50+ Shows. No Film School. How Tony McCuin Became One of TV's Most Powerful Live Directors

50+ Shows. No Film School. How Tony McCuin Became One of TV's Most Powerful Live Directors

Most people have watched the NAACP Image Awards for years without knowing his name. Tony McCuin is the director who makes it all happen — and in this episode, he finally steps out from behind the camera. In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, host Ariana Drummond sits down with an award-winning live television director, Tony McCuin — the man behind the NAACP Image Awards, Password with Keke Palmer, Big Brother, the Super Bowl, BET's Celebration of Gospel, Soul Train Awards, and over 50 major productions — for one of the most behind-the-scenes conversations we've ever had. Tony breaks down: → What a live TV director actually does during a telecast while the show is happening in real time → Why the NAACP Image Awards "just hit different" and how he shoots it almost entirely in the round → The night Whitney Houston walked out, and he couldn't take the camera off her — not for a single reaction shot → What it felt like to be the first Black man directing Password — TV history in real time → How Big Brother taught him to let the audience pick the shots they wanted to see → The Deon Cole and Leslie Jones moment that went viral — and how he set it up in advance → His philosophy on protecting your talent – no matter what → Why he treats every act like its own separate little show → How he went from South Central to public access cable to the Super Bowl without ever going to college → "Pray Rich" — his spiritual philosophy that has carried him through 40+ years in television → The team of angels around him that keeps him going This is the episode for every aspiring director, camera operator, and behind-the-camera creative who has ever wondered what it really looks like to command a live set. ️ Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations Guest: Tony McCuin — NAACP Image Awards, Password, Big Brother, Super Bowl, BET Celebration of Gospel, Soul Train Awards New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one. ️ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=a5a8e1df47ba4084 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807 Watch the full playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T&si=nge5yZhBmU8SIZ9D  Learn more about NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus Follow Tony McCuin: https://www.instagram.com/tonymccuin/ Follow Ariana Drummond: https://www.instagram.com/arianad_pr/ [https://www.instagram.com/arianad_pr/] #InsideTheIndustry #NAACPPlus #TonyMcCuin #LiveTV #NaacpImageAwards #BlackDirectors #BehindTheCamera #Password #BigBrother #WhitneyHouston #ArianaDrummond #BlackCreatives #TVDirector #EntertainmentIndustry #BlackExcellence

Algee Smith: From Broke in LA to Euphoria, Jamie Foxx & Owning His Music

Algee Smith has never played it safe — and this conversation proves exactly why that's his superpower. From sleeping on a friend's couch in North Hollywood, surviving on El Pollo Loco and 7-Eleven Slurpees, to booking the New Edition Story AND Detroit in the same month — Algee's journey is one of radical faith, relentless study, and a refusal to shrink. In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, host Ariana Drummond sits down with the actor, recording artist, and NAACP Image Award nominee to talk craft, ownership, representation, and what it really takes to build a career across two industries. In this episode, we unpack: → How Algee chooses roles — and why the script always comes first → Working with Jamie Foxx on Netflix's Fight for 84 and what he learned watching Jamie set the tone on set with a boombox → The story behind his EP Love Lost — the breakup, the healing, and why men needed to hear it → Flying from Atlanta to Connecticut just to track down clearance for a sample on 'Spiraling.' → What it felt like to book New Edition and Detroit while broke and days away from flying home → How playing both a Black Panther and a cop forced him to wrestle with his own identity → His tribute to late co-star James Van Der Beek and the gems shared in an RV between scenes → The real difference between working on Black-led sets versus majority-white productions → Why ownership is legacy — and why he's never signing another deal without equity → Practical advice on contracts, AI, community building, and protecting your peace in Hollywood Subscribe to NAACP+ Inside the Industry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T] ️ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807] Follow Algee Smith: https://www.instagram.com/itsalgee/ https://youtube.com/@itsalgee?si=se6LrU3mfdh-2oxu [https://youtube.com/@itsalgee?si=se6LrU3mfdh-2oxu] Follow Ariana Drummond: https://www.instagram.com/arianad_pr/ [https://www.instagram.com/arianad_pr/] Learn more about NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus [https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus] Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/naacpplus/ [https://www.instagram.com/naacpplus/]

Hollywood's Top Publicist Reveals What It Really Takes to Make Stars | Shannon Barr

What does it actually take to shape the careers of Hollywood's biggest stars — and survive the chaos behind the scenes? Veteran publicist Shannon Barr pulls back the curtain on 20+ years in entertainment PR, from her early days at ICM to managing crises at 3 am, losing client John Singleton, and what it really costs to get the press you deserve. In this episode, Shannon covers: → How she got her start — and the friend named Caprice who changed everything → The toxic ICM boss she finally quit on (out loud, by accident) → Why braids cost her job opportunities and the racism she faced climbing Hollywood's ladder → What publicists actually do during a celebrity crisis (yes, the Will Smith slap comes up) → Why PR is a marathon, not a sprint — and what that means for your career → The real cost of hiring a publicist and why boutique pricing matters → Her 20-year relationship with Kenya Moore and why she fell in love with her instantly → The deeply emotional story of losing John Singleton and writing his final statement → How she represented Damson Idris, Isaiah John, and Malcolm Mays as emerging talent → What she wants her legacy to be as a star maker ️ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e [https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e] Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807]  Watch the full playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T]  Learn more about NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus [https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus] Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/naacpplus/ [https://www.instagram.com/naacpplus/] Follow Shannon Barr: https://www.instagram.com/sbarr06/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/sbarr06/?hl=en] Follow Ariana Drummond: https://www.instagram.com/arianad_pr/ [https://www.instagram.com/arianad_pr/]

From Interning at Hot 97 to the Met Gala with Rihanna — Entertainment Journalist Gia Peppers

What does it actually take to build a two-decade career in entertainment journalism — across NBC's Today Show, Hot 97, Essence, Access Hollywood, BET, and the Met Gala red carpet with Rihanna? In this episode of NAACP+'s Inside the Industry, host ArianaDrummond sits down with her close friend and NAACP Image Awards-nominated journalist, podcaster, and host Gia Peppers for one of the most candid, funny, and genuinely inspiring conversations in the series so far. Gia breaks down: → How she went from overnight shifts at CBS Radio News to   the Met Gala carpet — and what happened in between → What her dad's 23 years at NPR taught her about   storytelling before she ever stepped into a newsroom → How she co-created Black Girl Podcast before Black women   podcasting was even a thing — and what it feels like to have built a blueprint you don't always get credit for → What it was really like interviewing Rihanna, Kobe Bryant, and Vice President Kamala Harris → How to navigate microaggressions as a Black woman in media without losing your voice or your career → Why she did the New York to D.C. commute for four years straight while working at Hot 97, Essence, and hosting   for the Washington Wizards simultaneously → The pay equity conversation that changed how she thinks about negotiating forever → Why she's launching Creatives of Faith — and what it means to keep creatives on assignment from God → The state of Black media right now and what we all need to do about it → Why dragging the rooms you want to be in is her most unpopular industry opinion Plus — her most honest reflection on legacy, what she still wants to build, and the moment at her friend's funeral that made her decide to go all the way in on her dreams. This is the episode for every aspiring journalist, content creator, and Black woman trying to take up space in an industry that wasn't built for her. Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations  Guest: Gia Peppers — Today Show, Hot 97, Essence, More Than   That with Gia Peppers, Healed Girl Era, Black Girl Podcast New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one. Watch more Inside the Industry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T]  Listen on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e [https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e]  Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807]  Follow NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus [https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus]

Tribeca Film Festival Programmer Reveals Why Your Film Really Got Rejected

If your film has been rejected by festival after festival, this episode is going to change how you think about everything. In this episode of NAACP+'s Inside the Industry, host Ariana Drummond sits down with Kimberley Browning — veteran film programmer, festival director, and Senior Associate Short Film Programmer for the Tribeca Film Festival — to pull back the curtain on how film festivals actually work, what programmers are really looking for, and the costly mistakes filmmakers make that have nothing to do with the quality of their films. Kimberley breaks down: → How programmers actually decide which films get selected → Why most festival rejections have nothing to do with your filmmaking → The biggest mistake filmmakers make when building a festival strategy → Why you should stop obsessing over the top 10 festivals you can name → How to build a festival strategy unique to the film you actually made → What really happens after your film gets accepted to a major festival → How to qualify for the Oscars without spending thousands of dollars → The insider tip on completion dates that most filmmakers don't know → Why submitting a rough cut could cost you more than just this festival → How film festivals are evolving in the streaming era → What the rise of virtual festivals means for filmmakers worldwide → The one music licensing mistake that's killing independent films Plus — Kimberley shares the story of the film that helped a woman get clemency, why rejection letters are not commentary on your talent, and what she wants her legacy in this industry to be. This is the episode every filmmaker needs to watch before their next submission. Period.  Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations  Guest: Kimberley Browning — Tribeca Film Festival, HBO, AFI, ABFF New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one. Watch more Inside the Industry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T]  Listen on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e [https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e]  Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807]  Follow NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus [https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus] #InsideTheIndustry #NAACPPlus #FilmFestival #TribecaFilmFestival#IndependentFilm #Filmmaking #BlackFilmmakers #FilmFestivalStrategy#KimberleyBrowning #ArianaDrummond #ShortFilms #IndieFilm#FilmDistribution #BlackCreatives #OscarQualifying