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The Steve Harvey Morning Show

Overcoming the Odds: A self-taught filmmaker lands overall deal with Tyler Perry Studios.

The Steve Harvey Morning Show

iHeartPodcasts

Society & Culture, Comedy

4.5 โ€ข 2.2K Ratings

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ 25 September 2025

โฑ๏ธ 33 minutes

๐Ÿงพ๏ธ Download transcript

Summary

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadioApple PodcastsSpotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily.  I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur.  Keep winning!

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Courtney Glaudé.


๐Ÿ“ Summary of the Interview

Courtney Glaudé, an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and director from Houston, Texas, joined Rushion McDonald to discuss his creative journey, his role in Tyler Perry’s production universe, and his passion for storytelling. Glaudé is the writer, director, and producer for Season 4 of Zatima on BET+, and he holds an overall deal with Tyler Perry Studios, a rare and powerful endorsement of his talent. The conversation explored his roots, creative process, mentorship under Tyler Perry, and his commitment to emotionally gripping narratives that tackle complex social issues.


๐Ÿ”‘ Key Takeaways 1. Tyler Perry’s Mentorship & Overall Deal

  • Glaudé was entrusted with writing, directing, and producing Season 4 of Zatima.
  • Tyler Perry gave him full creative control, saying: “You like Zatima? It’s yours.”
  • The overall deal means Perry funds Glaudé’s projects and helps pitch them to major streaming platforms.

2. Creative Process & Directing Style

  • Glaudé writes with the shot in mind, visualizing scenes as he scripts.
  • He adapts creatively when budget or location constraints arise.
  • His style is thriller-driven, even when tackling emotional or social themes like dementia.

3. Zatima Season 4

  • The show centers on Zach and Fatima’s relationship, exploring real-life romantic challenges.
  • Glaudé brings a new emotional depth and rollercoaster storytelling to the series.
  • He collaborates closely with the cast, who help maintain character authenticity.

4. Houston Roots & Hustle Mentality

  • Raised in Fifth Ward, Houston, with Louisiana family roots.
  • Self-taught filmmaker: learned through books, Google, and observing professionals.
  • Hustle and persistence were key: “If someone told me no, I figured out how to do it myself.”

5. Breakthrough with Monique

  • His indie thriller The Reading, starring Monique, became the #1 film on BET+.
  • This success led to his introduction to Tyler Perry and the overall deal.

6. Legacy & Motivation

  • Glaudé is driven by creating a legacy for his daughter.
  • He wants to build a self-sustaining empire she can inherit.
  • “I don’t feel like I work. I’m creating stories from my head.”

7. Social Impact Storytelling

  • Tackles topics like mental health, trauma, and dementia through compelling narratives.
  • Upcoming feature film Old Gray Mare explores dementia in a thriller format.

8. Tyler Perry Studios Experience

  • Described as a “Disneyland for creators” with 12 sound stages and versatile sets.
  • Efficient production model with on-site housing, catering, and rapid turnaround.
  • Studios are rented by major productions like Black Panther and Coming to America.

๐Ÿ’ฌ Notable Quotes

  • “Just because God told it to me doesn’t mean He told it to everybody else.”
  • “If you believe it, I’m not dreaming big enough.”
  • “Tyler Perry Studios is like boot camp for creators.”
  • “I want my films to make people feel something.”
  • “I’m the person they tone down.” (on his intense storytelling style)

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is an IHeart podcast.

0:04.1

Hi, I'm Rishan McDonnell.

0:05.8

I host a weekly money-making conversation Masterclass show.

0:09.0

The interviews and information that this show provides offer everyone.

0:12.8

It's time to stop reading other people's success stories and start living your own.

0:17.8

If you want to be a guest on my show, Moneymaking Conversation Masterclass,

0:22.4

please visit our website, Moneymaking Conversations.com, and click the Be a Guest button.

0:27.4

If you're a small business owner, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, influencer, or

0:31.8

nonprofit, I want you on my show. Now let's get started. My guest is the writer, director,

0:37.3

and producer for the fourth season

0:38.9

of Tyler Perry's Zatima, premiering on BET Plus. He's an award-winning filmmaker, writer,

0:44.9

and director for my own, my hometown, Houston, Texas, renowned for his emotionally gripping

0:50.9

narratives that tackle complex social issues. Please welcome to money-making conversations masterclass, Courtney Glode. How you doing, sir? Got that C right in that G. He did. Okay, too. Got to make sure, Gaudet. You know, he's Louisiana. Louisiana, boy. Louisiana boy. I'm talking to you, Louisiana background. You're in Houston, Texas. Tell me a little bit about yourself before we get started, Glouaday. So I was born in, I was born in Houston, but my grandmother's from Louisiana. They moved. What part of Louisiana? Lafayette. Okay. Yeah, yeah. I attend. Yeah, absolutely. So my family was raised and born in Lafayette. My grandmother moved to Houston. So my mom and everybody was born in Houston. And I've been raised in Houston in Fifth Ward, the same. Okay. I was born in Fourth Ward. So no, no, no. It was just, it's been a journey and just the cultures, you know, coming together, created this. Okay. Which is really great. And congratulations on being a director, writer, producer for the fourth season of Zatima, which is on BET Plus.

1:47.6

Now, this was I always heard.

1:49.5

Tyler Perry writes all his content.

1:51.7

He directs all his content.

1:53.1

He doesn't let anybody do anything.

1:54.9

And then I heard about you.

1:56.6

Is this a rumor or he's allowed other creative sources to come in and produce and extend his projects?

2:04.8

Tell me about that.

2:05.7

Yeah, he's absolutely opening up.

2:07.6

He was building a foundation and I don't think Tyler was doing it because he wanted to.

...

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