Exclusive: Charles Randolph-Wright On Directing Greenleaf’s Second To Last Series Episode

This week’s episode (Episode: The Seventh Day) on OWN’s Greenleaf was its second to last episode for the series and it was a doozy. Not to spoil it for anyone if you haven’t seen it, but the episode was full of redemption and sadness.

The Greenleafs had its showdown with Harmony and Hope. Grace (Merle Dandridge) fought to stop the demolition. Lady Mae (Lynn Whitfield) worked to negotiate for the mansion, but a reveal about the original owner prompted Bishop (Keith David) to a revelation of his own.

The episode was directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, who’s done previous episodes on the series. He’s also a theater and film director whose credits include Blue, Preaching To The Choir, Lincoln Heights, Cuttin' Up, and The Night Is A Child. Upcoming projects include theater productions on Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story, and the Broadway debut of Alice Childress’ 1955 play Trouble in Mind at the Roundabout Theatre Company.

BlackFilmandTV.com spoke with Wright exclusively about his direction on Episode 7.

Have we seen the last of Bishop?

Charles Randolph Wright: You know, I can't answer that question.

As a director, are you following up with what’s been happening on the series or are you coming in and going by what’s just on the script?

Charles Randolph Wright: Definitely. I read every script or watch. When you're shooting, you may not be able to see something or may not have shot yet, but you at least read the scripts before and then you talk to the team. You talked to producers, you talk to the creator, and you should have that sense of what's happening because everything is connected.

They’re all these intricate, tentacles and all the surprises and the secrets and all those things that hover around so you really need to know what that is. So you're not telling too much, or you're not telling enough. When you're shooting you have to be aware of what that is. For me, I like to know every possible thing that I can so I can give the actors the tools that they give the kind of performances they did last night because they were great, especially Keith David. That was just a tour de force from him and Lynn (Whitfield). I love the actors and the crew. It was such a great, great five seasons.

What was your initial thoughts when you first read the script and visualized what you had to direct?

Charles Randolph Wright: I actually read the script flying down to Atlanta and I think I screamed on the plane. I was stunned by what I knew we had to do, and how all the things that were happening with it. I wanted it to be organic and authentic and to do service to the show because I just I'm so proud of what the show has done and I’m proud to have been a part of it. I really wanted to live up to it because this was the next to final episode. Next week is the last episode so I really wanted this in my best. Each time you want to do your best work. Each time you want to do better than you did the last time. So that's what I wanted this to be.

Can you talk about directing the actors in this episode?

Charles Randolph Wright: That's what I meant about being organic and authentic to the people that Craig Wright created as the creator of this show.  These actors were breathing life into these people, they became the Greenleafs. They became these characters. So you want to stay true to what's been created over five seasons. You want to honor them, and honor the work that they did and honor these incredible characters that have been on television; who were unlike any other characters on television. The thing that I also loved about the show is that it was so different from other shows, and really went into this world in a unique way.

You’re known for directing theater productions and films. What goes into saying yes to directing TV episodes?

Charles Randolph Wright: For me, it's the integrity of the show. It's the storytelling. It’s the world that I want to see. Also, it's a world that I feel that I can give a good contribution to; that I can help the episode with my experience, or my interest or whatever. It's loving what I'm doing. That's what I do each day out if it's film or theater or television. I want to love the work and love the story I'm telling, because then I do it 1,000%. Every episode that I was fortunate to direct on Greenleaf, I really threw myself into it and was assisted by all the extraordinary cast, crew, and producers. Everyone on the show was was an honor to work with. Everyone would bring their best game every day to the set and that's what was thrilling to do.