Keep it Positive, Sweetie

Episode: "The Process of Storytelling" with Malcolm D. Lee

Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett
Guest: Malcolm D. Lee
Date: August 17, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the creative journey and legacy of acclaimed writer, director, and producer Malcolm D. Lee, celebrated for his culture-shifting films "The Best Man," "Girls Trip," and more. Host Crystal Renee Hayslett leads a candid, in-depth conversation about Lee’s upbringing, inspiration, the process of storytelling across mediums, the ups and downs of a creative career, and how authentic Black narratives are brought to life. Lee shares insights into his transition from screenwriting to novel writing, the challenges he’s navigated in Hollywood, and how he continues to center humanity, joy, and complexity in Black stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Malcolm D. Lee’s Background and Creative Roots

• Growing up in Queens & Brooklyn:
  • Malcolm shares early exposure to both the arts and the duality of Blackness in predominantly white schools while living in a Black neighborhood ([02:05–07:29]).

    “That was like the duality that I was living…trying to be Black enough for my neighborhood and trying to be, at least, a model minority for the white folks. Code-switching.” — Malcolm D. Lee (06:55)

• Family Influence:
  • Creative encouragement from family; mother was an academic, father a musician.
  • Notably, his cousin is celebrated filmmaker Spike Lee, who lived in Malcolm’s family basement during film school ([04:22–05:03]).

    “He demonstrated that it was possible to have a career in this industry…Demonstrating how powerful the moving image was, particularly when it came to Black people.” — Malcolm D. Lee (05:03)

2. Authenticity & Representation in Black Storytelling

• Breaking Stereotypes:

  • Malcolm discusses the lack of nuanced depictions of Black lives in mainstream cinema and his commitment to multidimensional characters—especially educated Black people ([07:29–09:18]).

    “They just forgot they were Black…no cultural specificity. That’s not my experience and not the experience of people that I went to school with.” — Malcolm D. Lee (09:18)

• Personal Experience as Inspiration:

  • His college days at Georgetown and diverse “types” of Blackness deeply influenced “The Best Man.” He found influence in films like “Love Jones” and “Soul Food” that felt authentic ([09:29]).

3. The Birth and Legacy of “The Best Man”

• From Script to Screen:

  • Wrote “The Best Man” after four previous scripts, aiming for commercial success and to fill a gap in Black-led ensemble wedding movies ([10:06–12:16]).

    “I was just like, you know what, I’m gonna write something so commercial I’m gonna sell it...that script was ‘The Best Man.’” — Malcolm D. Lee (11:07)

• Greenlighting Process & Cultural Impact:

  • Navigated studio rejections before Universal Studios greenlit the movie—ultimately grossed over three times its budget, beating out major films ([14:44–17:37]).

    “After you become what I like to say is the prom queen, everybody wants to dance.” — Malcolm D. Lee (17:49)

  • The film’s ongoing resonance was intentional.

    “My intention in making ‘The Best Man’ was to make a classic…that would resonate for decades and generations.” — Malcolm D. Lee (20:31)

• Sequel and Brand Evolution:

  • Despite initial reluctance, “branding” led him to revisit the characters for sequels and now, novelization ([21:59]).

4. Creative Process — Writing, Evolution, and Joy

• Process & Perseverance:

  • Malcolm reflects on evolution from waiting for the “muse” to recognizing writing as a job, emphasizing the necessity of “writing the crappy draft” ([24:00–24:46]).

    “You have to write the crappy draft…Screenwriting and now I found out novel writing is all about rewriting.” — Malcolm D. Lee (24:28)

• Navigating Dry Spells in Hollywood:

  • Discusses the long game in the film industry, adapting to dry periods—pivoted to television and embraced new opportunities ([26:54–29:18]).

    “During those dry patches, you gotta try to reinvent yourself…You can’t just squander these opportunities.” — Malcolm D. Lee (28:54)

• Life Balance & Decision-making:

  • The role of his wife in maintaining a personal/professional balance; sometimes difficult decisions come down to family and long-term relationships ([29:18–31:04]).

5. State of Hollywood and Storytelling Today

• Industry Challenges:

  • Impact of strikes and contraction within the industry: more risk-averse studios, reliance on proven IP, original ideas harder to sell ([32:13–33:41]).

    “They want the surefire thing. There’s no such thing, by the way.” — Malcolm D. Lee (33:00)

• Book Writing vs. Screenwriting:

  • Malcolm details differences between the two, with a novel providing deeper character exploration and sensory detail. Collaborated with co-writer Jane Allen ([34:01–37:42]).

    “With a book, you’re able to get into their subconscious…It’s a fantastic, more expansive way of storytelling.” — Malcolm D. Lee (35:31)

6. Studying Character and Longevity

• Staying True to Character:
  • Explores how characters evolve with both the writer and the audience’s age/life stages—now telling stories for mature readers ([44:02–46:29]).
• Storytelling as Discipline:
  • Describes writing as a “lonely process” that requires discipline, self-starting, and frequent self-doubt ([40:23–41:36]).

    “It’s a lonely process…It takes a lot of discipline, because no one’s just telling you, ‘you gotta reach this many pages in a day’.” — Malcolm D. Lee (40:23)

• Research and Realism:
  • For the new book, he traveled to Ghana to authentically depict setting and characters ([43:01–43:34]).

7. Personal Life Intertwined with Story

• Life Reflecting Art:
  • Some aspects of his own journey—midlife metamorphosis, marriage, and parenting—inform his current work ([48:40–50:24]).

    “Midlife metamorphosis…my body is changing…but I do feel like the best I’ve felt in years.” — Malcolm D. Lee (48:59)

8. What Readers Can Expect

• For Fans of ‘The Best Man’:
  • Promises the new book holds the same emotional depth, humor, and page-turning quality ([51:49–52:51]).

    “If you love ‘Best Man’…you’re going to love this book. There’s a depth of emotion…some surprises…People are finishing this book in two days.” — Malcolm D. Lee (51:49, 52:40)

9. Rapid Fire Q&A — Light-hearted Close ([53:03–54:55])

• First script: “Morningside Prep”
• Favorite film he didn’t direct: “Parenthood”
• Book that changed his life: “Native Son”
• Most surreal moment: “Shooting at Essence for ‘Girls Trip’”
• Favorite author: Richard Wright
• Favorite own character: Quentin (with caveats)
• Biggest joy right now: “Life in general…kids are healthy, wife’s behind in my corner, I got a book coming out…”

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• On code-switching and dual experiences

  “That was like the duality… being Black enough for my neighborhood and trying to be the model minority for the white folks.”
  — Malcolm D. Lee ([06:55])

• On family legacy and possibility:

  “He (Spike Lee) demonstrated that it was possible to have a career in this industry…movies and television shape attitudes and culture.”
  — Malcolm D. Lee ([05:03])

• On breaking stereotypes:

  “Particularly when it came to educated brothers, they just, like, forgot they were Black… That’s not authentic to me.”
  — Malcolm D. Lee ([09:18])

• On his original intent with “The Best Man”

  “My intention…was to make a classic…that would resonate for decades and generations.”
  — Malcolm D. Lee ([20:31])

• On self-doubt in the creative process:

  “Every day is not going to be a banner day…Who would care? …But then you gotta say, okay, wait a minute. You wrote it for a reason.”
  — Malcolm D. Lee ([40:23])

• On industry realities:

  “They’re not just saying yes to everything…They want the surefire thing. There’s no such thing, by the way.”
  — Malcolm D. Lee ([33:00])

• On life and joy:

  “I think life in general…kids are healthy, wife’s behind in my corner…career is doing well…I’m good.”
  — Malcolm D. Lee ([54:38])

Memorable Moments & Highlights

• Malcolm’s shock when host Kris learns his cousin is Spike Lee ([04:40]).
• The moment Universal greenlit “The Best Man”—Malcolm unsure if he was on a beeper or cellphone ([16:08]).
• The vulnerable discussion of both self-doubt and pride after “winning the prom” and the “bubble” of Hollywood ([17:49–19:12]).
• Reception of the new book: fans finishing nearly 500 pages in two days, bookstores selling out ([52:35–50:55]).
• Playful, heartwarming rapid fire round: favorite characters, surreal moments, and Malcolm’s gratitude for life ([53:03–54:55]).

Timestamps: Important Segments

• Malcolm’s upbringing, family, and dual identity: [02:05–07:29]
• The necessity of authentic Black storytelling: [07:29–09:18]
• Inception and greenlighting of “The Best Man”: [10:06–17:03]
• Navigating career highs/lows and learning along the way: [17:49–21:59]
• Process, discipline, and writing challenges: [24:00–26:54], [40:23–41:36]
• State of the industry and adaptation to change: [32:13–33:41]
• Book process vs. screenwriting: [34:01–37:42]
• Personal reflections mirrored in his work: [48:40–50:24]
• What to expect from the new book: [51:49–52:51]
• Rapid-fire questions (fun close): [53:03–54:55]

Conclusion

Malcolm D. Lee’s episode is an engaging, revealing lesson in resilience, purpose, and the true art of storytelling. He conveys the importance of Black humanity onscreen and on the page, the evolution of his own craft, and the enduring journey of keeping it positive, sweetie—no matter where the process leads.

For fans of “The Best Man” or lovers of Black storytelling, this episode brims with wisdom, warmth, and inspiration.