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The following output was transcribed from our audio recording.
Although the transcription is largely accurate, it may be incomplete or inaccurate due to inaudible passages or transcription errors.
It is posted to aid in understanding the interview but should not be treated as an authoritative record.
Mindy Cohn 00:00
Hey everyone, Christian and I welcome you back to Monday's with Mindy season two. Did you believe it? We did it kiddo. How else to launch our new season but with one of my first ever co stars. She and I met when we were both in our tweens and work together for the next 10 years. Besides working and going through some of our most formative years together, we are also obviously the dearest friends maybe not so obviously, but we truly are the dearest friends we call each other sister. She has become one of my most trusted touchstones advisors and confidence. She's a wonderful actor, a powerhouse of a producer, director and mother of two of my most favorite humans on the planet, a wife, entrepreneur and now lifestyle podcaster. Of course, I'm talking about the force that is Kim fields. Kim has been working as an actress practically her whole life. Before the facts of life. She had already done numerous commercials, guest spots and another series, which is what I recognized her from when I met her called baby. I'm back Huh I didn't know that yeah, it went for a couple seasons there. Post fat's She went on to co star in another hit sitcom one wasn't enough living single she's never stopped working and has even done stints on reality television a season on the Bravo Housewives of Atlanta and Dancing with the Stars. Yeah, she moved into directing and it's been at the helm of numerous hours of television and last year produced and starred in the Lifetime movie you light up my Christmas in which she got Lisa Nancy and me to do and you know, come and film some cameos somebody you think only she could get us to do that. Let me say I guess I should say yes to the answer the question that always comes up, we will always all four of us will always and forever want to work together. So any producers out there who have a suggestion we're game. While she and her husband Chris have been raising their two sons Sebastian and Quincy they've also co created and launched their successful coffee line signature blends. Once we are able to go back to working Kim will resume shooting a new sitcom for Netflix. Nice. It's called the UPS jaws and it is starring Wanda Sykes and Michael Epps. Christian. Let's get this conversation started with my soul sister, shall we?
Christian Brescia 02:07
I think we shall. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the season premiere of season two with our very special guests, the very talented Kim fields.
Kim Fields 02:20
Hi, guys. Hi, girl. I love back. How are you? So good to see you. I'm good. I'm good. I'm really good. Welcome to Monday's with Mindy, Christian and I during this time of COVID. I'll just remind everyone out there how this came to be. I just one of the things that I missed was just talking and being with fellow creatives. And so we kind of decided to have conversations about it. So we start each episode little canister of secrets made by Johnny Adler. We randomly pick five questions and just kind of start from there. We'll do a high dive Okay. All right. So here we go. All righty.
Mindy Cohn 02:57
What assumptions do people make about you? That are wrong,
Kim Fields 03:01
that I'm always happy. Nothing bothering me that I don't go through anything. Hmm, Mm hmm. Oh, not true. You're human. You've got some feelings. Yeah, no, don't let the face full. Yeah. What is the best advice you've been given? And who gave it to you? Oh, well, I've got a lot of great people in my village, present company included. But I think one of the best pieces of advice of advice was from beloved Blair Underwood, who said, Don't be a blessing blocker. Oh, yeah. He hit me square in the face or that one right there. And where it came from was he said, Kim, you don't like to ask for help. And you don't realize that people are standing by that, you know, are there and ready, willing and able to help you that are part of your village and when you don't let them it's not a sign of weakness or sign up on the ability. There's strength. In that acknowledgement and there's a blessing because somebody is waiting to be a blessing to you by helping or by doing whatever it is that they do in your life so that's that's been a good one for some odd reason that resonates with me. Just a little. Really like that though. That's really why he's go Blair. I know thank you, Mr. Underwood. Miss Goonies forever, not just not just good looking, but also very wise. Yeah. Oh, how irritating. I call him my iron lighthouse because we both are from that would cut from that iron sharpens iron quality. But then also, he's he's just always been my Lighthouse for over 30 years, just when I'm in calm waters when I'm in a raging storm. Whatever the case may be in my life. He is just always there as my as my beacon and my source of course. Great light and strength. Love that. Yeah, yeah. What is your favorite place to travel and why? It's a tie. Okay. I love the Caribbean because I'm a water baby and I love the islands and my ancestry is traced back to like most people of color the islands in the Caribbean but also Vancouver as you know, Mindy and I want to say that was one of the last times that I saw you actually in person. That was when we were in Vancouver working so I love working there
Mindy Cohn 05:39
he sings Beautiful, beautiful city.
Kim Fields 05:42
And then again, it's you know, Water. Water. Okay, this is going to be challenging for you. I know and I won't hold you to it, but just in this moment, who is the most fascinating person you've met Mindy Cohn. By the way, in this time, I will so take it I have at this moment. Thank you, thank you. But truly because I know I know many people have touched your life and you've touched there's I mean some pretty impressive people. Yeah. Anybody come to mind off the
06:24
top of your head? Yes. And and because it truly broke my heart when she left us unexpectedly zindzi Mandela Hmm. A really wonderful human being and a dear sister friend and has always intrigued me has always been fascinating. And not just because her last name was Mandela, right? All of the sacrifices that came with that as a child and young adults and then carrying on legacy and just the trauma that their family has been through and then that her people have been Yeah, specifically in South Africa and everything. So all of that aside, she fascinated me also because of how she was a diplomat. She was an ambassador. She was also just in spite of it all had the most magnificent smile and laugh, and spirit. So I was intrigued. Yeah,
Mindy Cohn 07:26
that's a good one. Okay, last one before we do a deep dive into creative process and such. Kim fields what scares you? Because you are quite fearless. I must say, well, thank you.
07:39
I like to think that I am fearless. But in the quiet of my soul, if I were to acknowledge it. It's dying young. Which, like, what did you 51?
Mindy Cohn 07:57
No, I know. I know what you're saying the bullied Listen, you know that my moto since we were kids, it was the best is yet to come. I still feel that way and yes, I know that you feel similarly it's like you don't want to miss out on what's gonna happen with the boys.
Kim Fields 08:13
Yeah, you Yeah,
Mindy Cohn 08:15
yeah, I get it Yeah, I get it I get it
08:17
and you know when when I really acknowledged that that was a fear of mine when I saw the movie veida the movie theater with Madonna and Antonia bandanas and I when she you know, and I knew the story of Ava perone but just you know, in that moment, and I was in my late 20s and I just cried and cried and cried and really connected with that that sense. And of course I don't let it rule me and I don't live in that that sentiment but that is something that if I'm really grown woman about it, that's that's what it was.
Mindy Cohn 08:54
Yeah. Oh, that makes sense to me. Yeah. So you know, we've talked about in the intro Show the acting the producing the directing the all of it. The company, being an entrepreneur, just things that you're involved in just a few just I mean, I'm exhausted just watching what or who inspires you? Right? Right in this moment right in this during this time, which I know is such a funky time but what are you inspired by? Um Erykah Badu. Yeah. And I call her my creative company because she's just talked about fearless
09:33
oil. And you know, just remains such a game changer and a trailblazer and even in these moments of quarantine, everything else did a concert in her bed. It was it was amazing. Exactly. And and she broke all kinds of records but then she has to do all of that she was setting out to make sure that her and her family and her team kept working. When you're a musician and your concert or your gigs are canceled, what the hell else can you do? And
Mindy Cohn 10:11
you're responsible for 50 people.
10:13
Exactly, exactly. And so I just I you know what motivates her or her sisterhood has been a tremendous treasure to me for decades. I do have to
Mindy Cohn 10:24
feel Christian Christian in a little that. Kim has these touchstones that also happened to be not just iconic, but you know, I have such crushes Erica being one of them and of course our dear friend questlove who I just want to have children with I no longer can physically but in my mind and in my soul, we could bear beautiful children together.
10:49
Maxwell still blushes at the thought of knowing that you are such a fan when I sent him.
Mindy Cohn 10:57
Kim, Kim just kind of name Trump's these these People who are her creative brothers and sisters I mean, it's not it's not just friendship that right and it's just, you know, it's sort of in the corner like I know her I'm friends with her. Anyway, um, you know, I know between the different mediums there are different creative processes that you go through but just tell me some of your as you define it because everyone's different. What is your creative
11:30
process involve being prepared? Being prepared? I don't think that you can overstate that. Yes, you can over prepare. And so the freshness and the the spontaneity and the adventure can get a little sucked out of the of the moment sure, if you are over prepared, but I think overall, just Well, number one, I never want to be caught being unprepared, you know, and I've instilled that in our kids, you know, when they get ready for school or for class or for camp or for whatever it may be. And that is just that's a foundation of tenets very important. But But when I prepare, whether it's preparing for a role or a meeting, I'm a craftsman. I love looking through that lens at myself at life. I'm an adventurous craftsman. And so that means I love to prepare, you want to always be ready for whatever comes your way.
Mindy Cohn 12:40
Well, I also have to say this about you and we've talked about this a lot. Just how open you are to opportunities and how, first of all generous you are about sharing those opportunities, but in creating them that hustle and you know, for me, I feel hustlers gotten a bad rap, because I do think there's something about being a craftsman a journeyman a gypsy creative that you must be a hustler as well You must self generate.
13:07
Yes, absolutely. You must even if you're not a creative you can be corporate but you know how to hustle in the corporate world.
13:17
You know, when you cross the line and you a criminal, there's
Mindy Cohn 13:21
a different kind of boot camp, you try to line that I, I don't, I don't see often, which is that you have such a healthy hustle. But at the same time never crossed the line of being too self aggrandizing or self promoting, in a way that puts people off and honestly, it's rare.
13:39
Yeah, it's just rare. And so I wonder what goes through your mind to walk that tightrope? Thank you. I appreciate that CES very much, because it is a conscious, intentional, yet very authentic part of my process with all of this. For example, Have the line of coffee. Yes. Okay. And sometimes my team will be like, Hey, can you post about this? Can you, you know, do that? And I said, Listen, the coffee line is certainly strong enough product wise to stand on its own merits, right? But I have to be careful that I never look like I'm a peddler. Right? You know? And they've even said, Do you see all the other celebrities out here that have product or this or align or whatever? And they use their platform for all these things? And I said, Yes, I do. I completely see that. And that's why I'm not I have to be very selective. It's being it's being selective. It's being creative about it. For example, you might see me drinking my coffee, my post a few days ago, and I was drinking a cup of coffee that says signature blends, okay. So you certainly saw and I tagged them, but it's saying you know, on sale now and you know, and and so I just find that there are ways to be more subtle. I told a different of my ones I really adore his acting style because it's like an iron fist in a velvet glove. And that's how I approach myself my branding opportunities and exposure and process is just like that where you want to be really subtle, but very impactful. So, you know, number one, people want to see more as opposed to Oh, would you go away and go feel that a lot about certain, you know, brands or celebrities or? Oh, yes. And so it's really cherry picking, you know, in certain relationship models, they call it, they call it, pick your battles, even battle, but definitely, I think you just have to be strategic about it. Yeah. And that's my process.
Mindy Cohn 15:58
Yeah, no, no I applaud it. And I'm always you know that I always comment on it. Because I, I just, you know, I sure hope in my 50s I start to develop that because I seem to be very, very, it's very easy for me to push people who I believe in forward and not myself. And you, you are my example of that. Another example. You know, I fell in love with theater as a fan very early on, my mother took us to theater, but you know, because we've talked about it, your mother will, is instrumental in me having theater be my number one medium that I love. And it obviously leads me to the question thinking about your mom, just just where you grew up, and whom you grew up around, does that influence your aesthetic at all? Or how you how you go about your business
16:44
in your life? Yes, but not in the way that one would think. where I grew up in terms of Harlem and the creative legacy, that is Harlem, from the Apollo, the Cotton Club, Linux lounge, and then just You know lintons Playhouse I mean you can go on and on in terms of the actual venues right? We're home to you know, and still home to great great creatives and their masterpieces. My own mother like you mentioned Sheffield's, my grandmother who was a dancer at the symboi and affiliates diamond pro Bailey, my connection to probate. I mean, there's a lot, but when you talk about this thetic and being inspired in that way, sure, there are times when I go, I was born in the wrong period. You know, and then, you know, it's like, well, hold on, that was a nice period, you know, clothing wise, but life wise. Yeah. But spiration from my creative ancestors and and birthplace is mostly in terms of, I don't want to let them down. Mm hmm. I don't do that and letting them down is not an option. You know, and I don't feel it as a pressure, right? It's not sure at all, or obligation. It's a it's a desire I, I do not desire, letting them down. You know, that's where it comes from in terms of those connections and how I'm inspired in that way. And even people that I've not met, you know, Langston Hughes, or just, you know, James Baldwin, Nikki Giovanni. I mean, there's so many that that you just go Yeah, I am. I don't want to let you down, you know, from my work ethic, to my own visions to even quiet conversations that I had, like, when we would go and visit we went to visit when we do home, not long before she passed, and, you know, just just those kinds of connections where you go, yeah, gotcha. I got it.
Mindy Cohn 18:54
Yeah, I do have to say it's fascinating having just work with I mean, I can't believe I'm saying it like this, but like, I Don't know how to say it, like the younger generation. You know, it seems there's just such little interest in the history of what we do and who's come before us. And the knowledge of that, at seems to have stopped with us. I noticed. And when I was working with these delightful, talented, lovely people, I would drop a name of a legend, you know, and they'd be like, and so it got into the habit where literally, they would just say, I know min Google it, because I'm like, please Google that and let's have coffee over it tomorrow, shall we? You know, it was so frustrating, but at the same time, it's like, please, please Google this person, like it's necessary. It's you know, she's why you're here truly one of the reasons why you're here and doing this.
19:42
Yeah. Um, okay, so I'm gonna bring with that right men, if I may, I think part of our beautiful and I get, you know, responsibility can be a tricky word for some people. But I feel like that's, that's a part of the goal. If you Our responsibility is to make a healthy connection to history and to your own personal history or, or the history of whatever your industry is or your thrashing because you know, they they feel like either number one we've been told so many lies in just quote unquote normal history. That is, forget about it or history is by whoever won. Yeah, that's who wrote history. But like when people start making conscious decisions in terms of history from a different vantage point, right and standing, how glorious those connections are, then the knowledge and the love for gathering that knowledge I think will be restored.
Mindy Cohn 20:46
Listen, part of my excitement is to be the Geraldine page or the Ruth Gordon or the Cloris Leachman for younger actresses that they were to me, you know what I'm saying? I mean, I'm excited by that. I don't have a fear of it. I'm welcome. Open Arms. You know, you ain't gonna be there for a long ass time. But when you do, you'll wear those shoes and walk in them beautifully. But you ain't there yet. Kim. Thanks, Christian. Yes, I think that would be a great time to surprise Kim with our sponsor, a little sponsor today. That's right ladies and gentlemen, we have a official sponsor today that is signature blends by Kim fields. It is a full service distributor of coffee teas and beverage related supplies. They offer high quality gourmet coffee beverage services to corporations, small businesses, schools, hotels, farmers markets, local grocery stores, and of course, you at home individuals. It was founded in 2017 by our very special Kim fields in Atlanta signature blends has set the bar for delivery. We love her coffee, we're sure you will too. We encourage you to go to signature blends by K f.com. shot for some today. We also have that available on Mondays with monday.com where we've got some show notes a little bit more information you can find out about camp learn more about all of her projects because as we mentioned, she has a few. Exactly and always will be exactly. You can connect with us on the podcast. We're available on every major podcast player and network. We're also on YouTube, where you are watching us if you are watching us. If you'd like what you're seeing, give us a thumbs up, hit the bell to subscribe and come back next week. We're looking forward to starting our second season and we're already off to a bank so we're thankful that we've got Kim here today. It's what we do. What do you splurge on cam that
Kim Fields 22:39
is hilarious
Mindy Cohn 22:40
by what's going on? What did you What did you just get? What did you
Kim Fields 22:44
do? Oh, no, that's funny because I frustrate the hell out of him.
22:52
Like Would you please go and buy some clothes
Kim Fields 23:00
So now I'm good or it's like you know, I suppose you know, I went and I went to the sir I love surfing I mean that surfing no because I never have I love shopping at surf shops. Oh, oh that surfboard shop but the herald
Mindy Cohn 23:17
the beachy kind of yeah no I
Kim Fields 23:20
love that so like I love billabong and citizen of the sea and I'm always in rip curl and all that stuff. So anyway, I told him I said well, you know, I just found like almost a grand in a whole bunch of stuff for me I'm good. I'm good. He's like, do you realize it's like a drop in the bucket but not really consistent? All you have to do Yes. And you know, and he's but in a heartbeat Honey, I will be at Oh,
Mindy Cohn 23:50
I've seen you. I've seen you turn it out. Okay.
23:54
Store on the planet. Buying bowls and little like, I'm not sure With this little patio area at the property right now, and I'm like, Oh, look at these little tables, that that's, you know, an outdoor living yet that Laura Johnson, I bought this fabulous little curve David with the notes that yes, but that's that's my sport. You and my
Mindy Cohn 24:19
mother who by the way sent her love her and dad.
Kim Fields 24:24
I love them. So thank you.
Mindy Cohn 24:27
Okay, so you know, I'm going to go there because when we're on anything like this, people want to go there. But I want you to talk about your trajectory from when you started to where you are now. And I think a lot of times people and especially I must say in the business, I'm talking about casting directors and agents and managers, I don't think give enough credit to those of us who have started early very and I identify as the creatives that we are that we're grown. We're different. Yeah. Yeah. So we talk a little about That, like your trajectory from baby on back to facts of life to just being a working actor at a young age and then as an adult, whatever you
25:10
want to say on it. I mean, when I think about it when I actually stopped and put some brain cells on it, which honestly is not often because I'm always I'm about forward motion, you know, it's not that I'm that grateful and I do give things as you know, I mean, just all the time. Yes, ma'am. That sense of looking back as I am in forward motion in trajectory mode, I feel like what is gotten me through the entire ride so far so far, with my sanity has been perspective and motivation, meaning number one, I didn't start out in this business because I wanted to be famous or rich and or because I was that little kid that wanted to be a performer.
26:01
shy grown ass woman? Yes.
26:06
I very much so we got to know you. We all know you didn't start out doing you have money? No.
Mindy Cohn 26:15
No but my point my point is is that we didn't have a sign on our on our neck sent see me Hi army stage parent. Yeah,
26:22
exactly we did those kids and even when even when we became a part of the fabric of that when that became a part of our narrative, we still weren't those kids. And they were not raised by those kinds of parents. Our parents are not and we're not and never will be stage parents. They always remain parents, who always parenting their children.
Mindy Cohn 26:49
And we were not the heads of our household.
26:51
Exactly. And they weren't so enamored by what we did and who we know the money and none of that. No, you To be a fine human being, that's going to happen for this house. And households we were raised in. But in terms of the trajectory, yeah, I know, especially once I got grown and or just more of a young adult into my grown woman, I never looked at it as I'm a star, or I'm a celebrity. My only view of it was a working actor. I'm a working or working actor right now.
Mindy Cohn 27:30
I'm familiar.
27:32
You know, mine, I'm a student or whatever it may be. And so I so so understanding that that's a part of the life, but that's not the life and so that's also not what motivates me. And so I think that's what keeps the fire in my belly. That's what keeps me you know, on the roller coaster ride because it is a trajectory, but sometimes that trajectory will drop down and moment and then break You back up?
Mindy Cohn 28:01
Well, and I do have to say it's one of the things I have appreciated our friendship over the years is that as often as we celebrate the successes of what's gone on for you and what you've created and manifested, if you want to call it that, you're also very, very ready to discuss the downfalls and the rejections and the, the low points, which is to me just a life well lived again, going back to that normalcy of like just being a human being. Yeah, unfortunately, ours are public, right? Yes. So yeah, you know, I just, you know, I always say, well, that's why I have a cone backbone, because I couldn't do it without being raised by the people that I was raised with. Yeah, developing that backbone. It has very little to do with anything else. And I just noticed that you have the same thing that pick yourself up. Dang, that was disappointing. All right. Oh, well, okay. Yeah, I was always kind of taught that the lows are just as important as the highs So, you know, you can celebrate the good times when you're at the peak because those are worth celebrating a lot of hard work went into them there's going to be times when that ebbs down or EPS in a different direction and it doesn't feel as great and you start to question, I mean, at least I do, I'm doing this right, am I doing this wrong? But you know, I think we've all learned so many times from falling on our faces that you know, don't wear those shoes next time because she can't walk so well.
29:23
You know, well, I'm not
Mindy Cohn 29:25
unlike the rest of us. And I will say you know, Nancy had had some success with a division etc. But you really were the only one of the four of us and you know, I worked just never at the level of success of facts of life right after but you just popped right into living single and I always wonder how that affected you because while talk about a surfing reference, you know, I just you know, got off a wave got on a wave got off. Wait, you kind of kept writing very high caliber bungah.
29:55
Didn't feel like that or not? No, it did not feel that
Mindy Cohn 29:58
way. Okay. Thank you. What I want to talk to you about
30:01
Yeah, because the reality is on facts of life when we finished in what 8889 70 to 89 Okay, yeah. So when we finished there I went, you know, I finished up at Pepperdine, I created my top show up there. And then, you know, there was, you know, the occasional guest appearance here and there. But there were plenty of times where I thought either I was going to go into the junior executive program at NBC, and try to be a network exec because I wasn't working as an actor. And we'll slap in the face slash inspiration came when Spike Lee Johnson Johnson, Julie dash when they all hit the scene in the early 90s. And you had this wonderful I can't even call it a resurgence, this surge of black creatives out of New York and LA, but when I tell you, they weren't checking for it at all. And and yeah you were and and so you know from me from Malcolm Blair it almost had that thing or they've had their so rescue brother, right chance. You know, they're good, they're fine. They're cool. They they're famous already. Let's give other people that kind of thing. Um, and because of the types of characters we played between cars we La La that's alive. We were all considered, you know, like the good black folks kind of thing interesting positive, almost bubblegum type images. And so number one that's how we started directing. Mm hmm. We started taking roles especially like with Blair when he did just cause yes and where he was the bad guy, quote, unquote, because we really had to work on those things, but there were plenty of long months of no work. No inspiration. Yeah, we in you know, especially All books cover to cover and magazines cover to cover and still nothing where you go okay my money's all right but now I'm done with college and ain't made that kind of money so z if there's some coins in the couch cushions and yes, you know that story
32:20
but at the end of the day
32:23
it was so difficult which is why the first thing you asked me you know what do people think that's just not true? Yes. I have had my own sense of struggles course. I had those moments where you doubt and you think it's not okay that was my you know,
Mindy Cohn 32:39
I have to interrupt you and get on my horse because you know what my misunderstanding is because we talk about it. I I am so taken aback How many people think you and I are sitting on what I call friend money or Seinfeld money that people don't realize just because Facts of Life is still airing and by golly, it is you know, we we do not get paid. We are not paid the residuals that people think that we do. So the fact that I mean, this is when I call, you know, toot our horns to do is, you know, the fact that that you and I have created the life that we have started to become accustomed to working is really to me, my my badge of honor. And then most people don't really recognize that they just think, well, if you don't want to work, that's your choice. And I love what you're sharing about, you know, no, there's other factors in there like the industry saying, You're this and not that. Yeah, not only that, it's not just your choice, but that you don't have to like either emotionally or financially to survive. It's like, you're fine. You're good. Yeah, right. You're good. Yeah, exactly.
33:44
And I mean, the truth of the matter is you have to increasingly touched on this as well, you know, you have to figure out where you what works for you, right when you're going through. Yes. I keep threatening to write a book called how To go through when you're going through, please do. Mine is
Mindy Cohn 34:05
in the hallway. in the hallway.
34:10
No and you have to figure that out for yourself when you are not just at the at the low because it is the UN Valley season. And some people use that time to you know so, so reserve and self care and, and do the mental checks and do all the great stuff that yes is very positive and helpful. But when you do all day and you still ain't got no job or you still ain't got no man or no woman, no love or no pet, no plan, no. You know, how do you prove those times at minute to minute, hour to hour day to day, month to month? Because you have to figure that out what works for you in those times, so that you don't go crazy going crazy. It's just it's not an option to lose your sanity. Yes to lose your soul, right? So you got to figure it out, baby, go and volunteer. Go and get on somebody. Something to be able to. Number one exercise your mind.
35:13
Yes.
35:14
And get out of yourself and get out of yourself. Yeah, get out of your way Get out of your creators way and help somebody else. Yes. Because what you're doing that, then that's when your Creator looks no okay. They trust me enough to know they got to look at me waiting like what you're doing what you're doing. That's right. They're out there helping one of my other kids right now. So yeah, let me take care of this for them. Yeah, that's what I didn't
Mindy Cohn 35:39
know. I did. Oh, I love them. I will did that. Yeah.
35:43
Okay. So answer the question why you did the season of Housewives of Atlanta. So that was 2015 2016 Yes. I was on the verge of celebrating my 40th year in the industry. My team Let's just only look at uncharted waters. You know, I'd been given some projects to look at, and I felt like it was characters I'd already played or playgrounds I'd already played in. And I just wanted that sense of well, what haven't I done? New waters, unchartered waters, expect the unexpected. And if you really were paying attention, I use that hashtag all the time back then expect the unexpected, because that's what I wanted from myself, first and foremost, to keep it interesting to keep it fresh because if you've been doing something before the years, even I'm interested in afresh to you then it's just some book, but you got to get out. That's not where I was. I love my industry. I love our industry and all the different facets of it. And so it became Okay, well, what unchartered waters? There's reality. I'm not sure about that. There's competition, man. I'm hi Lucas. predator so perhaps sci fi there's dark, graphic novels there's this so there's all kinds of genres. And so as we were looking at all the genres and projects that will come in and creating products yeah wives came knocking and we were like, I'm demo you call Kim fields, right? This this bad camp. And yeah, and we said no, twice, I'm sure and ask the third time and you know, we talked about it with the panelists like, Well, you know what, it's definitely unchartered waters. And it's something that we can do for a season and then go and definitely do.
Mindy Cohn 37:40
So you were not nervous to be Kim fields on television.
37:43
I wasn't nervous about being canceled on television. I actually I had looked forward to it because like we started out by talking about people have very specific preconceived notions. Yeah, you know, me or my life and because I know Somebody that they've seen since I was seven years old, their personal spaces in their living rooms, right, you know, for the most part and that they've spent money to go see whether it's in a play or or you know, streaming something, whatever it may be. So So that's, that's the answer is it was uncharted waters that you know, when you look at what came after that then Dancing with the Stars and waters you know what I mean? So it was was was just the perfect storm of that.
Mindy Cohn 38:34
Did you regret doing it? Or do you think it actually worked to your advantage? Not about she doesn't live that way.
38:39
Yeah, I don't I don't live in regret.
38:43
I it wasn't about it being to my advantage or not. Did I achieve what I had set out to achieve in that based on what my motivation was? Oh, absolutely. Yeah, absolutely.
Mindy Cohn 38:55
Yeah. And hopefully within the next four weeks or so, you will be On the set of the Upshaw's Yes, yeah. Amen. And graduations on that my love. I'm so absolutely thrilled for you. It seems like a really fun, great project.
39:12
It really is working with my guests. And Wanda Sykes has just been phenomenal and working for your colleagues. I mean, when you've worked for networks for as long as we, you know, and you've gotten to see how they run and who runs them and all that. And Netflix, I mean, they're just a game changer, not just the content but the people who are there starting to Ted and you know, flowing on down to the executives and things so they it's just such a great company to work for. But that said, you know, I'm also on hold as soon as they say, you know, we can be back at work in Canada. I've got at least one if not two projects that I'm on tap to produce and direct and stolen out there. So nice. Looking forward to it. The best
Mindy Cohn 40:00
Well, I love you, you know that thank you so much for gracing us with your presence on Mondays with Mindy, thank you so much. And I'm, I'm so happy to be here. Yes, just the many real life for me, your kid we thank you very, very much. I mean myself personally, I was a longtime fan like this is it's so great to see you. It's so great to have you on the show to hear your perspective. I think you really give people a lot of perspective into this sort of business and into your life. So we appreciate that very much. Ladies and gentlemen. It is our pleasure and we thank very much Miss Kim fields. Just sort of the rock star status Exactly.
