Please welcome Regina King.
(cheering and applause)
Thank you.
So good to have you.
It's so good to be back!
This is... Wow, I... Can I tell you?
Seven Seconds is one of those shows that you...
You know, like, Netflix will catch you sometimes,
because you-you just watch a show,
then it goes like, "Recommend, recommend."
I saw Seven Seconds, and I saw your face,
and I started watching the show, and I was not ready
for how intense and amazing the show is.
-Yeah, it's pretty intense. It is. -It really is.
Like, just if you give us just a light breakdown
of what the story is and-and where it goes.
Yes. Um, it is about a family
who, uh, their son has been hit by a police officer--
-a drive-by, if you will-- -Right.
but literally the car hits him,
and he's left to die, and they try to cover it up.
And it's my character in particular
just knows that something is not right about it.
And, um, as you follow her,
it's her trying to get justice for her son.
And, um, you have to watch it if you haven't
to see what happens,
but it-it definitely is telling a story
about things that are going on right now.
I mean, it's interesting that you, you know, showed--
which I loved-- uh, the-the...
I don't know his name, but the strong safety
-from the Philadelphia Eagles. -Oh, yeah, yeah.
-Yeah. Yes, Malcolm Jenkins. Yes. Yes. -Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
No, I... And you know what's powerful about the story
is that it... it really captures the human element
of a very difficult story to tell.
Because in the story-- I-I will only spoil
the beginning of the first episode for you,
and that is that the police officer
-makes a mistake. -Yeah.
He makes a mistake, and it's a story of how the cover-up
really does make what happened worse.
Because he made a mistake,
and because his officers are involved in something shady,
-they're afraid of how this will look, -Right.
and so they cover it up, and it becomes worse,
and you have these families embroiled.
Everyone has stories. Everyone has secrets
-that they're trying to keep. -Secrets.
And that really makes it worse.
How do you think, like, the success of the show
was defined by the humanity
of every single one of the characters?
Um, because I... One...
The first thing is the fact that Veena Sud, who's the creator,
she instead of making it be, um,
-a child that was shot by a police officer, -Right.
-it was a child that was hit by a police officer -Right.
and then this story of a cover-up.
So that's where I think the humanity comes in
and the choices that we make
-and us being a product of our choices. -Right.
And that's what, um, I guess, made...
allowed people to see, um, it
from a more, um...
-human perspective, you know? -Right, right.
And that-that really is, I think,
what makes Seven Seconds so successful.
That combined with the amazing acting.
-You're phenomenal in it. -Oh, thank you.
I know the Emmys are coming up, and honestly, it...
Like, you have won two Emmys.
-I see a third in your future. -Oh!
It is genuinely phenomenal, phenomenal acting.
(cheering and applause)
Over-over time, you know, as an actor in Hollywood,
you've slowly seen a shift
in how actors of color have been recognized for their work.
You know, all too often,
I've heard people say like, "Oh, Regina King--
she's really come out of nowhere, and she's..."
And you're just like-- especially with black people--
-you're like, "From nowhere?" -But...
-"You mean our lives?" -Right.
"What do you mean, 'nowhere'?"
Does it feel like that change is finally gaining traction?
You know, do you feel like
there's a shift in the right direction?
Um... sure, and I think that...
-(laughter) -(laughs)
(laughter)
-Um, I think television is where it's... -Interesting. Right.
Yeah, I think television has, uh,
-uh, been responsible for a bit of a shift. -Right.
I mean, just the fact that I'm sitting here with you, and how
you were the one that the baton was passed to...
Right, right, right. I hear what you're saying.
...is an example of that there has been this shift in TV,
and-and-and, uh, creators in television
are having opportunities to tell stories
-that mirror what's going on in life. -Uh-huh.
So, I say, "Sure,"
because I think we've got a long way to go.
-It's... Yeah. Yeah. -Definitely. No, definitely.
And I think a lot of that long way, uh, will be
I real... I really think inspired by the fact
-that people of color are now gaining equity... -Sure.
...because somebody like yourself
is a really well-known actor
who has killed the game for a long time.
-You've been amazing. -Thank you.
And now we see you directing, we see you producing.
-You directed your very first pilot... -Yes.
...which is... I mean, congratulations on that.
-Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. -That is phenomenal.
-Thank you. -But... -(applause and cheering)
You also directed shows like This is Us.
You know, you've been out there.
Was it ever a choice? Did someone ever say to you,
"Hey, Regina, do you want to direct, or do you want to act?"
Was that ever a choice that was put in front of you?
No, that was not a choice that was put in front of me.
That was, um, a desire
and some examples that were, uh, before me.
You know, Marla Gibbs was a huge example.
And I think a lot of people...
She doesn't get the credit that she deserves,
'cause she was one of the first that was, um,
-producing and starring... -Right.
...and sold her own show.
You know, 227 was a show... was a stage play
that she took to NBC and-and sold it, and...
Um, so I got to have a front-row seat to see a woman do that.
-Right. -And, uh...
So I kind of feel like it was... it was in me
to desire to have more ownership and more of a presence
than just an actor.
Although, I love acting. I would...
I will never stop doing it, but I know that, um,
there's ways that I can bring opportunities
-to tell our stories... -Right.
...even more and in a more present way.
Do you... do you ever feel that it's hard?
Because, honestly, I can not stress enough
how talented you are as an actor.
I mean, um, everything from The Boondocks
through to Seven Seconds. You're phenomenal.
(applause and cheering)
So, is there ever a moment where you're directing somebody
and then you're just like, "Just do it like this!"?
And then go out in front there.
Like, is there ever that moment where you're like,
"Just do it! Do it the way I would...
-You know what? Roll on me. Roll on me."? -Right?
Is that ever a feeling that you have,
or do you completely separate yourself,
-and change your role? -Um... yes.
I really try.
I've had some really great mentors as directors,
and it's really important to not...
-'Cause I know what I don't want as an actor. -Right. Right.
I don't want a director to give me a line read, or,
-you know, tell me that, "Say it like this." -Right.
I don't want that, so, I really am conscious of that.
But I will say there are times
that I am, um, behind the camera,
and the actors are just so amazing, and they're so great,
and I want to jump in there and be in the scene
-and act with them. -(Noah and audience laugh)
So I do have those moments.
Um, I'm excited to see what you're going to be doing next.
Second Seconds is an amazing, amazing story
that you're telling.
-Um, good luck for the Emmys that are coming up. -Thank you.
-Thank you for being on the show with us again. -Thank you.
Second Seconds is available on Netflix.
Please, trust me, you want to watch it.
Regina King, everybody.