From Viral Sensation to Filmmaking Visionary: Tony Talks

Tony Talks (Antonio Baldwin), the comedy content creator with millions of viral views, is taking his talent to the next level with the release of Boss Up: The Musical, his first-ever feature film. Boss Up tells the story of “fabulous and flawless” Cassandra, who, after being fired from her job, embarks on a journey of self-reinvention. The film is funny, poignant, and filled with music (and right now, it’s free to watch on Revry.tv!).

Interview By: Claire Brown

Photography by: Paris Steward

Editor-In-Chief Angel Neal

What prompted Tony to take on the challenge of writing, starring in, and funding a full-length film? “It was super, super crazy,” he admits, about making the jump from one-minute content to a 54-minute feature. “I’ve never written an entire movie before.” But after connecting with filmmakers at the Atlanta Film Festival, Tony had a vision for a musical starring Cassandra, one of the recurring characters he portrays on his social media channels. He assembled a team, poured his passion into the script, and brought his vision to life. Tony quickly realized that starring in and producing a long-form film was very different from his usual content creation style for social media. For one thing, it made him slow down. “I’m used to filming something the same day, editing it the next, and then posting it,” he explains. “With a movie, it’s completely different. You have to take your time.”

Another difference between film production and content creation? Going from being a mostly solo operator to managing a large cast and crew. “I was managing so many different personalities while also playing the main character,” he says. “It was a learning experience, but I’m such a sponge – I loved it.”

As a first-time filmmaker, Tony was intentional about casting actors he had worked with before. “The woman who plays my mom? She gave me one of my very first acting roles in Atlanta,” he shares. “So it was really full-circle to be able to hire her for my project years later.”

Tony personally knew almost everyone in the cast and even wrote many of the roles with specific people in mind. “That made the casting process super easy,” he says.

At its core, Boss Up: The Musical is about self-discovery. The story follows a powerful woman who loses her job title – an identity-defining role – and has to figure out who she is without it. “I relate to that,” Tony says. “As a content creator, that’s my title. And I didn’t know who I was without it.”

He believes the film’s themes resonate universally. “So many people are walking around as their job occupations,” he says. “When we lose our jobs, it sends us spiraling, like, ‘Who am I now?’” While the story could have taken a dramatic turn, Tony stayed true to his comedic roots. “I wanted to tell it in a way that was funny, with music and jokes,” he explains.

Despite not being a trained singer or dancer, Tony was drawn to the musical format. “I genuinely love musicals,” he says.

“Music heals the world,” he adds. “If you can tell a message through music successfully, that’s powerful.”

And Tony isn’t done with musicals just yet. “The next film I make is going to be a musical too,” he reveals. His advice for other content creators looking to transition into filmmaking? “Learn how to work in teams and don’t be afraid to wear the hats you need to wear.” Looking back, Tony says he would step more into his role as an executive producer. “I was a little shy,” he admits. “I didn’t want to boss anyone around, but in certain parts, I needed to.” He sees that experience as a valuable learning curve for future projects.

While Boss Up: The Musical marks a bold new step in Tony Talks’ career, it’s clear this is just the beginning! To stay up with all things Tony Talks follow him here: @iamtonytalks !