Tamara Bass stars in the film, If Not Now, When? which just came out.
She also wrote the screenplay, and co-directed and
co-produced the film with fellow star Meagan Good.
This marks the first time two Black women co-directed a feature film
in which one of them wrote, and both of them produced and starred in.
If Not Now, When? premiered at the American Black Film Festival, and was
nominated for the Jury Award for Best Narrative feature,
Best Screenplay, and Best Director.

You grew up in New York and now reside in Los Angeles. What is your favorite thing about your hometown? Is there a way you could tell us that you’re from New York without literally telling us that?
The best part of my hometown is my family that is still there. These are the people that have known me since I was born and helped shape the woman I have become. To answer the second part of the question, I’m loud and unapologetically real.

Can you tell us about If Not Now, When? What was it like to be involved in every aspect of production as a writer, actor, co-director, and co-producer on the project? What was the most challenging part about juggling all those roles?
“If Not Now, When?” is a story of love, forgiveness, second chances, and sisterhood. It’s about four friends who met in high school and are reunited when one of them suffers a crisis. Being involved with all aspects of production allowed me to make sure that what ended up on the screen was the story that I wrote and the one that Meagan and I wanted to tell. We were solely responsible for making sure the final product reflected us. Since we were in control, we had a set that ran smoothly and efficiently.

What is your collaborative relationship like with Meagan Good, who had the same duties as you? (The only correction is that Meagan did not write the film.) What was it like working together so closely from start to finish?
We have known each other since we were 16 and 19 years old. Collaborating in this capacity was an extension of our sisterhood and our shared desire to shift the narrative in Hollywood about Black women. We had previously worked together on a web series, so when I presented this project to Meagan as something we could do together, she jumped at it. It was an amazing collaboration from start to finish. We learned a lot about ourselves and each other.

How do you feel like your work as a director informs your work as an actor and vice versa? Is there something you learned from the experience of doing both that you might not have picked up on otherwise? What is it?
As an actor/director I understand performances and feelings. I believe that being an actor has made me a better director. The training I received allows me to fill in holes for my actors that another director may not. Also, being an actor helps when I have to communicate with my actors because I speak their language. It makes me sensitive to their needs. As for the other way around, being a director makes me cognizant of what I am doing with my body and aware of what the camera might need at any given moment. As actors we are “in the moment,” so we may not always remember where we placed our hands or when we picked up a glass in a scene. But knowing that the director and editor will have to cut the scene together later, I remember to check in with the script supervisor to make sure all my actions match.

Given how isolated everything is right now with social distancing, what advice would you give to young, emerging talent who wants to establish themselves in the film industry in 2021?
I would always encourage people to figure out ways to stay creative. Write, shoot something with someone inside your bubble, even figure out Zoom sessions where you can perform monologues and scenes with a small community. Don’t let social distance stifle your creativity.

Outside of your work, who or what is inspiring you most right now? Why?
In the creative world, I am most inspired by Regina King. I mean, isn’t everyone. She is doing it all and doing it all well. In my everyday life, I’m inspired by all the Black women on the forefront of making change happen for us and the next generation. There are way too many to name, but I want to take a moment to say, “I see you and thank you.”

What are you most looking forward to this year? Do you have any resolutions for change in 2021? What are they?
I am most looking forward to continuing to walk on the path that God designed and laid out specifically for me. I am looking forward to continuing to grow. I wasn’t always confident about my growth in space and truth. But I am getting there. I also created a television show that will start myself and Deborah Joy Winans, so I hope that gets set up this year.

You do so many facets of work in the film industry. Where do you see yourself five, ten years from now? What is your biggest aspiration in this lifetime?
In five to ten years, I hope to still create the stories and bring to life fully realized characters who look like me. If that is in front of the camera, behind it, or both, I just want to continue to do that. Also, I want to make sure I have peace as I do it.

Tell us your life’s motto.
My life’s motto is simple. We all get a beginning (when we are born) and an end (when we die), but what are we going to do with the dash in the middle? How are we going to live our lives fully, completely, and in service!

Where can we find you and your work online? Socials?
I can be found on both IG and Twitter (usually talking about TV and football) at @mizztamarabass.com.

CREW CREDITS:
Photographer: Sheri Angeles
Hair: DaRico Jackson
Makeup: Shannon Pezzetta
Fashion Stylist: Lisa Marie Cameron
Assistant Fashion Stylist: Anna Lownes

Tamara Bass

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