MADEFEATURES MADEXXXX
Denzel , there are no words to describe how he commands the set . I don ’ t think I ’ ve ever seen anybody have a presence to them as he does . A lot of choices that Denzel Washington makes in his acting is so much in the moment . Anything can change by how the moment can feel . So , in a handful of our scenes , we ’ d change the entire dynamic based on his suggestion of being in the moment and the director would love everything about it . that this event tears people apart . Some of characters , without giving too much away , become a victim of the event and some are affected , but it doesn ’ t shake them off their path . You get to see the ripples of what these rebellions did to people . This was their lives and families in Detroit and you still feel that in the city of Detroit today . You still see the effects of the riots and rebellions . Everyone does amazing in this film . I believe that the hope this film is looking to accomplish is the level of understanding and empathy where this started from . How we ’ ve come so far from the civil rights movement and the beginning of us rising up , but haven ’ t come far enough . The most amazing part is that you see this storyline told from these young kids who get put in a situation with these police officers and they ’ ve done nothing wrong .
MADE : As a young actor what challenges have you faced breaking into the industry and what have you learned from them ?
Everything he would do would make the scene so much more alive and really force you to live in it . So , to see an actor with that kind of control over scenes and a setting was amazing . It was a great learning experience .
MADE : You ’ re currently set to star alongside John Boyega in the film Detroit . Tell us about the movie and your character ? What can we expect to learn about Detroit in this film ?
My character ’ s name is Morris and he is in this music group that is coming out in Detroit around the time that riots start in 1967 . Morris ’ dreams and goals kind of get swept up in the chaos that is Detroit and this rebellion . You will see through their art the different ways
I ’ m still facing these challenges today even as I ’ m building my resume and booking work . But the truth is , the industry is changing . There aren ’ t as many film roles for us as young black actors . I have this conversation with my agents all the time . There only about 6-7 breakout roles for men in a leading role . So , a film like Detroit is all the way left in a sense because they don ’ t typically get made by major indie production companies . There are much more opportunities for young white male and female actors . So , trying to break into an industry where the opportunities out there for you are already less than others and trying to find your own niche and mode is very difficult .
MADE : What ’ s your mantra ? Any quotes of inspiration that guide your life ?
I ’ m going to use my favorite line , which is spoken from Laz Alonso ’ s character , from Detroit which was also my take-away from the film . “ Police criminality should be treated as any criminality ”. To me that in itself was exactly how I want people to feel when they see this film .
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