TV audiences know Trey Haley as director and co-executive producer on the hit Carl Weber series The Family Business and The Black Hamptons, both of which have found strong followings on BET‘s streaming service BET Plus. What viewers may not be aware of is how busy the Texas native is out from behind the camera. He’s also president and partner of Tri Destined Studios, which has a number of film and TV projects under its banner. With both TV shows coming back for new seasons, I caught up with Trey to discuss his work as both a director and a producer.
Brittany Frederick: What continues to motivate you to work in the entertainment industry?
Trey Haley: I really do enjoy creating content—making projects that can somewhat ease people’s life. We all have a lot of stress and a lot of things going on around the world, but then to be able to come home, to sit down and find something that tunes [that] out, takes them to another journey… whether it uplifts them, makes them see life a certain way, makes them see the ups and the downs, maybe even look at themselves and learn from characters. I think there’s something powerful with the power of images. We can learn from these stories.
BF: Two of the stories you’re telling right now are both based on Carl Weber’s source material. Does that create a common language between The Black Hamptons and The Family Business?
TH: It’s about 50/50. Family Business has a little edge; there’s a sense of wealth and all that kind of stuff, too. With this world, we like to kind of keep it above the fray… so that the world that they’re playing in doesn’t feel so real. You’re really focusing on the family, which is what The Family Business, of course, is about. The Black Hamptons, on the other hand, we literally went in there and said let’s take people on a vacation. Let’s take people out of their worlds. We always said think Dallas, Dynasty—what you felt when you watched shows like that, but make it something that people could aspire to. If you’ve never been to the Hamptons, or would like to know what it feels like to be in that space, here’s a show that can give it to you… We just want it beautiful, bright, and a lot of drama.
Carl Weber is involved on set and involved with all the storylines. The fine lines of the details in the books and stuff like that—that’s what we I’ve learned with these. When you’re taking a story from a book into the world of TV, obviously you can’t tell everything, but people attach themselves to what the character looks like. Does it match the book? The details [in] the car, the dress… the moment she said this one line, did it hit just like it did in the book? I think people understand the broad strokes may be a little different. But it’s the small things and that’s what consistently I think we keep within Carl Weber’s universe.
BF: Is there any specific theme or storyline in either show that stood out to you this season?
TH: In The Black Hamptons, I’m excited about the fact that [we show] the spirit of what is really going on sometimes in Sag Harbor, in the Black [community]. This is a real area within the Hamptons, but there’s a lot of areas [that are] dealing with gentrification and different things like that going on around the country. I feel like a lot of people will connect with this [season] and understand and see both sides of the coin.
There’s the people who just come in; there’s no rhyme or reason. They’re just wanting to do business. They’re in real estate; they don’t care where it is. But then there’s the other side of the coin, where you hear people say well, we’ve had this for centuries, and why are people coming in and selling what we’ve had? The spirit of that, the journey of that, I think I’m really proud of how we show that storyline, without it being political.
BF: How much does your still being an active director help you in your role as president of Tri Destined Studios, where you’re having to look at projects from more of a business angle?
TH: Knowing both sides of the coin allows you to not get so emotionally involved with certain decisions a lot of times, because you understand the business side of it. I think as creatives, we get caught in that, but it show business, and I always say show is only four letters and the business is the bigger side of it. There are decisions that you have to make [where] you have to remove yourself out of it, all the way from pre-production to post-production, and you have to make real business choices. We pride ourselves in being collaborative and understanding that you make the best product you can, but [you have to] be open to all the other parts that come with it.
BF: Do you prefer one role or the other, or have a particular favorite part of the creative process?
TH: The most enjoyable moment is when you see it all come together and you’re in that sound mixing session. You’re sitting there with the locked cut and you hear that score; you see all of the work that you put together. But as a [director], I really, really enjoy taking nothing and turning it into something. Collaborating with the actors, the different departments, and knowing that this is going to go to the world and hopefully inspire people.
BF: What’s the most important lesson that you’ve learned on your journey to become the multi-hyphenate that you are today?
TH: I have an interesting journey because when I moved to Los Angeles, I honestly didn’t know anybody. I just knew that this is what I want to do… Most people feel like they have to know somebody to be in this business. But the truth is, eventually you’re going to have to know people and meet people. It’s just taking the steps to just go and get out of your own way. And I know that sounds so cliche, but most people just don’t take the steps and they’re always overthinking it.
It’s like climbing a mountain. You’ll get there instead of trying to jump to the top. Take each step, be creative, do good work, be good with people, treat people with respect and don’t be afraid to ask. Most people don’t want to hear a “no.” It’s not about hearing the “no,” it’s about finding the “yes.” And I think if people could get out of their own way, making those steps of believing that the opportunity is going to be there. I don’t think that people believe that’s how you really get in this [industry], on every level. As you keep going higher and higher in this business, you keep taking that next step and not being caught in the comfort zone.
Carl Weber’s The Black Hamptons and Carl Weber’s The Family Business are now streaming on BET Plus.
Article content is (c)2020-2024 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram.
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