The veteran actor, comedian, producer, and filmmaker joins Lou Williams for a candid conversation about Three Strikes, Eve, Soul Plane, independent movies, Black comedy, and building success outside Hollywood’s traditional system.
Brian Hooks has spent decades entertaining audiences while becoming a familiar face in some of Black comedy’s most memorable films and television projects. Now, the veteran entertainer is looking back at the road that got him there—and sharing what the next generation of creators can learn from it.
Hooks recently sat down with Lou Williams and The Underground Lounge for a wide-ranging conversation covering comedy, Hollywood, independent filmmaking, entrepreneurship, and the importance of creating your own opportunities instead of waiting for the entertainment industry to hand you one.
During the conversation, Hooks reflects on his journey from Bakersfield, California, where he once studied with plans of becoming a math teacher, to eventually carving out a successful career as an actor, comedian, producer, and filmmaker.
It was a career pivot that would ultimately place Hooks in several memorable comedy projects, including Three Strikes, Eve, Soul Plane, and Nothing to Lose, while allowing him to work alongside some of the entertainment industry’s most recognizable comedic talent.
Hooks takes viewers behind the scenes of his career while discussing the differences between working in film and television, navigating network TV, and understanding the business behind entertainment. He also reflects on the evolution of Black cinema and urban comedy, and how independent filmmaking created new avenues for artists who weren’t receiving traditional Hollywood opportunities.
One of the biggest lessons from Hooks’ career is also one of the simplest: creators don’t necessarily have to wait anymore.
With streaming platforms, social media, affordable production technology, and alternative distribution opportunities changing how audiences discover entertainment, Hooks encourages aspiring filmmakers and entertainers to build their own teams, produce their own projects, and prove that an audience exists.
Rather than waiting for Hollywood to decide when someone deserves an opportunity, today’s creators have more ways to create that opportunity themselves.
The conversation also explores Hooks’ experiences working with Tubi, the changing landscape of independent film distribution, and why filmmakers should understand the business side of their creativity just as much as the artistic side.
Hooks also gets candid about stand-up comedy, his experiences performing live, and the fan reactions that continue to follow some of his most recognizable characters years after their original releases. Along the way, he shares hilarious stories from his career while discussing what life looks like away from movie sets and television cameras.
For longtime fans, the interview offers an entertaining trip through Hooks’ career. For aspiring actors, comedians, producers, and filmmakers, however, the conversation doubles as a lesson in ownership and self-reliance.
Brian Hooks’ message to the next generation is clear: build your team, create your content, and give the industry a reason to catch up to you.
The full conversation featuring Brian Hooks and Lou Williams on The Underground Lounge is available to watch now.
