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Self Made (miniseries)

{{short description|American drama streaming television limited series}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}

{{Infobox television

| alt_name = Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C. J. Walker

| image = Self Made - Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker (2020) Series Poster.jpg

| caption = Poster

| creator =

| based_on = {{based on|On Her Own Ground| A'Lelia Bundles}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = Larry Goldings

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_episodes = 4

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

}}

| producer = {{Plainlist|

}}

| cinematography = Kira Kelly

| editor = {{Plainlist|

  • Jessica Hernández
  • Liza D. Espinas
  • Susana Benaim

}}

| runtime = 45–49 minutes

| company = {{Plainlist|

}}

| network = Netflix

| released = {{Start date|2020|03|20}}

}}

Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C. J. Walker is an American historical drama television limited series, based on the biography On Her Own Ground by A'Lelia Bundles, that premiered on March 20, 2020, on Netflix. It received generally positive reviews with praise for Octavia Spencer's acting; however it received criticism for various historical inaccuracies and artistic licence. For her performance, Spencer received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie.

Premise

Self Made is a fictionalized depiction of "the untold story of black hair care pioneer and mogul Madam C. J. Walker and how she overcame the hostilities of turn-of-the-century America, epic rivalries, and tumultuous marriages to become America’s first Black, self-made female millionaire."{{cite web|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|title=Netflix Orders 'Madam C.J. Walker' Limited Series Starring Octavia Spencer & Produced By LeBron James – TCA|url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/netflix-orders-madam-c-j-walker-limited-series-starring-octavia-spencer-produced-by-lebron-james-tca-1202435971/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=July 29, 2018|date=July 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729215721/https://deadline.com/2018/07/netflix-orders-madam-c-j-walker-limited-series-starring-octavia-spencer-produced-by-lebron-james-tca-1202435971/|archive-date=July 29, 2018|url-status=live}}

Cast and characters

=Main=

=Guest=

Episodes

{{Episode table |background=#93CFB8 |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |writerT=Teleplay by |airdate= |country=U.S. |prodcode= |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|Title = The Fight of the Century

|DirectedBy = Kasi Lemmons

|WrittenBy = Nicole Jefferson Asher

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|3|20}}

|ShortSummary = Sarah Breedlove is a poor washer-woman who is losing her hair when she meets Addie who saves her bald spots with her miracle grow. To show her appreciation of Addie, Sarah wants to become a saleswoman, but Addie knocks her confidence down by telling her to stick to washing as women will never want to buy a product from someone who looks like her. Infuriated, Sarah creates her own line of products. Though they sell well she craves more and decides to move her entire family to Indianapolis. Sarah's company is successful until Addie arrives in town. Frightened by the competition Sarah decides to offer a "buy one get one free" deal but in the ensuing struggle to fulfill orders her home burns down. As she watches Addie scoop up her business, Sarah vows to rebuild her business and takes on the name Madam C. J. Walker.

|ProdCode = T13.21551

|LineColor = 93CFB8

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|Title = Bootstraps

|DirectedBy = Kasi Lemmons

|WrittenBy = Janine Sherman Barrois

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|3|20}}

|ShortSummary = Sarah puts a downpayment on a factory but has trouble securing investors to pay for the rest. She decides to gain Booker T. Washington's endorsement but is blocked from meeting him. Approaching Washington's wife, Margaret, Sarah pleads for her club's support before crashing Washington's conference and making a plea for investors. Washington later crushes her hopes of an endorsement by sharing his own sexist views on women entrepreneurs.

|ProdCode = T13.21552

|LineColor = 93CFB8

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|Title = The Walker Girl

|DirectedBy = DeMane Davis

|WrittenBy = Elle Johnson

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|3|20}}

|ShortSummary = Sarah decides to take her daughter Leila to New York City for a business opportunity over her husband, Charles, who feels like he is being cut out from the business more and more. Addie takes the opportunity to poach five of Sarah's top saleswomen out from under her including Dora, a beautiful saleswoman who is having an affair with Charles.

When Sarah returns to the chaos she discovers all that has been going on and once again puts her business first.

|ProdCode = T13.21553

|LineColor = 93CFB8

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|Title = A Credit to the Race

|DirectedBy = DeMane Davis

|WrittenBy = Nicole Jefferson Asher

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|3|20}}

|ShortSummary = As Sarah is expanding her empire out of New York City she learns that she is dying and begins to pressure Leila to provide her with an heir, unaware that Leila is in love with a woman and has been in a relationship with her for years. Meanwhile Charles returns wanting to finalize his divorce with Sarah and threatens to reveal the secret behind her formula if she doesn't sign the papers.

|ProdCode = T13.21554

|LineColor = 93CFB8

}}

}}

Production

=Development=

On November 10, 2016, it was announced that Zero Gravity Management had optioned the screen rights to A'Lelia Bundles' biography of Madam C. J. Walker, entitled On Her Own Ground, with the intent of developing it into a limited series. The production was expected to be written by Nicole Asher, directed by Kasi Lemmons, and produced by Octavia Spencer, Christine Holder, and Mark Holder.{{cite web|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|title=Octavia Spencer To Star In & Produce Madam C.J. Walker Limited Series For Zero Gravity|url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/octavia-spencer-star-produce-on-her-own-ground-limited-series-zero-gravity-1201852287/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=July 29, 2018|date=November 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730020726/https://deadline.com/2016/11/octavia-spencer-star-produce-on-her-own-ground-limited-series-zero-gravity-1201852287/|archive-date=July 30, 2018|url-status=live}}

On July 6, 2017, it was announced that Netflix had given the production a series order consisting of eight episodes. Executive producers are expected to include LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Mark Holder, Christine Holder, Janine Sherman Barrois, and Elle Johnson. Lemmons is set to direct and executive produce the first episode. Production companies involved with the series are slated to consist of SpringHill Entertainment alongside Zero Gravity Management. The series premiered on March 20, 2020.{{cite web|last1=Ramos|first1=Dino-Ray|title=Netflix Sets Premiere Date For 'Self Made: Inspired By The Life Of Madam C.J. Walker', Unveils First Look At Octavia Spencer Limited Series|url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/netflix-sets-premiere-date-for-self-made-inspired-by-the-life-of-madam-c-j-walker-unveils-first-look-at-octavia-spencer-limited-series-1202819334/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=January 2, 2020|date=January 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102165745/https://deadline.com/2020/01/netflix-sets-premiere-date-for-self-made-inspired-by-the-life-of-madam-c-j-walker-unveils-first-look-at-octavia-spencer-limited-series-1202819334/|archive-date=January 2, 2020|url-status=live}}

=Casting=

Alongside the initial development announcement, it was confirmed that the series would star Octavia Spencer as Madam C. J. Walker. On August 6, 2019, it was reported that Tiffany Haddish, Carmen Ejogo, Blair Underwood, Garrett Morris, and Kevin Carroll had joined the cast.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/tiffany-haddish-carmen-ejogo-blair-underwood-join-netflixs-madam-c-j-walker-1202662145/|title=Tiffany Haddish, Carmen Ejogo, Blair Underwood, More Join Netflix's 'Madam C.J. Walker' Limited Series|last=Bennett|first=Anita|date=August 6, 2019|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=August 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806162534/https://deadline.com/2019/08/tiffany-haddish-carmen-ejogo-blair-underwood-join-netflixs-madam-c-j-walker-1202662145/|archive-date=August 6, 2019|url-status=live}} On August 21, 2019, Bill Bellamy was cast in the miniseries.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/madam-cj-walker-bill-bellamy-cast-netflix-limited-series-1202683196/|title='Madam CJ Walker': Bill Bellamy Joins Netflix Limited Series|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=August 21, 2019|access-date=August 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821152433/https://deadline.com/2019/08/madam-cj-walker-bill-bellamy-cast-netflix-limited-series-1202683196/|archive-date=August 21, 2019|url-status=live}} On October 15, 2019, Zahra Bentham and Mouna Traoré were cast in recurring roles.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/madam-c-j-walker-zahra-bentham-mouna-traore-to-recur-in-netflix-limited-series-1202760591/|title='Madam CJ Walker': Zahra Bentham, Joanne Jansen & Mouna Traoré To Recur In Netflix Limited Series|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=October 15, 2019|access-date=October 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015233255/https://deadline.com/2019/10/madam-c-j-walker-zahra-bentham-mouna-traore-to-recur-in-netflix-limited-series-1202760591/|archive-date=October 15, 2019|url-status=live}}

=Filming=

Filming for the limited series took from July 26 to September 20, 2019, in the Canadian cities of Mississauga, Cambridge, Stratford and St. Catharines.{{cite web|title=Current Productions {{!}} IATSE 873|url=https://www.iatse873.com/current_productions|website=IATSE 873|access-date=May 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526043054/https://www.iatse873.com/current_productions|archive-date=May 26, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news-story/9533804-st-catharines-attracts-slice-of-hollywood/|title=St. Catharines attracts slice of Hollywood|website=The St. Catharines Standard|first=Karena|last=Walter|date=August 2, 2019|access-date=August 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811012357/https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news-story/9533804-st-catharines-attracts-slice-of-hollywood/|archive-date=August 11, 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cambridgetimes.ca/news-story/9519761-cambridge-in-running-for-film-industry-service-award/|title=Cambridge in running for film industry service award|last=Martin|first=Ray|date=July 26, 2019|website=CambridgeTimes.ca|language=en-CA|access-date=November 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930180659/https://www.cambridgetimes.ca/news-story/9519761-cambridge-in-running-for-film-industry-service-award/|archive-date=September 30, 2019|url-status=live}}

Reception

=Critical response=

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the miniseries holds an approval rating of 68% based on 25 reviews, with an average rating of 5.66/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Self Made doesn't always live up to its namesake, but there's no denying that Octavia Spencer's spectacular embodiment of the singular Madam C.J. Walker is a sight to be seen."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/self_made_inspired_by_the_life_of_madam_cj_walker/s01|title=Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C. J. Walker (2020)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=April 16, 2021}} On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 64 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/self-made-inspired-by-the-life-of-madam-cj-walker|title=Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C. J. Walker|website=Metacritic|access-date=April 16, 2021}} Other reviews report disappointment because of the fictionalization and inaccuracies in the storyline. Addie Monroe is a fictionalized character intended to portray Annie Malone, another self-made millionaire who actually was the mentor of Walker.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/tv-movies/a31225269/self-made-addie-annie-turnbo-malone-facts/|title=Addie in Self Made Is Based on Beauty Pioneer Annie Turnbo Malone|last=Nicolaou|first=Elena|date=March 20, 2020|website=Oprahmag.org|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321045905/https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/tv-movies/a31225269/self-made-addie-annie-turnbo-malone-facts/|archive-date=March 21, 2020|access-date=March 24, 2020}} She is portrayed as a villain while another falsification is the portrayal of Walker's daughter as a lesbian.{{Cite web|url=https://www.harlemworldmagazine.com/the-problem-with-the-facts-about-madam-c-j-walker-and-annie-malone-and-the-netflix-series/|title=The Problem With "The Facts About Madam C.J. Walker And Annie Malone" And The Netflix Series|last=Walker|first=Robert|date=March 20, 2020|website=HarlemWorldMagazine.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324215943/https://www.harlemworldmagazine.com/the-problem-with-the-facts-about-madam-c-j-walker-and-annie-malone-and-the-netflix-series/|archive-date=March 24, 2020|access-date=March 24, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a31899199/self-made-netflix-madam-cj-walker/|title=Self Made on Netflix misses out some important facts from Madam CJ Walker's real life|last=Cowell|first=Lynda|date=March 23, 2020|website=Digitalspy.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324113036/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a31899199/self-made-netflix-madam-cj-walker/|archive-date=March 24, 2020|access-date=March 24, 2020}}

=Accolades=

class="wikitable"
style="text-align:center;"

! colspan="5" style="background:#B0C4DE;" | List of Accolades

style="text-align:center;"

! style="background:#ccc; width:25%;"| Award / Film Festival

! style="background:#ccc; width:3%;"| Year

! style="background:#ccc; width:20%;"| Recipient

! style="background:#ccc; width:30%;"| Nomination

! style="background:#ccc; width:7%;"| Result

rowspan="5"| Black Reel TV Awards{{Cite web|date=2020-06-18|title=Watchmen & Insecure Pace the Black Reel Awards for TV Nominations|url=http://blackreelawards.com/watchmen-insecure-pace-the-black-reel-awards-for-tv-nominations/|access-date=2020-07-28|website=Black Reel Awards|language=en-US|archive-date=July 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704021011/http://blackreelawards.com/watchmen-insecure-pace-the-black-reel-awards-for-tv-nominations/|url-status=dead}}

| rowspan="6"| {{center|2020}}

| Self Made

| Outstanding TV Movie/Limited Series

| {{nom}}

Blair Underwood

| Outstanding Actor, TV Movie/Limited Series

| {{won}}

Octavia Spencer

| Outstanding Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series

| {{nom}}

Bill Bellamy

| Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie/Limited Series

| {{nom}}

Carmen Ejogo

| Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series

| {{nom}}

rowspan="1"| Primetime Emmy Awards{{cite press release |url=https://www.emmys.com/sites/default/files/Downloads/72nd-nominations-list-v1.pdf?q=1 |title=2020 Primetime Emmy |date=July 28, 2020 |access-date=July 28, 2020 |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences}}

| Octavia Spencer

| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

| {{nom}}

rowspan="1"| Golden Reel Awards{{Cite news|last=Pond|first=Steve|date=March 1, 2021|title='News of the World,' 'Sound of Metal' Lead Motion Picture Sound Editors Nominations|work=The Wrap.com|url=https://www.thewrap.com/news-of-the-world-sound-of-metal-lead-motion-picture-sound-editors-nominations-golden-reel-awards/|access-date=March 4, 2021}}

| rowspan="4"| {{center|2021}}

| Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Single Presentation

| Bobbi Banks, Ezra Dweck, Paul Menichini, Bernard Weiser, Butch Wolf, Sanaa Kelley and Stephen Lotwis (for "The Fight of the Century")

| {{nom}}

rowspan="3"| NAACP Image Awards{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/naacp-image-awards-nominations-2021-1234685220/|title=NAACP Image Awards Nominations: Netflix Tops List With 'Bridgerton', 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' & 'Da 5 Bloods'|last=Del Rosario|first=Alexandra |date=February 2, 2021|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=February 3, 2021}}

| Self Made

| Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special

| {{won}}

Blair Underwood

| Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special

| {{won}}

Octavia Spencer

| Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special

| {{won}}

References

{{reflist|30em}}

External links

  • {{Netflix title}}
  • {{IMDb title|8771910}}

{{Netflix original ended series (2019–present)}}

{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special}}

Category:2020 American television series debuts

Category:2020 American television series endings

Category:2020s American drama television miniseries

Category:American English-language television shows

Category:Netflix television dramas

Category:Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios

Category:Television shows based on biographies

Category:Television shows set in Indianapolis

Category:Television series by SpringHill Entertainment

Category:Madam C. J. Walker