Google and YouTube Space LA hosted an exclusive screening at their Venice office for the new web series “GodComplX.” Executive producer Claire Brown (EP of “Being Mary Jane” and “The Game”) and director Morenika Joela were on hand to celebrate with the cast, which includes Maya Washington (aka “Shameless Maya” on YouTube), Nick Moss, Joshua Michael Moore, Shayna Spiels, Caleb Hwangbo, and Priscilla Bawicia.
The evening began with a red carpet reception, followed by a screening of three 10-min episodes and a cast Q&A moderated by Daraiha Greene, Diversity in Entertainment Ambassador for Google’s CS In Media Team.
Told in 10 episodes, “GodComplX” chronicles the lives of 20-something tech geniuses who live under one roof in Silicon Beach. Watch the series on YouTube www.youtube.com/godcom
Follow the show on social media (below) and use hashtags #csforall #godcomplxseries #godcomplx
Instagram: @godcomplxseries
Twitter: @godcomplxseries
Facebook: facebook.com/godcomplxseries
We had a chance to interview some of the cast and executives at the private screening. Check out their interview:
Maya Washington(plays Sabrina)
RG: When you got the script how did you to decide to approach the role?
Maya: I approached it as me. Sabrina is very similar to me she is a go getter that does not take no for an answer. She will knock down any wall, she will figure it out hence why she has a god complex.
RG: So how similar or dissimilar are you and Sabrina?
Maya: I find us very similar The difference is I’m not an academic I actually dropped out of college so that is the major difference between us. We are alike because of the spirit of who Sabrina is; in terms of just going after what she wants.
RG: How do you think the show is going to resonate with an audience? What do you really want to show to do for young people of diversity?
Maya: For young people to be inspired to pursue and create their vision. To see young people like themselves on television. This is a perfect project as an example of breaking stereotypes and showing the audiences that there is an opportunity for you to despite your age, status or religion. For me as a child I didn’t see a lot of people that looked like me on television. So the fact that this show has so much diversity is great.
RG: Describe the show in three words?
Social Media: Instagram-@mayasworld/Twitter-@mayasworld https://www.facebook.com/mayas
Caleb Hwango(plays) Lee
RG: When you get something like this and you read the concept how were you thinking of approaching your roler
Caleb- Well the first thing I thought was I got work to book something this magnitude since I just graduated of arts college. So getting something this big is actually more astounding for me and the fact that I like the script and I thought it was just interesting and I agree with completely with the whole diaper situation and increasing awareness for tech and just all in all that letting people know you can do what you want to do you and follow your dreams.
RG: Tell us about your character ?
Caleb-He’s quiet but he’s secretive or the one word I would use he’s a realist. So he is kind of in the background a lot he does the one liners he kind of has an attitude sometimes but it’s because he’s focused and he has a goal and I compare myself to him a lot to even though I’m extroverted.
RG: How close are you to your character or dissimilar.
Caleb: We’re both Asian both Korean we both work hard and we stick to something until we get it done and I feel like he’s the same way except his forms of getting across are just a little bit more standoffish.
RG: Describe the show in three words?
Caleb: Crazy, Indulge, Roommates!
RG: Your social media
Caleb: Instagram @calebhwangbo- Twitter:@HwangboCaleb Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caleb
DARAIHA GREENE Google Project Manager
RG: When you decide to put together an event like this what is the concept you were going for and how important was it for you to get it right?
Daraiha: Great question,I work on the computer science and media team at Google. I specifically lead our black and hispanic strategy as well as LGBTQIA people with disabilities so I am the diversity and entertainment ambassador. It’s really exciting and as a part of my vision for the black community I really wanted to highlight a black female programmer/computer scientist. Typically you will see the stereotypical male usually caucasian, wearing glasses,no personality,typing away all day no friends no humor and I really want to show something different because I mean for me personally growing up I never saw anyone who looked like me in computer science and I excelled in math and science I was great at it. But I never thought I could pursue that field. Now that I am older and looking back I thought why didn’t I do that. But I have other dreams and I am following my passion anyway. But it’s been really great for me to an advocate and really show a different light to the stem world and show young girls blacks and latinos and other minority groups that you are just as smart and you can do this if you want to and if you don’t too that’s fine too but at least you can have the opportunity. That’s why I think it’s so important to have that choice.
RG: How do you want this show to resonate with the young audience?
Daraiha: First and foremost I want them to see these computer scientists as normal people. I don’t need this to take over their entire character profile. To see them as normal people who have regular relationships, go to their regular jobs, hang out at the apartment. They drink they swear you know what I mean they’re normal people and they have lives they have hobbies outside of their job. So it just happens they are computer scientists. We also love Maya Washington(Shameless Maya) who does an amazing job playing Sabrina Harris the lead in the show. You know she’s just a regular person and she’s like the Olivia Pope of tech. We are diversifying tech, we’re making it sexy and we want students to grow up and aspire to be like that or be themselves or whoever they want to be.
RG:Describe the show in three words?
Daraiha: Hilarious, Brilliant and Sexy powerful.
RG: Your Social Media
Instagram@daraiha_sunshine / Twitter @daraiha_sunshine Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/darai
SHAYNA SPIELMAN (plays Molly)
RG:N Tell us about your character on the show?
Shayna: Molly is really interesting because the other five are computer scientists or computer hackers but my character is a rocket scientist and so she’s a little more edgy than the others and kind of a smart ass and not afraid to speak her mind. She is in a relationship with Melinda so that’s why she is around the God Complx.
RG: How similar or dissimilar are you to your character?
Shayna: She is way cooler than I am. She is really brilliant and smart. I went to school for theater not a rocket scientist. I am a straight woman, she’s not. I think we’re similar because we are both witty. I like her lines because it sounds like something I would say. And we are both comfortable and secure in who we are. I feel like we deserve to be where we are.
RG: How would you like to see the show impact the young audience today?
Shayna: First I think it’s important because it’s a diverse cast and it’s really important important for young girls to see themselves being represented in media. And also there are not a lot of women in stem careers and that was really what the initiative of the show was; to get young girls to want to be in science. And do those types of jobs that’s really being dominated by men.
RG: Describe the show in three words?
Shayna: Fresh, modern, and light.
RG: Your Social Media?
Instagram: shanayna_spiels/ Twitter-@shayna_spielman Facebook https://www.facebook.com/shayn
CLAIRE BROWN:Executive Producer/Creator
RG: What made you decide to do a show like this?
Claire: Creative freedom. To create a show for an initiative and do it your way.
RG: How do you want your show to resonate with young people?
Claire: The choices we made on the show were very deliberate and we wanted to engage the millennial base. We wanted to have a diverse cast. We wanted to have an interactive storyline. We wanted it to look good and feel good and I think we accomplished that. I think we were able to pull off a really incredible show and I’m glad that there’s a buzz because this is the first of its kind and to partner with somebody like Google and to be able to have the freedom to create and it was so special and that’s why the crew is ninety five percent women. That’s why it’s a diverse cast staff; we mentor we push people, we educated people, we had fun together and all of these smiling faces you see around here are because of that.
RG: What Is the look you had in mind for the show?
Claire: I wanted it to be young and fun and hip. I wanted it to be a bit of a modern day ‘Friends’. So we wanted it to have that feel where people live together and they’re in close quarters. And so on set we didn’t have a lot of rules it was it was you know again to put people in charge and say create want you want to create and they did that so it was a beautiful experience.
RG: Describe the show in 3 words?
Claire: Special, entertaining and educational.
RG: Social Media
Claire: Instagram @broonc /Twitter-@broonc https://www.facebook.com/clair
PRISCILLA BAWICIA-(plays Melinda)
RG: How important is it to have a show like this?
Priscilla- I think it’s really important I didn’t see show like this when I was growing up.I am so happy and honored to be a part of this project. And with TV and film now we can do so much.
RG: Tell us about your character?
Priscilla: Melinda is eccentric. She’s fun a little bit off with her social skills yet she is endearing and a gifted coder. She is ditzy coder but brilliant and you wouldn’t expect it but there are people out there like that and you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.
RG; What is the one thing about your character that your really like?
Priscilla: My favorite thing about Melinda is she is eccentric. She’s the one that just says like what everybody is thinking but nobody said it out loud. That’s my favorite part because I am like that. So I definitely related to that part of Melinda.
RG: Describe the show in three words?
Priscilla-Diverse, smart and intriguing.
RG-Your social media
Priscilla- Instragram-priscilla_bawicia/ Twitter-@Priscilla_B_TC Facebook: @Priscilla_B_TC
Other cast members we did not get a chance to interview:
NICK MOSS(plays Reid)
Social Media- Instagram-@thenickmoss /Twitter@NickMossBoss Facebook–https://www.facebook.com/nikol
JOSHUA MICHAEL MOORE(plays Hakim)
Instagram@_joshuamichaelmoore/ Twitter@_joshuamichaelm Facebook https://www.facebook.com/joshu
MORENIKE JOELA (DIRECTOR)
Instagram@morenikejoela /twitter@morenikejoela Facebook https://www.facebook.com/moren
JOE SICORA (WRITER/CREATOR)
Instagram@joesicora1 /Twitter@JSicora Facebook https://www.facebook.com/joe.s
