Conversations with Atlanta's Movers and Shakers, Tracey Wright of Black Diamond Edible Creations
A few weeks ago, we were fortunate to have a conversation with self-taught baker Tracey Wright of Black Diamond Edible Creations. Tracey, a native of Hawthorne, Florida, taught herself to bake over 20 years ago, and the results of that project led to the creation of Black Diamond Edible Creations in 2010. This desire to bake has allowed her to create cakes for celebrities like Oscar winner Jamie Foxx, actor/rapper Ice Cube, late legendary director Garry Marshall, actress/comedian Tiffany Haddish and countless others.
The main focus of Black Diamond is to provide an experience through cake that will leave a lasting impression on the cake recipient. We are a made to order custom cake company that brings your ideas to life with attention to detail, while adding realism to your delicious cake.
Atlanta Film and TV: Can you share with us a little bit about who Tracey Wright is?
Tracey Wright: “I am a self-taught baker. I’m a mother to two adult sons, and three grandkids. I am the sister to eleven brothers and sisters. I am someone who loves helping people. I love baking and designing cakes. I love the way that people look when they see the cakes. Their excitement makes my entire day! It makes all the hard work worth it!”
Atlanta Film and TV: Can you take us on your journey from how you self-taught yourself to bake, to where you are now?
Tracey Wright: "I taught myself how to bake 25 years ago as a summer project. But, I didn’t tell anyone that I could bake, I hid that knowledge because sometimes when you tell people you can do something, that is all they will want you to do - and for free! In 2010, I was laid off from my job and needed an income. That year my money was low. Instead of buying gifts, I gave some people baked goods for Christmas. A couple of days later, one of those people called me and wanted to know what I would charge for what I gave them. I told him $45 for the banana pudding. I gave his wife the recipe, and she told her husband the next thing I send her, it better be an invoice!
I started baking cakes, cookies, banana pudding, as well as different pies with the encouragement of my friend Ronda. But, I didn’t think that it would bring me money. I just thought, 'Okay. I’m gonna try it and see what happens.' The first year, I only made $400, and I thought I was doing something!
"Designing cakes was different. I never wanted to design cakes because I had no idea how to do so. But, there was an amazing cake decorator named Sheila Thompson. She told me, “I think you can do it!” I took her up on that, and my very first custom cake was for the rapper 2 Chainz album release party."
- Tracey Wright, Black Diamond Edible Creations
Atlanta Film and TV: How did you begin creating cakes for celebrities?
Tracey Wright: "The year I didn’t work in production, I went to anything that was production-oriented. I went to different meetings,and meetups, and I would collect telephone numbers. One of the telephone numbers was Charlie Jabaley, who was the manager for 2 Chainz. I contacted him about possible doing a cake for the album release and was commissioned to do two cakes. After I designed those cakes, - I received another order for 8 months . My next cake was for the group TLC. When TLC filmed their movie, they needed a cake for the party, and I recreated the Ain’t Too Proud To Beg mural in fondant on the cake. Once the wrap party aired, people saw it on VHI, and TLC shared it on their social media pages. After that, representatives for other music artists began calling me for cakes. I have cakes and desserts for Trinidad James, Michael Keith of 112, Lyfe Jennings, Killer Mike, TI, Bobby Valentino, Xacape and the list goes on and on! "
Atlanta Film and TV: Who was the first celebrity you baked a cake for?
Tracey Wright: "The first cake was for 2 Chainz album release. But, at the end of the release, they hosted a block party. That is where guests ate the cake. Two years after the block party, I met a guy who realized I could bake. He asked if I could bake a moist cake because he was at an event and had a moist cake that he fell in love with! I told him I could bake it. Come to find out, the cake he had eaten two years ago was mine!"
Tracey Wright: "I baked for Samuel Jackson. Not only do I bake cakes for celebrities. I also design movie cakes for films such as Mothers Day, directed by Garry Marshall. And, recently baked for a TV One Original Film titled Stalker (it’s not out yet) starring Meta Golding and Chrisitan Keyes. I’ve designed 2 cakes for the Diary of a Wimpy Kids series, Ice Cube on the set of Barbershop 3, Tiffany Haddish on the set of Like A Boss, Jamie Foxx for Sleepless, Marsai Martin for the wrap of her movie Little, BET Producer Jesse Collins, and actress Robin Givens."
Atlanta Film and TV: What is your favorite cake to bake and why?
Tracey Wright: "My favorite cake to bake is red velvet. It’s my favorite because it’s one of the most difficult cakes to master. But, once you bake it and it turns out right you’ll be like, “YES!! This is such an accomplishment!” Over the years I’ve realized that everyone cannot bake a good red velvet cake."
Atlanta Film and TV: I read on your Instagram that you have fond memories of cakes you’ve baked in the past. What is your fondest memory, and why?
Tracey Wright: The fondest memory would be a bar-b-que grill that I did for a one of my clients for Labor Day. She had her family in town, and wanted to do something amazing for their cookout. So, I made her a bar-b-que grill, and we put dry ice and water in small shooter cups, so it would look like the grill was smoking. But, the thing that amazes me is, not too long after I created that cake table Top Grills came out on the market. Those were the 3 things that I created that became an item in the store or a tv show.
Atlanta Film and TV: What would be a piece of advice for someone who wants to one day bake for celebrities?
Tracey Wright: "I would first tell them to take their craft seriously. Secondly, be persistent. A lot of times you might get in touch with celebrities. And, they don’t get back to you until the last minute. By that time, you’ve moved on and think, “hey, it’s not going to happen.” But, they will say, Oh, man! I forgot! I got sidetracked. But, we still want you to do this. Which, by the way, I’ve had that done to me a lot. Recently, I had a celebrity call and say. “Do you think you can get me a cake by tomorrow?” I asked them, “for when tomorrow?” And they let me know it would be tomorrow night at ten. I let them know I could do it. But, because of the pandemic there is a lot of stuff I can’t get at the last minute. However, if you need a cake, please let me know ahead of time, and we can get it done!
One of the best things I have done is I pay for IMDb Pro every month. With that, I can contact managers or publicists, and say “hey. I know that they’re doing this. And, I wondered if you needed a custom cake to celebrate the event? When I first started, I gave away a lot of cakes. I did this because I was trying to get my name out there, which worked for me. Some people are still doing that, and it hasn’t worked for them.
I would also tell them to Make sure you know what’s going on in your city. You have to keep your finger on the pulse of your city at all times, especially here in Atlanta, because there's so many events and TV/movie productions going on. Be persistent, and don’t give up because it will work out. You just have to have faith in yourself."
Atlanta Film and TV: You were an adjunct professor at the Art Institute of Atlanta. Can you share with us about what it is you teach?
Tracey Wright: I was a professor at the Art Institute of Atlanta, I worked there for three years, teaching film production. I went there to speak to one of the classes. The director of the film program sat in the class during my presentation. Before they left, the director of the film program asked me to come to her office. I thought she wanted to buy a cake. When I went to her office, she asked if I wanted a job. I said, “sure.” Because I thought she was joking! But then she let me know she was serious. She got my email, and she sent me everything I needed to apply. And the following summer, which was the summer of 2017, was when I started. This was one of the best things that ever happened to me because it allowed me to help others. I have three students right now who are working on movie productions here in Atlanta. They started as production assistants. And, now one is a second assistant director, one is in the props department and one is still a PA.
Atlanta Film and TV: How can people connect with you on social media?
Tracey Wright: I am on Instagram, and Twitter @blkdiamonddec and on Facebook at Black Diamond Edible Creations. You can also check out my website at blkdiamondec.com and by phone at 678-408-1440.
Click here, for the video portion of our interview with Tracey Wright.