Cocoa Brown talks Tyler Perry’s The Single Moms Clubby Wilson Morales
March 12, 2014
Coming out this week is the latest film from Tyler Perry, ‘The Single Moms Club,’ starring Nia Long, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Amy Smart, Zulay Henao, Cocoa Brown, Tyler Perry, Ryan Eggold, William Levy, Terry Crews, and Eddie Cibrian.
Perry’s spirited comedy follows five single mothers from very different walks of life whose children – thanks to a generous scholarship program – all attend an exclusive prep school called West Merryville. The mothers range from a white alpha-female career woman to an African-American fast food worker; but they find themselves united through a stroke of bad luck: each of their children has been caught for infractions – smoking, tagging graffiti – at their school. With their children’s expulsion hanging in the balance, the five mothers have no choice but to agree to the Principal’s “assignment” for them: to organize West Merryville’s upcoming fundraiser and school dance.Together, they form the Single Moms Club, a haven for single mothers seeking support and an understanding ear.
For Cocoa Brown, this is her coming out party on the big screen. A veteran comic who’s performed on comedy stage shows including BET’s Comic View and One Mic Stand and Showtime at the Apollo, she’s best known for her role as Jennifer in the sitcom Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse.
In speaking with Blackfilm.com, Brown talks about working with Tyler Perry, working with her co-stars, and being introduced to a new audience.
What’s it like working with Tyler Perry on the big and small screen?
Cocoa Brown: TV is much more fast paced. Tyler does direct virtually every episode. He lets you play because you have more time to play; but on a film, it’s realer and it’s not as big. You have to take your time to connect with the character so it resonates on a 50 foot screen. I think he’s still a gracious giving director. He lets you find what connects you with that role and that character, but it is a different pace.
When folks see you in this film, will they the same persona you bring on the TV show?
CB: Some of it. They will see a little bit of Jennifer.
How was working with the rest of the ladies in the film?
CB: It was amazing. First of all, I’ve looked up to Nia Long and admired her work forever. So to work with her was like a Master’s Class. Watching how she got into her character Meg and seeing how she tapped into those deep and poignant and dramatic moments, she became like a teacher to me on set. She was so gracious and gave me a lot of insight and helped me find parts of my character that I hadn’t even tapped into.
What makes Terry’s character attracted to Lydia?
CB: I think he makes Lydia laugh and she’s so stressed out, she doesn’t get a chance to laugh and enjoy the moments. Branson makes her stop and look at him and really enjoy him, Even though she doesn’t want to. I like the fact that Branson pursues her. The one thing he shows is that when a man really wants you and desires you, he would do whatever it takes to get you and keep you. That’s the one thing I love about it.
As a comedian by trade, when you got the script, when it came time to shoot, how much of what we see is you and how much is from the page?
CB: I would say 60 % Tyler and 40 % me. I have to respect the writer and the creator. The one thing I love about Tyler is that from day one on ‘For Better or Worse,’ he told me that he trusted that I was funny and if I felt there was something I could add to make the scene funnier, please do no hesitate to bring it. He gave me the same liberty in the movie. I have that permission to say something or add something, whether it be a look or a gesture or whatever. So, having that freedom to let your funny come through, a lot of what you heard and saw was Cocoa Brown adding her own spin to what she thinks Lydia would say.
You’ve worked a long time in the business so how humbling is it to be on the cover of this movie and to be one of the leading stars?
CB: I’m so humbled and grateful. The first time I saw the billboard driving down La Cienega in Los Angeles, I had to jump out my car and start crying, “Thank You Jesus!” I never thought in a quadrillion years, I would be 50 feet tall on a billboard in Hollywood. It’s been 17 years that I’ve been a stand-up comic and actress trying my best to get that one opportunity and I’m so grateful to Tyler so much because he was the first one who saw something in Cocoa Brown and gave me the opportunity and I just thank God I was ready.
Why do you think it took this long for this opportunity to come by?
CB: I have my own fans and they love me. I even have a fan club in Malaysia. This is crazy to me but I think sometimes it’s God’s will. I had been out there. I was selling out theaters and comedy clubs on my own. There was a certain amount of people who knew who Cocoa Brown was and then when I got ‘For Better or Worse’ and then when I got this movie, there were people out there who had no idea I was a comic. To me, this is a rebirth of my career because there’s a whole legion of fans I’m about to get. They didn’t know I was a stand-up so when I go to these same clubs I used to go to before, they will a batch of people who want to come see Cocoa Brown. I’m grateful I get to do a part 2 to everything I’ve done and God willing, it’s another 17 to 20 years.
Are you that person who has funny bones or are you funny after it’s already written?
CB: No, mine is very natural. I write down stuff that I think it’s funny but it never comes out on stage the way I wrote it. I just that moment come over me. I improv a lot. That’s the one thing that Tyler loves about me. I can improv on the spot. For me, my funny is just natural. I never thought I would be a stand-up comic. It was something I dreamed about as a kid. I got thrust into it by a friend 17 years to go and try out on an open mic night. It was something I realized I was natural at because I realized that the smart mouth that got me popped a lot as a kid is now getting me paid.
What’s a good reason to The Single Moms Club?
CB: If you know a mother, if you were raised by a single mother, and if you are a single mother or a single parent, I think this a great movie because it’s going to show that you have to have a village. No one can do it on their own. Even if you are married and have that support system and your husband makes millions and you can just sit at home, you still need that support system. With raising a child, you need a village. Anyone who has a parent and is a parent is going to appreciate this film. It’s not a chick flick, it’s an everybody flick.
What’s next for you?
CB: I will get on the road and tell more jokes. I also just wrapped up a new pilot with Martin Lawrence and Kelsey Grammer called ‘Braddock & Jackson.’ I actually a 59-year-old woman. I play the best friend to Martin Lawrence’s mother, played by Thelma Hopkins. I’m aged and get to play my mother basically. Then we go back to shoot the new season of ‘For Better or Worse’ this summer and I’m excited about that.
The Single Moms Club hits theaters on March 14.
