and I know that that's such a complete separation. The roles you may play

to character you play, which you may have to do to even like you know, even I know that that's such a complete separation. The roles you may play, the characters you play, which even may have to do to even like, you know, promote a project. Yeah. It may be very different than who you are personally. Yes. But a lot of times, you know, folks don't give people like you grace for that. They don't.

They don't. They want to be one thing, they want to be perfect. When they see you, they want to see you exactly the way that they see you after you've gone through hair, makeup, and boy, Joven, reading scripted lines. I don't want exactly what they wanted in my eyes. That is it. And it gets so heavy will.

It gets so heavy. August was a really heavy month for me. And I just had to delete my Instagram. Did you really? Yes, I had to just completely detach myself from the world because everybody needs something. Everybody's like, can you do this? Can you do that?

Or it's all these opinions opinions and we need more of this We need more than I'm like oh my gosh, I'm just one person. Yeah, and they sound like they're like they own you Yeah, yeah, um, I want to talk about the time we first met. Okay. I don't know if you remember this. Stunned the yard to Oh wow. Yeah, really I was an extra What I was an extra in Stun extra something like that too? What? I was an extra in Stumpy Art 2. I feel like it was like November, December, it was cold or it was early, whatever it was, it was cold outside.

Okay. And I was sitting under a tent, it was raining that day. All the extra was sitting outside under a tent. Just, I remember exactly what I had on that day. Really? I had on a burnt orange, swayed BB jacket. Okay. Okay.

Dating myself. But I had a BB jacket on and this production assistant came outside and said orange jacket, come here. And I was like, me and he was like, yeah. And I was like, okay. So I walk inside. We're in Pooch's, Pooch Hall's house. Like I guess the front house.

And you and Rob Hardy were there. Yeah. And you were like, all right, we're going to use you as Pooch Hall's girlfriend. He's a senior in college. He doesn't have a girl. So everywhere we see Pooch from this point on in the film, you'll be there.

And I was like, OK, cool. And that was the first time, because I'd been just trying to get my foot in the door, just doing background work everywhere I could in the city. And this is when it 2000, and what year was it? Was it 2012, when did Stonthier. Cool, 2000, you know what's crazy is that I had not too long started dating Heather.

Exactly, we're going to get to that time. Yeah, so that had to be Ken, right? OK, yeah. 2010, and I was trying, the industry was really just getting poppin' here in Atlanta, right? Okay. 2010. Yeah. And I was trying, the industry was really just getting poppin' here in Atlanta, the film industry. Yeah. So I was trying, I was doing background work, just trying

to get in. That was the first time I actually felt seen in the industry. Really? Yeah. I was like, okay. It was that old really jacket. It was the old, it was the old, it was the only thing I needed to find it jacket.

I should have stayed that jacket. But it was that moment where I was like, okay, there's something here. If I'm getting asked to do this, I know I can do more. And then fast forward to think like a man, one. It was a small role in the beginning. Tika's something ended up doing it. But I had flew out to LA.

Me and Shaila had gotten cool. And I flew out to LA toA. to audition with Hardin or the Kim Hardin? Kim Hardin. Kim Hardin. She was the cast in the last two episodes. I was horrible. I was so nervous.

What are you really, how are you? I was so nervous. You know, you have to level you at now so you can look back and be honest. It would be like, I'm even mad. What was it? I'm trying to remember. I think it was when Michael Ealy was like trying to date girls

or he would keep interviewing like the girls kept changing at the table. Okay, and it was one of them was Tika something. It's so interesting because that was actually that was before right along. And Tika was in right along. I'm trying to remember. Yeah, it was so short in the very beginning. But it makes it made the movie. It made the movie. It's in the car. It made the movie, yeah. All right. It made the movie. So after stomped the yard too, and shot after stomped the yard too, and that crew started an RIP to twitch. Yeah, oh, yes.

Yeah. Amazing actor, choreographer, who some of you, you know, maybe aware, passed away. But after that, then you, when you flew to L.A. to audition, was it like the Kim request you to come? Was it open and you knew about you were like, I'm like, how did you end up? I think that was Shayla. Shayla, I was saying we can't.

Yeah, because I was doing music. And me and Shayla had gotten really cool. I feel like this is an actor. Were you doing makeup, dude? No, I was just doing music. Got it. Music and trying to act. Got it.

Yeah. And she tells us we had this small role, you should come out. I came before makeup. Yeah, makeup is just what I like to do. Got it. Yeah, I just do it for fun. Got you. Got you.

Styling, I should say. I'm sorry, I apologize. That's okay, yeah. They go came before you were styled. Yes, got you. Got you. Got you. And I actually started styling because I was trying to be around what I wanted to do

Smart. Yeah, very smart. Mm-hmm. By the way listen to that, right? Because it's not always that you can just jump in at the position that you Want to you can't but you put yourself in the proximity in the orbit Yes, you actually you showed your greatness, which is a thing of mine, always say show your greatness. And so you showed your greatness and look at you now, but you put yourself, some people would have said, I don't want to do anything, but just one singular vision that I have, and you didn't do that. And it sounds like that benefited you.

It did, it really did. And working behind the scenes, doing costume, and costume designing really helped me understand the entire production. So I have a different perspective as an actor. I understand the lighting guy and the camera guy and the set dick. I understand the grips. Everything that's going on, I understand what time they got there more than to make it happen

for us. Exactly. You know, because that was you. Yes. You had to be there before everybody else. Yeah. And the morning, yeah. Yeah.

So you're the best type of actor and actress because you not just have empathy, but have a full understanding of what everybody else does. I feel that same way. Like I have literally done every job on a film set. I have held the lights. I have done craft service. I have boomed in my early productions.

I had to. Yes. But it gives me a different level of, number one, it makes me smart in my job and what I do, right? Like, you know. Yeah. Hey, sweetie. We're gonna get back to this week's episode

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Everybody working together is a team. It's like family. Everybody working together, it's a team. And it's like any team sport, you need everybody working together if you're gonna win. So anyway, I just, you having that perspective absolutely helps you, helps you as a performer, but also I'm sure you're a crew's lover. Yeah, yeah, cause I get it. I totally get it, yeah, I get it, yeah.

Yeah, that's so crazy. So Stompey Art, which I did not know. Yes. And then audition for thing like a man, which I did not know. Yes. Today I learned. OK. I like it.

And you don't think you did very well, or a man. Really did. I was so nervous. Yeah. I mean, I'm in Los Angeles on the lot, like going to this office. I'm like, what? How do I even get here?

My heart was literally pounding. I feel like. And now that it was something, it was we did a, for a thing like a man, because now you're making me think about that process. And remember, Lala is in thing like a man. Also thing like a man too, but she comes in and she is, she's making good friends.

Yeah. Right? She auditioned for that role and I knew her and I'm not sure if she knew the director to him story but she and I were cool with much closer even now but she was so nervous and I actually haven't even told her story. She was so nervous that she's auditioning and she's standing up in an audition that we're doing and the producer directors are in it. So maybe she'd already done around with the cast and the director and now it was around with me and with Tim. She's so nervous that her leg was shaking the whole time.

So she's trying to read the lines and like it like because she's singing her voices like every other thing is going so. And I just kept saying baby calm down right to see I said relax you got this all so my point is that it gets everybody because it's hard you know y'all see the end result yeah it's tough you got to go in a room in front of these people that are in effect judging you yes and just like that turn it on let's go and if you haven't done it a million times you know if you're new in it it's okay to be nervous and it's everybody So if you're watching this that's going through a moment whether you try to be an actress actor or audition or our interview for a new job Yeah, it's okay the nerves would be there. You just do the best you can't fight through it like how did you what did you how did you get over that whole nervous?

You know what? Honestly, it was acting classes and it was just learning to have a breakdown of character and taking crystal out of it. Because I think what I was trying to do is bring crystal to every character. And I had to remove myself from it and really just figure out who this character was.

And when I did that, it was like, OK, this is way easier than I thought. Yes. You know? But it took really just learning how to break down a character and really turn into that person versus trying to be crystal. Gotcha. Gotcha.

Yeah, and that was easy. I don't get nervous anymore. It's fun. You know what I'm saying? When I go to sit, it's, now it's fun. Even like working on, I worked on, oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, I got it. Come on.

Tell it. Tell it. So last Yeah, I got it, I got it, work it on. Come on, tell it, tell it, tell it. So last summer I get a call and they're like, we got this role, thank you be great for it. It's a wheelpacker, move them like, you have me a wheelpacker, with it. And they were like, it's a first lady playing opposite of Mac wild. I was like, okay, that's my dog, perfect.

And so there's like two things too. And I was like, okay, that's my dog, perfect. And so there's like, she sings too, and I was like, okay, let's do it. So this is how God works. I started off as an extra, and then years later, many years later, after I did the work, then I got my own role in a movie with Bill Packard. Yeah, that's amazing. Yes. And had it, and then after auditioned a night, and people just called you and said, do you want to do it? Period! But you earned it and had it and had to audition a night and people just called you and said, do you want to do it?

Period. But you earned it. Listen. Years later. That's amazing. That is amazing. I think full circle. He is.

That was a full circle moment and working on set with you and your team. Shout out Salah. Yes. Shout out Tina Gordon. Yes. The cast of praises. Everybody. It was just so much fun.

Yeah. That was a fun moment. It was just so much fun. Yeah, well, that was a fun one. It was a lot of fun. Yeah. So that's how we, that's how I remember us meeting. I'm so glad you said that, because I didn't remember. And I thought you were going to ask me where we met. I was about to make up something.

I was definitely going to be like, we finally clubed 112 in the VIP. We were playing football. We doing shots. No. Yeah, I did not know it was something. do in Shaxon. No. Yeah, I did not know it was Stump D.R. too. That's great. That's taking me back.

Yeah. And then Sayla called me one night, Halloween. And that was Sayla's first time working for me. What? On Stump D.R. too. So Sayla, I'm sorry, yeah, Stump D.R. too. Sayla was the extra, she works in the extra's department, like she was the PA that was there, hey, or jacket, come on. On Stomp the Yard,

one. On the first Stomp the Yard, that is where I met Shaila but didn't really meet Shaila, because she was a part of the crew. Yeah. But she worked worked in the extras department. And so after that between Inn and Stump the Art 2, she was working for somebody else, and like I would just see her around Atlanta, then she was available and got hired. So that movie was also the first time that she was working for me as my assistant. Wow. And now she's off to, you know, co-producing the Oscars. Baby, Shayla is popping. Yes, no question, no question. Woo, I'm really is doing her thing.

Yeah, she is. She is her. Yeah, that's amazing. She called me one week, one night, I mean, it was Halloween. And she said, what are you doing? I was like, nothing. She's telling me my boss and his girlfriend are going out if you want to come out with us.

I was like, OK, so I just did a box of that night. I was, yeah. You're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like

you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like, you're In Atlanta. I feel like it was a club in Midtown. We were in a section. I cannot remember the name of it. I remember this. Yeah. I came in and I was a boxer or a bunny.

One of those. Okay. There was a two very different, a popular tie-up. I think it was a boxer. Okay. And we met at West Haley and we went and Heather and I were talking and she was like, yeah, my name is Heather Haley's, and I was like, wait, I'm on his head and he's like, wait, what? She was like, hey, the nose like,

that's my last name. And she was like, I miss him. We found out we were related. I was like, oh my goodness. And then you married her. And the rest of it history. I was the rest of it history. I used to be my life.

She listened. That's the end of everything. I love it. Y'all just said that though. Don't sell that, because she's her middle. She's right now. So you know, it's a lot. It's a lot, but she is the best thing to ever have.

I love it. I've changed my life. That's how I love it. She knew us when, you know us back when we was eight. That yes, back when, yeah. Y'all just celebrated eight years in aversary. Yes, she did. How do you manage?

God know, like in this industry, it's hard to manage relationships. You guys travel together, always have fun, dance and laugh. What is the key that you can tell? Because right now, every time I turn on my phone, I feel like somebody's getting divorced. What is the key that you can tell people to help keep your marriage together in sacred. Yeah, that's, you know, you are so on point when you talk about the feeling of marriage is not lasting.

And a lot of my friends, like a lot of your friends who are folks in the industry, haven't made it. Yeah. And this industry can be very tough. And part of the reasons what you and I were talking about before, which is that the public gaze, right? It's one thing if you and a relationship with somebody, you have your issues and it stays in these four walls.

Yes. These days, unfortunately, just like you have fans that feel like, oh, like I have a right to Crystal Renee and I want her to be the way that I want her to be all the time People also feel that way about relationships Well, when you have people who have built public personas largely based on interaction with fans It's difficult to then say all right. I'm gonna take this part of my life and be private

I tell people that I'm dating right, you know, you know because a lot of times people in the industry try to keep relationships private at first But once you see them out at dinner and the cameras are flashing and you don't address it, then it's like, oh, they gotta be something's happening. It's very difficult to build a healthy relationship with that kind of a foundation. So for me, for sure, it definitely helped not being in front of camera because everybody wasn't, you know,

clocking my every move. But what I would say is that then going forward, we have like our relationship, you know, clocking my every move. But what I will say is that then going forward, we have like our relationship, you know, I say all the time, how you see us on Instagram is how we are in real life. Literally. And Instagram is just literally 10%. Like my social media man is like,

Give me more, you in Heather content. People really like it. That's exactly how you talk about it. People really like it. That's, I think that's Deca. Deca, I'm mad. People really like you in Heather to get how you talk about it. People really like it. That's a name of Deca. Deca, man. People really like you and Heather to gather. Give me more of that.

And so I'm like, OK, I'll try and give us an idea for something to do. But for the most part, you have to catch it organically. Because if we're doing it for the gram, then it feels like you're doing it for the gram. So number one, we don't live our relationship on social media. Number two, you said that we go everywhere together. That's so true.

And I will say this, and I definitely will say this to the guys that are watching this, is that the best thing that happens for me, number one, she literally is my best friend. So I like to be with her and be around. Hey guys, if you know me, you know that I'm super big on health and what I put inside my body. I've been known as the vitamin lady, the supplement girl, probiotics girl, all the things. But recently I started taking AG1 and that has eliminated all of that.

I get everything I need in one scoop. And even with my crazy travel schedule, they have these tick-oh-packs that I can take just throw them in my bag so I never miss a day. Guys, this tastes so good. When I take it, I feel so much better. It has immunity support, gut health support. It even helps with my mind and clarity. It's really all the things that I need in just one simple drink.

If you want to take ownership of your health, try AG1 and get a free one-year supply of vitamin D and five free AG1 travel packs with your first purchase. Go to drinkag1.com forward slash kips. That's drinkag1.com forward slash kips. Check it out. But also, Heather, even when I'm like, okay, you know, I gotta go somewhere and I'm gonna be gone for two weeks, you know, or a week. I'm gonna be gone for a week.

I'm like, baby, you don't have to go if you don't want to. She always is like, no, I'm gonna go ahead and go. And it lets me give her a hard time. Like, you always want to go everywhere I go. But secretly, I'm like, I love her being there. And it just strengthens our relationship because if you really like the person that you with, then what, like, of course, I want to be around. Because she actually strengthens me, makes me feel better.

Now, she's not draining. There's some people in relationships that are draining, and you like, I really need a break. Not just that we've been together forever, but I need just a break from that person's energy. Well, that's a red flag, right? You want somebody who was actually Filling you up and not draining you so we are together a lot and now that our kids are out of the house Because our kids are youngest and college. Yes, so now they're out of the house We really are loving this phase You know I love my kids I can wait for them to out of the house. We really love in this phase because, you know,

I love my kids. I can wait for them to get out the house. You tell them I said that. They don't, they ain't ashamed. Look, kids are so much more freedom at this stage in our lives. Whether you are in a relationship where you got young kids, older kids, travel a lot, don't travel a lot.

What you really wanna try to do is find those areas where you're both feeding each other. I've always said, when I keep her smile and she keeps me smile. So my job is to make her happy, keep her smiling, because then she has everything that she needs to keep me smiling, keep me happy. And she knows, especially in our relationship, like, you know, I like to say she keeps me upright. She's like, okay, what do you need?

I gotta give it to you, keep it upright because you're giving this to the family, it's us. But she can't give it to me if I'm not giving it to her. So whatever your dynamical relationship is, it needs to be that cycle, right? And the other thing I say is that, you know, we kind of treat our relationship like like the crown. You have, did you watch the crown? So the thing about the crown is

that no matter what was going on, they was get, they was going to stay together. Oh yeah. Right. And it was a mess. Now I'm not encouraging putting up with with some craziness. But the mentality was, it's us. Like that's not an option. It was not an option. That's great divorce and leave the not option. And I would give all props to Heather because my parents were together forever to my father's past. So I saw a relationship where it was like they stayed together.

So I definitely had that mentality. But I also am like most men, where we're shut down. Men are not as mature as y'all, and we were shut down and be like, all right, well, you know what? You burnt the toasts and you got mad with me, so I guess I was splitting the kids, what you want to do?

What we doing with customers? Like, great news, we be ready to be up to. I'm over anything yet. What? And I could fall victim to that. But one thing I know is that my wife, she ain't gonna let me go nowhere. Right.

Even when I'm on my immature silliness, she'd be right there, like, well, you're just gonna just figure it out with me next to you. Yeah. And so I know that we don't have any other option alternative. So we figured out, once you make it an option to end a relationship, then inevitably, somebody's gonna push the button.

If there's a button of end it, somebody's gonna push the button. If there's a button of end it, somebody's gonna push it. But if there's no button at all, you know? And the last thing I'll say is, so two things that kind of movies that inspire the crown, because it's like, the people stayed together. That's crazy. It was crazy!

It was crazy! Boy, or folks, no matter what, it was like, that's not options, so we gotta figure it out. Yeah. The other thing is Game of Thrones. I don't know if you watch that show. Oh, I did.

Listen, we got it. Yeah, it's so good. Yeah, it's so good. We could that, so Game of Thrones, you know, there's a scene, there's a concept in there about the White Walkers. These crazy zombie folks that were coming and you had all these people that were fighting,

these various kingdoms fighting, but some folks would always say, the enemy is to the north. Like we can fight all we want, but the truth enemy is to the north. Hello. Heather and I say that when we get into something and it's an external pressure, either she or I will always say,

listen, by the way, the enemy's to the north. I love that. This ain't the enemy. You ain't the enemy, I ain't the enemy. Enemy is to the north. It's whatever happened with that external thing.'t the enemy. You ain't the enemy. I ain't the enemy. The enemy is to the north. It's whatever happened with that external thing. And the same thing is true.

So some of our Celec couples, the enemy is people on social media saying stuff, dropping stuff, trying to throw salt. They ain't got none better to do. That's the enemy to the north. Like, no, that don't let that impact your relationship. I love that. The enemy to the north. That's the north.

Yeah. Yeah, I give it up. We'll pack our top knees. Nugging in. Yes. The people needed that because it's like every time I it's like what if you were to release it, you're like, wait, what? I know. What happened? I know. I know. We need to hear that. It's different pressures these days on folks. Oh, you have to be so, everybody. Some of my wives in this right now are trying to figure out how to make it through their marriage, you know. Try to remove

the external pressure. Try to keep it internal and try to you know. Try to remove the external pressures. Try to keep it internal and try to figure out if you can solve it internally before you get it. Sometimes external can be a mom that's trying to do well, means well, given advice. I know what I'm talking about. They're not in your relationship.

The best friend, not in your relationship. Because of not in your relationship, is you and that person. That's so good. That's good. I wanna know a little bit. And I'm sure the audience wants to know, too, a little bit about your journey and how you even got started.

You know, they see Will Packer today. Will Power Packer today. But what was the beginning beginning for you? It was when I was at family. I was, yes, absolutely. Shout out to the bratless, slow-down, and I did not at the time when I first came to Famu, being a filmmaker wasn't a dream of mine. I wanted to be an entrepreneur, and I didn't even want to go to Famu, honestly. Really, we're going to. I wanted to go to the University of Pennsylvania,

because they are, and I've been in school with a very well-known business school, the Wharton School of Business. I knew I wanted to have my own business. That was very clear in my mind. Wanted to work for myself. I wanted to be the boss. I wanted to be the CEO. And so I was going to business school, but I got this big scholarship to go to FAMU, but

it was tied to engineering. I knew I didn't want to be an engineer, but my math and science test scores and grades were very high. It's always been very good with that kind of analytical thinking, and my dad was an engineer. So I knew engineering, and I got a scholarship to be an engineer. I didn't want to be an engineer, but my parents were like, listen, we know you want to go to that Ivy Lee school. How much money did they give me? I was like, well, they're not giving me any money, but I got in. They was like, how much money is family giving me? I was like, well, they're giving me everything. They were like, guess what you going to school? I know that's right. My parents made a

decision for me. And it was the best decision made for me ever. And so I go to family and I hook up with for me ever. And so I go to family and I hook up with my lifelong friend and my line brother because with both alphas the only fraternity that there is out there please make another that. And so he and I he wanted to be a filmmaker. He very clearly knew he was inspired by Spike Lee and the huge brothers, the Huddling Brothers like Black filmmakers that had come before him He knew he wanted to do that. It was very clear And so I was really just kind of helping out my friend make a movie Wow

And I helped him to raise the money to shoot the movie and I helped him to shoot it And then I helped him to self distribute the movie and that's how I got involved with it We finished that movie is called City, set on family's campus. Still to this day, it's the first movie shot by HBCU students at an HBCU to get national distribution. We shot our little movie and sent it out to Hollywood and Hollywood couldn't care less. Then people did not return, no. We invited them to the world premier chocolate city and we

rescinded to the assistant with the hope of at least tell us you not coming at least you are as BP something that's why I try to like you know my amazing executive assistant is here today I sound tall headslop and I say you know let's always respond let's reply yeah do. Because then people did not reply, Crystal. Could have at least said no. The assistant couldn't say nothing. Nobody could say nothing. I'm not gonna reply.

Hollywood couldn't care less about that movie. However, at Fam, you was a big deal. Amongst that crowd that we made it for and with, they really cared about that movie. And I realized, well, that's who I'm making my movies for. Not people who don't know me and don't care about me. I'm making movies for a very core specific audience. Yes.

And that has served me well to this day. So that little movie, we came out, shot it, made a little money with it, and actually made a lot of money for broke college to this. And that's when I said, I can do this. I've been looking for a business to start on my own. I helped raise the money, get the distribution. What is that call what I did? I looked it up and I said oh that's what a movie producer. Yeah. I'm gonna be a movie producer. Wow. That's what I'm gonna be. I know

that's right. Yeah I said. I'm gonna count you two. And you do. And the biggest movie producer, okay? All you're doing it. I love it. So now that you, now you're, like the will pack, like the will pack that everyone knows, and you've worked with Regina Hall, Idris Elba, Kevin Hart, you've done a lot of little guys in there. Kevin Hart, the rest of the rest are good. I made Kevin.

A lot of people don't know that, but you know before Forward Packer Kevin just had a bunch of fail sitcoms. And that's just, you know, you get credit what credit is due. I made Kevin my heart. So you put that on the quote at the bottom of this podcast. I made Kevin's heart. That's a doubtful. Period. But what was the amazing King College of them?

Because I can imagine there are a lot of fun to work with. The best, they are. They are. And I really enjoy working with folks, you know. Tomorrow at 9-8-Central on BT, smash hit original drama Tyler Perry's sister's returns. Andy Sabrina and Daniel are all dating again and the competition is well thick. Meanwhile Gary makes a return too. He just can't stay away. Karen confides in

Andy that she's afraid. Her reason why is not what you'd expect. Plus, Ken's a team of whether the storm is X custody battle. Tyler Perry's sister is back tomorrow at 9 eight central only on BET. Post and share with hashtag sisters on BET. Um, who I know and who I know are going to give me something and that's that's not unique to me you know Tyler does it look at you all the relationship like Marscores A. Z. how you can work with the same actors that I'm talking about the thing about those folks you name Kev or Gina Idris I mean first of all they work hard I know that I'm gonna get

what I need from a work ethic standpoint because there's some amazing talents out there that it's not worth it to work with them. I hate to say that, but that's just true. There are some folks and it is just so much that comes with working with these people and life is short. And so, you know, that is something else. That's just a little nugget that I'll put out there.

Relationships, Hollywood is not the only relationship driven business, right? Most industries, people work with the people that they like to work with. And so if all things are equal, and you got a certain level of talent, some might just got a certain level, but you hard to deal with, nobody like working with you, guess who's going to continuously get hired?

And so I definitely have a great relationship with those folks, because they always deliver for me. I know what I'm going to get from them. And I was there at the at the you know start of industry actual career He already had the wire. I mean all these people already amazing. You may you may just I help huh You may it just I can't say I made it what I would say is that interest is always wanted to be me Because he's like when I dress when I wake when I'm on how can I be real packer. That's kind of the thing. Because he's like when I dress, when I wake up in the morning, how can I be a real packer? Like you can kind of see whatever he does. He's like, how can I be willed? Like it just, you know, whatever. That's not the point. I see it. I totally. Of course. I, anything you like about Idris, you kind of look

at me and it's like, oh, there's the original. And then there's, right? Somebody that's trying. But it's fine. fine I don't I don't just disperse my brother good luck you know whatever so with Dress he was coming off the wire and his first his first theatrical movie was a little movie I made called the gospel and oh he's a lot of movies remember the god was in it yeah long the all the victory guy that was in it? Yeah, London. All the victory. Good victory. That was that movie. I didn't know that was you. How about, do you know Snoop Dogg wanted that song?

Victory. If you go back, I'm wondering if I hit pause for a second and play victory on your Spotify. Yeah, I'm gonna use that whatever. That song, you could also hear hip hop version of that song. And you learned it got it, but Snoop wanted it. Cause it's a dope track. So I got the victory.

You learned the Adams. Anyway, we put that song in the gospel, right? Kirk Franklin did the soundtrack. Yes, so red Hammond was in it Donnie McClurkin like Yeah, and it just played a Southern pastor and Bors Kodjo it just elbow like, like, you know, known again. It was a great cast. Great cast. And it was...

I didn't know that. Because what happened was after I did Chopin City, I then made a movie with King and More called Twa. Anyway, I remember it was... I remember twa... I remember twa... I was watching Twa. I was like, don't put that frame face up.

Listen, the people know. They don't know, okay? And right? I've been delivered. The team was twining it up. Why'd she...? She was... That's that funny face. So this is the people know. They know, okay? And right? The team was in the middle of the night. The team was twining up. Why she, she was, so I made this a rock through the car twos.

Y'all, you threw me out of every of that. And then Hollywood will only let me do other twos. I got pidgey hole for a second. We like, we want this. So I did a twos one, twos two, twos three, Pandora's box. And my mom said, baby, now you know that, like you grew up in the church, stop playing.

You grew up in the AME church, Bethlehem, me down here in St.P. Florida, give me something, I can take my missionary sisters too. Because you were embarrassing me right now. Well, it came with me. Here's another side of the story, Chris. She was taking her missionary sisters to see all my little twi at Love, Twah, and Rock,

thriller movies, and they weren't complaining. They loved it. All my mom was older, church ladies, and was going to some point. All my little, and Rock, thriller movies. I bet they were. First weekend. And so my mom was like, well give us something else

that we can go to, right? That we don't have to sneak in the back. I said, I got you. Who would I have wanted to do a fake bass movie anyway. So I made this movie to gospel, and that was the Idris' version movie after the wire. And that's the one that really kind of got, because everything is a stepping stone.

You talked about you being on the set as an extra of stomp the art too. I'm sure you had done other extra things. And then now you and I are working together, and you, you know, one of my main actors in that movie, praise this. But it was steps to get there. So I always step.

So it took steps. I didn't go straight from, oh, I want to be a filmmaker to Stomp the R, which was my first number one movie. I went to the Toys and then I went to the Gospel and the Gospel was successful. And that opened the door to allow me to make stomped yards. So a lot of times today, it feels like people just

want to get right to it. I want to skip the steps. I want to be just successful in media. That's it. We live in a society of immediate gratification. We live in a society where you do have some people that, you know, come up with a tech idea and somebody you read and somebody bought it for a billion dollars,

it's like, well, I want that. Yeah. I just want to go and get straight to and somebody bought it for a billion dollars. It's like, well, I want that. I just want to go and get straight to being a billionaire. Be a thousand of them. Hello. Like, hold on. Learn how to manage that first. Absolutely.

Because I look back, honestly, Chris, and I look at things that I got told no, like movies that I was trying to pitch and get made. And I got told no, and it was the best thing ever. Because I had gotten the budget for that movie early and I didn't know what I was doing like I know now. I had messed it up. And now I've been the guy that wasted that $5 million.

Now I would never get a $10 million movie. You know? So I worked and I had that first movie with $20,000. Next movie was $200,000. Next movie was like I didn't get to $1 million but I just told later in my career, the body and I knew everything about it, what I was doing, knew how to work all the positions on a set.

And so I had a different, I was ready for it. So sometimes God is saving you for things you're not ready for. You don't even know it. It feels like rejection. It feels like failure. But it's a road. Ooh, that's good. Yes, that was a bar.

That was a bar and a terminal. Okay, take all the good Will Make, Katm a bar. That was a bar and a terminal. Take all the wheel-made camera heart and put that quote under the thing. And then in parenthetical, wheeled also made camera heart and it just ever wants to be in. So just, I'm just trying to tell you how to market this. I love it. I love it.

You talked about your parents basically making the decision for you to go to Fam You. And I heard that recently they named their performing arts and for theater after you. How crazy. Crazy. Let me tell you something. Finally, nothing else in my life. I got a building with my name on it.

Here you go. So you don't need to forget what you're doing because I'm straight. You don't have another little hit movie TV show, nothing. Now, as it may, it's crazy because that's cool being so much to me. We know, like I say, you yell, fam, you to the mountain tops. Like, you love it. If anybody doesn't know anything, it's too much.

I love it. Really? Yeah. We were going to be friends if you. I'm not. I'm not. Family people get on your nerves. HBCU people in general.

It's like, and I can say it, because I'm one of them. We would get, look, why'd you not? Why? Why? The cinematographers back there like, yeah, you know, your nerves. We will.

I ain't gonna use a lie. We love our little schools, represent some of them. They're like, okay, enough. We get it. It's the pride I love it. It is the pride. It gets a grain of you doing those four, five years, the best years of your life. Yeah.

Family who meant so much to me is where I really kind of found myself, found my voice, home so many of my skills that I used to this day. Yeah. So yeah, to have my name on a building, and my alma mater is everything. I love that. That's amazing.

Do you get to go, I know you always are always there. Do you have any of your kids at the 50s? I'm gonna say something about my folks who are ungrateful children. Say by these children, I'm fed them a game they look privileged, self. It's all out of the customer. I don't want to do that, because we got sponsors on this podcast.

And none of my kids, my kids are all amazing, they all are. Harvard? Whoa. Howard? North Carolina, ANT. Yes. And now, USC. I know, wow.

But ain't none of them going to fam you, Crystal. That's the problem. Now one win fam. No, I wasn't like, I got you. The audience tell us, the point of them and everything. Right. You know, I feel like, obviously my kids didn't really want to be Will Packer's kid and fam you.

That's a lot to Big Shoes of Feel. You know, I guess in theory, with a lot of eyes on them. But you know, I understand that. Yeah. I still just of eyes on them, but you know, I understand that. I still just a little, it stains a little bit. I can imagine. I've always given them the grace and the freedom to be like,

you know, it'd be whatever you wanna be. You don't have to be in daddy's industry. At the go to daddy's, I'm a monitor. You do whatever you want, find on your own. And they're finding it. That's all right, I got family to myself. I love it.

There you go. I love my family. I love it, yes. That's amazing. There you go. I love my family. I love it. Yes That's amazing. Congratulations on that. That is huge. Yeah, a lot of people can't say they have their name on the building After all my mother. That's true. No, most people can't know Really? That's awesome. Yeah Yeah, I want to see my parents went to TSU. Oh, so I know all about the age receiving. I know about that annoying parent telling you that.

Well, I wanted to go to, because I'm going to go to TSU. Yeah, I grew up going to homecoming every year. And I just fell in love with the school, the energy. So in high school, I was dating a guy who was like two years older than me. He ended up going to TSU. So it was time for me to graduate. My parents made the choice for me not to go.

You ain't following him? You ain't going to be, cause of him or just... Oh, they were like, yeah, you're not going there. Really? Yeah. They liked him, but they just did not want us like out of town to... They entrust that. They entrust that.

They was like, no. So, where'd you go? I went to the University of Tennessee at Martin in my hometown. Yeah. Okay, they wanted you close? Yeah. Did you want to be close or were you like trying to get out? I was trying to go. But then when they got me because they told me I couldn't take my car with me my freshman

year. And as a kid, I'm 18 years old. I'm like, what am I going to do with that my car? You didn't need that car. I did not need my car. I should have left. Get past the right. Yeah, but I stayed so I can keep my car.

So you can keep your car. So you put the car over. Oh, my. And if he still alive, I hope he's alive. He's alive. I guess he's well. Oh, okay, cool. So that was in the, say something interesting. My wife, your cousin, Heather, also wanted to go to TSU.

She wanted to go to HBCU too. Yes. And her parents was like, no, you know. See, I think it's a Hazel thing. They were like, you ain't ready for that. You gonna be up there partying and, yeah. And they were my wife. They were probably right.

Yeah. That's why I needed to go. So she went to she went to like UT chat and it was Christian brothers so yeah perfect yeah that is yeah y'all ended up exactly what y'all see me we did cuz family makes everybody HBC life thanks everybody yeah I would have I know I would have been while like I was while on UT Martin campus I know if I would have, I know I would have been wilding. I was wild on UT Martin campus. I know if I would see a show. It would have been over. All right. Yeah.

You better have a feel the name that you put a wrong reason. Just let Kristen was turned up and did. That was great. Kristen was named in the y'all. It was a nice new party. Listen, couldn't wait. Liz, that was me. Fresh in the year, I had a good time.

I was very chill to growing up. OK. So when I went to college, I was like, Tylenol Rapid Release Jail is your go-to option for fast, effective pain relief. Don't let pain slow you down. Be prepared for aches and pains after the big game and fun fall festivities.

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Yeah, we all did. That's all. Yeah. Fight it out as the growth. Fight it out as the growth. Fight it out as the growth. It really is. Except for my kids, I'm watching y'all. Okay, I think I'm not going to do anything on whatever ideas.

We got our own you. We're watching y'all. Harvard, that's amazing. Yeah, this is what the Harvard is. Yeah, yeah, he did. USC, North Carolina, N.T. Yeah, great. They all end up in grade school.

I'm very, very fortunate, very blessed. Because you know, parenting is tricky these days. It is. It's very different raising kids with the pressures that they have today than we were under, not that we were not under pressure. Right. But we didn't have, you know, the options,

the words to verbalize what we were feeling, the eyes of the world, the associate media on us. Like there were a lot of things that were just different in the way that we grew up and the way kids are growing up today. And some of it is much easier, much more access, much, you know, they have power and agency that we didn't have, but some of it, the pressure is crazy.

Like if there was literally a camera around everywhere that we went and we were going, like in freshman year, the college you and I had, if everything was on a phone, like, brah, I play it exactly, exactly. So, you know, yeah, it's them, but I'm very fortunate, my kids are doing great. Yeah, that's awesome.

Something, a lot of people may or may not know. You were the first African-American to lead production for the Oscars. What was that light coming out of COVID? Because there was like the first time people could actually back. Was that one the first? No, it was.

It was. Yeah, the year before us, it was a much more limited. So my Oscars was 2022, right? And then obviously COVID was 2020. And so the 2021 year was a much smaller. So this was the first time that we had everybody back. Yeah. What was that whole process?

Like, were you nervous? Were you like, oh my gosh, this is the last. I was nervous. It wasn't what I would use. But it was first of all, it was a very long process, right? People think that Oscars is one night, which it is, but literally there is six, seven, eight months of work that lead up to that one night.

There's so much that goes into it because it's such a big show, right? It's a multi-hour show. People from all over the world are watching. You have all of Hollywood has an opinion about the show. I don't know what it should be, what it shouldn't be,

because the show has become, you know, something of a lightning rod. And so it was, I definitely felt pressure, but I was excited, honestly. I was excited. It was more work than I thought. So even though I knew, I thought it would be like producing a movie. It was like producing tin movies at one time. It was more work than I thought. So even though I knew, I thought it would be like producing a movie.

It was like producing Tin movies at one time. It was that level. Now I had a team, a full team of people, but there was a lot of producing that awesome. That's crazy. Yeah. Tin movies. I couldn't imagine like, getting ready for one is a lot. Oh, so I mean, you got to be musical performances.

You got to present it. Like people think, oh, it's just, it's an award show. It's not, it's not. Because I'm literally flying people in from all over the world to do this show. The music pieces are like their own thing. Yeah. You always have like, you know, tributes, my year,

I had tributes to, you know, big anniversaries that were happening within the industry. That's a whole another thing in and of itself Like we did a tribute to To James Bond right and so just even Getting all the clearances necessary to do that getting the right people to present it It was the the thing was a 50th anniversary of the Godfather. Oh was all he's here. It was big and getting the folks that were involved with the Godfather on board. It was just a lot. And of course, my year, because we were the first Black

on producing team, I was going to be diverse. My house was just going to have flavor. It was. It was. So whether it was the Black conductor, D the black conductor, you know, D-Nice, D-Jans, you know, the trophy presenters from HBCU, we really went above and beyond and made sure that it was a very diverse artist. And it was.

It was. I love it. Say, you know how to ask you. I was going to say, is that we're going to stop on the off the top? You're going to keep going. You're going to keep going. You're going to keep going. You're going to keep going. You're going to keep going. I was gonna say is that is that we gonna stop on You go Dex were you backstage like the whole time so yeah, you're literally right by the Like what is stage right? So I am as presenters are coming on and coming off there right next to me.

We have a producer station. I got all the monitors for every camera, I'm on the headphones, talking to the whole crew, about what's going on, talking to my director, you know, listening to what's happening. And I'm also greeting people as they go on and on the stage, right? So Chris was going on to do his thing. My guy, you ready? Let's go.

Go do the thing, baby. You know, we had rehearsed the show a bunch of times. We knew everything was going to happen. So I adapted my people on stage. And so I remember about that night. That's all you remember? Is that something happened? It's something happened. It's something happened, all right.

I just wanted to say something. I just wanted to say something. Seriously, because you asked about it being the first time that everybody was kind of all back because we were in the code act. And another dope is being out. But it's where the Oscar's are held. And it was the first time we were back in that venue since COVID.

And we had an idea to make the stage feel like it was it up so high, like it normally is, because normally in the most concert venues, the stage is kind of raised. It was low, yeah. Seat in the front are lower. And we wanted it to feel like almost like a lounge club atmosphere. And so we had the traditional seats in the back of theater, but in the area right around the stage,

there were like, you know, loungey bankette type seating. And the stage was lower. And so everybody was kind of on the same level. And it was to make it feel that way, look that way and also so like when people would come up from their seats to accept their awards, they would just think it was walk right to the stage, not have to walk around the wings and climb up high.

Like you wanted that feeling, that energy. Now that did something very interesting. Yeah, I'd be creative. It created a real easy feeling of being right there. Like you could just go out, like we try to touch somebody on that stage. We try to touch somebody. So yeah, part of everything that happened that night

was because we had changed our stages. You know, as a matter of fact, you think about all the stuff that went wrong, that you could, I had to hand him and that moment, you know. And then me, you know, because the ratings were, there was the first week, time and years at the ratings increase. But it had nothing to do with the slap.

Yeah. Because the slap happened too late in the show to affect the ratings. Right. And the slap happened too late in the show to affect the ratings. Right. And the slap was in like, you know, fourth of fifth episode of the show. It was, yeah. And I remember thinking like,

if I'm known this, I'd have put Chris on foot. Because if Mama go down, we're going down with these ratings. Hello. And if this going happen, I'd as well. Buffett, like, let's go. Yeah.

But what did you say? Like when you saw it and they're like, what, we're like, oh my god, what just happened? No, I thought I was a joke. I thought it was something like that. I didn't lie to you at first. I was like, oh, that was, I thought I'd show a script in that in the show at first.

I thought it was, because remember, because it's such a big show in this live, you literally run through the rehearsals of the actual show and everything is going to happen like four or five times. Wow. Like literally run through the whole show you gotta get your timing right.

Because it's a live show. So we had rehearsed everything, Chris had gone up and rehearsed his jokes. And when he came up, he immediately was off book. But if there's anybody in the world that you're not worried about going on book, it's right. It's Chris right. Yeah, it's Chris right. You know he's going to do his thing. It's going gonna be funny. And so the first time that I knew something was,

I got a little nervous, I got a little bubbly, it was stomach, was when he made the joke and we cut to Jada, because that's what you do. Actually, yeah. That's just, you know, like a citizen match, you're just getting, you know, Crystal says to my name, go that person name, that person you go back, like you just, that's what you do. Absolutely. That's just, you know, like a city that's not the match. You're just getting, you know, crystal says to my name, and go that person in there.

That person, you go back, like you just, that's what you do. Yeah. So, we didn't know this joke was coming, but we knew where everybody was positioned in the audience. You don't exactly where everybody's sitting. And you have to be ready and move on the fly. Yes.

So, we made a Jada joke. We go to Jada. Absolutely. So, Jada's reaction was the first time that I was like, ooo, that joke ain't lame, right? Yeah, because you noticed, because you do comedy. Your profession like comedy is reaction. If you and I are here, and we're filming us, and I tell a joke, the laugh actually comes when you react over other people react, right?

When you're editing a comedy movie for the young filmmakers out there, it's all about the reaction. Yes. react right when you're editing a comedy movie for the young filmmakers out there it's all about the reaction yes so he told the joke and then the reaction tells the audience how to feel about the joke and the reaction clearly was that it was not funny to the person who was a subject of the joke and so that's the first time I was like oh get off her go off there like like go somewhere did he have a earpiece even even like Chris, the board mission? No, earpiece. He was just out there.

He was just outside. But, nigga. No, but, no, no, I could not talk to this man. Nothing. He told it, and then we went to her. She clearly did not find it funny. And so it was like, all right, let's keep going. Like that was, that was awkward,

but cringe moment, but keep going. Well, we went on stage. Let's keep going. That was awkward, but cringe moment, but keep going. Well we're going on stage, we thought this was part of something they had done, because it's not unheard of that people go off script or that, you know, these are actors in Hollywood. Right. They do all kind of little stuff that they think is cool and funny. And sure enough, it happened. And the first question I said to the director

and the microphone was, did he hit him? Right. Like, did he actually, like, what? Did that just happen? And then, I was like, oh, y'all gotta clean this up. Like, quick, like that, that ain't that funny. So, forget the other joke that was cringy, this is really cringy, like every y'all are planning. Get to the punch line. Like I'm literally thinking

that Chris and Will have planned something. And it was not, I'll be honest with you. The whole thing happened. We have, you know, Will say what he said. Keep my wife's name out. You know, everybody's seeing it now. And I've had people say like why like why did you show that but again? You don't have I didn't have anywhere to cut to right like in the moment First of all everybody's faces in that audience was worse Want me to go to Gwyneth Pacto and she was like Like I went a path or she was like, what? Like, we want me to cut. That's the whole way.

Right, it was 7,000 people in there like, what was this? What? So I didn't have none. The couple had to cut to, you know, the ceiling, the Hollywood side, right? Outside the building. So right, you cut to will,

because you, you know, that you just found the action. It's just going according to normal procedure. Yeah Once he said what he said it was like okay, there's another joke. Yeah, oh it's real and Then when Chris got off stage, I was the first person to talk to you know quest love shout out the quest I'm not a question. Loquas, no one in that place. No one. Loquas, no one in that place. Loquas, no one in that place.

Loquas, no one in that place. Loquas, no one in that place. Loquas, no one in that place. Loquas, no one in that place. Loquas, no one in that place. Loquas, no one in that place. Loquas, no one in that place. Loquas, no one in that place.

Loquas, no one in that place. Loquas, no one in that place. Loquas, no one in that place. Loquas, no one in that place. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one in that place. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one.

Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one in that place. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one. Loquas, no one. Loqu So they'd end up in Chris and I go off and backstage and I took him into my office. He went into my office backstage, right off the stage, everybody's still a gas. By the way, the reason it truly, truly went viral so immediately is because there was a feed in I think Australia that they did not bleep out what Will said. So because what happens is in LA, we're sending a feed out to all the domestic,

the USABC affiliates, we just send it out to the world and all the affiliates that are picking it up. And they have different sensors and different, each country is responsible for their own sensors. And so I think it was Australia in that feed, they didn't edit out what he said. So you can hear it all clearly. And so that's the clip that went out on the internet,

so it really went super viral. In the moment. In fact, at my phone exploded. Oh, I know it did. I'm back. I'm literally, by the way, as it's happening before Chris got off the stage, my phone just started smoking. Like it was like everybody, like my phone was like,

man, that ain't funny. Like, thanks. My appreciate you. Thank you. I'm in a disaster right now. Like it was like everybody like my mom was like man that ain't funny Appreciate you Minute disaster right now. You By the way when you come home again like my mom and that's what you do She definitely is the tech something rather in the wrong moment Yeah, you got it. I got to love it. Yeah, yeah. Wow, I always wondered what that was like in the moment behind the scene. We thought it was a joke.

We all thought it was a bad joke and me and it wasn't. And then it was like, oh my gosh. Mm-hmm. And then I just had this sick and feeling like not tonight. Right. That's what I felt. Why? All the nights and it had been going so well.

Yeah. And I'm still very, very proud of that show. Oh, amazing. You should have been. Everything about that show, I'm very proud of, you know, my amazing ladies with their hosting job, they were doing great. I'm still proud of it. Everything had been going pretty much according to plan.

And I just remember having a sinking feeling of why tonight. Why, why not like this. That's what I was saying, like not like this. That's something else happened. That's something like, that the role Amalou get rid of somebody trick walking up the, like, look at like this. No, that this be the legacy of my little show.

But it wasn't, that was not a, yeah. What kind of stuff? All right, I'm now have, you know, I'm that piece. Good. You know, I've connected with all involved in that piece. I love it. I love it. Dress Chris Rock.

He was in, oh my movie was it, but he did a movie for Tyler. And when I say he was one of the most kind, gentle, experienced, I've ever met in my life. I had his wardrobe pulled out and I said, I'm famous to rock, he's like, hi, are you? And I was like, well, he's the option. He had his car, his wardrobe pulled out, and I said, I'm famous to Rocky, he's like, hi, are you? And I was like, well, he's the option. He goes, okay, whatever you need. And I was like, I'll step out so you can change, okay?

And then I would say, thank you, my pleasure. So nice, I'm like, oh my goodness. And then to see that happen, and I love Will too. I have such a high regard for him. I still love being in both of them. People even, I just feel like there's one of them days where I had that moment where I got down today. Just had time.

I would say, and we can leave it alone, is that the pressures of, as you know, the pressures of folks on folks in our industry is unbelievable. If you're not in the industry and you know, you don't know what it's like to constantly have eyeballs on you, constantly have somebody analyzing every word that you say, and you don't, you know, we don't give grace for mistakes. Now you gotta be perfect all the time. And nobody is. There is a, it takes an unbelievable toll and strain on people.

So that's what I will say and I just some of some of my that believes we have to evaluate people for who they've been, you know, for lifetime, for decades, not on a really really bad moment. Just a moment. And that's that goes for anybody. I love it. Everybody makes mistakes. And so it is unbelievably difficult to be in the public eye these days, and there's going to be people who say do and act the wrong way constantly. It will continue. Yeah. Less judge people or who they've shown us to be for the vast majority of their lives or careers or what have you.

And not just on their absolute worst moment. I love that. You know, I think that's the perfect note to end on. There we go. I literally love that. That's great. Give people's the perfect note to end on. There we go. I literally love that. That's, give people grace. Give people grace. We all deserve it.

Everybody. And give yourself grace. You do that a little bit too. I'll try to tell you. I'm a partner now. We are. Right. Give yourself a little grace.

Yeah, that is so true. Keep it positive, sweetie. Keep it positive, sweetie. Yeah. I love it. Okay, so we're about to end the show. What we do is positive outcomes where our listeners write in a letter and we get them advice. Okay. So I'm going to read it off and we don't see what we can tell her.

Okay. She goes, Hi, Chris. So let me start by saying I absolutely love your podcast. I've been with my husband for 21 years. I know him as a go-getter and a provider. For the past eight and a half years, we've been going through it financially. I can see that he is frustrated and very down about his business not flourishing the way he wanted it to.

I try my best to help him and be positive in a safe space, but when I try to suggest jobs that are hiring, he brushes me off and gets very defensive. I've always been by his side through thick and thin without judgment or pressure. We have a family to provide and care for, which requires steady paychecks, which is why I try to help him find other jobs

so that we can take care of the family that we made together. How can I get my point across to him without making him feel less of a man? Mm-hmm. And I think being that you are a man, I feel like you may be able to speak from that man. I have this strong opinion. I feel like you should go first.

Okay, alright, so. Because she doesn't say what he does. It feels like it was entrepreneurial. Yeah, yeah, because it's his business, his influence, and the way he wanted it to. So I have to speak entrepreneurial. And we think she works based on this letter. I wish I would show two things. I would tell her, one, I mean, you have a family.

So he has to figure it out. But there is a way to be that space for your man, to not put him down when he's not doing well. But also, if he's a go-getter and a provider, he should already have that mentality, like, I got to do what I got to know, you shouldn't have to, like, all right, baby, you need to go find something else to do. So we can eat this week.

I feel like as a man, he should be trying to figure it out. And if it means going to do something, he doesn't want to do, because I can attest to me doing jobs I didn't want to do to get where I wanted to be. Yep. So I feel like that would be a thing that he needs to swallow his pride. And, but there is a way to do it without making your man feel less than.

Yeah. I agree with everything you said. I'm going to get you a different perspective. Yes, that's all I want. I think that you are absolutely right in that, we're talking about a family, and his job is to provide. And so ultimately it is on him, right? I believe in that.

I believe that, and it doesn't have to just be the man, but I believe that there is a head of a household whose job it is to provide, and it definitely sounds like in this situation, he is assuming that role at least he wants to. So yes, and I am somebody that believes that, you know, brother, you gotta do what you gotta do for your family. Period point blank.

Now, here's what I what you got to do for your family. Period point blank. Now, here's what I want you to hear my sister and you two, Crystal, my other sisters. You cannot believe how unbelievably painful it is for that black man to be failing in his family's eyes and his own eyes. So whatever you're saying to him, she been with him 21 years, she's referencing the last eight. So I have to assume that he's a good brother. He ain't just a, you know, somebody that ain't ish, right? He's somebody that has provided before

and now the business is not working out. Right. He is being harder on himself than you could ever be on him. And so when you say, hey, here's this job, it compounds his feeling of failure and insecurity and he feels like, not only am I fighting it hard to believe in myself, but you don't believe in me. Okay?

Now, I'm not saying that you wrong in doing that so as to what I'm saying is, for him, all he hears is, you don't believe in me. Okay? Now, I'm not saying that you wrong in doing that sister what I'm saying is for him, all he hears is you don't believe in me. You telling me to give up on my dream and do this other thing, that underlines that I'm failing, that I'm not doing what I'm doing. I'm beating myself up about all the time. I am waking up, you go to sleep every night,

I'm looking at the ceiling, and I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do, right? So what I would say is that number one, you've got to understand that he's in pain and he's hurting because there's nothing more difficult for a man who considers himself the head of a household to not be providing the way that he wants to. Doesn't mean it's not his responsibility, but your role is not. This is where I differ. Your role is not to say, here's a great job. He can find that job. He got the same newspaper and prayers, listen, Google job. I appreciate that effort. But that's not it. In this, I'm going to go to 21 years. I just want you to be right there with him and ride with him.

That's what I want. I want you to say, okay, this is the budget for the month and we are $5,000 short. I got my $2,000 on it. I believe in you, you are my man, you're the head of household, I love you. You tell me what we're doing with the other three. You just tell me. And I'm like, don't, you're trying to be helpful,

but you're exacerbating and compounding his already awful feeling of insecurity and not providing by saying, here you go, here go these jobs. And I know your intention was good. So I'm not attacking the system at all, but just from a man, if he's a type of man that a lot of men are, he is already at his lowest point. And so what you say is, this is where where we short this is what I'm like you tell me that I believe in you. I believe in you. We're gonna get past this. The business are gonna turn around all of that. I believe in you. If you decide to get another job, I'm back to your another job. If you can figure it out here, I'm back with you with that. I'm back in you. Period point but I'm back. Tell me what you need. Do you want me to go help? Do you want me to help look for job?

You don't write whatever like say that because when you say when you lead a little job, listen to my email and because it's like, oh, isn't he going to need to get the work? And I don't even know, I can build a nice white lady, I don't know. But whatever it is, you are unintentionally reminding him of his shortcomings and failure and making him feel like you don't believe in him. Oh, that's so good. So that's my opinion, maybe unfi-fueled, but I would say just be there for him. That ain't your job, get him the new job.

Your job is just be there, support your man, and say, listen, this is what we need. Now, I'm not saying it's a thing of starve with your kids, right, but just say, hey, this is what we need. You tell me how you're gonna do it. You tell me how we're gonna get it, and I say, hey, this is what we need. You tell me how you're gonna do it. You tell me how we're gonna get it, and I'm believing you. And I don't mean like, 10 what you're gonna do, that's what we show, I don't mean that.

I mean like, hey, I'm here with you. So this is the budget, and this is what I got on it. And you just tell me how I can help. Can I help in any way? What would you try to do? That's what I'm gonna say. I love, that's good. You just, I'm great. I like that perspective. I'm a good man my whole life what I'm saying. I love that's good. You just I like that perspective.

I'm a big man my whole life. Yes, yes. I love that. You're good at it one day. Teachers. Oh my gosh. That is good. So this is the problem we need to be having these conversations. We do. We can have a dialogue. We need to talk through these things.

Then we can help each other. Yeah. 100% yeah. I see too much like vitriol amongst, you know, folks online, you know what I'm saying? Within the same community, within the same gender, within the same orientation. Like, it's just too, it's a lot of negativity. You know what I'm saying? We in it together.

We are. We in it together. That's talking through. Talk about it. Like I said, I'm not attacking that sister. She did it the way she wanted to. I'm just giving you another opinion from a man and an entrepreneur whose life hasn't always gone the way I wanted it. I'll just give you another opinion from a man at an entrepreneur, you know, whose life hasn't always gone the way I wanted to go. So I'm not tagging this

just at all. Like he needs you. He's only at what he's at, cusses you. But now he needs something different. He doesn't need like, this is a job that's higher. He doesn't need me right now. He doesn't need you to support him and believe in him. And then you allow him to tell you how he's going to turn around. I love it. Alright. I'm taking notes myself. So the next thing we do is what I'm going through and what I'm growing through. And I'll start off. Okay. Right now, who am I going through? I am going through a... I feel like this is a stretching face for me in my life. This season I am in, I feel like I got a stretch in my face, trying different things as far as business ventures that I don't know are going to succeed, so I'm really like stepping

out on faith in different areas and growing through having control of everything, because I'm such a control for, I like to know what's going to happen okay this is the the variable that I know for sure and just being open to the possibilities of things that are unknown to me so that's what I'm going to do. Wow that's good yeah yeah. So the practice is part. You tell me when we ask. Okay all right so I would say I'm going through a new phase in my life where now my kids are out of the house. Yeah. And so it's a different dynamic for my wife and I

and also a different relationship for myself and my kids because they're my babies. Yeah. But they're now all young adults. And so it means that we're redefining our relationships. We're recalibrating our relationships in a different way than we have before. So it's an amazing amount of freedom that my wife and I have.

We also get to know each other in different ways. Because as a parent, you're always constantly sacrificing for your kids. Now I don't have that excuse anymore. Now it's her and I. So we're getting to know each other in a different way. And I'm getting to know your kids. Now I don't have that excuse anymore. Now it's her and I, so we're giving and knowing each other in a different way and I'm getting to know my kids and I have to accept them as young adults and they also have to accept me as a father that's not just like you know their primary caregiver. I am somebody that is you know more of a of a friend honestly. So

that's that's that's different. That's what I'm going through. What I'm growing through is my own career and the next phase of my career, as of the recording of this podcast, we are still in the middle of a strike. And hopefully that would be, you know, over by the time this comes out, but regardless, it's a different phase in my personal career. And I'm also looking to diversify myself, my focus, my ambitions, and my aims.

And so I'm growing through that. I've been very, very fortunate. I'm very blessed, you know, to strike, hit everybody differently. So I'm very fortunate in how I've been able to weather the strike. But it also shows me though that I need to be in how I've been able to weather the strike. Yes. But it also shows me though that I need to be in a position where I have a diverse array of things that I'm doing. Same. Yeah. Yeah. That's what the business ventures are because I realize I can't put all my eggs in this acting basket.

Yeah. You never know. You never know. I want things like this to happen. I'm like, I'm good. Yeah. I have other things going on. This is not the end all be all. So what's your gonna sell on Instagram?

Waste trainers? No, I need to wear one. I can't tell you. I'll tell you. Baby suits. It's baby suits weave and waste trainers. I don't know that. I don't know the Instagram market as well.

Some people, but in my explore, that's what I see. That's what you see. That's what I see. This is what I see. This is what I see. This is what I see. This is what I see. This is what I see. This is what I see.

This is what I see. This is what I see. This is what I see. This is what I see. This is what I see. This is what I see. This is what I see. This is what I see.

This is what I see. This is what I see. This is what I see. This is what I see. This is what I see. This is what I see. This is what I see. This is what I see. This is what I see. This is what I see. This is what? Yeah. Versa-Five. I thought you guys saw something dope.

I feel like whatever it is. I'm excited. Candles. No. Prayer candles. But they smell like feet. So then, that'll make you want to pray. If you don't, you gotta get your prayer.

Smell like Jesus feet. And feet go keep burning. I'm not gonna talk about Jesus feet. I feel like, I feel like, yeah, you gotta want to get on prayer. How about that? We're here, here, here. You know what I'm saying about who? Uber for dogs. I feel like yeah, you gotta get on pretty about that Uber for dogs

Take people animals see all that You Uber for dog when you gotta get Park and somebody picks them up. Oh, that's actually genius. I'm just saying. I haven't thought it through because- We already got this. That's very hard guys there. Take this idea.

Let the dog out. We need to figure out what kind of stuff. Somebody needs to be there to get the dog. Yeah. I guess the driver can be like, now there is a thing I have a friend has somebody who works with my company and their dog gets picked up for grooming. There's a doggy bus. Oh, okay. And they come and pick up your dog. picked up for grooming.

There is a doggy bus. Oh, okay. And they come and pick up your dog. You are kidding me. I promise you. And that's a bus with all these dogs in it. The way it's been described to me and take some to the groom

and then drop some back off. That's pretty good. The not a doggy bus. That's smart though. That's fair. Cause we don't have time. You know, anything that helps people with a time, that's the, that's the,

that's the best thing. I know my ideas, Chris. That's all I got. I'm just giving them to you. You know, anything that helps you with a time, that's the, that's the, that's the, that's the, that's the, that's all I got. I'm giving them, I'm just giving them to you. You are giving to me, I appreciate that. Mr. No, think about the feet camera. See a lot of people, you know, they're like, it's not like everything. Look at this, me, oh.

You know what, those are my feet. And so, welcome. I got my feet sent in. I got my feet sent in. I got my feet sent in. Oh my god. Well, thank you so much. This was awesome.

Come on anytime. Thank you for having me. Absolutely. All right. So another thing we do is keep it blank, sweetie. Okay. And for this episode, I'm going to say, can we talk about that so much?

Keep it faithful, sweetie. No, when I'm going through it now, I definitely stretch my face, so keep it faithful, sweetie, is what I was saying. Mm-hmm. I like that. So my first answer to keep it crusty probably is not the same energy that you did. Like the feet.

Feel like yours is more inspirational. So I'm a go. All right, you know what I'm gonna say? I'm gonna say, keep it consistent, sweetie. That's what I'm gonna say. A lot of us have challenged with consistency, right? It's not about just being good in some areas and not in others.

It's not about us being following through one time. We gotta fall through every time. Keep it consistent, that's what I was saying. So as you keep it positive, as you keep it prayerful, faithful, also keep it consistent. Try to stay consistent, that will blow well for you. I love it, I love this good. Guys, thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of Keep It Positive Sweetie.

If you want to write into our positive outcomes, listen to the letter right into keepitpositive Sweetie at gmail.com and that sweetie with an i.e. You can follow me on Instagram and all the platforms at luvcristernae. We'll tell them where the people can find you. Uh, usually on the corner of, no. We'll power Packer. At We'll Power Packer on all the platforms. There we go.

All right. Well, thank you. Anytime, Mom. This is fun. Yeah. you