“I honestly don’t think at the time I would have considered it becoming a writer as much as I would have considered myself an overachiever.”– Danielle Watkins
Lack Of A Black Lesbian Representation In Media
I am very passionate about allowing us to be seen as humans, as opposed to thugged out criminals. There has been a small emergence of the black lesbian in mainstream media in recent years, but ultimately we end up being hyper-sexualized or over-saturated with stereotypes of what a masculine black lesbian would be.
Honestly, in my line of work we’ve seen so many lesbian dramas, and frankly I was tired of the drama or “dyke drama” being portrayed. Serrita and I were laughing and talking about things we’d be through one night, and she suggested I make a show about us.
The 3030 Lesbian Sitcom
“3030 is the only African-American lesbian sitcom not only on REVRY but from what we know period.”
At the time I was working on a documentary and felt I didn’t have time, but as I thought about it more I was like “Man, something like Living Single or Martin we don’t have that anymore. Maybe we could do it.” To us, we live, laugh, and love, and we are black lesbians. We wanted to show that side. There is drama in 3030, but it’s comical, it isn’t heavy, we don’t need it to be heavy.
The first season of 3030 was CRAZY! We have some of the craziest best friend situations ever. It is fun and relatable. Expect to want more, that’s what we should expect. My short film game is ill (lol) Kisses in the Wind is special to me because of its religious theme, but I have some upcoming shorts that are like…yeah… I have a horror shortcoming out, and a few others, including one that could be considered semi-autobiographical.
3030 is completely based on things that my best friend Serrita (Zola in the show) and I experienced. When I wrote it things were exaggerated and heightened, and even some situations just sounded like something we would have done. Season 1 has only a few situations that we lived in, season 2 on the other hand. I think like out of 12 episodes we really lived 8.
Nor from Kin4life, plays a love interest to your character, how did that come about? I love Nor!!! I love Kin4Life period. She and IQ are two of the dopest individuals in my life. Nor and I are very close, and when I was in the midst of casting for the role I needed someone I would not only be comfortable with, but attracted to. When I brought it to her, she was super down for it, so I was like cool! Enter Rocky and Tyler’s endless love affair.
The Beginning
Watkins started writing “No Other Man” in 2005 while she was dating one of her frat brothers. There is a CD in the world that has nothing but chants for Zetas, and one song has a lyric about Sigmas that says, “No other man will do.” So, when she began dating a Sigma, I loved that part, so I named the story (which I did not plan to be what it ended up being) based on that.
Then we broke up, and I stopped writing for about 3 years. I finished it as something to do, not a project to be released. I had a friend who was making films and when I finished it I asked him to produce it, and he told me, “No, not until you publish it.” I’d never thought of that. I went through a few publishers and ultimately landed my semi self-publishing situation where I was to put out “No Other Man” and two sequels in 12 months; enter the birth of “No Other Man a Three-Part Tragedy”.
What do you look for when casting?
As a writer, I know a character in my head from the moment the character has a name, so when it is time for me to be the one to cast, that is what I look for “the look.” Acting ability is important, so it’s like if someone has the look, but cannot act, I most likely will not cast them unless I believe they are directable. In that case, if you match my vision, and I think we can mold you, you got the part.
What is one thing you want to be remembered for?
My passion. If I died tomorrow, all I want the world to say was, she did everything she could to ensure the state of the black lesbian in media was normalized, and that my work was successful (even if momentarily) in allowing those who might not have the chance to see our lives, and realize we are no different from anybody else.
“The Best Is Yet To Come”
Peace & Blessings,
B. Danielle Watkins
Author~Screen Writer~Filmmaker
(702) 900-4131
CEO
Dream N 1 Productions, LLC
Think big, Work hard, Dream Endless.zsAQ1
