Camille Tucker, an L.A.-area writer, wrote the script for “The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel”
If there’s one thing Camille Tucker knows is true about the craft of creating stories for the screen, it is this: keep writing. Tucker says she strives to have “a couple stories in my head, a script-in-progress on my laptop, another ready to be printed out for a final tweak, and as many as I can in the hands of producers.”
Tucker says it’s her love of storytelling that keeps her creating, as well as the knowledge that along with the scripts that hit, and the ones that miss, are those that reveal themselves in their own way and in their own time. When she considers the fact that her first produced script — about the rise of the renowned gospel group, The Clark Sisters — almost didn’t happen, Tucker chuckles and says, “That’s why God has always been my best writing partner.”
It seems prophetic that Tucker’s story – “The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel” — broke ratings records when Lifetime Television aired the biopic over the Easter weekend. The film drew 2.7 million viewers, making it the network’s highest-rated movie since 2016. As of this week, subsequent airings of “The Clark Sisters” have increased the film’s total viewership to more than 11 million, according to Lifetime.
The film depicts the challenges, conflicts and sacrifices experienced by the sisters – and their mother, choir director, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark – in the pursuit of gospel music stardom for her daughters. “The Clark Sisters” stars Aunjanue Ellis as Mattie Moss Clark. The sisters are portrayed by Christina Bell (Twinkie); Kierra Sheard as her real-life mother, Karen; Shelea Frazier (Dorinda); Raven Goodwin (Denise); and Angela Birchett (Jacky).
Directed by Christine Swanson, “The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel is produced by Queen Latifah and Flavor Unit Entertainment, Grammy Award-winners Mary J. Blige and Missy Elliott, and Holly Davis Carter. Tucker, who developed the story on which “The Clark Sisters” is based, shares “written by” credit with Sylvia L. Jones.
Like many scripts in Hollywood that languish in development — or never get made at all — Tucker’s journey with “The Clark Sisters” began 15 years ago when she and colleague, Sara Finney-Johnson, joined forces on the project. Brought on by producer Carter, Tucker and Finney-Johnson were tasked with writing a treatment that captured the lives and careers of the sisters and their mother.
Commitments to her own projects, however, prevented Finney-Johnson from continuing work on the project. Now solo, Tucker moved forward in crafting the gospel group’s story until the project became part of Lifetime’s production slate in 2017. Simultaneous to her work, Tucker entered the screenwriting program at Loyola Marymount, earning her MFA 2018. Fast forward to 2019, when at long last, “The Clark Sisters” began filming with Carter and a new production team.
“Everything changed once Queen Latifah got the script and signed on as a producer,” said Tucker. “The Clark Sisters are widely admired in the industry. They were instrumental in infusing gospel music with a ‘pop’ sound. The fact that Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige and Missy Elliot wanted to be involved in this film is a testament to the sisters’ influence on all styles of music.”
Dramatizing the trials and tribulations of the Clark women was an opportunity that resonated with Tucker; especially because their story dovetailed her own professional and personal pursuits. Not only is Tucker an associate professor of Writing for Film and TV at Biola University in La Mirada, CA., she’s also an ordained minister through Truth and Love Christian Church in Carson, CA.
“To have this story come to fruition as it has and when it did is an honor and a blessing beyond anything I could have anticipated,” said Tucker. “My family, my church family and university family
are excited and looking forward to seeing the film on Lifetime. There is joy in that, and in being part of a film that speaks to my purpose and to my faith, as well. The Clark sisters—as people, and as a film—will always be particularly special to me.”
Tucker says she’s among those who have found solace, inspiration and encouragement in the gospels sung by the Clark sisters. “The Clark Sisters” biopic features several of the group’s biggest gospel hits in a story that chronicles the sisters’ faith and their triumphs over illness, mental health, departures of group members, and the disapproval of church elders as the group moved ever-closer to national renown.
“Their music speaks to my soul and playing it during the process of sharing their story was a key to ensuring that the script was authentic to their experiences,” said Tucker, who added that the songs “Miracle” and “Is My Living In Vain?” are among her favorite Clark Sisters’ recordings. “Their music has truly taken the message of God and His love all over the world.”
The screenwriter points to her family and her faith as factors that help to keep her grounded and focused. Although the ratings performance of The Clark Sisters could cast Tucker as an “overnight success,” this industry veteran is already shopping her next two projects.
“The Kennedys of Compton” is a multi-generational drama about the political aspirations of an African American family. And the other, “Blessed In The City,” puts Tucker’s comic talents into play with the story of four multi-ethnic women facing the challenges of faith and love.
If Tucker feels any pressure about coming up with her next big film success, she doesn’t let it show. Borrowing a lyric from a hit Clark Sisters song, Tucker says: “In the end, the journey’s easier because up the road is eternal gain.”
To view “The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel,” visit www.play.mylifetime.com/movies and sign in via your cable provider. You can also visit philo.com and sign up for their free seven-day trial to view the movie.