Shaun Robinson On Moving Behind the Scenes with Two Lifetime Movies

quotBefore you get to a show like Access Hollywood that has producers putting the stories together you do it yourselfquot she continued quotI39ve always been creative when I was little I39d write little plays and perform all the parts But after 16 years at Access I started thinking 39What else is there39 I39m so very thankful for the job and opportunities it gave me but after a while when you39ve covered 16 Oscars 16 Grammys there has to be something more So I started looking at producing in the true sense of the word acquiring properties and looking at the different types of shows I wanted to produce and pitch I created some docuseries actually shot two pilots and tried to diversify my portfolio with dramas and other formatsquotampltampgtOne of those acquisitions was the rights to a new book series based on the seven deadly sins quotPatrik Henry Bass was the book editor at Essence Magazine when he got a galley for Lustquot she recalled quotHe called me to say Victoria Christopher Murray a very prominent author in the African American community is writing each of the deadly sins as books for Simon ampamp Schuster and I should option these books all of them I actually knew her so I called and said 39I39d like to try to make these into movies39amp160 She said 39Okay39 and we did the dealquotThis was in 2017 then I began pitching them around townquot she continued quotI pitched to Lifetime and other networks and other producers and studios I was pitching all around town and what I39ve learned through this whole process is the timing has to be right Everybody loved the project but the timing wasn39t right to move forward Then Bishop Jakes did a very well received movie with Lifetime and he was looking for other projects to do with the network I got a call asking if I still had those Seven Deadly Sins projects and this partnership with Lifetime came to be It39s been wonderful I think about all the people that I pitched to and Bishop was the perfect partner for this They39re obviously his brand as he talks about faith and these are sort of faithbased moviesquotBeing raised in the church herself that element of storytelling was important quotI come from a very spiritual family so my faith is very important to mequot she explained quotThat39s why I loved this series they don39t beat you over the head and it39s not preachy They39re fun sexy and thrilling but there39s also that message of faith and that39s what I really like about themquotOne of the other things I love about these movies is that race is irrelevantquot she added quotWe have predominantly black casts but you could replace the entire cast with white people and they39d still be the same movies That39s what39s important about diversity and inclusion actors will tell you sometimes they39re only cast when it39s a 39black role for a black person39 As we were going through the casting process I was looking at all the actors available many I39d interviewed To be in a position of giving actors opportunities is wonderful It39s about somebody opening the door and saying we39re going to bet on you It could be lifechanging and that39s certainly what Lifetime did for mequotWhen it comes to transitioning to behind the scenes the Emmy Awardwinning Robinson remains indebted to her days as a reporter and the reputation it afforded her quotI39d say it opened the door for mequot she said quotI could always get a meeting with someone because of Access Hollywood and because I39ve been in the business for so long But I had to come with the goods At first I thought 39My gosh this producing thing is super easy39 Then reality hit me in the face as there are so many steps and I39ve always wanted to be very involved as a producerquotRobinson39s advice for anyone looking to make a career change is simple quotStart with a vision boardquot she suggested quotYou have to see it and write it down Did I ever think I was ready for a national television show I knew I wanted it and I visualized it I had very wellmeaning colleagues say 39There39s not that many jobs for a black woman stay in local news where it39s safe39 I said 39No I want to do something bigger39 I guess it39s just like that with producingquotMy mom39s so proudquot she laughed in closing quotAlthough pride is one of the seven deadly sins so I39m afraid to say that I39m proud But keeping in line with how I was raised I39d say that I39m blessed to have the opportunity I know I worked hard for this new chapter in my career and it39s an incredible feeling I hope there will be many more projects and I can continue to open doors for other people That39s what I39m aboutquotLust A Deadly Sins Story will be telecast Saturday April 10 at 8 pm on LifetimeClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet 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Shaun Robinson On Moving Behind the Scenes with Two Lifetime Movies

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