We had the pleasure to talk with Tanisha LaVerne Grant also known as “The Hollywood Reporter”. She is a unique and dynamic woman using her talent and gifts as a freelance entertainment journalist making headway on the red carpet with exclusive interviews with celebrities in the entertainment industry.
Photo Credits: Photo courtesy of Tanisha LaVerne Grant
Tell us about your latest projects?
My latest project that I am very excited about is the Tribeca Film Festival. Tribeca Film Festival was founded back in 2002 by Robert De Niro along with some other friends of his. It was basically to revitalize the lower Manhattan/Tribeca area after the 9/11attack in 2001. This is a pretty big deal for New York City. I am definitely really excited to be a part of it. One of the premiers for opening night for Tribeca Film Festival (they have several), but there is one that I am in particular interest in is a film called the London Session that I can’t wait to cover.
It’s a documentary about Mary J. Blige and of course London Session dropped online in October of 2014. Mary J. Blige 13th album The London Session was leaked online and surprisingly you know Billboard was like this album is hot. It’s her best album since 2005. For Tribeca to invite Mary J. Blige to be a part of their opening night and world premiere of London Sessions, I am definitely excited about that.
I am gearing up for the Tribeca Film Festival which kicks off April 15th and runs 10 days until the 25th of April. There is going to be a series of talks and Spike Lee will be a part of it. I had an opportunity to interview Spike Lee on few other occasions including last summer in June at the ABFF NBC Universal. I will be participating in that this year in New York City. So, just a lot of really great stuff that I am fortunate enough to be a part of because this industry is very hard.
One of the last projects that I had the opportunity to be a part of and cover as an entertainment journalist was the Oscars in Los Angeles. Which was amazing, even though as African Americans we don’t feel included in mainstream awards series. But even still to be a part of that to have my brown face and bold head on the red carpet. Coming from the East coast Harlem by way of Philadelphia. It was definitely big deal moment for me because I worked my butt off. You just can’t don’t’ show up. It was a big deal for me because I am no longer with a network full-time. I freelance and I freelance with Blackamerica.com which is an interactive one website. When publicists are looking for who they want to cover their red carpet, I want to be selected. I am competing with Access Hollywood, E-Entertainment Tonight, ABC, NBC, and whomever else is out there.
What inspires you?
A little bit of everything inspires me. You know living and having the opportunity to go back and forth between New York and Los Angeles. Opportunity inspires me. The possibilities of what can be if I am prepared. If I am working strategically and smart toward whatever my dream is at that moment. You know, just knowing the possibilities of greatness is fulfilled. It’s like when your first grade teacher told you, “You can be anything you want.” She was serious because you can be. You have to understand it takes work and sacrifice. Sometimes I think about other people who had challenges and I get inspired.
Who would you love to work with and why?
I love to work with Mara Brock Akil. You know Mara Brock Akil is in my generation and I feel like she is a cohort. Like a lot of young women Mara, after she graduated Northwestern she packed her car up and drove from Chicago to Los Angeles to make her dreams happen. Fast forward twenty years later, you know she is one of the #1 show runners. Her show Being Mary Jane is a bread and butter for BET. She is giving African American women a voice and she is giving us many, many narratives not just one way that we exist. She is telling our story through the lenses of so many African American women who I believe can relate to Being Mary Jane or the series she did years ago called Girlfriends. I would love an opportunity to work with her, to be a part of one of her long series.
What advice would you give women in pursuit of career in the entertainment industry of television & Film?
One piece of advice I would say is, just focus on one particular thing. You know because now of days a lot of women say, I am actress, writer, producers, journalist, or red carpet host. What are you giving 100 percent to? I would say pull one thing out of your artistic cannon, be that acting or writing and give that 199 percent. Flowers can’t grow, it has to share soil and water with five other seeds. Focus on that one baby that you have out of the cannon and be great at that. I believe in becoming exceptional in your field and being great at your craft. For me, I always say focus on one thing.
What is on the horizon for you for the rest of 2015?
What’s on the horizon for me is more work on a different scale. I would love to do a little bit more public speaking. On June 12, 2015, I will be going to deliver the commencement speech at the high school I graduate from at Chester High school in Chester, Philadelphia. I am real excited about that and have the opportunity to open up my platform wider to do more speaking engagements. To encourage people to relight their fire in terms of managing their career in television and film. Definitely sharing the blue print, not that I have the entire blue print, but I have enough of it. I want to spend 2015 sharing what it is that God has given me. Planning to be a part of some major projects and full-time with a network or television series.
You can learn more about Tanisha LaVerne Grant by following her on social media at the below links.
Facebook.com/Tanisha LaVerne Grant