The ninth installment of The Hollywood Confidential was held Friday, July 6, at The Saban Theater in Beverly Hills, California, in partnership with Essence magazine. The evening was filled with amazing moments with some of Hollywood’s finest actors, producers, and directors in attendance.
The Hollywood Confidential is a panel event series produced by Brand Maverick Entertainment president Steve Jones that is meant to provide a forum for successful Hollywood luminaries to speak about their experiences and provide guidance for those seeking to break into the entertainment industry.
Actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish, whose career is on fire, bringing laughs to audiences on the big screen and in comedy and award shows, was presented with the Trailblazer Award. Nothing can stop her shine as she proves herself time and time again as one of Hollywood’s hottest female comedians.
The highlight of the evening was a moderated conversation with Haddish and Jones, producer of OWN’s “Black Love” and “Motherly Love.” Haddish reflected on her personal journey from struggling comedian to the breakout star of the 2017 comedy Girls Trip, the importance of mentorship within the entertainment industry, and how she stays true to herself in Hollywood.
“When I read scripts, I always think of 16-year-old Tiffany,” Haddish shared. “Would 16-year-old Tiffany want to see this? Would 16-year-old Tiffany be telling all of her friends, ‘Let’s go to the movies. Let’s see if we can get a fake ID and sneak into this. You think your big sister would want to see this?’ ”
Award-winning producer Mara Brock Akil (“Love Is_,” “Being Mary Jane,” “Girlfriends”) made a surprise appearance at the event to present the Legend Award to veteran producer Ralph Farquhar (“Moesha,” “The Parkers,” “Real Husbands of Hollywood”). Farquhar has been a mentor for both Haddish and Akil throughout their careers.
Akil expressed her gratitude to Farquhar, for giving her an opportunity. “Thank you for changing my life, for seeing something in me,” she said. “Thank you for creating a space that I could do what I do so that I could have a dream realized. I know I’m not the only one, so I’ll speak for everybody. There are probably thousands of lives that you have touched.”
