The life of Whitney Houston, one of the greatest singers of our times, will soon be depicted on the big screen, and a native Texan helped make it happen. The 2022 biopic Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody focuses on the life of the legendary pop songstress who died tragically in 2012 at age 48. Among an expansive list of executive producers on the film is actor, producer and writer Tanner Beard. 

A native of Snyder, a small town located 80 miles south of Lubbock and 80 miles north of Abilene, Beard got his first taste of moving pictures as part of Snyder High School's illustrious film program. "Somehow, that little dust bowl has a really cool arts community," Beard said over the phone earlier this week. As a teen in Snyder, Beard got his first big break taking a small role and spot on the movie crew for the 2002 family film dubbed Grand Champion, which starred the likes of Julia Roberts, Bruce Willis and George Strait.

"That ignited the flame there in Snyder, Texas, and then onwards to Los Angeles from there," Beard said. Today he currently lives in Los Angeles, but he still frequents Grandbury, Texas, where his parents now live. He's planning to do a big screening of the Houston biopic with his family after it releases. 

During his career, Beard served as a producer on several films like Sylvio and the European West film 6 Bullets to Hell. He also founded Silver Sail Entertainment as well as the Mammoth Film Festival, a five-day California showcase spotlighting independent features and shorts. The opportunity to work on I Wanna Dance With Somebody came in 2020 amid the height of the pandemic.

At the time, Beard said he was supposed to be filming a movie in Bangladesh with the project's lead producers Jeff Kalligheri and Denis O’Sullivan. Unfortunately, that film didn't pan out but the pair invited Beard to be part of the latest Whitney Houston biopic. Also invited aboard the production team are Beard's sister Lexie, who lives in Austin, and his mother, Janice. "We've all been working in the movie industry together and it's the first time we've ever got to be executive producers on the movie," Beard said. 

It's essentially an indie film that Sony picked up, which Beard said was "very cool." Getting to work alongside talents like award-winning director Kasi Lemmons and New Zealand-born filmmaker Anthony McCarten was also attractive. "You didn't have to twist anybody's arm too hard to be a part of this one," Beard said. "These are the best in the business and I got to learn a tremendous amount, even though on paper, I'm their boss, you know?"

Filmed mostly in Boston over the span of a few months, Beard said he and others who worked behind the scenes were challenged with narrowing down tons of "precious material." The biopic dives into many of the aspects of Houston's life not previously seen before, or at least under this light, Beard said. The script received "tremendous" support and trust from members of the late singer's family and friends, including Houston's mentor Clive Davis himself, who also served as a producer. "Just to have all the people that surrounded her and were actually closest to her or her family... I mean that's the story that anybody would want told about them and I thin that's what we're going to see in this movie," Beard said. 

Naomi Ackie, who portrays Houston, is undeniably good at embodying the singer, Beard opines. "She's been working on this character for a long, long time as the movie continued to develop," he said. "It goes without saying that with her performance, she had to be Whitney Houston in her mind for over a couple of years." And obviously, the music fans know and love from Houston are sprinkled throughout.

But even if you're not a fan of Houston, Beard says there's something in the movie for everyone. "It's the American dream, essentially, having nothing and working hard across all adversity to keep your eye on your goal and achieve it. And once achieved, that's where your character really shines through. I think everybody loves to see that story." Beard's favorite scene in the film? Houston's stirring rendition of the national anthem at Super Bowl XXV, one of the standout moments movie's trailers. "It's a the hairs on the back of your neck stand up kind of moment."

Beard just wrapped filming another picture in Boston called The Collaboration, starring Paul Bettany as Andy Warhol and Jeremy Pope as Jean-Michel Basquiat. That movie will likely be released to audiences next summer or fall. Much of the same team that worked on the Houston biopic also worked on The Collaboration, he said. The Mammoth Film Festival is also coming up in March, during which Beard said I Wanna Dance With Somebody will also screen with members of the cast and crew opening up about working on the film after the movie. 

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody opens in theaters everywhere on Dec. 23.