Our screens are a place where people tell stories to each other or the world beyond our borders. But, our history proves that these screens usually don't tell the stories of all of us. Racial and gender-based discrimination is still there and what we are looking for is some diversity, equality, and inclusion. However, there are some people want to change this unjust structure by telling our stories! Olivia Charmaine is a film and television producer and she embracing her melanin, queerness, and womxn power after making her mark in the TV & film industry as one of Hollywood’s best-kept secrets, with her weekly live stream show, The Tea currently on IGTV. The Tea is a weekly IGTV series that invites celebrity guests to relax, unwind, and participate in one-on-one conversations mindfully and reflectively. It brings people of color and colorful people together every Tuesday at 8 PM EST. Celebrities who have attended the event so far are Everett Osbourne, Darius Coleman, Luke Lawal, and more. Olivia also has a production company, Black Monarch Entertainment, which is very inline with The Tea. Its main aim is to support people of color and anyone from a marginalized community with a story to tell. Check out our exclusive interview with Olivia Charmaine to learn more about her.

Where are you based?
Between Denver, CO and Los Angeles, CA.

Can you talk about yourself? Who are you, and what do you do?
My name is Olivia Charmaine Morris, but most of my close friends call me “O.” I’m a film and television producer that cut my teeth as a development executive in Hollywood.

Tell us a bit about your journey as a producer. How did you first get started?
I was an actor and musical theater performer from childhood up until I went to college, where I decided to pursue an understanding of the business side of the entertainment industry. I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and TV Production from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. After receiving my BFA, I began my career by working for multiple platforms to find my niche and place in the entertainment industry. I specialized in comedy development for children’s animated television before moving over to content for adults. After working for TBS network, I began producing alongside Kerry Washington at her Simpson Street banner. In August of last year, I felt the urge to create an authentic space that embraces intersectionality and fosters inclusion. I left Simpson Street to create my own full-service film and TV production entity, Black Monarch Entertainment. At Black Monarch, we believe in centering, amplifying, and celebrating otherness.

The Tea brings people of color and colorful people together every Tuesday at 8 PM EST. Can you tell us about your The Tea series that you're doing on IGTV? What inspired you to produce this series?
The Tea is a weekly IGTV series that invites celebrity guests to relax, unwind, and participate in one-on-one, in-depth, powerful conversations in a mindful and reflective way. We talk about current events, their career journeys, wellness, and more. Drinking tea has been a regular part of my self-care routine since I was in high school, and I love the ritual of sharing conversation over a hot cup. Like most of us during the height of the pandemic, I felt isolated and was looking for a consistent way to check in with friends and folx I admire.

We love tea as much as the next person, but what is it about tea that made you decide to incorporate it into your show?
From matcha to earl grey, a cozy solo cup, or a fancy high tea with friends and finger sandwiches, I simply love tea! The Tea is also a double entendre! It refers to the drink we’re sipping and the personal stories and advice we’re “spilling” between friends.

Please talk a little bit about your production company Black Monarch Entertainment. We learned that your purpose with Black Monarch is to give a voice to marginalized communities. What does it mean to you?
Black Monarch Entertainment is a full-service production company, which means that we have the capability of crafting projects from development through production. It’s an artist collective that supports people of color and what I like to call “colorful people” – anyone from a marginalized community with a story to tell. I personally love stories that sit at the intersection of art and activism. Our artists, crews, and stories are inclusive, and we currently have an impressive slate of film and TV projects underway.

In your show, you discuss topics with your guests that the public wants to hear their favorite stars talk about but often don't get to or know how to start. Do you receive any negative or positive feedback? Have you ever been in trouble because of that?
I prepare for the show by intentionally setting the space – lighting sage and candles, pouring my tea in front of the audience and playing “The Tea” by Riah Dawn, which is an uplifting song about self-confidence. I want the space to feel warm, inviting, and intimate for both the guest and the audience, and I’m pleased to report that the growing “Communi-tea” is enjoying the positive, genuine energy!

You've previously received positive reception to The Tea series. Do you feel like you are opening a new and authentic space for people with this content you produce?
Also, the traditional talk show is not a wholly inventive format. The emphasis on womxn (which I spell with an “x” to be inclusive of trans and non-binary folx), people of color, and artists is relatively uncharted territory.

How do you keep your show fresh? How do you decide who to invite as a guest every week?
Many of the guests I bring on the show are artists and/or activists who use their platforms to stir social change. I keep the show fresh by doing extensive research on each guest and ensuring that I’m asking a wide variety of probative questions each episode.

Many people are talking about IGTV as a competitor to YouTube or a competitor to Netflix, but I think it is also the competitor of the TV, and your show is like proof of that. What do you think about the future of IGTV as a producer? What made you choose Instagram as a platform?
I love Instagram! Drinking tea works well in tandem with intimate conversations between old and new friends. Instagram Live is the perfect platform to maintain that intimacy while also interacting with the viewing audience in real-time. I think that IGTV is more accessible for content creators than traditional television platforms, and we’ll see even more creativity emerging on the platform.

I think "The Tea" series has big importance in today's male-dominated media industry, so you are doing something very crucial. As a black womxn, what kind of discrimination have you experienced in this sector?
I know that curating mass media is a huge responsibility and one that I don’t take lightly. Because I’m black, queer, and a womxn, and I have a unique insight into the hardships that minorities face in this business and beyond. I’ve often been the only one in the room that looks like me, fighting for stories from my community. I truly believe that no voice is too small, and everyone not only deserves a seat at the table but opportunities to make meaningful contributions.

Do you have any dream guests?
Ava Duvernay, Oprah, Issa Rae, Halle Berry, Bozoma St. John, and Shonda Rhimes are all black, female, media moguls that I would love to have on the show.

What do you hope your listeners get from the show?
As an artist and media executive, I talk a lot with other artists and entertainment industry professionals in an effort to glean information about their career journeys, what inspires them, and insider business information that the audience might not know. My job for years has been behind the scenes, so it’s also an opportunity for my community to get to know more about the passions that fuel me. In addition to insightful information about how to achieve success in Hollywood, I also hope that The Tea provides an organic moment of self-care and peace as the audience relaxes and sips tea along with my guests.

How are you staying positive during a shelter in place?
From having a different president in office to vaccines being rolled out and proving successful, 2021 has been quite a relief compared to 2020. As mentioned, I’m an advocate for self-care and regularly practice yoga, take long walks, check-in with my friends and family, and of course, drink tea to stay grounded and positive.

What is your motto in life?
You’re never too young. It’s never too soon; you’re never too old. It’s never too late.

To find more about Olivia Charmaine, please follow her via the below platforms:
Instagram: @olivia_charmaine
Facebook: @TheTeaLiveWithOliviaCharmaine
Twitter: @thenameis_o
Website: https://www.oliviacharmaine.com/

Photography Credits: Dominique Oliveto

Sipping 'The Tea' With Olivia Charmaine