Regina Hall Gets Candid On Her Showtime Deal, Black Monday And Turning 50 – Forbes

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This year marks the 20th anniversary of Scary Movie, the comedy horror spoof that gave many of us our first real glimpse at the standout humor only Regina Hall can bring to the screen. Two decades later, the experienced actress and producer has built a career of longevity, something Showtime saw and knew to act upon. This past October, Hall inked a first-look deal with Showtime to develop and produce television projects under her production company Rh Negative.

Amy Israel, Executive Vice President of Scripted Programming at Showtime, has worked very closely with Hall on the premium channels hit show Black Monday and has witnessed her talents firsthand. It was her time and time for her to branch out and step into the next chapter of her career, Israel reveals to Forbes about Hall. Showtime continues to be a beacon for visionary artists and storytellers who are looking to create ambitious shows and shows that are groundbreaking. Regina is one of the most authentic artists Ive worked with. She is a force of nature. She is also a generous artist that makes everyone around her better.

After hearing Israels kind words about her, Hall responded to Forbes by saying, One of the things that I love about Amy is her honesty. I can say Amy, quietly between you and I, what do you think? And shes very encouraging saying We need to get your voice out there and what are we going to do to do that?

Showtime has already announced a third season for Black Monday, a fictional comedy about a group of outsiders who take on the old-boys club of Wall Street in the 1980s, a project Hall not only stars in as Dawn but she also produces. I love my co-stars, I love my cast. I love our showrunners and our producers, Hall continues. Being able to work with people who are so collaborative, which is another thing I love about Showtime. They encourage that, the collaboration. That for me has been so rewarding and has helped me grow so much as an artist. And of course I love Dawn because shes a great character to play. Driven and complex. Shes not all good and shes not all bad and I love playing with all the colors that make Dawn who she is. Its a great ride. Im always excited to see what they write for her.

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Even with the ink still drying from Halls first-look deal with Showtime, she already has her sights on the projects she wants to make and the people she wants to work beside. One of the things Im interested in is sharing untold stories. Stories that are not widely known to the masses but are incredibly impactful. Some of those will be comedies, there will be dramas, there will be hybrids of both. They will be stories from all different kinds of communities and ethnicities. Hopefully they will be richly entertaining, but its not just in front of the camera. I want voices behind the camera that are writing those stories, giving perspectives and insight. And there will be some that are just fiction and fun. I cant wait to discover new talent and find and explore so many people who really are needing a window of opportunity. I certainly look forward to discovering a lot of performers and writers and everything that you need behind the lens.

Hall also spoke to the topic of diversity in Hollywood today and how her latest opportunity with Showtime (as well as her production company Rh Negative signing a six-film deal with Showtimes parent company ViacomCBS just last month) will allow her to be a part of that progress. It takes time for things to change but if we collectively all work together to figure out how we can expand the voices in the world and what kind of stories we can tell, well be able to diversify in front and behind the camera in many ways that still make storytelling interesting and smart and creative. I mean, thats what I would want Rh Negative to do.

Hall turns 50 on December 12, something she jokes that she is not even prepared for. When asked how she has grown as a professional over the past decade, Hall says, I have grown a lot in despite of the number (laughs). I couldnt be more grateful to be where I am. Its a continuous journey of learning because I have learned so much more now behind the scenes and I have been afforded the opportunity to play different roles and work with all different types of artists. It has been incredibly exciting, in a way that I dont know that I thought it would be. Especially for women, you hear as you get older, you work less. Im grateful that it has been just the opposite.

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Regina Hall Gets Candid On Her Showtime Deal, Black Monday And Turning 50 - Forbes

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero