I needed to see this. And soon the entire film room will know why.
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I needed to see this. And soon the entire film room will know why.
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Great interview. The point about things still being relevant even to this date, and the point about culture being a spiritual force are 100% facts
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The Word According To Hawes
October 19, 2020Michaela P. Shelton
He put on for Atlanta as the creator of Blue Collar Hustle
He put on for black America as the creator of Black On Both Sides
Now on the precipice of releasing the fiery and unapologetic second season of his critically acclaimed drama, Alonge Hawes wants to put on for something even more important.
Himself.
Alonge Hawes sits intently staring at his laptop screen, studying lines of dialogue and prose. His eyes dart back and forth rapidly as he soaks in scenes, characters, plot and themes. “A script is the most simplest thing in the world, and at the same time it’s the most complex”, Hawes waxes philosophically, his gaze never wavering. Finally, he looks up and runs his hands through his head as he sighs heavily. “The reason why he’s the best is because he can simplify complex themes and compound upon and expand simple ideas. That is the markings of a true genius.” Hawes looks directly at me, the same intense gaze with which he was staring at the words on the laptop now directed towards me. “That’s what I’m chasing. Genius.”
The script that has so enraptured our article’s subject is Donald Glover’s Pilot from his Emmy award winning series “Atlanta”. Having premiered on September 6th, 2016; Hawes marks this as a day when his own life changed. He had two months prior, begun working on the outline for his own scripted series, to take place in his hometown of Atlanta and feature a group of black men attempting to create a record label. “Atlanta”, sharing the same location and a similar premise, was a source of great intrigue for Hawes (himself already a huge Donald Glover fan) but when he watched the first two episodes that fateful September evening, he became instantaneously aware of two things. “Firstly, that this was going to be the greatest television show of all time. And secondly, I was going to have to commit to myself to reaching that level of greatness or just quit right here and now.” Hawes chose the latter, and on February 12th, 2017, his first web series “Blue Collar Hustle” was made available via Youtube. “I didn’t reach that level with the first season of my first series”, Hawes laughs softly, “But there was enough quality there and enough support that I could keep going.” The “quality” Hawes is speaking of is that Blue Collar Hustle’s six episode first season was picked up by several independent streaming platforms, including Kweli TV, Goindie TV, and most fruitfully Seeka.tv. The “support” that he is speaking of is the 22 official selections and 24 wins that were bestowed upon that first season by film festivals across the globe including Europe (London Independent Film Award for Best Web Series) India (AAB International Film Festival for Best Web Series) and stateside (L.A. Shorts Award for Best Actor and Best Web Series). In early 2018, during filming for Blue Collar Hustle’s second season, Seeka.tv took a risk and entered into a marketing partnership with the fledgling creative. In return for utilizing their marketing and promotional muscle, Blue Collar Hustle season 2 was made available as a 6 month exclusive on the platform. The gamble paid off, as the second season debuted at number 1 on Seeka.tv’s most watched series list, and also marked the highest rated premier of any of Seeka’s 150 shows. Instead of milking his newfound success, Hawes went left and created a brand new series. “I needed a new challenge,” Hawes opines, “We could have easily done three more seasons of Blue Collar Hustle and I would’ve been comfortable. But comfortability is the death of creativity and I needed something new.” That something new was Black On Both Sides. A searing and unflinching look at black identity as told from the perspectives of four black professionals who are mastering the art of “code switching”. “If you are black and especially if you are black in America, code switching isn’t a term that needs explanation”, he says with another heavy sigh, “It’s simply part of our existence. Our very survival relies upon making white people comfortable, being nonthreatening, being docile and subservient. I thought to myself, what if we used that as a weapon? That’s when I cracked the story.”
Hawes pitched the project to Seeka.TV, who immediately greenlit the series. Upon its release Black On Both Sides was critically acclaimed, scoring 4 star reviews from sites such as Indyred and Reelromp. The first season also earned Hawes Best Director honors from the Global Film Festival (making him the first black man to win in that category) and Best Screenplay from the Oniros Film Awards. These successes led to a greenlight for a second season and also a series development deal with the black owned streaming and entertainment company Jaro Media. With all of these achievements, you’d expect Hawes to be joyful, exuberant, reveling in his good fortune. Instead, as he continues to stare at Donald Glover’s script, he seems pensive and studious. In his mind still trying to crack the code to that ever elusive genius.
Season 2 of Black On Both Sides premiered on October 12th and I must say the first five episodes were pretty intense. Without giving too much away, what can viewers look forward to in the remainder of the season?
The final three episodes will conclude Anansi’s story, so I constructed those episodes to culminate almost like a three act play. Episode 6 is the beginning of the end as Anansi comes to grips with making a final decision regarding who he truly is. Episode 7 is the middle, where the stakes are highest and all pieces move towards the finale. Episode 8 is the end, where the final confrontation between Cyrus and Anansi will take place.
Also, congratulations on your new development deal with Jaro Media! What details can you share with us about this partnership and upcoming series?
In a perfect world, I’d be finishing post production on the project now and freely able to talk about it. However, due to pushbacks stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic, we are still early in production so I can’t say a whole lot. I will say that the project is different from any other that I’ve ever done. It will be a serialized ten episode season, it will star my long-time collaborators Quentin Williams and Brittaney Traylor, and it will be dope! Shoutouts to Richard DeVaughn (Founder and CEO of Jaro Media) for greenlighting the project. It’ll be worth the wait!
When did you discover that writing was your passion?
When I was around 7 or 8. I was always writing and creating my own black superhero comic books. Then I wrote a play when I was 12. Then for my 13th birthday my parents brought me a camcorder and me and my siblings would create movies based on little scripts I wrote.
What is the most rewarding part of being an auteur?
Having the control to make sure that your vision comes to fruition 100%. When I write a script I have a specific vision in my head for how I want it to look and feel. So directing, producing, and acting is just as extension of making sure the script is realized to its maximum potential.
Describe your creative process when writing a script.
First I’ll write an outline for the script. This will help me guide the characters from point A to Point B in broader strokes. Then I begin writing the script, which honestly is just a fine tune of the outline. Once I finish, I send it to my producers to read and then they give me feedback. Once I get the feedback I might change or tune up a few things, then it’s done.
Out of all the scripts you’ve written which script do you feel is the most impactful and why?
The most impactful is probably the 6th episode of Black On Both Sides season 1, titled “The Audacity Of Hope” (the name taken from the autobiography written by Barack Obama) I got a LOT of feedback from that episode and the audience really seemed to like it.
What makes an Alonge Hawes Original Series unique from all other digital content?
When your getting an “Alonge Hawes Original” that means that it came from my brain and heart. It’s unique because no one else has walked in my shoes, lived what I’ve lived, or can be who I am. Just as we are all unique individuals, my stories are unique to my views, thoughts, and experiences.
With so much Black talent in Atlanta, we are curious to know your process of selecting your cast and crew.
Many of my cast members are first time actors, who I’ve known for years and know are talented; they just needed a springboard for their talent. Most times I’ll write a character specifically for a person because I know they can knock it out of the park. My production crew is 100% black talent, from the cinematographer to our sound editing. I’m trying to give unknown or underutilized black talent a springboard to eventually ascend to greater avenues.
I am very impressed that you were the main protagonist for both of your digital series. How do you balance directing and acting?
90% of my directing is in rehearsals and table reads. We rehearse twice per week, so when we’re onset and I yell “ACTION”; everyone pretty knows what I expect. So that helps me concentrate on acting when we’re filming.
2020 has been a very hectic year. How do you feel that the ongoing Pandemic and continuous racial injustice has affected you creatively?
The problem, and what frustrates me the most, is that Black On Both Sides seasons 1 and 2 are really addressing atrocities from 2-3 years ago. The fact that it is so relevant in present day 2020 is more horrifying than anything. Black On Both Sides was meant to be a fictionalized cautionary tale of what can happen when a people are pushed to the brink of despair for no other reason than the colour of their skin, and the consequences that such despair could wrought. But because of the despicable actions caused by the systemic racism of law enforcement, the series is more of a time capsule that will represent the black trauma of the coming decade. I am not proud to say that, but it is what it is.
The character you played on your first digital series Blue Collar Hustle and Black On Both Sides are very dissimilar. Which character would you say you can relate to the most and why?
In some ways I relate to Ajani (from Blue Collar Hustle) and in some ways I relate to Anansi. I am not either of them, but they are both inspired from parts of my psyche. I guess it really depends on the day and mood that I am which one I would identify with more.
As a filmmaker, what has been your most memorable experience thus far?
It’s all been one giant memorable journey for me. I can’t speak to one thing that sticks out. This has just been an incredible experience.
Just last month you were the keynote speaker for the Annual Minnesota Webfest. What was it like to be given that opportunity?
It was amazing! I loved the opportunity and am thankful to the organizers of that incredible festival for having me.
Your key inspirations are Langston Hughes, Spike Lee and Donald Glover. In what ways has each of these creatives inspired you?
Langston Hughes was an incredible poet and author, his work has truly stood the test of time and much of it reads as fresh today as I’m sure it did during his time period. Spike Lee is one of the greatest auteur filmmakers of all time, and an underrated script writer. Do The Right Thing is my favorite film of all time, and the dialogue is just so lyrical and powerful. Donald Glover is a God in the flesh. He really might be the greatest writer who ever lived if you take into account his music, screenplays, stand up comedy. Look at the episode from season 1 of Atlanta, it’s the seventh episode titled “B.A.N”. It’s one of the SMARTEST episodes of television ever written. If you don’t seek to achieve that level of greatness then you shouldn’t write. Period.
Both of your series have been episodic dramas. Are there plans to venture out into other genres and other forms of digital content in the near future?
There are always plans. Stay tuned.
In your opinion, what are the qualifications for a work to be considered “for the culture”?
It has to be authentic. Culture cannot be duplicated. It can be appropriated and co-opted, but never duplicated. Culture is authentic, it FEELS real. It TASTES tangible. It’s a unifying force that brings people together. Culture in itself, is spiritual in nature. When you are “For The Culture” then that means you are contributing to that spiritual force, so you better come correct.
To stay updated with Alonge Hawes, make sure to follow him on Instagram at @Alonge_Hawes.
@Illeye buckmatic @IllmaticDelta @Easy-E @Esco @MartyMcFly @True Blue Moon @BXKingPin82 @PlayerNinety_Nine @LinusCaldwell @Milk N Cookies @Colicat @Chelsea Bridge @Paradise @MoonGoddess @BooksnCookies @Booksnrain @Piff Perkins @HustlerOfVirginiA @UserNameless @ghostwriterx @mr.africa
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BLACK ON BOTH SIDES SEASON 2: FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY IN A RACIALLY DIVIDED AMERICA
CHRIS HADLEY — OCTOBER 21, 2020
Returning amid the country’s dual crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and the equally deadly malady of institutionalized racism is a series that’s more timely than ever before: the critically acclaimed and award-winning Black On Both Sides, which recently premiered the first 5 episodes (out of 8) of its second season on Seeka TV. The final 3 episodes of Black On Both Sides’ second season will air soon (date to be announced).
Tackling such urgent issues as the continuing spate of police brutality in America, the impact of such violence on communities of color, and the balancing act that Black Americans are forced to perform in professional settings to please their White superiors (also known as “code switching”), Black On Both Sides is quite possibly the most important and most relevant episodic series airing on any platform today.
Created by and co-starring Alonge Hawes (Blue Collar Hustle), and co-executive produced by Hawes and Seeka TV CEO/co-founder George Reese, season 2 of Black On Both Sides explores the challenges that face Black Americans in society through the suspenseful yet realistic story of young professionals whose struggles in the White-dominated consumer retail business force them to take desperate actions as they attempt to secure better futures for themselves and their loved ones.
In season 1 of Black On Both Sides, Anansi Moor (Hawes) and his co-workers at a supposedly thriving wireless phone company – Henry Gil Scott-Heron (Julian Robinson), Maya Patterson (Kiara Woods), and Anansi’s cousin Nandi Chisholm (played by Anange’s sister Shani Hawes) – begin a campaign of financial deception that inflates the success of their store and the productivity of Anansi’s charges.
All this happens as Anansi does his best to get in the good graces of the company’s higher-ups, especially his boss (Cyrus Alexander, played by Scott Piehler), whose personal connection to Anansi dates back to a fateful incident that motivates Anansi’s personal quest for revenge.
Entering season 2 of Black On Both Sides, Anansi, Henry, Maya and Nandi’s actions come under harsh scrutiny by Cyrus and their superiors. At the same time, Anansi’s emerging visibility as a campaigner for social justice following the murder of an unarmed Black man by a White cop brings increased attention to both himself, his company, and eventually, to the illegal actions undertaken by himself and his co-workers.
While the nationwide drive for police reform spurred by the Black Lives Matter movement was a strong motivator for Hawes and his team as filming began on season 2 of the series, Hawes – who’s witnessed racism in its many ugly facets in real life – says that the deaths of countless Black citizens at the hands of militant police officers necessitated the creation of a series that, in a perfect world, shouldn’t be needed. Yet as long as racism afflicts the United States of America, though, Hawes believes that Black On Both Sides is needed now more than ever.
Chris Hadley: Black On Both Sideshas not only won critical acclaim and awards, but it has taken on greater importance because of the continuing police-perpetrated violence against unarmed Black Americans, and the ongoing protests against such violence. Discuss how the series is addressing both of those critical issues through the storyline and characters presented in season 2.
Alonge Hawes (star/creator/co-executive producer, Black On Both Sides): The problem, and honestly what makes me angry, is that Black On Both Sides is too relevant to modern day. Black On Both Sides season 1 was really born from the trauma of seeing so many black men and women accosted by the police and murdered (Philando Castille, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, Terence Crutcher) and how that trauma might affect ordinary, everyday black people to retaliate in their own way.
Season 2 was born of the trauma of the Botham Jean murder. (Jean was) a man minding his own business in the privacy of his own home when he was murdered by a police officer (in Dallas, Texas). The fact that we’re now dealing with ever more progressive and escalated acts of lynching (Ahmaud Arbery, Breona Taylor, George Floyd, Elijah Mcclain) is simply horrifying. The fact that most of season 2 was conceptualized and written before some of these murders took place doesn’t bring me any amount of great validation. It’s really just sickening.
CH: What are some of the other major issues that Black On Both Sides examines in its second season, and how is your show helping people – especially White Americans – to better understand the problems that continue to affect Black Americans today?
AH: Season 2 of Black On Both Sidesexamines the psyche of a Black populace who’ve had enough. There is only so much systemic trauma that a group of people can experience before the pipelines burst. Season 2 is showing the pipelines slowly bursting for this group of protagonists.
I’m really trying to put across how I feel the sense of dread that comes with simply having Black skin manifests itself. For White Americans specifically, honestly, I don’t know. There’s been over 300 years of education regarding race relations for White America, so those that “get it” will understand and those that don’t just won’t. It’s that cut and dry.
BLACK ON BOTH SIDES star, creator and co-executive producer Alonge Hawes.
CH: Talk about how the subjects that Black On Both Sidesexamines across both of its seasons have impacted you personally, and how your experiences influenced the dramatic arcs of the series.
AH: Creating the show in a lot of ways has been very therapeutic. I can put some of my anger and frustrations in a script, act it out, and feel a little relieved that I was able to have an outlet for those feelings. A lot of my own experiences working in a retail-based organization have been utilized in inspiring some of the direct dialogue regarding how we as Black people act within the work space.
I’ve been in many situations where white people have felt comfortable enough to tell me that I don’t “act black” because I speak a certain way, that I’m a “credit” to my race, (and) that they wish “the rest” of us to could just get over slavery and work hard. (They’re) not understanding that the only thing separating me from the “the rest” of my Black co-workers is that I’m in the game to get more of us in the door. Those of us who refuse to play that game and stay real to themselves are the real heroes.
CH: In what ways did those stories impact not just the storylines you conceived for season 2 of Black On Both Sides, but also the production process for the show?
AH: The production crew for Black On Both Sides is 100% Black; Black cinematographer (Asante Watkins), Black sound editor (Justin Lovett), Black producers (Cordarol Sanders, Rodderick Fedd, Shani Hawes, Jamal McClendon). They are the ones who help me handle the day to day aspects of principal photography and post-photography. I’m trying my best to give Black creatives a springboard for their talents.
CH: Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has also impacted the filmmaking industry and its pace of production. How was Black On Both Sides affected by it, and what did you and your team do to adjust to the safety guidelines necessitated by this pandemic?
AH: To be completely honest, COVID-19 really put a damper on my year creatively. We had to shut down production for three months, which was precious time – especially for an independent filmmaker. There was a moment where I was in despair because not only is the momentum you’ve been building for the past three years now put on hold, people are suffering and dying of this terrible disease, and there were all these conflicting reports of how bad it was in the beginning so nobody really knew how to proceed.
I was in constant communication with my cast and crew and once we had some actual guidelines put in place, I was able to set up things so that we could return to production whilst being as safe as possible. Of course, masks were mandatory between takes, and we made sure to have hand sanitizer on hand for everyone. Probably the wildest story is (when) one weekend we were set to film at a hotel room, I arrived an hour and a half early to sanitize the room myself before the cast arrived. The entire room smelled like bleach and Lysol while we were filming!
CH: What was the production process like for this season of Black On Both Sides, and how did it improve from season 1 to season 2?
AH: My team and I have been working together for the better part of 3 years. So at this point it’s like we are a well-oiled machine.
If COVID hadn’t been a factor, we would actually have had the time to film two series: the second season of Black On Both Sides and a new series that I am working on for the platform Jaro Media. That was the plan originally; to shoot back-to-back. But because of the time lost due to COVID-19, I had to prioritize Black On Both Sides since we had a release date firmly set.
CH: Now that Black On Both Sideshas exclusively partnered with web series streaming platform Seeka TV, whose CEO George Reese is also a producer on the show, how has this partnership benefited not only Black On Both Sides but also your career as an actor and filmmaker, and those of your cast and crew?
AH: Seeka TV was the first major platform to believe in me as a creative and take a chance. People don’t know, but Seeka TV picked up my first series, Blue Collar Hustle, when we only had three episodes completed. They literally took us from YouTube to their platform with only three episodes to judge upon.
Blue Collar Hustle was my first time writing scripts, acting, producing, really anything; and Seeka took that chance, and not only that, they made Blue Collar Hustle a major part of their advertising and marketing initiative. So the trust they had in my vision early on was a great confidence builder. When I pitched Black On Both Sides to George, it basically only took about three months to get a green light, which in this business is phenomenal. I love Seeka, I love what they stand for, and I hope to keep working with them on future endeavors.
CH: As you mentioned, you recently signed a development deal with Jaro Media, whom you’ll be working with on another web series you’ll be writing and producing. Are there any details you can share with us about that project, and if so, how far along is it in the development phase?
AH: This was the series I was supposed to be filming alongside Black On Both Sides this year. Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, we weren’t able to realize that goal. But the series will definitely be premiering in 2021. I can’t give specifics, but Richard DeVaughn, who runs Jaro, has an amazing Black-owned platform that not only encompasses film and digital series, but also books, podcasts, and news.
His platform is what I feel entertainment platforms of the very near future will look like. The series I’m working on is something completely different than anything I’ve done before. I like to seek new creative challenges and this one really excites me! More info will be coming towards the top of the new year.
CH: Are there any further seasons planned for Black On Both Sides, and if so, what plans do you have to continue the series?
AH: Everything that has a beginning has an end. I believe that season 2 will sufficiently conclude Anansi’s story. I am not one who likes to extend the life of a project simply because it has been successful. As an independent filmmaker, I am very well aware that my shelf life can be very long or abruptly cut short. Funding issues are always something that keeps me up at night, even with the success I’ve had.
So I find it necessary to be able to at least say that I took every opportunity to prove my versatility by putting out a multitude of quality projects while my time is now. I am blessed to say that in three years I’ve written 32 scripts and all 32 of them have been produced. That’s more than a lot of independent creatives get to produce in a lifetime and I am so grateful. I am also excited to show the audience what I have for them next!
CH: Finally, given this incredibly difficult time we’re all living through, and the urgency of both the social justice issues America is confronting and the importance of this year’s election, what do you hope viewers of Black On Both Sides take away from seeing the show and its depiction of the real life problems that affect today’s society?
AH: I hope that people are affected to the point where they actually want to do something to make real change. Black On Both Sides shouldn’t have to exist. I should be making the next Star Wars, the next Game Of Thrones, the next black James Bond or something stylish and fun. But I have a responsibility as a Black creative to tell the truth, and the truth right now isn’t escapism and fun. The truth is raw, it’s ugly, it’s painful, and it needs to be told. At the end of the day I am a black man in America; and that story cannot be buried.
@Illeye buckmatic @IllmaticDelta @MartyMcFly @LinusCaldwell @-DMP- @Piff Perkins @mr.africa @Originalman @Kiyoshi-Dono @UserNameless @True Blue Moon @LauderdaleBoss @Milk N Cookies @BooksnCookies @MoonGoddess @Paradise50 @Paradise @Colicat @Chelsea Bridge @Azul @Morose Polymath @HustlerOfVirginiA @Soymuscle Mike @BXKingPin82 @PlayerNinety_Nine @KravenMorehead™ @General Mills @Easy-E @Esco @NormanConnors @Born2BKing @GoldenGlove @krackdagawd @Malcolmxxx_23 @Tupac in a Business Suit @prophecypro @tru_m.a.c @Afro @Afrodroid @Swiggy
Returning amid the country’s dual crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and the equally deadly malady of institutionalized racism is a series that’s more timely than ever before: the critically acclaimed and award-winning Black On Both Sides, which recently premiered the first 5 episodes (out of 8) of its second season on Seeka TV. The final 3 episodes of Black On Both Sides’ second season will air soon (date to be announced).
Tackling such urgent issues as the continuing spate of police brutality in America, the impact of such violence on communities of color, and the balancing act that Black Americans are forced to perform in professional settings to please their White superiors (also known as “code switching”), Black On Both Sides is quite possibly the most important and most relevant episodic series airing on any platform today.
Created by and co-starring Alonge Hawes (Blue Collar Hustle), and co-executive produced by Hawes and Seeka TV CEO/co-founder George Reese, season 2 of Black On Both Sides explores the challenges that face Black Americans in society through the suspenseful yet realistic story of young professionals whose struggles in the White-dominated consumer retail business force them to take desperate actions as they attempt to secure better futures for themselves and their loved ones.
In season 1 of Black On Both Sides, Anansi Moor (Hawes) and his co-workers at a supposedly thriving wireless phone company – Henry Gil Scott-Heron (Julian Robinson), Maya Patterson (Kiara Woods), and Anansi’s cousin Nandi Chisholm (played by Anange’s sister Shani Hawes) – begin a campaign of financial deception that inflates the success of their store and the productivity of Anansi’s charges.
Entering season 2 of Black On Both Sides, Anansi, Henry, Maya and Nandi’s actions come under harsh scrutiny by Cyrus and their superiors. At the same time, Anansi’s emerging visibility as a campaigner for social justice following the murder of an unarmed Black man by a White cop brings increased attention to both himself, his company, and eventually, to the illegal actions undertaken by himself and his co-workers.
While the nationwide drive for police reform spurred by the Black Lives Matter movement was a strong motivator for Hawes and his team as filming began on season 2 of the series, Hawes – who’s witnessed racism in its many ugly facets in real life – says that the deaths of countless Black citizens at the hands of militant police officers necessitated the creation of a series that, in a perfect world, shouldn’t be needed. Yet as long as racism afflicts the United States of America, though, Hawes believes that Black On Both Sides is needed now more than ever.
Chris Hadley: Black On Both Sideshas not only won critical acclaim and awards, but it has taken on greater importance because of the continuing police-perpetrated violence against unarmed Black Americans, and the ongoing protests against such violence. Discuss how the series is addressing both of those critical issues through the storyline and characters presented in season 2.
Alonge Hawes (star/creator/co-executive producer, Black On Both Sides): The problem, and honestly what makes me angry, is that Black On Both Sides is too relevant to modern day. Black On Both Sides season 1 was really born from the trauma of seeing so many black men and women accosted by the police and murdered (Philando Castille, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, Terence Crutcher) and how that trauma might affect ordinary, everyday black people to retaliate in their own way.
Season 2 was born of the trauma of the Botham Jean murder. (Jean was) a man minding his own business in the privacy of his own home when he was murdered by a police officer (in Dallas, Texas). The fact that we’re now dealing with ever more progressive and escalated acts of lynching (Ahmaud Arbery, Breona Taylor, George Floyd, Elijah Mcclain) is simply horrifying. The fact that most of season 2 was conceptualized and written before some of these murders took place doesn’t bring me any amount of great validation. It’s really just sickening.
CH: What are some of the other major issues that Black On Both Sides examines in its second season, and how is your show helping people – especially White Americans – to better understand the problems that continue to affect Black Americans today?
AH: Season 2 of Black On Both Sidesexamines the psyche of a Black populace who’ve had enough. There is only so much systemic trauma that a group of people can experience before the pipelines burst. Season 2 is showing the pipelines slowly bursting for this group of protagonists.
I’m really trying to put across how I feel the sense of dread that comes with simply having Black skin manifests itself. For White Americans specifically, honestly, I don’t know. There’s been over 300 years of education regarding race relations for White America, so those that “get it” will understand and those that don’t just won’t. It’s that cut and dry.
BLACK ON BOTH SIDES star, creator and co-executive producer Alonge Hawes.
CH: Talk about how the subjects that Black On Both Sidesexamines across both of its seasons have impacted you personally, and how your experiences influenced the dramatic arcs of the series.
AH: Creating the show in a lot of ways has been very therapeutic. I can put some of my anger and frustrations in a script, act it out, and feel a little relieved that I was able to have an outlet for those feelings. A lot of my own experiences working in a retail-based organization have been utilized in inspiring some of the direct dialogue regarding how we as Black people act within the work space.
I’ve been in many situations where white people have felt comfortable enough to tell me that I don’t “act black” because I speak a certain way, that I’m a “credit” to my race, (and) that they wish “the rest” of us to could just get over slavery and work hard. (They’re) not understanding that the only thing separating me from the “the rest” of my Black co-workers is that I’m in the game to get more of us in the door. Those of us who refuse to play that game and stay real to themselves are the real heroes.
CH: In what ways did those stories impact not just the storylines you conceived for season 2 of Black On Both Sides, but also the production process for the show?
AH: The production crew for Black On Both Sides is 100% Black; Black cinematographer (Asante Watkins), Black sound editor (Justin Lovett), Black producers (Cordarol Sanders, Rodderick Fedd, Shani Hawes, Jamal McClendon). They are the ones who help me handle the day to day aspects of principal photography and post-photography. I’m trying my best to give Black creatives a springboard for their talents.
CH: Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has also impacted the filmmaking industry and its pace of production. How was Black On Both Sides affected by it, and what did you and your team do to adjust to the safety guidelines necessitated by this pandemic?
AH: To be completely honest, COVID-19 really put a damper on my year creatively. We had to shut down production for three months, which was precious time – especially for an independent filmmaker. There was a moment where I was in despair because not only is the momentum you’ve been building for the past three years now put on hold, people are suffering and dying of this terrible disease, and there were all these conflicting reports of how bad it was in the beginning so nobody really knew how to proceed.
I was in constant communication with my cast and crew and once we had some actual guidelines put in place, I was able to set up things so that we could return to production whilst being as safe as possible. Of course, masks were mandatory between takes, and we made sure to have hand sanitizer on hand for everyone. Probably the wildest story is (when) one weekend we were set to film at a hotel room, I arrived an hour and a half early to sanitize the room myself before the cast arrived. The entire room smelled like bleach and Lysol while we were filming!
AH: My team and I have been working together for the better part of 3 years. So at this point it’s like we are a well-oiled machine.
If COVID hadn’t been a factor, we would actually have had the time to film two series: the second season of Black On Both Sides and a new series that I am working on for the platform Jaro Media. That was the plan originally; to shoot back-to-back. But because of the time lost due to COVID-19, I had to prioritize Black On Both Sides since we had a release date firmly set.
CH: Now that Black On Both Sideshas exclusively partnered with web series streaming platform Seeka TV, whose CEO George Reese is also a producer on the show, how has this partnership benefited not only Black On Both Sides but also your career as an actor and filmmaker, and those of your cast and crew?
AH: Seeka TV was the first major platform to believe in me as a creative and take a chance. People don’t know, but Seeka TV picked up my first series, Blue Collar Hustle, when we only had three episodes completed. They literally took us from YouTube to their platform with only three episodes to judge upon.
Blue Collar Hustle was my first time writing scripts, acting, producing, really anything; and Seeka took that chance, and not only that, they made Blue Collar Hustle a major part of their advertising and marketing initiative. So the trust they had in my vision early on was a great confidence builder. When I pitched Black On Both Sides to George, it basically only took about three months to get a green light, which in this business is phenomenal. I love Seeka, I love what they stand for, and I hope to keep working with them on future endeavors.
CH: As you mentioned, you recently signed a development deal with Jaro Media, whom you’ll be working with on another web series you’ll be writing and producing. Are there any details you can share with us about that project, and if so, how far along is it in the development phase?
AH: This was the series I was supposed to be filming alongside Black On Both Sides this year. Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, we weren’t able to realize that goal. But the series will definitely be premiering in 2021. I can’t give specifics, but Richard DeVaughn, who runs Jaro, has an amazing Black-owned platform that not only encompasses film and digital series, but also books, podcasts, and news.
His platform is what I feel entertainment platforms of the very near future will look like. The series I’m working on is something completely different than anything I’ve done before. I like to seek new creative challenges and this one really excites me! More info will be coming towards the top of the new year.
AH: Everything that has a beginning has an end. I believe that season 2 will sufficiently conclude Anansi’s story. I am not one who likes to extend the life of a project simply because it has been successful. As an independent filmmaker, I am very well aware that my shelf life can be very long or abruptly cut short. Funding issues are always something that keeps me up at night, even with the success I’ve had.
So I find it necessary to be able to at least say that I took every opportunity to prove my versatility by putting out a multitude of quality projects while my time is now. I am blessed to say that in three years I’ve written 32 scripts and all 32 of them have been produced. That’s more than a lot of independent creatives get to produce in a lifetime and I am so grateful. I am also excited to show the audience what I have for them next!
CH: Finally, given this incredibly difficult time we’re all living through, and the urgency of both the social justice issues America is confronting and the importance of this year’s election, what do you hope viewers of Black On Both Sides take away from seeing the show and its depiction of the real life problems that affect today’s society?
AH: I hope that people are affected to the point where they actually want to do something to make real change. Black On Both Sides shouldn’t have to exist. I should be making the next Star Wars, the next Game Of Thrones, the next black James Bond or something stylish and fun. But I have a responsibility as a Black creative to tell the truth, and the truth right now isn’t escapism and fun. The truth is raw, it’s ugly, it’s painful, and it needs to be told. At the end of the day I am a black man in America; and that story cannot be buried.
@Illeye buckmatic @IllmaticDelta @MartyMcFly @LinusCaldwell @-DMP- @Piff Perkins @mr.africa @Originalman @Kiyoshi-Dono @UserNameless @True Blue Moon @LauderdaleBoss @Milk N Cookies @BooksnCookies @MoonGoddess @Paradise50 @Paradise @Colicat @Chelsea Bridge @Azul @Morose Polymath @HustlerOfVirginiA @Soymuscle Mike @BXKingPin82 @PlayerNinety_Nine @KravenMorehead™ @General Mills @Easy-E @Esco @NormanConnors @Born2BKing @GoldenGlove @krackdagawd @Malcolmxxx_23 @Tupac in a Business Suit @prophecypro @tru_m.a.c @Afro @Afrodroid @Swiggy
That's a damn good read
IllmaticDelta
Veteran
BLACK ON BOTH SIDES SEASON 2: FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY IN A RACIALLY DIVIDED AMERICA
CHRIS HADLEY — OCTOBER 21, 2020
Returning amid the country’s dual crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and the equally deadly malady of institutionalized racism is a series that’s more timely than ever before: the critically acclaimed and award-winning Black On Both Sides, which recently premiered the first 5 episodes (out of 8) of its second season on Seeka TV. The final 3 episodes of Black On Both Sides’ second season will air soon (date to be announced).
Tackling such urgent issues as the continuing spate of police brutality in America, the impact of such violence on communities of color, and the balancing act that Black Americans are forced to perform in professional settings to please their White superiors (also known as “code switching”), Black On Both Sides is quite possibly the most important and most relevant episodic series airing on any platform today.
Created by and co-starring Alonge Hawes (Blue Collar Hustle), and co-executive produced by Hawes and Seeka TV CEO/co-founder George Reese, season 2 of Black On Both Sides explores the challenges that face Black Americans in society through the suspenseful yet realistic story of young professionals whose struggles in the White-dominated consumer retail business force them to take desperate actions as they attempt to secure better futures for themselves and their loved ones.
In season 1 of Black On Both Sides, Anansi Moor (Hawes) and his co-workers at a supposedly thriving wireless phone company – Henry Gil Scott-Heron (Julian Robinson), Maya Patterson (Kiara Woods), and Anansi’s cousin Nandi Chisholm (played by Anange’s sister Shani Hawes) – begin a campaign of financial deception that inflates the success of their store and the productivity of Anansi’s charges.
All this happens as Anansi does his best to get in the good graces of the company’s higher-ups, especially his boss (Cyrus Alexander, played by Scott Piehler), whose personal connection to Anansi dates back to a fateful incident that motivates Anansi’s personal quest for revenge.
Entering season 2 of Black On Both Sides, Anansi, Henry, Maya and Nandi’s actions come under harsh scrutiny by Cyrus and their superiors. At the same time, Anansi’s emerging visibility as a campaigner for social justice following the murder of an unarmed Black man by a White cop brings increased attention to both himself, his company, and eventually, to the illegal actions undertaken by himself and his co-workers.
While the nationwide drive for police reform spurred by the Black Lives Matter movement was a strong motivator for Hawes and his team as filming began on season 2 of the series, Hawes – who’s witnessed racism in its many ugly facets in real life – says that the deaths of countless Black citizens at the hands of militant police officers necessitated the creation of a series that, in a perfect world, shouldn’t be needed. Yet as long as racism afflicts the United States of America, though, Hawes believes that Black On Both Sides is needed now more than ever.
Chris Hadley: Black On Both Sideshas not only won critical acclaim and awards, but it has taken on greater importance because of the continuing police-perpetrated violence against unarmed Black Americans, and the ongoing protests against such violence. Discuss how the series is addressing both of those critical issues through the storyline and characters presented in season 2.
Alonge Hawes (star/creator/co-executive producer, Black On Both Sides): The problem, and honestly what makes me angry, is that Black On Both Sides is too relevant to modern day. Black On Both Sides season 1 was really born from the trauma of seeing so many black men and women accosted by the police and murdered (Philando Castille, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, Terence Crutcher) and how that trauma might affect ordinary, everyday black people to retaliate in their own way.
Season 2 was born of the trauma of the Botham Jean murder. (Jean was) a man minding his own business in the privacy of his own home when he was murdered by a police officer (in Dallas, Texas). The fact that we’re now dealing with ever more progressive and escalated acts of lynching (Ahmaud Arbery, Breona Taylor, George Floyd, Elijah Mcclain) is simply horrifying. The fact that most of season 2 was conceptualized and written before some of these murders took place doesn’t bring me any amount of great validation. It’s really just sickening.
CH: What are some of the other major issues that Black On Both Sides examines in its second season, and how is your show helping people – especially White Americans – to better understand the problems that continue to affect Black Americans today?
AH: Season 2 of Black On Both Sidesexamines the psyche of a Black populace who’ve had enough. There is only so much systemic trauma that a group of people can experience before the pipelines burst. Season 2 is showing the pipelines slowly bursting for this group of protagonists.
I’m really trying to put across how I feel the sense of dread that comes with simply having Black skin manifests itself. For White Americans specifically, honestly, I don’t know. There’s been over 300 years of education regarding race relations for White America, so those that “get it” will understand and those that don’t just won’t. It’s that cut and dry.
BLACK ON BOTH SIDES star, creator and co-executive producer Alonge Hawes.
CH: Talk about how the subjects that Black On Both Sidesexamines across both of its seasons have impacted you personally, and how your experiences influenced the dramatic arcs of the series.
AH: Creating the show in a lot of ways has been very therapeutic. I can put some of my anger and frustrations in a script, act it out, and feel a little relieved that I was able to have an outlet for those feelings. A lot of my own experiences working in a retail-based organization have been utilized in inspiring some of the direct dialogue regarding how we as Black people act within the work space.
I’ve been in many situations where white people have felt comfortable enough to tell me that I don’t “act black” because I speak a certain way, that I’m a “credit” to my race, (and) that they wish “the rest” of us to could just get over slavery and work hard. (They’re) not understanding that the only thing separating me from the “the rest” of my Black co-workers is that I’m in the game to get more of us in the door. Those of us who refuse to play that game and stay real to themselves are the real heroes.
CH: In what ways did those stories impact not just the storylines you conceived for season 2 of Black On Both Sides, but also the production process for the show?
AH: The production crew for Black On Both Sides is 100% Black; Black cinematographer (Asante Watkins), Black sound editor (Justin Lovett), Black producers (Cordarol Sanders, Rodderick Fedd, Shani Hawes, Jamal McClendon). They are the ones who help me handle the day to day aspects of principal photography and post-photography. I’m trying my best to give Black creatives a springboard for their talents.
CH: Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has also impacted the filmmaking industry and its pace of production. How was Black On Both Sides affected by it, and what did you and your team do to adjust to the safety guidelines necessitated by this pandemic?
AH: To be completely honest, COVID-19 really put a damper on my year creatively. We had to shut down production for three months, which was precious time – especially for an independent filmmaker. There was a moment where I was in despair because not only is the momentum you’ve been building for the past three years now put on hold, people are suffering and dying of this terrible disease, and there were all these conflicting reports of how bad it was in the beginning so nobody really knew how to proceed.
I was in constant communication with my cast and crew and once we had some actual guidelines put in place, I was able to set up things so that we could return to production whilst being as safe as possible. Of course, masks were mandatory between takes, and we made sure to have hand sanitizer on hand for everyone. Probably the wildest story is (when) one weekend we were set to film at a hotel room, I arrived an hour and a half early to sanitize the room myself before the cast arrived. The entire room smelled like bleach and Lysol while we were filming!
CH: What was the production process like for this season of Black On Both Sides, and how did it improve from season 1 to season 2?
AH: My team and I have been working together for the better part of 3 years. So at this point it’s like we are a well-oiled machine.
If COVID hadn’t been a factor, we would actually have had the time to film two series: the second season of Black On Both Sides and a new series that I am working on for the platform Jaro Media. That was the plan originally; to shoot back-to-back. But because of the time lost due to COVID-19, I had to prioritize Black On Both Sides since we had a release date firmly set.
CH: Now that Black On Both Sideshas exclusively partnered with web series streaming platform Seeka TV, whose CEO George Reese is also a producer on the show, how has this partnership benefited not only Black On Both Sides but also your career as an actor and filmmaker, and those of your cast and crew?
AH: Seeka TV was the first major platform to believe in me as a creative and take a chance. People don’t know, but Seeka TV picked up my first series, Blue Collar Hustle, when we only had three episodes completed. They literally took us from YouTube to their platform with only three episodes to judge upon.
Blue Collar Hustle was my first time writing scripts, acting, producing, really anything; and Seeka took that chance, and not only that, they made Blue Collar Hustle a major part of their advertising and marketing initiative. So the trust they had in my vision early on was a great confidence builder. When I pitched Black On Both Sides to George, it basically only took about three months to get a green light, which in this business is phenomenal. I love Seeka, I love what they stand for, and I hope to keep working with them on future endeavors.
CH: As you mentioned, you recently signed a development deal with Jaro Media, whom you’ll be working with on another web series you’ll be writing and producing. Are there any details you can share with us about that project, and if so, how far along is it in the development phase?
AH: This was the series I was supposed to be filming alongside Black On Both Sides this year. Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, we weren’t able to realize that goal. But the series will definitely be premiering in 2021. I can’t give specifics, but Richard DeVaughn, who runs Jaro, has an amazing Black-owned platform that not only encompasses film and digital series, but also books, podcasts, and news.
His platform is what I feel entertainment platforms of the very near future will look like. The series I’m working on is something completely different than anything I’ve done before. I like to seek new creative challenges and this one really excites me! More info will be coming towards the top of the new year.
CH: Are there any further seasons planned for Black On Both Sides, and if so, what plans do you have to continue the series?
AH: Everything that has a beginning has an end. I believe that season 2 will sufficiently conclude Anansi’s story. I am not one who likes to extend the life of a project simply because it has been successful. As an independent filmmaker, I am very well aware that my shelf life can be very long or abruptly cut short. Funding issues are always something that keeps me up at night, even with the success I’ve had.
So I find it necessary to be able to at least say that I took every opportunity to prove my versatility by putting out a multitude of quality projects while my time is now. I am blessed to say that in three years I’ve written 32 scripts and all 32 of them have been produced. That’s more than a lot of independent creatives get to produce in a lifetime and I am so grateful. I am also excited to show the audience what I have for them next!
CH: Finally, given this incredibly difficult time we’re all living through, and the urgency of both the social justice issues America is confronting and the importance of this year’s election, what do you hope viewers of Black On Both Sides take away from seeing the show and its depiction of the real life problems that affect today’s society?
AH: I hope that people are affected to the point where they actually want to do something to make real change. Black On Both Sides shouldn’t have to exist. I should be making the next Star Wars, the next Game Of Thrones, the next black James Bond or something stylish and fun. But I have a responsibility as a Black creative to tell the truth, and the truth right now isn’t escapism and fun. The truth is raw, it’s ugly, it’s painful, and it needs to be told. At the end of the day I am a black man in America; and that story cannot be buried.
Great read
mbewane
Knicks: 93 til infinity
mbewane
Knicks: 93 til infinity
Directed by: Alonge Hawes
Written by: Alonge Hawes
Genre: Drama / Series
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Black on Both Sides - Sankofa
Season 2 Episodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Black on Both Sides: Sankofa is the second season of the same name from series creator Alonge Hawes. The show focuses on Anansi Moor and his continued plan to raise capital and start up his new business venture, Sankofa Industries. Season one is recommended viewing before watching this second season, but not necessarily necessary. The story of this season can be enjoyed without prior viewing as it's mostly stand alone. You may be thrown for a loop when regarding Anansi Moor getting called into an office meeting for discipline, but it all explains itself.
This season opens with John Redding, a black man, being gunned down in his apartment by the police for no apparent reason. This event acts as a call to action for all the characters in this series, including Anansi. After a podcast from series regular Henry Gil Scott Heron, disciplinary action is taken against Anansi for what transpired in season one. What comes next is a demand to see the police footage of what happened during the shooting of John Redding and the former start of a movement.
It's at around this point that Anansi devises a new way to keep money flowing into Sankofa Industries and we're also introduced to another set of characters from season one. These two will play an important role much later in this season. Other season highlights include Cyrus asking Anansi to help his wife write a speech. The full episode titled, Black History Year, a physical conflict at work between Henry and his new boss at Legacy Wireless, and the uncovering of Anansi's plan to fund his business using money from Legacy. Season five ends with a cliffhanger and Anansi's final decision on the official stand his company will take on the John Redding, and similar issues. Alonge Hawes also closes in a powerful way using various video clips of police brutality.
I was more emotionally involves during this season despite technical problems on almost every level. Some episodes were really drawn out, and there ares several instances of really bad audio. Chapter four in particular was very hard to hear without cranking my volume almost to the maximum, and that resulted in me almost blowing out my speakers when the audio returned to normal. The series format uses a lot of hand-held activity that seems a little jarring for such a drama based title. But this was all expected because Black on Both Sides is a micro budget series, so I tried to keep that in mind when writing this review. The other thing I've noticed is the major length differences of each episode. A standard half hour show is usually between 22 and 24 minutes, doubled for an hour long, and usually kept consistent. I don't know why, but the varying lengths kept me looking at the video timer and not the video. Maybe the idea of certain lengths has become hard stamped into my brain.
Having no real budget hasn't stopped this series from being cool and interesting. I don't mean people won't know it's a micro budget production, but once you get into it you just don't care. There's drama, there are real life connections, and even though it lacks the studio produced look we've all become accustomed to, there's something real and true about a less polished series. It hits home with a much stronger impact. Black on Both Sides is worth starting from the beginning, and keeps getting better as it continues.
@Illeye buckmatic @IllmaticDelta @IllmaticDelta @Easy-E @Esco @Milk N Cookies @PlayerNinety_Nine @BXKingPin82 @MartyMcFly @True Blue Moon @LinusCaldwell @mr.africa @Originalman @Soymuscle Mike @mbewane @The Hierophant @-DMP- @Afro @Afrodroid @Afromaticz @Colicat @Chelsea Bridge @KravenMorehead™ @Rekkapryde @krackdagawd @Morose Polymath @LauderdaleBoss @UserNameless @Booksnrain @Kiyoshi-Dono
Written by: Alonge Hawes
Genre: Drama / Series
Connect:
NEED A REVIEW?
Click here to get one.
Black on Both Sides - Sankofa
Season 2 Episodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Black on Both Sides: Sankofa is the second season of the same name from series creator Alonge Hawes. The show focuses on Anansi Moor and his continued plan to raise capital and start up his new business venture, Sankofa Industries. Season one is recommended viewing before watching this second season, but not necessarily necessary. The story of this season can be enjoyed without prior viewing as it's mostly stand alone. You may be thrown for a loop when regarding Anansi Moor getting called into an office meeting for discipline, but it all explains itself.
This season opens with John Redding, a black man, being gunned down in his apartment by the police for no apparent reason. This event acts as a call to action for all the characters in this series, including Anansi. After a podcast from series regular Henry Gil Scott Heron, disciplinary action is taken against Anansi for what transpired in season one. What comes next is a demand to see the police footage of what happened during the shooting of John Redding and the former start of a movement.
It's at around this point that Anansi devises a new way to keep money flowing into Sankofa Industries and we're also introduced to another set of characters from season one. These two will play an important role much later in this season. Other season highlights include Cyrus asking Anansi to help his wife write a speech. The full episode titled, Black History Year, a physical conflict at work between Henry and his new boss at Legacy Wireless, and the uncovering of Anansi's plan to fund his business using money from Legacy. Season five ends with a cliffhanger and Anansi's final decision on the official stand his company will take on the John Redding, and similar issues. Alonge Hawes also closes in a powerful way using various video clips of police brutality.
I was more emotionally involves during this season despite technical problems on almost every level. Some episodes were really drawn out, and there ares several instances of really bad audio. Chapter four in particular was very hard to hear without cranking my volume almost to the maximum, and that resulted in me almost blowing out my speakers when the audio returned to normal. The series format uses a lot of hand-held activity that seems a little jarring for such a drama based title. But this was all expected because Black on Both Sides is a micro budget series, so I tried to keep that in mind when writing this review. The other thing I've noticed is the major length differences of each episode. A standard half hour show is usually between 22 and 24 minutes, doubled for an hour long, and usually kept consistent. I don't know why, but the varying lengths kept me looking at the video timer and not the video. Maybe the idea of certain lengths has become hard stamped into my brain.
Having no real budget hasn't stopped this series from being cool and interesting. I don't mean people won't know it's a micro budget production, but once you get into it you just don't care. There's drama, there are real life connections, and even though it lacks the studio produced look we've all become accustomed to, there's something real and true about a less polished series. It hits home with a much stronger impact. Black on Both Sides is worth starting from the beginning, and keeps getting better as it continues.
@Illeye buckmatic @IllmaticDelta @IllmaticDelta @Easy-E @Esco @Milk N Cookies @PlayerNinety_Nine @BXKingPin82 @MartyMcFly @True Blue Moon @LinusCaldwell @mr.africa @Originalman @Soymuscle Mike @mbewane @The Hierophant @-DMP- @Afro @Afrodroid @Afromaticz @Colicat @Chelsea Bridge @KravenMorehead™ @Rekkapryde @krackdagawd @Morose Polymath @LauderdaleBoss @UserNameless @Booksnrain @Kiyoshi-Dono
i'm gonna check this
