--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My husband [Julius Tennon] and I started…" description: "\"My husband [Julius Tennon] and I started a production company. We've already optioned a book and some scripts to do exactly that, to create more compli..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/viola-davis-1174_african-american_my-husband-julius-tennon-and-i-started-a_2269898.png" --- # My husband \[Julius Tennon\] and I started a production… ![“My husband [Julius Tennon] and I started a production company. We've already optioned a book and some scripts to do exactly that, to create more complicated, multi-faceted roles for African-Americans, especially African-American females. I think it's important.” quote by Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/viola-davis-1174_african-american_my-husband-julius-tennon-and-i-started-a_2269898.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/viola-davis-1174_african-american_my-husband-julius-tennon-and-i-started-a_2269898.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/viola-davis-1174_african-american_my-husband-julius-tennon-and-i-started-a_2269898.png) > “My husband \[Julius Tennon\] and I started a production company. We've already optioned a book and some scripts to do exactly that, to create more complicated, multi-faceted roles for African-Americans, especially African-American females. I think it's important.” [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She aims to develop a media company that creates complex, multi‑dimensional roles for African‑American people, especially women, to broaden representation in entertainment. **In simple terms:** Creating richer roles for Black actors, especially women. Key Takeaway Support diverse storytelling. Themes representation diversity empowerment media culture Mood determined optimistic inspirational Type mission industry inspirational When to use this quote - film production - casting decisions - script development - community outreach Key Concepts intersectionality authenticity industry change Questions to Reflect On - How can creators ensure authentic representation? - What barriers exist for Black female leads? A Different Perspective Challenges include industry bias and funding constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [African americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-americans/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Female](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female/) [Husband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husband/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I am not a writer, but I feel that when our production company is successful, we'll be able to give some young writers with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-am-not-a-writer-but-i-feel-that-when-our-production-company-is/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I started a production company out of necessity, the need for great narratives for actors of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-started-a-production-company-out-of-necessity-the-need-for-great/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [Every actor has a production company already. It's just a matter of producing your own films under the label of your own production company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-johansson/every-actor-has-a-production-company-already-it-s-just-a-matter-of/) [Scarlett Johansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-johansson/) > [“a production company working on a new animated series called me to ask if they could use the name “Duff” for a brand of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duff-mckagan/a-production-company-working-on-a-new-animated-series-called-me-to/) [Duff McKagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duff-mckagan/) > [I haven't done any major filming with a major production company yet, but I've definitely done a lot of filming with a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-goepper/i-haven-t-done-any-major-filming-with-a-major-production-company-yet/) [Nick Goepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-goepper/) > [Originally I had a fear of rejection at the auditions, which is a lack of self-confidence ultimately. Now I have a production company and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-yaeger/originally-i-had-a-fear-of-rejection-at-the-auditions-which-is-a-lack/) Kurt Yaeger > [WMR is wholly devoted to acquiring and exploiting rights. We're not a production company, and we're not a broadcaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-neil/wmr-is-wholly-devoted-to-acquiring-and-exploiting-rights-we-re-not-a/) [Andrew Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-neil/) > [Joseph Gordon-Levitt's career is kind of how I want to create my career. He's very involved with his recording and production company and also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-butler/joseph-gordon-levitt-s-career-is-kind-of-how-i-want-to-create-my/) [Ross Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-butler/) > [I never thought of myself as a sex symbol. I just do the cover of magazines. I think it’s really unfair men or people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-longoria/i-never-thought-of-myself-as-a-sex-symbol-i-just-do-the-cover-of/) [Eva Longoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-longoria/) > [I pick my feature film battles very carefully. They're going to be personal and they're going to take a lot of my energy. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/i-pick-my-feature-film-battles-very-carefully-they-re-going-to-be/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [I didn't want to just work within Hollywood when I started a production company. I wanted to be able to collaborate with great artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-didn-t-want-to-just-work-within-hollywood-when-i-started-a/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [I'm very ambitious. I live in reality but I have dreams I want to fulfill - I want to be a director, and I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/i-m-very-ambitious-i-live-in-reality-but-i-have-dreams-i-want-to/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [I'm also really fulfilled by having a production company and producing movies, and learning about how that works and happens. It's a totally, entirely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-m-also-really-fulfilled-by-having-a-production-company-and/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [We've played producers almost our entire lives in everything else we've created. But when working on a feature and even dealing with something like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kate-olsen/we-ve-played-producers-almost-our-entire-lives-in-everything-else-we/) [Mary-Kate Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kate-olsen/) > [If you look at the statistics, I genuinely understand why when we go to a production company or a broadcaster, and they say our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joivan-wade/if-you-look-at-the-statistics-i-genuinely-understand-why-when-we-go/) [Joivan Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joivan-wade/) ## More by Viola Davis > [I look back at pictures of myself and I remember thinking, "I was so fat when I was growing up. I was 165 pounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-look-back-at-pictures-of-myself-and-i-remember-thinking-i-was-so/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I am not a glam woman - this definitely is a mask I put on for the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-am-not-a-glam-woman-this-definitely-is-a-mask-i-put-on-for-the/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I was bullied at school. The black girl in Central Falls, Rhode Island, in 1973. There'd be 8 or 10 boys; I would count…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-was-bullied-at-school-the-black-girl-in-central-falls-rhode-island/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [That's why there's so much bad acting out there, because you could see actors watching themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-why-there-s-so-much-bad-acting-out-there-because-you-could-see/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I want my work to reflect my level of gifts and talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-want-my-work-to-reflect-my-level-of-gifts-and-talent/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I don’t want anyone putting any limits on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-don-t-want-anyone-putting-any-limits-on-me/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [ I think that's why August \[Wilson\] named her Rose \[in "Fences"\]; I really do. She's a rose in her sweetness and her kindness and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-think-that-s-why-august-wilson-named-her-rose-in-fences-i-really-do/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [When you're working as an actor, you don't think that when you get out of school, it's going to be so hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-working-as-an-actor-you-don-t-think-that-when-you-get-out/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I suffered from low self-esteem for much of my life. And now to feel like maybe something that I'm projecting or saying could mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-suffered-from-low-self-esteem-for-much-of-my-life-and-now-to-feel/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I tell my daughter every morning, 'Now, what are the two most important parts of you?' And she says, 'My head and my heart.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-tell-my-daughter-every-morning-now-what-are-the-two-most-important/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I started a production company out of necessity, the need for great narratives for actors of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-started-a-production-company-out-of-necessity-the-need-for-great/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [That's always the biggest surprise when people meet me: how buoyant I am and how fun and light I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-always-the-biggest-surprise-when-people-meet-me-how-buoyant-i/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [When you're working as an actor, you don't think that when you get out of school, it's going to be so hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-working-as-an-actor-you-don-t-think-that-when-you-get-out-2/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [ It was hard, that confrontation scene \[in "Fences"\], that was a hard one. I felt like it was relentless, I never felt like I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/it-was-hard-that-confrontation-scene-in-fences-that-was-a-hard-one-i/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I am addicted to any facial product that's anti-aging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-am-addicted-to-any-facial-product-that-s-anti-aging/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) [Explore all 279 Viola Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) ## More African american quotes > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [“This popularity extended to Trump himself, who, according to private demographic research conducted at the time, was even more popular with African American and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-green/this-popularity-extended-to-trump-himself-who-according-to-private/) [Joshua Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-green/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I know I'm more forgiving than most African Americans when it comes to second chances for White people who not only commit a racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/i-know-i-m-more-forgiving-than-most-african-americans-when-it-comes/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/some-republicans-gave-up-on-winning-the-african-american-vote-looking/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [It's unfortunate that a lot of people think African-American female artists are monolithically R&B this-or-that, don't have to do anything by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/it-s-unfortunate-that-a-lot-of-people-think-african-american-female/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/) [Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/) > [It may be changing, but still it's the one place, that total control of an institution, that African Americans have. 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