Nineteen years. That’s how long it took executive producer and actor Markuann Smith to bring his dream project, Godfather of Harlem starring Forest Whitaker, to the screen. In this powerful episode of Conversations Are Key, Markuann sits down with host Keyon “Key Will Voice” Williams to talk about what it really costs to chase a vision with no Plan B.

From growing up in Far Rockaway and Harlem, to touring the world with his brother Father MC, to doing the heavy lifting that sold Godfather of Harlem and landed him on camera as “Junie Bird,” Markuann breaks down the grind behind the glory. He shares how he literally had to audition for a role in his own show, why he’ll never compromise his vision for “peanut butter and jelly” budgets, and what creators need in place before they approach a producer: decks, scripts, research, relationships, and a clear understanding of ROI.

The two dig into:

• Persistence as a superpower – why there’s “no bunk beds in the graveyard” and how to keep going when success is a slow burn, not microwave-fast.
• Ownership & the business side – attorneys, industry rates, heavy lifting, and why networks only speak the language of return on investment.
• Authentic storytelling – making history cool, building big, believable characters, and protecting the integrity of a story in Hollywood.
• Relationships & integrity – treating everyone from the mailroom to the C-suite the same, protecting your energy from jealousy and envy, and doing good business even when deals fall apart.
• Keys to the Street – Markuann drops his own “keys,” from staying sucker-free in a world full of lollipops to building your own door when opportunity won’t open the first one.

Whether you’re a writer, actor, producer, or anyone grinding toward a dream, this conversation is a masterclass in resilience, relationships, and refusing to take no for an answer.

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