Emmy nominated digital series “Giants” cast recently interviewed with Kontrol Magazine. With only two episodes left in the second season, the series has attracted major attention. The series is Executive Produced by Empire’s Jussie Smollett and streams every Wednesday via Issa Rae’s YouTube channel.
About the Show
The series is centered on 3 African American millennials, Journee, Ade and Malachi, each struggling with giants in their personal lives. Turning 30 is difficult for anyone, but imagine turning 30 and struggling with your identity, coupled with other life challenges. The series tackles topics such as mental illness, sexual identity, religion and economic struggles. The first season has racked up over 800k views on Issa Rae’s YouTube channel and 3.2 million on Facebook. Not to mention, it recently received two Daytime Emmy nominations for “Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama series”.
Meet the Cast
Vanessa Baden Kelly who plays Journee
The interview took place a day after the cast received the Emmy nominations, so needless to say Vanessa was overjoyed. Vanessa started her acting career at the age of 4 working with networks such as Nickelodeon. After wrapping up on the “Kenan & Kel show,” Vanessa took a break from acting. Vanessa did not start back acting until 2010, and for the next five years Vanessa beat the pavement looking for work in Hollywood, which lead her in other directions. In 2017 her high school friend James Bland, the creator of “Giants,” asked her to play the role of Journee in the series. Her character struggles with mental illness and ends up sleeping on the couch of the character Malachi after her sister put her out.
Sean Samuels who plays Ade
Sean started his career in NYC on Broadway as a dancer. He came from a performing arts background doing ballet, jazz, and stage plays in high school. In 2012 Sean moved to LA and there would play roles in movies such as “Toxic Shark,” which aired on Syfy channel and the popular CW show “Jane the Virgin.” Sean met James while in LA and James later asked Sean to be apart of the “Giants” series. Sean plays Ade on the series; a warm-hearted friend to Malachi who struggles with his sexuality.
.
James Bland who plays Malachi
James Bland is not only an actor, but also the creator and showrunner of the series. He created the show because he wanted to bring light to some of the issues he and other friends were facing. The topics covered are very taboo, but James was not afraid to approach the topics because he knew it would reach the intended audience. His character, Malachi, has chosen to forge his own path – one that is atypical – and is constantly forced to confront his inner giants while in pursuit of his purpose. Malachi has a manipulative relationship with Ade and takes advantage his sexual insecurities. His history with Journee complicates their personal relationship. This season, all three characters are cramped in Ade’s one-bedroom apartment — in a “Three’s Company”-type situation — where they’re forced to face both their inner and outer giants. Thus far, season 2 of “Giants” has been explosive and by end of the finale, nothing will ever be the same.
https://youtu.be/3ojrq6iBiHc?list=PLVo7nGot4fPi_1MFfZSLROrc6BhjXSffI
