Interview: BMF Stars, Demetrius Flenory, Jr. and Da’ Vinchi along With Executive Producer Randy Huggins
STARZ’s new drama series “BMF” from Executive Producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, premieres Sunday, September 26 at 9 PM ET/PT on STARZ and internationally on STARZPLAY.
“BMF” is inspired by the true story of two brothers, Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory ( Demetrius Flenory, Jr.) and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory (Da’Vinchi), from the inner-city streets of southwest Detroit in the late 1980s, who fostered the most prominent drug trafficking organization in the U.S., known as “Black Mafia Family.”
This series explores the brothers’ lives, their family dynamics, and their relationship with the community in an authentic manner that highlights their upbringing in a traditional family unit. Their parents Charles Flenory (Russell Hornsby) and Lucille Flenory (Michole Briana White), as well as their spiritual advisor, Pastor Swift (Snoop Dogg), push the brothers to pursue formal educations. The tension between Meech and Terry’s blood family and the criminal family they formed to eradicate themselves from poverty creates inner conflict as the brothers pursue the ever-elusive American Dream.
I got an opportunity to speak with writer and executive producer of “BMF” Randy Huggins, along with leading stars Demetrius Flenory, Jr. and Da’ Vinchi.
FSD: Why do you feel that now is the time to tell the story of Big Meech?
RH: For me, I feel like there are several parallels to the 1980s when their story was coming about. First and foremost, I think the 1980s was the creation of crack cocaine, and now you have opioids in our country. In the 1980s, we had a rise in unemployment, and if you look at the pandemic and the unemployment that it has created, I think that’s also fascinating. And finally, the third point to why I wanted to tell the story is that in the 1980s, hip-hop was emerging, now hip-hop has become a dominant force. So I thought viewing these three specific instances with a historical context might inspire further conversation on people trying to understand how we got to this place and how do we move forward.
FSD: So after this first season, can we expect more?
RH: I’m not in control of that, but yes on another season. These guys had a 22 year run so, there is so much more of their story to tell, and I’m most excited about seeing the growth of these two talented thespians in front of us (Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory & Da’ Vinchi) continue as well.
FSD: How did it feel to portray your dad on screen and tell his story?
DFJ: Words can’t express the feeling, but it felt amazing. It was a lot of pressure, but pressure busts pipes. I feel like I’ve dealt with it the best I could, and I made the best outcome. I took it super seriously and as seriously as possible. The whole goal was to make sure my dad, my family, Randy, and everyone else, felt like I did a great job. I didn’t want to do good, I wanted to do excellent.
I feel like everyone in the cast did great, such a wonderful experience. Getting to play my dad at just 16/17 years old, when I wasn’t even thought of yet, and getting to put on the clothes that they used to wear in the 80s, getting to walk the same footsteps that he and my uncle got to walk in Detroit on the same block that they grew up on, in the same house that they grew up in. Like that never happens, that’s very rare. I’m thankful for Randy, 50, and STARZ and appreciative of everybody that we just got to tell the story that was needed for the culture.
Unfortunately, time ran out and I was unable to chat more with Da’ Vinchi.
BMF premieres Sunday, September 26 at 9 PM ET/PT on STARZ and internationally on STARZPLAY.
