There’s a distinction between watching chemistry on-screen and feeling it behind the scenes, and with Operation: Aunties, it’s clear this forged didn’t simply play ride-or-dies, they lived it. Directed by Emmy-winning actress Wendy Raquel Robinson and starring Melissa De Sousa (The Greatest Man), Tisha Campbell (Martin, Act Your Age), and Amiyah Scott (Star), the upcoming ALLBLK unique follows three girls who tackle a digital-age trafficking ring with brains, bravery, and Black woman grit.
Supply: Operation Aunties / ALLBLK
The movie follows a professor-turned-cyber-vigilante who groups up together with her detective bestie and tech-savvy niece to take down a trafficking ring hiding on the darkish net. It’s motion, mind, and auntie intuition rolled into one high-stakes mission. Earlier than the movie premieres on July 11, I had the prospect to speak with the celebrities, and their bond was loud and clear from the beginning.
Operation: Aunties follows Dr. Carol Cleavers (Melissa De Sousa), a professor and blockchain skilled whose household is shaken by an tried trafficking incident. When legislation enforcement drags its toes, Carol takes issues into her personal palms—teaming up together with her ride-or-die greatest buddy, retired detective Sharon O’Hara (Tisha Campbell), and her tech-genius niece Aminah (Amiyah Scott). Collectively, they turn into cyber-age vigilantes, navigating the darkish net, coded networks, and high-stakes hazard in pursuit of justice.
Can You Think about a 10-Day Shoot: “We had an excessive amount of enjoyable”
Some units are all enterprise—however this one ran on sisterhood, assist, and laughter.
“We had a lot enjoyable,” Melissa De Sousa advised BOSSIP’s Lauryn Bass. “We had an excessive amount of enjoyable. Wendy is our enjoyable chief… I’ve labored with Wendy 20 years in the past, and so we got here again collectively. It was like a reunion.”
Supply: Operation Aunties / ALLBLK
She continued to clarify the superb bond and camaraderie shared on set, which you’ll see is true within the post-movie credit.
“Tisha, I had by no means labored with, however I’ve met Tisha—we’ve been on this enterprise collectively for the years. So I used to be simply so excited to lastly work together with her. After which we met Amiyah. I noticed her on Star. I cherished her on Star, and she or he’s simply so lovely and candy… Taking part in her aunt was really easy, as a result of I simply instantly felt like household together with her. We simply related on a lovely degree, and that’s very uncommon on this enterprise.”
Tech Discuss Had Us Struggling: “Steve Jobs would come up out the grave and say assist me”
Whereas the camaraderie was pure, the script’s tech language required some actual homework.
Supply: Operation Aunties / ALLBLK
“I undoubtedly needed to learn up,” Melissa admitted. “I checked out definitions, as a result of I don’t know something about cryptocurrency or the darkish net… even after studying the definitions, it was so arduous to stay in my mind. I’m simply up to now faraway from, like, present world… even memorizing the strains was type of arduous for me. It actually was as a result of it was so technical.”
Wendy Raquel Robinson, who directed the movie and helped form the script, shared how far the crew needed to go to make the fabric click on:
“That script was so on the market. I stated, ‘Pay attention, no person’s going to determine with this. I don’t care who it’s—Steve Jobs would come up out the grave and say assist me.’ However we needed to actually make it—not solely in layman’s phrases. We nonetheless saved it elevated, however we needed to attach with the viewers as a lot as potential.”
Tisha added that her function within the film felt near house.
“My complete household is blue collar… law enforcement officials, captains, lieutenants. Some are army. So I’m round it on a regular basis—however this was nonetheless totally different.”
The Stress Was Actual: “I needed to cry some days”
Motion pictures are popping up shortly as of late! This shoot was fast—ten days flat—however the calls for have been heavy, particularly when it got here to nailing the dialogue.
Supply: Operation Aunties / ALLBLK
“Like, I needed to cry some days due to the technical stuff I needed to say,” Melissa shared. “As a result of I used to be scared… we’ve got to get it finished. And I used to be so confused as a result of I couldn’t keep in mind it. I’ve by no means stated these phrases… so international to me.”
Nonetheless, based on Amiyah Scott, the setting helped steadiness the depth:
“I believe that the comfortability on the set made issues loads simpler. I felt like we have been all targeted on the identical aim. I really feel like we had an ideal vibe. So although it was quick and although it was intense at instances, I believe that we actually coasted by means of it, as a result of we have been all tunnel-visioned on the identical aim, all people.”
Wendy added that, at instances, the laughter took over.
“Whenever you bought these two humorous women clowning, I used to be like, ‘Y’all, please come on. We gotta carry it again.’ There have been moments… even myself, they might wrangle me in. Thank God I had an ideal AD who simply saved us on-line.”
Illustration With out Labels:“We simply need individuals to see us”
When it got here time to replicate on the story’s bigger influence, every girl made it clear: this isn’t simply one other motion comedy. It’s illustration finished proper.
Supply: Operation Aunties / ALLBLK
“It’s simply so good to see African American girls not be labeled,” Tisha stated. “To be their genuine selves—mental, good, humorous, comedic, dramatic… you may have it multi functional. And there’s motion as nicely. I simply need individuals to see us.”
Wendy added how well timed this film is.
“There may be a lot happening on this world… to bear in mind, to be current, to observe your again, to be vigilant, to be a vigilante. This story is grounded in reality.”
Melissa emphasised how true this story is and the way it’s wanted.
“Tales like this have occurred and proceed to occur. Bringing the tech world with individuals of colour—I believe is vital, as a result of we’re not seen in that area. I’m blissful about that and pleased with that.”
Click on, Hack, Serve: “Talking Tech-a-neese” By no means Regarded This Good
After watching a particular screener of Operation: Aunties, I can say firsthand that the movie is present, artistic, and stuffed with distinction. The combination of real-time chats and onscreen messages made it really feel refreshingly new. One minute I used to be laughing, the subsequent, I needed to hit pause and sit in shock… as a result of what? The pacing saved me on the sting of my seat.
The manufacturing regarded clear, the ladies regarded so good, and their performances delivered—as a result of they’re all seasoned actresses who know learn how to maintain consideration. Seeing them collectively on display was not solely entertaining, it was highly effective.
However what hit hardest? The portrayal of Black girls in STEM. These characters weren’t watered down. They have been profitable, mental, and well-spoken with out ever sounding Eurocentric. They owned tech, their careers, and their voices. That type of illustration isn’t simply refreshing—it’s needed.
Past the efficiency and plot, Operation: Aunties reminds us that we will’t afford to disregard the place know-how is taking us. It’s time to have actual conversations—not simply in regards to the risks of the darkish net, however about cryptocurrency, AI, digital privateness, and the way they intersect with our each day lives. That is the brand new period. It does exist–and folks should be conscious.
Operation: Aunties premieres Friday, July 11, solely on ALLBLK. This one’s for the group chats, the aunties, the techies—and anybody bored with seeing Black girls boxed in.
