December 12, 2014
DeVon Franklin Talks ‘Annie’ Remake, Social Activism and Hollywood’s Role in Shaping Perception
What advice do you have for someone who’s looking to break into the film production industry?
One, you have to be determined. You have to be obsessed and what I mean by that is if you can do anything else in life then this is not for you. This has to be the thing that you know you’re supposed to do, and you also have to uncomfortably put yourself in situations where you can get evidence if it’s what you’re supposed to do. It’s one thing to think you want to do it, but it’s another thing to get the validation and evidence that you’re supposed to do it. You have to get out of your comfort zone. You have to apply for jobs. You have to network. You have to speak up. People are going to tell you “no.†You’re going to get rejected time and time again, but all you need is one “yes†to make the difference so you have to keep going.
Another thing is you have to do your research. When I was coming up there wasn’t Google and all of these resources available. Now, you have millions of resources available just at the click of a button. People I come across say they want to be in entertainment and I say, “Oh really! Have you been reading Variety? Have you been reading The Hollywood Reporter? What was the last movie you saw?†These are questions that can sometimes betray someone’s interest because if they don’t know the answer to a lot of these questions it means they aren’t really doing the research. When you’re passionate about something I don’t have to tell you where to go for it, you’re already seeking it out for yourself because you’re passionate. The other thing I would say is always look to be of service. So many people that I’ve counseled or so many youngsters that are coming up in the business are like “Hey, I want to be a producer. Or hey, I want to do this.†Great! Nothing wrong with your aspirations, but the way you’re going to achieve your aspiration is by serving someone else. I started as an intern working for Will Smith’s management company. I was unpaid, getting coffee, getting scripts, picking up dry cleaning, running personal errands. This is how I started and the only way I was ever able to get a conversation with Will was through service. He would see my work before he saw me. It was like “What kid is doing this and how is he doing that? Who’s this DeVon? Oh, he’s the one doing all of this? Cool.†So, when I had something to say to him, he was receptive and responsive because my work was the first thing that did the talking for me.
Now with the news of Michael Brown, Eric Garner and the list goes on, do you feel that Hollywood has a role in using its platform to speak out on those issues?
Yes, I think the role of Hollywood is actually very critical in all of this because it’s an industry that can shape perception. I think it’s really important to look at how we are showcasing and portraying people of color in film and television because those portrayals absolutely shape the perception and the reality of how people of color are viewed day-to-day. So I think that’s one area of responsibility. I also think it’s important to use the platform that we’ve all been given to bring a voice and activism around these issues that definitely need our attention and certainly need our action. I feel a responsibility as someone in the industry to not only champion and produce content that can shape the perception, but also on a personal level use this platform to bring advocacy and awareness.
Be sure to catch DeVon Franklin on this weekend’s episode of Our World on Saturday via your local station (check local listings), and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. EST on TV One.