Movies

‘Beyond the Gates’ is making history, but it’s also a ‘messy and entertaining’ soap

BBG News

As a devoted cinephile, I can’t help but reminisce about the golden era of daytime soaps. It’s been over two and a half decades since “Passions” first graced our screens on NBC, making its grand entrance as the last new daytime soap opera to air on American network television.

For years now, I, a passionate cinephile, have harbored a shared vision with Michele Val Jean and Sheila Ducksworth: the creation of a soap opera centering around an affluent African American family.

On Monday, the long-held dream becomes reality as “Beyond the Gates,” a fresh drama centered around the affluent Dupree family, makes its debut on CBS. This series represents a significant milestone, being the first daytime soap to feature a predominantly Black cast on network television. However, it also harks back to an era of television that was more prosperous, when daytime soaps were particularly popular.

At their height, as many as eighteen soap operas were broadcast daily. Today, only three remain, all having been aired for extended periods: “General Hospital” on ABC, and “The Young and the Restless,” as well as “The Bold and the Beautiful,” both on CBS. In 2022, after 57 years on NBC, “Days of Our Lives” transitioned to Peacock.

But over lunch in Manhattan last week, Ducksworth expressed confidence in the future of the format.

For nearly a century, soaps have been a mainstay in our culture,” said Ducksworth, who holds the dual roles of executive producer on ‘Beyond the Gates’ and president of the CBS Studios/NAACP joint venture responsible for the series development. “Frankly, I don’t believe they will ever go out of style.

Television

On its 50th anniversary this coming Sunday, the popular CBS daytime drama stands as an impressive testament to large-scale production, orchestrated skillfully by writing professionals adept at crafting complex serialized narratives.

As a cinema enthusiast, I was thrilled to see two seasoned soap opera stars grace the cast of “Beyond the Gates.” Tamara Tunie, who embodies the strong-willed Anita Dupree, and Daphnée Duplaix, portraying her daughter Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson, both lend their extensive experience to this production. Tunie, with almost two decades under her belt on “As the World Turns,” and Duplaix, who shone in “Passions” and “One Life to Live,” have been key figures in the soap opera world for decades.

The success of Fox’s prime-time soap “Empire,” focusing on a Black music empire that ran from 2015 to 2020 and Tyler Perry’s more dramatic series like “The Haves and the Have Nots,” indicates a significant market for compelling yet inspiring dramas about fashionable Black families. As per Nielsen, African American adults watch TV approximately 31% longer each week compared to the overall population.

The TV show titled “Beyond the Gates” marks the debut from the collaboration between CBS and the NAACP, established in 2020 after George Floyd’s death, with a mission to share diverse narratives on television. Co-produced with Procter & Gamble, it comes at a time when the idea of diversity is facing criticism from the Trump administration during a politically and culturally challenging period.

Currently, there appears to be a trend in this nation towards moving backwards. However, it’s crucial at this juncture to demonstrate to this prosperous Black family, who symbolize generations of wealth within the community, that their story has been long overdue in the limelight. This is a narrative that dates back centuries but hasn’t yet resonated with the public consciousness. I believe their portrayal will be profoundly influential.

Val Jean, the mastermind behind the show, boasts a wealth of experience in writing for daytime soap operas, having penned over 2,000 episodes. Her main objective is to captivate audiences, but she also emphasizes the importance of representation, stating, “It’s significant to have Black characters on television, portrayed as affluent and beautiful.” She further adds that it’s not just about entertainment, but also about finding uplifting content where viewers can see themselves reflected.

Speak to individuals who have been avid daytime soap opera enthusiasts, and they will fondly reminisce about a routine established in childhood, where they hurried home from school to catch “Days of Our Lives,” “All My Children,” or “Dark Shadows” alongside their mother, grandmother, sister, or aunt.

For Val Jean, “General Hospital” was like a constant companion. Since my grandmother took care of us, she always had the soap operas playing, and somehow they became ingrained in my memory. Just as many people across the nation, I was captivated by the Luke and Laura love story. I can still vividly recall watching their wedding on a 13-inch black-and-white television at my work desk.

Ducksworth grew up captivated by soap operas, particularly “The Edge of Night” and “General Hospital.” While she admired the storytelling, she eagerly waited for scenes featuring Claudia Johnston Phillips, a character portrayed by Bianca Ferguson who looked like her. As Ducksworth put it, “I’d just wait for the woman who resembled me. That was the best moment – seeing her on TV.

Television

As I watched the grains of sand slip away, the iconic soap opera made its move to Peacock, a shift that came after five decades on NBC. Will the die-hard fans stick around, following this transition? The answer may decide the future of the genre itself.

In the following years, Ducksworth found herself captivated by the groundbreaking NBC soap opera titled “Generations,” which debuted in 1989 with a unique focus on a Black family. This influential show sparked an ambition within Ducksworth to relocate to Los Angeles and produce more television content similar to it, including potentially her own Black soap opera. Vivica A. Fox, who was a cast member of “Generations,” facilitated an introduction for her with Val Jean, the sole Black writer on the show, who had penned a pilot script for a soap centered around a prosperous Black family.

The project didn’t progress, but Ducksworth promised she would create soap with Val Jean someday. As soon as she started at the CBS-NAACP joint venture, Val Jean was one of the first people Ducksworth contacted. Ducksworth thought up setting the series in a gated community in suburban Maryland, just outside Washington D.C., an area housing some of the wealthiest predominantly Black counties in America.

Despite having decades of experience in soap writing, creating an entirely new one from scratch was a formidable task for Val Jean. This is because it has been quite some time since anyone initiated a new daytime drama, meaning there were no existing “show bibles” – comprehensive pitch documents detailing characters and storylines – available for her to use as a guide.

Initially, she zeroed in on the matriarch and patriarch characters, which were unfamiliar to us. This led her to create Anita, a girl-group singer who ascended from poverty in Chicago, and her husband Vernon (portrayed by Clifton Davis), a former senator. The thought that crossed Val Jean’s mind was, “What if Diana Ross met John Lewis?

From that point onwards, everything else unfolded naturally. “During the mornings, I would go for walks, ponder over things, return home, and scribble down ideas onto index cards for approximately two months,” Val Jean reminisced. “Afterward, I began writing. I gathered all my index cards together, sorted through them, and lo and behold, there were the characters. There were their tales. Essentially, I was just a secretary, transcribing their stories.

The Dupree family consists of two daughters: Nicole, a calm and composed psychiatrist named Duplaix, and passionate Dani (formerly known as Karla Mosley). Dani’s ex-husband, Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett), has left her for their daughter’s best friend, Hayley (Marquita Goings). The series begins just a few days before the scheduled wedding of Bill and Hayley at the local country club, causing immense distress to Dani.

Unlike “Passions,” which delved deeply into the supernatural realm and included a character who was an animate doll, “Beyond the Gates” is centered on more earthly themes: love, animosity, and deception. As Val Jean stated, there’s no indication of any extraterrestrial life in this story.

Starting a fresh TV series is quite an accomplishment, but a daily soap opera, which airs around 250 times a year and films over 80 script pages daily, presents a unique challenge. Actors must swiftly memorize numerous lines of dialogue, sometimes handling scenes from several episodes within the same day on set. Interestingly, Atlanta hasn’t hosted a daily soap opera before.

As soon as production started in November, seasoned soap actors such as Tunie and Duplaix provided guidance for the novice cast members who found the rapid tempo of daytime acting challenging, much like attempting to drink from a powerful water stream.

Despite only being a fourth of the way through the day’s tasks, there was a collective response of disbelief among everyone, as Duplaix explained. “Believe it or not,” she said, “this is just a quarter of what we ought to be doing.” She offered insights into her method for memorizing lines, suggesting that one should read through the assigned scripts for 30 minutes daily to become familiar with them. After this, one can refine their performance a day or two before filming the scene. When well-prepared, this confidence shines through and impacts the audience positively.

In my own words, I’d say, “It feels like standing shoulder to shoulder, experiencing this journey together,” is how I put it, Tunie. Assuming the unofficial role of a mentor, I sent an email at the outset of production to my fellow cast mates, offering advice on ‘maneuvering through this genre’ and delivering top-notch performances. I also shared insights about the speed we work at and what our directors and producers are capable of offering.

Ducksworth, referring to Tunie as “Queen Mother” playfully, emphasized that it was crucial to select the character of Anita initially since our matriarch’s role was so significant.

Television

Due to economic challenges, the collaboration between CBS Television Studios and NAACP hasn’t produced a final result yet. However, officials remain dedicated and eager to continue their work.

The significant historical aspect of the project played a crucial role in attracting Tunie and Duplaix, serving as a compelling incentive for their return to the demanding realm of daytime work.

Duplaix remarked that “Beyond the Gates” features numerous firsts. This film is unique because it focuses on an African-American family as its main characters, and he’s looking forward to seeing the reactions of viewers as they engage with this fresh perspective.

The initial episode culminates in one character slapping another, reminiscent of Susan Lucci’s dramatic style. There are certainly more intense moments to come.

The main focus of this show, she explained, revolves around a large Black family who are genuine in their expressions of love, making mistakes, and sometimes losing control. They don’t always see eye to eye, but their bond is strong, unwavering, and everlasting. This family would go to great lengths for one another, and that authenticity shines through as well.

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2025-02-24 14:31

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