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For your glory: Book of Renée

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For your glory: Book of Renée

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FOR YOUR GLORY: BOOK OF RENÉE
i

Charlé K. Moore
Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism
Master of Arts – Specialized Journalism
University of Southern California
Degree Conferral Date: August 8, 2017

1
Abstract

In the Book of Renée, the story of Renée Elise Goldsberry delivers good news according to this
character's personal choice to walk by faith. Goldsberry’s faith adds her to an exceptional list
into the Hall of Faith with other Heroines of faith like Queen Esther of Persia and Ruth, a young
widower and foremother of Jesus. The Book of Renée affirms this journalist’s position for such a
time as this to write and tell the truth about a real artist whose faith's works of Art brings light
and joy in the world. The Book of Renée goes beyond an aim of telling a true story about deep
faith. It unfolds real news that serves as divine inspiration to address defined issues of life.
Goldsberry’s faith lives in her Art, because faith without works is dead. Her walk by faith keeps
her traveling forward even on unforeseen roads. She steps up abstract stairs even without
seeing the entire staircase. When it comes to her faith, she talks the talk steadfastly and walks
the walk humbly. Unwaveringly, she serves something greater than for her own glory. While the
world watches some artists and entertainers as wayward wanderers in the wilderness,
Goldsberry’s greatness is her ability to imagine walking on water, to familiarize her faith and
mystify her fame, is the test of her true power.

Keywords: {faith, Renée Elise Goldsberry, power, truth, Arts & entertainment, Bible, Tony’s}

2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1

OPENING (INTRO) …………………………………….…...…………………………… 3
CHAPTER 1 – VIRTUOUS WOMAN ……………………………………….…...… 9
CHAPTER 2 – SASSY SONGBIRD …………………………………….............. 13
CHAPTER 3 – IRON WOMAN …………………………………….……….……... 16
CHAPTER 4 – GOOD WIFE …………………………………….……….…….……. 19
CHAPTER 5 – A LIGHT ……………………………………….……….…............. .24
END CREDITS ……………………………………………….………………………...…. 28
REFERENCES ……………………………………………………...….….................. 29

1
Book chapters in Table of Contents indicate a section of the outline for this short film doc.
3
OPENING: PROVERBS 31 SCRIPTURE
2

INT.KODAK THEATRE – NIGHT – FLASHBACK – 10 YEARS AGO

Sound bridge of “What about love” chorus

Ten years ago, RENÉE ELISE GOLDSBERRY, performed at the 33
rd
Daytime Emmy’s, singing a song
from the Broadway musical, The Color Purple. Back then, she had accumulated somewhat of a
modest fame until now when her star transformed into this meteor shower while her career
receives proper recognition. What is it that she has that keeps her and have kept her on this
journey to stardom?

-RENÉE (CONT’D)-
(singing)
Is that me who's floating away
Lifted up to the clouds by a kiss
Never felt nothing like this
But what about hope? / (What about hope?)
What about tenderness and hope? / (Tenderness)
What about tears when I'm happy?
What about wings when I fall?
I want you to be a story for me that I can believe in
Forever

-CHRISTINE-
She just endowed with an enormous amount of talent and
an enormous amount of self-awareness about that talent.
So, when an opportunity arises she knows how to use the
space to best accentuate Renée.

-PASTOR TERRY MACKEY-
And she’s not afraid to express that she is a born-again
Christian.

-DONNA-
But I think Renée, I mean Renée has always been solid in
her faith and in God. And I know that has been a strong
guiding force in her life.

2
This image refers to a popular biblical scripture establishing the impetus for this story about
faith while finding out if what it tells the truth.
4
-DR. BETTY SANDERS-
Of course, she is my daughter and I love her. But I think
she’s just a light. She’s a light in the world.

-TERRON-
And that’s why she needs to be winning Tony’s and
Grammy’s and all our TV set. It is a magnet to that!

-NINA-
I just love her. I love her, love her, love her!

-RENÉE (CONT’D)-
(singing)
So, what about– / (What about–)
Love

EXT./INT. BACKSTAGE OF BEACON THEATRE – LATE NIGHT

After the 2016 Tony awards show, RENÉE ELISE GOLDSBERRY, adorned in a mustard, yellow
formal long flowy gown with a black flower pattern, speaks backstage after winning her first
Tony award within a 20 plus years acting career on stage, TV, and film for featured actress in a
musical. She answers the reporter’s question about her faith during a Tony’s post press
conference.

-RENÉE-
When I first went to an audition for this show. And since
then, I had a constant prayer in my heart and that was just I
would hold on to this job. Probably, I knew from afar
before I even had it that it was the best job any woman
could get, any person can get. And um, and believing that I
could just get it wasn’t enough. You actually have to hold
on to it. I am surrounded in a cast by the most talented
people in the world. And I just wanted to stay in the room
with them.
INTERCUT WITH:

INT. TONY’S AWARD SHOW – NIGHT

The presenters announce Renée as Featured Actress in a musical Tony’s winner. She walks down
the aisle towards the stage to receive her award.

-RENÉE-
5
(reflective)
When I think about my faith and how it’s always growing
stronger. It’s because I asked for something and what I
received is so much greater than what I asked for. I asked
just to keep a job and I got a Tony for it, and a Drama Desk
for it, and Lortell award. I asked to just keep a job and I
can’t even take my kid to the playground without a bunch
of little kids coming up and asking for an autograph. I have
the privilege of being a part of something that will infect
children with the same disease I have and that’s a love for
the theater.

INSERT: SOME PEOPLE WALK IN OTHER SHADOWS
3

INSERT: SOME PEOPLE WALK IN OTHER SHOES
INSERT: AND THEN SOME WALK BY
INSERT: FAITH OF A MUSTARD SEED
4

INTERCUT WITH:

EXT./INT. BACKSTAGE OF BEACON THEATRE – LATE NIGHT

-RENÉE (CONT’D)-
And that is simply not because of my own worth but
because of the grace of God. And so, my faith is constantly
growing, and tonight so rewarded.

CUT TO:

INT. TONY’S AWARD SHOW – NIGHT
-RENÉE-
Hamilton, Hamilton has been one once in a lifetime
moment after another and still the best moment of every
day is going home at night to my husband, Alexis. I love you
so much!
I would like to thank Tommy and Lin, and Jeffrey, and Jill,
and Sandy, and Oscar, and Lori, and Nina, Lillian, and Brian.
Thank you.
I would like to thank the entire company of Hamilton cause
when one of us win we all win because we are one. I love
you. Lastly, I would just like to say. If you know anything
about me, I’ve spent the last ten years of my life, what some
would consider the lifeblood of a woman’s career, just trying

3
Inspired from the lyrics of Whitney Houston’s Greatest Love of All
4
A reference to Matthew 17:20 and correlation to the color of Renée’s dress
6
to have children. And I get to testify in front of all you that
the Lord gave me Benjamin and Brielle and then He still gave
me this. Thank you. Praise God. Thank you.

EXT. HUNTERS CREEK VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD – DAY

Renée’s mom, Dr. Betty Sanders, meets this journalist in Renée’s same neighborhood where she
grew up with her brother. During this time, Renée returned to Houston, TX for this year’s Super
Bowl to perform after she participates first in a pre-NFL Super Bowl women’s summit to engage
and speak with local female high school students from the Houston area.

INSERT: “If there is a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then
you must be the one to write it.” ~Toni Morrison
5

INSERT: BOOK OF RENÉE
CUT TO:

INT. HOTEL BALLROOM – MORNING

A crowded event space. In the front, Renée accompanied by a guitarist, sit on two tall chairs and
a table between them, to perform an intimate concert featuring songs from Renée’s latest EP
album at the time, Beautiful. She sings the title track, Beautiful, as an audience snaps pictures
and hums along to her music.
-RENÉE-
(singing)
I want to be beautiful
I want to be strong
I want to be eloquent
Even when I am saying it wrong
I want to be everything
I believe I should be
I want to be with you
No I need to be –

CUT TO:

[music] MONTAGE – FLASHBACK –PAST 10 YEARS OF RENÉE’S CAREER
INSERT: EBIAS PRESENTS
INSERT: FOR YOUR GLORY
INSERT: A SERIES ABOUT FAITH WORKS OF ART
INSERT: RENÉE ELISE GOLDSBERRY

5
Renée’s story was somewhat a hidden treasure and she a slightly hidden figure until a few years
ago. Once meeting her is like probably how Elisha felt when he met Elijah. She has such a sweet,
infectious spirit that is rare and admirable. It would make you desire a double portion of it.
7
INSERT: HOSTED BY CHARLÉ K. MOORE

INSERT:
Renée Elise Goldsberry's walk by faith
was the scene of her crowning glory
before any spotlight found her on stage.

Earlier this year, Goldsberry was
honored by the state of Texas as a
Medal of Arts recipient.

This February, Goldsberry met me in her home-
town, one day prior to her electrifying
Super Bowl performance

when she shared with groups of Houston
area high school girls about her faith,
her family and fame.

Sound bridge of “Beautiful” chorus tracking with the video montage

-RENÉE (CONT’D)-
(singing)
I will be powerful
As I have been all along
I would be everything
God has made me to be
Be with you
I want to be with you
No, no, no. I want to be with you.
No. If its love
I want to be with you
No I need to be, today.

EXT. HUNTERS CREEK VILLAGE – DAY

INSERT: FOREWORD

-DR. BETTY SANDERS-
From the time, she was young and kind of, you know, kind
of got us going to church on a regular basis, she just always
lived from a place of faith.

CUT TO:
8

EXT. DUCHESNE ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART CATHOLIC SCHOOL – DAY

-DR. BETTY SANDERS (CONT’D)-
At the catholic school, they would take communion. And
she came home one day, and she said, “you know everyone
takes communion at school.”

INTERCUT WITH:
EXT./INT. INSIDE VEHICLE – DAY

-DR. BETTY SANDERS(CONT’D)-
And their Catholic. She says, “Why don’t we take
Communion? And she said, “the teacher said that you
should take it with your family.” And I immediately thought
they weren’t letting her take communion because she’s not
Catholic. So, I asked her, want they let you take communion
at school. She said, “oh yes. They’ll let me take it. It’s just I
really want to take it with my family.” And so that really led
us to find a church home in Houston.

INT. RENÉE’S MOM HOUSE – DAY
-DR. BETTY SANDERS-
As a parent of a child who is interested in performing, who
wants to sing or act. Who wants too, her dream is to go LA
or NY when she is ten years old. It’s a little scary.
But with Renée, by the time she was ready to leave home
and go to college. I felt that her faith was strong; her values
and her morals were strong. So, I wasn’t as concerned, and
I also knew that I was never going to be that far away.

CUT TO:

EXT./INT. INSIDE VEHICLE – DAY

-DR. BETTY SANDERS (CONT’D)-
She’s kind of kept the whole family open to the Arts, and the
love of art and all its forms. I think that, I think that’s what
is unique about her. She has a way of accepting people for
who they are and loving them for who they are and then sort
of forcing them to grow.

EXT. NFL SUPER BOWL WOMEN’S SUMMIT

9
INSERT: Chapter I – VIRTUOUS WOMAN
6

CUT TO:

INT. NFL SUPER BOWL WOMEN’S SUMMIT

-RENÉE-
So, what I’ve learned, is a word that is extremely important,
and I encourage you to figure out what it means for you, and
that is faith.

CUT TO:

INT. RICEVILLE MT. OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH OFFICE – NIGHT

-PASTOR TERRY MACKEY-
Having faith fuels our hope, um, because if one does not
have hope they don’t have anything. And so, in the
entertainment industry, faith is to the entertainer, faith is to
the Christian, as gas is to a car, as blood is to the human
body. It is the life source.

CUT TO:

INT. LONGHORN STUDIO – NIGHT

-RENÉE-
And who I am, you know, before I’m anything. Before I am a
woman, or an African-American woman, or a woman of
whatever age that I happen to be, or you know the parent
or you know, the daughter of these people, or the sister of
these people, or the mother of this person, or the wife of
this person, is a child of God. That’s who I am.

CUT TO:

EXT. BALDWIN HILLS – DAY

-TERRON-

6
Chapter I title comes from Proverbs 31 scripture in the Bible. It establishes how this featured
artist is introduced to this journalist as a woman of valor, which later the journalist validates its
truthfulness.
10
To me, like Renée is like, if there is a garden and there is like
all different kinds of flowers in the garden. Renée is like the
flower that’s not seen in the garden. She’s that special. She
sings, she acts, and she has talent and beauty. I don’t ascribe
all that to the success that she is going to become because
of all those things. I think because God made her so special
that honestly whatever she had chosen to do she would still
be successful in that, but she’s shining in a place where
everything is kind of normal or the same.

CUT TO:

INT. USC ANNENBERG STUDIO – NIGHT

-DONNA-
Renée is someone, in college, and I think most of her life. She
has been incredibly connected to the church, and to her
faith, and to God. And that is part of who she is and its part
of not only her, I think, her identity, but the identity she puts
out into the world.
CUT TO:

INT. LONGHORN STUDIO – NIGHT

-RENÉE-
Well everything is connected to my faith, um, I, you know,
the fact that I do so many different things, I think is really
just kind of God’s sense of humor and just the fact that He’s
not, and I don’t know what he is doing.
CUT TO:

INT. USC MARSHALL SCHOOL OFFICE – DAY

-DEBRA-
Let me start with Renée, who I think is immensely talented.
She is an USC alum. We love that. I know her husband well,
we use to work together. I applaud her for it[faith]. I think
that it is brave. And its authentic.

CUT TO:

EXT./INT. BEACON THEATER TONY AWARD BACKSTAGE – NIGHT

-DEBRA (CONT’D)-
11
And it speaks to her integrity. So, I applaud her. I think I
would so tell you that I believe God is in everything. And faith
without works is dead.

-TERRON-
And Renée has walked that thing and I am sure she could tell
you of all the things that maybe she didn’t do right. But you
can adjust, you can get forgiveness, or you can change your
way or get a perspective.
If you just, you know, protect yourself and –

CUT TO:

EXT. BALDWIN HILLS – DAY

-TERRON (CONT’D)-
don’t do anything than you don’t know where those
boundaries are. You have to make those boundaries,
especially in this business, where there is not a lot of people
professing faith.

CUT TO:

INT. NINA SCHREIBER’S HOME
-NINA-
You know, during Hamilton, there was the jokes like who’s
going to be at backstage Hamilton next. It’s the President.
It’s Jay-Z. It’s Beyoncé. It’s Benjamin Netanyahu and one day
I joked with her I was like yeah, I’m fully expecting to see,
you know, God backstage next. And she said He’s back there
every night. I am not particularly religious and I say that kind
of hesitantly cause the truth is my relationship with Renée
has made me question that. There is a movie with this old
“alter kaker.”

INTERCUT WITH:
Movie scenes of OH, GOD!

-NINA (CONT’D)-
Um that is Yiddish for old dude. George Burns says he’s God
and John Denver, um, believes him but he’s like the only one
that can see him and there’s a scene with John’s talking to
his wife, who I think was played by Terry Garr but I’m not
positive about that but anyway he says to his wife like you
12
have to believe me. I’ve seen him and it’s real and the wife
says well I haven’t seen him so I can’t look you in the eyes
and say I believe that he’s here. She goes I believe that you
believe and that’s almost enough to make me believe and
that’s how I feel about Renée.

CUT TO:

INT. NINA SCHREIBER’S HOME
-NINA (CONT’D)-

So often when we talk and she’s like I don’t know how to talk
to you about the situation without talking about God so we’ll
either not talk about it or you got to listen to me talk about
God. And I’m always like let me hear and she just makes
sense. I was going to have to put this dog down and Renée
counseled me. And um, so her faith has had a profoundly,
powerful effect on me.

CUT TO:

INT. ORLANDO SOUNDSTAGE – NIGHT

-NINA (CONT’D)-
Even though I was born Jewish, but I ‘ve watched her walk in
faith. And I mean that every step she takes is in honor of that
and it is awe-inspiring and moving and I see. So, I’m
someone, so faith as far as I know it’s like you have to believe
it without being able to see it or else it’s not faith or
something like that. So, for me I’m a skeptic, but I’m seeing
proof because I look at her and I think how did some divine
being not make you. You know what I mean.

CUT TO:

INT. NINA SHREIBER’S HOME – CONTINUOUS

-NINA (CONT’D)-
Even from some silly things like she’ll call me and her flight,
she’ll be in Harlem and her flight is in half an hour and she’s
missed and she’s clearly missed it but I’ll say to her get in the
car and go anyway. She’ll say ok I’m going. And we’re texting.
And I’ll say to her if you make this flight, I’m going to church
with you. And I mean sure as heck. I don’t know how she
13
does it. Time stops. There’s delays. Whatever. But she’s
sitting on that plane texting me a selfie being like see you in
church.
CUT TO:

INT. SALEM M.B. CHURCH SANCTUARY
Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) choir.

-BIV-
(singing)
Blood of Jesus. Oh, do you know something about that
blood? Oh, the blood of Jesus. I know, oh the blood, oh the
blood, oh the blood, oh the blood of Jesus. [Applause]

INSERT: Chapter II – SASSY SONGBIRD
7

CUT TO:

INT. NFL SUPER BOWL WOMEN’S SUMMIT

-RENÉE-
We’re here this weekend, because we were asked to sing

INTERCUT WITH:

Hamilton’s Original Broadway Cast performs at the White House.

-RENÉE (CONT’D)-
American Beautiful at the Super Bowl tomorrow. Did you
guys know that? And we met during Hamilton a couple of
years ago. And I love them like sisters. I love them as if I’ve
known them my entire life. And when they said would you
like to come sing “America the Beautiful” at the Super
Bowl. It’s in Houston, where I’m from.

CUT TO:

INT. NFL SUPER BOWL WOMEN’S SUMMIT

7
Chapter II title derives from Renée’s fondness of Sarah Vaughn whose nickname is “Sassy.”
Renée has mentioned a few times her dream role would be to tell her life story. Songbird is the
title of one of Renée’s song. This section features riveting performances of Renée’s singing
including her rendition of “Misty” a song also performed by Vaughn.
14
-RENÉE (CONT’D)-
It’s like the best thing ever. I’m so grateful to God every
single day that the first thing I said in my long list so many
years later is something that I get to do.

-RENÉE (CONT’D)-
(reflective)
I remember when I was eight years old, being in a
production of Guys and Dolls with HITS, called Houston
International Theater School, and I remember after the
production was over—I didn’t have a big role in it. I just was
a “doo-oodle-oo” girl cause that’s what we sang in the
show. I remember being in a parking lot at some grocery
store somewhere, waiting for my mother to get out of
some store somewhere. And just being so sad that the play
was over.

-DR. BETTY SANDERS-
She just loved it I mean she loved the singing and the
dancing and she hated it when any performance was over
and so we just kept going and the group of children that
went with her stopped going but she just kept going. She
and her brother kept going and they joined an organization
called Uncle Sam’s bandwagon.
When she was in school and she was kind of oh a very
happy child. She would sing and make noises. She was
funny. I could teach her anything if I could create a song.

-DONNA-
You know it’s funny, my recollection of her, her voice in
college was a very bird-like, beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
Still, has the very quick vibrato but I don’t recall hearing her
sing or belt with a lot of power at school. And I always
thought of her as this beautiful floaty bird-like Soprano,
gorgeous voice. And um, I saw her in the park and
Shakespeare in the Park and –

CUT TO:
TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA MUSICAL AT SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK.

-DONNA (CONT’D)-
I believe it was, what was it Two Gentlemen of Verona,
musical version of Two Gentlemen of Verona, and she
came out and sang. I literally was like blissh. I heard this
15
huge, powerful, mass like just, just gut level voice and it
filled the place and I honestly was looking at, trying to find
who was singing because I, I thought that’s not Renée
because Renée has this bird-like and I mean, it was
unbelievable. I mean. She blew my socks off.

CUT TO:
INT. ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST PERFORMING ON THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW

-DONNA (CONT’D)-
And of course, then there was the Color Purple and
obviously, Hamilton and it’s just so it’s so wonderful to
have to see that obviously, she never stops growing she
never stops changing you know she was that I heard that
voice in college when I met her. She never had the
opportunity to show it –

-RENÉE-
My principle really is just to show up, where I feel like I am
called to be. I did start but I don’t know if my first kind of
entry into music was the theater but theater was really,
really early. But you know, I wanted to do a million things.
You know, I wanted to be Whitney Houston and I wanted
to be Sarah Vaughn.
CUT TO:

INT. KENNEDY CENTER HALL
Renée singing “Misty” as a performance dedication to Sarah Vaughn.

-RENÉE-
(singing)
Look at me
I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree
And I feel like I'm clinging to a cloud
I can't understand
I get misty the moment you're near
You can say that you're leading me on
But it's just what I want you to do
Don't you notice how hopelessly I'm lost
That's why I'm following you

CUT TO:
INT. CHRISTINE SWANSON’S HOUSE

16
-CHRISTINE-
Renée and I met over 16 years ago when I embarked upon
my first feature film. I was looking for a new face but this
particular role required that the person be able to sing.
Long story short a friend of mine said hey I went to school
with this girl at Carnegie Mellon and I know she’s a singer
and she’s an actress –

CUT TO:
SCENES OF ALLEY MCBEAL
-CHRISTINE (Cont’d)-
she’s currently starring in Ally McBeal as a background
singer so you should give her a call. So, my casting director
set it up and we’re sitting there waiting for her to show up
and

CUT TO:
INT. CHRISTINE SWANSON’S HOUSE

-CHRISTINE (Cont’d)-
Renée walks into the door and I knew like within five
seconds like that’s her and I was like I pray to God that she
can sing please Lord let her be able to sing and long behold
she was wonderful in audition. She was so great I think that
I almost forgot to ask her to sing but when we finally got to
the singing part she sang like an Anita Baker song acapella
and I’m like great she can sing.

INSERT: Chapter III – IRON WOMAN
8

CUT TO:

INT. NFL’S WOMEN SUMMIT
-RENÉE-
But what I’ve learned, it’s kind of a strange reality, a
strange phenomenon. But when I’m the most tired,
sometimes, I’m given the most help. I found myself
sometimes when I know that I have no strength within my
body, no power of my own, to pull something off. From on

8
Chapter III title derives from double meanings. Iron serves as the double entendre for strength
and friend. (Biblical reference to Proverbs 27:17) The title is word play on the superhero and
movie “Iron Man”. This section highlights Renée’s perseverance that she credits to God and the
power of true friendships.
17
high, the power that I get to pull something off is a
remarkable experience. I’ve found myself sitting off stage
like in tears shaking –

CUT TO:

INT. RICHARD RODGERS THEATER

-RENÉE (CONT’D)-
because I had the flu or I was sick. But somebody had flown
in and mortgage they house to see Hamilton. And I had to
go on and I was shaking and just praying, today, can you
just help me pull this off. And um those are some of the
best performances you’ve ever had. And so, I encourage
everybody to believe in something bigger than yourself.
Believe in something bigger than your own power. Believe
in something even bigger than the word on the street
about how great you are. Because sometimes that scares
me too. I rather have you have no expectation about me.

CUT TO:

INT. NFL’S WOMEN SUMMIT
-RENÉE (CONT’D)-
And then surprise you. Then to show up and you heard I
was great. That stresses me out.
CUT TO:

EXT. BALDWIN HILLS
-TERRON-
Faith people connect. They’re like magnets and you can
kind of tell. But I think for the business, for me and I know
for Renée without God I don’t think anything is possible. It’s
so difficult and if you’re just relying on yourself to get
through you don’t make it so I think having a friend like
Renée or other people in the business who have that same
faith background we lean on each other to get through the
disappointments and life is not fair so forget about the
business side not being fair. But life is not fair and there are
choices that you have to make as a person of faith and
what you’re going to do. And you really have to find that
calling what God is calling you to do as an individual and
find people that you will trust to speak into your life. And
Renée has been that kind of person and I’m sure that I have
18
for her but I think it was instant knowing. Renée is special
and I can tell, you know, that God is all over her and her
talent is so unique that she gives God glory just in her
being.

CUT TO:

INT. CHRISTINE SWANSON’S HOME

-CHRISTINE-
Renée is a person who relies on God as much as that next
person to get her through whatever successes as well as
challenges she faces. And she never takes like her gifts
lightly.
CUT TO:

EXT. SUPER BOWL LI

-RENÉE-
You must have heard me say this, when I was in Houston,
for the Super Bowl. I feel like you know, you going to, you
are serving something. You know in your life. Whether it’s
your career or your, whatever image you have of yourself
or what you want to do. You know, want to say that I chose
to serve God. I don’t always do that as well as I should. But
I’m 100 percent dependent on –

CUT TO:

INT. LONGHORN STUDIO

-RENÉE (CONT’D)-
God to breathe, to live, to work.

CUT TO:

INT. CHRISTINE SWANSON’S HOME

-CHRISTINE-
Renée to me as a friend is just again a really down-to-earth,
regular person. We always have good times together and –

CUT TO:

19
EXT. NEW YORK BROADWAY AND 45th

as a friend, Renée feels very much like home and
notwithstanding the fact that she claims she’s from Detroit
and I actually am from Detroit. So, we do share homes in
common and I say claim because Renée is from a suburb of
Detroit. But she feels very much like home to me and she
has that space outside of Renée Elise Goldsberry where
she’s like Renée, you know. Or Renée, thank you, you
know, or Renée, you know like this, you know, let’s just chill
and just be and you can do that with her.

CUT TO:

SCENES OF THE GOOD WIFE
-RENÉE (CONT’D)-

Well, you know I’m, I’m just me. I just, you know, I don’t
like, prepare to be like someone. I always, I’ll use a term my
husband uses, I’m not like, I don’t, I’m not like going to give
you like my representative you know. I’m not going to show
up and be something I wouldn’t know what to be. I
wouldn’t have anything to say I wouldn’t know how to play
a role and be something different.

CUT TO:

INT. LONGHORN STUDIO

-RENÉE (CONT’D)-
I’m just me. I mean even most the characters I play are just
some version of me anyway.

INSERT: Chapter IV – GOOD WIFE
9

INT. NFL WOMEN’S SUMMIT

-RENÉE-

9
Chapter IV title is a double entendre of Renée’s TV role on the show, “The Good Wife” and
reference to Proverbs 31 biblical scripture. This section highlights the significance and
excellence of her role as a woman on and off screen.
20
Regardless of whatever power I’ve had in my career at any
time. Every role that I’ve ever picked it’s always been
something that –

INTERCUT WITH:
Movie scenes of THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS

-RENÉE (CONT’D)-
I would be proud to have a little black girl see because I
know how powerful it is. I know how potentially dangerous
it can be, if like, images that aren’t empowering are
reinforced. So that’s always been my mission. And I think
you have to claim a mission, regardless of whether not
anybody thinks you have the right to do that yet. I think you
start making those kinds of decisions just right from where
you are. Instead of thinking at some point I’m going to have
all this power and I’m going to say yes and no to things. I
think you always have that power if you assume that you
have it. So yeah, I absolutely feel responsible for myself. I
have a daughter who’s three and watches everything that I
do.

INTERCUT WITH:

GOOD PEOPLE ON BROADWAY

-RENÉE (CONT’D)-
I have a responsibility to her and I am here because of
people that came before me felt responsible about some
things they did. We don’t – I make mistakes all the time but
my intention is always to be a positive force in the world. I
really believe that’s the only thing we are ever doing.

CUT TO:
INT. CHRISTINE SWANSON’S HOME
-CHRISTINE-
What many people might not know about Renée because it
is very personal and you know we all have paths to walk on
that we alone have to figure out. And I think one of the
most devastating times that I have been around Renée was
when –

INTERCUT WITH:
Movie scenes of ALL ABOUT YOU
21
-CHRISTINE (CONT'D)-
she lost a child and at that time I was a young mother and it
was very difficult. Watching Renée kind of muscle through
that was encouraging and at the same time devastating
because Renée is always that person who lights up a space.
Or she lights up a room. So, it’s rare to see her down. It’s
rare to see her out. And being able to push through in a
way where I think she landed on her feet and she has two
children today. She’s a happy and proud mother and I think
she’s wiser for her suffering and –

CUT TO:
INT. CHRISTINE SWANSON’S HOME
-CHRISTINE (CONT’D)-
I think she has a level of compassion and understanding of
you know devastation. But in also flipping that and taking
advantage of all the moments that life gives you to be
thankful and grateful.

CUT TO:
INT. LONGHORN STUDIO
-RENÉE-
I think one of the things that would be sad about not
believing in God.

CUT TO:
SCENES OF ONE LIFE TO LIVE
-RENÉE (CONT’D)-
I think people think that we believe in God because we’re
afraid of death and somehow or another we’re not you
know we can’t handle the concept that we wouldn’t see
the people that we love together that we love we wouldn’t
be with together with them anymore wouldn’t see them
anymore that you know it would just be nothing after we
were alive and we can’t handle that so we expect. It‘s like
that weakness that we can’t handle that so we believe in
God and I actually think what’s more that really moves me
more than that is this concept of not having anybody to
thank.

CUT TO:
INT. LONGHORN STUDIO

-RENÉE-
22
Everything is your mission. Everything is your ministry. Your
marriage. My marriage is a ministry. I’m thinking I’m just in
love with him. He treats me well. He’s fun and he’s my best
friend. But really, it’s a ministry. I want children and I love
children. I wanted to have my own children that’s the
whole point of life. And that’s a ministry as well. And
definitely anything that I ever show up and do is a ministry.

-RENÉE (CONT’D)-
Well, I often think that my children are miracles. I have a
son Benjamin and a daughter, Brielle. Hagere is her name
in Amharic. They’re both miracles. And um, you know,
Brielle, I often believe is a queen like some descendant
from the main line. I would not be surprised at all if
somehow or another because I believe God’s gain is that
long.

CUT TO:
EXT. BALDWIN HILLS

-TERRON-
I know Renée really is inspiring to a lot of women you know
being a mother and being a wife. Exemplary and taking that
seriously and saying that on the Tony’s that her family is
the most important thing and this thing{trophy} is a special
addition. I know she prides herself with her children and
her marriage which is example of God and how He loves.
So, it’s a lot to juggle but I think that she’s doing a great job
with that. It’s still probably challenging even now with her
ascension and rising you know because you’ve been
waiting for this moment so you don’t want to slow down
now right. You know but you want to continue to do it but
you want to keep your integrity.

-RENÉE (CONT’D)-
I’m really aware of the kind of things that come thru all the
time that erode our core spiritually and there are some
messages that I am aware and I’m not like freaked out but
I’m always aware when I am watching things –

CUT TO:
INT. NORTHEASTERN CAMPUS
Northeastern Martin Luther King Celebration.
Sound bridge of “How Got I Over” chorus
23

-RENÉE (CONT’D)-
the things that are just like slowly chipping away at like the
core of who we are and who we are designed to be,
spiritually. And, it does hurt me to be involved in things
from time to time where I feel like uuugh. I’m not really
sure that this is a positive force, this particular message is
positive. That’s a battle that we all fight and sometimes I do
a better job than others.

-RENÉE (CONT’D)-
(singing)
How I got over
How did I make it over
You know my soul look back and wonder
How did I make it over
How did we make it over
Going on over all these years
You know my soul look back and wonder
How did I make it over
But you know my soul look back and wonder
How did I make it over
But, soon as I can see Jesus
The man that died for me
Man that bled and suffered
And he hung on Calvary
And I want to thank him for how he brought me
And I want to thank God for how he taught me
Oh thank my God how he kept me
I wanna thank him 'cause he never left me
I wanna thank God for 'ole time religion
And I wanna thank God for giving me a vision
One day, I'll join the heavenly choir
And then we’ll sing and never get tired
We going to sing glory hallelujah
And then we’ll shout all ours trouble over
You know we've gotta thank God and thank him for being
So good to me, yeah, yes

CUT TO:
INT. NFL’S WOMEN SUMMIT

24
INSERT: CHAPTER V – A LIGHT
10

-RENÉE-
I always, I always personally looking for God’s purpose in
my life and um –

INTERCUT WITH:
SCENES OF THE GET DOWN.

-RENÉE (CONT’D)-
Because I feel like that road will always be something that I
can move forward on and I’m not exactly sure about fame.
It’s just something that has come in varying degrees. And
perhaps only because its suppose to serve me doing
something.

CUT TO:
INT. RENÉE’S MOM HOME
-DR. BETTY SANDERS-
She said something the other day that was not a surprise to
me. She said, “I really never thought that much about
being famous.” I think she really is concerned about really
doing good work. And she leaves that other, the fame and
all that, to God. I really think that she leaves that to God.
What’s important to her is that she shows up every place
that God wants her to show up. She wants to be a great
wife. She wants to be a great mother. She wants to be a
good friend. She wants to be a great actress, singer. So, it
isn’t just in one area. She wants to show up in the world
the way God calls her to show up.

CUT TO:
INT. RICEVILLE MT. OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH OFFICE

-PASTOR TERRY E. MACKEY-
With Renée, I’ve seen that she follows Matthew five and
14. The Bible says you got to let your light so shine before
men that they may see your good works, but glorify your
Father which is in heaven. And I see that the luminescence
of Christ shines through her.

10
Chapter V title derives from how Renée’s family, friends, and fans describes harmoniously her
in the same manner. In addition, it denotes to what Renée believes is her life’s purpose.
25
CUT TO:
INT. LONGHRON STUDIO

-RENÉE-
I often say, I don’t necessarily think that your, you know, like
if I’m in Rent

INTERCUT WITH:
RENT ON BROADWAY

or something, which is really important. And the story is
really important. Even now a lot of young people come to
me and say this saved my life. You know, and it was really
fun to do and I had a wonderful time with those people and
I am glad I got to be some small part of something that I
think is so important. But maybe I wasn’t in Rent so that I
can be Mimi in Rent and people would think that was cool.
Maybe, I really was just there for something that I am not
aware of, which is something I might say, or some spiritual
thing that I might be able to accomplish. Whether it is, you
know, being there for somebody in some way. Or being
available –

CUT TO:
INT. LONGHRON STUDIO
-RENÉE (CONT’D)-
being a light in a place.

CUT TO:
INT. CHRISTINE SWANSON’S HOME

-CHRISTINE-
What I know about Renée and what I see in her, that maybe
a lot of people may not have the privilege of discovering is –

INTERCUT WITH:

Movie scenes from All About You
-CHRISTINE (CONT’D)-
Renée is also like someone who is intrinsically talented as
well I mean you have a star. You have a very present talent
who knows how to use their instrument in whatever ways
was necessary. For example, when I did my movie All About
26
You. I knew that Renée could sing and write beautiful music.
And there was a time in the production where we actually
needed some songs. So, I asked Renée and her costar,
Terron Brooks. I said can you guys write some songs you
know for this, our movie that we need to shoot in a week
you know. And they went home and got together and wrote
like probably one of the most memorable songs.

CUT TO:
EXT. BALDWIN HILLS
-TERRON-
She is one of the most ambitious people that I know she has a fire
and she has tenacity. She’s not going to give up and that’s a light.
When she auditions or when people will meet with her they want
to, they want to be a part of it, what is that about her you know.
She’s very unique I keep going back to that, I think. I’m saying that
about Renée but I say that about all of us if we embrace that and
quit trying to be like someone else. If we embrace how unique we
are that’s what someone’s looking for. They’re looking for Renée
Elise Goldsberry. Not for her to try to be Halle Berry.

CUT TO:
INT. NINA SCHREIBER’S HOME

-NINA-
I mean my big line about Renée is she wins the highest awards
possible for her acting and her singing you know and yet those
talents are the least impressive things about her. There the least
interesting things about her and she wins awards for those things.
So, it’s been a pleasure for me getting to know her since 2002.

CUT TO:
INT. LONGHRON STUDIO
-RENÉE-
Any time in my life, I just feel so aware of just the gift my life is.
Before you know anyone gave me a Tony, or a job, or a husband,
or some children. I believe God has been extremely careful with
me I’m just grateful that I get to still work this long that’s the
miracle for me.

CUT TO:
EXT. BALDWIN HILLS

-TERRON-
27
She’s on that journey and let’s just see how far it goes for her. I
know she’s very, very grateful and it’s hard to be in her presence
and be any other way. She’s very light. Renée is very energetic and
she’s like a flowing river so even if you in her presence and you’re
feeling a certain way it’s hard not to get swept up and I would say
Renée. But it’s not really Renée, I think it’s in who God made her to
be that magnet.

CUT TO:
INT. RENÉE’S MOM HOME

-DR. BETTY SANDERS-
She’s magnetic in a way. You just want to be close to her. And
that’s the way you are when you are around someone who’s a
light. She’s just fun to be around. She’s a light in the world. And
that is who God calls her to be. And she’s very, very comfortable
being that light.

INSERT: “OUR LIFE IS ALL WE HAVE TO GIVE TO OUR WORK, SO HAVE ONE. DO NOT FAIL
YOURSELF BY YOUR LIFE ON A BACK BURNER FOR THE SAKE OF A CAREER IN THE ARTS. CREATE
ART AND LIVE LIFE, WITH EQUAL COMMITMENT AND PASSION. THAT IS THE ARTISTRY THAT
LAUNCHES HUGE CAREERS AND SAVES THE WORLD.” ~ RENÉE ELISE GOLDSBERRY
11

CUT TO:
INT. NFL’S WOMEN SUMMIT
Renée exits the stage after panel discussion is over.

-RENÉE-
Thank you, guys!

INSERT: Book of Renée

INSERT: BET THE CYPHER
CUT TO:
INT. BET HIP HOP AWARDS RAP CYPHER
Renée rapping.
Rap fades out

-RENÉE (CONT’D)-

11
Renée’s quote to National Endowment for the Arts on June 9, 2016 and designed into a visual
Internet quote
28
(singing)
How did we make it over…

INSERT: END CREDITS

INSERT: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

CUT TO:
EXT. STAGE DOOR

-FAN-
Congrats on everything!

CUT TO:
EXT. OUTSIDE THE RICHARD RODGERS THEATER STAGE DOOR
Renée rapping and singing “Congratulations.”
Music fades out

TRT: 43:07:05

29
Logline: When an extraordinaire entertainer has an ability to familiarize her faith, and mystify
her fame to the world, this is a testament of her power empowered in God through works of Art.

Per YouTube description: Over a two-decade theater, film and television career, Renée Elise
Goldsberry has offered her soulful ingénue to classic theater plays or musicals and television
dramas including daytime soap operas. Following in the footsteps of her "sheroes" including her
mom, Phylicia Rashad and Whitney Houston, the San José born – she was raised in Houston and
Detroit – has performed on stage, on screen, in church, in college and across the country for the
sole glory of God while transcending in spaces of love, spirituality, identity, purpose, and
intimacy. Sojourning through many rooms to create Art has led the gifted entertainer before great
actors, singers, authors, screenwriters, musicians, and filmmakers, such as Barry White, Oprah
Winfrey, Christine Swanson, Terron Brooks, and Lin Manuel Miranda, among many others
including NFL and WNBA athletes. In 2016, she won a Tony's award for Best Featured Actress
in “Hamilton: The American Musical.” As the first episode of the new EBIAS documentary
series For Your Glory, the entertainer presents a gift of faith with works.

This February, For Your Glory creator and journalist, Charlé Moore visited Renée in her
hometown, Houston, and met again in Austin, Texas where she was honored as a Texas Medal of
Arts recipient. Goldsberry tells Moore “that everything is connected to her faith, and she is 100
percent dependent on God for her breath, her life, and her work.”

"I am really aware of the kind of things that come thru all the time that erode our core spiritually.
There are some messages, I am aware and I am not like freaked out but I am always aware when
I am watching things, the things that are just like slowly chipping away the core of who we are
and designed to be," she tells Moore of her cross that she carries daily.

Renée understands her God-given purpose during this time of social movements like Women’s
rights, Black Lives Matters, and Arts in Education, leading her to take roles of strong characters
driven by a sense of responsibility. She shares her mission and reveals how she began singing
with her mom, her love for Sarah Vaughn, why her marriage is a ministry, her best advice for
students and the importance of spiritual faith to her artistry.

{YouTube CREDITS:
USC Annenberg School Thesis 2017 – Short documentary/long-form journalism [faith and
entertainment]

Producer/Director/Editor: Charlé K. Moore Crew Members: Jamar Dugat, Sean Graves;
Supervising Editor: Tom Norris Executive Producer: JC}

i
Book of Renée: https://youtu.be/REmR7wuJqUg

Abstract (if available)

Abstract In the Book of Renée, the story of Renée Elise Goldsberry delivers good news according to this character's personal choice to walk by faith. Goldsberry’s faith adds her to an exceptional list into the Hall of Faith with other Heroines of faith like Queen Esther of Persia and Ruth, a young widower and foremother of Jesus. The Book of Renée affirms this journalist’s position for such a time as this to write and tell the truth about a real artist whose faith's works of Art brings light and joy in the world. The Book of Renée goes beyond an aim of telling a true story about deep faith. It unfolds real news that serves as divine inspiration to address defined issues of life. Goldsberry’s faith lives in her Art, because faith without works is dead. Her walk by faith keeps her traveling forward even on unforeseen roads. She steps up abstract stairs even without seeing the entire staircase. When it comes to her faith, she talks the talk steadfastly and walks the walk humbly. Unwaveringly, she serves something greater than for her own glory. While the world watches some artists and entertainers as wayward wanderers in the wilderness, Goldsberry’s greatness is her ability to imagine walking on water, to familiarize her faith and mystify her fame, is the test of her true power.

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Asset Metadata

Creator Moore, Charlé K. (author)

Core Title For your glory: Book of Renée

School Annenberg School for Communication

Degree Master of Arts

Degree Program Specialized Journalism

Degree Conferral Date 2017-08

Publication Date 07/24/2017

Defense Date 06/30/2017

Publisher Los Angeles, California (original), University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag arts,Faith,OAI-PMH Harvest,Renée Elise Goldsberry,Truth,Works

Format theses (aat)

Language English

Contributor Electronically uploaded by the author (provenance)

Advisor Turner, Myra (committee chair), Pecot-Hébert, Lisa (committee member), Winston, Diane (committee member)

Creator Email charle.moore@gmail.com,charlemo@usc.edu

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-oUC11256151

Unique identifier UC11256151

Identifier etd-MooreCharl-5599.pdf (filename)

Legacy Identifier etd-MooreCharl-5599

Dmrecord 410733

Document Type Thesis

Format theses (aat)

Rights Moore, Charlé K.

Internet Media Type application/pdf

Type texts

Source University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

Access Conditions The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the author, as the original true and official version of the work, but does not grant the reader permission to use the work if the desired use is covered by copyright. It is the author, as rights holder, who must provide use permission if such use is covered by copyright.

Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

Repository Location USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus MC 2810, 3434 South Grand Avenue, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, California 90089-2810, USA

Repository Email cisadmin@lib.usc.edu