Meet Greg Cally

 

We were lucky to catch up with Greg Cally recently and have shared our conversation below.

Greg, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a particular environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

Being a Director/Producer in the entertainment industry and working on mainstream television network projects, I’ve often felt disregarded based on my race. It’s been a really tough road to navigate as I often feel like I have to prove myself to my white counterparts and really show that I belong. Fortunately, I’ve been able to network well and let my work ethic and ideas shine through. I can’t take full credit for everything; however, for example, I’ve had a situation where my mentor, the late Michael K. Williams, went to bat for me and really advocated passionately for a young black director like myself to get an opportunity. He was yelling at network executives for them to let me shine and explicitly mentioned racial biases that have existed for hundreds of years. After seeing how hard he fought for me, I’ve become fully aware of the battle I am fighting, and I’ve understood that I need to really show and prove every time I’m given an opportunity.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

The best way I could summarize myself is that I am a storyteller. I have an interesting perspective on the world, and I love sharing it. I’m a writer first and foremost, but beyond that, I’ve gone on to direct, write, and produce scripted and unscripted films and music videos and curate events, including my adult game night event called Sip N Spades.
I’ve been able to work on projects that aired on networks and platforms such as ESPN, HBO, VICE, TV ONE, Peacock, Fox Soul, Tubi, and Amazon Video. My career started in the journalism space, where I was able to interview legends such as Kendrick Lamar, LL Cool J, Mya, and so many others!

I was a producer on Dwyane Wade’s ESPN bio-doc, I was a co-writer for gospel singer Marvin Sapp’s bio Pic, I directed and produced Vice TV’s Black Market with Michael K. Williams, and independently I wrote, produced, and directed a film called “Anime,” which is now streaming on Peacock.

Now, at this stage in my career, I’m being intentional about which stories I decide to tell and working to secure financing to independently produce the type of films and TV shows I think the world needs to see. I understand that I have a strong skill set, and I want to be able to impact society with it and not just for my own personal gain. I want to create art that challenges people and makes people look within and start conversations.
Follow me @GregCally for any updates, as I’ll be sure to let y’all know where your support is needed!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I think the three areas that have led to my success have been:
#1 my curiosity. Since I was a kid, I have always asked a ton of questions and looked at things from angles that others might not. I interviewed Kendrick Lamar the day Good Kid, M.A.A.D City came out, and I remember him telling me multiple times how great my questions and my interview were. Being that annoying kid who asked too many questions in class eventually paid off! This allowed me to be a great interviewer and transitioned into my career as a producer and director in the documentary space.

#2 My hustler spirit. I’ve always been a go-getter, and that grit and toughness have paid dividends. I was working on an HBO documentary called Raised In The System and tore my ACL playing basketball. About an hour later, I boarded a plane to Detroit to go shoot and finished that documentary as well as a mini-series I co-wrote and directed called AfterHours on that bad knee. My hustler mentality got me through it until I had to get my surgery.

#3 My mom is one of the most generous people I know, and that generosity really impacted me and molded who I am. I’ve been able to put people I love and respect in positions to work alongside me on different great projects and accomplish some great things. In 2022, for example, I produced the Twitch livestream for Afropunk with a team of over 20 people and more than ten cameras between two stages, covering acts such as Burna Boy, The Roots, Freddie Gibbs, and more. I love those moments when I get to assemble the people who have blessed me along the way, and I love it when that generosity returns!

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect, and so before we go, we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collaborate with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Right now, I want to connect with more creatives across all disciplines who are hungry to create. Graphic designers, editors, social media creators, writers, and anybody who works in film, television, journalism, and events are people I’m sure I can find synergy with. I’m looking to expand my creative team with people who really want to make an impact through storytelling. If you’re reading this…it’s not too late. Slide on my DMs and introduce yourself!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Patrick Camilien, Daniel Vasquez

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