Urban Grandstand Digital Issue 10 | Page 86

Maria Howell Sons 2 The Grave It’s been a little over a year since we had the amazing opportunity of devoting an entire issue to the cast of Sons 2 The Grave. This a film that will ask, and ultimately answer the age-old question, Am I My Brother’s Keeper? Written and produced by Lynne Stoltz of Have Faith Productions, and packing an all-star cast that includes Emmy Award winning actor Greg Alan Williams, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Brad James, Demetria McKinney, Tip “T.I.” Harris’ oldest son Messiah Harris, Atlantic Records Recording Artist Trevor Jackson, and NAACP winner Justin Martin, this film is set to break tremendous ground upon it’s theatrical release. Since being shot in the Atlanta area, the powers that be have been working diligently at getting this film out around the world and locking in distribution, and working to build the appropriate buzz. In this feature, we had a second chance to sit down and talk with actress Maria Howell, who arguably has some of the most pivotal moments in this film, playing the role of concerned and protective mother Ruth Jennings to the film’s lead character, played by Trevor Jackson. Her authenticity, and her willingness to fight for what was right in her heart, despite what the world saw, is the very thing that has her winning the audiences over. Her character was one that many mothers in the world will easily relate to. Ruth, in an effort to make up for an absentee father, and still be able to offer her son a sense of security, made it her life’s mission to protect him from the harms of the world. She knew all to well which way his life could go, and she was destined to take him in a different direction. Unfortunately, his environment takes control, and her struggle becomes to hard to manage, and you see it play out in the film. In this feature, we went a lot deeper into the mind of Ruth Jennings, and talked a lot about the mind of this amazing character. We learn why this role was so important other in the first place, and how it affected her long after the movie was filmed.    You definitely don’t want to miss this conversation.  U.G. Digital Mag: It’s always wonderful to talk to you, but it’s especially great to catch up with you today since it’s been over a year that we connected for Sons 2 The Grave. The movie is getting such awesome reviews.    Maria Howell: That is good, because I still have not seen it yet. I’m looking forward to that, so it’s a good thing to hear.    U.G. Digital Mag: That amazes me that you haven’t seen it yet.    Maria Howell: Well, it’s because when they show it, I’m usually in another state. I’ve seen snippets though.    U.G. Digital Mag: It’s amazing that it was recently featured with SXSW.  Maria Howell: I’m glad for that. Making the movie in and of itself was a big emotional thing. You only see what you shoot, and you don’t get to see the other parts. I’m always excited to see how it all comes together. I’m technical in that respect of liking to see how it was edited, and to see what was the interpretation of the editor and the writer. That excites me, so I’ve talked to Sasha, and told her I’ve got to see it. U.G. Digital Mag: Sasha’s doing so amazing with promotion, and it’s getting such good reviews. I’ve told her how eager I am to see it. I think it’s going to do big things.    Maria Howell: I’m looking forward to that as well. U.G. Digital Mag: So talk about the importance in the role of Ruth Jennings for you. She was so powerful in the way she worked with her son to keep him out of trouble, and away from harm. Why was it important for you to bring this role to life?   Maria Howell: I’m personally not a mother, biologically, but I have a lot of children who are in my life, and I know how protective I can be, so I can only imagine how I would be as a biological mother. What attracted me, first and foremost, is it was a more in-depth role as a mother. It was very intense in the fact that here was a woman who is career oriented, and she sacrificed. I can relate on apersonal level, and it makes sense to want to get so much stuff done, and get it done right and efficiently, but at the same time having this strong faith inside. That, in and of itself, is a lot. It’s a lot to operate your life based on faith, and continue to do your everyday thing. Having a son, and being so determined to guide him in the right direction and protect him from whatever elements in the world I can is daunting. There’s no guarantee that you can protect anyone, and it’s proven in the movie. Ultimately in the end, she was not able to protect her son. U.G. Digital Mag: A lot of times, parents have the best intentions,