Premiering Saturday, January 18 at 8pm ET/PT on Lifetime TV is Robin Roberts Presents: Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story, the first movie greenlit by Lifetime under the Robin Roberts Presents movie and documentary banner, from Rock’n Robin and Lincoln Square Productions.
Directed by Jeff Byrd and starring Niecy Nash (Claws), Rayven Symone Ferrell (The Hate U Give) and Ta’Rhonda Jones (Empire), Kidnapped: The Kamiyah Mobley Story is the true story of a young woman who discovers at age 18, she was abducted as a baby and the family she knew to be hers, wasn’t hers at all. The film will be followed by a companion documentary featuring the real-life people depicted in the movie.
In the summer of 1998, Gloria Williams (Nash), reeling from a recent miscarriage, drove from her home in South Carolina and walked into a Jacksonville, Florida hospital posing as a nurse and took newborn Kamiyah Mobley (Ferrell) out of her mother Shanara Mobley’s (Jones) arms. By the time police were alerted, Gloria was long gone. Renaming the baby Alexis, Gloria raised her as her own, providing her with unconditional love and nurturing.
It wasn’t until years later, when Alexis applied for her first job and couldn’t provide a social security card or a birth certificate, that she realized something was wrong. After confronting Gloria, Alexis learned the truth, that she was really Kamiyah Mobley and abducted as a baby. Despite discovering the mother she knew was really her kidnapper, Alexis kept the secret as long as she could, until an anonymous tip soon led to Gloria’s arrest and their world came tumbling down.
Kidnapped: The Kamiyah Mobley Story is executive produced by Roberts, Linda Berman, Michele Samit, Richard Kletter and Gary Randall. Samit and Kletterr wrote the script. Casting was done by Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd.
Blackfilm.com spoke exclusively with Jeff Byrd on directing this film. Byrd’s previous film have been Jasper Texas, Seventeen Again and King’s Ransom.
How did you get attached to the project?
Jeff Byrd: Well, the producer and my sister Twinkie Byrd, who was the casting director, brought me to the project. She had heard that they were looking for a director who would be good for the project. Twinkie threw my name into the mix and here we are.
So was it different getting back into the directing film mode as opposed to TV mode, which you have been doing for a number of years?
Jeff Byrd: I definitely want to get my foot back in the door.
Being that this film is based on a true story, did you also have to do research besides the writers?
Jeff Byrd: Yes. I did my research as well. I had also done “Jasper, Texas.” which was also based on a true story. I had my experience from doing that film to bring to this. I was able to do the research, watch footage of Kamiyah and all of the different videos from documentaries and things that were done on that event and the family.
We get a lot of Niecy Nash’s point of view as Gloria. The audience can see that she had done some wrong, but the film is showing more of her perspective as opposed to the perspective from T’Rhonda’s point of view as the real mom. What do you think?
Jeff Byrd: That was by choice. It was crafted that way. The writers came at it from Kamiyah’s side and Gloria’s, played by Niecy Nash. She took care of Kaliyah until she 18. That was Kamiyah’s direct influence or influencer. That was done purposely. It was from Kamiyah’s memories and experience. She had known Gloria all of her life.
Robin Roberts is the producer on it. This is the first of her projects for lifetime. How involved was she on the film?
Jeff Byrd: She was very involved. Her and Linda are partners in Robin’s company and with me coming on board, Robin had to give the green light, which she did.
You’ve been working in this business for over 20 years, what’s more comfortable for you, TV or film?
Jeff Byrd: Both TV and film have their upside. For me, I enjoyed them both almost equally. TV has come a long way, which is great. There are a lot of great shows on the air. A lot of wonderful television happening. At the end of the day, when you think of a film, it has to be on the big screen and when you think of a movie, it’s something that can be on the big screen or on Netflix or HBO and other streaming platforms. The beauty of it is that it can still have the same gravitas, even if it’s not on the big screen. I enjoyed them both now and being able to have an impact and for the project to be impactful.
What’s your next project?
Jeff Byrd: I leave soon for Vancouver to direct an episode of The Flash on The CW. I’m still doing episodes on Dynasty, which is also on The CW. Thanks to this movie, there are a couple of movie scripts that I have to read. It’s an interesting good time for me. I’m looking very carefully at the projects that are coming across my table and really trying to decide on the projects that will have an impact.
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