The Blackboard Spotlight: Veteran Actor Hawthorne James

EMGWORLD SPEAKS WITH LONGTIME ACTOR/WRITER HAWTHORNE JAMES ON SURVIVING WITHIN THE INDUSTRY

From an unforgettable role in Robert Townsend’s “Five Heartbeats” to starring alongside hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg in “Boss N’ Up,” Hawthorne James continues to hold a spot in the hearts of audiences across the world.  The veteran actor takes a moment to discuss the passion and hunger needed to survive within the industry.

Background: Professional Actor/ Screen Writer

EMGWorld: At what point in your journey did you officially consider yourself as a professional actor?

Hawthorne James: I'd say from the very first film I did with the late Rudy Rae Moore.  The movie was called Disco Godfather.  That's when I thought to myself "I can make a living at this."  I had that feeling before, but after that movie I told myself I can make some money doing this.  

EMGWorld: You've studied and trained in theater.  Today you have R&B and Hip-hop artists who've never been professionally trained and booking work over those who've studied for years.  Would you say training is something that's necessary for actors in today's industry?

HJ: I believe training is still necessary.  You have to think about longevity.  It's not so much for today, but for TOMORROW.  You have to ask yourself if you want to make a living at this or do you want to be a person of note for a day?  I'd say you have to be trained to do that.

EMGWorld: What’s the one thing you would warn other young actors of who hope to make a career in this business?

HJ: Just remember the big break doesn't happen in your time.  It happens when it’s the RIGHT time.  It may take a month or ten years.  You have to be prepared to face the frustration in your pursuit of making a living in this industry.  Is this a calling that you have or just a thought that you think someone's going to discover you and you'll be the 'it' person?  It doesn't work like that.  Almost everyone comes out here and struggles at some point.  You have to be prepared for all the heart ache and difficulties of this life.  

EMGWorld: What would you say has changed most since you began your journey as an actor?

HJ: This is not an industry that takes RISK anymore.  You don't really have as many artists.  What you have are business people.  When you look around you see the same films being produced over and over.  You see Rocky 9 and Batman 42.  If it’s not going to make money, they don't want to do it.  

EMGWorld: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned since you began to pursue your career in this business?

HJ: In one way or another you have to make yourself valuable.  You have to show the powers that be that you can make money for them.  That's the best advice that I can give.  Just make yourself valuable.

“99 percent of the people that talk to you are full of it.  It's the ONE percent you have to search for.” -  Hawthorne James, Blackboard Spotlight

EMGWorld: What would you say is the best way for a newcomer to seek representation?

HJ: Perform on STAGE any time you can get on stage.  You should also be involved in student films because you never know whose going to be the next Spielberg.  You'll be building relationships and developing your reel.  Then you can go into an agent's office and say, "Here's some work I've done."    

EMGWorld: What’s your advice to those young actors who have finally been fortunate enough to book that first job?

HJ: You can't just spend that money right now because you have it.  You have to understand this is a business of ups and downs.  Money COMES and GOES.  You may make a lump sum today but that lump sum might have to last you for a year or two.  

EMGWorld: Hollywood is always filled with actors who seem like they’re overnight sensations.  Would you say there’s a good chance that people can still get discovered?

HJ: There may be a few instances where people are randomly discovered, but how often does that happen?  Be realistic.  The chances of that happening are the same as you being struck by lightning.  Prepare yourself and get on the stage or get a reel.  Go to class.  Work at your craft.  If you don't take yourself seriously, they won't take you seriously.  Be SERIOUS about your craft and others will fall in line.  Your chances are so much better when you put in the work.

EMGWorld: What’s your advice to those actors out there waiting for the phone to ring from a Hollywood agent or producer?

HJ: You can’t sit by the phone and expect it to ring.  You have to be busy.  You have to be out there.  You have to be out there honing the craft, making the contacts and pushing yourself.  

EMGWorld: How pivotal is it for you to have roles in projects that connect with the young, urban audience?

HJ: I've been very BLESSED.  I'm one of the only actors to have been in more than one Steven Spielberg film.  I've worked with Oliver Stone.  I've been around some of the best people in this industry.  Martin Lawrence gave me alot of respect and had a role written specifically for me on his sitcom.  He said, "We'll write something special for you."  It's amazing thing for a kid from the Southside of Chicago to have that kind of respect within the industry.

EMGWorld: What was it like to be a part of a cinematic classic like “Five Heartbeats?”

HJ:  For some reason that role really grabbed a hold of people.  My character’s name [Big Red] might as well be on my birth certificate.  Every time I step outside my door someone talks to me about that film.  It's been 21 years since that movie came out and every day of my life someone asks me about it. Not just BLACK people, but Asians, Latinos and white people recognize me from that film because it's been around for so long.  I remember when I was in Japan and a Japanese lady was jumping up and down in the parking lot after recognizing me from that film.  It was mind boggling.

EMGWorld: What’s the one thing you would warn other young actors of who hope to make a career in this business?

HJ: This is show business.  It's 90 percent business and 10 percent show.  There are so many scoundrels out here.  To the females out here, these scoundrels just want to get in your pants.  They'll say anything and if you fall for the okie doke then that's on you.  99 percent of the people that talk to you are full of it.  People come to me all the time with hot air and that talk goes through one ear and out the other.  It's the ONE percent you have to search for.  

EMGWorld: At some point every actor has a desire to direct or produce their own movies.  How much of a challenge is it to get funding for your own projects?

HJ: Look at the journey Red Tails had to go through.  You have one of the most powerful men in Hollywood whose made billions of dollars for Hollywood and was rejected.  He had to shoot the film with his own money.  Then he was rejected when he looked for a distributor.  How can you turn George Lucas down?  It's an incredible situation we're still living in today.  You have to find ways to become a DISTRIBUTOR.  The power is in the distribution.  

EMGWorld: What was it like working with hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg in his first starring role in the movie Boss N Up?

HJ: That film didn't even have a theatrical release, but people all around the world know about that movie.  People talk to me about that movie all the time.  It was fun working with Snoop.  Snoop is a very intelligent guy.  He's not some ignorant bumpkis runnin around here.  That man is very smart and knows about the world.  I look forward to working with him again.

EMGWorld: As an actor that’s been in this business for so many years, how challenging has it been to maintain the hunger necessary to continue working in today’s industry?

HJ: I've tried to maintain that hunger throughout my career.  When you don't have that hunger you're then just doing it for the money.  Doing it for the money just isn't fun for me.  If I'm doing this just for the money then I might as well stop and do something else.  I'm always looking for the next thing that'll take me to the next level.  That's what keeps me going.

“Just remember the big break doesn't happen in your time.  It happens when it’s the RIGHT time.  It may take a month or ten years.” - Hawthorne James, Blackboard Spotlight

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