"Understanding Origins": An Interview with Omar Epps and 2 Chainz on the Heart of Red Clay
- Mandisa A. Johnson, MS, MFA
- Jun 3
- 2 min read

Red Clay premiered at the 49th Annual Atlanta Film Festival, on Saturday, May 3rd at The Plaza Theater. Directed by Christian Nolan Jones, Red Clay is Executive Produced by Tauheed “2 Chains” Epps and Omar Epps, and stars Rutina Wesley, Christopher Ammanuel, and Jaylan Ragin.
“Red Clay, tells the poignant story of Nook, (Ammaunel) a conflicted teenager navigating the challenging terrains of adolescence, amidst his mother’s crippling drug addiction. In a bid to overcome their dire circumstances, Nook makes a fateful decision that marks the sacrifice of his child-like imaginative nature for pragmatic tactics for survival and the preservation of his family.”
Prior to the screening, we were fortunate to chat with both Omar Epps and Tauheed “2 Chainz” Epps, about Red Clay.

Atlanta Film and TV: What do you hope audiences take away from this film?
Omar Epps: I hope people take away empathy, which is one of the main things. The film explores the ‘why’s’ of how people become who they are. I think when you get that understanding, you leave with a little more empathy and understand people’s origins.
Atlanta Film and TV: Why is it important for Red Clay to be set in Atlanta?
Omar Epps: Red Clay is loosely based on “2 Chainz” life. Atlanta has a rich history, especially when it comes to our culture. I think it’s a backdrop that we’ve seen - I don’t think necessarily in this time period, and certainly not in this raw of a way. We’ve seen the glamorized version of what’s happening in a few neighborhoods over. This is kind of the trenches of what’s really going on.
Atlanta Film and TV: What do you hope that the youth take away from this story?

Tauheed “2 Chainz”Epps: I want the youth to know that it is another day. It’s another sovereign hill. It's very steep, but once you get on the other side of the mountain, you’ll get another outcome.
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