Shakira Ja’Nai Paye on Her Dream Role and The Resurrection of Demascus

After AMC shelved the sci-fi series Demascus, star Shakira Ja’Nai Paye opens up about its surprising resurrection and what she hopes is next.

Demascus is a series that was shelved by AMC three years ago, leaving fans to wonder if it would ever see the light of day. However, the show has found a new home on Tubi, where all six episodes are now available to stream. The series, which blends sci-fi and comedy, has been generating buzz since its surprise release, with many praising its unique premise and compelling storytelling.

Actress Shakira Ja’Nai Paye, who plays Naomi in the series, shares her thoughts on the show’s unexpected journey to Tubi. In this interview with Mama’s Geeky, she discusses her reaction to the show finally being released, what it was like to play multiple versions of the same character, and the one moment on set that she will never forget.

Her Reaction To Demascus Finally Seeing The Light Of Day

Mama’s Geeky: Demascus was almost never going to see the light of day.

Shakira Ja’Nai Paye: That part, right? It made us, as creators, be like, “Okay, this show is really good right?” I would watch the show if I wasn’t in the show. And then, honestly, I haven’t seen the show since we shot it and went to South by Southwest around March of 2023, so a lot of it was fresh to me rewatching when it just dropped.

Mama’s Geeky: What was your reaction when you found out Tubi was going to give Demascus a home?

Shakira Ja’Nai Paye: Just per joy. I’m friends with one of the executive producers, so he kept me updated on a lot of the journey. When I heard about other networks not wanting to move forward with it, because they were trying to sell it to a bunch of places, I was like, “What?” And then when we found out Tubi was the network to make an offer. Thank you Tubi. I don’t know them as well, but I’m happy that Tubi wants our show and the world gets to see it.

On Playing Multiple Versions of The Same Character

Mama’s Geeky: I want to talk to you about what it is like getting to play different versions of the same person in the same show.

Shakira Ja’Nai Paye: I mean, so cool. I think that’s a dream for actors to be able to flex that muscle of being able to be different people. I also like the idea of Naomi’s evolution in his subconscious. Because technically, all of her existence is mostly in Demascus’ mind, outside of when you first meet her.

I think because when he first meets her, she’s so powerful, and her femininity and her power and her artistry, it makes him want to shift, so I think every reality is what impact am I having on him? I’m a woman who knows myself. Know thyself is a huge part of this story. So I think every version I was like, “Who is she in this? What does she know about herself?”

Even when she’s less sure of herself she still shows up in a very fun way so I loved it. I loved being able to play different versions of her.

Mama’s Geeky: What was it like reading those scripts when you first got them and getting to see where you were going to go each time?

Shakira Ja’Nai Paye: The pilot, I thought, was great. I’m not in the pilot, so I was just thinking this is really well written. It was crazy when I found out Martin Lawrence is replaying Uncle Forty because I didn’t even put it together, and then when I saw it together, I was like, “Oh my gosh, this is perfect.”

I’m not sure that I even received the full script initially for Naomi. Every time they sent me the updated script, it was fun. It was always some new little details. I think in the first draft of the dance sequence, I had tire marks on me, and I wasn’t necessarily wearing clothes, and I think it was like, she’s wearing clothes, she’s not going to wear tire marks.

When you’re dealing with someone’s mind and what they think could be super cool, it’s like yeah that’s cool, but we’re going to put her in a cloth.

Mama’s Geeky: I imagine with a series like this, there is not a lot of improvising.

Shakira Ja’Nai Paye: Well, episode five, the reality TV show, that director, her name is Destiny, she was like, let’s improvise some. She was really big on playing and improvising, especially when we’re talking directly to the camera for those moments.

I think that was the only episode where we did a little more. But overall, the script is so well written that you love what’s on the page, and you don’t have to add too much.

What She Loves About Naomi

Mama’s Geeky: What would you say you love the most about Naomi?

Shakira Ja’Nai Paye: Oh, I mean her introduction. This is the best introduction I’ve ever had for any character ever. She just comes in as a badass. I was nervous because I had to do that dance in front of a ton of people. Janet Hubert is well known as an Alvin Ailey level dancer from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and then Sasha, who plays his actual girlfriend, was a dancer in Hamilton on Broadway. So, I guess I’ll do my best out there.

Also, they’re not having to dance so you can’t compare anything. Also, we’re not competing, so it doesn’t matter. But it was very nerve-wracking. It was my first day of shooting and I just remember the background actors were like, “Just remember sis, you can, they can’t.”

They were really cheering me on because I think they could tell I was nervous, but I was also like, “I’m not Shakira, I’m Naomi, and I’m taking up space.” I loved my introduction. And then of course, I love every version of her. We had fun little beats and everything. I loved even episode four, which I’m not in.

What Would A Demascus Season 2 Look Like?

Mama’s Geeky: Should we get a season two for Demascus, what would you like to see?

Shakira Ja’Nai Paye: Oh, I would love to see a season two, and within that season two. I want them, Naomi and Demascus, to potentially meet in the primary reality again and rekindle, and then I can see Demascus potentially escaping the real version of her for these other versions. That’s one of the things that we see Demascus do, going into this D.I.R.T. and enjoying other realities more than his present reality.

So imagine if you even get part of the thing that you want, and then meet the escapism, because the inner work is still always the work to see that transpire with my character. Also I want us to go everywhere. Let’s shoot in another country. We could be anywhere. So definitely season two, chock full of new locations. And maybe a 90s sitcom. In lieu of like on Viv Janet.

Would Shakira Ja’Nai Paye Try D.I.R.T.?

Mama’s Geeky: Do you think you personally would sign up for D.I.R.T.? Would you do it?

Shakira Ja’Nai: I think I would. I don’t know if I would stick with it, but I would try. I don’t know it seems so fun. You could just go into an entirely different world. Anything is possible. Really scary though, because one reality could be a horror film. Towards the end of episode five with my character, he got a little scary. Not to spoil anything.

The Dance Sequence Had To Be Adjusted Slightly

Mama’s Geeky: Is there one moment on set that stood out for you?

Shakira Ja’Nai Paye: We had a few fun moments. I mean, maybe that moment when I was on the dance sequence, and the background actors were genuinely so supportive and kind, and they were like cheering me on. I did slip in the paint and bust my butt a little bit. We hadn’t practiced with the paint, so once they poured the paint it was like a slip and slide.

So a lot of the dance moves we ended up taking them to the floor in the choreography in real time. Like, let’s just like get you on the ground instead of standing and doing all these other ones. We still did a lot of the standing moves, but once that paint was poured, it was like, okay, yeah, this is a safety hazard. Didn’t go as we planned. I was like, this actually checks out, paint would be slippery.

What Exactly Is Demascus?

Mama’s Geeky: Let’s pretend somebody has never heard of this show, they don’t know anything, what would you say to them to get them to check it out?

Shakira Ja’Nai: I like to say that it’s a genre-bending comedy drama, it is chock full of everything you haven’t seen yet. It lands somewhere between Atlanta with Donald Glover meeting Black Mirror, but it’s in its own reality, and I think you would really enjoy it. It’s for everybody.

Make sure to watch Demascus on Tubi so that we can get a season two.

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