When I think of Anna Deavere Smith, I first think of her as the big sister of my long-time friend, Saundra Quarterman. They have similar diction, precision and force—and something else that sounds a bit old fashioned, stage presence. It is easy for me to see Anna and Saundra—and Julie Taymor—all working together on a new project. But, as Saundra tells me, “the business” is not that easy.

Appropriately, Anna’s 2006 book, Letters to a Young Artist: Straight-up Advice on Making a Life in the Arts-For Actors, Performers, Writers, and Artists of Every Kind, goes into detail about how to approach the role of “artist” in the greatest empire television has ever seen. My squalid, little collection of YouTube.com videos here should show Anna talking about her book and more!