Former NBA All-Star turned documentarian Baron Davis admits that he's been trying to land a spot on Issa Rae's hit HBO comedy Insecure since it started.
Davis sat down with The Undefeated to talked his new campaign with Paul Pierce, post-NBA life, breaking into film and his constant auditioning for Insecure.
Before joining the league, Davis was a TV and film student at UCLA, making a transition to film and production a natural fit. His first off the court endeavor was his 2016 launch of The Black Santa Company, a company that celebrates positive black role models and promotes giving all year. Going beyond family content, Davis continued to shake the table with his social justice-centered projects, "Crips and Bloods: Made in America" and "The Drew: No Excuse, Just Produce."
The Drew is about a storied basketball league in the community that attracts top talent. Crips and Bloods chronicles the rise of those infamous gangs through first-person accounts.
"You see these documentaries on gangs, and they're just telling you what the gang's doing, telling you, telling you. So it's like you're so afraid of them, and they strike this fear in you," Davis told CNN Money. "I was like, you know what, let's turn the camera, and let's give the camera to them."
As someone eager to change the narrative of film, it's no surprise that he'd want to be apart of Insecure — a show that's doing just that.
"I’m into a little bit of everything," the South Central Los Angeles native said when asked if he was more of a sitcom or drama guy. "Power is great. Black-ish is good. Insecure — I’m trying to be on that show. I’ve been auditioning since it started."
Just like Rae, Davis has enjoyed time in front of and behind the camera. When it comes to directing, the 39-year-old says he loves the opportunity it brings.
"I love it. I have an opportunity to … look at these new stars and do some of the things that I always wanted to do from a creative standpoint. I want to be different and stand out and more so give them the kind of look and the voice that they want," Davis said.
Issa Rae is making dope content. Baron Davis is making dope content. Finding a way to bring his dopeness to Insecure's dopeness is the collaboration of creativity we deserve.