Actor Tasha Smith joined Forbes senior writer Jabari Young at the Nasdaq MarketSite to discuss her business ambitions and career journey In Hollywood. In the discussion, Smith also dives into her acting company, how she spent her first $1 million, and the lessons of being a Black woman director.
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00Turbulence. It's uncomfortable at times, but it's something you must go through to get to your destination.
00:06And don't let it scare you. Because again, you've got to get there.
00:09And in a minute, we will be talking to a businesswoman who lives by that philosophy.
00:12And I hear she makes one hell of a garlic crap crab.
00:16Right here at the NASDAQ, you're in the Enterprise Zone.
00:19Tasha Smith coming right up.
00:25Hello, everyone. This is Jabari Young here at the NASDAQ.
00:28You're in the Enterprise Zone.
00:30I am joined by a special guest, the multi-talented Tasha Smith, actor, director, teacher.
00:37You know her as Angela Williams from Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?
00:41Thank you so much, Tasha, for joining us at the NASDAQ.
00:44This is such a pleasure. I'm a fan. I really am.
00:47Well, I'm a fan, too, Jabari. You're amazing.
00:50I'm so happy to be here.
00:51Thank you. Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
00:53Yeah, this is great. You look beautiful, too.
00:56Yes, have a belated birthday.
00:57Thank you. Listen, my what?
00:59February, right?
01:00Yes, February 28th.
01:01It gets greater later, as my friend Bevy Smith would say.
01:04I love that. I love it. It gets greater later.
01:06Listen, we're here at the NASDAQ, so you've got to give me a stock, right?
01:09Something that maybe Tasha Smith maybe wanted, she bought, has done well for her.
01:13What are you interested in?
01:15Oh, my goodness.
01:16It is. I wish I would have invested in Uber, to be honest.
01:21Wow. You still care, Tasha?
01:22Honestly. I mean, you know, like, that's something, because I had a friend that told me about it early on, and I didn't do it, but I wish I would have.
01:29Yeah, I mean, I'm telling you, Uber, I'll go back to the day, I say, man, Microsoft, a whole bunch of things that you might want to get.
01:34You know, Apple, all the tech stuff, honestly, and it's something, because a lot of us, I feel like I was very afraid to invest in things like that, because of just lack of education.
01:46Absolutely, yeah.
01:46And that's why you and your show is so wonderful and so important to our culture.
01:50Yeah, well, listen, it's so funny, because I was talking to a baseball player, and he had all the money in the world.
01:54He said the exact same thing, like, you know, I just didn't know how to get in, right?
01:58Yeah.
01:58And so, but, you know, have these great conversations.
02:00It's what's important.
02:01Well, we're at Financial Literacy Month. It's in April, so tell me, what is the best piece of money management advice you've ever received?
02:06You know, honestly, money management advice would have been, like, there was a time I used to, like, be afraid of credit cards.
02:19Yeah.
02:19Yes, okay, because, like, at one time in my career, I was very much in debt, and this was, like, maybe 20 years ago, and I just cut off all credit cards.
02:31I didn't have a credit card for probably, like, almost 10 years.
02:35Wow.
02:35Okay, can you believe that? Like, literally.
02:38But how did you manage?
02:39I was just debit, like, exactly, and then I was like, that's not smart, okay?
02:43Yeah, you got to know how to work the system.
02:45Exactly, and that was something that I learned.
02:48But I thought I was doing well by myself by not, you know, accumulating debt, but then I wasn't even accumulating good credit.
02:56Absolutely, yeah.
02:57Okay.
02:57And listen, look, we live in a country that we're in debt.
02:59We run on debt, right?
03:00Right, hello, hello.
03:01Yeah, absolutely, you got to do it, absolutely.
03:02Well, I love that.
03:03What's the worst piece of money management advice you probably asked?
03:06To cut off all my credit cards.
03:07To cut off all your credit cards.
03:08See, look at that.
03:09Sometimes we talk about credit cards, we put them in such a bad light, but you don't know how to use them.
03:13Right, exactly, exactly, exactly.
03:15How was life at age 54 for you?
03:17Honestly, I feel at my best.
03:20I feel at my best right now, and I feel more confident.
03:24I feel more aware of just who I am.
03:27I feel more comfortable in myself, in my skin.
03:30I don't have the fear I had 20 years ago because I felt like I was constantly walking around afraid of myself, afraid of just life, just lived in fear so much.
03:43Yeah.
03:44But I feel now, I feel like I'm just at the best time of my life.
03:49You know that saying that says, your latter days will be greater than your beginning?
03:54That's how I feel.
03:55It don't feel like that in the moment, though, right?
03:57Yeah.
03:57When you're in the beginning days, you're like, what is it going to get better?
04:00Exactly, but it's like, when you think about, like, when you push over 50, you've gone through so many things.
04:07You've gained so much wisdom through the trials and tribulation and obstacles that you've had to deal with, and a lot of those things do make you feel stronger.
04:17It's funny how you started off talking about turbulence.
04:21Like, I used to be afraid to fly.
04:23I mean, I used to be terrified.
04:25Whenever I felt turbulence, I felt like it was a problem, right?
04:30But then, this guy that was sitting next to me one day, saw me shaking on the plane, he said, it's like a bump in the road.
04:37Yeah.
04:37You know, and sometimes turbulence is just a little bump in the road, and sometimes we may have to just kind of, like, glide through it and allow it to happen.
04:54But then we're still going to land where we're supposed to land.
04:58Yeah, most definitely.
04:59A lot has happened so far in 2025, right?
05:02And so I always say, you know, music connects us.
05:04What's been the soundtrack to your 2025s?
05:06Is it Sade?
05:07No, it's actually not.
05:09I mean, I've been listening a lot to Terrace Martin.
05:13Mm, I love Terrace Martin.
05:15Terrace Martin has gotten Robert Glasper.
05:18Honestly, they have gotten me through a lot.
05:21Yeah.
05:21And I have been just in this Terrace Martin phase right now.
05:26Nice, yeah.
05:26Valdez on Crenshaw is one of my favorite Terrace Martin songs.
05:30That brother is so talented.
05:31He plays the trumpet.
05:32He is so talented.
05:33Oh, man.
05:33He is so talented.
05:34I mean, he is just brilliant.
05:37So, Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper is the vibe I'm on right now.
05:41It's funny, Robert Glasper was just in Philly not too long ago,
05:43and I was so mad because I missed him.
05:44But I did catch someone who I'm sure you would appreciate, T.K. Kirkland.
05:47Oh, yeah.
05:48Oh, T.K.
05:49Yeah.
05:49I thought T.K.
05:49And can I tell you, Robert, Terrace Martin is going to be at the Blue Note
05:53coming up this month in April.
05:55Are you going?
05:55Towards the end of April, I plan to come back.
05:58Okay.
05:58I got to fly to L.A. quickly, and then I plan to come back.
06:00So you'll be in the back with the incognito hat on.
06:02No, I'm not going to be incognito.
06:04I'm going to be right there at the stage listening to my brother play that sax.
06:08Yeah, I might have to be right next to you.
06:10Come on, let's go.
06:11I'll treat you.
06:12I'll take you.
06:12Oh, there you go.
06:13Listen, if you go on, if you're paying, I'm here.
06:15Listen, let's get into some news, though,
06:16because you said you got to fly back out to L.A.,
06:19and you're busy right now, right?
06:20Yes, yes.
06:20You're on the road promoting a new series,
06:22Survival of the Thickest, season two.
06:24Yes, and oh, my God, season two.
06:26Well, you play a millionaire.
06:27Well, I play a bad chick with a lot of money.
06:30It was a line that she said to Mavis.
06:34Mavis was asking Michelle Bateau's character, you know,
06:37saying that she needed to get a bank loan.
06:38And I said, my character said, I am a bank loan, okay?
06:43It's so cool to have friends with money
06:45that are willing to invest in your business, you know?
06:49And I just love that character.
06:51I love Mavis.
06:52I love Khalil.
06:53I love Peppermint.
06:54I mean, it's such a wonderful show.
06:58I looked at it for the first time the other night,
07:00and I got to tell you, I was like, this is good.
07:04And I'm not just saying it because I got the opportunity to be in it,
07:08but it's a solid show.
07:11It is just so funny, full of heart, full of love, full of joy.
07:15It's amazing.
07:17I am so proud of this season.
07:20Is there any difference when you play a businesswoman?
07:22Because, again, we know you as Angela, right?
07:24And, you know, everybody knows the Tyler Perry show.
07:26And we love her.
07:28But is there any difference?
07:29Because, you know, some of our favorite movies,
07:31and I tell friends this all the time, is The Wood and The Brothers.
07:34Like, people who put black men in such a beautiful light
07:37and was doing some great business, right?
07:39Yes.
07:39Is this any role?
07:40Does this businesswoman go for you?
07:41I love it.
07:42I love it because a lot of times, you know,
07:44it's like people want to only share the stories of, like,
07:48our mishaps or our financial, you know,
07:52discouragement and all of those things.
07:54But to have a black woman that is a businesswoman,
07:58just financially successful,
08:00walking in a room full of white businessmen,
08:03telling them to shut the mt up.
08:05I mean, it is, like,
08:07it's a little bit of that Angela energy in this businesswoman.
08:12I love how bold she is, how fearless she is.
08:16But I just love what she represents, that she has money.
08:20She's financially stable enough to be able to help all her friends.
08:25Her cup is running over.
08:26It is fantastic.
08:28I love it.
08:28It reminds me of the character Vivica Foss played on 2 Can Play That Game.
08:31Yes, remember that?
08:32Yes.
08:32She got in her drop top and all her friends.
08:35I'm like, this is phenomenal.
08:36I love it.
08:37It's great.
08:37I love it.
08:38And Vivica really fought hard to make sure she was in that kind of car,
08:41wearing those kind of suits.
08:43It was just beautiful.
08:44Man, that's powerful, too.
08:45That's powerful because it leaves such a lasting image.
08:47Again, I still remember that years later.
08:48Yeah, and I want to represent something that young girls could look up to
08:53and want to be when they get older.
08:56Honestly, it's a blessing.
08:57Well, you have another role in a Lifetime project, too,
09:00a desire, a temptation story.
09:02And you play a talk show host, and it's romantic,
09:05involving your executive producer.
09:07And you have a guy named Adrian Holmes.
09:09Yes.
09:10People always tell me I look like him.
09:11You do.
09:12You do.
09:12I don't think I look like him.
09:14I don't think I look like him.
09:14Y'all do a favor.
09:15You think so?
09:15Yes, absolutely.
09:15I can play a stunt double maybe for him?
09:17Listen, come on.
09:17Yes, you could.
09:18Yes, I work with Adrian Holmes.
09:20You know, I got a chance to direct him on Bel Air.
09:23Yeah.
09:23And I directed him twice on Bel Air, and I just loved him so much.
09:28He's such a beautiful black man.
09:30He's wonderful.
09:32He was so kind to the cast, to, you know, Cassandra, who plays Aunt Viv.
09:37And I was just like, I want a leading man like that.
09:39Yeah.
09:40You know, and when I got this movie, and we're, like, trying to figure out who's going to play
09:45my love interest, I said Adrian Holmes.
09:48Wow.
09:48And I called him, and I asked him if he would come and do that with me, and he did.
09:51You didn't know me yet.
09:52I know.
09:52If I knew you know Jamari, I would have told you.
09:54And I would have auditioned, too.
09:56I would have done it the right way, I had auditioned.
09:57Well, we would have had love since then.
09:59Oh, well, listen, you know.
10:00Listen, you just, you know, listen.
10:02What's been the biggest positive surprise for you as far as being an actor slash director?
10:08Like, how has that been?
10:09Honestly, I would say my comfortability as a director.
10:13You know, I have an acting school called TESOL, and I taught acting for many years.
10:17And I always felt like I was empowering other people, right, to pursue their purpose in the
10:23arts and in acting.
10:24But all those years of teaching acting, I realized God put me there to do that for me to also learn
10:32how to communicate with actors.
10:34And that was a blessing, and that helped me to be very comfortable as a director, not
10:40being afraid to talk to the actor, to give notes, to give direction, to give my perspective
10:45of the character's journey and things like that.
10:48So teaching acting really helped me be more comfortable than I thought I could ever be
10:54as a director.
10:55Because I had a lot of fear in the beginning as a director, but it really helped me to be
11:00very comfortable.
11:01Yeah, and I was reading or listening to something that you said about being a director.
11:04You said it was creatively stimulating because, you know, your voice is heard across the
11:10board, right?
11:10Yeah.
11:10How does Tasha Smith, how do you lead on set?
11:14Oh, I'm motivating, loud, inspiring.
11:17You know, I feel like the crew is my family, you know what I mean?
11:21And you want your family to feel good when they come to your house, right?
11:24When you welcome people into your home, you want it to feel festive and happy and welcoming,
11:29and that's the energy that I like to lead with.
11:32I feel like it's a collaborative effort.
11:35It takes all of us to tell the story.
11:38So embracing everyone and allowing people's voices to be heard, whether it's the props,
11:44whether it's the, you know, the AD, whether it's your DP, whether it's your camera department,
11:49everyone may have a great idea that could be the idea for you.
11:53I remember one time someone like a PA had suggested something to me, and I was like,
11:59that's a great idea.
12:00I'll take it.
12:01I just love being on set.
12:03I love, I'm a crew girl, and I just, I just love it.
12:07I feel like I'm at home with family.
12:09Yeah, it's the passion.
12:10And, you know, I guess you have to be very good with budgeting, too,
12:13because I'll say it like this, 20 minutes, seven shots.
12:16Oh, baby.
12:17That was the Empire's episode.
12:18You had 20 minutes to get seven shots.
12:21Listen, let me tell you.
12:21That budgeting, is that difficult?
12:22No, it's real, and it's very real.
12:25And I always tell other directors that I talk to that's just getting into,
12:28especially directing television, you know, going 10 minutes over, 20 minutes over,
12:34could cost thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars.
12:38So you being prepared, being efficient, being clear, being decisive about what you want,
12:45because 10 minutes of indecisiveness can throw off your entire day,
12:51could cost the production much more money.
12:54So I try to go in there very focused, very clear about the story I want to tell,
12:59making sure everyone else is on board and is clear about what I want,
13:04and being decisive and trusting the choices I've made so that we can continue to execute the day.
13:12Yeah.
13:12When you have to put yourself back in that role as an actor, what's your day-to-day?
13:16Like, so you get up in the morning, you know, you're Tasha Smith actor now, right?
13:19The director's done.
13:20You got your money.
13:21Now you're back to an actor.
13:22What's your day-to-day as an actor?
13:23Well, you know, directing made me respect, like, just production as a whole, being on time, being prepared,
13:31not allowing myself to be sitting in hair and makeup longer than I'm supposed to,
13:36because that could eat up the director's time.
13:39So now I'm more mindful of the process of the director.
13:43So I try to go in there prepared, know my lines, know my work, and be on time.
13:48And that's something I would suggest to all the other actors out there,
13:52especially the new ones that are coming into, you know, doing television and things like that.
13:57Be prepared.
13:58The more prepared you are, the more opportunity the director has to tell their story.
14:04Yeah, absolutely.
14:04Yeah.
14:05Absolutely.
14:05You know, I hear you, and you look, your growth has been amazing.
14:08And, again, you know, when I first started watching you was a while ago, and I'll tell you when.
14:13It was on the corner, right, and on HBO, right.
14:16And I'll get to that in one second.
14:18But, you know, your story, again, it touches me because we were right over the bridge.
14:21You're from Camden.
14:22I'm from Philadelphia.
14:23But for you, what was that like growing up in Camden for you?
14:26It was, honestly, it was very rough.
14:29I had a lot of obstacles, a lot.
14:31A lot of people don't know.
14:32I dropped out of school in the ninth grade.
14:35My first, I was, like, bartending at a strip club.
14:37I was a stripper.
14:38I wasn't that good at it.
14:40Thank God I'm an actress and a director, okay?
14:45But it was just a lot of things I experienced that took away a lot of my confidence and stuff like that, you know?
14:52And so that's why it's almost like a miracle for me to be here.
14:55But I'm resilient, and I just feel like with all the other people out there,
14:59they may be in uncomfortable, discouraging circumstances, but God has a future.
15:05Don't live in the past.
15:08Don't live in the mistakes you've made, the hurt you've experienced, because that's the very thing that could prevent you from living in your future.
15:17Your future could be 10 minutes from now, 20 minutes from now, an hour from now.
15:21But literally just forgiving myself, you know, allowing myself to heal, and allowing myself to look forward and expect good things.
15:32Yeah.
15:32And work hard.
15:33Honestly, we have to be a good steward over the things and the opportunities that are in front of us.
15:39But we can't really move forward if we keep looking backwards.
15:44Yeah.
15:44In your trailer, when you just have a moment of quiet time, do you ever just transform and go back to the, you know, future?
15:52It's one of my favorite movies, but go back to the past and just revisit that six-year-old girl in your bed, sitting with your sister, dreaming, right?
16:00You wanted her to be Chaka Khan.
16:02Yes.
16:02You would be Diana Ross.
16:03Ah!
16:04At Stevie Wonder's house and a party, she would always fall asleep.
16:07Yes!
16:07But then you would still walk down the block, dreaming of being an actor, right?
16:10And then your grandfather was also an actor, right?
16:13He was on Roots.
16:14Yeah.
16:15He was on Extra One Taxi, right?
16:16Yes.
16:17Does that, when you're sitting in your trailer and you're just thinking about those times when you're dreaming, does it bring back emotion at all?
16:22It does.
16:23It actually brings emotion back right now.
16:25And that's why I feel like, like, I'm always, like, very grateful for every opportunity that I have.
16:33Because that was just a dream.
16:35Like, I'm literally living my dream, Jabari.
16:38I used to be in the streets of Camden telling people, one day I'm going to go to Hollywood.
16:44I'm going to be an actor.
16:46And it seemed like it was something that was so far.
16:49Like, it was such a far reach, but it was such a deep dream.
16:53And so sometimes when I'm in that trailer, it makes me want to cry.
16:57And it makes me want to be as kind as possible.
17:01I remember one day I was, like, praying, just saying, God, I just want to, like, stay in this just so I can see if this dream I have will come true.
17:13And I got to tell you, like, for it to have come true in the way that it has, I said to God, I promise you, I will be the kindest person.
17:25I will be the biggest giver.
17:27I will be the most gracious human if this dream comes true.
17:32And Jabari, that's how I try to represent myself.
17:35That's who I try to be because I never forget about the six-year-old girl that was in that bed dreaming.
17:43Okay?
17:44Dreaming.
17:45Yeah.
17:45And, again, you come from Camden.
17:46And I'll tell people, listen, Philly's rough.
17:49Philly is very rough.
17:50So you know what's up.
17:50When it comes to Camden, we were told, look, man, you zoom past Camden.
17:54Yes, get past it.
17:54Don't stop.
17:55Keep going.
17:55Because it was bad.
17:56It was hard.
17:57And honestly, you know it was bad.
17:59Like, it was one of the highest rated crime cities in America, right?
18:06But it gave me so much tenacity and so much resilience and so much, like, strength and power, even mixed in the fear.
18:17I still said, you know what?
18:19I'm just going to do life afraid.
18:21The things that I experienced in Camden, most people would crack and crumble and would not be able to recover from it.
18:30Or worse, fall to their environment.
18:32And we've seen that a lot.
18:33Trust me.
18:34Exactly.
18:34But then you got to this party.
18:35Tisha Campbell's there, right?
18:37And then Little Shop of Horrors.
18:39Y'all know her.
18:39She gets to meet Gina.
18:40Yeah.
18:41And then you invite Tisha to your house.
18:43Y'all have a spaghetti.
18:44And a mouse comes.
18:45And a mouse comes.
18:46Listen, I'm telling you.
18:47That's crazy.
18:47It's so funny because me and Bernicia was talking.
18:49I said, did y'all have, because my makeup artist, she's from London.
18:52I said, y'all got a lot of mice and stuff in London.
18:54She was like, yes.
18:56But, yes, it's so funny because I invited Tisha.
18:58Look at me being all bold, inviting this movie star to my house.
19:02And she came.
19:02And she came over.
19:04And when that mouse ran across her feet, she stayed eating that spaghetti with her feet up.
19:08She was like, I'm good.
19:09But she kept them feet up off the ground.
19:11I was so embarrassed.
19:13But, listen, that created an opportunity because, again, you move back to L.A. and you're doing stand-up.
19:18Yes.
19:19And you're doing it.
19:20And you see Guy Torrey.
19:21Yes.
19:22Yes.
19:23I'm sure TK was out there.
19:24Yes, TK.
19:25You know, people used to call me the female TK Kirkland.
19:28Is that right?
19:28Because my mouth was so dirty.
19:30Yeah, you got to get back on stage.
19:31So dirty.
19:33But Tisha, she was the one that had taken me to the Comedy Act Theater to see Martin.
19:37And that's what made me fall in love with comedy.
19:40Seeing Martin Lawrence up on that stage, I would go back to the Comedy Act Theater every
19:44week.
19:45And it was like that was my church.
19:46I would just sit in the back, listen to comics, and I would try to give little notes.
19:51And Joe Torrey was the one that, like, told me I needed to get up on stage.
19:55And I said, Joe, I don't know what to talk about.
19:57He said, talk about your life.
19:58I said, but my life is so dirty.
20:00He was like, well, talk about it.
20:01That's right.
20:02Talk about it.
20:03And that's where I met Eddie Griffin during that time, Dave Chappelle, you know, who's
20:08been such a big brother, big little brother, because I'm actually older than him.
20:12But he's like my big brother, mentor.
20:15He's been such a blessing in my life, even to this day.
20:19Like, just such a blessing.
20:21And when you have friends like that, for me, I just want to make my friends proud.
20:25I want them to see how focused I am.
20:27You know, even talking about the corner, I know we got a second before we talk about that.
20:31But can I talk about it?
20:33Yeah, yeah, yeah.
20:33Okay, because I don't know if you know this, but I used to be Charles Dutton's assistant.
20:37I was his assistant.
20:39I was the one cleaning up his dog poop.
20:41He had this dog, this pit bull that I was terrified of, named Hawkeye, right?
20:46And I was terrified.
20:48But Charles Dutton, he introduced me to so much.
20:50He was a mentor of mine as well.
20:52And I used to clean his house.
20:54I used to cook for him.
20:55He loved, I still cook for him.
20:57He loved my cooking.
20:59And whenever he would have guests over, right, Charles, I call him Charlie, Charles Dutton,
21:05he had this china, this fine china.
21:08And then he had these regular glasses.
21:11And when certain people come over, he'd be like, pull out the fine china.
21:14And then some people come over, he'd be like, nah, don't get him the fine china.
21:18You know, it was so funny.
21:19But I would cook for him, clean for him.
21:22And getting the opportunity to work with him on The Corner.
21:25And I had to audition.
21:27Yeah.
21:27Although I worked for him, he still made me work for it.
21:30But that was such an incredible experience.
21:33It was like I came from comedy and I got an opportunity for people to see me do something more dramatic.
21:40But it was so wonderful playing Ronnie Boyce in The Corner, directed by Charles Rock Dutton.
21:46Yeah, I remember that, that this and that show opened up for The Wire.
21:49And then HBO went hardcore like that.
21:51But I said, man, it started with The Corner.
21:53It started with The Corner.
21:55One of the best roles of my life.
21:57Absolutely.
21:57And then 1996, Boston Comedy, NBC show.
22:00But you mentioned Charles Dutton.
22:02When you hear that name, what's the first thing that comes to mind?
22:05Oh, I was raised by wolves.
22:09Like, Charles Dutton is a strong man, you know, with a lot of integrity when it comes to his culture
22:15and the things that he taught me.
22:17And just also the work ethic that he instilled in me as an actor, as a producer, as a director.
22:25I was his assistant on one of his first films that he directed.
22:29And even to this day, I'm always, like, FaceTiming him when I'm on set.
22:34And I'm like, look at me, Charlie.
22:36I'm doing just like you, okay?
22:38Because he was such a strong, strong presence in my life.
22:43And I am so grateful for Charles Dutton.
22:46Yeah, one word, when you hear the name, just one word, when you hear the name Tyler Perry,
22:51what do you think about?
22:53Just the one word.
23:02A dreamer.
23:03A dreamer.
23:04Why a dreamer?
23:05Because I remember being around Tyler when he wanted to do exactly what he's doing now.
23:15Like you.
23:16Yeah, yeah.
23:17And I remember the second studio.
23:20He had this smaller studio on Croc Street.
23:24And then he went to the second one that was, like, near the air.
23:26It was, like, I think it was, like, an old airport hangar.
23:29But I remember that there were gates around that property.
23:33And we would go there, and he would tell me, this is going to be my next studio.
23:40And I can't remember if he put scriptures up there, but we would pray over that gate.
23:45And there were scriptures on, like, taped to the gate.
23:50And we would just pray and decree and declare.
23:54And just seeing him go from opening up that studio to then opening up this big studio that he has.
24:03Like, I literally saw that man dream.
24:06And I saw his dreams come into fruition.
24:09And he is definitely a very hardworking person.
24:15He works very tenaciously.
24:19Yeah.
24:20What did you learn about, you know, from Tyler and that you're applying to business now?
24:24Because you're your own businesswoman.
24:25You got your own school.
24:26You're a director, actor.
24:28Yep.
24:28What do you learn?
24:28It's having faith in myself and in the vision that God has placed before me to have faith in that.
24:37Yeah.
24:38I love it.
24:39Anything else, like, in the business world?
24:41What is going on?
24:42What else is in your portfolio?
24:44What else is in your portfolio?
24:45Real estate?
24:46What you got to do?
24:46What else?
24:47You're so funny.
24:48Like, right now, I'm really investing in myself.
24:50I'm investing in my production company, Camden Bridge.
24:54Is that the name of Camden Bridge?
24:55Camden Bridge.
24:56And what goes on in the production company?
24:58Are you doing your own movies there?
24:59Yes.
25:00Developing movies, scripts, writing, producing, hiring writers to develop scripts and ideas that I have.
25:08You know, and that is where I'm at right now, and I am so excited about Camden Bridge, and I'm so excited about the work that we're going to do for us.
25:18Yeah, absolutely.
25:19And then you also have the school.
25:20Again, you talked about it a little bit, but I like that school because, you know, it's $2.95 a month, if I saw it.
25:26Yes, it's affordable.
25:28Yeah, very affordable.
25:29I just said, I love that school because you have a brother in there.
25:32His name is Lamar Luttrell.
25:34He was on Nerds.
25:35I was trying to say, wait a minute, I know that name.
25:37And you got Lamar Luttrell from Nerds as one of your teachers.
25:40Yes.
25:41I might sign up just so I can go.
25:42Yes, yes.
25:43He was a special character.
25:44Larry B., baby.
25:45Yes, Larry Scott, right?
25:46Yes, Larry Scott.
25:48But let me tell you something.
25:49Like, it's a blessing to work with, like, with him.
25:52Like, he's one of my main teachers there.
25:54Tiffany Black, Eric Rudo.
25:56I mean, we have Nate.
25:58We have, oh, my God, D.Va.
26:00It's just so many.
26:01Darlene.
26:02How about this?
26:03My childhood friend, Darlene Woods, who I grew up with, that I've known since I was 13 years old.
26:10Yeah.
26:10She is the one.
26:11She's the manager of my school.
26:12She is running my school.
26:14When she was a kid, right, she wrote in her journal that one day she's going to be a part of a drama school.
26:21She found that journal a few years ago and was like, Tasha, look.
26:25But she was the same person when I went to L.A. and I was sleeping in my car at the beach, had no money.
26:33She sent me a, like, a money gram that she had sent me a hundred bucks.
26:40Wow.
26:41A hundred bucks.
26:42I needed a hundred bucks.
26:45She found the receipt she sold into my life, and she still is.
26:50So thank you, Darlene.
26:51Yeah, I love that.
26:52I love it.
26:53I was asking the Olympian, the gymnastics Olympian champion, Jordan Charles, and I asked her what she would love her empire to be in one word, her business empire, and she said eternity.
27:06And I said, why?
27:06She says, because when I'm dead, I want to still be making money, right?
27:09Yeah.
27:09What is Tasha Smith?
27:10What's your empire in one word?
27:12Wow.
27:13Legacy.
27:13Legacy.
27:14Why legacy?
27:15Legacy because I feel like what's important, like a lot of times, right, especially, like, in this whole social media,
27:23world, people are living just for now.
27:26People are making decisions because of now, just for the clickbait now.
27:31People aren't thinking about how things will affect their future.
27:36You know, even the way that we, like, interact with each other, the way we deal with people, the way we talk to people, the way we encourage or discourage people, to me, that's part of our legacy.
27:49I want, when I walk away from someone, I want them to say, I was blessed by her presence.
27:56She inspired me.
27:57She helped me.
27:59She motivated me.
28:01She helped me become a dreamer and pursue my dreams.
28:04I'd rather that be my legacy than something other than that.
28:09Yeah.
28:09Love it.
28:10I love it.
28:11Look ahead now.
28:12Some last minute stuff because you got to get out of here, Tasha.
28:14You're very busy and I definitely appreciate the time.
28:16Got to have you back again.
28:18I would love it.
28:19Million dollar question.
28:20First million.
28:21How did you make it?
28:21Oh, actually, how did I make my first million?
28:29Acting.
28:29Acting.
28:30How'd you spend it?
28:32I can't believe you're asking me that.
28:38But I feel like I have to be honest.
28:44Through getting an annulment.
28:46Oh, wow.
28:47You spent the million dollars to get divorced.
28:50Annulled.
28:50Annulled.
28:51Excuse me.
28:51Annulled.
28:52So, Jesus.
28:53A million dollars?
28:53Is that how much it costs?
28:55Where was this annulment at?
28:56It was a lot.
28:57L.A.?
28:57It was in L.A.
28:58Oh, that's why.
28:59Yeah.
28:59Jesus.
28:59Well, I'm sorry.
29:00I hope they can give you some of it back.
29:01It's good.
29:02God's already given it back.
29:03Oh, that's good.
29:04I did not know annulments cost that much money.
29:05Well, it took a lot of time.
29:07Yeah.
29:07Yeah.
29:08Well, listen.
29:09I'm sure you don't regret that.
29:10I sure don't.
29:10Get the million and get it done.
29:11I'm sure you don't regret it.
29:12It was money well spent.
29:14A hundred percent.
29:14It was money well spent.
29:16A hundred percent.
29:17Black Outlook.
29:18Nielsen.
29:19Nielsen.
29:20I am so done with this right now.
29:21Black America.
29:22All right.
29:22Nielsen says, Black America, by 2026, Black America will have 2.1 trillion spending power.
29:29When you hear 2.1 trillion spending power, what comes to mind?
29:33Excitement.
29:34Excitement.
29:34I love it.
29:35Why excite?
29:35Because that means we're going to have more money to do the things we're dreaming to do.
29:39I love it.
29:40I love it.
29:41Look around the world, right?
29:42Pick any country in the world.
29:44Where would Tasha Smith put some money to invest?
29:47Which country?
29:47Outside of the U.S.?
29:48South Africa.
29:49South Africa.
29:50Why South Africa?
29:50Because it's just I have a lot of friends and family there.
29:53And I'm just in love with Joe Berg.
29:56And I'm in love with the people there.
29:58And there's so much rich culture there and arts there and entertainment there.
30:02And I just, I feel like it's so rich.
30:05Nice.
30:05Nice.
30:05I love that.
30:06Got a LinkedIn question for you, right?
30:08I can't let you get out of here.
30:09We did go to LinkedIn and ask someone.
30:11Denise Brawner, she says, as a black woman stepping into the director's chair, how do you assess creative authority in rooms that may be unaccustomed to seeing someone like you lead?
30:22And how do you navigate the assumptions that come with that?
30:25A very interesting question because I saw you on Sway and you were talking about a black man who kind of shot you down earlier as a director.
30:30You just have to, like, own who you are and be confident in the story that you want to tell and be yourself.
30:40Like, I don't believe, this is just me.
30:42I'm not a code switcher, you know, because I don't feel my creativity is guided in falsehood, right?
30:51So I can't walk in a space and try to be something that I'm not.
30:56I don't feel like I can create my best art like that.
31:00So I'm just myself.
31:02I'm a black woman.
31:04I'm loud.
31:05You know what I mean?
31:06I have this energy, you know.
31:08But that's just who I am.
31:10But my creativity is in my truth.
31:14And that's all I can say is to be honest with who you are and don't be afraid of what anybody thinks about that.
31:22But your creativity comes out of your truth, period.
31:27I love it.
31:28Denise got that question out of you.
31:29I'm jealous because I thought I was going to get that.
31:31Denise got that out of you.
31:32Favorite three books, right?
31:33Your top three books that inspire you to perform your best or motivate you.
31:37Oh, my God, becoming a person of influence by John C. Maxwell, developing the leader within you by John C.
31:45I'm a John C. Maxwell fan because he's such a wonderful, wonderful teacher on leadership.
31:52How successful people think is another one that I'm reading and enjoying.
31:56And then I'm old school.
31:58I'm going to give you a fourth one.
32:00But I'm a good old Bible girl.
32:01I always love just there's a scripture that says faith comes by hearing.
32:07And hearing by the word of God.
32:09So I just try to, like, nurture my spirit.
32:12You know, I'm like the self-help leadership stuff is important to me because I also feel like being a director, I have to be a good leader.
32:20Being an actor, I have to be a good leader.
32:23You know, and just being a teacher, I have to be a good leader.
32:27So I just want to be able to continue to get better at that.
32:31So I tend to read more books like that.
32:33Yeah, most definitely.
32:34We'll get you out of here on this, right?
32:35My favorite business book, Good to Great.
32:37What's the difference between a good director and a great one?
32:40A good director and a great one?
32:43You know, at the end of the day, right, I feel like if you are honest and authentic and you are clear about what your voice is as a filmmaker,
32:55then that's the difference between good and great, honesty, authenticity, and you allowing yourself to allow your voice to be heard.
33:06Don't compare yourself to someone else.
33:09Like, I'm me.
33:10I'm not trying to compare myself to Ava DuVernay or Regina King or any other female incredible directors that I know.
33:19I'm Tasha Smith.
33:21I have to be honest about what my voice is.
33:25Yeah.
33:25I hope that answers you.
33:26Oh, it does.
33:27It does.
33:28Listen, I wish we had time because I would ask you to make me some of that garlic crack crack.
33:31I want to make it for you, too.
33:32Yeah, please do that, right?
33:33I'm really good at that, okay?
33:35We can get on set, right?
33:35After I get out of my trailer, you can eat the garlic crack.
33:37I love it.
33:37I love it.
33:38I love to cook.
33:38I love to cook.
33:40You're from Canada.
33:40You've got to cook.
33:40You should see my seasoning cabinet.
33:42My seasoning cabinet is on another level.
33:45Well, you've got to have an Old Bay seasoning there.
33:47Oh, I've got all of it.
33:48I've got the Old Bay.
33:49I've mixed my own seasonings together.
33:51I love it.
33:52I don't want to even take you back in the day to Murray's.
33:54We don't even have the time.
33:55Okay.
33:56Tasha Smith, thank you so much for coming to the Nasdaq.
34:01In the fall, we would love to have you.
34:03Thank you so much.
34:03I would love that.
34:04Thank you for having me, Jamari.
34:05Absolutely.
34:05Yes, absolutely.
34:06You've got to come.
34:07Tasha Smith, boom!
34:08Hey!
34:08Had to get it in there.
34:09Boom!
34:10Had to get it in there.
34:11You're in the Enterprise Zone.
34:12You're out of the Enterprise Zone at the Nasdaq.
34:14Thanks for watching.