tracee ellis ross

Girlfriends at PaleyFest NY 2020

Presented by Citi. Stars and creator of Netflix's Girlfriends (Mara Brock Akil, Golden Brooks, Persia White, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jill Marie Jones, and Reggie Hayes) gather with moderator Joi-Marie McKenzie at PaleyFest NY 2020 to celebrate their show. Topics include: the show's debut on the "global stage" of Netflix on its 20th anniversary; the show's timeliness and relevance, despite some now-outdated fashion choices; breaking down the limited stereotype of the "strong Black woman" with no flaws; Akil's insistence on casting Black women of all different skin tones (and astrological signs); why feeling undervalued by the network actually allowed them more creative freedom; adding dimension and personal growth to their characters, including through their friendships; passing the Bechdel Test; the show as "one vision with many voices"; the advantage of social media as the new "word-of-mouth"; and thoughts on a potential movie adaptation.