There's a scene in The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat, which you catch a glimpse of in the trailer, where Young Odette (Kyanna Simone) is ready to defend one of her best friends, fists in the air, and in her underwear, because she doesn't want "blood all over" her dress.
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (Origin, King Richard, The Color Purple), who plays the grown Odette, has been there.
"I've had to do that with my kid sister," Ellis-Taylor said.
"My kid sister is 43 years old. She's still my kid sister. And she is, in fact, my best friend.
"I have called people who said things about her that were not true, and I have told them to STFU."
She says, for her, standing up quite often goes beyond the personal.
"I have to stand up to white Confederates in Mississippi," she said.
"I do a lot of standing.
"Black women have done that for ages. That's what we do. When nobody else is standing for others, we are standing, even when they don't stand for us."
Ellis-Taylor was speaking to ABC News along with co-stars Sanaa Lathan (Love & Basketball, The Best Man), Mekhi Phifer (8 Mile, ER) and Russell Hornsby (BMF, The Hate U Give) about their new film The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat.
Uzo Aduba (In Treatment, Orange is the New Black) also stars in the film, based off the 2013 novel of the same name by Edward Kelsey Moore.
"I love adaptations because I'm a big book nerd," Ellis-Taylor said.
"So, I was excited about doing [this movie] for that reason.
"And also excited to be sharing cinema space with women, because that was such a rare thing for me. Up until I had shot Supremes, most of my screen time has been spent with men."
Lathan was also keen to join the cast.
"Part of the reason why I joined is to work with Aunjanue and Uzo who I've been fans of for years," Lathan said.
She devoured the book prior to shooting.
"I laughed and I cried and I was sad when it was over," she said.
"We weren't required to read it because the script was fully formed and it was loosely adapted from the novel. You can never get a whole novel into a movie.
"So, for me, it was just kind of a treat to see what little things I'd like to pick."
Authentic representation in storytelling
Australians unfamiliar with the New York Times bestselling novel may glance at the title and think they're about to tune into a documentary on Motown's most commercially successful act led by Diana Ross.
This is not a documentary.
And it's not about The Supremes.
Directed by Tina Mabry, the film is about three women who are lifelong friends and dubbed "The Supremes".
Odette (Ellis-Taylor), Clarice (Aduba) and Barbara Jean (Lathan) have been through a lot together, facing challenges that threaten to test their bond.
Hornsby says the characters are so likeable and relatable because they come from an authentic place.
"I think that the beautiful thing about The Supremes, first as a book and then as a movie, is that it's us telling our stories on our terms," Hornsby said.
"And I think that for so long we were forced and spoon-fed a narrative that wasn't ours, and so we see a skewed image of who we are.
"But this is who we are. These women are who we are, these men are who we are. Their strengths, their weaknesses, their flaws."
Phifer knows people in his own life who are just like the character he plays, James.
"We wouldn't have what we call role models in our communities without people like James as a sort of a beacon, a guiding light on what you strive to be," Phifer said.
"Not saying that these people aren't flawed.
"But what makes them a shining beacon is that they've learned from their flaws, they're not repeating the flaws, and they've made themselves better."
He says there's a message in there for everyone.
"Never think that nobody can tell you anything, especially a friend," he says.
"If somebody has your best interest at heart, you should take the time, if you consider them a friend, to listen and look at yourself in the mirror and go, maybe that person is right.
"Maybe there is something I can tweak about myself to make myself more of an asset, not only to my family, but to my community and to the world as a whole."
Hollywood friendships can be 'fleeting'
Maintaining friendships can be hard though, especially in Hollywood.
"Friendships in Hollywood are fleeting," Hornsby said.
"I think the reality of it is when you get into this business, we all have a very selfish aim.
"We're quote on quote 'trying to make it,' trying to be successful. And friends that you sort of garner in the beginning, we're all on the same mission.
"And I think what happens is that jealousy and envy come about, and then you realise that they weren't friends to begin with.
"And the ones that you've sustained and maintained over the years are the ones that have been with you through thick and thin and that you've been able to support."
An emotional journey
Members of the cast have each gone on their own journeys to bring each of the characters to life and say the film will appeal to audiences of all stripes.
"Go see The Supremes," Lathan says.
"You will recognise, no matter what age you are, what race, what gender, you will recognise yourself.
"You will recognise people you know, and you will go on a lovely journey, an emotional, entertaining journey.
"And tell all your friends."
The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat is streaming on Disney+.
