The Apple TV+ 2 part series ‘Number One On The Call Sheet’, is such a spectacular look into the experience of different actors, performers, and faces of celebrities in a candid way. The only thing, besides their profession, that groups them together is the color of their skin. This documentary, is a collective of momentous black entertainers sitting down, and some of the experiences that they share, even if they haven’t shared a screen together. Things seem to be broken up into three “generations”, and as nice as shared admiration is to see, there are some alarming trends that hold true for all of the stars interviewed.
The answers to questions are rare and raw, (obscenities and all) by actors that are tremendous treasures to stage and screen. Different experiences in Hollywood, both coming up and passing the torch are shared. The common denominator of race is evident not just by the prevalent use of the N word (warning for parents), but also in the tribulations that each one of them has had to endure over their long careers… And also Quinten Tarantino… for some odd, yet noble reason.
The intrinsic wisdom of the collective is incredible, and sheds a light on just how hard many black entertainers have to work in order to get their shot, or to get recognition, or to have a balanced shot at being recognized for the work that they do. Money is just a small part of success, lots of rich people are miserable, it is a blessing to be able to gain wealth while doing what it is that you truly love to do.
The 2 part Apple TV+ mini-series is incredibly humbling, even if you’re not an actor, or even in the entertainment industry, there are things in the documentary worth absorbing. Unbeknownst to many of OUR staff, a lot of black film makers hadn’t gone to film school. It was a realm many didn’t think their stories to tell would be heard. As for the documentary as a whole, the structure of storytelling is quite unique, yet allows you to care about someone’s life in two hours or less. There is a lot of looking at Hollywood from a black perspective, and it is well worth a look.
They delve into many iconic Black actors and their trials, like that it is a common theory that people of color don’t play overseas, or that Black stories can only exist in the genre of documenting hardships. There are also common threads from most of the actors like seeing your family pass you by while you’re working. Or having the character that you play being either a stereotype if not a full on attack on the reality of the people that they represent. The documentary also delves into chaining roles in the industry.
Part 1 is directed at the men, directed by the prodigious Reginald Hudlin, but the miniseries is not just “the men and the women”, they attack different issues from different perspectives, using different struggles on both sides as a catalyst for hopeful enlightenment of the people who enjoy these actors art. Jamie Foxx and Kevin Hart did a masterful job of shining a light on a topic that can be… for lack of a better term, dark.