Interview With Roxanne Lanette The Director Of TORTURE a New Television Series.
We at the The Nu TV Network aka the Nu, currently broadcasts 24 hours a day on Roku TV and VOD on Apple TV and its prime time series had the privilege of interviewing Roxanne Lanette the director of the television series called Torture.
Nu has stepped its high quality content level up a notch, and dare I say, even is a solid competitor for Netflix and Hulu for a hipper younger cooler audience. With the addition of their newest rollout of original series, The Nu is poised to be the next generation Netflix.
The interview with Roxanne Lanette was educating and informative.

What’s your name & Where are you from?
My name is Roxanne Lanette and I was born and raised in Philly. Southwest Philly to be exact.
What was it like growing up there?
I loved growing up in Philly, spending time in the water plug, eating great water ice and cheese pretzels (with salt and mustard) from Fred’s Water Ice, not to mention cheesesteaks, the block parties, the cookouts, double dutch in the streets while the fellas played ball with Wawa milk crates on the pole Lol, the free lunches on the block every summer, going to many Sixers games and cheering on Iverson, getting our hearts broken every year by our Iggles and still having fun in the process, going to free summer concerts at Penn’s Landing then hanging out on South St afterwards, Unity day on the Parkway, Odonde in South Philly, there were SO many events I attended growing up where the city came together and we had so much love for each other; BUT we are a tough and blue collar city so you had to have tough skin. I used to get bullied a lot growing up because I was different and awkward. I wasn’t like most of the kids I grew up around, I was never a part of the in-crowd of “cool” kids. It was those experiences that shaped me into the strong woman I am today. Philly brought out my toughness and I wouldn’t want to have grown up anywhere else. PhillyMade

My parents ALWAYS took me to the movies growing up. It didn’t matter, Rated R, PG, PG 13 I seen it all and during those years I started to have a love for film and entertainment. The first movie I remember seeing was the Three Amigos in 1986 and my little girl self loved that film and I was hooked ever since. As a little girl I would always pretend that I was an actress, a singer, or a entertainer. Putting on fake concerts in my room, to saying lines in the mirror, to pretending that I was directing my Barbies on the set of a movie. It wasn’t until I was 13 or 14 that I realized that I could make a career out of it.
How did you get into the industry?
I created my own path. I did little film projects in college at first, but it wasn’t until my friend and actor Ken Maurice told me about music artist Common having a film contest that I really got my start. I was 28 years old and directed my first short film. We did it with a cheap camera and passion. We ended up making 4th place! I knew that I wanted to do more, so I tried to do more film projects but kept failing. I co-directed a music video that was completed but for other projects it still was not enough funding, not enough time, not enough crew, equipment, etc so I gave up for awhile. I then went to LA on a dream and a prayer and met actor Derek Green when we did an episode of a web series together. We kept in touch when I moved back East and I needed him for a part in a documentary I was doing. He came out and brought his cousins Tai and Brandon Thompson. Tai and Brandon liked how I was directing and invited me to direct Torture, I directed the 2nd episode 3 years ago and the rest is HISTORY. In the process of Torture I co-directed a McDonald’s commercial for a ABFF contest, and directed a Doritos commercial for another contest. It’s never too late to follow your dreams!
Was there anyone that you looked up that did what you wanted to do?
Yes, I really looked up to Spike Lee from the time I was a kid. I remember being in 11th grade and on my way to school I seen Spike Lee in my neighborhood location scouting. I was star struck yet inspired and I told myself that it will be ME one day. When I met Spike Lee later in my adult life, he told me to just keep shooting and I’ve ran with that advice ever since. I also look up to Ava DuVernay. Me and Ava are alike in a lot of ways. I like how she is a unapologetic filmmaker and still get opportunities from major studios. She has that cinematic freedom that I strive for. I look up to Tyler Perry as well. We have similar stories and both been through childhood trauma and depression and just to see him transform his pain into his purpose through his art is sooo inspiring for me to do the same.
How did you come up with the idea of the show?
I did not come up with the idea for Torture. The writer and creator Tai Theory(Thompson) and our cinematographer/co-creator Kirby Griffin came up with the idea. Torture was originally a song performed and written by Tai and they decided to turn it into a film. They put the first episode out and it kept growing from there.

Is it based on real life events?
We use real life events to formulate and depict our story lines. Art always imitate life and we use our art to tell the story of life in Baltimore and any other urban city.
Who do you think would like your show? Guys, girls, young and or old…
The great thing about Torture is that any and everyone will get something out of it. We’re not confined to only one type of demographic and that’s what we strive for.
Is shooting on set as fun as it looks?
We always have a blast on set. We laugh, make jokes, yet get down to business. We do have some hard days where it seems as though everything is going wrong, tempers rise, etc then we have good days when the shoot is going smoothly; but through it all we always make it fun in some way.
What do you like most about being a director/producer?
I love bringing the script to life visually and seeing the characters grow and form from paper to the screen. I love having visual control and telling a story through images. It can be so STRESSFUL yet rewarding when you see the final product. I also love the challenge that comes with it. Every time I’m on set sometimes with limited resources, I have to make lemonade out of lemons or try to work under difficult circumstances personally or professionally that really stretches me out of my comfort zone.
What can we expect from your next episode?
Expect drama, inspiration, and entertainment.
What should viewers look out for this season?
There are many plot twist and suspense throughout the whole season. The audience may get angry with some characters and fall in love with others. You may even be rooting for some characters that you didn’t expect to root for.
Do you have anything to say to your fans and viewers of the show?
THANK YOU. Thanks to everyone that show us love and been riding with us from the beginning. Shoutout to Darwin Reina from Sweden who promotes us overseas. I will like to say hello to the new viewers to come as well, everyone is in for a wild ride.
Any wild characters we should be on the lookout for?
Every character is unique and as I stated before the audience will gravitate to certain characters. The character to watch out for is James, he may seem loyal and down for the team but carries secrets unbeknownst to the other characters. What done in his darkness will come to the light as the episodes progress. Tune in as it all goes down!!
What’s been your favorite part about writing this series so far?
I don’t directly write the series but I do give input and make edits to the scripts. I love working with Tai during the creative process and ensuring that we have a great story line.
Name one actor that you would want to appear on your series, who would it be and why?
Angela Bassett!! I absolutely adore her and I’ve always wanted to work with her on anything. I admire her grace, her classiness, and her whole vibe. I WILL work with her one day!
If you had to go to save one tv show or web series and let the other one drown, who would be you save and who would you let drown? And why?
I have a few shows that I like but if I had to save one it’s Stranger Things on Netflix. I love that show because it steps outside the box. I fell in love with that show after only one season and I really have to give props to the Duffer brothers who created such a well put together show. I would drown Star on Fox..I love Queen Latifah but the show is pointless and boring.
How do you balance family and filming?
The only family I’m really close to is my parents as I am not married with any children. My week and days can get really busy as I barely have time for myself so when I do get sometime I travel back home to Philly and visit my parents as much as I can.
Your apart of a new wave of top indie producers on major indie platforms like The Nu TV Network, would you suggest that other producers go the indie route as well?
Yes most definitely. In this day and age of social media, I feel as though you don’t have to go the traditional Hollywood route anymore. Bloom where you are planted and create your own opportunities. You have to start somewhere to reach your dreams and the more work you do on the indie level, the more chance that someone on the mainstream will see your work. I’m a strong advocate of doing your own thing without waiting for your big break to happen. There’s a level of artistic freedom in the indie movement that you can’t always get in the mainstream.
Do you have any advice for aspiring actors trying to get into the industry, If they wanted to get on your series what would you expect from them?
Anyone that is trying to get on, you HAVE to pay your dues. Never feel as though you are too important to work for free or for little money. Every project you do put your all into it. Study, study, study your craft and always find ways to get better. We expect people to match our hustle and to dedicate themselves to growing. We have actors with lots of experience and some with no experience, we work with different ranges and levels of actors but when we’re on set everyone is treated equal, everyone works hard at getting better and that’s what we expect from the actors and crew alike. Diva personalities are not welcomed.
Any new projects we should be on the lookout for?
Yes, I wrote and will be directing a short film called Invisible Boundaries that is loosely based on my life. We are also doing a comedy series as well. It will be a BUSY fall!
What’s your social media sites?
On Facebook: Roxanne Lanette; Instagram/Twitter: @directorscut215 and wottsproductions.com
The Nu TV Network will release their new Nu TV Network app that will be available on all phones and devices Labor Day weekend. They will still also be available on their current Apple TV and Roku Tv channel “The Nu TV Network” aka The Nu and begun promoting several “Nu Exclusive” prime time series that will only be available on their network as a part of its new fall lineup. The Nu has award winning series, festival winners, and also top web based series that have been adapted for HD television. Top of the list are the action series like “Here’s 2 The Throne,””The Professional Chiller”, and top tier new additions “The Terms” and “Torture” that air every DoOrDieFriday. The Nu also have great comedies like “DC Yuppies”, the new dramatic comedy “The Put Down,” and the smash live action comedy hit Vigilant about a guy that tries to become a super hero in his spare time. They are all Nu Exclusives that air on WeGotJokesMondays. And we can not forget Tuesday’s have the romantic dramas on AllAboutDramaTuesdays like the new series Chip reader from Haas El’s Innacs Production and everyone’s favorite drama the “Oldhead Web Series” from producer Tony Chennault. The Nu TV Network instagram is a great place to see all of their top series and also watch trailers and clips of each show. Add in blood thirsty zombie horror shows on SaturdayScreams and extreme Professional wrestling from “Rock Star Pro Wrestling” this could easily become your new favorite station. Their instagram is nutvnetwork_ And their website is www.nutvnet.com The Nu TV Network app will be released Labor Day Weekend
