00:00This is such an incredible day. Thank you all so much for being here. I am, I'm just really
00:10touched and I'm emotional and I'm happy and I'm just very grateful and thankful. I want to thank
00:18my Lionsgate family for your generous support led by the amazing Adam Fockelson. We started
00:26many years ago with the best man and I'm just so happy to partner with you here again and
00:35I know that it is because of you that I'm standing here and that this amazing event is happening
00:40so thank you. And the team, Helen, Amanda, Nassim, thank you so much. To my family and friends
00:52who traveled across the country to be here, I love you so very much. My auntie, Brenda,
01:00from Detroit, Michigan. I love you, auntie. Graham King, thank you so much for your kind words.
01:15If I could make every movie with you, I would. Thank you for your vision, your passion and
01:22your fearlessness. We made a film that brought joy to everyone around the world in the name
01:28of Michael Jackson and his incredible legacy. Thank you for creating space for me to bring
01:35a quiet grace to my portrayal of Katherine Jackson. Thank you to the entire JK Films team and Lydia,
01:44you already know how I feel about you. I love you, girl. Antoine Fuqua, you were such a champion
01:55every day on set and the magic you brought to this film was truly incredible. I am forever grateful
02:03to my co-stars, Coleman and Jafar, who are both working and out there in the world being movie stars.
02:12Being able to play your wife and mother was a privilege and we will forever be family. Snoop,
02:21now you know that jacket took me out. I may need to borrow it.
02:31I've known you for over 25 years. You are my brother for life. You always check in with me and
02:40the boys
02:40when it matters the most. Thank you for showing up for me in the way that you do. Thank you
02:48for the
02:48decades of music that tell our stories and remind me to keep it gangsta as needed.
02:59I love you, brother. Thanks to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Anna Martinez for this incredible
03:06honor and making a lifelong dream come true. Angelique Jackson, thank you for emceeing today.
03:13My amazing team, Rhett, Nancy, Jason, Steven Lee and Lori, I can't do anything without you. Thank you for your
03:23partnership.
03:32You know, I've been thinking a lot about what this star symbolizes and what each of its five points
03:41represents in my life represents in my life. Each of its five points holds my center of gravity.
03:50Each of its five points have anchored me and provided a place where I find love beyond measure
03:58and a safe haven to manifest my wildest dreams. My five points are spoken for.
04:08At the top of this star is God, my Lord and my Savior, Jesus Christ, who governs everything I do
04:16while gently encouraging me to stand strong in my purpose with grit and grace. I truly understand that
04:25God made a promise over my life long before I was old enough to understand it.
04:30God made a promise over my life. Everything I have accomplished has been done inside of that promise.
04:39And at the top right
04:41God made a promise over my life. Are you sure?
04:48God's sake.
04:49He's a and God's sake.
04:52He's a patient.
04:56He's a patient.
04:57He's a patient.
04:59He's a child.
05:04He's a patient.
05:07He's a patient.
05:09my children could ever ask for.
05:14Mommy, can you please stand?
05:26You are selfless and kind, at times to a fault.
05:32You are my right hand, and I'm your protector.
05:38There has never been a day when I needed you that you didn't show up for me.
05:45I remember the hard days living in South Central L.A. when you drove the RTD bus, and I was
05:53a latchkey kid.
05:55Money was scarce, and opportunities to thrive seemed to pass us by.
06:01I remember the days we'd walk down Hollywood Boulevard to the only New York-style pizza
06:08spot in L.A.
06:10While reading the cemented names of stars aloud on this very boulevard, you told me I would
06:17have a star one day.
06:19And here we are.
06:28It was you who took me to my very first acting class, to every audition, and wiped every
06:34tear of rejection.
06:35But somehow we made it through the challenges and the heartbreaks.
06:41I share this star with you because there isn't any part of my story that doesn't circle back
06:46to your bravery and unconditional love.
06:50I love you, Mommy, and I wouldn't be here without you.
06:59To the left top point of this star holds two of my favorite people on the planet and my deepest
07:07loves, Maasai and Kez.
07:11Thank you for being my soldiers.
07:15Thank you for giving me the space to do the work that I enjoy so very much.
07:21For every season and every reason, I will forever be your anchor, a voice of truth, and a place
07:32where love holds your hand.
07:35There are parts of me that belong to no one but the two of you.
07:42I love you so much, even though I know I get on your nerves sometimes.
07:48To Imei and Maasai Sr., thank you for being here to celebrate this moment with me and our two young
07:55kings.
07:55We are forever family.
07:59At the bottom right of the star lives the loves of my life who are no longer here in the
08:05physical realm.
08:06My grandmother, Pearl Gilman, an immigrant from the island of Grenada, who taught me everything I know about beauty and
08:17being a lady.
08:18Skills that have helped me shape every character I've ever portrayed.
08:22And my grandfather, Clyde Gilman, an immigrant from the island of Trinidad, who would always remind me to give the
08:30crowd something to talk about.
08:33And my father, Daughtry Long, who gifted me with a poetic heart and the burning desire to find the truth
08:41and purpose in everything that I do.
08:44To my brother, John Singleton, who saw something in me I was yet to discover.
08:55I can still hear your laughter echoing through my mind.
09:00Your footprint on this industry will never be duplicated.
09:05And finally, to the ancestors who fought the fights I wasn't equipped to fight in order for me to have
09:13the opportunities and freedom to be all of myself in every room I enter and every screen I grace.
09:22At the bottom left point lives a sisterhood, a vibrant, beautiful sisterhood where I fellowship with women in my life
09:31who hold me down, who keep my secrets, who cheer me on.
09:36I love you so much.
09:39Thank you for being the brilliant-minded voices of reason for every season in my life.
09:50Nia Long is strong, baby.
09:52Whoever said that.
09:58That's what Lorenz Tate always says.
10:00When we're on take 95 and we've been making out for two hours, he's like, Nia Strong, let's go.
10:08Okay, and at the nucleus of this star is a force who once doubted herself.
10:17A girl from Brooklyn with Caribbean roots who doesn't suffer fools and expects transparency from everyone who loves her.
10:28She has never followed the crowd and would rather take the scenic route to success.
10:34She loves deeply, and if you're lucky enough to have her in your life, she will have your back by
10:41any means necessary.
10:44She is me, Nia Talita Long.
10:51A mother, a daughter, a friend, a storyteller, a writer, a director, a producer, and a voice for my community.
11:01As I continue my journey alongside my five points of gravity, I will twinkle and shine, I will expand, I
11:17will inspire, and represent the unique magical mystery that can only be found in the essence of a black woman.
11:28Thank you again to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for cementing my name with a gold star as a symbol
11:35of hope and inspiration for the next young girl with a dream walking down Hollywood Boulevard enjoying a slice of
11:44New York-style cheese pizza with her mother.
11:47Thank you, guys.
11:49Thank you so much.
11:50Thank you so much.
