Damon Wayans on Unreleased Film, Family in Hollywood, and "Papa's House"

Unreleased Film "Behind the Smile"

• 🎬 Damon Wayans discusses an Oscar-worthy film he shot around 2004-2005 titled "Behind the Smile."
• 🎭 The movie is about a comedian who moves to LA, meets his idol (played by Wayans), who then destroys him out of jealousy, leading the young comedian to commit suicide on stage.
• 🌟 The film received great reviews at a festival in Aspen, where Dave Chappelle called it his favorite movie and stated it was the reason he went to Africa.
• 🚫 Wayans declined a deal with Netflix because he didn't like the terms, choosing instead to keep the film "in the vault."
• 🤝 He is open to releasing it if a suitable deal can be made, emphasizing that Katt Williams, Marlon Wayans, and Terry Crews are also in the cast, along with Bob Saget and Jim Belushi.

"Papa's House" and Family in Production

• 🏠 Wayans' new show, "Papa's House," is a family affair, with his granddaughter appearing in an episode and his sister Kim serving as a director and writer.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 His son is an EP and staff writer, having earned his place with three scripts this season, demonstrating the importance of earning one's position.
• 🎬 Robert Townsend directed both Wayans in his first project and his granddaughter in her first acting role.
• ✍️ Wayans emphasizes the need to check ego at the door when working with family, fostering an environment where everyone feels at ease and contributes ideas.
• ⚖️ He believes in fair market value for family members working on the show, ensuring they are paid what they earn, not just because of their relation.

Creative Process and Family Dynamics

• 🧠 Wayans has cabinets full of scripts for TV and film, finding peace and focus in writing characters and stories.
• 🗣️ He values hearing all ideas from his writing team, but ultimately relies on his own judgment to determine what works for a particular episode or story.
• 🤝 When it comes to paying family, the industry sets the rates for each level, preventing unfair compensation, and ensuring that individuals earn their credits and pay bumps.
• 🌟 His granddaughter, Amara, who is a stand-in, auditioned for a role and was coached by Wayans to perform as if she were playing the part, emphasizing memorization, hitting marks, and delivering with enthusiasm to gain experience.