(jazzy theme music)

- And welcome to this specialedition of "Studio 5."

"Respect" is now intheaters to high praise.

So we thought we'd spendthis entire half hour

looking at the film throughthe eyes of its stars.

And we'll begin withthe actress and singer

Aretha Franklin hand-pickedto play the role.

Here's a look at Jennifer Hudson at work

and our "Studio 5" conversation.

♪ R-E-S-P-E-C-T ♪

♪ Find out what it means to me ♪

♪ R-E-S-P-E-C-T ♪

♪ Take care TCB ♪

- So Jennifer, you wereactually hand-picked

by Aretha Franklin to play this role.

Do you have an early memory of her?

- Wow.

I mean, Aretha has always been there so

I can't say exactly whatmy earliest memory of

hearing her music,

but again, it's always been there for me.

Maybe even unconsciously so.

Like, I grew up in a church singing

and I didn't realize untildoing research for the film

how much her music was ablueprint in the gospel

that we were singing in church.

So she's always been there,

even without me knowing it.

- So from the early years to now,

here you are portraying Aretha Franklin.

How did you prepare

emotionally, physically, and musically

to become the Queen of Soul?

- You first of all, can'tjust wake up and say,

"I'm gonna be the Queen of Soul,"

it takes a lot of preparation.

I work with amazingpeople in the production

such as dialect coach, Tom Jones

or acting coach Leland Thompson.

Everything played a role in that

to develop the character of her.

Also being able to know heras well and draw from that,

which causes you to care that much more

in your delivery of telling such a story.

And then musically,

that I feel like camefirst before anything.

And it's always the introduction for me

in any role that I play,

music is always the introduction.

So I kind of had a headstart with that portion

because I've always beena fan of Aretha as well.

- As we know the world shutdown because of the pandemic

but now this movie isbeing released at a time

that people can actuallysee it in the theater.

What does that mean?

- I am so excited to see"Respect" come to theaters

and that it will bring people together.

Aretha brought everybodytogether in her life

through her music so it's only be fitting

for everyone to come outto celebrate the queen

in theaters together,

celebrating her life.

So I'm so excited tosee the world be a part

of that celebration and honorher the way she should be.

- This film's director, Liesl Tommy,

has a musical theater background

and I know you've done Broadway as well.

What was she like as a director?

- Liesl was like a hugekey piece in the making

in how "Respect" was made.

I think bringing in her theater background

and then her amazingdirection and perspective

gave the film

its own unique elementsto make it its own,

which was necessary to tellthe story of the Queen of Soul.

She was a true musician

and it came from real life events.

And I feel as though Lieslbrought those real textures

into it by adding realmusicians to honor the queen

and allowing the...

it to breathe in real time, which made it

that much more authenticand very similar to

how theater is done but brought to screen.

- A big thing that you andAretha Franklin have in common

is growing up singing in the church.

Talk about those similarpaths that you two walked.

- Oh my God.

So first of all, justbeing from the church

and people knowing that, as a Christian,

is liberating and I love that.

But for it to be said thatboth Aretha and I have

a similar background is evenmore like, beyond for me.

But I think it was themost important factor

in this whole thing.

Her faith,

it was important tohave present in the film

and it was my faith thatgot me through the film

to be able to do it.

So that's the premise across the board,

the bookends for both of us.

♪ What you want ♪

- In this film, you showus Aretha at her lowest,

but you also show us Arethain some really joyful times.

What did you take away whenlearning about that joy?

What did it teach you?

- Wow.

You know, you love tosee your heroes shine.

And so to see,

it inspires me so much

to see icon, legend,

someone I looked up toand still look up to,

like the Queen of Soul,Aretha Franklin, prevail

and go after her dreamsand succeed in that

from the treasure that's within her.

That makes me want todiscover my own that much more

and it increases my driveand hunger to wanna do it.

And that's the power ofa role model and an icon

such as Aretha Franklin.

♪ Bring it home ♪

♪ Hey baby when you get home ♪

- And a reminder for you,"Respect" is in theaters

right now and we've got more

of our "Studio 5" "Respect"Special still ahead.

When we come back.

- To the line.

- We're peeling back more of the curtain

and going behind the scenes.

How would you describe the relationship

between Aretha Franklinand her dad, C.L. Franklin?

With a Academy Award-winningactor, Forest Whitaker.

- I wonder,

do you feel all right?

Do you feel all right?

You love him because he loved so deeply

but he's like, comingfrom a strict background.

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(upbeat music)

- Welcome back to this"Studio 5" special look

at the film, "Respect: TheLife of Aretha Franlkin"

and a key figure in thatlife is Aretha Franklin's dad

and pastor, Clarence LaVaughn Franklin,

known to most people asReverend C.L. Franklin.

Forest Whitaker plays that role.

Here's a quick look at him in action

and our conversation with theAcademy Award-winning actor.

- We have nothing to fear, church!

'Cause what is the whiteman compared to God?

- Let's begin talking aboutthe character you play,

Reverend C.L. Franklin.

♪ Oh yes ♪

♪ Oh yes ♪

♪ Oh yeah ♪

- He was a preacher,Southern Baptist preacher,

I think that's part of his definition.

He was a family man, he had like,

a number of children.

He was the first one whoreally started sort of

almost like, mega church behavior by like,

touring and putting 5,000 people in arenas

to hear preaching.

He's also, you know, very controlling and

at the same time, he can be

abusive at different times.

So he just has this love...

You love him but, 'causehe loves so deeply

but he's like comingfrom a strict background

so some of that spillsover into his family.

- How would you describe the relationship

between Aretha Franklinand her dad, C.L. Franklin?

- I think Aretha was...

he started her out reallyyoung when she was like,

seven years old, she startedto go on the road with him.

He asked her, that they wouldfrom town to town to town

to town to town and he was controlling

and just making all thedecisions of her life.

Continued onward until shegot to her teens and then

the decision was made,pretty much by C.L.,

to bring her to a record company.

So he started to look for who he thought

would be good for her,where she should be.

And then when he getsthere, he's gone and made

the decision about Columbia, he then

goes into, well, I don'twant them to pigeon-hole you,

you can do all kinds of music.

This is what I wanna do.

And this is what she hasto do to become a star.

And that's the way he saw it.

He was trying to controlthe trajectory of her light

or her stardom.

- What was it like workingwith Director Liesl Tommy?

- She's a director whoreally sees it and knows how

to work with actors.

I think she's probably, fromher training and her plays

that she's directed as well.

So she's able to step into a scene

and help find the right course.

You know, many times I'llbe trying to figure out

is this the right direction?

And then we'll talk about it, she'll like

give me clues and stuffthrough that direction.

And I've watched her workclosely with the other actors.

She's very meticulous,she's always coming in

to try to elevate their work.

- In doing this project, whatdid you learn about Aretha?

- I didn't know so muchabout Aretha Franklin.

I knew her, I've met her before, and I

seen her in passing.

But I didn't

know the different strugglesthat she was going through

in order to give us this persona

of this larger than life individual

who shines so high.

- Jennifer Hudson went to greatlengths to prepare for this,

including learning to play piano.

What did you see andthink watching her work?

- She's working reallyhard and doing a job.

I mean, you can see like,

the being of Aretha being made, you know,

through her on the stage, you know?

I think she's amazing.

- And what about thework of Marlon Wayans?

We're very familiar with him as a comedian

but to see him playingsuch a serious side.

- He also is like a, ableto show sides of himself

that are really powerful.

He's a good actor and

as we started to do thescenes more and more,

(inaudible).

I think he's a...

Obviously he's an exceptionaltalent, he's like,

comes from comedy tosomething so serious as this

and able to carry off apivotal role in the film

in a great way.

- What would you say isthe theme of this film?

- I think that the movie isreally exciting and it's fun

so I think people willlike it and be entertained

and mostly moved.

And I think that at a core level,

Aretha's going through ajourney of abuse and addiction

and she's trying to findher way out of that.

And ultimately, she finds herway out of that in the end

from her childhood to her mid-life

up until when she passed away.

I think for people to be able to say,

"I can pass by these painsand move into a new place

"and new light,"

to me, is kinda the theme of the movie.

I wonder, do you feel all right?

Do you feel all right?

Well then let's give mydaughter, Aretha, another hand.

- Now, this is not the firsttime we've seen Whitaker

playing the role of a Black preacher.

You could say it is in his blood.

As we continue this "Studio5" "Respect" special,

we've also made thisour "Studio 5" Snapshot.

- We've shared the excitementsurrounding "Respect"

actually being shown in movie theaters

and cameras were on hand hereat its premier in Los Angeles

where the film's stars cameout and posed for photographs

alongside some ofHollywood's biggest names.

It was an evening to remember

and celebrate the Queen of Soul,

who actually died threeyears ago this week,

August 16th, 2018.

This celebration of her film and her life

is this week's "Studio 5" Snapshot.

Still ahead, in this "Studio5" "Respect" special.

- No European tour.

- [Man] Why not?

- Because we have some TV dates

we're trying to schedule first.

- [Efrem] We watch comedian,Marlon Wayans, get serious.

- Five minutes ago, you didn'teven wanna go on a tour.

Now you got musicians lined up?

- Watch your tone, Jerry.

- This film does capturesome really low points

for Aretha Franklin, but it also captures

a lot of joy for her.

What is it about her joy thatyou would say inspires you?

His answer when "Studio 5" continues.

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- [Shawn] It's about the competition.

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- [Shawn] It's about going the distance.

- You know, I think asa father, it's my job,

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Just be the best husbandand father I can be.

- [Shawn] Watch "Going theDistance with Shawn Brown"

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- Welcome back to thisspecial edition of "Studio 5."

"Respect" captures just one chapter

of the Queen of Soul's life.

And another key figure in that chapter

was her husband, Ted White.

Marlon Wayans playedthat role in the film.

Take a look.

- Do I look old?

- You look gorgeous.

- Some would say ArethaFranklin is the biggest voice

of all time and she isgetting an opportunity

to have her story told in theaters again.

What do you think of that?

- I think seeing this movie in the theater

is a must

because it's a theater experience.

It's like going to see a Broadway musical.

We have

Jennifer, who's a bigvoice, playing Aretha,

who's a big voice.

It's just a great experience.

If it's anything like what Isaw live when we filmed it,

the audience is in for

a hell of a ride.

We want original songsmade for Aretha only.

So it's a special movieabout a special woman

and I just feel so blessedto be a part of this.

I'd like to take you out.

- I'd like you to take me out.

- Director Liesl Tommy hasa big Broadway background,

in theater, if you will,

how do you think that has influenced

the production here of "Respect"?

- Well I think Liesl Tommy's

background in theaterreally helped the experience

of making the movie because everything

we did in the movie, especiallymusically, it was live.

So all the instruments was live.

Jennifer's singing was live.

Her rehearsing was live.

Every day, we felt like we was

in a Broadway play.

And so I think she brought a musical...

A Broadway play to the big screen.

So that makes for a great live experience.

- This film does capturesome really low points

for Aretha Franklin, but it also captures

a lotta joy for her.

What is it about her joy thatyou would say inspires you?

- I'm inspired by...

I think what inspiresme about her joy is that

I know she went through so much.

I learned so much doing the movie

and I learned how oppressed and suppressed

that she was that, you know,

that she could pour herself into her art

and through her art, you know,

become this legend and

also then empower herself

and take it and stripothers who abuse that power,

empower herself, and thengive that power and that light

to causes that needed her.

Whether it be the Civil Rights movement,

the Womens movement, shejust was a phenomenal woman.

- [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,

Miss Aretha Franklin.

♪ Feel like a natural woman ♪

- And stick around.

We still have one more voice to share

in this "Studio 5" look at "Respect."

Moments away.

- [Aretha] I see an old familyfriend, Dinah Washington

is in the audience.

(applause)

- [Efrem] The Queen of HipHop Soul, Mary J. Blige.

- Dinah Washington was an influence on me

through my mother.

- [Efrem] Shares her role.

- Honey, find the music that suits you,

that moves you.

- [Efrem] In the Queen of Soul's story.

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♪ And where there's joy there's action ♪

♪ It's like a great attraction ♪

♪ That starts a chain reaction ♪

♪ Moving on my satisfaction ♪

♪ I love the way this joy makes me move ♪

♪ I got the joy ♪

♪ I dance around because I know it ♪

♪ Joy I move around because I got it joy ♪

♪ Joy to the whole heart ♪

♪ Joy ♪

♪ I dance around because I know it joy ♪

♪ I move around because I got it joy ♪

♪ Joy to the whole heart ♪

♪ Joy ♪

♪ Joy to the whole heart ♪

♪ Joy ♪

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- [Man] Young people, millennials,are flocking to church.

- [Woman] It's not an exaggeration to say

that we love to meet them and that we love

to know their stories.

- Welcome back to this "Studio 5" special.

Another force in this chapterof Aretha Franklin's life

was music pioneer, Dinah Washington.

It's a role brought tolife by Mary J. Blige.

- Honey, find the music that suits you.

That moves you.

Until you do that,

you ain't going nowhere.

- What can you tell usabout Dinah Washington?

- Dinah Washington was

an influence on me through my mother,

through my grandparents.

I believe that my grandmother

may have listened to Dinah Washington

and then my mom,

didn't play her as muchas she played Aretha,

but I experienced her through my mom just,

just other, you know,older people, older women.

- What was the biggest challenge

of portraying this character?

- Biggest challenge to play Dinah,

for me, I guess was just to be so cold.

Just so cold-blooded to

little Aretha, young Aretha,

and to just

constantly challenge a young girl.

- Mary J., you're a queenmusically in your own rite,

how did the Queen ofSoul's music impact you?

- My first memory of Aretha Franklin

was my mom playing "BridgeOver Troubled Water"

all over the house and playing

"Do Right Woman" and so mymom played Aretha Frank--

like, my mom is a hugeAretha Franklin fan.

So when I was a little girl,

I heard a lot of Aretha in my home.

And I was just always moved by just

her voice and how it gave me chills

and how my mom would sing, you know,

kinda sound just like her--

not just like her but you know,

you would wanna soundlike Aretha Franklin,

you know, when you were singing her songs.

- You and Jennifer Hudsonhave a few scenes together.

What was it like working with her?

- Oh man, when I firstheard that it was Jennifer,

I was happy because that's a no brainer.

Like, Jennifer is an amazing singer.

She has that thing in hervoice Aretha has in her voice,

the anointing, she can sing anything.

When I saw her in the dressing room,

getting her makeup done,I actually saw Aretha.

So I was like,

"Oh, okay, this was a no brainer.

"This was nothing to think about.

"And I'm sure everything would be happy."

- And what about thedirector, Liesl Tommy?

- Well, this is my firsttime working with Liesl and

I love her, I think she's

a really powerful but warm woman.

And she gives...

Gives you the direction, firm,

and warm and

she knows what she wantsand she gets it pretty fast.

And I'm just, it's an honorto be working with her.

♪ Hey ♪

- We certainly hope you'veenjoyed this special edition

of "Studio 5," but before we go,

we want to give the final word

to the director of "Respect," Liesl Tommy.

- Don't let nothing comebetween you and your music, Re.

Music will save your life.

- Aretha Franklin was a soulful person

who understood how faith could heal.

And she put that into her music.

- My daughter Arethawill bless us with song.

- She brought that sameintensity and that same love

to her pop music.

She reached a level of success

that even she couldn't imagine.

But Aretha's journey starts at the church

and it ends at the church.

With her album, "AmazingGrace," she finds her way back.

- This album is for God.

I have to do this.

♪ Before the day I met you ♪

- Aretha's legacy plumbs the depths

and the highs of humanity.

And she tells us that every part

of being me is okay.

- Amen.

- That is a great final wordfor this special edition

of "Studio 5" and this week's look

at uplifting entertainment.

Until next time, make timeto uplift someone around you

and then please, come on back

and see where "Studio5" takes you next week.

Bye bye, thank you so much for watching.