In 2003, the story of Falicia Blakely made headlines. Blakely, who at the time was the tender age of 19, was accused and later convicted of several brutal murders. Her story is now being brought to life in the upcoming film, When Love Kills. The flick stars Niatia “Lil Mama” Kirkland, who plays stripper-turned-murdered Blakely, Lance Gross, Tami Roman of Basketball Wives fame and Tasha Smith, who also handled directorial and producer responsibilities. Kirkland, Gross, Roman and Smith visited The Breakfast Club to discuss the film.

Kirkland, who first showcased her acting chops as Lisa “Lefteye” Lopez in Lifetime’s CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story confessed to Charlamagne The God, DJ Envy and Angela Yee that she wasn’t too thrilled about taking on the role of Blakely at first. However, following some advice she received from her father, she gained some clarity. “If you want to be taken serious as an actor you have to take a role that is outside of yourself, especially the ones that are completely left of yourself. That’s going to show your range,” she said her father told her.

Lance Gross assumes the role of Dino, the boyfriend of Blakey who influenced much of the downward spiral that led her to drugs, robbery and murder. The House of Payna actor admitted that there was a challenge playing a character that was a drastic departure from who he is. ” I really had to detox after this. I had to pray a lot, because, yeah, it was in me,” he told The Breakfast Club.

“I feel like the story is important for those young girls. We can glorify stripping, but the truth is every woman can’t handle it,” warned Smith, a former exotic dancer herself. For the actress, this movie was very important for multiple reasons. She unveiled that When Love Kills was her directorial debut.

Floyd Mayweather and Big Freedia also make cameos in the film, which hits TV One on August 28.