FILM DIRECTOR ABENI NAZEER

Speaker 1 My guest today, Abeni Nazir, is a woman that I admire so much.

Speaker 1 She's a film director, film producer, owner of Abeni Productions, best well known for directing the psychological thriller scene, starring Angel Love and Louis Gossett Jr.

Speaker 1 She was raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and started her career as a filmmaker when she was only 15 years old. And she's really, really good at it.
I met her last year on set of a very special project.

Speaker 1 She was working on a music video for her brother, musical artist I Am Results for the song Deep, which is a very powerful song. I was cast on a really, really important, very emotional role.

Speaker 1 It was one of the most special experiences of my life. And the minute I met a Benny, I was like, wow, this girl really knows her game.
It's incredible how she commands a room.

Speaker 1 She commands the crew, the actors. She makes everything happen.

Speaker 1 I fell in love with her work and I have been wanting to talk to her ever since, especially because I am all about finding women, kicking ass in the entertainment industry and paving

Speaker 1 ways for others. So I hope you guys enjoy this very, very special conversation with Benny Nazir.
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Speaker 1 Abeni, welcome to Cat on the Luz. It's such an honor to have you here.

Speaker 2 I'm so happy to be here.

Speaker 1 I am so happy to have you. So let's tell everybody how we met before I start bombarding you with questions because you know I'm a huge fan.
You picked me and I was in heaven

Speaker 1 to be on a music video for your brother, who is a very talented musician and rapper.

Speaker 2 Rizott, by the way, that's his name.

Speaker 1 Yeah, and I love his work. And I'm going to tell you guys where you can go and see the music video.
So I show up on set. You cast me to do this music video.
I show up on set.

Speaker 1 I had no idea what I had to do. And I remember getting there, and it was a crew, mostly men, like most of the time in this industry, right?

Speaker 1 And there you are, and you are the boss lady of everything.

Speaker 1 You are producing, you are directing, you are telling everybody what you are doing, filming, filming with major, major, like serious equipment, like you're not an amateur.

Speaker 1 So I looked at you, I'm like, wow, I want to know who this person is.

Speaker 1 I was very, very impressed by how well you knew your game.

Speaker 2 Yeah.

Speaker 1 So let's backtrack your story for people that don't know you.

Speaker 1 How did you get in this industry? Like, because you started very young.

Speaker 2 Yeah, I started, I was about,

Speaker 2 well, I started in like drawing and painting

Speaker 2 as a little kid, maybe like seven years old. And then I got into

Speaker 2 photography, maybe

Speaker 2 preteen and I want to say around 15 is when I was like, I fell in love with with film and video.

Speaker 2 And I actually like,

Speaker 2 I don't consider myself in the industry, you know, like I consider myself outside of the industry. Really?

Speaker 2 Because I don't strive to like work in the industry or like follow the industry rules or anything like that.

Speaker 1 I love that.

Speaker 2 I grew up in like peer-to-peer organizations and nonprofit organizations. So it was so much like

Speaker 2 passion and like love and just like, it was a different approach to filmmaking.

Speaker 2 filmmaking when I started film I didn't even know it was a job like I was so young and I was just like you looked at someone that inspired you

Speaker 2 I it was so weird because like as I was younger I've always been so into it like just as a passion that I just I got good at the skill and people ask me like oh you remind me of this person or you remind me of Steven Spielberg and I'm like who are these people and like somebody had to tell me like Ebaini you have to do research and know who these people are because a little bit yeah And I would just be like, oh, I don't know.

Speaker 2 Like, I don't, I'm so out the loop to be honest with you. I love it.
Like, it's really just a passion. And, like,

Speaker 2 it's a privilege to be able to like tell people stories and capture it. And, like, people open up to me.
And even like when you came on set and like, you were, it was so easy working with you.

Speaker 2 Like, that's a privilege for me. Like, you know what I mean? Like, to be able to work with you and stuff.

Speaker 1 And I really likewise, it's a privilege for an actor to work God's Honest with such a good director like you. Because

Speaker 1 I've been on sets ever since I was a little kid, on and off. And I'm kind of like you.
I do it. Obviously, I'm not a famous actor.
I'm not making millions yet.

Speaker 1 But I do it for the passion I have for the art. I love telling stories.

Speaker 1 And when, like you said, when you connect with people, and of course, I love working with women because we don't see that a lot in this business and we need to talk about that.

Speaker 1 But when I meet somebody like you, and I'm like, man, you're on top of your game. That's like my dream because you know how to give direction.
You know exactly what you want.

Speaker 2 Yeah.

Speaker 1 And honestly, it was one of the most fun, most powerful jobs of my entire life.

Speaker 2 Oh my God, are you serious?

Speaker 1 I'm that serious.

Speaker 2 That means so much to me.

Speaker 1 I'm dad serious. Like, I'm not saying that because you're here.
I'm saying that from the bottom of my heart. I, and I fell in love with you and your work.

Speaker 1 But to me as an actor, because it was a music video, let's tell everybody what it was about so they understand what we're talking about.

Speaker 2 Because it was like, it was a music video, but it was like movie, it was almost like movie scenes, kind of.

Speaker 1 No, big time. And it was very powerful.

Speaker 2 Yeah.

Speaker 1 Because the song is about a young guy that has a new family, right? And I was playing the wife of this guy.

Speaker 2 Yeah.

Speaker 1 And they have, and he has a kid from a previous marriage. And so they're this super happy couple.

Speaker 1 And he goes out one day. Uh, no, they go out.
Oh my god, yeah, we go on a date, like a really romantic date, and something horrible happened.

Speaker 1 I'm not gonna say everything because I want you guys to go and watch the video, it's on my YouTube channel, it's on my social media, I'll tell you guys all about it.

Speaker 1 But basically, they are on a date, and they get pulled over by a cop,

Speaker 1 and he dies.

Speaker 1 And the whole time you're giving me direction, telling me what to do, I was thinking, like, can you imagine going through that in real life?

Speaker 1 Which happens to people all the time. Yeah.

Speaker 1 And your brother is singing about that as you guys are telling the story.

Speaker 2 Yep.

Speaker 1 So it's a very, very, it's a music video, but like I said, it's almost like a short, very short movie. Yep.

Speaker 2 It's like a short film. And he wanted to like,

Speaker 2 he wanted to have that deep aspect to it. And I was like, I love it.
Like, you know.

Speaker 1 So when you work with an artist, like you listen to a song, how do you create the scenes in your mind? Do you create everything yourself? Like, how do you put that to reality?

Speaker 2 So, like, so like, as of now, I don't even take work for hire anymore.

Speaker 2 And like that video, I only did it because it was my brother.

Speaker 2 But in the past, like, when I first started, when I learned that you can make money in this industry, I was taking work for hire and I was doing like tons of music videos.

Speaker 2 And what I would do actually,

Speaker 2 I would just like talk to the artists. I would understand them and like

Speaker 2 their writing, you know, as they came up with the song and like just try to understand their background and what they're trying to bring to life.

Speaker 2 And then from there, I'll just try to create something that represents them. Because at the end of the day,

Speaker 2 I want like every project is different tailored to the artist I'm working with. Yeah.
And I try to like bring their vision to life.

Speaker 2 I do like add my little two cents, but it's not like what I would do.

Speaker 2 It's, it's what, it's like the the potential that I see in them or like you know like like I would imagine like if they were like the super super big successful artist with like millions and millions of followers and like what will they bring what will their followers want to see and I kind of look at it from that perspective and it's not easy to bring that to life very few people can do that so obviously a very creative mind Yeah, I did.

Speaker 2 See, it's so easy for me.

Speaker 2 And like, even when I'm talking to people and there, it's like, like, as I'm, because I train a lot of people people too and when it's too difficult for them sometimes I I can't work with them or I can't train them because you do have to have a certain a certain mindset and a certain personality I guess or maybe just a certain

Speaker 1 I don't know what it is like it's it's like the it factor thing that sometimes you just got to have it yeah no absolutely and I remember we were on set and you said to me because you're very kind and the way you talk and everything I wish you guys would see her work because when you're working you're like

Speaker 1 But you're very, you're very sweet. And most directors are not.
And you looked at me and you said, do you mind if we use fake blood on you?

Speaker 1 And I was like, no, please do whatever you have to do because I understand this scene is going to be so powerful. Because basically, I'm sitting with my husband in a car

Speaker 1 and we are having the most romantic

Speaker 1 day tonight. And he literally his brain is going to get blown up.

Speaker 1 Whereas he's going to die in front of us. So I completely understood.
And

Speaker 1 you were so kind asking. And for me, as an actor, I was so into it.
I was like, I will do anything in this world.

Speaker 1 But it is very powerful and very emotional. It's very easy to touch you because the whole time I was thinking, I cannot believe that so many people actually go through this.

Speaker 2 Yeah. And you're like living it almost in the film.

Speaker 1 Yes, you have to. Because we were there, and I was a very long day of shooting.

Speaker 1 I think most people don't even realize, like, to do a four or five-minute music video, how many hours

Speaker 1 of work, right? You have to be like insanely dedicated.

Speaker 2 Yeah.

Speaker 1 So by the time we did that scene, I think it was the last one, it was maybe 14 hours into it.

Speaker 2 Wow. I've not even realized that how long.
Yeah, Jesus. Don't get me in trouble.
Did I feed you guys? Did we take breaks?

Speaker 1 We took many breaks.

Speaker 1 You fed us so much.

Speaker 1 She's crazy. She had this whole room in the house.
Oh, yeah. It was a treat room.

Speaker 1 This entire room in the house had cupcakes, cookies, and candy, and this, and that, and that, and that, all kinds of food. Yes, we were very well treated.

Speaker 1 But, you know, just to put it in perspective for people that are not in this industry, it's not like you show up and you do like ta-da-da-da-da. You spend many, many hours to

Speaker 1 so when people watch like a four or five minute and then you you spend many more hours after that editing and everything putting it together and i edited the project myself as well yeah yeah so for me normally it's honestly it's very easy easy for me to cry on cue

Speaker 1 because i'm very emotional by nature yeah but that day it was even easier wow what's your zodiac sign pisces oh my god why what's yours scorpio but see pisces and scorpio are so compatible really really and like we're so emotional together scorpio is emotional very emotional yeah i don't know anything about scorpio oh yeah no scorpio and pisces are like

Speaker 1 are like perfect compatible signs i know that pisces everybody makes fun of me because i cry all the time i cry when i watch movies i cry when i see the news i cry when i see something i like like and so when i have to act they're like can you cry i'm like oh yeah give me a peanut

Speaker 1 but obviously some situations it's harder because i'm not that touched but with the story of this music video, the song is called Deep, by the way.

Speaker 1 So, if you guys want to go watch it, it's on my YouTube, it's on your brother's YouTube channel, on your brother's Instagram.

Speaker 1 So, I'll put the link on this episode because it's really, really worth it. It's beautiful work.

Speaker 1 But, yeah, that day I was like, okay, I can cry all day because I can't imagine a family going through that. Yeah.
And many times there's no justice.

Speaker 2 Right.

Speaker 1 People just get killed by cops or whatever, by other people, obviously, and

Speaker 1 so much violence on there, and there is no justice.

Speaker 2 Yeah.

Speaker 1 So, okay, going back to all the stuff you do, you start at 15. You weren't inspired by anybody.

Speaker 1 You just did it because you love it. You self-taught

Speaker 1 how to use all this equipment and everything. So, how did you get into making movies? Because it's not easy to get in this industry at all.

Speaker 2 Well, I guess I like, because I think that what made it easy is just not thinking that I was trying to get in the industry. industry.

Speaker 2 Cause it's like, even hearing it, it sounds weird because I never remember myself trying to get into the industry.

Speaker 1 Maybe you did. Maybe that's why you were able to do it.

Speaker 2 Maybe that's why I was able to. Cause I never thought of it that way.
I would just literally,

Speaker 2 I would have ideas where like I would meet people and I would be like, oh my, like, you know who people did inspire me. It was the people, like real people.
just everyday people.

Speaker 2 I'm from Baltimore, Maryland. And the people there really inspired me.
Like their stories

Speaker 2 and stuff I would witness, like I would witness just stories and I'm like, oh my gosh, like I want to capture this, not to exploit you, but to like

Speaker 2 for you to say what you learned from it or for other people to experience it through film and learn something from it. So like, I guess that was.
my inspiration.

Speaker 2 And then just like making social change media, like media that will impact the community or the society or the culture you know what I mean like I was so into it and don't ask me why I have no idea like maybe I was just raised that way like my parents were just were they supportive of very supportive oh that's very helpful

Speaker 2 yeah helps big time they were very supportive like even if I needed like my mom or my dad to like be an actor like they would totally do it like you know they was just like whatever I needed from oh my god that's amazing because a lot of people don't have that yeah I have and I have a big family so like my entire family was super supportive.

Speaker 2 That's nice. And they still are.
Oh,

Speaker 1 now, I mean, come on. Now you're an ass.

Speaker 1 You don't care about the industry, but I really, really see you like on stages winning awards very soon.

Speaker 2 Yeah. And like, that's crazy because I don't, I never like strive for it or imagine that per se.

Speaker 2 But I guess it just comes with it.

Speaker 1 Yeah. But I think that's, I always believe in that.
I think the more you do it from your heart,

Speaker 1 anything you do, I say that about my podcast, all my work, no matter what I do, I think in order for the audience to connect with you and for your work to come out like good,

Speaker 1 you can't just do it thinking about dollar signs, right? Or like, oh my God, I think it has to come from a place of like love, passion, like you said, kindness, or like, I need to tell the story.

Speaker 1 It has to be a different reason.

Speaker 2 For sure. Like it has to be passion driven.
And for me, like even me being a Scorpio, since I am very emotional like that, too, I can't even

Speaker 2 like when I'm in rooms or spaces that don't have that like love aspect or when it's too businessy, it doesn't work for me. Like I can't work like that.

Speaker 2 And people will tell me like, you can't, you need to stop mixing business with.

Speaker 2 pleasure or like fam don't work with your family or like you know people will people in the industry will try to teach me how to take that love away from my work

Speaker 2 but whenever i do that i'm not successful and i like i just have to figure out what works for me.

Speaker 1 Yes, you have to follow your gut. I know.
It's funny how people always try to change us to adapt to something that they think is the right thing to do. Yeah.
Especially in the entertainment industry.

Speaker 2 Yeah. Which was usually those rules are usually created by men.
Yes. And it's like, and of course, men aren't going to lead with like emotion or, you know, they're big on

Speaker 1 not incorporating the two but that literally is what got me so successful yeah so let's talk about that for a minute because this is a male dominated industry right it's like I don't know the percentage but most of the time when you walk on any set movie TV videos commercial

Speaker 1 it's like mostly men especially directors yeah and

Speaker 1 I think it's amazing that there are certain women really paving the way and knocking doors. And like you said, we are not going to stop talking.
We're not going to stop telling stories.

Speaker 1 And I think it's really, really important.

Speaker 1 Did you feel any obstacles in your way when you started making movies? Because

Speaker 1 you're a woman.

Speaker 1 You're a black woman from Baltimore. You're gorgeous.
By the way, if you guys are not listening to the episode, do me a favor and go watch the videos because you could be a model, obviously.

Speaker 1 You could be a top model. You know that.

Speaker 1 You photograph insanely well. You're kind and sweet, but you decided, I'm going to make movies, which I love.

Speaker 1 And then you said, I'm going to direct,

Speaker 1 which is really tough. Cause like you said, when you're directing, you have many people on a set.

Speaker 1 Many people, you got to deal with the actors, you got to deal with background, you got to deal with the crew.

Speaker 1 It's really tough.

Speaker 1 Did you feel being a woman made it harder for you when you started?

Speaker 2 No, I didn't. Like, for some reason, it was like, it was so easy for me.

Speaker 2 And I just just didn't think of it that way like especially like the more people the like the funner I have like getting everybody into character and like bringing the vibe and the love into the room and like making sure everybody is like comfortable and ready to do the work and like I felt like me being a woman made it a little bit easier and I was able to like squeeze through some cracks you know since I was like a pretty girl or you know like i don't know like for me i maybe i just used it to my advantage but you know one thing that

Speaker 2 I like, I don't think of things of the negative aspect. So I don't even like know what, and maybe there was negative aspects that I just didn't realize.
Yeah.

Speaker 1 That's a fantastic way to

Speaker 1 go about work.

Speaker 2 It was one thing that I do notice, though, is that, which it doesn't bother me.

Speaker 2 And because, again, I use it to my advantage, but a lot of times if I'm like meeting with somebody or meeting someone for the first time, and if I have like my father with me or my boyfriend at the time, Chris, like he he would be with me all the time when I was working.

Speaker 2 They would just confront the men and they would just stop.

Speaker 2 Like they would just ignore me as like I'm not a Baney from a Bainey Productions and I'm the one that's making everything come together.

Speaker 2 They would just kind of like not even acknowledge me and just talk to the men that the men don't even know.

Speaker 1 You were afraid of the men that were with you.

Speaker 2 Maybe. I have no idea.
See, I didn't even think about it. I don't know if it's because I was a girl and they just address like when you have a man and a woman, you usually just address the man.

Speaker 2 I don't know what it was.

Speaker 1 Which shouldn't be that way because it's your name, like the title of your, it's your company. It's a Benny Productions.
You're the boss. Yeah.
Right.

Speaker 2 But since I have my family with me, like my dad or my boyfriend, they just assume that, well, these men must be doing it for her or helping her or financing her or whatever like that, which was never the case.

Speaker 2 But, um, but I did get that. But again, I would use that to my advantage.
Like, I would play green

Speaker 2 when it was helpful for for me, or like it just didn't bother me, you know. I don't know, I don't know.

Speaker 1 I was just like, You're just always so cool and chill about everything, like you're like whatever.

Speaker 2 I'm just yeah, I was just like, I was like, you know what, good because I got other stuff to worry about. So, you go talk to these people since they want to talk to you, and I'll go over here.

Speaker 1 You didn't even care, yeah, I didn't care. I think I would be, it's funny because you're usually the score peels, like you're a little more like, you know, fiery.

Speaker 1 And I'm very emotional, but like, if I were in this situation and somebody wouldn't address I'd be like excuse me yeah

Speaker 2 no but see I'll say that like but I'll say that in my head like I'll in my head I'll be thinking about my head makes my mouth speak

Speaker 2 yeah it is it was it was okay though I see the beauty in the situation so

Speaker 2 yeah it didn't bother me That's amazing.

Speaker 1 Yeah. So how many movies have you made so far?

Speaker 2 Well, as far as feature films, like I have tons of like shorts and stuff like that, but as far as a feature film, I have one complete called Sin and it's

Speaker 2 starring the late Lucasett Jr., who just passed away, like legendary actor.

Speaker 2 And it's tons of other actors.

Speaker 2 Angel Love,

Speaker 2 Marquan Smith. I mean, there's like tons of like actors.
I wish I could name everybody, but there's so many and they're like blocking my head. Sean Nelson.

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Speaker 2 Dolla Black, who actually plays in. So that was my first feature we shot in Atlanta.
And then my next feature is a horror film, which I'll shoot starting July 22nd.

Speaker 1 Okay, I volunteered to audition for that. Yes,

Speaker 1 I'll be so happy to do anything for you again. Like just to be on your set and I'm not kidding you guys.
Like if you are anybody

Speaker 1 that likes acting, anybody that likes movies,

Speaker 1 if you watch her work, and I wish you could see her work because it's very inspiring. Like I, to me, it's a really big deal.

Speaker 1 I love when I'm on a set and I see girls, women, because it's very rare, number one.

Speaker 1 But to see a woman that really knows what she's doing and taking charge and telling stories, I think that's very powerful because we need much more of that yeah and i think you you were very lucky in many ways that you didn't see like resistance because of the fact that you're a woman but but because unfortunately like you said there's still so many stereotypes towards women in in entertainment they um like there's no matter what we do like like you said they think if you're a movie producer director oh somebody's paying for somebody's backing her up yeah if you do a pod i get asked that all the time do a podcast Oh, but how are you paying for it?

Speaker 1 Like, how are you paying? I'm paying for myself.

Speaker 1 I work seven days a week, dude. I don't have a sugar daddy.
I don't have a daddy. I don't have a husband.
And my sponsors pay for it because they like my work.

Speaker 1 But, but I get annoyed sometimes when I get these questions because I don't think people ask that from a guy.

Speaker 1 Like, if you see a guy directing a movie, I don't think anybody has the balls to say, oh, who's funding it? Your wife? Right.

Speaker 1 Right.

Speaker 1 or even a podcast like you see a successful podcast nobody would say to him like I'm sorry but um who's helping you like with all this shit who pays for your stuff we don't do that to men no men are much more respected like in what they do than we are you know what I like hearing you talk one thing that I did notice and I won't like drop any names or whatever but when I was younger and when I was just like

Speaker 2 trying to like like I was trying to so I had a mentor Kevin Lyles and he was he's in the industry

Speaker 2 executive for 300 entertainment he used to work with Def Jam so he's like super in the industry so when he was mentoring me and I was like work kind of working under him um I was just young and didn't really know what direction I was going in and I was just working with whoever I could and I did notice like resistance because I was a young female that I felt like people would

Speaker 2 would stereotype me or think like

Speaker 2 like maybe I'm just screwing everybody in the industry or maybe like almost like they would try to give me a hard time because I was a young female and they didn't want me to like take their place or get like they didn't want their man to be attracted to me.

Speaker 1 I did have that. Yeah.

Speaker 2 And again, that it was weird. Like I was just thinking like.

Speaker 2 Like I can't help like I'm not on that. Like, you know what I mean? But it's like, I can't help like how I look like whatever or like to your man or whatever, but we're not like that or whatever.

Speaker 2 But I did get that energy, but that's the only other thing I can think of.

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Speaker 1 That's 20Checkout checkout at crocs.com for 20 of your purchase and you guys are not gonna believe how adorable the new styles are if you think you know crocs think again and go check them out right now crocs.com but it does it's it's a sad part of i think entertainment business but most businesses that unfortunately some people see each see other people as threats I never work like that.

Speaker 1 And I always say that on the podcast and my social media, I think, especially women, but i i believe in joining forces i don't believe like i don't even like the word competition i never ever use the word competition even other podcasts i think okay they're doing an amazing job fantastic there is room for everybody we can there's endless number of stories that we can tell right the same way endless number number of songs that we can write or whatever we want to do so when i meet a a girl that does i'm like let's collaborate right let's watch and that's different for you i think i'm like i'm thinking like because, you know, I come from family-oriented type stuff.

Speaker 2 So it's like, I'm thinking like family and like team and, you know, but it just let like when people did that, it let me, it's, it helps me to set boundaries and it lets me know that it's like, I shouldn't be working with that person anyway, because if they have something they're going through or they have setbacks or insecurities.

Speaker 2 So, and a lot of times when I did try to work in the industry, I got that energy. And that's why I don't work in the industry.

Speaker 2 Cause when I work, when I just stay in my own lane and do my own thing, I only get like love. Yeah.
And like good people to work with and like good vibes. So I was just like, yeah, that's not for me.

Speaker 1 But that's so important. I completely agree with you because I believe in energy and I want to be surrounded.
And it's funny because I just said that to him before you got here.

Speaker 1 Cause I said, hi, good morning. How are you? And he's like, I'm great.
And I said, thank God. Cause every day I see someone that I'm going to work with and they're like, oh, you know,

Speaker 1 and I don't want to be around people that are negative or looking at me because looking at me, it's like you said, some kind of threat to their work.

Speaker 1 Because I'm not, I don't want to be a threat to anybody. You know, I want to do my thing and share my message and

Speaker 1 tell stories and meet amazing people like you and collaborate. Yeah.
I don't want to cause any troubles. I want no trouble.
No trouble. Exactly.
And we don't want anybody's men.

Speaker 2 We don't want none of y'all men.

Speaker 1 No, exactly.

Speaker 2 No, you have no idea that you do not have the man I want.

Speaker 1 You do not.

Speaker 1 Speaking of men, are you single now? I am single now. Because I think when we were doing the

Speaker 2 relationship for 15 years. Holy shit.
And now that guy with that guy.

Speaker 1 I forgot.

Speaker 2 Chris, yeah. Chris.
Oh, that's not true. And he's a great guy.
Like, we're so friends. And, like.
Imagine being with somebody for 15 years. You're a baby.

Speaker 1 I was married for 14 years. You're divorced now?

Speaker 1 Yes.

Speaker 1 Such a long story. Yes.

Speaker 1 Oh, my God. I was divorced.
He died.

Speaker 1 I started my life, but my marriage was not happy. It's a long other episode, other episode.
But, but yeah, we were best friends. So, yeah, it's a lifetime.
15 years is a lifetime.

Speaker 2 15 years, especially for me. I'm 32 now.
I met him while I was around 16 when we started dating. So, like, my entire growth

Speaker 2 was with me.

Speaker 2 And we broke up last Christmas.

Speaker 1 Oh, my God. Are you okay?

Speaker 2 I am. I'm actually great.

Speaker 1 You look at her smile.

Speaker 1 I'm great. But it's like,

Speaker 1 I mean, Chris, I'm sorry if you're listening. I'm so sorry.

Speaker 1 I met you. He's super.

Speaker 2 He seems so nice. He is.
He's an amazing.

Speaker 1 And you guys had a great work vibe.

Speaker 2 Yeah.

Speaker 2 Really do work. Yeah.
He helped me a lot. I felt like,

Speaker 2 and like he could speak for himself, but like, I don't, I feel like in the relationship, it was like him

Speaker 2 just not being secure with our relationship. Or like I felt like as I grew into the woman I was becoming, it was like we were just growing apart.

Speaker 1 Yeah, well, I mean, I can understand that because you started the relationship, like you said, you were a teenager, then you are with one person as you're growing up, yeah, and then you become an adult with the same person.

Speaker 1 Probably a lot of things change

Speaker 1 in your head, and maybe you need a little breathing room to figure out exactly what you want, yeah.

Speaker 1 And maybe if you guys are meant for each other, you never know the future, you never know.

Speaker 1 But are you dating and mingling?

Speaker 1 You want to take the fifth of this one?

Speaker 1 I think she doesn't want to say it, but I think you are.

Speaker 1 I know I'm going to get messages from guys. Like, I want to meet this chick.
Yeah,

Speaker 2 I'm open to dating.

Speaker 2 Right now, I'm just really like. focusing on myself and like working and stuff so i'm not i'm not like focused on dating yeah i hear but i am open.
So I just don't want to go looking for somebody.

Speaker 2 And so like, I learned a lot. Like, I just learned a lot as an adult woman.
And like, when I was younger, how I even got with my boyfriend, I like hunted him down.

Speaker 2 And I'm learning that you're not supposed to do that. Like, you know, like, you're supposed to let him go.

Speaker 1 You hunted him down when you were.

Speaker 2 I, I was so, he was older. He was a little older than me.
He reminded me of Huey P. Newton.
He was running like this nonprofit organization, Activisty and stuff, and like doing protests.

Speaker 2 And I was like, he will be my boyfriend, whether he likes it or not.

Speaker 1 You're a powerful boy.

Speaker 2 I literally like stalked him.

Speaker 1 You guys, watch out because she gets what she wants.

Speaker 2 And I kind of like forced it.

Speaker 1 Like,

Speaker 2 so I don't, I'll never do that again. Like, you know what I mean? Like, this time I'm not like,

Speaker 1 I mean, it worked. You guys were together

Speaker 2 two years.

Speaker 1 Yeah, it did. It did.
You look at someone like, you're going to be mine. I don't care if you want to.
I don't care what you think. But yeah,

Speaker 2 I'm manifesting this, so that's pretty much how that relationship was. So, with this one, um, I'm trying, like, with my next relationship, I'm trying not to do that.

Speaker 2 Like, I'm just, you know, trying to just live in my best version of myself. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1 We're on the same page because I want to be in a relationship, but I can't, I'm really taking my time with this one.

Speaker 2 You know what I think, too? Like,

Speaker 1 I,

Speaker 2 I think that, um,

Speaker 2 like, I think that I want to date either like, like maybe like older men or it's like i'm just learning

Speaker 1 too much older right no i'm thinking like too much older that i well i don't know i don't recommend that you don't recommend why well i my during my marriage so my husband was much older

Speaker 1 and i now kind of looking back i think at some point because you need to have the same energy levels you know the same lifestyle the same goals a lot of so if you go like let's say i'm saying much older my husband was 20 years older than me yeah that's what I was thinking, 20, 30 years older.

Speaker 2 Like, I need a man, man, a grown man.

Speaker 1 A man.

Speaker 1 I need a grown man. I know, but a man, man, usually in their 50s and 60s, they might be in a different wavelength.

Speaker 1 Like, oh, I want to pick the fruits of my work and I want to travel the world and I want to kick back. And if you are like full power, like career, like I

Speaker 1 listen, I'm going to be on a set for 12 hours, for 14 hours. I want to do my thing, you know, it might clash.

Speaker 2 So what do you think about dating like younger what if i go younger so

Speaker 1 like 22 23 i'm super open-minded to everything i think like whatever makes you happy life is short for me i don't like younger guys and it's funny because they hit on me all the time

Speaker 1 have you tried like no i don't know they just text me on instagram and shit you haven't tried to date a young i have and i i i just feel like i have nothing to say to you you haven't been through the things i have been through in life i don't think you're mature enough because I think guys take way longer than we do to mature.

Speaker 1 Even sex, like a lot of girls say, Oh, but the sex is going to be great because they have more energy, but it's not the right energy because I don't think they know how to do exactly what I want them to do.

Speaker 2 But have you tried it?

Speaker 1 Yes, I have.

Speaker 1 And I did not have good experiences with you.

Speaker 2 It might have been just that guy.

Speaker 1 So, yeah, it might. So, again, I am open-minded.

Speaker 2 It might have just been, you might have had the wrong.

Speaker 1 I'm open-minded because you never know, right? You could meet a younger guy that is crazy mature. Yeah.
I don't know. I think it's all like, let's analyze case by case.

Speaker 2 Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1 But you got to keep, I think the most important thing, honestly, and I'm not an expert by any means, but I'm just saying what I learned from doing the podcast.

Speaker 1 The most important thing that people forget, right? They say, oh, I'm in love. Oh, like I have, I have this chemistry.
You need to have compatible lifestyles. For sure.

Speaker 1 Because listen, this is what blows up marriages. Like even a silly example, but it's in the media right now, all the time, every day.
JLo and Ben.

Speaker 1 Why is it blowing up? Because they have like day and night lifestyles. Like, you can love each other like crazy and you can have sex like bunnies.

Speaker 1 But week after week after week after week, if one person wants to live in LA, right, and work like a workaholic maniac, like you and I are, or like JL, she's super career-oriented, and another person wants to retire and chill and like, you know, live in the mountains.

Speaker 1 And it's not going to work. One of the two is going to be unhappy.
For sure. So I don't think it's so much the age because people really focus on that, right?

Speaker 1 I think you need to like, when you meet somebody, ask them that question, like, what do you want to do?

Speaker 2 Yeah.

Speaker 1 How much do you work? Like, what is your lifestyle? You know, do they accept your lifestyle?

Speaker 1 Like, if you're on a set for 14 hours, is he going to be like this nice, supportive partner that's going to be there for you? you?

Speaker 2 Yeah. No, yeah, I totally agree.

Speaker 1 I think that needs to be the, you know, the, the, the key. But who the hell am I? Listen, I'm still, I don't know shit about D.

Speaker 1 I keep making mistakes.

Speaker 1 So what's next for you? So this movie coming up?

Speaker 2 Yeah, I have a horror film

Speaker 2 that is called Rush. And I'll be filming, it's about a sorority

Speaker 2 that

Speaker 2 basically there are sorority houses on this native land, and there's a killer in the sorority and it awakens the spirits from the native land and the spirits well I won't tell the whole I love yeah don't tell the whole story who wrote the movie did you write so my dad um Chris my ex and Kiambra so I had three writers it started with my dad writing and then Chris came on and then Kiambra I love that it's like a family affair yeah all my work is like that it's so and even like people that work so I'm launching my production company at Baini Productions this year.

Speaker 2 And pretty much everyone who works for my company is like family. Like I'm super, and people tell me all the time, like Baine, don't do that.
Don't do that.

Speaker 2 I don't, they say not to mix family and business and like not to treat your

Speaker 2 people that work for you. Don't treat them like too much like family or, I don't know.
People have been telling me that my whole career.

Speaker 1 It depends what kind of relationship you have with your family. Right.
If you have an amazing relationship with your family, which obviously you do,

Speaker 1 then you're never going to to trust anybody more than you trust your family.

Speaker 2 Yeah. And it's like, when I think of my legacy and like, like, honestly, like, I'm really not like a super hard worker.
Again, this is just my passion. It happened to make money.

Speaker 2 I happened to be successful. I would much rather have a man that's a provider that like I could just kind of like, I could just do my little stuff.

Speaker 1 I won't believe you.

Speaker 2 Yeah. No, I'm so serious.

Speaker 1 Like, even if you have a man that is like providing for you, whatever, you're still going to be like, I want to make this movie. I want to make a movie.

Speaker 2 Oh, yeah.

Speaker 2 but it won't be you're not for the income it'll just be for the passion of me telling a story but isn't it rewarding like if one of your movies like let's gets picked up or people find out about it or it makes money don't you feel like it's something you deserve no yeah it is it's nice but it's nice to me like i fall in love with the process more than the outcome yeah so like for me like just making it and experiencing people and meeting people and like learning from them and like us working together and like knowing that I gave people jobs, like other people jobs and I impacted somebody.

Speaker 2 And like, like to me, that's more rewarding than just like how much money I made from the project or an award. Like it just doesn't.
Oh, yeah.

Speaker 1 No, you have to be like that. And I think that's a big mistake that a lot of people that move to Hollywood make, right? They come here and they think, I'm going to be rich and I'm going to be famous.

Speaker 1 Yeah. And I think these are the two biggest mistakes in terms of goals because you're skipping everything that is

Speaker 1 skipping all the fun parts exactly the fun part and the parts that should the most

Speaker 1 important parts like yeah the if you miss all of that you're not going to be rich and you're not going to be famous yeah and i think your audience is going to notice even like some actors uh because i i i have many friends that are directors many friends that are casting directors and they say that we notice when the actor is here for the wrong reasons

Speaker 1 like you know it shines through that they're just doing that like a robot or something that it's not their

Speaker 1 own.

Speaker 1 Yeah, do you notice that, like, when you work with an actor, when somebody's on set, do you notice, like, okay, this person really loves what they do, and this person is just here, like, whatever, for a few bucks?

Speaker 2 Well, the person that's just here for a few bucks won't even make it to set. So it's like, they don't, they, they don't even make it in my space.

Speaker 2 Like, who, yeah, like, so I don't, and not just actors, but anybody, like, I nip stuff in the butt really quick. Like, if it's not the right energy, I'd be like, that's not gonna going to work.

Speaker 2 I love that. So it's like, I don't even get that far.
Like when you show every, if you notice, like everybody who showed up on set were like super good energies.

Speaker 2 Like I like, I like forming teams and like bringing the right people together. So everything runs smoothly.
Like I don't got time for the people who have the wrong intentions or.

Speaker 1 Yeah, I love that because I'm the same and I did notice that. And I've been on many, many, many sets.
And this was by far one of my, and I wrote that on my instagram and i mean that with all my heart

Speaker 1 no and i'm saying that no joke with all my heart it was one of for for an actor it was a gift i i mean i should have paid you

Speaker 1 because it was such a rich experience and for me as a human because i know it's something that and and i mean your brow your brother should be so proud of because it's something that very sad that happens on the streets of the United States all the time.

Speaker 1 People getting murdered, people getting killed by mistake, you know, police brutality, especially in poor neighborhoods.

Speaker 1 I think it's something that we should definitely talk more about and put out there.

Speaker 1 And it was just as much as my scene was just a few scenes, but very powerful scenes. So it was a role much meatier than many indie movies that I've done.

Speaker 1 And it made me grow so much as a person and it made me reflect. And it just refueled my fire as an actor.
And I am like you, I take jobs that many times I don't get paid, or I get paid.

Speaker 1 Like, obviously, it doesn't, it doesn't even pay my bills, but I do it for the passion that I have for telling stories. And working with you was like an honor and a gift.

Speaker 1 And I hope we do it many more times.

Speaker 2 See, that to me is like, that's priceless. It's like no award can

Speaker 2 like, what's the award when I can hear that from you? Like, you know what I mean? It's like, what?

Speaker 1 No, I feel the same way.

Speaker 2 And I, especially if I had a provider, man, it's like, okay, my bills are paid already. So, as long as I'm getting these type of feedbacks, that's what really drives me.

Speaker 1 Like, honestly, and I understand where you're coming from because I'm the same. The only reason why we take the money is because we have bills to pay for it.

Speaker 2 We have bills, like, honestly, if I didn't have any bills, I wouldn't, I really wouldn't even care. Like, I would give stuff out for free.

Speaker 1 Like, I would, you know, yeah, I would do

Speaker 1 the podcast for free, well, which I do for 9% free, but I would act every day. Yeah, like, I would say, I would go to sets every single day just for the passion of telling stories.
Yeah.

Speaker 1 And I think we need more women, you know, that hopefully get inspired by what you do

Speaker 1 that say, you know what? I can do it too.

Speaker 2 Yeah.

Speaker 1 Because we don't have enough.

Speaker 2 Yeah.

Speaker 2 I know for my horror film, I have a female AD, a female line producer. female production coordinator.
Like I have, my team is heavy females on this horror film. And I'm so happy about it.

Speaker 1 I love that. Yeah.

Speaker 1 I am in line for anything any project you need me i am there yeah i'll send you some sides so you could do a reading thank you so much i really appreciate having you here you are incredible congratulations on all your success i know and i think that's extraordinary from you because it's so rare in this industry but you have a big heart you don't care about awards you don't care about big money but you know what I see all these things in your future and I'm not a psychic

Speaker 1 but I see these things in your future because i want to see a woman like you and i'm a good manifester too like you manifested your guy i literally picture you on a stage saying you know what i don't give a fuck about this award but i'm here collecting

Speaker 1 because

Speaker 1 This is for all the women there that, you know, maybe succeeding at home.

Speaker 1 Because there are so many little girls, you know, I get messages from all over the world and maybe you get messages that say, oh my God, you know, this is impossible.

Speaker 1 Oh, my God, i'm never gonna get it you can for sure you can especially minorities like us because you know i'm a minority as i'm a i'm a latin actor that people don't even i tell people that i'm an american they're like what do you mean yeah yeah what you've been here your whole life no you haven't you're lying you have this accent so i have the same problem and i get stereotyped and i get all this this shit and that i don't even care about because i know i'm very unusual because of how i look but i i always like telling my story because if there is younger girls out there that feel it's possible for them to do what we do, that's what drives me for sure.

Speaker 1 And you are incredible and it's an honor to have you here.

Speaker 2 I'm so happy that I came.

Speaker 1 I'm very happy you came and congratulations on everything you do. You are amazing.
And let's say one more time.

Speaker 1 Tell me your Instagram because we haven't said that.

Speaker 2 All right. My Instagram is Abaini Nazir,

Speaker 2 A-B-E-N-I-N-A-Z-E-E-R.

Speaker 1 So, guys, follow her because she's insane. And your videos are fun because you're gorgeous.
You do all kinds of fun stuff.

Speaker 1 You share a lot about your work behind the scenes, about your life. The music video that we were talking about, that I was in, watch it.

Speaker 1 You guys are going to love it because your brother is a fantastic artist. I really hope he reaches the sky as well because he deserves it.
His name is I Am Results.

Speaker 1 And the music video, the song is called Deep. and it's on my YouTube channel, Cat on the Loose Podcast.
It's on my um Instagram, Kat Zamutu, it's on my podcast, Rio Katon Delos.

Speaker 1 It's all over the place, but I'm gonna put all the links on this episode so you guys can see what we're talking about and you can see her beautiful face. Thank you, thank you very much.

Speaker 1 And I think the message for this episode is: go after your dreams, right?

Speaker 2 Go after it to the fullest, and don't let nobody stop you or hold you back.

Speaker 1 Go for it. You're amazing.
Thank you very much. This is very special to me.
And I'll see you guys very soon. Be safe out there.
Bye.