We're At It Again In Our Latest Film
Justin Kirkland is hands down one of my favorite actors in the game right now and if you need to know why, look no further than our first collaboration “April Again”. His portrayal of “Devonte” gave the film the the exact type of gritty realism that I was aiming to capture in my first feature.
Naturally, when I was gearing up for film number two, I had him on speed dial. In the Sound of Southside, Justin delivered once again in the role of Rich — the former best friend of the protagonist Maliki. While editing the film, I found myself fascinated at the subtle choices and care that Justin played him with.
We linked up to learn more about his process of taking on roles, and how his actor life’s been going. Tap in!
Oh and make sure you RSVP to watch his performance here and cop the accompanying Sound of Southside novel here!
1. I just wanna start this off by saying I'm proud of you man. Last year, I jumped out of my seat when I saw you on a commercial randomly. How have things been going since our first collaboration in 2019 with April Again?
Man first off thank you! Things have been going pretty well since we last collaborated. Obviously 2020 set us all back a bit but thank god we are here! The career has been going great. More commercials, more films. Got the opportunity to be on Blue Bloods this past year. In talks to maybe go back. Fingers crossed! Things are going well. Much more to come.
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2. Your character in The Sound of Southside Film is a pretty intense role. How do you approach something like that -- what was your process like after you got the script?
I was excited about the opportunity to work with you again. April Again was such a huge success and definitely was one of my favorite projects to be apart of. This one was special for me because of the character. This character is one I was always told I couldn’t play. Most people always told me I was too nice of a guy to play a character like this but I obviously will disagree. This character is really intense. He’s like so many people we’ve come across growing up around the way. He wants to be tough because that’s all he knows. That’s his defense mechanism. He’ll do anything to feel like he’s on top. Deep down he wishes he could be Maliki. For me I just placed myself into his shoes. Growing up on the Southside of Queens like we did, we seen so many people like Rich. Guys that have so much potential but because of some unfortunate events in their lives, they end up going down the wrong path. They end up latching onto the wrong people. They have every excuse in the world why life is so cruel. That’s what I tapped into after I got the script. That person who unfortunately let their environment get the best of them for all the wrong reasons.
3. What kind of roles do you want for yourself in the future? Are there any other filmmakers you'd want to work with or types of films that you'd like to be in?
Man I want it all! I want to be that action star like Will Smith. I want to be a superhero. I want my own show on Nickelodeon. A sitcom on a major network. I’m a huge fan of classic horror films. Being in one is a must for me. I’m looking forward to creating my own projects in the near future. I would love to continue to work with you on other projects. I truly believe in you my brother; Tyrel Hunt is the next best thing coming up in this industry. Filmmakers like Ryan Coogler I would love to work with. A Spike Lee Joint is a must! Tasha Smith is brilliant. Would love to work with her. Shania Banton is another one on the rise as well.
"Staying the course. Trusting the process. Enjoying the process. Understanding that this crazy life we chose to be in is not easy. Some days are great. Some days you just wanna quit"
4. What's been your biggest challenge since you've decided to commit to being an actor?
Staying the course. Trusting the process. Enjoying the process. Understanding that this crazy life we chose to be in is not easy. Some days are great. Some days you just wanna quit! But those who stick with it day in and day out are the ones who make it and have a successful career. We are all great at what we do. It’s only a matter of time that the world knows it too.
Get an early look at the film trailer months before the world! Preorder the novel here, and send the confirmation screenshot to grittyvibes@gmail.com to view the trailer today.
