Assistant Professor Lisa Payton of the American Studies/Media & Communications Department recently wrote two episodes for the current season of "Truth Be Told," an Apple TV+ show starring Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer.
The NAACP Image Award-winning drama follows investigative reporter turned true crime podcaster Poppy Scoville, played by Spencer. In the current third season, Poppy joins forces with an unorthodox principal, played by Gabrielle Union, to find several young missing Black girls whose stories have gone unreported.
Payton, a producer for season three, wrote episode four, “Never Take Your Eyes Off of Her,” which premiered on February 10, and episode six, “From My Hand The Poisoned Apple,” on February 24. This season will include 10 total episodes and is available to Apple TV subscribers.
Payton, who recently spoke at Gender Talks: “Truth Be Told’: Reflections of A Black Hollywood Writer,” has worked as a Co-Producer on “Kings of Napa” for WB/OWN. She has also written for shows such as “The Parent’Hood,” “Living Single,” “Girlfriends,” “MDs,” and the Peabody-winning series “ED.”
She currently teaches Writing in Media, Women and Media, and Scriptwriting for Television. Payton is also an advisor for the Media Innovation Center.