Tasha Smith Tapped as Director for Pilot Episode of Upcoming FOX Series “Our Kind of People” From Producers Karin Gist and Lee Daniels
Multihyphenate actress, director, producer and coach, Tasha Smith, has been brought on to direct the pilot and second episode of the upcoming Fox drama, “Our Kind of People,” inspired by the book by Laurence Otis Graham and produced by Karin Gist (Star, Mixed-ish) and Lee Daniels (Star, Empire.)
“Magic is something you create, and Showrunner Karin Gist has given new life to the special story that is Our Kind of People,” says Smith. “I am honored and thrilled to bring Karin’s work to life alongside Executive Producer Lee Daniels, who is a wonderful producer and mentor to me.”
Tasha has been taking the helm as director of several television projects including the upcoming Stars series, “Black Mafia Family,” where she also serves as Executive Producer, directing the pilot along with multiple episodes. She has also worked as director on top-rated series such as ABC’s “Big Sky,” Stars hit drama “P-Valley,” several episodes of Fox’s “911,” and The CW’s “Black Lightning.” Her work as an actress and acting coach have served as the foundation for her understanding and vision of what it takes to tell a story not only in front of the camera, but also behind it.
Tasha’s work as an acting coach, through her TSAW Actor’s Workshop, has been utilized by numerous luminaries including Mary J. Blige (for her Oscar nominated performance in Mudbound) and most recently with Andra Day on her Golden Globe winning and Oscar nominated performance as Billie Holiday in Hulu’s feature film, The United States vs. Billie Holiday.
Tasha is represented by Sherry Marsh (Marsh Entertainment,) Verve Talent & Literary Agency, and Darrell Miller (Fox Rothschild, LLP.)
About Tasha Smith
Tasha Smith is a multifaceted actress and director whose work brings style and intensity to the projects she works on, whether in front of or behind the camera. From her roles as “Carol” on Fox’s hit drama Empire, “Brenda” in Netflix’s Running Out of Time, to her critically acclaimed portrayal of the drug-addicted “Ronnie Boyce” in HBO’s Emmy Award winning mini-series The Corner, Tasha embodies her characters and gives them life.
Tasha’s memorable portrayal of “Angela” in Why Did I Get Married? and its sequel Why Did I Get Married, Too? sparked the creation of the spin-off series For Better or Worse on OWN, for which she earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for “Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series.” Other feature credits include Lionsgate films Addicted and Daddy’s Little Girls (opposite Idris Elba), Sony’s Jumping the Broom, and Universal’s romantic comedy Couples Retreat, among others.
Most recently, Tasha has directed episodes of 9-1-1 for Fox, Black Lightning for The CW, the Untitled Tracy Oliver project for Amazon, Star on Fox, P-Valley on Starz, Tales on BET, as well as her directorial debut feature film for TV1 titled When Love Kills, which was nominated for a NAACP Award.
Tasha Smith’s infectious optimism and enthusiasm command attention in her professional and private lives. She takes time to share her inspirational life story through motivational speaking and mentoring emerging actors through the Tasha Smith Actors Workshop (TSAW).
Make sure to follow Tasha on her Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
