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DIARY OF A SINGLE MOM |
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Starring:
Monica Calhoun, Valery Ortiz,
Janice Lynde, Richard Roundtree,
Leon, Billy Dee Williams, Nieko
Mann, Brooklyn McLinn, Carlo
Mendez, Janice Kent, China
Anderson, Jonathan Biggs, Zach
Callison, Ava Marie Ester and
Logan Grove. |
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Director:
Robert Townsend |
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Diary of a Single
Mom is a web based original
series that chronicles the lives
and challenges of three single
mothers and their families
trying to get ahead despite
obstacles that all single
mothers face, such as childcare,
healthcare, education and
finances. The series is produced
and directed by award-winning
filmmaker Robert Townsend,
renowned for such films as
Hollywood Shuffle and Meteor Man
and written by award-winning
playwright and screenwriter
Cheryl L. West. |
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By
Tonisha Johnson |
Being a single
mother is never
easy. Your plate is
filled with so many
things to do,
contend with and
adjust to. And all
of this is before
you can get to what
you, as a person,
really needs.
Director Robert
Townsend visually
captures the side
effects of a crowded
home run by one
parent in Diary of a
Single Mom.
Robert what was it
about this story
that peaked your
interest?
Robert Townsend:
My mother raised 4 kids
on her own. I saw the
struggles firsthand.
When I thought about the
series, I loved that.
The characters carry a
lot of weight and they
have a lot they are
dealing with.
Tyler Perry had a movie,
"Meet the Browns"
regarding single moms;
is this topic coming
into its own?
Robert Townsend:
I just think
that everybody
creates in their own
lane. I had no idea
what other artists
are working on. They
play NBA stars and
athletes. Single
mothers are unsung
heroes. Rather than
say catching on,
people are starting
to acknowledge.
The shows
character Peggy
is facing some
real world
situations like
health care. Can
you explain why
that was placed
in the
storyline?
Robert Townsend:
Single mothers
come in all
colors and
races. What we
wanted to do was
we wanted to
show a canvas
that is
reflected. We
have Peggy who
is a grandmother
who lost her
daughter who has
to raise her
grandson. We
kind of hit
different demos,
in terms of
different types
of women. You
really believe
there
friendship.
Fighting back
and forth, is
real. Peggy
doesn't have
healthcare. We
show what the
problem is. That
when you get
sick and you
don't have it.
We present the
problem as real
to what we are
going through. I
tried to use the
art to highlight
and educate
people to what's
going on and
kind of give
them solutions.
When will the
show be coming
to TV?
Robert Townsend:
We are
trying to fight
for slots but
we're talkiing
about substance.
Everybody is
looking for
reality shows so
it makes the
slice [of the
pie] thinner.
What would be
the change to
the root of the
problem that
your show
addresses with
regards to
single parent
households?
Robert Townsend:
I think
that when people
see the show, we
are hitting it
from all sides.
You hit from the
point of view of
how it effects
the children.
Ocean (Monica
Calhoun) is
lonely and wants
a life. Some are
figuring out
what life is.
With the men,
some want to be
there for their
kids. Everybody
comes in
different shapes
and sizes. When
we look at the
world we created
there is no easy
answer. I
believe you
plant seeds. We
are planting
seeds. I think
that we are
opening a can of
worms and it
will spark that
conversation.
How did you come
to work with
Richard
Roundtree?
Robert Townsend:
We have script
meetings and
talks about how
does this
untraditional
family cope.
When I think
about Richard
Roundtree, Lou
Bailey, it's
something about
the writing that
gives the
essence of the
character that
he's delved
into.
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Copyright © 2010 Gesica Magazine |
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