Recently, actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer Marlon Wayans riveted a captive audience as the keynote speaker for the Hollywood & Mind “Spotlight on Hollywood, Black Representation and Mental Health” event at the NAACP Screening Room.
Wayans, who’s widely known for “In Living Color,” “The Wayans Bros,” “Scary Movie,” “White Chicks” and most recently, “Bel-Air,” is currently on a nationwide standup comedy tour entitled, “Wild Child.”
Veteran entertainment journalist and mental health advocate Cathy Applefeld Olson shares that she founded Hollywood & Mind four years ago as a central hub where “…people in industries of influence could come together with mental health professionals to affect the popular culture that emanates out of Hollywood, as well as care for the well-being of the people who work in the industry.”
The most recent “Spotlight Series” event also included panel discussions with actors Christina Elmore, Daniel Ezra and unscripted television personality and mental health expert Dr. Allycin Powell-Hicks who spoke about the media’s impact on Black mental health. NAACP Hollywood Bureau Senior Vice President Kyle Bowser, Wasserman’s Vice President of Impact and Inclusion Lindsay LaBennett, and actress Maria Sten discussed ways Black entertainers can prioritize their mental health.
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The wisdom, inspiration, and positive energy within the theater was palpable. “When these people get involved and amplify these messages within their circles, it’s a game changer,” said Olson.
“When someone sees a film or a television series with a mental health storyline or hears someone of influence speaking about their mental health journey, that’s when the light bulb goes off, and they might turn to family or friend and say, ‘This resonates with me,’ that’s what Hollywood & Mind is really all about,” she added.
Olson went on to share how she chose Wayans as the evening’s anchor. “Marlon had recently released his Prime Video special ‘Good Grief,’ which was such a beautiful combination of laughing, crying, and storytelling. And I thought this man was so in touch with his emotions and he’s at the top of his game, that he was naturally the absolute first choice of the person that we wanted to come and do the fireside chat,” she explained.
“Kelle Rozell, through her connections, was able to reach out to Marlon’s team and I am so grateful that he said yes. The wisdom, enlightenment, mindfulness, and purpose, all centered around mental health, was so powerful and shined through everything he said. I felt like I was sitting at the most incredible TED Talk, it was an absolute privilege to have that conversation with him.”
During the fireside chat, Wayans shared that preparing for the role of Isaiah, a legendary quarterback tasked with training a rookie, in the upcoming film “Him” produced by Jordan Peele, was the moment that he needed to push through the grief of losing both parents and become a better version of himself.
“When I did the movie, I went on a journey of what it means to be great. I would get up in the morning to take walks, get a green juice, listen to books and I realized that as I was building this character, I was actually building a better version of myself,” recalled Wayans.
“I jumped into this murky pool to find this character, because sometimes you go to dark places to find characters, and as I was digging for the character, Isaiah, I looked up and saw a broken Marlon lying face down and I said ‘Forget that GOAT, that one needs your help,’” he said.
“Finding Isaiah helped me to find the better version of Marlon and that’s God. Me having that experience and the self-awareness of, ‘Wow that’s been me and that’s what happened to me over the last three years?’ From there, I’ve been in God’s hands ever since.”
Wayans went on to encourage the audience to prioritize their mental health by going to therapy. “I suggest people stay in therapy. Black people, we often don’t deal with our mental health, we’re not taught that, we laugh at it. I want to use my platform and my voice to tell people that we need it. It helped me,” he insisted.
As to what’s next for Wayans, the multi-hyphenate icon said, “I have a movie idea every day.” Also, he encouraged the audience to always find a way to make the best of every situation.
“…Everything that happens to you is a resource for your art. So pick something you love to do, because you can channel all your pain and all your joy into this magical place,” advised Wayans.
“These are my best years, and I’m going to own where I am today because I know where I want to be tomorrow. The only way to be there is to dream it. So don’t put a cap on your dreams.”
To learn more about Hollywood & Mind, visit: hollywood-mind.com
