The Starz network hosted an intimate set visit for its new show “Power.” Read our diary entry below.

I arrived to Steiner Studios in Brooklyn on one of the coldest and wettest afternoons much like the entire winter has been for New Yorkers and found myself in a room with a handful of New York City’s finest media outlet’s all gearing up for a first look at the set of Executive Producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s new television drama series for the Starz Network, “POWER”.

As I entered Stage Six where FOX hit show “The Following” and HBO must see “Boardwalk Empire” were both filming as well, I automatically knew the caliber of project this would be for Jackson, an overachiever who always goes hard and had surely set his eyes on the gold yet again and clearly set the bar and the budget high for himself and his new team.

I arrived at the studio at 1:30pm and it was lunch time for the SAG actors on set. I was invited to join the actors and crew by one of the very accommodating Starz publicists and I was pleasantly surprised and glad that I’d taken her up on the offer. The selection at lunch was to die for. I decided to splurge and go for the grilled lamb chops, Salmon Salad and a bottled water. It was delicious. Not too mention the super moist chocolate cake I grabbed on my way back to holding from the dessert bar.

After we were checked in, we sat around for a good half hour chatting and exchanging pleasantries until the first group of reporters were called in.Next we were whisked away to set and taken directly into one of the main settings of the show, lead actor Omari Hardwick’s character “GHOST’s” Manhattan Penthouse styled condo that was immaculate and will be featured in the show as the home of Hardwick and Natauri Naugton, who plays opposite Omari and is his wife in the series. We saw the living room, bathroom, fabulous closets with jewelry to boots, the master bedroom, “Ghost’s” office and their kitchen. It was all so real and very lavish, just imagine your very own, well-decorated dream condo in Manhattan, then add luxe furniture and decadent art into the mix (kudos to the show’s set designer).

After the tour, we were seated in the living room on the set (nice touch) and instructed to prepare for interviews with the cast as they’d be bringing them into speak with us one by one, depending on who was filming as this was a day on the set that all of the lead actors would be shooting scenes, which was very exciting. We were then provided with “POWER” headsets and sat down in-front of monitors that would be streaming footage live from the set. We were able to see exactly what was happening on set during the live takes, which was very cool. Some shots were filmed up to 10 times, from different angles and with close ups of different actors giving us all a look at how much work was actually going into getting each scene where the director on set “George Tillman” needed it to be.

Just minutes after settling in, actress Lela Loren who plays Angela Valdes came in and sat down with us, she discussed being cast for the role, who her character is and what she means to lead actor Omari Hardwick’s character, Ghost in the series. What we can tell you is that her character and Ghost were High school sweethearts that grew up in Queens together and when she comes back into his life after leaving many years before to attend college, she reminds him of something that she says she learned in her journey which is “You know that you’ve aged early when you get to the top of the ladder and it’s up against the wrong wall”. Something she helps him realize after being the biggest drug dealer in New York is no longer enough for him or a big enough dream. Well, I don’t know about you, but that alone definitely makes us want to tune in to see what happens.

Next, the man of the hour and show’s Executive Producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Lead Actor Omari Hardwick who plays the lead, James “Ghost” St. Patrick came in and sit down for a dynamic joint interview. Jackson dished on the fact that Omari was his first choice for the character Ghost. “He came to mind first and we crossed our fingers that he was available because your first choice is rarely free”. He continued, I guess the Starz were aligning, pun intended. We all laughed, Jackson a natural charmer sold the room in minutes on why this show will be a hit and we all believed him. He let us in on the fact that his team went into the pitch meetings with the entire soundtrack for the series completed, something that is very rare. He credits the music and soundtrack as a major factor in the decision that CBS Television Studios and Original Channel Starz decided to not only pick up the hour-long drama, but also the fact that the series was being picked up and moving from an idea straight to a series without first shooting an pilot, which almost never happens. The music presentation was ready Jackson told us. He continued “With this show ‘Power’ is the definition of the business district, it’s also someone who aspires to the highest level possible.” He continued, “I know people are going to go home to watch it. I do, business is business. You’ll see interesting collaborations as well and everybody wants to win. It’s the whistle, while you work concept.”

Next Hardwick, the self proclaimed, weird, artsy athletic kid growing up chimed in on why he pursued acting in the first place. “I pursued things that scared me, I used to gravitate towards them. The 11 year veteran thespian has certainly been sharpened for the role. Many may recognize him from his roles in films such as “Next Day Air” or his most recent starring role on BET and Akil Productions “Being Mary Jane” opposite Gabrielle Union. “I have an entire career that led me to this role,” he said, “and I plan to go in unapologetically playing it”. It’s like playing the devils side of my angel — you must always remember the conversation that you started with your fans”, he said. Hardwick also told us how clear 50′s vision was for the series. An Ominous, Gotham City, and it’s “Power.” Hardwick who’s relocated to New York told us how important it was for him to be here in New York, to be a part of the fabric of the show. Omari also shared his respect for 50 Cent who he says is the character Ghost in a sense, going to a different place in life. Shortly after they were both rushed back to set, but not before leaving us with this gem: “Successful men don’t sleep”. Which in both their cases, successful business men with such hectic schedules, is really easy to believe.

After the joint interview a colleague and I slipped off the set and out into the hallway to visit the craft services and grab snacks off of the table that seemed to stretch a mile long featuring every cookie, chip and candy known to man as well as soda, water and coffee which I am quite sure was needed for the cast who were all gathered around picking up their favorites and whose call time was 5:00 am and by this time it was 4:30pm in the afternoon. On the walk back in to the studio we passed a group of camera operators who seemed to be in good spirits laughing and patiently waiting to start back up on set. The energy of everyone on set this particular day was a good one and there was a sense of family, too.

One by one the actors were brought in to talk with us in-between takes including Naturi Naughton who plays Tasha St. Patrick and Joseph Sikora as Tommy Egan. Eventually, we had a chance to talk with the show’s creator Courtney Agboh. Who told us how she spent a lot of time on the phone with 50 preparing the script. She also dished on “POWER” being her first show. Instead Agboh who started out in the industry as a journalist, says that she approaches each task moment to moment and does the best that she can always, which we have to admit is pretty genius and honestly a great way to approach work, with no expectations, just always doing your best. She continued “I just hope the show is good”. The superwoman who is also a wife and a mother told us that when it comes to balance, there is none. “You just always do the best that you can do in that moment”. Agboh also talked about the fact that they shoot two episodes at a time for “POWER” and about how talented 50 Cent is as a writer. “He’s better than some professional writer’s that I’ve worked with”. Happy and humbled to be in the position, Courtney reminded us all that opportunities don’t come all the time and that when you get a chance to do what you love, there’s no room to complain. While speaking to Courtney, LaLa Vasquez who plays Tasha St. Patrick’s best friend in the show came in to talk for a bit. She opened up about her character and how she prepared for the role. “Growing up in the Marcy projects I remember what it was like to want something or think, why can’t I have that”. Then Courtney chimed in and added, “LaLa’s character Nakisha is always biting on her friend, always borrowing and up to no good, she’s nothing like LaLa and I can’t wait for you to see how her career blows up after this role”. Well we can’t wait to see Mrs. Anthony wife to NY Knicks Star Carmelo Anthony, New New York Times Best Selling Author of “The Love Playbook”, and budding actress in her own right play this this role either.

We walked through the incredible set of the nightclub, which will be the main-stage of the show and was filled with hundreds of background actors in-between and shot on our way out. Our set visit had wrapped and I for one felt powerful and anxious for the series, we’ll be tuning in, will you?

Check out pictures from our exclusive day on set with the stars of the show and watch the trailer below for the new STARZ series “POWER” which drops Summer 2014.

 

 

Photo Credit: © 2014 Starz Entertainment, LLC

-Chasity Saunders (@itsmechasity)