Exclusive: Lance Gross and Joyful Drake talk Hallmark Mahogany's ‘Unthinkably Good Things’
Coming out on August 28 on the Hallmark Channel is the romantic comedy Unthinkably Good Things, starring Karen Pittman, Joyful Drake, Erica Ash & Lance Gross star, with Terri J. Vaughn directing.
This is the first film under the Crown Media+Mahogany banner, where this collaboration is about elevating stories that share the power of inclusion, sisterhood and resilience rooted in Blackness.
The film, set to debut on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, sees a woman named Allison (Pittman) at a crossroads in her career and love life, in need of the love and support of her two friends Melina (Joyful Drake) and Reesa (Erica Ash). When they visit her in Tuscany, the reunion causes each woman to reexamine the state of her own life and relationships. While they have different personalities and perspectives, they know each other’s truths and help to make life-changing decisions.
Drake plays Melina, a chef. After coming off a health scare, the new restaurant owner has to deal with a possible visit from a food critic and the stress that comes with that. There in Tuscany for her best friend, Melina signs up for a local cooking class and hopes to be inspired by the local cuisine.
Drake currently has a recurring role on Starz's P-Valley, and leads the upcoming drama series, HUSH on ALLBLK streaming network. She previously starred as Tasha on the popular BET comedy series, Let's Stay Together and appeared in the films November Rule, Get Him to the Greek, and Catch Hell.
Gross plays Andre, Reesa's husband and is back in the U.S. while Reesa heads to Italy for some much needed girl-time. Will the distance make the two grow fonder or grow apart?
Best known for his role as Calvin Payne on the TBS sitcom Tyler Perry's House of Payne and OWN sitcom Tyler Perry's The Paynes, Gross recently starred on Fox’s Our Kind of People. He was previously a series regular Fox's Star while also having a recurring role on CBS' MacGyver. His film credits include Meet the Browns, Our Family Wedding, The Last Fall, Tyler Perry's Temptations: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor, When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story, and Dutch.
Blackfilmandtv.com correspondent Sidnee Michelle spoke with Gross and Drake on working on this film.