Behind The Real Podcast

My Guest Speaker Actor/TV & Film Producer/Founder Owner Operator and CEO of Pendulum TV Network and Pendulum Studios LA (PSLA). Mr. Marwan Granville he received a degree in Fine Arts graduating from Sacramento City College and Bachelor degree in Social Science and minor in Theatre Arts at Portland State University. As a child actor Marwan has well over 20 years of industry experience as he began entertaining since childhood becoming a member of the Screen Actors Guild at the early age of 9. From guest starring on shows like All of Us and Till death and now as of recently Marwan booked a speaking role and stunt work on the feature film Chocolate city. Then a lead role in the indie feature "A Day of Troubles" co starring Omar gooding, Hawthrone James and Kathleen Bradley. Since

taking the opportunity to be exposed to three informative years at a major network allowed PSLA’s CEO, Mr. Marwan Granville to build up 60% of a national broadcasting television network. After exploring all departments from being an intern to landing a position as Director of Programming, Executive Assistant to founder and CEO. Marwan Granville decided to launch his own internet, satellite, television network called Pendulum TV Network. Now as the CEO and Founder of Pendulum Studios LA (PSLA), Mr. Granville sought out a profitable platform to form a line of worldwide distribution that would allow independent producers, writers, directors and creators an opportunity to monetize their creativity while revolutionizing the way consumers view TV, Film and Music. We learn about all of this and more on “Behind The Real”.

My guest speaker Verrin T. Cofield is a Independent Filmmaker/Actor/Writer/Producer Verrin T. Cofield he was born in Bad Kissingen, Germany is an American Writer, Actor, and Producer. He is known for "It's On You"(Writer 2020 In- Development) "The Pursuit Of Certainty"(2019 Post Production) and "The Roommates".(2017). Verrin Cofield has three siblings Danny Cofield(Father) Sandy Cofield (Mother) and Chad Cofield(Brother). Verrin and his family traveled state to state when he was younger, his dad was a honorable member of the United States Army. This will be his first time stepping into a producers role for his upcoming project. Verrin loves the idea of delivering inspiring, impactful, and uplifting messages that will leave people empowered. He has a strong mind for business as well, he loves discussing generational wealth, Investing in assets, listening to motivational speakers, and reading personal development books. Some of Verrin's hobbies are playing basketball, exercising, traveling, taking long road trips, listening to music, and eating authentic Italian food. His favorite movies are The Pursuit Of Happiness, John Q, Coach Carter, Remember The Titans, Men Of Honor, Godfather Two, and Scarface. We learn about this and more on “Behind The Real”.

My guest speaker Creative Innovator/Author Brittney Y.S.L LeBlue is a South Central native and is no stranger to the many experiences that being born and raised in the inner city of LA has to offer. Deciding that right after high school she wanted to see more, she moved to the Bay Area to attend Cal State East Bay.

Becoming a mother at age 19 did not stop Brittney from pursuing her education. She enrolled in Community College and worked part time while independently raising her 1st son.

Fast forward 13 years later Brittney is now a mother of two wonderful boys Khalil who is 13 and Amir who is 8 and has earn a B.A in Psychology & Masters in Educational Technology, started her own custom jewelry business and is currently a self-published author.

Through her journey she has developed a passion to support college students who are also parents like herself. She is in the process of starting a non-profit called The Parent Corner which has a dedicated mission to support, inspire and cultivate a sense of community by promoting Educational Success.

The purpose is to empower parents to further their education & unite families under the Umbrella of Knowledge. She strives to connect Student-Parents to resources that will increase Academic Success, promote Family Bonding and improve Self-care. At her core, Brittney is still just a kid at heart trying to make her LA dreams come true. We learn about all this and more on “Behind The Real”.

My guest speaker Award winning Actress/Director/Playwright/Producer/Author Alretha Thomas. Her background is as diverse as her personality. She started at the age of ten, when her 5th grade teacher picked and read her short story assignment in front of the class-that simple, loving act empowered a new writer. Continuing in high school, her numerous original oratorical conquests on the Speech Team led her to a journalism concentration at USC. Upon graduating, Alretha soon realized that her interest in journalism was not heartfelt. While at the taping of a live sitcom, the producer noticed her and encouraged her hand at modeling. Modeling didn't mean much to her, but it did lead her to acting and a NAACP Theatre Award Nomination (1993) for BEST ACTRESS. Alretha took a break from acting and began to write full-time. Her church gave her an outlet to fulfill her writing desires through their Liturgical Fine Arts Department wherein Alretha penned twelve theatre pieces, six of which she directed-the community response was overwhelming. This led to full-length plays outside of the church. In 2002, The Stella Adler Theater presented A Shrine to Junior. The play was nominated for an NAACP Theatre Award and in 2004, Alretha's play, Civil Rites, was the recipient of an NAACP Theatre Award. Her play Grandpa's Truth ran at the Inglewood Playhouse in Inglewood, California in 2006, and was extended more than once by popular demand. Not only did radio station KJLH support by recommending this production to its listeners, but notables like the Mayor of Inglewood, Roosevelt Dorn, and music legends like Freda Payne and Stevie Wonder had critical acclaim for Grandpa's Truth. This wonderful piece was featured on Channel 5 (KTLA News) by Entertainment Reporter, Sam Rubin. Additionally, in 2007, Alretha's play that she wrote and directed, Sacrificing Simone, had a successful run at Stage 52 in Los Angeles and was called "an inspirational crowd pleaser" by the Los Angeles Times and in 2009, Alretha's groundbreaking One, Woman Two Lives, starring Kellita Smith (The Bernie Mac Show), directed by four-time NAACP Image Award Best Director recipient Denise Dowse, garnered rave reviews from critics and audiences. In between plays, Alretha's first novel Daughter Denied was launched in 2008 and has received glowing reviews from readers and book clubs across the country. Representing her books, Alretha has been the guest on many radio shows and television shows including San Francisco Public Affairs show Bay Sunday with Barbara Rodgers on KTLA Channel 5. In 2011, Alretha launched her second novel, Dancing Her Dreams Away, and it was also well received. Her third novel, Married in the Nick of Nine, spawned a four-book series that was acquired by Soul Mate Publishing in January 2014. Alretha's award winning third indie novel, Four Ladies Only, was released February 2014. Alretha's first mystery novel, Missing Melissa, was released in 2015. In 2016, Justice for Jessica, the first book in her new Detective Rachel Storme series, was released. In 2016 Alretha returned to acting. We learn about all of this and more on “Behind The Real”.

My guest speaker is Educator/Wrestling Enthusiast/Bartender Robert E. Jackson he is a custodian at Manhattan Beach Middle School and we go in depth talking about which lead him to working in the educational field, his passion for wrestling, as well as his joy for bartending, and the importance of leaving a legacy behind. We learn about all this and more on “Behind The Real”.

My guest speaker Actress/Producer/Writer Tanya Young she currently works as a Writer and Producer on two projects – a zombie film and a sitcom -- wrapping in a few weeks. She pays her bills by fundraising for the CMG Short Film Festival in West Hollywood.

A member of the Native American Casting Group and Board Member of the HIV Writers Workshop at Cedars-Sinai, this socially-conscious dramatist was a 2010 Writers Boot Camp Fellow and won the 2001 George Foster Peabody Award and the 2002 Literacy in Media Award for her animation writing for Nickelodeon on “Little Bill.”

Acting on TV shows Mom, The Bold & the Beautiful and Strange Angel, Tanya has studied improve, written skits and performed theater with UCB and Second City. A former election campaign worker, charitable grantmaker and documentary producer, Ms. Young’s Muscogee Creek ancestors hail from the rural American South.

In 2009, Tanya was Story Producer on HBO’s competition docu-series “Brave New Voices” about diverse young slam poets, including the spoken word team from the Santa Fe Indian School and indigenous poets from Honolulu.

A former collaborator with the American Indian Community House, Tanya worked with Member Diana Gubiseh-Ayala to direct a documentary about fellow Native American and “two-spirit” women living with HIV/AIDS. A former Board member of the Manhattan cable access network and active member of the Third Wave Fund!, Tanya grew up believing we’re all here to work together to build a better world. We learn about this and more on “Behind The Real”.

My guest speaker Jessica Shaday Simington was born in Los Angeles, California. She is a recent graduate from California State University, Dominguez Hills obtaining her B.A in Theater Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies (Comparative Cultures). At a young age, she would reenact movie scenes and sing to herself in the mirror. Her love for the Arts flourished from talents shows in her local community, church skits, and the Boys and Girls Club where she joined the Peapod Program under Will I Am from the music group Black Eyed Peas. Her love for Theater elevated through Theatrical Productions such as, If the Church Don’t Cry Out, Truth Lies and Hidden Agenda, A Question of Grace, Misleading Lady , Can God’s Love Reach You in The Dark, and the notable play Before It Hits Home by Cheryl West (performed at CSUDH/ Director Donis Leonard) where she won Best Supporting Role for the characters Angel and Simone. She is an Author of the newly published Book entitled “Pick Up Your Crown” that focuses on breaking cycles of abuse while taking accountability and seeking the help of God. We learn about all this and more on “Behind The Real”.

Wesley Pate Jr. Is a former engineer, philanthropist, investor and general contractor turned entrepreneur. With, ventures in everything from real estate, logistics, automotive to film and television. He is a Los Angeles native raised in the South with over 37 years in business. He is a Father and a Mentor that currently works with the Developmentally Disabled population. Mr. Pate takes every venture seriously and every business relationship is valuable to him. A man of his word , his faith influences his approach in business. He is young at heart, full of life, optimistic and truly a jack of all trades. We learn about all this and more on “Behind The Real”.

Jordan Bridges is a screenwriter from Louisville, KY. He was born on December 27th, 1995 to parents Michelle & Phil. Jordan has always been a avid reader of fiction beginning at a young age. That love for reading spurned into an interest in writing, leading him to write his first play at only the age of six. Throughout his life he would continue to create his own stories, inspired by his own imagination & the world around him. He graduated from the University of Louisville in 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Creative Writing. After graduating, Jordan shortly relocated to Los Angeles, CA where he now resides. “Me & The Dragon’s Daughter” has been one of the multiple screenplays he has written since he has arrived. We learn about all this and more on “Behind The Real”.

My guest speaker Actress/Writer/and Producer Chrishauna Johnson is what you get when talent and purpose meet. She is a dynamic actress who was bit by the acting bug at an early age she was born and raised in her hometown of Indianapolis where she began her acting career performing with various local and regional theaters. She eventually made her way to Los Angeles and has appeared in several plays and independent films. She also has her own production company entitled “Ophie Hill Productions” We learn about all of this and more on “Behind The Real”!