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00:00 Raphael, I'm going to start with you because I want to know,
00:03 can you tell me where will we meet your character
00:06 at the start of season two versus where we're going to meet
00:08 him at the end of the season?
00:11 Yeah, I mean, we're coming back to the show nine months
00:14 after the end of the last season.
00:15 And so really what's going on with Miles
00:17 is he's been in San Quentin for nine months.
00:19 And so we're starting with someone
00:21 who's sort of in a very different mental health
00:23 space than before.
00:25 And season one, we don't really get a big window
00:27 into who Miles is.
00:29 You know, we're really focused on Ashley and everyone outside.
00:32 But this season, we get a little bit of a deeper
00:34 dive into how he's doing and how that affects the family.
00:37 And by the end, you know, I can't spoil--
00:39 I can't spoil the ending, but a lot of shit goes down.
00:43 And Ashley and Miles got to figure out
00:45 how they're going to--
00:48 how they're going to proceed in their life
00:49 now that this inevitable thing of him being sent away
00:54 and the effect it's had on those families
00:56 is going to make or break them.
00:58 And so that's-- I think that's the exciting question
01:00 of season two is what's going to happen to their family
01:02 now that this thing has happened and it's real.
01:05 Absolutely.
01:06 And for you, David, you know, change is inevitable.
01:10 But this show does a magnificent job
01:13 of really humanizing those people who
01:15 are affected by incarceration.
01:18 How will we see this continue to unfold in season two?
01:21 And what are some other themes that you're
01:23 excited for fans to see unfold?
01:26 Yeah, well, I think, you know, season one was really
01:30 about the beginning of this process.
01:32 It was about the shock of having a loved one removed
01:35 from the family and being incarcerated.
01:37 This season is sort of about the continuation.
01:40 It's about the status.
01:42 How do you persevere as a family after we've
01:46 sort of established that we are making the choice
01:48 to persevere as a family, right?
01:50 And so that's kind of where we meet them.
01:52 And it brings up a whole bunch of new,
01:53 interesting complications.
01:56 But we also, you know, get to drop
01:59 some interesting sort of smaller tidbits about how
02:02 various people deal with that, right?
02:06 So there's-- it's cool.
02:08 There's a lot-- there was a lot of just,
02:11 like, good, interesting research and a lot of good,
02:13 like, folks we talked to in order
02:15 to kind of get a handle on what that's like for some people
02:19 and be able to infuse Ashley and Miles and Sean's journey
02:22 with a lot of that, you know?
02:24 That was great.
02:25 And then as far as everything else I'm excited for,
02:27 it's like-- it's a wild season.
02:30 We really, I think, stretched out a lot.
02:35 The weird stuff got weirder.
02:36 The funny stuff got funnier.
02:40 And the-- and our actors are just, like,
02:42 so dialed in and so grounded.
02:44 That's honestly, like, my favorite part,
02:46 is getting to just see how everybody--
02:50 just as a person who loves actors and acting,
02:52 like, watching what our cast does with this season
02:55 is pretty crazy, thrilling.
02:57 Yeah, and I'm a huge fan because I love, like, dark humor.
03:00 I, like, find things that should not be funny extremely funny
03:04 or find, like, the comedy of it all.
03:07 So I love the approach to that and blind spotting.
03:10 And my last question is for both of y'all.
03:13 You know, I know that you guys have been at this
03:15 for a long time as friends.
03:17 But how does that relationship with you
03:20 guys being friends for so long--
03:22 how does that affect the creative process
03:25 with your approach to this series?
03:27 Because it's something, like, we've never seen before.
03:30 Like, even the touches of movement
03:32 in those tough-to-handle scenes and moments,
03:36 how do you guys kind of play off of each other
03:39 for that creative process?
03:41 And we can start with you, Rafael.
03:43 Yeah, I mean, first of all, we just be
03:45 juiced to work on shit together.
03:46 So I think that, like, off top is just, like-- that's the bag.
03:49 It's like, we-- we--
03:51 I think we just, like, intuitively
03:53 just fire each other up when we start talking about art,
03:55 because we kind of get high on the same supply.
03:58 And then, you know, the ship-- we always talk about the ship
04:00 runs on enthusiasm.
04:01 So when-- when, like, if I kick out an idea
04:03 or Dix kicks out an idea, and I see the light bulb go off
04:06 in his head, and then he starts throwing out something,
04:09 like, we know more so than I really know
04:12 about anything else in life.
04:13 I know if we start running that ball, like, I got a thing
04:16 that I love, and he loves it, too,
04:17 and now he's throwing on it.
04:18 Like, whatever that is, that shit is fire.
04:20 Like, there's an audience for whatever that idea is.
04:22 Because if the two of us fuck with it, like, more people
04:24 are going to fuck with it.
04:25 And so I think the through line for all of--
04:28 not only just blind spotting, but the music,
04:29 the other scripts we work on, the other projects we work on,
04:32 is, like-- like-- like, he's in the car right now.
04:34 You see his ass driving home?
04:35 He driving in my neighborhood.
04:36 I can't fucking wait.
04:37 Like, let me tell you, like, we're going to kick it tonight.
04:40 That's going to be lit.
04:40 Like, I work with my best friend.
04:42 Like, I'm going to see him at the job later.
04:44 That's tight.
04:45 Love that.
04:46 And then when we get to the job, we're
04:48 going to be watching people watch our show.
04:50 And I promise you, we're going to start
04:52 pitching each other ideas midway through.
04:54 Because that's just, like--
04:56 again, like, it just-- we just ramp each other up in that way.
04:58 And I think there's a lot of--
05:00 there's a lot of validation in it.
05:02 Like, when he has an idea, and I fuck with that idea,
05:04 that's a stamp.
05:05 I got an idea, and he fucks with it, that's a stamp.
05:07 You know, and that's--
05:09 that's all you could ever hope for in your artistic life,
05:11 is-- is somebody to, like, tell you when you're--
05:13 when you're on something.
05:16 Yeah.
05:18 Yeah, I'm cozy.
05:20 I mean, it's just, like, you know, that's it.
05:23 There's the-- it's the--
05:26 the, you know, sort of person I think
05:29 is, like, the smartest, most talented, like, best
05:31 creator in the world.
05:32 If I have an idea that that guy fucks with, like, great.
05:35 And that's-- it's a good idea.
05:36 That is a worthwhile idea.
05:38 And it, like, gives me all of the fucking I need
05:40 to not listen to everybody else who's telling me it's a bad idea.
05:43 Which is, like, really particularly useful
05:45 in this business, because you get a lot of no's.
05:48 But all I really need is one yes if it comes from Rafa,
05:50 you know, so.
05:51 That's it.
05:52 If Diggs tells me that shit is fire, I'm like,
05:53 no, they just don't get it.
05:55 I love that.
05:56 I love that.
05:57 And the synergy is definitely reflected on screen.
06:00 So hats off to another amazing season.
06:02 And thank you for your time today.
06:04 Yeah, thank you so much.
06:05 We appreciate you.
06:06 Thanks, yeah.
06:07 And so I want to know, where will we
06:10 meet your character Ashley at the start of season two
06:13 versus where we will be left with her
06:15 by the end of the season?
06:17 Ooh, let's try to do this without giving too much away.
06:23 We arrive with Ashley on a very, very high anxiety,
06:28 because she has--
06:30 this is nine months later from when
06:32 the last time you saw them.
06:34 And she has a lot of pent up feelings
06:38 that she has not dealt with.
06:41 And at the same time, everybody is telling her
06:44 that she's not fun.
06:45 So she is trying to find a sense of self
06:51 and who she is without miles.
06:54 And that's really hard to do, because if you're not
06:57 dealing with all of these traumatic experiences
07:00 and these feelings, you know, if you're not actually truly
07:05 looking at yourself and dealing with yourself,
07:08 there's no really real and positive way
07:13 to get back to yourself.
07:15 And so I think she kind of covers that with drinking,
07:18 with meeting new friends that bring her down,
07:20 kind of the wrong path.
07:24 And so you really see her struggling, I think.
07:31 In the first season, it was trying
07:33 to keep her family together.
07:35 And this season, it's really her biggest enemy is her, I think.
07:41 And feeling like she has to do this again on her own,
07:48 you know?
07:49 She's not really revealing truly how she feels.
07:53 And I think the only time she really does that
07:55 is her secrets to the audience of when
07:58 she goes into heightened verse.
08:01 And so I think she goes down a little bit of a spiral.
08:03 She goes down a little bit of a dark path.
08:05 But always with Ashley and eventually
08:10 the support of family, she ends up finding her way,
08:17 you know, as she always does.
08:21 Because she is a very smart girl.
08:22 And she does try her best, I think.
08:30 But I think in the end, she--
08:34 I don't want to give too much away.
08:35 But I think she finds her footing.
08:39 I think in the beginning, she's really struggling.
08:42 She's very up in the air.
08:43 There's no groundedness about her.
08:46 And I think in the first season, there was always a bit of this
08:49 like, she was very responsible.
08:51 All of this was happening, but she was still grounded.
08:55 And right off the bat in the second season,
08:59 she's not grounded at all.
09:01 You know, she's off the rails.
09:02 She's really trying to keep it together.
09:07 But as soon as she starts getting honest and, you know,
09:10 really revealing how painful this is for her,
09:13 because she's in a lot of pain, I
09:17 think that's when things start to heal
09:20 and people start to really understand
09:23 where she's coming from.
09:25 But in the journey of the bad past, it's still funny.
09:32 It's still chaotic.
09:33 It's still literally a wild ride, a roller coaster ride,
09:37 and a Western ride, all of that stuff.
09:40 Absolutely.
09:41 And you mentioned finding her own way.
09:44 But what qualities from your character Ashley, maybe if any,
09:49 helped you grow in your own personal life?
09:52 Ashley and I share is kind of like, not this doubt,
09:56 but just like, this show, playing Ashley
10:02 stretches me as an artist.
10:05 I think if you are involved in the show,
10:08 like, a lot is asked of you.
10:11 And, you know, I go to Rafa and Diggs all the time.
10:17 And I'm like, I don't know if I can do this.
10:20 Like, you guys gave me a verse last minute.
10:23 I don't know if I can pull this off.
10:25 And they always turn around to me.
10:27 And they're like, yeah, you got this.
10:29 You got this.
10:29 And then I magically end up doing whatever it is
10:34 that I said that I couldn't do.
10:36 And so I just think the show, I always
10:40 come out as a better creative, a better artist.
10:44 And playing Ashley sheds light on that.
10:50 Every time I feel like I can't, I'm like,
10:52 I don't know if I can do this.
10:54 It's just like, yes, you can, girl.
10:56 This show requires you to study very hard,
11:01 but also be emotionally free.
11:05 And it's OK if you fall on your face.
11:09 Just get back up again.
11:11 You'll be supported.
11:12 So--
11:14 Yeah, and you're totally killing it.
11:16 So thank you so much for your time here today, Jasmine.
11:19 Thank you so much.
11:21 I want to know, where will we meet your character
11:25 Raini at the top of season 2 versus, well,
11:29 where we will leave with her by the end of the season?
11:33 Well, a lot happens.
11:35 I think these characters all start
11:39 where the reality is sinking in, that a central member
11:42 of their family is gone.
11:44 And how do you have a birthday party for the young boy?
11:46 And how do you tolerate your other family members?
11:48 And who's going to get to visit?
11:50 And all those things are super raw right
11:52 at the beginning of the season.
11:54 And then that just gets more and more intense
11:56 until the end, and the whole thing turns in a way
11:59 that I hope people get to see.
12:02 Yeah, and one of the things I love about this show
12:04 is the approach that it has on the many families that
12:09 are affected by incarceration.
12:12 Why do you think that it's so important to have
12:14 this art imitating life for those watching at home?
12:19 Well, I mean, this show is about the fact
12:21 that for every single person in prison,
12:25 there's how many people around them,
12:26 how many daughters and sons and mothers and wives and siblings
12:30 and friends are affected.
12:33 And so they made this beautiful movie
12:35 about this place and the effect of what
12:38 happened to David's character in the first episode.
12:40 And then I remember hearing they were going to make the TV show,
12:42 and I thought, it's a bad idea.
12:44 They did it.
12:45 But then they told me, well, actually, this
12:48 is going to center around Jasmine's character.
12:51 And I'm like, they're so smart.
12:53 They're so smart to give the other people
12:55 in this person's life a voice and real stories.
13:00 Yeah, and speaking of those real stories,
13:02 I just love the uplifting of all of the women in this show.
13:07 Why is that such an important factor?
13:10 And did that play a factor in you
13:12 becoming a part of the series?
13:15 Yeah, that's a reason to make the show.
13:17 That's the reason to make the show.
13:18 And you can feel when you're offered something like,
13:20 is there a reason to make this right now?
13:22 And there really is a reason to make this show.
13:24 The fact that they chose to do it with humor that's as broad
13:28 as a funny sitcom and heartbreak that's almost too much to take
13:33 and dance and spoken word, that's
13:35 their style to just be generous with art in their work.
13:39 And the show really does that.
13:41 Even more than the movie, I think they would agree.
13:44 Absolutely.
13:45 And just lastly here, I wanted to know your character, Raini,
13:50 has she taught you any major life lessons
13:53 over the past two seasons?
13:56 And if so, what?
13:58 Well, I mean, I think I got the part.
14:01 And I thought, oh, I've got to work really hard to figure out
14:03 who this woman is and how she dresses and what she looks like
14:05 and how she behaves.
14:07 And then I got there and put the clothes on.
14:10 And I was like, oh, she's me.
14:13 Not really a lot of difference.
14:15 So I think I'm more like her than I realized at first.
14:17 She might be a little louder.
14:20 But I definitely relate to trying
14:22 to keep the spirits of the family up,
14:24 even though hard things are happening.
14:26 I definitely relate to a fierce, protective feeling
14:29 about your kids, and in Raini's case, her grandson.
14:33 So I related to a lot of it.
14:36 Yeah, and I know that so many people watching
14:39 can relate as well.
14:40 So thank you so much for your time, Helen.
14:42 Thank you.
14:44 And actually, let's just get started,
14:45 because your character, Trish, is like the flower
14:48 who blooms from a concrete.
14:50 And she's also the ultimate entrepreneur, if you will.
14:53 How will we see her continue to blossom in season two?
14:58 Hmm.
15:00 I mean, she's growing.
15:02 She's constantly growing.
15:03 She's made mistakes, and she's learning from those mistakes.
15:05 So we're just going to see her journey of being
15:08 a more empathetic and vulnerable person,
15:11 rather than an aggressive person with a mask on.
15:15 And I mean, with the situations that she gets put in,
15:18 the audience will be able to see these different layers to her
15:21 that they may not have been able to pick up on in season one.
15:25 And that's really what I'm most excited about.
15:28 Does that answer your question?
15:29 Yeah, it does.
15:30 It does.
15:31 And what are some qualities about Trish
15:33 that kind of spill over to who Jalen is?
15:37 And has she taught you anything?
15:40 OK, a part of Trish's personality
15:42 that spills over to me--
15:43 I feel like I spilled over to her in a way,
15:47 like with my facial expressions, like at the end of a line,
15:51 or like making certain noises.
15:52 And because you can see everything on my face
15:54 exactly how I'm feeling, even when I'm trying to control it,
15:58 it has gotten me in trouble.
15:59 And with Trish, I was just like, why don't I just
16:01 act how I'd want to act on a daily basis
16:03 when somebody says something crazy?
16:05 And I do.
16:07 But Trish has really taught me to be
16:09 more comfortable in my skin.
16:11 And prior to playing Trish, I'd be a little bit more
16:13 self-conscious with my body, and more self-conscious
16:16 with who I am as a woman, and the different quirks
16:19 that I have.
16:19 And Trish is so unapologetic that she made me realize,
16:24 like, girl, you are OK.
16:25 You're cool, and you're fun.
16:28 And you know, whoever likes you, likes you.
16:30 And whoever doesn't, they're just mad.
16:32 And really, she's just made me a more confident woman.
16:36 And she's so unapologetically herself, where I'm like,
16:39 I'm jealous of you.
16:41 You're not shy right now.
16:43 And she's not.
16:45 And that's what I love about her.
16:46 And it's really fun to be able to exercise that side of me,
16:49 because I get to take it out into the daily world.
16:51 And I feel like I've become a more open and talkative person.
16:55 And rather than having this mask on whenever I'm doing interviews
16:59 or whenever I'm on set, of being like, hi, yes, I'm so--
17:04 indeed.
17:05 I feel like I'm like, well, why not just show people who I am?
17:07 Because Trish does every single day, and people love it.
17:10 So if they love it, why wouldn't they love me, too?
17:15 Yeah, I love that.
17:16 And I love that you're able to incorporate
17:18 that into your daily life.
17:21 And I also--
17:21 And therapy.
17:22 And therapy.
17:23 OK, yeah.
17:23 Because there-- we're-- listen.
17:25 Therapy changed my whole life, so I get it.
17:28 And I also wanted to know, for "Blonde Spiding"--
17:32 sorry, "Blonde Spiding" season 2,
17:35 I wanted to know if you could describe this season
17:39 in a word or a sentence, what would you
17:43 have to say without giving too much away?
17:46 If I could describe it in a word or a sentence,
17:54 dang, what have people been saying?
17:56 I don't want to say nothing lame.
17:57 No, I would have to say it's daring.
18:05 This season is daring.
18:06 And I say that because they're doing some off-the-wall stuff
18:11 and some off-the-wall situations that you're
18:13 going to be able to see if you haven't already.
18:15 And I mean, with the Western to Too Short to E40,
18:19 like, come on.
18:20 Not the icons showing up.
18:22 So I mean, they're pushing an envelope.
18:28 And I'm glad it's being pushed, because I've never
18:30 seen anything like it before.
18:31 Yeah, and lastly, speaking of having never seen anything
18:35 like this series, one thing that I love in particular
18:40 is the approach that you all take to incarceration,
18:45 the issue with incarceration that we have here in America.
18:48 Could you tell me, why is this so important for viewers
18:52 at home watching to see that kind of art imitate life?
18:57 Because Black and brown people, unfortunately, we
19:02 have not had the best opportunities in America.
19:05 And we don't have that privilege from back
19:07 in the '50s and the '40s, where their grandparents were allowed
19:10 to own houses and own businesses,
19:13 where they allowed their generations after them
19:16 to get ahead.
19:17 And we, unfortunately, weren't able to have that.
19:19 So I feel like it's showing a perspective of sex workers
19:24 or people who are incarcerated.
19:27 We're just operating on survival mode.
19:29 And I think that is so misconstrued in the media
19:33 for like, oh, it's gang violence.
19:34 They don't care about anybody.
19:35 But in reality, it's like they're
19:37 trying to survive and get money for their family.
19:40 And every sex worker that I know is paying for school,
19:46 because she didn't have it like that,
19:47 or he didn't have it like that.
19:48 And I'm hoping that it changes the perspective
19:51 and the narrative on what it means
19:53 to be a Black person in America.
19:56 And I'm hoping that it shows and it sheds light on,
20:00 maybe I shouldn't have looked over this person
20:03 because they looked like X, Y, and Z.
20:05 Maybe I should have hired them because-- oh, sorry--
20:07 because Trish is a hustler.
20:10 And she gets the money.
20:11 And that's all she wants to do is make money and make it
20:14 out the hood and take her family out of the hood.
20:17 And I feel like that will open the doors for hopefully people
20:21 who do look like Trish and people who watch the show
20:23 to be like, you know what?
20:24 I'm going to call that girl back and give her a job.
20:27 Because I watch Trish on TV.
20:29 And she's a good person.
20:30 She just wants to make it.
20:32 Yeah, so kudos to you for lending a voice
20:35 to so many people who need it.
20:37 So thank you for your time, Jalyn.
20:39 Thank you.
20:40 I really want to know from you, in the second season
20:43 of "Blindspotting," where are we going
20:45 to find Janelle at the top of the season
20:48 versus where we find her at the end?
20:51 The interesting thing is we kind of find her in the same--
20:55 like, you know, in season one, she
20:56 was very mysterious and guarded.
20:59 And it's kind of like we're picking up in the same place.
21:01 Like, we're like, who is she texting?
21:03 Like, what is going on with Janelle, you know?
21:05 And it's-- the great thing is, unlike with season one,
21:09 we don't have to wait to the season finale
21:11 to find out what's going on with her.
21:13 But yeah, she's kind of-- she's kind of still
21:15 in that same vein of, like, not being very vocal or open
21:19 about what's going on with her internally,
21:21 and more so just focusing up, showing up for other people.
21:24 You know?
21:25 But yeah, as we get through the season,
21:28 we'll finally see her let down that wall a little bit.
21:31 And I'm excited.
21:33 Me too.
21:34 And one thing I love about her is her ability
21:37 to persevere through so much with such ease and grace.
21:40 Why do you think that's something
21:41 that she's able to do so beautifully?
21:45 Well, one, she a Black woman, OK?
21:47 [LAUGHTER]
21:48 OK.
21:49 That's just-- that's just who we are.
21:51 We are resilient.
21:53 You know, we are fighters.
21:54 And we are overcomers.
21:56 And Janelle, you know, she's just someone who is so--
22:00 she's just so curious about life,
22:02 hence her leaving all that she's known
22:05 to go live in a whole 'nother country for five years.
22:07 That takes a lot of bravery to do that, you know?
22:10 And I believe, you know, who she was raised by, Mama Nancy,
22:14 OK?
22:15 Mama Nancy's a strong woman herself.
22:17 And being raised in that kind of environment of culture
22:21 and knowing who you are and being bold in who you are
22:26 has definitely helped to shape who she is
22:29 and how she maneuvers in her life and with other people,
22:31 you know?
22:32 And just wanting to make sure that she's
22:34 giving all that strength that she has,
22:37 that she's also making sure that she's
22:38 able to uplift other people in the same vein.
22:41 Yeah, absolutely.
22:42 And you know, I'm sure that you've probably
22:45 learned a lot of life lessons through bringing her to life.
22:49 So what has been the biggest thing
22:51 that she's taught you about finding
22:53 joy no matter the situation?
22:56 Oh my goodness.
22:57 Well, something I love so much, because Janelle and I
23:00 parallel in so many ways.
23:03 And I am someone who is joy.
23:06 Yes, she says.
23:07 So you know, playing joy is not really something I have to do,
23:14 because it just comes natural to my spirit.
23:17 And Janelle, being someone who is very spiritual and very
23:21 in tune with herself and her surroundings,
23:24 it was amazing to kind of just let
23:27 that naturally flow through her.
23:29 And I think, too, again, going back to her resilience,
23:32 it's like one of those things, you either
23:34 have one or two options.
23:35 When life hits you hard, you either fold and give up,
23:38 or you make the choice to be like, I'm going to press
23:41 forward.
23:42 And as you're pressing forward, hopefully within that,
23:46 you remember why you're doing what you're doing.
23:49 And in that comes the joy, the joy of survival,
23:52 the joy of overcoming, and also the joy of helping other people.
23:57 Like, that's something she does.
23:59 She shows up for everyone around her.
24:01 And I believe that that's also a center of her joy.
24:05 Yeah, absolutely.
24:06 And just my last question for you
24:08 is you mentioned pressing forward.
24:11 And one thing about "Blonde Spotting,"
24:12 it really brings to light what so many families that
24:16 are impacted by incarceration have to deal with.
24:21 Why is a story like "Blonde Spotting"
24:23 so important for those at home that are watching?
24:28 It's important because the conversation needs to happen.
24:33 We are definitely telling a story
24:35 about how people of color are being
24:38 affected by the inequalities within the judicial system.
24:41 And I think that us expressing it the way that we are,
24:45 like through comedy and stuff, it's
24:46 kind of like we're inviting you in to just sit at the table
24:50 and let's just talk about it, you know?
24:52 And hopefully through conversation comes awareness.
24:55 And hopefully with that awareness,
24:58 we can incite change, you know?
25:00 So I think that as people continue to watch the show,
25:04 as they continue to fall in love with all
25:06 these multifaceted characters, that hopefully that
25:11 makes them feel at ease to be like, OK,
25:14 we see that this is an issue.
25:16 So we love these people.
25:18 This is an issue that they're struggling with.
25:20 OK, how can I help?
25:21 How can I make it better?
25:23 Like, how can I be a part of the change?
25:26 Yeah, I love that.
25:27 Well, thank you so much, Candace.
25:28 You're doing amazing in the series.
25:30 So just continued success to you.
25:33 Thank you, Sheena.
25:34 I want to know, where would you say
25:36 we find your character Earl at the beginning of the season
25:39 two versus where we're going to meet him at the end?
25:43 I think we find Earl trying to really navigate
25:49 what it means to have confronted his worst fear,
25:52 you know, at the end of season one.
25:54 That's where we find him at the beginning of season two.
25:58 He's dealing with the implications
25:59 of having to have dealt with his worst fear, the very thing
26:02 he didn't want to deal with.
26:03 And I think by the end of the season,
26:06 we really see how that interaction
26:10 between his worst fear and himself transforms him.
26:13 I think that's where we sort of find him
26:14 at the end of the season.
26:16 Absolutely.
26:17 And how would you say your own life experience helped you
26:20 to bring this character to life?
26:25 I think more than anything, my own life experience sort of
26:31 was the thing that could get in the way.
26:34 And so just as a performer and trying to be the actor I want
26:39 to be, it was sort of like, OK, how can I get out
26:42 of the way of a character that needs different things than
26:45 what I might naturally want to bring?
26:47 Yeah, and speaking of those different things,
26:50 in what ways will we see any other layers of Earl
26:54 get peeled back in the season 2?
26:57 We get to see Earl a little bit more--
27:01 we get to see him in love.
27:03 And we get to see him around more familiar faces to him.
27:07 I think in the first season, he's around all strangers.
27:12 And so there's no context for Earl.
27:15 From Earl's point of view, he doesn't know any of these
27:17 people.
27:18 And that changes in season 2.
27:20 He's around people he knows a bit more.
27:21 And that, I think, shows us more of who Earl is.
27:26 Yeah, and then also I wanted to know
27:29 if you had to summarize season 2 of "Blindspotting,"
27:33 whether that's a sentence or a word, what would you use?
27:40 "Blindspotting" in a sentence, it's--
27:44 I don't know.
27:50 I think it's sort of a--
27:51 it's a chaos in harmony.
27:58 I think that it's the paradox, right?
28:03 It's like, these terrible things are happening.
28:05 Let's laugh.
28:07 This hilarious thing is happening.
28:09 Oh, how sad.
28:12 This really bland, normal moment is happening.
28:14 Wow, look at how artistic that is.
28:17 This amazing, artistic moment is happening.
28:19 Wow, look how silly that face is, how normal that is.
28:22 I think we found we liked the paradox.
28:26 And we wanted to just sort of ground the show in that.
28:31 Yeah, and then just lastly, you spoke about just
28:34 the artistic part of the series.
28:36 How were you able to bring your background to the forefront?
28:41 And what has that been like for you?
28:45 My show creators and producers are the best in the biz
28:49 as far as I'm concerned, partly because they
28:53 take into account the things that their actors do
28:56 and the people they participate do across all of their life.
28:59 So I grew up doing spoken word.
29:01 I grew up writing.
29:03 I grew up performing and rapping.
29:05 And I still do many of those things.
29:07 And so their willingness to incorporate Rafael Casal,
29:12 Doveen Diggs, Keith and Jess Calder,
29:14 I think they all saw the vision.
29:17 They said, wow, we have actors who can do a lot.
29:19 Let's actually let them do what they do.
29:23 And that's really what it was.
29:26 Yeah, I love that.
29:27 And I love seeing you shine in the series.
29:30 So thank you for your time today.
29:33 Of course, thank you.