BTG: History, Behind the Scenes Articles & Photos

[janea4old]

Posted this a couple of pages ago, back here:
https://boards.soapoperanetwork.com/topic/66310-beyond-the-gates-premiere-date-time-slot-set-by-cbs/?do=findComment&comment=1991515

And we were discussing that the NYT article author is a Black reporter formerly focused on sports but now more on culture.  But did he make an error, or did he misunderstand, or was he given the wrong information?

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Adding onto that prior discussion ...
After I watched or read a recent BTS video or interview from the past few days, I wonder if maybe he heard Sheila talking about working on the project with Michele, and somehow gathered that they were co-creators, which they aren't.  But it's possible, if he didn't know the details, he might have misunderstood. 
Should he, or could he, have known to dig deeper?

Looking back at the NYT article, it says:
(in reference to the soaps at their peak in the 1970s and 1980s)  ...   They lured, clutched and dangled the collective attentions of housewives, nighttime shift workers, children home sick from school and workers playing hooky.  . . . . . That viewership included a dedicated demographic that Ducksworth and the co-creator of “Beyond the Gates,” Michele Val Jean, will aim to attract.
<snip> The series will depict all ages and races. And with two Black women in creative control, a collective mix of ownership, pride and excitement is palpable among the cast and crew.
 

<snip>

 Vivica A. Fox  <snip>  It was Fox who introduced Ducksworth and Val Jean more than 20 years ago. Ducksworth told her of her dreams of making a soap. Val Jean by that point was one of soap’s most prolific writers, most notably for “General Hospital” and “The Bold and the Beautiful.” As Ducksworth contemplated accepting the CBS job, she reached out to Val Jean and asked her to start imagining a world revolving around a sprawling Black family of influence.

“I wanted to see a big Black family that’s rooted in their love for each other, and they’re accomplished and they’re smart and they’re rich and they’re not downtrodden,” Val Jean said. Even as she built out the characters, it was hard to envision the show becoming a reality, despite Ducksworth’s reassurances.

Her enthusiasm swelled once production started.

 

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It seems like the article author thinks BTG was Duckworth's idea, and that Val Jean was asked on as the writer.  He (the author) does credit Val Jean with building the characters.

Maybe he's defining "creator" of a soap differently than we would?

Edited February 6 by janea4old

[Liberty City]

Same; the excitement Sheila Ducksworth has for not only the soap genre but for Beyond the Gates has always been encouraging, especially now. And knowing 20 of those 40 total are series regular is exciting, too. I know Michele Val Jean and company are working things properly. I just know it.

[janea4old]

Oh that's an interesting way to describe it.
Val Jean as the creator/mother who gave birth to BTG, and Ducksworth as the midwife.

Edited February 6 by janea4old

[Marco Dane]

Beyond the Gates Video: Golf Club-Wielding Dani Is New CBS Soap’s ‘Loose Cannon,’ Warns Karla Mosley

 

https://tvline.com/interviews/beyond-the-gates-karla-mosley-preview-cbs-soap-opera-dani-dupree-1235406293/

[Liberty City]

Amazing; thanks so much for sharing!! So excited to see Karla Mosley really rock it as Dani.

[janea4old]

For anyone who can't see it, here's the raw mp4 file of the embedded video within this Feb. 6. 2025 TVLine article:
https://vid.connatix.com/pid-0763198a-5674-4e21-af3d-1f1bb2122b83/11f5cd23-2ad3-48ad-94ce-14fa2df270f7/mmid-77d6cbb4-bbdd-cfa7-2130-f1fd9d4d1f84/0.mp4

[janea4old]

Ah here is the same Feb 6 TVLine video with Karla Mosley at SCAD-TVFest
 

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Edited February 6 by janea4old

[ReddFoxx]

A decent amount of recurring characters is a great idea. That gives the opportunity for the writers to create a variety of different interactions and story potential.

[Liberty City]

Exactly! It's not overrun by contract nor recurring; it's an even split, which is exciting.

[Khan]

Nah, he's just being ignorant.

[janea4old]

awesome video: Ms. Tamara Tunie tells of her start in show business!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFtXgzmoWwx/
 

blacktheatreunited and msttunie
 
Every journey starts somewhere. For #NationalStorytellingWeek, BTU founding member @msttunie shares the story of how she first stepped into the world of performing—one that may just inspire you to take your own first step.

What did you take away from her story? Drop your thoughts below or share a personal story of your own!

#BlackTheatreUnited #OurStoriesMatter #nationalstorytellingweek
 

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited February 6 by janea4old

[vanguard]

I do know these 4 are on the recurring list.

Jan Morgan (Ashley's mom)

Caroline (Some gal intertwined with Kat and Tomas).

Randy Parker (No characterization of this dude *BEYOND* his name).

AND

Dr. Doug McBride (Vanessa's husband in name only. Whatever that may possibly mean).

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[wonderwoman1951]

they just opened up the ny times piece to comments. 

free link. 

ny times beyond the gates

[BetterForgotten]

CBS posted a YouTube-version of this video as well:

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[Liberty City]

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CBS uploaded the TVLine video, sand the logos.