Hello and welcome to Big a energy.
I'm Caitlin and I'm theora come along with us while we dive into
the fun and nuances of queer media representation matters.
And we're here to talk about it. Cheers queers today on the big
agenda. I am talking to Kayla Hopkins,
the creator of a new TV pilot ill-advised.
This project is currently in the crowdfunding stage and is about
three queer bypass 20 somethings trying and often failing to make
it through the modern Troubles of living in New York City.
Finding love and settling on a career.
Welcome to the podcast Kayla. Hi, thank you so much.
I'm so happy to be here. Oh, I am so excited to get to
talk to you. I found your project randomly
late at night and so glad I did. Can you talk more about what
this pilot is about? Yeah, I love that.
You you found it late at night because I got the idea late at
night and so I feel like it's very but yeah, I mean you gave a
really good synopsis. It's basically about these three
besties living in New York. They're by puck, they're queer.
They're really just trying to figure it out there in their 20s
and I like to kind of compare it to Sex in the City but jinsy
black and queer. Which is like you know I'm not
sex in the city at all. But that's that's kind of our
little Spiel to get idea. Yeah.
But yeah, that's that's our little show that we're making.
And, you know, it's a comedy. It's fun.
It's young sexy. Yeah.
Love it. Love all the things that you're
saying right now. What inspired you to tell this
particular story? Um, I am a lover of sitcoms and
I, you know, I'm the only child. So I spent most of my time
watching TV and like, going back in time and watching those shows
too. So I, I really loved like
friends and and then I discovered Living Single and,
and sex in the city and willing Grace.
And, you know, all these shows that are very much like, friend
groups in New York City Comedy, and I really latched on to them.
They're very bingeable, very comforting.
And so going from there, I, I realized like, oh, I love these
shows, but I don't see myself in these shows at all.
Um, and so it was kind of like, That got me into writing and
that I was like, oh let me just write a sitcom.
That is also like the main Ensemble happens to be black and
happened to be queer. Just like me just like a little
project of representation and then it'll advise was was
concocted. I'm also.
Technically an early childhood. And yeah TV has been a great
escapism and I like love shows like the Bold type younger
sitcom. Like it's always like the dream
like oh I want that friend group.
Yes. And it's like such a, it's such
a family too. I think that's what's also
really big especially like being only children growing up.
It's like, okay, I pick my my siblings because I don't have
siblings so I really became close with my friends and so
it's like thinking of growing up, I'm like I absolutely want
to be like living in the same building as my friends and they
just like open the door and walk in and we have like breakfast
together and they tell me about what happened last night.
Like that was totally the dream and then like moving to New York
and now I'm like each year I get a little bit closer.
Like now I live in Bushwick where like every queer 20
something to Bushwick it's really horrendous but we're all
here it's us in the rats baby we're really living it up.
But like now I'm like A five minute walk away from like my
best friend's house. And so like we always like, you
know, spend the weekend like, you know, we have game nights or
we watched like RuPaul's Drag Race every Friday when it's out.
So it's definitely it's the Dream.
It's the only kid Dream. It's to like being near my
friends at all time. That's amazing.
I love that. You have achieved the dream.
Yes. Now I just have to like get them
all in one building and be like don't you love it?
Isn't this. It's just like This all you have
to just come together by a building.
Yeah. And have the compound right.
Why you just live? I bring up a compound at least
once a year as you like guys we could buy land like we could
make this. So hasn't happened.
But one day one day one day there's still time.
Yeah. So you brought this up of
representation is a core aspect of this project.
How does it would advise aim to challenge stereotypes or fill in
gaps in current media representation for black and
queer communities? So we know there's a lot.
There's yeah, there is a lot I think.
Mainly where we're gearing towards filling in gaps, rather
than busting stereotypes. I think, luckily there's been a
lot of creators before me that did that work.
And so I really like put the Trust In My audience of like,
you guys know how to treat people like you, you know,
what's what's right and wrong and if you don't and this isn't
the show for you but I'm not gonna spend you know, our time
trying to teach viewers like hey that's a stereotype.
That's not like how people actually are.
And said I really wanted to like depict real life.
Black queer Gene's running around the city so I think
really it's like we're not Reinventing the wheel.
This is a sitcom. It's like it's really fun and
it's really like Relatable. And so, I'm just feeling in the
gap of, like, giving people something that they can see
themselves in. So it's like, you know, my main
Ensemble is black and we're queer, and we're in our 20s.
That's just something that's not really on the market right now
or kind of has ever been, but that's, that's the Gap.
We're filming in, but it's, it's kind of like, I don't want to
spend too much time and and teaching people, I just want to
I'm very big believer in life. Imitates art one of my favorite
little sayings and I feel like if we show more people of color
and we show more queer people in Media, Living normal lives and
not like being destined to trauma and unrequited love.
Like that's not my day to day. Believe it or not, I get to kiss
people. I I really do like it's fine.
You are not traumatized. Every second of the day, every
second I've promised I I get to go to like the bar and have a
drink and Kiki and then go home and go to bed like that's a
that's like totally a normal thing and I'm like I want to
show more of that and then hopefully you know my of course
my big artists dream is that like the world will see us and
and it won't be such a taboo to to be black and be queer in
America. It's just like oh yeah, of
course, like just like my favorite characters on Ellen
advice, you know? Say yeah.
Also not having just that one token, black or and or queer.
Ya in a show. Yeah, I feel like that's
something. We run into a lot, especially on
like the shows that are more like, quote unquote inclusive.
It's like, yeah, but it's still like, feels like a form of
token. Is when it's just like one or
two people in The Ensemble that that fits those molds.
Definitely. Especially in.
Western media, we've been covering some Thai media on the
podcast. And other foreign media and
they're just like fully when they're queer their queer.
And they go all in and it's just been nice to see.
So, thank you for bringing that here.
Yeah, I'm trying So can you talk more about the writing process
for ill-advised and how you develop the characters in The
Unique Dynamics between them? Yeah.
I mean So the crazy thing about this show is that there wasn't
much of a writing process which like any of my writing friends
would be like, that's crazy. What do you mean?
Because literally 2020 the scary years, the year that shall not
be named. I was going to bed laid down
middle of the night and then these people started talking in
my head, they were at brunch they were talking about anal and
white men and they were doing over mimosas and I was like, oh
my gosh, I have to write them down and this is like the first
time and because I, I read a lot.
And this is the first time that like These characters came fully
developed with full conversations and their own
problems and it was really just a matter of getting it all out
and reading it down. And so that's been like really
cool that this ends up being the project as well that we were
really like gearing towards and making happen because it just
feels so fully formed. It's like, it's just a full
ideas. Like, I don't know, I feel like
I meant to know, Patrice Donna, but like they're, they're my, my
imaginary friends that came to me in a hard time.
To remind me that like, You know things suck but like we could
also just Kiki, it's fine. So can you can you talk about
the main character a little bit? Yeah.
So the show revolves around Bo Donna and Patrice their best
friends. They're in their 20s living in
New York and they're very specific personalities.
They're they're in the realm of like I guess the Sex In The City
girls. Like there's a bow who is like a
lives in the fashion world and she's like a model model agents
assistant and so she's like figuring out her thing and she's
very cool and she and her big problem is that she's thinking
about getting serious with her, I'm allowed to curse on here,
right? Yes.
Okay, she's thinking about getting serious with her fuck
buddy, but it's white man. And it's kind of like that's the
big problem of like, okay. But am I Really Gonna Get
Serious with a white man? Like this is That's in this day
and age and so that's her deal while.
Donna who is played by our wonderful?
Beautiful trans actress and influencer Anthony Boombah.
She is kind of going through the Hoops of Finding herself and and
fighting out how she wants to be loved and how she loves herself.
There's like you know, incident with like a photographer who
really wants her to like, you know, come in for a shoot but
wants her to be bare, like doesn't want her to come in with
all the makeup and the heels and everything and then that's kind
of a turning point for, for Donna.
And that like She's thinking okay wait that's not the girl
that I like. I like the girl that has the
glitz and Glam. So what does that say about me?
And so there's that that whole thing and then we have our
lovely little petrice who is like The Quiet One.
She's like the artist. She's very shy and she finds out
that she might be gay. So she's going on this journey
of like she has a crush on her boss and she's like, but I
didn't think I was gay and everybody's like, girl
everybody's a little gay that's just life and so it's like her
going on this journey of like finding her sexuality.
So they're all have their own little little issues and they're
all healthy, quote unquote each other because the show is called
Elvis. And what's more advice than a
bunch of 20, something's trying to leave each other.
We never know what we're talking about and we don't have enough
experience and that's what makes it so fun.
What do you hope viewers will connect?
Most With about them. I'm, I think, just the fact that
They're so relatable. I want them.
I want our viewers to see themselves and especially like
in your 20s. The quote unquote, supposed to
be a time of your life, it's really not that great.
It's really scary and it's terrifying and you're drinking
way too much and you're going out way too much and you're
making these mistakes and learning from them.
But it's, it's nice to know that you have your friends by your
side. So I think I really want the
audience to take away that like okay, what I'm going through is
normal and like it's fine and I I can still try and have a good
time and write it out and learn It's so important for people to
be able to see themselves in media and it's great that this
is going to give a lot more people, the opportunity to see
themselves, that's the goal and that's something that I
personally have missed out on a lot growing up and I'm just now
getting real glimpses of it today in media and, you know,
shout out to Raven Symone because she raised an entire
generations of black girls, all on her own.
So she was my only representation growing up and so
I really want to take the steps towards making that not the the
reality of our world. So it really shouldn't be.
There should be all those are presentation out there that's
just natural and not forced. Yes, it's not forced to life.
Thank you. so you brought up Sex in the City, are there any other
shows that are in that Illinois is inspired by Tone, or Visual
style of the show. Yeah.
Um, definitely. I love the Bold type when it was
out. So where I think that that being
more of like a modern version, we take a lot from there.
We also take a lot from Living Single, which is like a show
from the 90s Queen Latifah, really great if you haven't seen
it to love it. It's it was basically it was
friends and then I think the creator of friends came by the
set and was like I want this and then made friends so yeah okay
yeah all right, check it out. It's on Hulu, love it, love it,
love it, love it. Um girlfriends you know just
like these shows that Are very much about these group of girls
who are like living and and you know exploring themselves and
they have each other's back. Like that's very much like our
Vibe and having to take from those shows, especially the ones
from the 90s when that was kind of more of a thing that was
happening on television. We've been able to to look back
at and really reach into the archives and be like, oh yeah we
want something like this and try and modernize.
It full-time is one of my favorite shows.
So like when I saw that I'm like Even in more.
But yeah, again, how could you like not hear about all these
things with this project of what's inspires it and not be
like, I need to see this. Yeah.
As a black queer woman, how has
your personal experience shaped the narratives and themes of
ill-advised? Um, I think just I'm from
Atlanta from Georgia. I'm not from man land from
Jonesboro Georgia, but very close to that which is like, you
know, the home of black and and queer people in America.
That's where we're made basically.
And so, I grew up kind of in a world in which Joy and
boisterous. And and kind of vibrancy is the
norm, and it's like, no matter what's going on, no matter what
hardships are happening around you, it's very like normal and
an environment filled with like, people of color and queer people
to like still find the find. The funny, Find the Joy, find
the friendship. And so I think, you know, as I
Got older, I went to college in New York and I went to a
predominantly white school and I was kind of my first time being
surrounded by white people and being in this new world and and
surrounded by these different cultures. and, Then it became me
trying to figure out. Okay where do I fit in?
And so I think in writing this it was more of a love letter to
the people that I grew up around and a lot of my friends that I
have and which like we're able to always find the joy and and
the fun, but we're also like growing up and we're trying to
figure out where we fit in and how we're able to navigate this
world outside of like, where we where we were made.
And we're we grew up. So I think a lot of that is
within this series and that's like a really big piece of
myself and just figuring figuring it out figuring out how
I how it fit and all. So, Wanting to keep that like
that girl, you know, it'd be like that.
What do you think sets of the show part from other similar
shows of Frank groups and navigating life?
um, I think So here's the thing, I don't feel like I'm
Reinventing the wheel here. I feel like I'm just inviting
more people to see how the Wheel Works.
Like I this is a show that in many ways has been done before.
It's just the difference is that we have a mainly Black Ensemble
in a mainly Queer on top of like that's kind of the big
difference. Like I'm, I I and I want that to
kind of be broadcast that like, isn't it crazy?
That hasn't happened yet. Like that's the only thing like
we've all seen a sitcom leave all of like a comedic television
show. Really.
The only thing is that it's it's black and queer all around.
That's very sad that we have to say that.
Yeah, yeah. that's, And it just shows again, that it is needed.
So one day, We won't be able to say that because we will have
this wonderful project, but it doesn't mean that we can't have
more too, we want more give us more.
Give it give it all. Yes.
Your campaign highlights, the importance of supporting your
predominantly female and queer crew.
Can you talk more about the team behind ill-advised and how
they're contributing to the project?
Yes. So my crew is my friends which
is like the joys of being an indie filmmaker.
Is that you get to work with your with your people.
And so, our main crew right now, that's been really working, so
hard to to make ill-advised happen.
Is my, my besties also named Kayla, all from Georgia.
We met in college. It was a whole thing.
But yeah, she's all of our, all of our people are women and
non-binary and a people of color or if they're not a person
color, if they're queer. That's kind of like my role on
my set. It's like, okay, if you can't,
if you can't be a personal color, at least, be gay.
Like he's this like, Is so Kaela Nicholson?
That's her name. We have my other wonderful
producer aquarela who is helping with you know, really bringing
everything together. She's one of our executive
producers, love her to death, she's very Stern, she gets shit
done, and always need someone like that.
We really do because Kayla is like our creative producer and
me and her like, oh my gosh, isn't this like, that's such a
great idea and then Aku comes in and it's like, okay, now we
should actually do that. Like here's the steps to make
that happen. So I have like such a really
great team behind me, that's like, making sure things get
done and then our wonderful, wonderful director, Tyler They
are just I I think of them as ethereal just the way that they
they speak in the way they connect with, like, the crew and
the actors and their, they're just so like they're in it and I
love love, love them. That's and then our wonderful
DP, Christina. And she is someone who I worked
with before and one thing about Christina, I was just talking to
someone else about this is that she is It doesn't matter how
chaotic the set is, or, like, producers, or whatever, it's got
to come out beautiful because she's behind the camera.
And so, and I thought it was also like, really important to
have a female DP on this project because it's like, it's about
these girls. And, and we really want to make
sure we have the representation not just on screen, but
off-screen. Because you can tell, you can
tell when it's like the the characters are basically like
puppets. I guess, is, you know how it
feels when, when they're people who have written, or who are a
part of the crew in making, it aren't a part of that, that
culture, or, or that group of people, you can tell.
And so, I really want to make sure that we have a lot of
people backing it, that also fit these girls so that it comes off
as authentic as possible. Representation is just as
important behind the camera as it is in front, as it is
highlighting, the people behind the camera, which is something
our podcast is, definitely passionate about.
So thanks for introducing us to everybody on your team right
now. It's so great to hear more about
them. Yes.
And you can also learn more and see their bios on our seed and
Spark just so you know You want to tell us more about the
students bark and help people can support the project.
Yes, go to our students, but please, yeah.
It's I mean, I'm sure you'll probably post a link to it, but
our students park has everything up to like, the story are a
wonderful actors who will be playing these characters.
I will be one of them and our direct our producers, and kind
of just like, you know, just the main just of the project.
What what inspires us, what, what the comps are that?
We're pulling and, and all of that good stuff.
So you really get to to get into the meat of it.
And also you give prizes as you donate.
So that's really fun. We were like, giving out a lot
of good stuff. So There's perks.
Who doesn't love stuff. Exactly, and we love to give
stuff. So when you reach your funding
goal, what are the next steps for production?
And what are your hopes for the series future?
Um, yeah, so next steps would be to shoot it, which will be the
really fun part. Yeah, a lot of the, the money is
going towards paying our our crew, and, and cast as fairly as
we can on Andy and, you know, feeding them paying for our
locations. And then, all, so paying for the
editing process, everything like that.
And then, once all of that is done.
And it's, it's so cute and pretty and a little bow.
We're gonna take it to some film festivals and our goal is for
like you know, the bigger ones where we can really get the eyes
of the folks in the industry that could can really make this
happen and also just like building engagement with our
audience with people like you who want to see this having
those numbers come in. And and like just a nice little
follow on at ill, advised pilot on Instagram, it's really
helpful. Because then as we after we've
gone on this Festival circuit, and we've like been able to get
into these rooms and talk to people will be able to pitch
this as like not only a fully formed idea with a pilot already
behind it, but as something that people genuinely want to see and
we have the numbers to back it. So throughout that process I'm
going to say I think it'll advice can be like on its way to
being on your screen and like two years.
You might be seeing a series. That's is that mean?
Just being really a really big manifestor maybe, but that's the
hope. That's the goal.
I want to give everyone this series that as I was telling you
before we got started, it's been so refreshing and kind of
mind-blowing to see that everybody who hears about it and
learns more about it. It's like, oh my gosh, I would
love to see this show. This was why I've been waiting
for. So the ultimate goal is to get
you, the show the whole show. I don't think that, that's crazy
to say, in two years we'll have a series.
Because if you weren't saying things like that, then why are
we here? You believe in the show?
I believe in this show. So let's get this man.
Yes. Thank you for telling us so much
more about the project. I have two like more fun ish
questions for you. If you could collaborate with
any actor director or just creative professional in general
for ill advised, who would it be and why?
Oh, my gosh. Oh my gosh.
Okay I'm obsessed with Michelle boutell right now.
Oh I've been obsessed with her for years like as a stand-up.
I think she's hilarious. And right now, she has a
survival of the thickest on Netflix, which I've been like
coining as like the big sister to our show because it's like
it's it's everything that like it was trying to do except it's
just older like, you know, people in their like late 30s.
And so, I would love to work with her.
I think she totally gets the vision.
I I want her to be my mentor one day and he's crossed.
Yeah, her and I'm also obsessed with Tracee Ellis Ross.
And I would want her to come on to be like somebody's like aunt
on the show because I think she's hilarious.
And I love girlfriends and she's awesome.
I love that. The great.
Great people. Yeah, hopefully, that happens
one day. Hopefully maybe we can get a
Kelsey Grammar tobacco, you know, I think it's.
So I just love my but my favorite fact about Kelsey
grammars that he was the executive producer to
girlfriends and you would have no idea.
It's like the most purely black woman show, and it's like
executive flavor produce by Fraser like what that's crazy.
I want him on my team today. I love that.
Yeah, there's just some random executive producer names that
pop up. We were covering a show in the
podcast and it's like executive producer, Will Ferrell and we're
like, What does little have to do with this show?
I want, give give me a supportive silent white man on
my team today. That's what I mean, someone to
really back us. That that's what we all want.
Someone who said quietly and goes, yeah, I support it.
And then like makes it happen and then doesn't touch your
project. That's a dream.
Yes, yes. Okay, so we've talked about
multiple shows that have inspired ill advised, but if you
could have ill advised Crossover with any show ever made, what
would it be ever made? Oh my gosh.
I don't know why That's So Raven popped into my head.
That would be crazy. I mean, I think honestly like
Probably survival of the thickest.
I think that would be a really funny crossover because like I
said like they're they're the big sister of our show, so I
think it would be one of those like Spider-Man meme pointing at
each other type of crossovers. Like girl, what I think that
will be really fun. Um, Yeah, I think I'll go with
that. I am tempted to say Abbott
Elementary though. I have no clue how these shows
would cross over. I just know that at the
elementary does so many like random crossovers that I got
that. It could be probably something
tied with the fashion character. That brings everybody together
maybe like they have to do something for good PR and then
they help this Philly school with like a fashion show for a
fundraiser. Yes.
Oh, I just that would be hilarious.
Get quite sure on the phone. Let's make this happen.
Oh my gosh, I want to see. I want to see all of this stuff
that we've talked about. I know, right?
I just want to see it. I just need to see you.
Well thank you again for taking the time to talk with me.
That's all the questions I had for you.
I loved getting to know you and the project better and I hope
the audience did as well. I'm sure they did.
Because how can you not if you're listening or watching
this interview you can go support ill-advised over on seed
and Spark. Whatever you can donate, that
would be great. So help get this show made.
And then go also follow ill advised and Kayla on Instagram.
Yes. Yay.
Thank you. Do you have any final words
before we wrap up? I'm, I am just so happy that I
got to chat about this. This is like my biggest passion,
has been for many years, just not only, just the show, but the
the fact that, like, representation matters and we've
been shouting about it for forever, and it's so true.
And I want to be a part of this movement and media and bringing
this to life. Also, fun little announcement.
If you're in New York, we will be having a fundraising event at
this new lesbian Co-op called boyfriend and Bushwick.
It'll be on May 31st. And if you follow ill, advised
pilot, you'll be able to see all of that information say Awesome.
Thank you again. Okay, so until next time,
hydration was being Jesus and gave up all over the place.
Bye. And with that, we've been big
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