Karyn Parsons, famous for playing Hilary Banks in the 1990s sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, is now living a life similar to the show that made her famous. After stepping away from Hollywood years ago to become an author, public speaker, and founder of a nonprofit, Parsons is currently hosting a young filmmaker in her home.
What began as a chance encounter for the 59-year-old and her husband, film director, producer, and screenwriter Alexandre Rockwell, has blossomed into a thriving relationship with aspiring filmmaker Matthew Osubor, 27.
Osubor, a Brown University graduate born in the U.S. to Nigerian immigrant parents, met the couple, who had lived in Providence for three years, unexpectedly in a Whole Foods parking lot in the spring of 2024.
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Their bond began a year ago, after Osubor noticed an orange drop from Rockwell’s shopping bag as he walked toward his car. Osubor picked up the orange and returned it to Rockwell.
This started their conversation.
“As soon as he told me who he was, I was like, ‘Woah!’” Osubor told People.
Rockwell, who has been honored with top awards at major film festivals such as Sundance and Berlin, recently served as the head of the directing program at New York University’s graduate film school.
Osubor shared his ambition to become a filmmaker with Rockwell, who gave him his email address to keep in touch.
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Rockwell had been mentoring Osubor before he became homeless.
“We had a water boiler burst in the basement at 8:30 on a Sunday morning. Then we were told we couldn’t use the water,” Osubor recalled. “Things were always breaking, the electricity would trip out, people were coming and going,” he added.
Parsons and Rockwell first offered Osubor, who works on Rockwell’s projects, access to their home for breaks due to his plumbing issues. However, upon recognizing the severity of his unstable living circumstances, they extended a much kinder offer.
“It was difficult for him to focus on working on his film because … there were all kinds of issues in the house, like flooding,” Parsons explained.
Since their encounter, their interactions have led to Osubor working on Rockwell’s newest film, The Projectionist. This film stars Vondie Curtis-Hall (Chicago Hope) and has Quentin Tarantino as an executive producer.
Rockwell also agreed to be an executive producer for Osubor’s latest film, Big Daddy’s Flowers. This film, shot in and around Providence, is slated for release early this year.
The agreement for Parsons to appear in Osubor’s film was, as he put it, “the icing on the cake.” Given his limited budget, the Hamilton, Ohio, native compensated Parsons by offering his multimedia expertise to assist her nonprofit, Sweet Blackberry, instead of a direct payment.
Sweet Blackberry focuses on sharing little-known stories of African-Americans whose achievements have shaped American history with parents and educators.
Parsons recounted that Osubor’s “energy, enthusiasm, and ambition” were immediately clear upon their first meeting. She added that he “has been a huge help with the website and helping to launch our YouTube channel.”
Rockwell also expressed his admiration for Osubor’s drive and talent, stating he has been “so impressed.”
“When I first saw his short films, they jumped out at me and I [thought], ‘This guy’s got something I haven’t seen exactly before,’” Rockwell remarked. “And as someone who has dealt with a lot of young filmmakers … seeing someone who has a unique voice or a way of seeing something I haven’t seen before is rare, so he really stood out that way.”
“He’s also a good collaborator,” Rockwell continued. “That’s another thing about filmmakers: You have to know how to collaborate and work with people.”
Parsons shared that Osubor, who lives in the family’s finished attic, has “become like a big brother” to their 18-year-old son, Nico, a high school senior interested in filmmaking, who even worked on Osubor’s film.
Parsons and Rockwell also have a 22-year-old daughter, Lana, an actor and musician who splits her time between Paris and New York City.
Osubor expressed that he is “beyond grateful” for Parsons and Rockwell’s generosity. He is also “in awe” of their ability to balance their professional dedication with making time for enjoyment.
“There’s a lot of laughter in this house, for sure,” he shared.
He added, “They are both so inspiring, and seeing how fearless they are gives me comfort and a kind of peace and tranquility with how I go about things. They’re both passionate about what they do – and I see in them, on a daily basis, that anything is possible.”
