Actors Quote by Tracee Ellis Ross
“I doubted Black-ish , and I'll tell you why. Because it doesn't matter if a writer wrote it for you. He could've written it with you in mind. But TV is a collaborative art. It involves producers, networks, studios, and many people signing off on you. And a lot of times there are deals in place - actors with studios that they're looking for shows for.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Podcast with Tracee Ellis Ross, 2023
The quote highlights that TV storytelling is a collective effort, not solely the writer's vision, and that audience relevance is secondary to production decisions.
In simple terms: TV is made by many, not just the writer.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the collaborative nature of media creation.
Themes
media production
collaboration
authorship
industry dynamics
Mood
reflective
critical
insightful
Type
observational
analytical
When to use this quote
- show development
- casting decisions
- studio negotiations
- marketing strategies
Key Concepts
creative control
network influence
audience relevance
Questions to Reflect On
- How does collaboration shape the stories we see?
- What role should audiences play in influencing content?
A Different Perspective
The writer's intent may be overlooked by commercial priorities.
![“I felt like it was a courageous show [Black-ish] from the beginning. We are a black family - we're not a family that happens to be black. But the show is not even about us being black. The show is about us being a family. That is groundbreaking - on TV, the black characters either happen to be…” quote by Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/322/tracee-ellis-ross-8946_black_i-felt-like-it-was-a-courageous-show-bla_2758443.jpg)
![“I was cast in a movie [originally] called Mr. Spreckman's Boat, starring Marcia Gay Harden and Jennifer Connelly. I felt like an "actress." Both of them have won Oscars - maybe that means I might one day.” quote by Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/931/tracee-ellis-ross-8946_actresses_i-was-cast-in-a-movie-originally-called_270326.jpg)
![“The two things that I thought were really interesting about this character [Bow] for me were that she actually loved her husband, and he loved her. The comedy was not coming from the fact that they hated each other. Which is what television couples are usually based on.” quote by Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7a4/tracee-ellis-ross-8946_bows_the-two-things-that-i-thought-were-reall_339569.jpg)
