Urban One's microseries uses 90-second episodes to explore deepfake conflicts in a workplace
Ivory Shields and Tanazia Madan discussed their characters' struggles with ambition and digital deception on The Black Watch.
By Rebecca Foster ·
A new scripted microseries from Urban One is using short-form content to examine how technology complicates professional relationships. Power & Influence follows employees at a Black creative agency in Atlanta as they deal with shifting loyalties and a scandal involving artificial intelligence.
The show features Ivory Shields as Nia Whitmore, a boss who prioritizes her career legacy over personal connections, and Tanazia Madan as Zuri Reynolds, a new employee trying to establish herself in a hostile environment. Each episode runs for approximately 90 seconds, a format that forces the writers to deliver rapid revelations without long exposition.
Shields described her character Nia as a woman who is unapologetic about her professional goals. Nia works to protect the reputation she has built, even when that effort damages her relationships. Shields noted that Nia represents women who seek fulfillment outside of traditional expectations for marriage and motherhood. The actress hopes viewers will recognize that Nia is villain-adjacent but still deserves compassion for her ambitions.
Madan played Zuri, who arrives at the agency hoping to start fresh. She finds that the office power dynamics require her to rely on older survival instincts. Madan explained that Zuri initially observes the room before deciding she must become more assertive to survive. The character's growth is messy as her past habits clash with the new professional image she is trying to create.
A central conflict in the series involves a deepfake scandal. This digital deception forces the characters to question the authenticity of what they see online. Shields said Nia's reaction is driven by a need to control her brand and legacy. Madan argued that Zuri is better equipped to spot the signs of manipulation because she is more familiar with the technology.
The actresses identified a confrontation between Nia and Zuri as a key moment in the story. In the scene, Nia belittles Zuri's background, saying the South Side did not teach her standards. Zuri responds by stating that the South Side taught her who not to play with. Shields said she enjoyed watching the younger employee finally stand her ground and develop a backbone.
The cast discussed the difficulty of conveying emotional depth in such a short time frame. Shields credited the production team for maintaining a collaborative atmosphere that allowed the actors to raise the stakes quickly. Both actresses noted that the creative team worked to keep every second filled with drama. They teased that a second season is planned and warned viewers to expect further surprises.
Power & Influence is available on BOSSIP. The series continues to explore how digital tools shape perceptions of truth and power in the modern workplace.
