May 7, 2024 • 39 mins
Award-winning actress Regina King and her sister Reina King stop by The Bright Side to talk about creativity, drive, and working together as sisters. The two founded the production company, Royal Ties, out of their love for storytelling. Their latest is the Netflix series “A Man in Full,” which they executive produced and Regina directed. They also talk about their work on “Shirley,” a stunning biopic about Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm’s presidential campaign. Plus, Anne Hathaway’s moment, Miss USA relinquishes her title, and hype-ups that aren’t appearance based. Tell us your favorite hype-up: hello@thebrightsidepodcast.com.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hey fam, Hello Sunshine.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Today on the bright Side, Oscar Award winner Regina King
and her closest collaborator, her sister, Reina King, share the
secret to sisterly success, both on screen and off.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
It's Tuesday, May seventh. I'm Danielle Robe.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
And I'm Simone Boyce and this is the bright Side
from Hello Sunshine. Danielle. I saw this movie. I can't
get out of my head. It's called The Idea of You.
Have you heard about it?
Speaker 4 (00:30):
Wait?
Speaker 5 (00:31):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Because my mom texted me to watch this.
Speaker 5 (00:33):
It's so good.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
It's based on a book of the same name by
an author named Robin Lee, so there was a huge
fandom around the book, and the movie stars Anne Hathaway
and Nicholas Gallatzine. The reason why this is so refreshing
is because it's a rom com about a forty year
old mom who falls in love with a hot twenty
four year old pop star. So already, I just love
(00:55):
the way that that's flipping so many societal double standards
on its head. And then they actually call out a
lot of sexist headlines around age gap relationships, and they
call out those double standards in the movie, which I loved.
The film is so defiant because it centers female pleasure
regardless of everyone else's opinions.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
I kind of love that women are flipping it on
its head. We see older men date younger women all
the time, so I actually can't wait to watch this.
Speaker 5 (01:25):
I couldn't agree more.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
You know, Anne Hathaway is really having a moment. She
was kind of ostracized. Everybody said she was unlikable in Hollywood.
I've always really loved her, and so this film really
feels like part of her resurgence.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
I think it's really empowering to see her in this
role because she gets to kind of gain the upper
hand in that commentary around just the nastiness that can
happen in media and celebrity and entertainment reporting. So I
love that for her. And then just in hearing the
way that she's been promoting this film, there's some one
thing that she said that really stuck with me. So
(02:02):
she was talking about this idea of coming of age stories,
and she pointed out that we have this idea in
our head that coming of age stories are something that
happens to you in your early years. But she said,
I don't know about you. I feel like I keep blooming.
So for me, that reframing just totally changed my view
of what coming of age means. We can have a
(02:23):
coming of age moment at any point in our life.
Speaker 5 (02:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Oh, I love that so much.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
And it's also kind of like a new version of
the rom com. You know, the old version had really
sort of flat female characters, and she feels so round
and interesting at imagery of Blooming is even interesting.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
I can't wait for you to see it. I think
you're gonna love it. I can't wait to talk about it.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
There's actually another female centric show that has just been
on my mind. Hacks season three is out. I binged
season one and two. Have you seen this No, but
everyone tells me that I would love it. I need
to get on the hackstrain. I love it because it
centers around comedy in particular, but it also kind of
talks about the disconnect between the two generations of feminism
(03:08):
and it's very, very funny.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
I think it's a.
Speaker 5 (03:11):
Must watch juicy.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Well, speaking of women defying expectations, there's actually a little
news out that I found interesting. Miss Usa Noeli Avoit
relinquished her title and her crown to prioritize her mental health.
She was crowned Miss USA back in September, and then
just yesterday she took to Instagram to announce her resignation,
and I want to read you one part that really
(03:33):
stood out to me. She said, I continue to inspire
others to remain steadfast, prioritize your mental health, advocate for
yourself and others by using your voice, and never be
afraid of what the future holds, even if it feels uncertain.
That felt like a very mature statement coming from a
twenty four year old, And I think we're hearing a
(03:54):
lot more women and people in the news just talking
about their mental health prioritizing it. I think this is
something we haven't seen a lot, except for the last
few years.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
People used to just power through.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
It's really courageous, and like you said, she clearly has
a lot of self awareness as a twenty four year old,
I think I would have just powered through at twenty four,
and I don't know that that would have been healthy.
So I really admire her willingness to accept the sacrifices
that come with making such a bold move like this.
It honestly reminds me a lot of when Simone Biles
(04:26):
decided to withdraw from the Olympics final at Tokyo. I mean,
remember all the backlash that she got, Like, there's a
lot of input and feedback and not all of it
positive that you are opening yourself up to when you
make a decision like this, So I think it's really brave.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
You don't often see people take a step back at
the pinnacle of their career, you know, like we see
people fight so hard for these moments, for the crown,
for the Olympics, for a certain job as an executive.
And I think we're seeing something in culture actually where
maybe all that glitters isn't gold, and we're hearing people
(05:04):
talk about that They used to just step away and
not talk about why.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Now they're giving us the why.
Speaker 5 (05:09):
To be honest.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
When it comes to the world of pageants specifically, I'm
kind of surprised that they're still as present in.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
Our society as a whole nother topic.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
I know that a lot of people gain a lot
from these pageants, from the experience, there opportunities, it sets
you up for, you know, careers in broadcasts or what
have you. But there's a lot of it that is
really dated that reinforces stereotypes that aren't helpful to us
as women. So maybe this is part of a larger conversation,
a larger reckoning that we're going to have around pageants
(05:41):
in general.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
I have so many thoughts on pageants.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
You know, the most beautiful women that I know have
bumps and bruises and scars and are perfectly imperfect. And
I've never been a fan of the sort of faux
perfectionism that pageants.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
And also, there's no male equivalent.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Where's the male pageant where they're walking around in speedos?
Speaker 5 (06:06):
There is none.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Mister universe. Bodybuilding, That's the only thing I can think of.
But it's different, it feels different. You don't have to
wear a ball gown. You know what feels like the
theme of this discussion that we just had, Danielle, it's choice.
It's women's centering choice. I mean, from Anne Hathaway's character
in this The Idea of You movie to Noeli a Void,
I mean, these women are boldly, bravely making choices that
(06:27):
suit them, and they're saying that the opinions of other
people are insignificant and they don't matter. So I applaud
these women for making choices. One of them is fictional,
but whatever.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
It actually takes a lot of self efficacy to do that.
It's really bold and it's really challenging. So we applaud her.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
All.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Right after the break, Regina and Reina King tell us
why they love acting and directing as a family affair,
and about their latest project, Netflix's limited series, A Man
in Full.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
We'll be right back, y'all. Welcome back to the bright Side, y'all, Danielle.
Today is such a special day for the show. We
are joined by two sisters who are, let's face it,
Hollywood royalty.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
It's Regina King and Rena King. You can say that again.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
You know Regina King as an Oscar Emmy and Golden
Globe winning actor. You've seen her in films like If
Beale Street Could Talk, Jerry Maguire, and so many others.
More recently, Regina's been focusing on directing and producing projects
with her sister, Reina King. Raina's an accomplished actress, producer,
and co founder of their production company Royalties. As sisters,
(07:45):
they're taking their storytelling to the next level, y'all.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
They are coming in hot off the success of their
Shirley Chisholm biopic Sureley. Regina and Raina also co executive
produced the new Netflix series A Man in Full, with
Regina directing as a well Reina Regina, Welcome to the
bright Side.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Hello, Hello, bright Side, Hello bright Side.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
We're really happy to have you here. We've never had
sisters in studio.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
Oh my god.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
First, yeah, this is special for us.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Danielle and I always talk about how we wish we
had sisters growing up. I mean, I didn't have anybody
to steal my clothes, and I'm still kind of bitter
about it. You too, are sisterhood goals. How imaginative were
you as little girls?
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Oh?
Speaker 6 (08:31):
White imaginative, I would say, you know, our mother was
a teacher.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
I still I feel like always will be.
Speaker 6 (08:43):
And we did plays in the house, yes, in our home, in.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
The little place you wrote, produced and directed.
Speaker 7 (08:52):
Wrote, produced, We wrote and produced and directed. But they
were all improvised.
Speaker 6 (08:56):
Exactly exactly a lot of improvising, lot of living. And
then there were sometimes that lyrics were provided when it
was the Prince album or oh okay, yeah yeah, Heart,
which was a big one for us. What a little
bit of Jill Silverstein. Yes, where the Sidewalk ends. I
(09:18):
think we probably memorize half of that book of poetry.
Speaker 5 (09:24):
So yeah, I guess we did variety shows.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Ran Yeah, y'all did it all.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
So I kind of want you to bring those back.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Just maybe I'm just saying, yes, you both have been
acting professionally since you were kids, Regina. I think about
Boys in the Hood, Poetic Justice, Higher Learning, Living Single,
how Stella got her groove back, Jerry McGuire, Ray, and
then of course everything recently, which was harder. They fall
one night in Miami, The Watchman. I think it's cool
(09:53):
that you know each other's works so well, like your
fans of your sister.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
It sounds like, oh yeah, I am a huge fan
on end offscreen.
Speaker 5 (10:03):
That's what made us become royal ties.
Speaker 7 (10:07):
You know, when Raina decided to no longer continue in acting,
it wasn't like a big newsflash. She just kind of
gravitated doing so. I mean, Reina has been a talent agent,
She's worked in post production, you know, in all these
different spaces within our entertainment industries that make the art
(10:34):
of it. She had gathered just so much knowledge along
the way, and it just made sense to bring all
of that together.
Speaker 5 (10:43):
So yeah, I'm just a fan.
Speaker 7 (10:45):
Of her desire to, at such a young age, have
the foresight to exist in all of these different spaces.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
I want to talk about the origins of Royal Ties,
and I'll start by just zooming out a little bit
and talk about our boss here and your former co star,
Reese Witherspoon, who founded Hell of Sunshine out of a
need to champion female centered stories. And I want to
know what was the need that you felt called to
meet with your production company Royalties.
Speaker 7 (11:16):
Wow, I would say a part of it would definitely
be female driven stories.
Speaker 5 (11:21):
I think more than anything was.
Speaker 7 (11:25):
That we have such a huge love for storytelling and
being in the business for so long, have noticed that
majority of artists that put out content certain type of genre,
certain type of storytelling, and we've always been a fan
(11:46):
of all of it, and so just wanting to be
in a space where we can do a little bit.
If you just look at from a Man in Full
to Shirley, just the difference between those those two projects,
stories couldn't be more night and day that one that
(12:08):
it can be done, and the desire to provide a
space for those artists that or art without without walls,
without barriers, you know, without lines.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
I love that you're not afraid to explore that vast
range between those two projects. Is there is there a
through line or an intention that you feel grounds each
Royaltized production and the projects that you seek out.
Speaker 6 (12:35):
I mean, it's funny that you say a through line
and just going picking backing off what Virginia was saying
earlier in regards to like female driven stories, that even
if it's not female driven, we're making sure that women
have a role in a strong presence in that project.
(12:56):
But I think for us it is I feel like
every thing is a formula. You know what we've seen,
you know, things that have already been done, and it
is more about thinking about what the POV is, you know,
the lens that you're coming into that project with and
being outside the box. So taking what's normal and approaching
it from a different aspect, you know, or a different lens.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
You mentioned Shirley.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Shirley Chisholm was one of the most impactful historical figures
in my life, and I know Simone feels really connected
to her as well. We both loved the film. I've
heard you say roles choose the actor. How did Shirley
choose you? First of all, I think in stature, she
chose me.
Speaker 7 (13:41):
You know, I'm small but mighty, and I guess I'm
speaking a bit spiritually as well. You know, this woman
did something at a time that you know when we
see women having these first now and then you think
about the climate in which she was having a first politically,
(14:03):
a space that was not wanting not only black people
but women. I mean, at the time that Shirley was running,
women still weren't able to open up a checking account
without having a husband, but yet she was running for
the president of the United States, to just even have
(14:26):
the endurance to stamina and so that I would have
the balls to play her. Of course she chose me. H.
If that makes sense, it makes all the sense.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
They number a lot of sense. And Reina, you play
Shirley's sister Muriel in the film, and you have worked
together on the same show two to seven, but not
in the same scene.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
So to now, all.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
These years later, get to actually play sisters and share
scenes together, I mean that sounds like such a special experience.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
It truly was.
Speaker 6 (15:02):
And what other time and what other moment or opportunity
would present itself that we would actually be able to
do that I mean, it.
Speaker 5 (15:11):
Was not planned.
Speaker 6 (15:13):
It was not part of any original discussion in the
writing of that script and the discussion of production. And
I first said no, and I thought about it. I
talked to Regina. I felt like, when would I get
an opportunity like this again? I think somewhere inside of me,
(15:34):
deep down, the acting bug is always there.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
I'm a big fan of theater.
Speaker 6 (15:39):
I used to say, Oh, if I were to go back,
I would do something on stage.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
So it was in there, but it was thirty years
deep in there.
Speaker 6 (15:50):
And when would we have the opportunity to be on
the same project and also be playing sisters for this
project about this woman that we were so passionate about
getting out to the masses to audiences not just within
the country but globally.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
Who else but me should have played that role.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
I was talking to my mom about Shirley Chisholm, and
she reminded me that my grandmother was inspired to run
for office because of Shirley, and my grandmother became a
school board member in nineteen seventy seven. She was the
only black member on the school board in Prince George's
County during integration and bussing, and.
Speaker 5 (16:33):
It's because of Shirley.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
So wow, just thinking about her impact and all the
future Shirley's that will see just gives me chills, and that.
Speaker 5 (16:42):
Would make her very happy.
Speaker 6 (16:43):
It makes Shirley very happy and very proud because I
think that was part of inspiring and getting people to
be active.
Speaker 5 (16:53):
So that would make her very happy to.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Hear that you both had been working on this project
for fifteen years. That is an investment of time, of passion,
of love, of dedication.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
What kept you going?
Speaker 7 (17:07):
I think, just like what you just shared about your grandmother,
you know, I think that encapsulates all of the things
that kept us going and not letting go even when
we veered off and did other projects and came back
to it. I guess it all comes back to endurance
(17:29):
and inspiration from others. It's interesting going back to recent
Hello Sunshine in a space for women, I feel like
thank God for women, like thank God for each other,
you know what I mean, especially when it comes to
Black women and all women, but specifically Black women, being
(17:53):
the one human being that is the most in a
lot of ways unwanted. The way we lean on our mothers,
our grandmothers, our sisters, our friends, We're just each other's pulse.
I mean, it's pretty fantastic and it's really hard to
(18:13):
put in words, but it's that that made us never
let go. It's that energy that it it's molecular.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
You know.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
You just mentioned Reese and you did an interview with
her a few years ago and she said one of
the first things she noticed about you was truth. And
now I get to meet your sister and I'm noticing
the same thing. Oh yeah, Why are you guys truth seekers?
Speaker 5 (18:45):
Is that?
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Where does that come from?
Speaker 5 (18:47):
I guess you just don't know any other way to be.
Speaker 6 (18:50):
It's another one of those things I think that are
in our DNA. I mean, nobody wants to be lied to,
but I feel like, you know, the world that we
live in is filled with so many untruths and smoking
mirrors that you're constantly already seeking get and kind of
(19:14):
trying to get through the untruths and lies is tiresome.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Well, can you spot it quickly? Because you guys are
so truthful.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
I feel like I've gotten a lot better at it
that sometimes somebody will say something, I'm like, now, that's
that's not true. Depending on who it could be, Regina
and you know, someone else that I trust.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
Now you know that's not true. That did not happen,
and that's not going to happen.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
Regina, you have your hand and footprint on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Your sister was there with you that day.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Why was it so special to have your hand and
footprint on Hollywood Boulevard?
Speaker 5 (19:53):
For me?
Speaker 7 (19:54):
You know, I could put my put my hands and
my foot in it. It is a part of me,
my DNA up in that sement, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
And those get walked on a lot less also love it.
Speaker 8 (20:04):
It's your literal fingerprint on Hollywood and on this city
that you were born and raised in Dad born and
bred and yeah, yes, and I'm an Angelino too, and
there's not many of us.
Speaker 5 (20:17):
So you get it. You get it. I do.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
I love this city with all of my heart, all
of my heart. And then I also think about all
the people who can then come in after you and
put their hands in those spots.
Speaker 5 (20:31):
So it's like we're having a handshake or a hug.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Yes, I want to hear how you two have grown
as sisters over the past seven years that you've been
working together. I mean, I imagine you're both on your
own growth journeys, but you're also growing together too.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
M wow.
Speaker 7 (20:48):
From my part is recognizing out of feeling our relationship
shift from big sister, little sister to damn you pretty dope.
And it's been like that for years, but it takes
(21:09):
on different versions since Royal Ties has been in the
place of actively producing things and not trying to get
something produced. To see how we're equals is been when
we joke around and stuff. I can run the little
sister jokes, but not anymore.
Speaker 5 (21:31):
I can't. I can't. I was going to say, yet,
we're still there. It's in there, it's it's still that
part has.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Not do they come up on said.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
They come up anywhere and everywhere.
Speaker 5 (21:42):
There's no there.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
There's not a safe space.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Lady, Okay, I think that's a perfect spot to take
a quick break.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
When we come back, we'll hear from Regina and Reina
on all the things that get better with age. We're
back with Raina and Regina King. I want to talk
about your new series of Man in Full because Jeff Daniels,
(22:12):
Diane Lane, it's a stacked cast. Why did you want
to be a part of telling this particular story.
Speaker 7 (22:18):
Well, it's so far away from what anyone would think,
you know, Regina and Rayna would go out and produce
a story of Tom wolf adaptation that Charlie Croker that
we did is much different because I would say that
the Charlie Croker and Tom Wolfe's book was more than
racial racist adjacent, So that spin on it is different.
Speaker 5 (22:43):
But no one would ever think that we would.
Speaker 7 (22:47):
Be producing, directing something like that, or to even like
something like that. But we are freaking the huge fans
of Dallas what jr. Ewing, You know, those type of
stories we grew up on and we love them. So
it was the perfect fit in a lot of ways
(23:07):
because it spoke.
Speaker 5 (23:08):
To us being able to tell the.
Speaker 7 (23:11):
Story that has that big space of those dynasty stories
that we grew up on loving.
Speaker 5 (23:19):
And then David Kelly.
Speaker 6 (23:21):
She had me and David Kelly. It was literally She's
like rain A, David shout to me, and so David Kelly,
I mean, come.
Speaker 5 (23:32):
On, he does courtroom really well.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
He does courtroom really well.
Speaker 6 (23:36):
You know, I have to say that, as Regina said,
you know, with this Tom wif book that took place
in the nineties and Tom was writing, you kind of
knew you were going to be in good hands with
David kind of you know, it's a large, dense book,
you know, and these are six episodes, but playing a
(23:56):
nice balance of what was put forward in the book
in treating it, you know, delicately but still in your face,
the absurdity of it and things that you can relate
to even if you've seen it outside of what your
(24:18):
social economic scope may be.
Speaker 7 (24:22):
One of the things, you know, that's so hard when
you're trying to adapt something that's, like rain I said,
in a thousand page book into six episodes. But that
thing that fascinated us most about the book, and we
think that David even fine tuned it even more, is
(24:42):
that when you most of us can't relate to people
who have money on that level or who deal in
that type of fiscal space. But whether if you have
two hundred dollars and someone the bank tells you now
you have twenty cents, and you have eight hundred million
(25:02):
dollars and now they tell you you have twenty cents,
you immediately level the playing field quickly as far as
relating to going from what you had to having nothing.
And how do we take something that is so unrelatable
that lifestyle for most people and make it so those
(25:28):
people who never will experience that lifestyle can lean in,
can find commonality. And being broke is not feeling good?
Is I think common for every every person that is
or has been broke.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Speak for yourself, Regina. I don't know what you're talking about.
I've never I can't relate. I don't know what you're saying. Regina.
You've directed episodes of Insecure, this is a scandal, shameless animal,
I mean, the list goes on, and now a man
in full I'm curious how directing feels in your body.
Do you if you still get nerves whenever you show
up to set. Do you have more nerves when you
(26:11):
show up to day one on set as someone like Shirley,
like as an actor or as a director.
Speaker 5 (26:16):
As a director? Really why?
Speaker 7 (26:18):
Yeah, Well, because Shirley's kind of like Beyonce, you know
what I mean, Like nobody else is in a category
with Beyonce.
Speaker 5 (26:27):
Beyonce is like kind of on our own strategy or
But as.
Speaker 7 (26:31):
A director, the responsibility is so much bigger it is
for an actor.
Speaker 5 (26:39):
Yeah, there is that.
Speaker 7 (26:40):
It's time consuming and the preparation in the beginning, but
you're only preparing for that character.
Speaker 5 (26:48):
And you are remaining open to how.
Speaker 7 (26:51):
Your character within that story is going to come together,
and you're leaning on your scene partners at that point
with all of that.
Speaker 5 (26:58):
But as a director, it's all of.
Speaker 7 (27:01):
It, all of these intentions and motivations and stories that
this character wants to tell. What does the space that
they're going to tell it in look like?
Speaker 5 (27:13):
Yeah? Then you know.
Speaker 6 (27:15):
I mean it's just so in every department that helps
make that happen.
Speaker 7 (27:19):
Yes, yeah, you know, so many layers, so yeah, big nerves.
I come to set way earlier as a director than
I do as an actor, but I don't have to
go into the hair and makeup.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Now, that's how you feel about Podcasting's funny.
Speaker 7 (27:38):
That's how if I go to makeup trailers because I'm
going to say, all right.
Speaker 5 (27:43):
Everybody, we're going to have a great day to day.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
You know? Is that what you do to hide people
up on set? Do you have a ritual where you
HiPE people up?
Speaker 5 (27:51):
It's a situational right.
Speaker 7 (27:53):
It depends on the cast, It depends on the crew.
Speaker 5 (27:57):
I remember, it's so strange.
Speaker 7 (28:00):
I was directing an episode of The Good Doctor and
at the.
Speaker 5 (28:05):
End of those.
Speaker 7 (28:09):
Some of those days when we rap, I would play
a song, you know, and then it kind of like
turned into someone would come and say, can we play
such and such at the end, you know, when we
were and it was kind of fun, and I have
not done that since then.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
Well, speaking of film, you started a movie with our
executive producer, Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde two. What do you
remember about working with Reese?
Speaker 7 (28:35):
You know, it's so funny about that, and it's interesting.
Speaker 5 (28:40):
What I remember the most is that she.
Speaker 7 (28:45):
Was pregnant and she didn't know it for a small
amount of it. And I feel like, not long after
she knew, I knew, I felt and I.
Speaker 5 (29:03):
Felt close enough to ask her at the end.
Speaker 7 (29:08):
And so I remember that just that whole time, from
when I first clocked that I thought she was pregnant
to asking her and just watching her so gracefully through
her being an executive producer and the star and you know,
a home because you're a mother, you're a home before
(29:30):
you give birth, and she was so graceful.
Speaker 5 (29:35):
And whenever I'm.
Speaker 7 (29:36):
Asked about Legally Blond two, that is always the first
thought that comes up. But I never have the space
to actually say that, so I usually say something about,
you know, are our love for Sally Field?
Speaker 3 (29:53):
Oh, we love important, but that's a really special thing
to share.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Thank you for giving us.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Yeah, yeah, we love that story. I have one more
about that time period in Hollywood. We just did this
story on the show talking about chemistry tests from back
in the day, from like the nineties, right because Anne
Hathaway came out and she told the story about how
studio heads casting directors they would put her through this
chemistry test with like ten different actors where she would
(30:17):
have to make out with all of them, and I
just thought that that was so crazy and things have
changed so much in this post me to era.
Speaker 5 (30:25):
Ray Aina's eyes.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Raina's eyes are saying everything right now, but did you
did either of you have ever experience anything like that?
Or what are some of the other shocking things that
happened in the business back then that would never fly today.
Speaker 6 (30:39):
Well, I can definitely say I by the time I
stopped acting and was focusing on high school, I was
too young for that to have happened.
Speaker 4 (30:51):
For me personally, that was not happening.
Speaker 6 (30:55):
And even if I was eighteen nineteen, that would not
have happened either. Now I will say that if there
was you know, in that chemistry read, if there was
like one male actor that I'm going to seal the deal,
then that one person might have gotten that kiss, but
(31:15):
I would have been kissing on the cheek, on the neck,
and everywhere else that wouldn't have.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
What does big Sis say about this?
Speaker 7 (31:23):
I definitely never experienced it personally. I definitely had peers
that were auditioning and having to in my opinion.
Speaker 5 (31:38):
Wear clothes or be way.
Speaker 7 (31:43):
More intimate than what I thought they should be doing.
But the thing that I did experience as an actor,
and thankfully having such awesome agents who are still my
agents to this day, experiencing roles that were written as
(32:05):
white just because white people were writing them, and that
character could be any color. And so my agents really
pushing in some spaces where a role was written for
white but like, no, you should see Regina, No, Regina
should go in with this.
Speaker 5 (32:24):
And then to bring it back to Reese Leally Blontu.
Speaker 7 (32:27):
That was Reese as a producer and that producing team
that saw and understood that the best actor for.
Speaker 5 (32:37):
The role should play that that part.
Speaker 7 (32:41):
And so Grace happened to be black, and I think
that that is still part of the culture where it
shifted to not being written or the character description not
being written as white or black. God forbid you're Latino
or Asian. That's the percentage. It is even lower as
(33:01):
far as the possibility. But now I feel like, or
at least six or seven years ago, you were hearing
racially ambiguous is the which meant not white but not
necessarily black.
Speaker 5 (33:17):
Yeah, what does that mean exactly?
Speaker 7 (33:18):
Does that mean we want you to look like mixed dish,
you know, or she can be whatever.
Speaker 5 (33:28):
You don't really see.
Speaker 7 (33:29):
That so much with the male character descriptions.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
So the king Sisters hold a lot of wisdom.
Speaker 5 (33:38):
Regina.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
You told Vogue UK a few years ago, I feel
like I'm so much more interesting now than I was
at twenty five. Who I loved, you said, you bring
so much more to the table. So we talk about
aging on this show a lot, because the messages we
get make us feel like women expire, and then we
talk to women in real life and it's the exact opposite.
(34:00):
So can you share with us one or two things
that you feel like has just gotten better?
Speaker 5 (34:05):
Sex more? But no, seriously, I mean, you know, I.
Speaker 7 (34:14):
Recognize that having a partner that really well one loves
you but wants to please you, and being patient enough
to receive that. I feel like just when I was younger,
(34:36):
I wouldn't wouldn't have even allowed myself to slow down
enough to recognize that the reason I'm not coming is because.
Speaker 5 (34:55):
It's fun in the beginning, a little bit of for
a player or whatever. But then then you know, yeah.
Speaker 6 (35:01):
But not when they boring exactly that, not when they're
not boring.
Speaker 5 (35:06):
In some ways.
Speaker 7 (35:06):
But it's because I was not allowing myself to be
more in tune with myself to receive what should and
could be received, because I was not allowing myself to
be a good picker.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
I really I have to tell you. I love that
you said that. I think a lot of women relate
to that, and we don't talk about it all the time.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
Talk about it, talk about it for that, talk about it, Reina,
let's got better.
Speaker 5 (35:40):
How are you going to top that one, RAINA, I don't. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (35:43):
I think I may have been a little bit ahead
of my time on the sex one. So that was
the issue, I would say, because I do truly feel
the getting older is truly better. You know, I literally
have friends that either won't tell you the A and
I tell them They're like, I don't want to grow up,
and I like that I'm growing up and have grown up.
(36:07):
And I would say, just understanding what I want mm hm,
where I am in my life and while I'm setting
goals not to have to expect so much from myself,
knowing how to balance my own personal pressures that I
(36:28):
think we put on ourselves as working women, working mothers.
Speaker 4 (36:34):
Just existing.
Speaker 3 (36:36):
Yeah, you know, you brought me into my next question
that was perfect.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
What's bringing you joy right now?
Speaker 6 (36:42):
I feel like, you know, sometimes people say, you know,
take the wave, you know, and.
Speaker 4 (36:47):
Ride the wave.
Speaker 6 (36:48):
I feel like our waves or waves are going to
keep on coming and be ties that are going to
get bigger. And even though I have these moments, I'm like,
I'm so tired.
Speaker 5 (36:59):
I could not be working. I'm enjoying working.
Speaker 4 (37:02):
I'm enjoying my career. I like my relationship I'm in.
Speaker 6 (37:08):
We don't live together, Katherine Hepburn said, men and women
shouldn't live together, they should be neighbors and visit now
and then. So I'm just feel good in the place
that I'm in and the space that I'm in.
Speaker 1 (37:19):
I'm so happy for you.
Speaker 5 (37:20):
Thank you, Regina.
Speaker 1 (37:22):
What's bringing you joy?
Speaker 7 (37:23):
You know that's a complicated question for me, so I
can only speak to it in.
Speaker 5 (37:32):
A moment by moment face.
Speaker 7 (37:34):
So right now, having this interview with my sister and
meeting to lovely women that seem genuinely interested in hearing
from us and not having to wear makeup while doing
it bringing me lots of.
Speaker 6 (37:52):
I will say, as podcasts go for the ones when
you can actually see people, I don't.
Speaker 4 (37:56):
No one can see us. These two ladies look pretty good.
Speaker 5 (38:02):
And they don't have one a bunch of makeup.
Speaker 4 (38:05):
Maybe maybe their.
Speaker 8 (38:07):
Eyebrows maybe you know, maybe filled it in with little
Mabeline as they shift.
Speaker 7 (38:14):
But these are just some natural beauty faces going on
right here.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
Thank you both for your honesty and just keeping it
real with us.
Speaker 4 (38:22):
Thank you, thank you, Thank you for having us.
Speaker 5 (38:24):
And keep killing it. It's a hard marketplace out there,
and Royaltize is killing it.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
We're going to try, but y'all are taking big swings
and that's really brave and that's really courageous. And you
can just tell that you lead with purpose and everything
that you do. So I think if you do that,
I mean, what more can you ask for?
Speaker 1 (38:42):
I love that get together.
Speaker 5 (38:44):
Well until we speak again, lady, Yes, thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (38:48):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Regina and Raina King are executive producers of the new
Netflix series A Man in Full I'm the Netflix film.
Surely both are available to stream right now.
Speaker 3 (39:07):
That's it for today's show. Tomorrow, we have doctor Elizabeth Coleman.
She's a medical historian walking us through sexism in medicine
and how the future is changing for women. Listen and
follow the bright Side on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 5 (39:28):
I'm Simone Voice.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
You can find me at simone Voice on Instagram and TikTok.
Speaker 3 (39:33):
I'm Danielle Robe on Instagram and TikTok.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
That's ro Bay. We'll see you tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (39:39):
Keep looking on the bright side.
Hey fam, Hello Sunshine.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Today on the bright Side, Oscar Award winner Regina King
and her closest collaborator, her sister, Reina King, share the
secret to sisterly success, both on screen and off.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
It's Tuesday, May seventh. I'm Danielle Robe.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
And I'm Simone Boyce and this is the bright Side
from Hello Sunshine. Danielle. I saw this movie. I can't
get out of my head. It's called The Idea of You.
Have you heard about it?
Speaker 4 (00:30):
Wait?
Speaker 5 (00:31):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Because my mom texted me to watch this.
Speaker 5 (00:33):
It's so good.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
It's based on a book of the same name by
an author named Robin Lee, so there was a huge
fandom around the book, and the movie stars Anne Hathaway
and Nicholas Gallatzine. The reason why this is so refreshing
is because it's a rom com about a forty year
old mom who falls in love with a hot twenty
four year old pop star. So already, I just love
(00:55):
the way that that's flipping so many societal double standards
on its head. And then they actually call out a
lot of sexist headlines around age gap relationships, and they
call out those double standards in the movie, which I loved.
The film is so defiant because it centers female pleasure
regardless of everyone else's opinions.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
I kind of love that women are flipping it on
its head. We see older men date younger women all
the time, so I actually can't wait to watch this.
Speaker 5 (01:25):
I couldn't agree more.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
You know, Anne Hathaway is really having a moment. She
was kind of ostracized. Everybody said she was unlikable in Hollywood.
I've always really loved her, and so this film really
feels like part of her resurgence.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
I think it's really empowering to see her in this
role because she gets to kind of gain the upper
hand in that commentary around just the nastiness that can
happen in media and celebrity and entertainment reporting. So I
love that for her. And then just in hearing the
way that she's been promoting this film, there's some one
thing that she said that really stuck with me. So
(02:02):
she was talking about this idea of coming of age stories,
and she pointed out that we have this idea in
our head that coming of age stories are something that
happens to you in your early years. But she said,
I don't know about you. I feel like I keep blooming.
So for me, that reframing just totally changed my view
of what coming of age means. We can have a
(02:23):
coming of age moment at any point in our life.
Speaker 5 (02:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Oh, I love that so much.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
And it's also kind of like a new version of
the rom com. You know, the old version had really
sort of flat female characters, and she feels so round
and interesting at imagery of Blooming is even interesting.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
I can't wait for you to see it. I think
you're gonna love it. I can't wait to talk about it.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
There's actually another female centric show that has just been
on my mind. Hacks season three is out. I binged
season one and two. Have you seen this No, but
everyone tells me that I would love it. I need
to get on the hackstrain. I love it because it
centers around comedy in particular, but it also kind of
talks about the disconnect between the two generations of feminism
(03:08):
and it's very, very funny.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
I think it's a.
Speaker 5 (03:11):
Must watch juicy.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Well, speaking of women defying expectations, there's actually a little
news out that I found interesting. Miss Usa Noeli Avoit
relinquished her title and her crown to prioritize her mental health.
She was crowned Miss USA back in September, and then
just yesterday she took to Instagram to announce her resignation,
and I want to read you one part that really
(03:33):
stood out to me. She said, I continue to inspire
others to remain steadfast, prioritize your mental health, advocate for
yourself and others by using your voice, and never be
afraid of what the future holds, even if it feels uncertain.
That felt like a very mature statement coming from a
twenty four year old, And I think we're hearing a
(03:54):
lot more women and people in the news just talking
about their mental health prioritizing it. I think this is
something we haven't seen a lot, except for the last
few years.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
People used to just power through.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
It's really courageous, and like you said, she clearly has
a lot of self awareness as a twenty four year old,
I think I would have just powered through at twenty four,
and I don't know that that would have been healthy.
So I really admire her willingness to accept the sacrifices
that come with making such a bold move like this.
It honestly reminds me a lot of when Simone Biles
(04:26):
decided to withdraw from the Olympics final at Tokyo. I mean,
remember all the backlash that she got, Like, there's a
lot of input and feedback and not all of it
positive that you are opening yourself up to when you
make a decision like this, So I think it's really brave.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
You don't often see people take a step back at
the pinnacle of their career, you know, like we see
people fight so hard for these moments, for the crown,
for the Olympics, for a certain job as an executive.
And I think we're seeing something in culture actually where
maybe all that glitters isn't gold, and we're hearing people
(05:04):
talk about that They used to just step away and
not talk about why.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Now they're giving us the why.
Speaker 5 (05:09):
To be honest.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
When it comes to the world of pageants specifically, I'm
kind of surprised that they're still as present in.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
Our society as a whole nother topic.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
I know that a lot of people gain a lot
from these pageants, from the experience, there opportunities, it sets
you up for, you know, careers in broadcasts or what
have you. But there's a lot of it that is
really dated that reinforces stereotypes that aren't helpful to us
as women. So maybe this is part of a larger conversation,
a larger reckoning that we're going to have around pageants
(05:41):
in general.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
I have so many thoughts on pageants.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
You know, the most beautiful women that I know have
bumps and bruises and scars and are perfectly imperfect. And
I've never been a fan of the sort of faux
perfectionism that pageants.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
And also, there's no male equivalent.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Where's the male pageant where they're walking around in speedos?
Speaker 5 (06:06):
There is none.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Mister universe. Bodybuilding, That's the only thing I can think of.
But it's different, it feels different. You don't have to
wear a ball gown. You know what feels like the
theme of this discussion that we just had, Danielle, it's choice.
It's women's centering choice. I mean, from Anne Hathaway's character
in this The Idea of You movie to Noeli a Void,
I mean, these women are boldly, bravely making choices that
(06:27):
suit them, and they're saying that the opinions of other
people are insignificant and they don't matter. So I applaud
these women for making choices. One of them is fictional,
but whatever.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
It actually takes a lot of self efficacy to do that.
It's really bold and it's really challenging. So we applaud her.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
All.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Right after the break, Regina and Reina King tell us
why they love acting and directing as a family affair,
and about their latest project, Netflix's limited series, A Man
in Full.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
We'll be right back, y'all. Welcome back to the bright Side, y'all, Danielle.
Today is such a special day for the show. We
are joined by two sisters who are, let's face it,
Hollywood royalty.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
It's Regina King and Rena King. You can say that again.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
You know Regina King as an Oscar Emmy and Golden
Globe winning actor. You've seen her in films like If
Beale Street Could Talk, Jerry Maguire, and so many others.
More recently, Regina's been focusing on directing and producing projects
with her sister, Reina King. Raina's an accomplished actress, producer,
and co founder of their production company Royalties. As sisters,
(07:45):
they're taking their storytelling to the next level, y'all.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
They are coming in hot off the success of their
Shirley Chisholm biopic Sureley. Regina and Raina also co executive
produced the new Netflix series A Man in Full, with
Regina directing as a well Reina Regina, Welcome to the
bright Side.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Hello, Hello, bright Side, Hello bright Side.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
We're really happy to have you here. We've never had
sisters in studio.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
Oh my god.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
First, yeah, this is special for us.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Danielle and I always talk about how we wish we
had sisters growing up. I mean, I didn't have anybody
to steal my clothes, and I'm still kind of bitter
about it. You too, are sisterhood goals. How imaginative were
you as little girls?
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Oh?
Speaker 6 (08:31):
White imaginative, I would say, you know, our mother was
a teacher.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
I still I feel like always will be.
Speaker 6 (08:43):
And we did plays in the house, yes, in our home, in.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
The little place you wrote, produced and directed.
Speaker 7 (08:52):
Wrote, produced, We wrote and produced and directed. But they
were all improvised.
Speaker 6 (08:56):
Exactly exactly a lot of improvising, lot of living. And
then there were sometimes that lyrics were provided when it
was the Prince album or oh okay, yeah yeah, Heart,
which was a big one for us. What a little
bit of Jill Silverstein. Yes, where the Sidewalk ends. I
(09:18):
think we probably memorize half of that book of poetry.
Speaker 5 (09:24):
So yeah, I guess we did variety shows.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Ran Yeah, y'all did it all.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
So I kind of want you to bring those back.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Just maybe I'm just saying, yes, you both have been
acting professionally since you were kids, Regina. I think about
Boys in the Hood, Poetic Justice, Higher Learning, Living Single,
how Stella got her groove back, Jerry McGuire, Ray, and
then of course everything recently, which was harder. They fall
one night in Miami, The Watchman. I think it's cool
(09:53):
that you know each other's works so well, like your
fans of your sister.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
It sounds like, oh yeah, I am a huge fan
on end offscreen.
Speaker 5 (10:03):
That's what made us become royal ties.
Speaker 7 (10:07):
You know, when Raina decided to no longer continue in acting,
it wasn't like a big newsflash. She just kind of
gravitated doing so. I mean, Reina has been a talent agent,
She's worked in post production, you know, in all these
different spaces within our entertainment industries that make the art
(10:34):
of it. She had gathered just so much knowledge along
the way, and it just made sense to bring all
of that together.
Speaker 5 (10:43):
So yeah, I'm just a fan.
Speaker 7 (10:45):
Of her desire to, at such a young age, have
the foresight to exist in all of these different spaces.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
I want to talk about the origins of Royal Ties,
and I'll start by just zooming out a little bit
and talk about our boss here and your former co star,
Reese Witherspoon, who founded Hell of Sunshine out of a
need to champion female centered stories. And I want to
know what was the need that you felt called to
meet with your production company Royalties.
Speaker 7 (11:16):
Wow, I would say a part of it would definitely
be female driven stories.
Speaker 5 (11:21):
I think more than anything was.
Speaker 7 (11:25):
That we have such a huge love for storytelling and
being in the business for so long, have noticed that
majority of artists that put out content certain type of genre,
certain type of storytelling, and we've always been a fan
(11:46):
of all of it, and so just wanting to be
in a space where we can do a little bit.
If you just look at from a Man in Full
to Shirley, just the difference between those those two projects,
stories couldn't be more night and day that one that
(12:08):
it can be done, and the desire to provide a
space for those artists that or art without without walls,
without barriers, you know, without lines.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
I love that you're not afraid to explore that vast
range between those two projects. Is there is there a
through line or an intention that you feel grounds each
Royaltized production and the projects that you seek out.
Speaker 6 (12:35):
I mean, it's funny that you say a through line
and just going picking backing off what Virginia was saying
earlier in regards to like female driven stories, that even
if it's not female driven, we're making sure that women
have a role in a strong presence in that project.
(12:56):
But I think for us it is I feel like
every thing is a formula. You know what we've seen,
you know, things that have already been done, and it
is more about thinking about what the POV is, you know,
the lens that you're coming into that project with and
being outside the box. So taking what's normal and approaching
it from a different aspect, you know, or a different lens.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
You mentioned Shirley.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Shirley Chisholm was one of the most impactful historical figures
in my life, and I know Simone feels really connected
to her as well. We both loved the film. I've
heard you say roles choose the actor. How did Shirley
choose you? First of all, I think in stature, she
chose me.
Speaker 7 (13:41):
You know, I'm small but mighty, and I guess I'm
speaking a bit spiritually as well. You know, this woman
did something at a time that you know when we
see women having these first now and then you think
about the climate in which she was having a first politically,
(14:03):
a space that was not wanting not only black people
but women. I mean, at the time that Shirley was running,
women still weren't able to open up a checking account
without having a husband, but yet she was running for
the president of the United States, to just even have
(14:26):
the endurance to stamina and so that I would have
the balls to play her. Of course she chose me. H.
If that makes sense, it makes all the sense.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
They number a lot of sense. And Reina, you play
Shirley's sister Muriel in the film, and you have worked
together on the same show two to seven, but not
in the same scene.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
So to now, all.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
These years later, get to actually play sisters and share
scenes together, I mean that sounds like such a special experience.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
It truly was.
Speaker 6 (15:02):
And what other time and what other moment or opportunity
would present itself that we would actually be able to
do that I mean, it.
Speaker 5 (15:11):
Was not planned.
Speaker 6 (15:13):
It was not part of any original discussion in the
writing of that script and the discussion of production. And
I first said no, and I thought about it. I
talked to Regina. I felt like, when would I get
an opportunity like this again? I think somewhere inside of me,
(15:34):
deep down, the acting bug is always there.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
I'm a big fan of theater.
Speaker 6 (15:39):
I used to say, Oh, if I were to go back,
I would do something on stage.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
So it was in there, but it was thirty years
deep in there.
Speaker 6 (15:50):
And when would we have the opportunity to be on
the same project and also be playing sisters for this
project about this woman that we were so passionate about
getting out to the masses to audiences not just within
the country but globally.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
Who else but me should have played that role.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
I was talking to my mom about Shirley Chisholm, and
she reminded me that my grandmother was inspired to run
for office because of Shirley, and my grandmother became a
school board member in nineteen seventy seven. She was the
only black member on the school board in Prince George's
County during integration and bussing, and.
Speaker 5 (16:33):
It's because of Shirley.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
So wow, just thinking about her impact and all the
future Shirley's that will see just gives me chills, and that.
Speaker 5 (16:42):
Would make her very happy.
Speaker 6 (16:43):
It makes Shirley very happy and very proud because I
think that was part of inspiring and getting people to
be active.
Speaker 5 (16:53):
So that would make her very happy to.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Hear that you both had been working on this project
for fifteen years. That is an investment of time, of passion,
of love, of dedication.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
What kept you going?
Speaker 7 (17:07):
I think, just like what you just shared about your grandmother,
you know, I think that encapsulates all of the things
that kept us going and not letting go even when
we veered off and did other projects and came back
to it. I guess it all comes back to endurance
(17:29):
and inspiration from others. It's interesting going back to recent
Hello Sunshine in a space for women, I feel like
thank God for women, like thank God for each other,
you know what I mean, especially when it comes to
Black women and all women, but specifically Black women, being
(17:53):
the one human being that is the most in a
lot of ways unwanted. The way we lean on our mothers,
our grandmothers, our sisters, our friends, We're just each other's pulse.
I mean, it's pretty fantastic and it's really hard to
(18:13):
put in words, but it's that that made us never
let go. It's that energy that it it's molecular.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
You know.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
You just mentioned Reese and you did an interview with
her a few years ago and she said one of
the first things she noticed about you was truth. And
now I get to meet your sister and I'm noticing
the same thing. Oh yeah, Why are you guys truth seekers?
Speaker 5 (18:45):
Is that?
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Where does that come from?
Speaker 5 (18:47):
I guess you just don't know any other way to be.
Speaker 6 (18:50):
It's another one of those things I think that are
in our DNA. I mean, nobody wants to be lied to,
but I feel like, you know, the world that we
live in is filled with so many untruths and smoking
mirrors that you're constantly already seeking get and kind of
(19:14):
trying to get through the untruths and lies is tiresome.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Well, can you spot it quickly? Because you guys are
so truthful.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
I feel like I've gotten a lot better at it
that sometimes somebody will say something, I'm like, now, that's
that's not true. Depending on who it could be, Regina
and you know, someone else that I trust.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
Now you know that's not true. That did not happen,
and that's not going to happen.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
Regina, you have your hand and footprint on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Your sister was there with you that day.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Why was it so special to have your hand and
footprint on Hollywood Boulevard?
Speaker 5 (19:53):
For me?
Speaker 7 (19:54):
You know, I could put my put my hands and
my foot in it. It is a part of me,
my DNA up in that sement, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
And those get walked on a lot less also love it.
Speaker 8 (20:04):
It's your literal fingerprint on Hollywood and on this city
that you were born and raised in Dad born and
bred and yeah, yes, and I'm an Angelino too, and
there's not many of us.
Speaker 5 (20:17):
So you get it. You get it. I do.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
I love this city with all of my heart, all
of my heart. And then I also think about all
the people who can then come in after you and
put their hands in those spots.
Speaker 5 (20:31):
So it's like we're having a handshake or a hug.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Yes, I want to hear how you two have grown
as sisters over the past seven years that you've been
working together. I mean, I imagine you're both on your
own growth journeys, but you're also growing together too.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
M wow.
Speaker 7 (20:48):
From my part is recognizing out of feeling our relationship
shift from big sister, little sister to damn you pretty dope.
And it's been like that for years, but it takes
(21:09):
on different versions since Royal Ties has been in the
place of actively producing things and not trying to get
something produced. To see how we're equals is been when
we joke around and stuff. I can run the little
sister jokes, but not anymore.
Speaker 5 (21:31):
I can't. I can't. I was going to say, yet,
we're still there. It's in there, it's it's still that
part has.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Not do they come up on said.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
They come up anywhere and everywhere.
Speaker 5 (21:42):
There's no there.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
There's not a safe space.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Lady, Okay, I think that's a perfect spot to take
a quick break.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
When we come back, we'll hear from Regina and Reina
on all the things that get better with age. We're
back with Raina and Regina King. I want to talk
about your new series of Man in Full because Jeff Daniels,
(22:12):
Diane Lane, it's a stacked cast. Why did you want
to be a part of telling this particular story.
Speaker 7 (22:18):
Well, it's so far away from what anyone would think,
you know, Regina and Rayna would go out and produce
a story of Tom wolf adaptation that Charlie Croker that
we did is much different because I would say that
the Charlie Croker and Tom Wolfe's book was more than
racial racist adjacent, So that spin on it is different.
Speaker 5 (22:43):
But no one would ever think that we would.
Speaker 7 (22:47):
Be producing, directing something like that, or to even like
something like that. But we are freaking the huge fans
of Dallas what jr. Ewing, You know, those type of
stories we grew up on and we love them. So
it was the perfect fit in a lot of ways
(23:07):
because it spoke.
Speaker 5 (23:08):
To us being able to tell the.
Speaker 7 (23:11):
Story that has that big space of those dynasty stories
that we grew up on loving.
Speaker 5 (23:19):
And then David Kelly.
Speaker 6 (23:21):
She had me and David Kelly. It was literally She's
like rain A, David shout to me, and so David Kelly,
I mean, come.
Speaker 5 (23:32):
On, he does courtroom really well.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
He does courtroom really well.
Speaker 6 (23:36):
You know, I have to say that, as Regina said,
you know, with this Tom wif book that took place
in the nineties and Tom was writing, you kind of
knew you were going to be in good hands with
David kind of you know, it's a large, dense book,
you know, and these are six episodes, but playing a
(23:56):
nice balance of what was put forward in the book
in treating it, you know, delicately but still in your face,
the absurdity of it and things that you can relate
to even if you've seen it outside of what your
(24:18):
social economic scope may be.
Speaker 7 (24:22):
One of the things, you know, that's so hard when
you're trying to adapt something that's, like rain I said,
in a thousand page book into six episodes. But that
thing that fascinated us most about the book, and we
think that David even fine tuned it even more, is
(24:42):
that when you most of us can't relate to people
who have money on that level or who deal in
that type of fiscal space. But whether if you have
two hundred dollars and someone the bank tells you now
you have twenty cents, and you have eight hundred million
(25:02):
dollars and now they tell you you have twenty cents,
you immediately level the playing field quickly as far as
relating to going from what you had to having nothing.
And how do we take something that is so unrelatable
that lifestyle for most people and make it so those
(25:28):
people who never will experience that lifestyle can lean in,
can find commonality. And being broke is not feeling good?
Is I think common for every every person that is
or has been broke.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Speak for yourself, Regina. I don't know what you're talking about.
I've never I can't relate. I don't know what you're saying. Regina.
You've directed episodes of Insecure, this is a scandal, shameless animal,
I mean, the list goes on, and now a man
in full I'm curious how directing feels in your body.
Do you if you still get nerves whenever you show
up to set. Do you have more nerves when you
(26:11):
show up to day one on set as someone like Shirley,
like as an actor or as a director.
Speaker 5 (26:16):
As a director? Really why?
Speaker 7 (26:18):
Yeah, Well, because Shirley's kind of like Beyonce, you know
what I mean, Like nobody else is in a category
with Beyonce.
Speaker 5 (26:27):
Beyonce is like kind of on our own strategy or
But as.
Speaker 7 (26:31):
A director, the responsibility is so much bigger it is
for an actor.
Speaker 5 (26:39):
Yeah, there is that.
Speaker 7 (26:40):
It's time consuming and the preparation in the beginning, but
you're only preparing for that character.
Speaker 5 (26:48):
And you are remaining open to how.
Speaker 7 (26:51):
Your character within that story is going to come together,
and you're leaning on your scene partners at that point
with all of that.
Speaker 5 (26:58):
But as a director, it's all of.
Speaker 7 (27:01):
It, all of these intentions and motivations and stories that
this character wants to tell. What does the space that
they're going to tell it in look like?
Speaker 5 (27:13):
Yeah? Then you know.
Speaker 6 (27:15):
I mean it's just so in every department that helps
make that happen.
Speaker 7 (27:19):
Yes, yeah, you know, so many layers, so yeah, big nerves.
I come to set way earlier as a director than
I do as an actor, but I don't have to
go into the hair and makeup.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Now, that's how you feel about Podcasting's funny.
Speaker 7 (27:38):
That's how if I go to makeup trailers because I'm
going to say, all right.
Speaker 5 (27:43):
Everybody, we're going to have a great day to day.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
You know? Is that what you do to hide people
up on set? Do you have a ritual where you
HiPE people up?
Speaker 5 (27:51):
It's a situational right.
Speaker 7 (27:53):
It depends on the cast, It depends on the crew.
Speaker 5 (27:57):
I remember, it's so strange.
Speaker 7 (28:00):
I was directing an episode of The Good Doctor and
at the.
Speaker 5 (28:05):
End of those.
Speaker 7 (28:09):
Some of those days when we rap, I would play
a song, you know, and then it kind of like
turned into someone would come and say, can we play
such and such at the end, you know, when we
were and it was kind of fun, and I have
not done that since then.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
Well, speaking of film, you started a movie with our
executive producer, Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde two. What do you
remember about working with Reese?
Speaker 7 (28:35):
You know, it's so funny about that, and it's interesting.
Speaker 5 (28:40):
What I remember the most is that she.
Speaker 7 (28:45):
Was pregnant and she didn't know it for a small
amount of it. And I feel like, not long after
she knew, I knew, I felt and I.
Speaker 5 (29:03):
Felt close enough to ask her at the end.
Speaker 7 (29:08):
And so I remember that just that whole time, from
when I first clocked that I thought she was pregnant
to asking her and just watching her so gracefully through
her being an executive producer and the star and you know,
a home because you're a mother, you're a home before
(29:30):
you give birth, and she was so graceful.
Speaker 5 (29:35):
And whenever I'm.
Speaker 7 (29:36):
Asked about Legally Blond two, that is always the first
thought that comes up. But I never have the space
to actually say that, so I usually say something about,
you know, are our love for Sally Field?
Speaker 3 (29:53):
Oh, we love important, but that's a really special thing
to share.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Thank you for giving us.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Yeah, yeah, we love that story. I have one more
about that time period in Hollywood. We just did this
story on the show talking about chemistry tests from back
in the day, from like the nineties, right because Anne
Hathaway came out and she told the story about how
studio heads casting directors they would put her through this
chemistry test with like ten different actors where she would
(30:17):
have to make out with all of them, and I
just thought that that was so crazy and things have
changed so much in this post me to era.
Speaker 5 (30:25):
Ray Aina's eyes.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Raina's eyes are saying everything right now, but did you
did either of you have ever experience anything like that?
Or what are some of the other shocking things that
happened in the business back then that would never fly today.
Speaker 6 (30:39):
Well, I can definitely say I by the time I
stopped acting and was focusing on high school, I was
too young for that to have happened.
Speaker 4 (30:51):
For me personally, that was not happening.
Speaker 6 (30:55):
And even if I was eighteen nineteen, that would not
have happened either. Now I will say that if there
was you know, in that chemistry read, if there was
like one male actor that I'm going to seal the deal,
then that one person might have gotten that kiss, but
(31:15):
I would have been kissing on the cheek, on the neck,
and everywhere else that wouldn't have.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
What does big Sis say about this?
Speaker 7 (31:23):
I definitely never experienced it personally. I definitely had peers
that were auditioning and having to in my opinion.
Speaker 5 (31:38):
Wear clothes or be way.
Speaker 7 (31:43):
More intimate than what I thought they should be doing.
But the thing that I did experience as an actor,
and thankfully having such awesome agents who are still my
agents to this day, experiencing roles that were written as
(32:05):
white just because white people were writing them, and that
character could be any color. And so my agents really
pushing in some spaces where a role was written for
white but like, no, you should see Regina, No, Regina
should go in with this.
Speaker 5 (32:24):
And then to bring it back to Reese Leally Blontu.
Speaker 7 (32:27):
That was Reese as a producer and that producing team
that saw and understood that the best actor for.
Speaker 5 (32:37):
The role should play that that part.
Speaker 7 (32:41):
And so Grace happened to be black, and I think
that that is still part of the culture where it
shifted to not being written or the character description not
being written as white or black. God forbid you're Latino
or Asian. That's the percentage. It is even lower as
(33:01):
far as the possibility. But now I feel like, or
at least six or seven years ago, you were hearing
racially ambiguous is the which meant not white but not
necessarily black.
Speaker 5 (33:17):
Yeah, what does that mean exactly?
Speaker 7 (33:18):
Does that mean we want you to look like mixed dish,
you know, or she can be whatever.
Speaker 5 (33:28):
You don't really see.
Speaker 7 (33:29):
That so much with the male character descriptions.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
So the king Sisters hold a lot of wisdom.
Speaker 5 (33:38):
Regina.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
You told Vogue UK a few years ago, I feel
like I'm so much more interesting now than I was
at twenty five. Who I loved, you said, you bring
so much more to the table. So we talk about
aging on this show a lot, because the messages we
get make us feel like women expire, and then we
talk to women in real life and it's the exact opposite.
(34:00):
So can you share with us one or two things
that you feel like has just gotten better?
Speaker 5 (34:05):
Sex more? But no, seriously, I mean, you know, I.
Speaker 7 (34:14):
Recognize that having a partner that really well one loves
you but wants to please you, and being patient enough
to receive that. I feel like just when I was younger,
(34:36):
I wouldn't wouldn't have even allowed myself to slow down
enough to recognize that the reason I'm not coming is because.
Speaker 5 (34:55):
It's fun in the beginning, a little bit of for
a player or whatever. But then then you know, yeah.
Speaker 6 (35:01):
But not when they boring exactly that, not when they're
not boring.
Speaker 5 (35:06):
In some ways.
Speaker 7 (35:06):
But it's because I was not allowing myself to be
more in tune with myself to receive what should and
could be received, because I was not allowing myself to
be a good picker.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
I really I have to tell you. I love that
you said that. I think a lot of women relate
to that, and we don't talk about it all the time.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
Talk about it, talk about it for that, talk about it, Reina,
let's got better.
Speaker 5 (35:40):
How are you going to top that one, RAINA, I don't. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (35:43):
I think I may have been a little bit ahead
of my time on the sex one. So that was
the issue, I would say, because I do truly feel
the getting older is truly better. You know, I literally
have friends that either won't tell you the A and
I tell them They're like, I don't want to grow up,
and I like that I'm growing up and have grown up.
(36:07):
And I would say, just understanding what I want mm hm,
where I am in my life and while I'm setting
goals not to have to expect so much from myself,
knowing how to balance my own personal pressures that I
(36:28):
think we put on ourselves as working women, working mothers.
Speaker 4 (36:34):
Just existing.
Speaker 3 (36:36):
Yeah, you know, you brought me into my next question
that was perfect.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
What's bringing you joy right now?
Speaker 6 (36:42):
I feel like, you know, sometimes people say, you know,
take the wave, you know, and.
Speaker 4 (36:47):
Ride the wave.
Speaker 6 (36:48):
I feel like our waves or waves are going to
keep on coming and be ties that are going to
get bigger. And even though I have these moments, I'm like,
I'm so tired.
Speaker 5 (36:59):
I could not be working. I'm enjoying working.
Speaker 4 (37:02):
I'm enjoying my career. I like my relationship I'm in.
Speaker 6 (37:08):
We don't live together, Katherine Hepburn said, men and women
shouldn't live together, they should be neighbors and visit now
and then. So I'm just feel good in the place
that I'm in and the space that I'm in.
Speaker 1 (37:19):
I'm so happy for you.
Speaker 5 (37:20):
Thank you, Regina.
Speaker 1 (37:22):
What's bringing you joy?
Speaker 7 (37:23):
You know that's a complicated question for me, so I
can only speak to it in.
Speaker 5 (37:32):
A moment by moment face.
Speaker 7 (37:34):
So right now, having this interview with my sister and
meeting to lovely women that seem genuinely interested in hearing
from us and not having to wear makeup while doing
it bringing me lots of.
Speaker 6 (37:52):
I will say, as podcasts go for the ones when
you can actually see people, I don't.
Speaker 4 (37:56):
No one can see us. These two ladies look pretty good.
Speaker 5 (38:02):
And they don't have one a bunch of makeup.
Speaker 4 (38:05):
Maybe maybe their.
Speaker 8 (38:07):
Eyebrows maybe you know, maybe filled it in with little
Mabeline as they shift.
Speaker 7 (38:14):
But these are just some natural beauty faces going on
right here.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
Thank you both for your honesty and just keeping it
real with us.
Speaker 4 (38:22):
Thank you, thank you, Thank you for having us.
Speaker 5 (38:24):
And keep killing it. It's a hard marketplace out there,
and Royaltize is killing it.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
We're going to try, but y'all are taking big swings
and that's really brave and that's really courageous. And you
can just tell that you lead with purpose and everything
that you do. So I think if you do that,
I mean, what more can you ask for?
Speaker 1 (38:42):
I love that get together.
Speaker 5 (38:44):
Well until we speak again, lady, Yes, thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (38:48):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Regina and Raina King are executive producers of the new
Netflix series A Man in Full I'm the Netflix film.
Surely both are available to stream right now.
Speaker 3 (39:07):
That's it for today's show. Tomorrow, we have doctor Elizabeth Coleman.
She's a medical historian walking us through sexism in medicine
and how the future is changing for women. Listen and
follow the bright Side on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 5 (39:28):
I'm Simone Voice.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
You can find me at simone Voice on Instagram and TikTok.
Speaker 3 (39:33):
I'm Danielle Robe on Instagram and TikTok.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
That's ro Bay. We'll see you tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (39:39):
Keep looking on the bright side.
Hosts And Creators
Simone Boyce
Danielle Robay
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