5 minutes with �� Reginald Hudlin

As BET's new president of entertainment, Reginald Hudlin may have the toughest job in showbiz: to transform a network criticized for its oversexed music videos into a respected destination for Black information and entertainment. But Hudlin, a veteran film and TV director, has a grand vision: more news, sports and original programming. He even plans to establish an animation division. Be patient, he says. A change is coming--just not overnight.

ESSENCE: You're a film director, not a network guy. Were you skeptical about taking this job?

Reginald Hudlin: Actually, I was intrigued by the offer. As a creative person, you can't get a bigger canvas than this. And I've always felt there's no media company with greater growth potential than BET.

ESSENCE: That sounds like code for the network just wasn't doing everything it could.

R.H.: People do want more from the channel. They want more content, and more original content, and I'm going to give them that. But it'll take time. I don't want folks to turn on the channel tomorrow and be like, "Hey! Ain't nothing changed!"

ESSENCE: What about BET's sexually explicit music videos--will we see less of those?

R.H.: Let's put it this way: There will be a change in the programming. We're broadcasting 24-7 and that leaves room for a lot of different constituencies. People have all kinds of frustrations with Black youth culture right now--they have a problem with the materialism, the nihilism, the sexual exploitation--and when they see that reflected in the videos it makes them angry. But you don't address these issues through censorship. You address them by showing the full range of humanity of Black people, and we're going to do that.

ESSENCE: You're friends with some of BET's biggest critics, such as Aaron McGruder and Chris Rock. Are your boys giving you grief about your new gig?

R.H.: I'm associated with a lot of people who've been critical of the network. But when [BET president and CEO] Debra Lee says you can make a difference at the channel, it's not about standing around complaining, it's about rolling up your sleeves and getting to work.

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