CHRIS NEUMER: Can’t argue with that. One question I wanted to ask you–and I don’t know whether people talk about this or avoid talking about it, but I’m curious so I’m going to ask–have you found that your status as an African-American in Hollywood has in any way impacted the things you’ve done.
MEAGAN GOOD: Yeah. It does. I think it makes it harder for me to get outside the box. A lot of the roles that are offered to me are shoot-‘em-up-bang-bang roles or in stuff like The Cookout, and it’s very hard to get someone to look at you initially when they have a script and they say, "Okay, it’s a young girl, she’s 20 and she has a miscarriage, she gets married and goes through all these things," and they immediately think of Scarlett Johansson. They never think that this girl might be a young black girl or Latino girl. It’s kind of a struggle and a fight to get outside the box and be viewed as a human being instead of, "Who’s going to be the token black girl in this movie," or "Who is going to be Scarlett Johannson’s best friend?" You know what I mean? In that way it can be kind of frustrating and it can hold you back a little bit, but I’m very proud of who I am and am going to do what I’m going to do regardless. That’s why I just built my own production company and produced my first film.
CHRIS NEUMER: Is this the–this is the one making the festival rounds?
MEAGAN GOOD: Yes, it’s awesome. It’s called Miles from Home. A lot of private investors came in and helped us finish out. It’s an interracial love story with a totally multiracial cast. It’s not a black movie or a white movie, it’s just a movie and the characters happen to be all different types of nationalities. You don’t see skin color when you look at the performances and see what is happening in these people’s lives, there’s no clichés, no stereotypes, it just is. Those are the kind of movies I want to be in, those are the kinds of movies I want to make.
CHRIS NEUMER: Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like Hollywood makes very many of those.
MEAGAN GOOD: No, they don’t! But I think times are changing.
CHRIS NEUMER: Hopefully for the better.
MEAGAN GOOD: I think so.
CHRIS NEUMER: It’s intriguing to me–I’m a white guy, I’ll just put that out there for you–if I see a movie like Friday, the original one, I can get into it, and I think, "Why don’t they make more movies like that?" I’ll be then talking to a producer and he’ll tell me, "But you won’t get into something that’s more unique to the black experience." I’ll furrow my brow, not quite understanding and he’ll say, "think of it this way, if you’re black, you’re not watching Friends." I can neither prove nor refute that claim, but he pointed out that you can see this phenomenon through the fact that there aren’t many up and coming black actresses… because apparently, certain audiences can’t ‘get’ them. Do you have any thoughts on this?
MEAGAN GOOD: It’s very far and few between those actresses. If you have–I think–God, I don’t know a better way to explain it, but I feel that the black women that they feel are a little more articulate or what they consider cross over material, quote unquote, are the black women who are getting that opportunity now, which I consider bullshit.
CHRIS NEUMER: Whom are you referring to when you say ‘they’?
MEAGAN GOOD: Um…
CHRIS NEUMER: Like studio execs? Agents?
MEAGAN GOOD: Studio execs, casting, anybody and everybody who has the authority and power to cast you and get a movie made.
CHRIS NEUMER: The Man?
MEAGAN GOOD: Right. So, it seems to me that a certain kind of black woman is the type woman who is getting the opportunity. It’s not necessarily a good or bad actress, it’s just a certain type of black woman.
CHRIS NEUMER: What type of black woman is this?
MEAGAN GOOD: I don’t know how to characterize it, it just is.
CHRIS NEUMER: Do you consider yourself to be one of this type?
MEAGAN GOOD: I guess they consider me to be.
CHRIS NEUMER: Is it the type of thing where you’re trying to explain the differences between Star Trek and Star Wars fans? You can’t quite put your finger on it, but there is a fairly substantial difference?
MEAGAN GOOD: Well… Halle Berry is one of those types of women. A lot of people view her as a cross over star. She can do a black movie or a white movie. Viveca Fox, there’s something about her that’s scarier. She’s kind of done both types of films, but she’s not as "whatever", I guess, ‘The Man’ friendly as Halle Berry. Does that make sense?
CHRIS NEUMER: Yes.
MEAGAN GOOD: Gabrielle [Union] is ‘The Man’ friendly, but other people aren’t. I don’t know how to really explain it.
CHRIS NEUMER: I get the theory, I’m just trying to put words–the right words–to it in my head while you’re speaking and failing miserably. I know exactly what you’re saying though. I saw you recently in Brick and loved the movie, by the way. I had this big, stupid grin on my face throughout the whole thing, from frame one through the last frame.
MEAGAN GOOD: Thank you, thank you.
CHRIS NEUMER: Now you were in white face makeup a lot of the time, so I didn’t exactly recognize you. When I learned it was you, it turned out to be one of those nice coincidences of fate.
MEAGAN GOOD: Right.
CHRIS NEUMER: But it seems like there–and I don’t know if this is going to sound "horrible-1965-Alabama" or super post modern–I didn’t notice that you were black. I just thought you were your character.
MEAGAN GOOD: (laughs) That’s the idea! But had I talked a little bit different, or appeared like I was somewhere else–I kind of appeared like I wasn’t specifically from anywhere–it would be a much different type of character. And like I said, I think it’s bullshit because I think any type of people can be anywhere starring next to anyone in any type of thing, but I think that that does exist.
CHRIS NEUMER: I remember talking to Kasi Lemmons way back when–and we had some fascinating conversations about this–but the one thing I’m always curious about, if only for personal edification, is how do you go about changing this?
MEAGAN GOOD: Um…
CHRIS NEUMER: How do we get Viveca Fox into a romantic comedy opposite Matthew McCaughnahey?
MEAGAN GOOD: I don’t know? I think it’s kind of in the mind frame of everyone else. I don’t think that she needs to change or has to change to get the kinds of opportunities that Halle Berry gets. But Halle Berry, in ‘The Man’s’ eyes is friendlier to every type of America that there is. Viveca is a little more scary.
CHRIS NEUMER: You’ve mentioned Halle Berry’s name a couple of times and I just want to make clear: you’re not suggesting that Halle Berry has more opportunities because she has lighter skin, correct?
MEAGAN GOOD: No, not at all.
CHRIS NEUMER: Because one of her parents is white, right?
MEAGAN GOOD: Yes. Gabrielle is more ‘The Man’ friendly, and she has darker skin than both Viveca and Halle.
CHRIS NEUMER: You know, it’s kind of funny. When I asked that question, I did so because I could preemptively hear people saying that and I wanted to refute that claim from the beginning. Makes me a better writer, if nothing else. But, as I was asking the question I was walking on eggshells, hoping that I didn’t insult you or any minority in the process. But on the other side of things, it is what it is. You said that yourself. It’s unique thing in our society to have this kind of conversation with someone. Maybe that’s just me though. Do you have a lot of these?
MEAGAN GOOD: Not usually with someone like you! (laughs) Usually amongst my friends, but I think this topic needs to be addressed. I feel like if no one addresses it, or says anything, it will never be dealt with at all. It will always be treaded on lightly and never exposed. I think it is definitely something that’s going on that no one touches on or talks about and they’re too afraid to offend someone. If you say it, whether it’s offensive or not, I think it will open people’s minds to at least say their take on it and it can become a conversation and it can then start to live and breathe, it’s not just thoughts anymore.
CHRIS NEUMER: Well, not only that but–and don’t get me wrong, I’ve had an ass-full of what’s going on with our current government–but the problem is that it’s never what ‘is’, it’s, "What is the problem that we want to deal with?" or "How can we spin this?" You can’t really start working on something until you define the problem. If you never want to talk about it because it might be offensive or politically incorrect, you’re sort of shooting yourself in the foot.
MEAGAN GOOD: Right, right.
CHRIS NEUMER: I’m off my soapbox now. Anything else you want to add? What’s happening with Miles from Home or anything?
MEAGAN GOOD: It’s on the festival circuit and we just played Atlanta, and took home five awards. Me for best actress, my best friend got best director and we got best actor, best movie, and people’s choice.
CHRIS NEUMER: Wow. A simple congratulations doesn’t seem like it would cut it. I’d need to go above that. Super congratulations?
MEAGAN GOOD: (laughs) Thank you. One of the things that I’m most proud of, regarding the issues that we were talking about is that I’m happy that the characters could be white, Spanish, black and it was received as a ‘movie’. People were very open minded about it. We’re also going to Miami and have been to Amsterdam, LA, Texas and a number of other places.
CHRIS NEUMER: Have you had any nibbles on getting picked up for theatrical distribution?
MEAGAN GOOD: We’ve had nibbles, but right now I want to stick with the festival circuit because the people are a little more open minded there and seem ready to receive something different and outside of the box. I want to make sure that it gets a lot of exposure and buzz and THEN we’ll deal with the whole theatrical thing.
CHRIS NEUMER: Good times. I just happened to think of one last question I wanted to ask you. Do you have any desire to play the child molester or abuser?
MEAGAN GOOD: Maybe more the crackhead. (laughs) I don’t know about the child molester. I suppose if the movie had a good message and I got what I deserved in the end, then I probably would do it if a greater message came from the movie and it was worth everything that I needed to do to get that message across.
CHRIS NEUMER: But you’re not proactively looking to challenge yourself by playing an egregious and horrible character like Creepy Pedophile.
MEAGAN GOOD: I’d do Creepy Murderer or something like that, but I don’t know about Creepy Pedophile.
CHRIS NEUMER: Have you put the ‘hot girl’ roles to bed? Is it something you’re trying to tip-toe away from?
MEAGAN GOOD: For now, yeah. I don’t mind doing it, but I’m in a space right now where I don’t want to be pigeon-holed in that forever. I don’t want to be stuck there.
CHRIS NEUMER: (laughs) Now, this just hit me. Acting in Hollywood is so weird. You just told me that you’re working hard to get away from the image of being the prototype of beautiful and desirable. "I don’t want to be pigeon-holed as the really good looking, hot woman." I think you’re the first person in America to make that statement today. Worse yet, I completely understand what you’re saying.
MEAGAN GOOD: It’s true.
CHRIS NEUMER: Anything you want to add?
MEAGAN GOOD: I’d like to add to the other comment I was making about the other actresses, when I said that ‘times were changing’, what I was saying was that it was a compliment to Hollywood and a compliment to Gaby and everyone. I think we should all have equal opportunities, no matter what our energy is and how it’s perceived by whomever. All those women are wonderful actresses. Someone like Queen Latifah, who may be considered, I guess, less friendly to ‘The Man’, but she’s has really been able to be who she is and be able to do her thing. That’s what I’d like to see everybody do. I hate seeing someone act proper or less proper or more ghetto to try to be what they need to work. The only time you should transform is when you’re getting into character. Again, I’m not suggesting anyone does that to be viewed a certain way, but I just want to see that everybody has equal opportunities and can be friendly to ‘The Man’ just because they are who they are.
CHRIS NEUMER: Let’s hope so. If that isn’t true, then everybody’s screwed.
MEAGAN GOOD: There are people who I see and they didn’t grow up a certain way that would make them more acceptable or proper, for lack of a better word. People who are who they are and are true to where they grew up and whether it’s ghetto or classy, it is what it is, who do excellently for themselves, like Jamie Foxx or Queen Latifah. They are true to themselves and even just their blackness. I want to see that for everybody.
CHRIS NEUMER: It’s also helps that they’re good.
MEAGAN GOOD: Right.
CHRIS NEUMER: This is the kind of thing where it’s interesting to consider: they stay true to themselves and their heritage, but at the same time they’re really good. You kind of wonder if one helps the other and vice versa. Could having a good sense of self help you succeed?
MEAGAN GOOD: The same thing with Gabrielle and Halle. That’s really who they are, but it’s perceived a certain way and that makes its doubly okay. Doubly attractive and not scary.
CHRIS NEUMER: This may seem surprising, but I don’t think I really know that much about Halle Berry. How can I not really know anything about her? She must be doing a good job of keeping her personal life out of the tabloids.
MEAGAN GOOD: No, I don’t mean off-screen, I’m just talking about their personas and what they do during interviews.
CHRIS NEUMER: Ahh..
MEAGAN GOOD: In some interviews, certain black actors will be like, "Girl…" and that’s just who they are. And to a certain degree, there may be something about it that’s a turn off. But when Queen Latifah is so rich and truthful to herself it further says that it’s okay to be true to yourself because doors are opening.
