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Hello! You've reached episode 601!! In this episode, host Erin Lim talks with Respect director Liesl Tommy about this major motion picture that tells the traumatic younger years of the Queen of Soul - Aretha Franklin. Aretha's young life was fraught with death, rape, as well as controlling, toxic men. Director Liesel Tommy wanted to tell that part of Aretha's herstory which is exactly what she does with a thoughtful eye on balancing all of the beauty and horrors of Aretha's life. 

This was Liesl Tommy's first feature film and she had to fight for a lot of the scenes you will see when you watch Respect. We're so glad that she did and we're also happy about the attention she paid to Aretha's time spent in Muscle Shoals at the famous FAME studios where she recorded her first big hit I Never Loved A Man The Way That I Love You.  Erin and Liesl talk about the choice of using the  b.roll from Martin Luther King's funeral (Aretha was friends and worked with the Reverend), her father's famous parties which included folks like Smokey Robinson who is brilliantly played by actor Lodric D. Collins, and working with the exceptional Kris Bowers who scores the film. Psst, Kris was on our show earlier this year talking about his short film - A Concerto is a Conversation.  There's so much to talk about including the costumes (leopard print caftan y'all!) plus hair and makeup so let's go!

Respect is in theaters NOW.

Follow Liesl Tommy on Instagram & Twitter

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