Tailiah Breon Talks New Film ‘Not My Family: The Monique Smith Story’

You are directing the upcoming biopic Not My Family: The Monique Smith Story airing on Lifetime. Can you tell us about what drew you to this powerful true story, and why it was important for you to be involved? 

I was waiting for a project like this to express my range as an artist with deep, emotional, and controversial stories. This story was important because its focus was on changing the narrative, healing and what perseverance for truth can afford you. This story goes to some dark places but ends with light and that element is something I crave in my work; To be honest, and true, to face the hard things, to uncover the hard things and to turn it into something powerful in the end. This story is undeniably representing that and more. It was important that I was involved because a story like this required a certain grace and sensitivity to execute.

The story of Monique Smith, the longest-living Jane Doe, is incredibly unique and emotional. What was your approach to bringing this story to life while staying true to its real-life impact? 

I researched her life, her essence, her words and found the tone of the story. I was able to have a great conversation with the real Monique Smith and ask her questions about her life.  I also sat with the script and dissected the motives and emotional journeys of all the people that played a part in this story to craft characters that reflect the complex reality of true humans at their best and worst. We made time to talk with the actors about scenes and what the intention is, planned every aspect of the world around them and had support on set for sensitive scenes.

Turning Atlanta into Baltimore and Augustine Florida was truly a creative joy. Most of our film was captured on stages in Fulton County at Pangea studios. Filming this way, afforded us a lot of time to get more accomplished under limited time.

How did you balance the sensitive nature of the story with your role as a director to ensure it resonated emotionally with the audience while respecting Monique’s experience? Practicing emotional intelligence with the actors and giving them support to go to some heavy places looked a lot like talking about why their character did what they did rather than just asking them to do it. It allows room for the actors to connect differently and maintain a sense of dignity, in even the toughest roles. We also approached shots and performances in a way that portrayed the truth without wallowing in it, in respect of Monique and the viewers. These are moments that are hard to watch but it’s also moments that I can imagine are hard to re-live for Monique. It was important to drive the point, get the lesson and then move on.

 

You didn’t go the traditional route by attending film school, but instead, you chose to study under Derek Blanks. How did this unconventional path shape your approach to filmmaking and storytelling? My path has everything to do with the shaping of my artistry now. My path has prepared my skill in life as equally as it has my skill in craft. It has birthed a business understanding with a creative intention and you do need both. This path has also allowed me to refine my people skills, communication, endurance, capacity, emotional intelligence, and overall business intelligence needed to anchor the creative. There are some things that life can only teach and the more you work outside the classroom, the more you master longevity in this industry. That is what my path has afforded me. 

You’ve mentioned being inspired by trailblazing directors like Ava DuVernay and Gina Prince-Bythewood. How do you think their work has influenced your career, and in what ways are you hoping to make your own mark in the industry? Their work was the catalyst to seeing what’s possible, in the world of storytelling as a black woman. Their work has inspired and moved me to tell stories of truth, stories that are more well-rounded in its representation of the black experience and just the human experience. They carry a tone of love, warmth, familiarity done in quality and creative integrity and it has all moved me. I am hoping to add to that with stories of truth, deep truth. I will make my own mark with compelling stories that mirror the world, reflect the world but also help to heal the circumstances of the world. It’s important to both make things relatable while also pushing viewers to challenge their perspective. I want to fill this space by balancing the truth of what “it is” with what “it can be.”