Ok Hilary Banks, we see you!

Karyn Parsons, the actress, author, and Sweet Blackberry Foundation founder best known for playing Hilary Banks on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” and her husband, director Alexandre Rockwell, have opened their Providence, R.I., home to an aspiring filmmaker they had been mentoring, as exclusively reported by People. 

The filmmaker, 27-year-old Matthew Osubor, had been working on Rockwell’s projects and later encountered housing instability that prompted the Parsons–Rockwell family to offer him a place to live. 

According to People, the relationship began after a chance meeting in a Whole Foods parking lot in spring 2024, when Osubor and Rockwell exchanged contact information. Osubor, a Brown University graduate whose parents emigrated from Nigeria, later worked on Rockwell’s film “The Projectionist” and received Rockwell’s support as executive producer on Osubor’s own feature, “Big Daddy’s Flowers,” which was shot in and around Providence and is slated for release early this year. 

Parsons said the family initially offered temporary space when Osubor’s apartment suffered flooding and other problems, but they later offered a more permanent solution after learning the full extent of the issues. Osubor now lives in the finished attic of their home and has worked on Parsons’s nonprofit, Sweet Blackberry, which shares with parents and educators little-known stories of African-Americans whose achievements have shaped American history.

Osubor assisted with multimedia, website work, and launched Sweet Blackberry’s YouTube channel because he had a limited budget to pay them for his stay. Parsons told People that Osubor “fits in great” with the family and has become “like a big brother” to their son, Nico. 

Rockwell told People he was impressed by Osubor’s films and collaborative attitude, noting that the young filmmaker’s shorts “jumped out” at him and that his voice felt original. Osubor described the household as warm and supportive, adding that Parsons and Rockwell’s mentorship and generosity gave him both creative opportunities and stability while he completes his new project. 

Parsons, who has transitioned in recent years from mainstream sitcom fame to authorship, public speaking, and nonprofit work, credited the couple’s Providence life and creative environment with allowing them to support emerging artists directly. For Osubor, the arrangement has meant tangible production support, mentorship, and a role in a film that Parsons and Rockwell helped shepherd. 

“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,” Osubor said. “They’re both passionate about what they do – and I see in them, on a daily basis, that anything is possible.”