He recently did a film about The Notorious B.I.G. called Notorious, and said he was the only actor cast who actually knew him. He talked about getting to know Biggie’s mother on the set, and mentoring with the real Wayne Barrow, who was the character he played. He also talked at length about what an inspiration Gregory Hines was to him, and what he not only taught him about acting but about life. He shared one thing that he did learn — that it’s important to slow down, take the time and do it right.
He was also in the TV movie The Temptations as Otis Williams. I had no idea! I absolutely loved that film, but I obviously never paid attention to who the unknown actor was. He talked about meeting Berry Gordy, Otis Williams, and Smokey Robinson. It was a very special movie to him. He also mentioned a new film coming up where he works with Donald Faison of Scrubs, one of his best friends with whom he went to junior high school.
As for Supernatural, apparently his friends are huge fans of the show, and gave him a lot of crap for being so mean to the Winchesters. One of the reactions he got was, “Why are you on my show?” He did the part because he was impressed with the script (“Nightshifter” — I don’t blame him), and he was overly impressed with Jensen and Jared. Someone brought up him being dunked into the toilet in “Jus In Bello” and he gave the proper lighthearted reaction to that one. The hardest part apparently were the black contacts he had to wear through that scene. Overall, the scene wasn’t fun, especially since the water was cold.
His favorite scene was the telephone conversation between him and Dean in “Nightshifter”, and I have to say mine too. He fashioned the part after Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive, and I have to say he did a great job. He got the often asked “what is your favorite cuss word” question, and his answer was the best of the day. I won’t repeat, but if you’re a fan of Samuel L. Jackson, you know the word.
I’m going to give least coverage to Chad Lindberg’s panel. I wasn’t that impressed. Sure, he pulled out his nephew, who was adorable in throwing off the hat with a fake mullet on it, but out of all the panelists, Chad least connected with the fans and the dull questions. There was one fascinating part of his panel worth mentioning though, and that was his film, My Big Break. This is a documentary filmed over ten years covering four actors and a director trying to break into Hollywood. There is him, Wes Bentley (who I loved in American Beauty), Brad Rowe, and Greg Fawcett. The film is not the happy side of Hollywood, for it shows the intense struggle of these young actors, and the downside of success and failure. It was pre-screened at EyeCon in September, and needless to say it made quite an impression.
Article comments
1 - Mary
Thanks for your reports, Alice! I'm enjoying them.
My complaints about cons are that they're rushed, pricey, and duplicative. I'd love to encounter actors in their natural environment (i.e., watching them work), but the chances of that are so laughably remote that I settle for cons and then wonder why, especially when I hear the same lame questions over and over again. If I'm tired of them, the actors must positively cringe, and it's to their credit that they hide it and keep smiling.
But in every con, there are gem moments that make it all worthwhile: meeting the folk you've blogged with, hearing an original question with a really funny or insightful answer, seeing people interact. And thus, we keep going.
I'm looking forward to your report on Jared and Jensen!
2 - kate
I have paid for a con and spent the whole (ok almost whole) time in the bar with online friends and meeting new ones. In fact I will be doing that at a local con later this month. Granted the con is a small one and significantly cheaper it does seem odd sometimes to pay money to sit in a hotel bar with friends.
But so far it has always been worth it.
3 - Drew
Hey, Alice. Sounds like your having some fun up there in Chicago. Good to hear. Sorry you missed out on your photo op though.
4 - Robin
Loved your rundown of events at the Con, Alice, and sure wish I'd known you were there so I could have given you a hug and told you how much I enjoy your SUPERNATURAL articles! The whole thing IS too rushed, there's far too much waiting in long lines, there isn't enough down time for people to get something to eat, and the damn hotel gave us a fridge that froze my insulin, rendering it useless! But standing between Jared and Jensen for my sandwich photo op was heavenly, even though the resultant photo looks like two sleek, gorgeous eagles with an ugly wren standing between them! My hair looked TERRIBLE!
Thank God for Photoshop. I'll just remove myself altogether!
Thanks again, Alice, for all your wonderful articles on SUPERNATURAL!
Love, Robin
5 - Alice Jester
Hey everyone! I wanted to point out a MAJOR typo. Please remember this was done in a rush in between events, so I apologize for missing this detail. Charles Malik Whitfield is from THE BRONX, not Brooklyn. I'm sure that's a big difference to people in that area. Sorry!
6 - Christopher Rose
I fixed that for you, Alice.
7 - Alice Jester
Thanks Christopher!