The second season of BET's show "Let's Stay Together" is filming right now, so we got together with some of the cast members the other day.
The lighthearted comedy, which centers around Stacy and Charles Whitmore and their hilarious family members, has an impressive pedigree. Queen Latifah is one of the executive producers with Kim Fields serving as producer. Guest stars have included Kandi Burruss, Nicole Ari Parker, Damien Dante Wayans and Anna Maria Horsford.
"I think the show caught on with people because it’s made up of six fabulous characters," said Joyful Drake, who plays the headstrong and occasionally outrageous Tasha Lawrence-Woodson. "Some people can relate to Jamal. Some people can relate to Tasha. Everyone loves Crystal."
RonReaco Lee plays Jamal Woodson, Tasha's good-natured husband.
"How am I like Jamal? I don’t now. I bring a lot of elements of myself to Jamal," he said. "I just try to keep things lively, keep things fun."
"He’s very thoughtful. Jamal’s very thoughtful," said Drake, whose credits include the BET show "The Game" and the movie "Get Him to the Greek."
"That is so nice," said Kyla Pratt, who plays the fun-loving Crystal. Her credits include the shows "Sister, Sister," "Family Matters" and "Lizzie McGuire" and a role as Maya in the "Dr. Dolittle" movies.
"This is rare," observed Lee whose career blossomed early with a role in the movie "Glory," and who has appeared on "Moesha," "Boston Public" and "The Shield."
Drake shot back, "He’s okay when he’s in therapy."
"Therapy’s expensive. My insurance won’t cover it," Lee quipped. "Y’all know there’s cameras in here, right?"
The chemistry between the cast, which also includes Bert Belasco and Nadine Ellis as Charles Whitmore and Stacy Lawrence-Whitmore and Erica Hubbard as Kita Whitmore, is evident on the set and off.
"Everyone is concerned about relationships. I feel like the show deals with real life situations," Pratt said. "Especially people my age. They see my character, who’s not really concerned about finding a man. She’s just chilling."
The show is among the many projects that film at EUE/Screen Gems Studios Atlanta, the 33-acre film and television campus just south of downtown Atlanta, built on what used to be the Lakewood Fairgrounds site.
Lee, who grew up in Atlanta, is thrilled to be able to work in his hometown after a stint in Los Angeles.
"I came back here in 2008 to do ‘Madea Goes to Jail,'" he said. "That was the first time I had been back in Atlanta since the resurrection of Atlanta’s film industry. I just couldn’t believe it."
He plans to stay.
"I’d like to try to sell a couple shows to BET if they’d be open to that," he said. "I’ve been begging them to let me to direct. That’s something I’ve been trying to do for a long time. I’ve been trying to take the right people out to dinner."
"I could really see you directing," said Pratt, who wants to launch her own production company.
"I want to do more film," Drake said. "I actually like to write. It’s just in me. I’ve got to get it out."
"That’s the difference between Tasha and Joyful," Pratt said, lest things get too serious. "Tasha does not stay employed for very long!"
Conversely, these three bright, funny young actors illustrate the growth and potential of Atlanta's filming industry.
"I want to do it all," said Pratt. "I can’t wait to see where we all go in the future."
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