We had the joy of meeting up in a zoom interview with Anthony Sparks, television showrunner, writer-producer, and playwright, originally from Chicago’s south side. Trust me when I say you will enjoy the many gems that Anthony dropped throughout the interview, that will ring true to those in this industry, whether you are beginning your journey, or at your peak.
We are grateful that Troy Pryor of Creative Cypher jumped in to lead this truly fascinating and informative interview for us, and ironically, within the first few minutes into it, I discovered that at one time I had lived just a few blocks away from Anthony, in Morgan Park, and Troy went to high school nearby. We probably all crossed paths at the corner grocery store at 111th & Western.
Anthony has come a long way since those days in Morgan Park.
Currently, he is the Senior Writer & Executive Producer on NBC Peacock’s Bel-Air, the critically acclaimed, modern-day retelling of the 90s Will Smith classic, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Anthony is also a professor at USC, and NY playwright looking to spread awareness on black excellence, and reclaiming roots while navigating the Hollywood storm.
You will have a chance to hear about Anthony’s journey from Chicago to LA; his role as Showrunner on a hit TV series; the importance of not rushing the process; the value in creating your own opportunities, and his thoughts on being a Black man in the industry.
I know you will enjoy Anthony’s candid observations as much as we did!
More about Anthony Sparks:
After accumulating over 20+ years experience as a writer, producer, and showrunner, Anthony Sparks is gearing up for season 3 of NAACP Award-nominated Bel-Air. Season 2 premiered on NBC Peacock on February 23, 2023.
His past credits include HULU’s Mike, J.J. Abrams‘s series Undercovers, and NBC’s The Blacklist. However, he is most proud of his ability to land a triple threat in Black Dramedies like Bel-Air, Warner Bros’ Queen Sugar, (for which he served as Showrunner) and Freeform’s Lincoln Heights.
In addition to his work in the entertainment industry, Anthony holds a BFA / MA in Theater Arts and a Ph.D. in American Studies + Ethnicity at USC, where he now teaches alongside his wife. His background as a playwright led him to both The Public Theater, New York Shakespeare Festival, and lead the cast of STOMP for over five years before producing and performing in his own award winning show, Ghetto Punch.
His work ethic, demeanor, and grounded energy have helped him forge an unforgettable path, even going so far as to be recognized as the 2022 Humanitas Prize Nominee and the winner of the 2022 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Television Drama.
Even after all this success, Anthony still contributes his Chicago roots as the driving force for his career trajectory. And with that gratitude, he has made it his mission to give back and immerse himself in conversations about the importance of diverse representation and highlighting black talent in Hollywood.
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