INTERVIEW: Chloe Bailey and Malcolm D. Lee Talks New Movie 'Strung', Love Vs. Control, red Flags, Horror Resurgence + More

Summary

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The Breakfast Club — Interview with Chloe Bailey & Malcolm D. Lee on 'Strung' (June 24, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Breakfast Club features singer/actress Chloe Bailey and acclaimed director Malcolm D. Lee discussing their new film 'Strung'. Hosts DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, and Charlamagne Tha God dive into the making of 'Strung,' its themes of love, control, personal boundaries, red flags, and the broader resurgence of horror/thriller cinema. The conversation also explores representation, personal growth, body image, and the creative process in both acting and directing.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introducing 'Strung' (02:42–03:40)

• Premise: Chloe Bailey stars as Layla, an aspiring musician hired to tutor a troubled girl from a wealthy family. As she settles into the house, secrets unravel in what Malcolm D. Lee describes as a psychological, erotic thriller.

  • "It's a thriller. I love thrillers. You know, Fatal Attraction, for instance, is one of my favorite movies of all time… people want to be on the edge of the seat." — Malcolm D. Lee (03:40)

• Resurgence of the Genre: Lee addresses why thrillers and horror are resonating now—audiences want edge-of-seat surprises.

  • "They want to guess what's going to happen, but they can't guess what happens." — Malcolm D. Lee (03:40)

Themes & Messages (04:39–05:46)

• Biggest Message: "One wrong move could alter your entire life. So be careful. That's what the message of this film to me is." — Chloe Bailey (04:42)
• Money & Morals: "And all money ain't good money." — Malcolm D. Lee (04:50)
• Detailed Premise: Layla, the protagonist, is drawn into a web of secrets in a wealthy household, confronting moral dilemmas and danger.

Casting & Performances (05:46–06:55; 13:44–14:41)

• Stuntwork: Chloe did most of her own stunts, relishing the physicality and action.

  • "I did do my own stunts. Shout out to the incredible stunt doubles for the extra hard falls… But I'm such an adrenaline junkie… that was my favorite part." — Chloe Bailey (05:49)
  • Details of bruises and intense scenes with co-star Lynn Whitfield.

• On Chloe's Performance: "Chloe, like, she is in this movie from beginning to end, and everything… just tremendous, tremendous performance from her. We shot for 36 days, and she did not have a day off." — Malcolm D. Lee (06:32)

• Casting Choices: Lee describes Coco Jones's comedic timing and Partisan Fontaine's authentic presence as factors in their casting (13:44).

Love vs. Control (07:11–08:46)

• Charlamagne's Question: “Everybody says they want love, but a lot of people really want control. What’s the difference?”
  • "Even now, like, I'm learning I can't control another human being. The only thing that I can control is myself." — Chloe Bailey (07:34)
  • In the film, most characters are seeking control rather than love.

Music as a Motif (09:05–09:50)

• Layla’s connection to music reflects her search for love and belonging.
  • Chloe took violin lessons to convincingly play her musician role: "Shout out to Stephanie, who was my tutor in LA… I really can't mess this up… but we pulled it off." — Chloe Bailey (09:15)

Red Flags in Relationships (15:34–16:12)

• Red flags: controlling tendencies, rudeness to service staff.
  • “If they're rude to service people… it's an instant turn off and I don’t want to talk to you anymore.” — Chloe Bailey (15:39)

Representation & Ancestry (10:41–11:52)

• The film incorporates African lore, masks, and ancestral themes.
  • “Our ancestors are talking to us all the time… instincts are messages from the ancestors.” — Malcolm D. Lee (11:03)

Personal Growth, Self-Image & Public Perception (31:19–34:20)

• On Evolving as a Public Figure:

  • "Knowing that I have little young ones who look up to me… I can still be sexy and show curve, but it doesn’t have to be all out there." — Chloe Bailey (31:22)
  • She emphasizes honesty about body image and the duality of glamorous and everyday realities.

• Handling Criticism Online:

  • "Now I'm like, thank you for talking about me. I'm happy that you care." — Chloe Bailey (32:47)

Directorial Perspective: Genre and Storytelling (18:13–18:33; 22:33–24:02)

• Lee is eager to avoid being "a one trick pony," looking up to directors like Steven Soderbergh and Ang Lee.
  • “I never want to be a one trick pony. I don't want to just, you know, do one thing…” — Malcolm D. Lee (18:23)
• Establishing tone was key: "The rhythm of a scare or a jump scare and a laugh are very similar." — Malcolm D. Lee (23:41)

Making Storytelling Accessible (25:58–26:55)

• Lee's intention: "I want films to be accessible… That you can see yourself in those characters… Not to dumb it down and then, you know, elevate it… It's digestible." — Malcolm D. Lee (26:11)

Social Commentary: Joy and Suspicion (17:30-18:13)

• Discussion on why Black characters expect joy to be a 'red flag.'
  • "Joy shouldn’t be a red flag for black people. Like, when things finally start going right, that shouldn’t be a red flag..." — Charlamagne Tha God (17:30)
  • “She's on the come up. Right? She's on the come up.” — Malcolm D. Lee (18:10)

Modern Film Consumption & Microdramas (26:58–29:44)

• Discussion of short-form “vertical” movies and whether this trend will last.
  • “Is it a fad? …I think people are still going to the movies and as long as it feels like it’s an event.” — Malcolm D. Lee (28:54)
  • Suggestion that storytelling forms will evolve, but long-form cinema will endure.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "One wrong move could alter your entire life. So be careful."
  Chloe Bailey (04:42)

• "You can have insecurities but still celebrate your body at the same time."
  Chloe Bailey (33:29)

• "I want films to be accessible… you can see yourself in those characters."
  Malcolm D. Lee (26:11)

• "Even now, like, I’m learning I can’t control another human being. The only thing that I can control is myself."
  Chloe Bailey (07:34)

• "Our ancestors are talking to us all the time… instincts are messages from the ancestors."
  Malcolm D. Lee (11:03)

• "I never want to be a one trick pony."
  Malcolm D. Lee (18:23)

• "The rhythm of a scare or a jump scare and a laugh are very similar."
  Malcolm D. Lee (23:41)

• "Knowing that I have little young ones who look up to me… I can still be sexy and show curve, but it doesn’t have to be all out there."
  Chloe Bailey (31:22)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:42 — Interview Starts: Introducing Malcolm D. Lee & Chloe Bailey
• 03:25 — Defining the genre: Thriller vs. horror
• 04:39 — The movie’s main message
• 05:49 — Chloe Bailey discusses doing her own stunts
• 07:11 — Love vs. control: Deep dive
• 09:11 — Learning violin for the role
• 10:41 — Masks, African lore, and ancestor themes
• 13:44 — Casting notes, authenticity
• 15:34 — Red flags in relationships
• 17:30 — Suspicion of happiness and Black trauma
• 18:23 — Malcolm D. Lee on directing thrillers
• 22:33 — Crafting tone, jump scares vs. comedy
• 24:19 — Tyler Perry’s role as producer
• 25:58 — Storytelling accessibility
• 26:58 — Short-form movies and industry trends
• 31:19 — Chloe Bailey on self-image, audience, influence
• 32:47 — Handling social media criticism
• 33:15 — Body insecurity and honesty
• 35:00 — Compliments on Chloe Bailey’s set energy
• 36:21 — Wordplay on film’s title and themes
• 36:25 — Interview closing

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Tone & Style

The conversation is candid, lively, and often humorous, balancing deep insights with playful banter among the hosts and guests. Chloe Bailey’s warmth, vulnerability, and self-awareness are evident, while Malcolm D. Lee’s passion for authentic storytelling and directing shine through.

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This summary covers all the major themes, memorable quotes, and provides context to the discussion for listeners and non-listeners alike.

Transcript

[DJ Envy]

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[DJ Khaled]

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

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[Coco Jones]

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[Coco Jones]

Unbelievable.

[Guest Speaker / Interjection]

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[Malcolm D. Lee]

Welcome to paradise.

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[Coco Jones]

That's all that matters to me.

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[Guest Speaker / Interjection]

Hold up.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Every day I wake up.

[Kal Penn]

Wake your ass up.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

The Breakfast Club.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Finished or y' all done?

[Interviewer / Host]

Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlamagne, the guy. We are the Breakfast Club. Lon laros is here as well. We got suspension. Special guest in the building.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes, indeed.

[Interviewer / Host]

We have cousin Chloe Bailey. She's back. And we have Malcolm D. Lee.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Welcome.

[Interviewer / Host]

How y' all feeling?

How you doing?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Excellent, excellent. How are you guys doing?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Bless. Black and highly favorite. Chloe, what was you doing with that lady's husband in this movie?

[Interviewer / Host]

Don't you know?

[Coco Jones]

She was doing Layla. That's not Chloe.

[Interviewer / Host]

Bring it back.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Bring it back.

[Interviewer / Host]

The movie is Strong and it comes out on the 26th. I know, right?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Let's start over.

[Interviewer / Host]

You have a new film called Strong, which comes out on the 26th.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Thank you.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Envy.

[Interviewer / Host]

Would it be. Would you consider it a scary movie?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I would consider it a thriller.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Psychological, erotic thriller.

[Interviewer / Host]

Okay, now, what is it? Now, I feel like especially this generation loves thrillers. Love these horror type of movies. What is it about it that seems like it's making a resurgence?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I don't know. I mean, why do people want to be scared? I don't know. Roller coaster rides. I mean, the same thing, you know, like, listen, I'm not a horror person. I didn't it do this movie because it's a horror movie. It's a thriller. I love thrillers. You know, Fatal Attraction, for instance, is one of my favorite movies of all time. And I was like, okay. You know, people like these kind of like, they want to be on the edge of the seat. They want to guess what's going to happen, but they can't guess what happens. And particularly in this movie, I think people are, like, going to be surprised. They're definitely going to be surprised.

[Coco Jones]

They're going to be gagged.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Yeah, I think so.

[DJ Envy]

That's a crazy thing because when you said that, I'm thinking about Layla and all of the stuff and see how

[Coco Jones]

it turns into the plot.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah.

[Interviewer / Host]

Don't give too much away.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I would think about the part with her. Never mind.

[Interviewer / Host]

Too much.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

All right, Lynn Whitfield.

[Kal Penn]

Come on.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Hey, hey, hey, hey.

[Kal Penn]

Come on out.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

You're killing us.

[Coco Jones]

You're giving it good stuff.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Please put a tonic bag on him.

[Coco Jones]

I'm happy you watched that, though.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Put Something in his mouth.

[Kal Penn]

Making sure.

[Interviewer / Host]

What do you think is the biggest message in the movie?

[Coco Jones]

The biggest message is one wrong move could alter your entire life. So be careful. That's what the message of this film to me is.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

And all. Money ain't good money.

[Coco Jones]

Yes.

[Interviewer / Host]

What's the premise of the movie? For people that don't know if they're tuned in right now, you got a movie, what is it about giving it? We going all the way because we've seen the movie. So what is the movie?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

An aspiring musician played by Chloe Bailey. It gets the opportunity to tutor a young troubled girl in music by a very affluent, rich family, you know, played led by Lynn Whitfield. And, you know, as she gets into the house, things start to unravel and secrets get revealed and things like that.

[Interviewer / Host]

Now, do you feel like you don't

[Charlamagne Tha God]

have to give Lynn Whitfield no motivation to be crazy?

[DJ Envy]

No, she plays it.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

She does that naturally.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Well, I believed it.

[Interviewer / Host]

And always rich.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, that word came up.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Oh, yeah. In this case, definitely she came up. No doubt. Yeah. No, listen, Lynn's a phenomenal actress and I've been waiting to work with her for a long time. And to be able to pair up with her on this and with Chloe was. Was a dream.

[Interviewer / Host]

Now, Chloe, did you do your own stunts? Like. Cause you get hit with a lot of things in the movie?

[Coco Jones]

I did. I did do my own stunts. Shout out to the incredible stunt doubles for the extra hard falls that I couldn't do without injuring myself. But I'm such an adrenaline junkie. I know. Like when we had the rehearsal week of prep and we had the stunts, I was extra excited for that. Like, that was my favorite part. And Ms. Lynn is the exact same way. Like, I was scared to do certain stunts with her, and she was like, oh, no, you give me your full energy. And we were really tussling on the floor.

[Guest Speaker / Interjection]

Really?

[Coco Jones]

Yes. I had a bruise on my thigh from her 6 inch stiletto heel. We were going, yes. We were going, yes.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Then I had to.

[Coco Jones]

I had to football tackle her. And I was like, I really don't

[Interviewer / Host]

want to hurt you.

[Coco Jones]

And I said, please make sure it's extra patent. She's like, go, come on, come on, bring it on. And we were just laughing in between takes.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

It was a time, I will say that Chloe, like, she is in this movie from beginning to end and everything. And she has so much to do in this movie, like emotion stunts, some of the erotic stuff. You know, it's really. And she really. I mean, Just tremendous, tremendous performance from her. And, like, we shot for 36 days, and she did not have a day off.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I mean, just some of the erotic stuff. I had to close my eyes. I'm like, what the hell are you doing? Like, what you mean somebody.

[Kal Penn]

Erotic stuff.

[Coco Jones]

I'm gonna be 28.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Exactly.

[Coco Jones]

Nothing was shown. She had a bandeau and a full boxer brief on.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I do want to ask one question that won't give anything away.

[Coco Jones]

Yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Everybody says they want love, but a lot of people really want control. What's the difference?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Interesting. Love and control. I don't know. Like, is that really true?

[Coco Jones]

Yes.

[Guest Speaker / Interjection]

Wow.

[Interviewer / Host]

I know that's right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Chloe, break it down.

[Interviewer / Host]

Chloe.

Get in my experience.

Break it down.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

That's a very interesting question.

[Coco Jones]

As a Virgo rising myself too, you know, I have to kind of dial that back as well. And I'm. Even now, like, I'm learning I can't control another human being. The only thing that I can control is myself. So I do find that very true, to be honest. What you said.

[DJ Envy]

You said you're learning it now. What was the recent experience that taught you that?

[Coco Jones]

Just learning through life, like, you can never change people or try to fit them into the mold that you want them to be in. Just like, I don't want people to do that to me.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Right.

[Coco Jones]

So when you said that, I was like, preach it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You didn't feel like the characters in this. In this movie would. After control?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Oh, yeah. In this movie, I thought you were talking about life.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It was based off the movie.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Randomly after maybe.

[Paramount Plus Announcer]

I don't know.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Sometimes I'm not sure about you. Sometimes, man, I'm like, okay, these gotcha questions or what?

[Paramount Plus Announcer]

Yeah, no, no.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I think certainly in this movie, I don't think anybody's looking for love necessarily. They are looking. Completely looking for control.

[Interviewer / Host]

I think.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I think. I think that Layla is looking for love, but. And she finds it in this little girl and real attachment that. That, you know, and a bond with her because she's dealing with some trauma of her. Of her own.

[Interviewer / Host]

Lead you to control, right. Because you think you love something so much, you want to control it so it never goes away.

[Kal Penn]

Wow.

[Interviewer / Host]

I think I don't.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Again, love in this movie is. I don't think much of. Of a thing, although I think I think she's looking for connection. And she does find connection, you know, with. With Marcus, you know, through music. That's her love language, and. And that's his love language as well. We find out there's other things as well. But you know, is it true that

[Interviewer / Host]

you had to learn how to play violin for this movie? I mean, I know you been. Knew how to play, but you had to take extension.

[UnitedHealthcare Representative]

Yes.

[Coco Jones]

So I played in fifth and sixth grade, and I was like, no problem.

[UnitedHealthcare Representative]

You got it.

[Coco Jones]

So the very first scene we shot was the sequence at the beginning where Layla's playing the Mendelssohn. So shout out to Stephanie, who was my tutor in la, who helped, like, crash course me for a week and a half before we went to South Africa to film. And then shout out to Tony, who was also the musical tutor in South Africa. And I'm the person who's always watched the movies. And I'm like, the lip syncing's not accurate, the breathing is off, the playing's not right. Wrong chord on the keys. So I was like, okay, I really can't mess this up. And I remember I would text and call, malcolm, Malcolm, I don't think I could do this in a week. But we pulled it off.

[Interviewer / Host]

So as we did.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

She did. She did, she did.

[DJ Envy]

Every time we see you playing, that's like 100%. Oh, wow. Okay.

[Podcast Narrator / Hyundai Ioniq 5 Promoter]

Yeah.

[Interviewer / Host]

Do you ever read the comments from, like, when y' all drop the trailer and the first comment is always, chloe, if I would have walked in the house and they asked me to train that girl, I would have walked the F out.

[Coco Jones]

Yes, I read it.

[Interviewer / Host]

Do you feel that way? Because as soon as I seen that girl pop up out and be like, nah, I'm good.

[Coco Jones]

Of course, I'm a huge scaredy cat, so I would have turned the other way.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Yeah. But I mean, you know, sometimes you. You look at the opulence. You look at the.

[DJ Khaled]

At the. At the.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Where you could possibly live and what kind of money they're offering. It's kind of. It's.

[DJ Khaled]

It's.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

It's. Particularly someone in these days and times trying to get a foothold, you know, and trying to, like, teach something that you actually studied. I mean, you know, like, okay, maybe it's something's weird, certainly, about this girl and creepy, but, you know, I need the money. I might need this money. At least try it out and see.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But she's also not the only person in the house wearing a mask. Physically wearing a mask.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

That's exactly. We all wear a mask. Charlamagne. And certainly in this movie. And that's why the little girl tells the grandmother, yours first.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[DJ Envy]

What about. Because there's a lot of ancestor talk, right? Like, trust in ancestors, and then there's like, the African. Like the mask and the art talk a bit about the, the observation there, like what that is supposed to read to the audience who's watching it.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

You know, I was really taken by the script by Alan McElroy and a lot of that was embedded in the storytelling. And you know, I think that that's really true. I mean, I think, I think our ancestors are talking to us all the time, you know, and, and you know, I love that line the little girl says, you know, that the instincts are messages from, from the ancestors. And so I think that that's, you know, a lore throughout and that not only trace traces back to like their current ancestors, but the ones that are from way, way back in, you know, in the motherland as well. So we have a lot of African lore in this, in this, in this film.

[DJ Envy]

I thought it was crazy how it's like that ancestor talking, that's what protects you guys at a certain point in the movie. But at the same time, your answer, not your ancestors, but your generational, like, lineage that's right there with you is what you're fighting against at the same time. Like that play I thought was cool.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Thank you very much.

[DJ Envy]

You're welcome. I don't know if that was purposely done.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I mean, you know, I try to like, take exactly what's in the script and then enhance it and try to like bring forth a vision that, you know, is going to be as. As full as possible and representation as representational as possible and authentic as possible. Even in like, you know, a genre movie, you know, it's particularly when you're just, you know, dealing with black people. You just want to like, make sure that all the images and all the, all the messages feel like authentic.

[Interviewer / Host]

Since you are a scaredy cat, you said, right?

[Coco Jones]

Yes.

[Interviewer / Host]

What brought you to this movie?

[Coco Jones]

Well, I have never seen musical instruments being used as weapons. And I thought, I thought that was just so fun. And it was done in a non corn and of course the script. And I loved it immediately. And I was really drawn to Laila. You know, Layla's like this goody two shoes who's really focused on music and her friends are like, come on, you're a stickler. Like, come on, come out, have a one night stand. She has the wrong one night stand and the rest is history. But I really loved this script and Malcolm was such a phenomenal director. And then when I heard the Lin Whitfield was attached to, I just was like, okay, this is even more special than I could have ever imagined. And then when they told Me, Coco was my best friend, and we've been good friends since I was 12. Like, Halle and I played the choir girls behind her and let it shine. So it's really cool that we all get to come up together and shout out to Lucien, who was just phenomenal as Marcus and the entire cast, Anna and Romy, like, she was just the perfect Zuri, and I just love the innocence that she brought to the film and the love. And I have to shout her out as well. She actually learned how to play piano for this film. She did it before. So, like, knowing, like, the music. Little musician in me, I was just so enamored by her.

[Interviewer / Host]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What made you cast the Partisan Fontaine's and the Coco Joneses and the Chloe's? Like, what made you genius, the musical artist?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

It seems like, well, Coco, we really wanted to be in the film. Like, you know, she's got a great comedic timing, and it would be a good foil, you know, for Layla. As far as Partisan, I mean, it was like, you know, a lot of people audition for this role. When I saw him, I was like, oh, that dude. I didn't know who he was, right? And then I saw his addition. I was like, who's he? Because he seems very authentic. He seems real. Like, a lot of times there's actors that will try to play rappers or rappers who can't really act or whatever. This guy could, you know, he had. He had a bravado. He had. He had, you know, a presence that I thought that'd be very strong for the movie, and particularly because, you know, he's kind of like a hero in the movie, you know, like, you know, like. Like somebody that, like, you know, we don't get to see a whole lot more, only in flashback. And I thought he was, you know, had a very strong presence, and I thought, okay, he's the right. The right fit for this role.

[Interviewer / Host]

I thought that was dope. You said you were scaredy cat. How did you do the exorcism?

[Coco Jones]

Because you played, let me tell you,

[Interviewer / Host]

the shit out of Blake. Okay.

[Coco Jones]

I have not watched that to this day. Then when I had adr, so adr, you guys know what it is, right? But for anyone who doesn't, it's like when you go and overdub the parts that the mic didn't catch, right. I had to ask them to turn the TV off, and I'll just follow it with the beeps. That's how scared I was. Yes. And I don't know how I did that. When we were filming, it Was fine, but you killed it.

[Interviewer / Host]

Thank you.

[Coco Jones]

I hope I did, because I still haven't lost it.

[Podcast Narrator / Hyundai Ioniq 5 Promoter]

Oh, my God.

[Coco Jones]

So why you accept the role?

[Interviewer / Host]

I'm sorry. I know.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

No, no, go, go, please.

[Interviewer / Host]

Why did you accept the role for Exorcism?

[Coco Jones]

So I thought the script was really dope. It was the Russell Crowe. I mean, like, why would I not act alongside him? And he was so kind.

[Interviewer / Host]

It was amazing.

[Coco Jones]

It was really fun, to be honest.

[Interviewer / Host]

My bad.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

All right, cuz.

[DJ Envy]

You killed that girl.

[Interviewer / Host]

You.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You talking about your character having a one night stand in the movie?

[DJ Envy]

Yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So what's one red flag that people ignore just because they're attracted to somebody?

[Coco Jones]

I think the word you said control. I think not just in men, but also women, I. I think we have to allow ourselves to enjoy the other for who they are completely. I think that's one red flag. I think another red flag is if they're rude to service people, waiters, you know, anyone cleaning, anything like that. If I see that, it's an instant turn off and I don't want to talk to you anymore.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So you just stayed for the money in the movie then? Cause they was all treating you terrible as the guy.

[Coco Jones]

I know. She just stayed for the money.

[DJ Envy]

Not at first, though. Like in the beginning, I feel like when you meet him at first, even though y' all don't even. I can't give it away.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Not him. I'm talking about everybody else in the house.

[DJ Envy]

But even when she. The first couple, like the first, like, couple days you got into the house, it was like the family.

[Coco Jones]

Wow. Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

There was a very, like, whimsical feel to him, to the family, and then things just, like, change. So it's like, how would you have known that there were flags? Eventually we started seeing them, but at first you don't.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

But she's also. I'm sorry.

[Coco Jones]

It's okay.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

She's also attached to the little girl. Right. Obviously there's some past trauma that she hasn't really dealt with. And she's seeing that in this little girl. And that was one of the relationships in the movie that we had to make sure. We underlined and made sure that that felt real and authentic, that she had a kinship to this little girl and she was advocating for her because there was something that's not just wrong with her, but something that was causing that. That, that pain. And we find out later on that, you know, about her attachment to her, to her biological father, played by bipartisan, that there's something more than meets the eye.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[Coco Jones]

And I love how art imitates life because that's with everyone. You know, they don't really show their full selves until they can't.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Right.

[Coco Jones]

Cover it up anymore. Like, the habit, it just goes away. Like, this is who I really am. The facade melts away. And you see, oh, this is who I've really been dealing with. So I think that's with everyone in this world, to be honest. And I think it showed a really great way in the film.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, I liked how it showed how happy you were to get the job. Right. And then there's a point in the movie where you, like, I knew this was too good to be true. And it just had me thinking, like, damn, joy shouldn't be a red flag for black people. Like, when things finally start going right, that shouldn't be a red flag type for black people.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Like, I'm with. I'm with Chris Rock on this. Like, I was like, you know, like, you know, I keep a bag by the door. Like, somebody might take this away. Give me a second.

[DJ Envy]

Is she crazy? Like, why would you just move in on people's house?

[Coco Jones]

You don't know them.

[DJ Envy]

This it. It had to be too good to be true. Like, I just knew, like, well, she

[Coco Jones]

didn't have a place to live. She was couch surfing. She was on her best friend's couch

[Malcolm D. Lee]

who's a single mom.

[Coco Jones]

Yeah. So she's like, oh, this is God answering my prayers.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

She's on the come up. Right? She's on the come up.

[Interviewer / Host]

How did you. How did pivot into this genre, right, of like thriller, suspense, stretch you as a director? Because, you know, we know you for, like, drama, comedy, all of that. Yeah.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

You know, I never want to be a one trick pony. I don't want to just, you know, do one thing. Like, some of my favorite directors are, like, Steven Soderbergh and Ang Lee. You just, you just, you know, you don't know what they're gonna come up with next.

[Guest Speaker / Interjection]

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[DJ Envy]

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[Paramount Plus Announcer]

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[Malcolm D. Lee]

Unbelievable new home, welcome to paradise.

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[Coco Jones]

That's all that matters to me.

[Paramount Plus Announcer]

Your BET Favorites are now on Paramount Plus. Subscribe now.

[DJ Envy]

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[Malcolm D. Lee]

the script, I was like, oh, I want to do this. This is necessarily up my alley, but in terms of, like, depictions of black people and trying to do a different kind of thing, it wasn't a huge stretch in terms of, like, my approach to this, you know, establishing tone. First I want to do the tone, make sure the characters are grounded, you know, talk to the actors, you know, tell my, my vision to my, my crew. Same thing with the actors, and make sure we have, you know, enough time to discuss all those things. And then, you know, also do a little research, you know, like, you know, look at some Hitchcock movies, look at, you know, Fatal Track, look at some of the Blumhouse pictures and see, okay, what's the rhythm of those movies? Because a lot, A lot of times it was nice not to, first of all, not nice not to have to cut to the joke, you know, because that gets. That's very difficult, right? Not to say this wasn't a difficult process. It was a nice challenge, actually, to like, you know, not have to like, cut, cut, cut, cut, cut, and just like, let things kind of breathe and let actors kind of like, do their thing in the movie. So. And then, you know, the, the rhythm of a scare or a jump scare and a laugh are very similar. So you just, it's, it's. You just have to, you know, establish the right tone and then expound on that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You said the laugh and the scare

[Malcolm D. Lee]

is similar in terms of, like, the Anticipation. You got to set up, set up something. You know, whether you plant something early in a joke, you know, okay, you, you, you set something up and then like, okay, like for on girls trip, like, oh, I have to pee. And then like, you know, on the zip lunch gets out there. Oh my God, what's gonna happen? Same thing with a scare. You gotta, you gotta like, you know, set it up and then like pay it off later on.

[Interviewer / Host]

Yeah.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

So it's, it's, it's a similar rhythm and you know, but it's. These aren't. It's not a huge amount of jump scares in this movie, but it does have a lot of tension and it just, you know, it keeps you on the edge of your seat. So like that I, I like that part especially, you know, and it gets really crazy towards the end.

[Interviewer / Host]

Yeah.

Now Tyler Perry is part of the movie.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

He's a director.

[Interviewer / Host]

Well, a producer. How involved was he doing this?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Not very. He was, he was in. I know that he was integral in getting this script out or, or you know, development of the script and he bought the script. But you know, between Blumhouse and Tyler Perry, like they're, they just set the, the playground up and then it's up to me to like, you know, drive it all the way home.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What a relationships taught you about storytelling relationships? Yeah.

[DJ Khaled]

Huh.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I don't know. I mean I, I think it, everything that's, it happened in my, in my entire life, entire career, like, I let. It's gonna sound a little bit woo woo. But like I let God kind of like, you know, flow through me and he gives me the answers for a lot of stuff. I mean, I do a lot of my own research and studying and things like that. And then, you know, you know, God puts certain people in my life and you know, they're. They're what in your life for a reason or a season. Right. And so like, it's just, I think this is really true and, and like I, I learned something from, from relationships, from friends and I infuse it into everything that I do because I think

[Charlamagne Tha God]

about like from best man the girls trip to even, you know, strong. It's like there's always some type of romantic relationship or supposed to be romantic relationship center that. Center that.

[DJ Khaled]

Yeah.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

You know, I think that I, I love romance. You know, I love love. You know, and particularly, you know, I love when, when black people are in love and seeing that on screen, we need to see that amongst ourselves and know what's possible or at least think that there's Something possible, there's something hopeful that's possible. And so I like doing that. And again, it's not about what's positive or whatever. I just want to do something that feels authentic.

[Interviewer / Host]

What makes your storytelling so amazing? You know, watching a lot of movies recently, sometimes the story, you don't get it. But with your storytelling, from the best man to girls trip to this, like, people get your storytelling. So what makes yours?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I. I want to make it. I want. First of all, I want to entertain people, right? I want to make people to. To see themselves. I want them to see. I want them to. To understand it. Like, I. I remember in high school, you know, I would see these films that, that people would make and I'd be like, what. What is.

[Kal Penn]

What did they do?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

What does that mean? I don't. I don't get it, right? I want films to be accessible, right? I want them. I want you to understand where. Where the story is coming from and then that you can. You see yourself in those characters and, and all these things that we all go through rites of passage and falling in love or what have you. You know, I think that those are things that, that I want people to kind of understand and make it plain. Not to make it. Not to dumb it down and then, you know, elevate it. You know, it's digestible.

[Interviewer / Host]

We resonate with it. You know, we can see ourselves in it.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

100.

[Interviewer / Host]

Is it more difficult now because it feels like the short movies or the short things are happening, right? You see these three verticals movies, or you see these kids watching YouTube on two times speed and things like that. Is that more difficult when it comes to writing? Because I miss the movies, like Usual Suspects where it has to play out. Are people not staying that long for the end or.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I think, you know, you got to give people a reason to go to the movies or to even, you know, sit through something, right? I mean, because there's so many distractions out there, but you got to get them something that. That's going to hook them in. And I think that this generation of filmmakers and you can see it right now with like, you know, obsession and back rooms. You know, these kids are making, I mean, to call them kids, but these young folks are finding their voice and they're putting it out there. And I think that's great. I think that there'll be more of that, you know, that we're going to see, you know, the Breakfast Club and we're going to see Ferris Wheeler's Day off and movies like that. That are going to come back or come to speak to this generation. I think we're in a place where it's, you know, consumerism or, and, and, or people just looking at stuff, you know, very, very quickly. Their attention spans are just like, like this because they just, you know, they, they don't know how to be bored.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Do you believe in the micro dramas?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Believe in them? They're here.

[Coco Jones]

Yeah.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I mean, but is it a fad?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Is it something that's gonna stand?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I don't know. I mean, like, you know, like, I think maybe like seven, eight years ago there was a, there was a company called Quibi Quibi and they, and, but they weren't ready for it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Now.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Now they're doing quick and like happening right now. So I mean, people are looking at them.

[Interviewer / Host]

Yeah. I think it's going to like circle back around to, you know, the long form and it like everything repeats itself 100%. So I think it's a, it's a face for right now. Then we're going to go back to seeing that long form bodies of work where you can watch, you know, like.

[DJ Envy]

I don't know.

[Interviewer / Host]

I don't think Verticals is here to stay.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

They might be. I mean, they'll just, they'll just have their place.

[Interviewer / Host]

Yeah.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

And, you know, and everything will kind of like, you know, I think people are still going to the movies and as long as it feels like it's an event. I think, listen, I think that Covid, you know, accelerated like watching things at home and you know, and then I think some bad things came out of. With the, with the, with the, with the writers strike. Some bad, you know, movies were made and people were like, yeah, now I

[Interviewer / Host]

think it's kind of bad movies are made and I think that's because people are staying home so much. Some of these movies, it just is just too fast. Like, you can see the writing is not there, the shots are not there. I feel like they're not even editing. But like, he didn't even wear that yesterday.

[Kal Penn]

The clothes.

[Interviewer / Host]

Trying to hurry up to get it out.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But I think, I think the, the industry is writing itself again. It's, it's, it's like, like you said, it's, it's, it's, it, it goes through waves and, and ebbs and flows.

[Interviewer / Host]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know. You know, Chloe, people of course, have watched you grow up.

[Guest Speaker / Interjection]

Right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And everybody got opinions about who you should be when you see a role like this.

[Interviewer / Host]

Yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Where you, you know, busting it open for another woman's. Husband, Jesus, the role like, and how people might receive it.

[Coco Jones]

Layla's doing that, but she's

[Interviewer / Host]

not.

[Coco Jones]

But she's also a violinist and she's trying to really make something of herself. Like we talk about that at the forefront, but we're not talking about how she's busting her behind and she's sacrificing her well being just to make ends meet so that she could live out her dream. So yes, she is doing that, but she's also doing this. And we are all multilayered as not only women, but men as well. And I mean if we're going to create art that reflects life, we have to be honest and real about it. I mean I think people, because people have grown up with me, which I am so grateful for and the fans and it feels like family. I'm happy that they feel nostalgia when they look at me and I'm happy that now they're learning to appreciate who I am as a 28 year old woman in two weeks. So I'm two years from 30 and I'm also an actress.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Don't rush it. Stay in the 20s.

[Coco Jones]

Yes, it's all right. I'm grateful I have changed my perspective. I'm grateful for another year of life and I'm learning so much. So yeah, Layla did that. Was she also doing the other things as well? She was also playing the Mendelssohn as a black woman in the opening sequence. Hello. She was also whooping butts.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Talk about it.

[Coco Jones]

I mean, hello, we saw the blood splatter around.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Let's talk about that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

How do you maintain your sense of self?

[Coco Jones]

My sense of self.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Woo.

[Coco Jones]

Jesus, definitely the people that I surround myself with, prayer, definitely. My God, mom, who's my manager, my family. I love being an auntie. I love Halo, Halle birth, the greatest blessing. I have so many little. Like to be honest, knowing that I have little young ones who look up to me, it has changed my perspective in a way. Like coming to certain things that I wear or even certain lyrics like I'm still a woman and I have every right to talk about my experiences. But there are some, there are more artful ways to say things or I can still be sexy and show curve, but you know, it doesn't have to be all out there. So I don't regret how I introduce myself as a young woman into the world. But now that I'm about to be 28, I definitely, I want to fine tune and be like, okay, boom, boom, boom, bam.

[DJ Envy]

I feel like with the visuals I was Watching from the things that you put out under your mixtape with Timberland Resurrection.

[UnitedHealthcare Representative]

Right.

[Coco Jones]

Yes.

[Interviewer / Host]

Yes.

[DJ Envy]

It gives that. I mean, I think that you've always given that, but it gives that, though. Like, I'm seeing you. It's like storytell around, like, the elevated, sexy.

[Coco Jones]

Thank you.

[DJ Envy]

I appreciate that. That's.

[Interviewer / Host]

That.

[Coco Jones]

Yes, that's exactly it. Thank you. Do you.

[DJ Envy]

When you put those things out there, though, I saw you have a conversation with people about body insecurity. It was extra. One of the outlets. Yes. When you put those things out there, people respond to you about different things. Like, what are you. What. What are you telling yourself to not respond to those people? Because I see you in the comments sometimes, too.

[Coco Jones]

Oh, yes. So the thing about me, cancer, emotional, of course things are going to get to me sometimes, but I have changed my perspective to. Instead, I used to be like, oh, my gosh, they're talking so much crap about me. Now I'm like, thank you. Thank you for talking about me. I'm happy that you care. Like, I know. And of course, certain comments will still dig at me, but, you know, I'm just happy that they're talking. To be honest, that's kind of the place that I'm in because I need that for the job that I'm in.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

The algorithm. Don't know the difference.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, yeah. And in the movie, like, even when you're in the fighting scenes and when you're in the brown at the end of the movie, I was like, oh, she looked good. But then you're talking about, like, you were talking about, like, your arms and stuff. I'm like, girl, what? You look good as hell.

[Coco Jones]

Thank you, baby. So the thing is, yes, I want to show the best version of myself. Like, the nice, edited snatched with the corset. I want to show that I feel great showing that. But I also want to show. Yeah, I have cellulite stretch marks. Yeah, I have dimples in my arms. Certain things that I am insecure about. You can have insecurities but still celebrate your body at the same time. And I think that's why I'm so vocal about certain things. Because, yes, I want to show the best side and version of myself, but I don't want the generation coming up to think that that's all there is because it's a facade. This is my job. Like, this is me, but this is me with a glam team. This is me done up. Like, I have two versions when I'm home. I have no makeup on. I look almost like a boy. And then I have this version. So I. I want to be honest about both. Like, if I'm putting this side out, I want to put that side out as well.

[Interviewer / Host]

Right.

[DJ Envy]

I get it. The people can be tough, though, but I get it. I think it's.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

I would have said Chloe is a bundle of positivity. No, seriously, seriously. Every day on set, she. You know, even though she was tired, we would. You know, we'd do something called force calls. You're supposed to give your actors, you know, a certain amount of time to turn around. We're like, okay, we need you to come in. She was always like, okay. Hey, good morning, everyone. You know, she all just. Just always positive. So, like, I. You know, I'm very proud of the work she did in this movie. She's fantastic. Really, like, was the true leading lady. Had to do everything. Being physical, emotional, like, can cry on a dime. I mean, a phenomenal actress.

[Interviewer / Host]

Thank you.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I. I did. I felt sorry for Layla, just like. Like, I felt sorry for the young lady in Obsession, too, because they both got manipulated.

[Interviewer / Host]

Yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

By men. That. And caused them to act crazy.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Not just men.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Not.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Well, not in this movie.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, you're right.

[UnitedHealthcare Representative]

You're right.

[Interviewer / Host]

That's.

[DJ Khaled]

That's a good.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's an interesting point, because the title is strong. Is that just about love?

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Well, it has a number of meanings, Right. Like strung along, strung out.

[Kal Penn]

Strong.

[Coco Jones]

Like the strings on the violin.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Strings on the violin. Exactly. Exactly.

[DJ Envy]

That was a little bit manipulation from the. From the friend group a little bit, too. Not like they. Like, they pressured you into some things that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But that's her fault, though, or Lea's fault.

[DJ Envy]

But I think when you're vulnerable and you're trying to figure out love, that doesn't always mean you're looking for a man. Like, you're dealing with a loss, and you're depending on your girlfriends, and they're like, oh, we should be over here doing this.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But she also told him how good

[DJ Envy]

the dick was, but she had to go.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

She told him how

[Coco Jones]

well intended. You know, I think the friends were like, okay, this isn't helping. This isn't helping. Maybe a man for the night will help. You know, sometimes you need a good distraction. That's what I think.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

And by the way, you left the club. Layla left the club. She was like, I'm trying to go do my music.

[DJ Envy]

She went to the calmest place ever and was like, you know what? We about to get crazy after this good dickstraction.

[Interviewer / Host]

There you go.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Wait.

[Coco Jones]

That's genius.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

They have to go.

[Interviewer / Host]

Yes, they have to go. Ladies and gentlemen, we'll definitely check out. The movie comes out on the 26th this Friday and we appreciate you guys for joining us. Thank you so much. Thank you. Chloe Bailey, Malcolm D. Lee, and it's the Breakfast Club. Good morning.

[Coco Jones]

Thank you guys. That was fun.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Every day I wake up.

[Kal Penn]

Wake your ass up.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

The breakfast club.

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[DJ Envy]

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[Paramount Plus Announcer]

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[DJ Envy]

Join this landmark celebration and get your America's Block Party Tickets now for $17.76 at america250.org LA hi, it's Karen and

[Coco Jones]

Georgia from My favorite Murder.

[Podcast Narrator / Hyundai Ioniq 5 Promoter]

We cruised around LA in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and dove into the fascinating life of actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr.

[Coco Jones]

Want the full story?

[Podcast Narrator / Hyundai Ioniq 5 Promoter]

Take a listen. She starts dating Howard Hughes and in fact, she helps him design a faster plane. So she finds the fastest bird and the fastest fish and sketches out a drawing of what the two would look like as a plane. And that becomes the plane that we know today. And he calls her a genius. Check out our new episode spotlighting groundbreaking innovators like Hedy and Lamarr and Billie

[Coco Jones]

Jean King, presented by the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

[Podcast Narrator / Hyundai Ioniq 5 Promoter]

Goodbye.

[Kal Penn]

Hey, everyone, it's Kal Penn. I'm inviting you to join the best sounding book club you've ever heard with my podcast, Hearsay, The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club. Every episode I nerd out with amazing guests and dive into the best new audiobooks available on Audible. It's the book club for your ears. Listen to Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Paramount Plus Announcer]

Paramount plus is now the home of all your BET favorites.

[Kal Penn]

What?

[Paramount Plus Announcer]

Yeah, with all new episodes of Tyler Perry's Divorce Sisters you've always liked, a little drama, plus a whole new world of movies like Gladiator 2.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Now I will control an empire original

[Paramount Plus Announcer]

series like the Shy.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Just make sure we protect each other

[Paramount Plus Announcer]

in live sports like ufc.

[Malcolm D. Lee]

Welcome to the history books.

[Paramount Plus Announcer]

New home, same family. Your BET favorites are now on Paramount Plus. Subscribe now.

[DJ Envy]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.