Marlon Wayans, writer and producer of new film Fifty Shades of Black, stopped through the Four Seasons in Washington, D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood to talk in an off-the-cuff roundtable discussion.

Listen to our interview by clicking the music icon above

Wayans, who was sitting at the top of the table with two reporters on either side, enjoyed a cup of coffee before offering insightful and hilarious answers to our burning questions; both about the film and the Wayans Brother’s star’s legacy.

In an intimate round table with four of DC’s emerging media personalities, comedian Marlon Wayans revealed the crazy thoughts that went into executive producing his latest project 50 Shades of Black. Audiences can expect “a guy movie wrapped in a chick flick,” according to Wayans. He says there are big laughs for guys, but the rom-com feel is still there for women. Basically, he’s setting couples up for Valentine’s Day dates.

Wayans– Wait. That’s so formal. We’ll call him Marlon. He’d prefer that. Marlon was so personable. He made all of us comfortable by greeting us with hugs and handshakes as we entered the room to take our seats. After a kiss on the cheek and “‘Bobby Pen?’ I like that,” I made my way to a leather arm chair and scooted toward the oak boardroom table in the Four Seasons Georgetown conference room, where he was seated at the head, ready to fire up the iPhone voice memo app and pick his brain.

We were reminded of the day’s 15 minute limit by Marlon’s publicist and instructed us to get right to it. With a split second to tap the red record button, the group shot off the first question: What’s the difference between Christian Gray and Christian Black?

With a side eye and instant chuckle, Marlon responded with a time enough answer:

We went a little more extreme with Christian Black. We made him more of a stalker, but not aware of it. Because, [Christian Grey] was kind of a stalker. And I think he was a worse lover. As bad as Christian Grey was, I think Christian Black is worse. He has all the tools to be sexy, but somehow some way it just isn’t working…but she still loves him.

When it came to casting, Marlon said there was a lot of consideration that went to in rounding out a winning team including comedy newcomers like YouTube sensation Andrew “King Bach” Bachelor and Wildin’ Out’s Affion Crockett. He said it’s important for him to play off his friends so he always works to create roles for them, like Shades of Black’s “The Weekday,” portrayed by Crockett. In contrast, Marlon also added comedic veterans like Jane Seymour, Fred Willard and Florence Henderson to give the movie “more gravity,” according to him. And while you can typically spot “Sean & Marlon Wayans” together in most projects, Marlon decided to strike out on his own this time.

Marlon says he develops the films that he writes, produces, stars in and independently contracts a distributor, in order to maintain creative freedom and the “final cut.” While he takes into consideration suggestions from his co-producers Rick Alvarez and Michael Tiddes, he ultimately follows his own instinct developed on the road from the instantaneous crowd reactions he gets at live stage shows. So, as he writes scripts he allows room for his cast to improvise in order to really own their roles.

Baby brother Wayans also told us about how much he loves it when the team wins in his film. He encourages his cast to freestyle, especially when he’s paired with a legend like Cedric the Entertainer or Mike Epps in this one, so he plays the “straightman” to make way for his co-stars to shine. “I want the team to work. I like [for] people to score. There’s nothing better for me than watch people score. It’s one thing to score, it’s another to get an assist,” says the writer in Marlon.

While the Wayans family is known for their  signature spoof style, Marlon says that 50 Shades of Black is not a spoof. He calls it a comedy remix. “Even if you haven’t seen 50 Shades of Grey, you’ll still laugh at 50 Shades of Black because its just funny,” he says.

When he describes Wayans Brothers Productions’ iconic style of stories reimagined, he says that 1996’s Don’t be a Menace to South Central while Drinking Your Juice in the Hood wasn’t a success because it was a parody, instead it resonated with fans because they had really funny characters in really funny situations and had a really funny take on the world. This hilarious worldview transcends his work. “In the worst moment I always try to find the funny,” he told us. Marlon says he can find reasons to laugh even at a funeral, and that’s what makes him special to loved ones (including ex-girlfriends) closest to him.

To me, it’s kind of like how Kanye takes a old gospel track or a old R&B track and he flips it and makes it Hip-Hop for this generation and like– “Oh that’s dope.” It’s just, We know how to plug into what’s going on now. Here’s how they want to hear this.

Fifty Shades of Black hits theaters nationwide on January 29th, so make sure you go out and support. How crazy is this ridiculous trailer?

“I make people laugh. Laughter is medicine. That’s my contribution to the world.” – Marlon Wayans