Frantz St. Louis is an actor in Hollywood, but you wouldn’t know it to observe the unaffected way he carries himself. Born in New York, the serious-faced actor is looked up by some as being the epitome of coolness and realness in the face of Hollywood artificiality. Says Alex Kearden, a photographer who has worked with Frantz on photo shoots: “Some of the shoots required Frantz to portray certain emotions and act a certain type. I find him to be a talented actor who approaches the craft enthusiastically and methodically.”

Kearden continues: “He is focused and patient until he knows he has done his personal best. In addition, on set he is friendly, down-to-earth, and supportive of his fellow actors as well as the other crew members like wardrobe and hair and makeup. Frantz always arrives with a smile and leaves with a smile.”

St. Louis has acted in everything from the hit TV series “Law and Order”, to “Third Watch” to stage productions in New York’s famed Triangle theater. Jessalyn Wanlim, whose has worked alongside St Louis, gushes, “He’s pure inspiration.”

Of course, with all these intriguing exclamations from those who have been around the man, it was only natural to get to know the man through a little interview. Won’t you listen in….

What inspired you to become an actor?
As a youth, I was always fascinated with performing and watching actors on television. When family friends would visit, I would put on one man plays to entertain them. As I got older, my love for acting grew deeper by studying the craft and performing on stage. My craft became one of my best friends, is somewhat like a person that wants to be heard, someone that has something to say and because I care about it, I nurture it. I enjoy touching people whether its making them laugh or being part of a project that inspires awareness. My name means “to be free” and this is how I feel when I’m acting.

You were raised by your grandmother and mother. Were you close to your father at all?
I am the third, as I come from a strong long line of Frantz St. Louises. I admire my father but he’s never played an active part in my life.

Do you prefer the theater to the big screen?
I love both mediums because they allow me to create strong characters. When I’m on stage there’s no second takes and I get a rush from that. I’ve worked with some of the best stage directors and they’ve all stressed the importance of studying and working on stage.

Have you seen any Haitian movies?
I’ve seen a few short Haitian films that I thought were beautifully done. I’m very impressed with the way the market is growing and the fact that more Haitian artists are finding their voice in film/TV production.

Despite your hectic schedule, you find time to mentor young kids. Is it hard to stay real in Hollywood?
It’s not hard at all. I believe that everything we do is aligned with our values. My mentor once told me that “If you’re not part of the solution, you may be a part of the problem”. Those words influence the decision making in my life. I put a lot of thought into my actions. “Staying Real” to me also encompasses being around humble people with common values. I’ve been blessed to have a strong circle and the wisdom to identify that you must let go of what doesn’t allow you to grow. My spirituality allows me to stay centered.

Are you pretty close-knit with the Haitian community in California?
I have Haitian friends and family members in LA and we’re looking to build a community. Everyone in La, is pretty spread out and hopefully we can start having functions to bring people together.

As an actor, do you find your self basing your worth as a person on the success of your latest movie or latest review?
Success is life itself. There’s nothing better than life. My experiences in life and my deep faith in God has allowed me to accept that success is in every breath that I take. If I spend too much time focusing on the destination, I’ll miss the journey. Everything else is just part of the story.

How does your family feel about your acting career?
They’ve been very supportive. I feel blessed to have their love and support.

Can you share some childhood memories with us?
My younger sister and I used to have a group called “Mo-town” We imitated every Motown legend there was. Family friends would give us money and we would buy ice cream and toys. I remember getting a $20 bill once and teased her about having more money than her. One day she got a $100 bill for her birthday and she said “I have $100 infinity…you can’t get a bigger bill.

In a place like California, where the Haitian community is so spread-out, do you take any measures to stay connected to the culture?
It’s funny I was talking to a friend of mine from NY and told him to mail me a case of Cola Lacaye (the Haitian soda) because I couldn’t find one. He went online and told me about the only haitian restaurant in Los Angeles. My connecting is now taking shape. I’ll keep you posted.

While we are waiting (perhaps hopelessly, perhaps in vain) for We Love You Anne to be released, it’s worth our time to look back at I Love You Anne and one of the key elements that made that movie work, and that lent to its overall popularity. And that element is Joe Zenny Jr.,. His face was more or less familiar to some, prior to seeing I Love You Anne, but after I Love You Anne, some Haitian movie fans found themselves getting a little more curious about his music. Most fans of I Love You Anne didn’t even know he was a musician, prior to seeing I Love You Anne!

With each viewing of the film, one notices something new in his performance. He has a great sense of timing, his gestures on cue. He really pinned down the character of Jude Dutreil to a “T”. Zenny playing Jude is one of the few times in many a person’s movie watching, that the female audience would not have minded if the bad guy made off with the girl, and they rode/galloped off into the white horse through the star-filled night.

Was it his experience in acting in music videos that helped him to put on such a great performance? One can contend that, this is not the case, as all singers turned actors would be capable of putting on great theatrical performances, and we all know that this isn’t the case.

The scene that many find rather riotous is the one in which he (Zenny as Jude Dutreil) is having that showdown with Beatrice Thales. He has a position to be filled at Judet Tours, his travel agency, and, well, in a country where jobs are far and few (or so we suppose), he wants her to do a little something extra, extra to get the position. She’s not that type of girl, thank you very much. But he’s that type of guy, oh mercy! A heated verbal argument ensues. The job offer is rescinded. Ms. Beatrice Thales gathers her dignity and storms off. The police inspector and friend of Jude Dutreil, Wesley Lisquet (Emmanuel Pierre-Antoine), walks in, asking why the girl left in such a huff. Jude affirms that the girl did not want to, er, put out, and had the audacity to want a job.

Zenny is never so charming as when he is having that office exchange with Ms. Thales. And how handsome he looks when he’s sitting in Bicha’s living room, trying to coax Anne into forgetting Don Kato, and getting into the Jude Dutreil lover chariot.

So, post-I Love You Anne, Zenny has starred in another franchise, Oasis and afterwards Hiatus, the two Francette Agnant films. Watching Oasis in its entirety and studying in the movie causes one to come to the conclusion that his performance in I Love You Anne was not a fluke. He isn’t an accidental actor.

What should his next move be? He’s certainly has done the franchise thing. Hey, two franchises: the I Love You Anne franchise, and the Oasis franchise. We would not recommend that he play a serial killer or anything, but perhaps he should try to do something different, so as to not be static. A period movie would be too expensive to make, but perhaps he should be entertaining other offers from Africa (as Jimmy Jean-Louis has done), or see about working with a Caribbean director of caliber, perhaps Christian Lara, Raoul Peck, or the ever talented Euzhan Palcy. Making another Haitian movie is not out of the question, but it must be something of quality, that will take his career forward, and judging from how selective he’s been regarding his roles post-I Love You Anne, it’s safe to say that he realizes the importance his selection of roles signifies for his career, and that each project he undertakes must take his acting career to the next level, or else it’s in vain.

Hiatus (Oasis II), Zenny’s last movie was released more than three years so Zenny definitely needs to keep the momentum going on his acting career. He certainly has the thespian chops. He should put them to more extensive use.

In the mid-1990s, Haitian actor and film director Jean-Gardy Bien-Aimé took a crew of young actors with him to Cap Haitian, Haiti’s one-time capital in the 19th Century, and the second largest city in Haiti to film his third movie Le Cap a la Une.

The film didn’t have an extraordinary plot—the script was basically about a few young Haitian professionals who after vacationing all over the world—decide to have a staycation in Haiti, not knowing that their lives, especially that of Marco, a young doctor among them, will change forever. The film established Jean-Gardy Bien-Aimé’s standing as a romantic drama director, after directing a couple of satires like Les Gens de Bien. But most of all, it made a heartthrob out of Smoye Noisy, who played the male protagonist Marco in the film, and eventually made him one of the most recognizable actors and faces in the Haitian movie industry.

Probably realizing what he had going for himself, Noisy was very selective in terms of his next role. Several years would pass by before he would be seen in another film. The project in question, Millionaire par Erreur, a film he himself had written and that Le Cap a la Une director Jean-Gardy Bien-Aimé would direct. Sandra Lobir and Réginald Lubin, fresh off from their roles in La Peur D’Aimer were on board, as were a plethora of new faces. In the film, Noisy played the governmental employee Stéphane, whose integrity as a state employee, hadn’t exactly won him the ill-gotten gains of his embezzling colleagues. After getting laid off, Stéphane goes to withdraw his last measly dollars from the bank, only to find himself being catered to generously by the bank’s personnel. Unbeknownst to him, his account was the beneficiary of a $3 million dollar deposit, intended for a millionaire’s daughter (Alessandra Lemoine), but mistakenly placed in his account. The inspirational film’s happy-go-lucky plot, made it a big favorite with moviegoers and DVD buyers.

Noisy would star in two films, back to back; the first a screen adaptation of a popular radio soap opera series in Haiti Vanités, Intrigues, Passions (or VIP, as it’s known), and the second as Mike in Le Miracle de la Foi, the love interest of a young woman discovering Christianity (played by the late Ginou Mondésir). It seemed to most movie observers that Noisy was really stretching himself with each role, going from comic to dramatic and back again. There was a bit of Marco in Didier de la Rue, but the role of Stéphane Roustand in Millionaire par Erreur, was far from either of those roles. Nowhere was Noisy’s growth as an actor more apparent than in the role of de la Rue in Vanités, Intrigues, Passions. The movie found him playing a loving husband whose love is not too unconditional, whose fragile ego leads him to be unfaithful to his wife (played by Sophia Désir, the series’ creator). Some say that the role of Didier was Noisy’s best role, in terms of what the demands of the character, as Noisy’s gifts as an actor were fully displayed through Didier’s journey from the state of a traditional husband who refuses to yield to the idiosyncrasies of his modern wife to compromising slightly to bring domestic peace to his household. But some feel the best is yet to come. Keep reading to read our interview with the actor.

Tell us about yourself, your childhood.
Talking about myself is not something I feel too comfortable with. I only want to be the type of person whose circle, whose surroundings benefit from what he has to offer and who helps build in a world where people choose to demolish, to vilify and destroy.

I spent practically my entire childhood with my grandmother, in simple surroundings, in an environment where respect reigned, and where one gave respect to everyone. My grandmother was an extraordinary woman who never had any arguments with anybody. She was a diplomat without words, and that’s a philosophy I unfortunately had to discover much later on through my own personal experiences in life.

Out of all the films you’ve been in, which one is your utter favorite ?
The one I love the most has got to be Millionaire par Erreur, because it was a production that brought together a lot of talent and competence from the private sector within the country and placed them all in one project, which even today has become a benchmark for Haitians all over. Millionaire par Erreur is like a family photo album of the biggest names in show business.

A lot of your fellow actors have left Haiti. What motivated you to stay?
Some people have thought it over and have seen that leaving is the best for them, while there are others who estimate that leaving is not the solution. I think I fall in the latter category, happily I say, because every Haitian cannot leave the country. Who’s going to stay behind to water the plants and to open the door for the others if everyone leaves?

Would you say that Haitian cinema is dead?
I wouldn’t say it’s dead, but we can definitely say that it’s lost a bit of speed, and that it’s still looking for its way. If you’re inside a car, you can’t be at a faster speed than the car will allow. It’s the logic to explain the current state of our cinema right now. But we can believe that the country will recover and that our cinema is what can help relay the message to help transform the mind-set that makes it so difficult for us to cultivate the riches and assure prosperity within the country.

Out of all the characters you’ve played Marco (Le Cap a la Une), Stéphane (Millionaire pa Erreur), Didier (Vanités, Intrigues, Passion), Mike (Le Miracle de la Foi), which would you say is the one most like you?
I liked Marco from Le Cap a la Une, which was my entry into cinema, alongside Jean-Gardy Bien-Aimé, and because it was a production that allowed me to discover and evaluate the potential of film as a medium in our community. It was the first film that exposed our talents in that field and that opened the doors for Haitian cinema.

What advice do you have for young actors whom are emerging on the scene today?
This advice isn’t necessarily for up-and-coming actors, but for all young people, no matter the field they’d like to get into. First, choose what you really want to do, and let your passion drive you. Remember it’s not ability and talent that makes one succeed, but attitude, respect that you show for yourself and people around you. And also to never forget to put forward work and discipline towards what you believe in.

Some people consider you to be the best actor in the industry.
Each and everyone has their own criteria in choosing their favorites, driven by their emotions or passions, then if I’m their favorite, then it’s an honor and a privilege that touches my heart, and that I receive with a great deal of pride. And at this time, I’d like to say that I love them very much, and I thank them for all their encouragement.

What other actors do you look up to?
I have a great deal of admiration for Tonton Bicha, who I find to be outstanding with natural, original talent. Also Reginald Lubin whom I consider to be a multiple-threat. That’s in terms of Haiti, but we have a lot of others outside of Haiti who are also doing some great work.

A lot of movie fans thought that your part in the last film you did—Journée d’Cooleurs—was a little too brief. What’s next on your plate in terms of movies?
I’d love to do a film that really showcases Haiti’s reality, with a screenplay that has the input of every Haitian in Haiti as well as overseas, and together we can build something worthy, that’s going to be a source of pride of us all. In regards to Journée d’Cooleurs, it was just a cameo that my friend Bertony Volmar wrote in for me. The actual actors were a couple of young talents, who needed more of a platform, and thanks to this movie we came across a lot of great sources of talent that were available and ready for great performances.

Where do you see your career, say five years from now?
My biggest dream is to see Caribbean Group succeed in finally getting Haitians to sit ogether to come up with a formula that can help us to fully showcase our talent potential and other riches within us and around us. That’s my biggest dream, and that’s not going to change for years to come, for as long as God gives me breath.

Photos: Haitixchange , Belfim, and Le Nouvelliste

Ricardo Lefèvre has been in many movies, but the actor rarely gives any interviews. Perhaps he’d rather have his work speak for him. His work, as in roles in a string of Haitian movies including Piwouli et le Zenglendo (Piwouli and The Thug), La Victime (The Victim), Le President a-t-il Le Sida? [Does the President Have AIDS?], Les Amours D’un Zombi (The Loves of a Zombie), and L’incroyable Escroquerie (The Incredible Rip-Off).

There were probably bad guys in Haitian movies before Lefèvre entered the cinema, but somehow he’s made his career out of playing them, and playing them better than any actor before him. What’s remarkable is that no matter how hardened the criminal he plays, no matter how callous or ruthless the character, somehow he manages to to breathe some sort of likeability to the roles. And if not, he at least gets the respect of grudging admirers and critics with his portrayals.

In the role of Althanaze for example, Lefèvre plays an overly ambitious father who’s quick to use his daughter as a pawn to a fast life of riches, that ends up in tragedy for his entire family. Yet, it is Althanaze’s desire (however misguided) to provide for his family that drives him to his reprehensible actions. Lefèvre approached the role of a former army member Piwouli with comedic ease. Piwouli may be no more than a delusional, egotistical, jealousy-driven cad, but he’s got heart. With all the bad guy roles, some people may have even forgotten that the first Haitian film that he had a role in—Millionaire Par Erreur—actually had him playing a good guy!

If there’s a role Lefèvre hadn’t played, it was a romantic lead, but Les Amours D’un Zombi, a film of director Arnold Antonin, has given him the opportunity.

He discussed his films, acting, and his future projects with Kreyolicious.com.

Who really is Ricardo Lefèvre?
Ricardo is a Haitian, an actor, an artist. But he’s also a simple man. Very understanding, and someone who respects everyone.

You played the role of Althanaze and Larrieux respectively in the films La Victime and Le President a-t-il Le Sida. Did you have any misgivings about people confusing you with those characters?
I like those kind of roles a whole lot, because they make me go beyond myself. I’m not the type of actor who likes the easy way out. If I play a role like that, and no one hates me, then I’ve fallen short. So, it all means that I’m not afraid of people comparing me to the people I play.

What prompted you to get into the movie business?
I started off with theater and music, so it’s only natural that the movies should pull me to it.

You’ve worked with Arnold Antonin more than you’ve worked with any other filmmaker? Can you discuss working with him and the work you’ve collaborated on together?
It’s true, I’ve done 3 films with Arnold Antonin, and with all these three films, I was his Assistant Director. Arnold is a cool cat, understanding; he knows filmmaking. He’s a man of his word and a hard worker. He’s indefatigable. I really enjoy working with him.

What do you think of the current state of Haitian movies?
I think it’s too bad, for as much as there are great Haitian actors out there, great directors, great screenwriters for the cinema to be lagging the way it is. But it’s the fault of a lot of mercenaries, who believe too much in improvisation: cameramen, screenwriters, directors, distributors, producers and so on, who know nothing about the movies, that’s digging a deeper hole for it each and every day.

When you’re offered a script, how do you determine whether it’s a winner or not?
I take my time to read a script. If I find it interesting, it’s already a winner. In which case, I even propose my help to make a few corrections. Sometimes, it’s a little detail that lacks that make a script a winner or not.

When you’re about to play a role, what techniques do you use to bring the character to life?
I try to get a handle on the message the screenwriter is trying to convey, and I put together the character: who he is, how old is he, where he’s living, what makes him the person he’s become today. I use what is called the character’s psychological makeup.

Any actors and actresses, and directors you haven’t worked with that you would like to get on board with on a project?
There’s some actresses in Canada and two or three directors; there are some young actors and actresses in Haiti too. I don’t want to specify any names, so that I don’t miss anyone.

Many moviegoers list you along with Reginald Lubin and Smoye Noisy as the best actors Haiti has to offer. What are your thoughts on this?
Frankly, I’m just happy to be doing what I have to do. I leave the rest to the audience. But I Know these two guys as two stupendous actors, and there are many others like them. Manfred Marcelin, for one, not to mention a bunch of others.

L’incroyable Escroquerie is one of your latest films. How did you become involved with it? Can you tell us about the movie itself? What do you think of the end-product?
L’incroyable Escroquerie is the third screen by Sylvio Tessier, where once again, I play the role of the bad guy. It’s a very good film. It’s one of those scripts that allow me to give a great performance as an actor.

Besides L’incroyable Escroquerie, what other projects can we expect to see you in?
The last movie I starred in is Sarah, a film by Benedict Lamartine, in which I play a priest who’s a counselor who expels demons. The other project is a big project: it’s Michael Smith. I wrote the screenplay for that one, and Samuel Vincent is directing. It could be released in December, God willing.

You left Haiti for the USA. Do you plan on returning to Haiti or will you be staying in the USA indefinitely?
I don’t know of anyone who can truly leave Haiti. As for me, I’m not one of those.

What counsel would you give to someone who wants to be in the movie business? Or who would like to be an actor?
If that person’s ultimate goal is to make money, then it’s best that they don’t go into it. Because there’s no money in it, and those who are already in the industry, are struggling.

Since you’ve been in the movies, do you ever have any not-so-good experiences?
That happens on all movie sets. There’s a disagreement, but in the end, everything falls into place.

Will you write a movie of your own one day? Or perhaps direct one?
I’ve written already. I have a bunch on my computer. As for directing, I’ve already done that for other people. But very soon, I will be doing my own project.

What do you think can be done to bring Haitian cinema to another level?
Everybody has to stick to their place, which means that if you know how to work the camera, stick to that; if you can write, write; if you can give money, invest. If that happens, the products will be better, and this way the cinema will go further.

Image Credit: Belfim and Levanjil TV

Some people know by high school or college that they want to devote their lives to the art of acting. Not Port-au-Prince-born Alex Sanon! The fledging actor was in the graphic designing business, and as the client queue started to dwindle, he began doing research on ways to restore loss income. He came across the website Explore Talent, a talent database, and became a member. He practically forgot about signing up for membership, until he started getting billed on his credit card, following his initial free trial. In May, the forty-something actor auditioned for a role advertised on the site, and nailed it. The role was that of a middle-aged man, Reverend Ernest in director Benedict Dorsey’s film Running on Water. This was followed by three more auditions, and two roles.

The father of four loves acting, and is appreciative of the fact that the art has allowed him to overcome his shyness.

K. St. Fort: You’ve successfully landed a role. How do you prepare for it?

Simple: I am no longer Alex Sanon, I am the character until the shoot is over. I usually look for a similar character, or a character in the similar situation in a movie or TV show that I’ve already seen—and I have seen about a million. I become the character in my daily life for at least 3 to 4 hours each day, every day—until the shoot is over. The big challenge is when I land roles on two different projects filming days apart. I flip-flop between those characters and sometimes forget to become myself before I go to bed. It could be consuming, but I am a Gemini so I got a good angle on switching personalities. Besides, with experience it’s getting easier for me to come in and out of a character. I don’t play characters, I become characters. To me it is kindergarten all over again. The difference this time around is that I am not just learning the colors of life, I am creating new ones with every role. I am having the time of my life.

K. St. Fort: Is there an actor that you model yourself after?

Idris Elba. Oops, that may be too short of an answer! I admire Idris’ skills set, Will Smith’s work ethic and Denzel Washington’s talent. I am versatile but not funny—I am working on it. My goals are to make my own marks in Hollywood and to leave my own footprint on this planet. God is leading and I am willing, thus success can only be one more step away. Hopefully one day, other actors will model themselves after me.

K. St. Fort: I remember reading the summary of this movie, in which this actor was so absorbed by this role that he was playing that he started to think that he was the character. How do you separate Alex Sanon the man from Alex Sanon the actor?

Why do I have to?… I don’t. If you are a doctor or a lawyer or of any other profession, you are what you are 24/7. So I don’t think I have to separate Alex Sanon the man from Alex Sanon the actor. My God, my children, my dreams—that is the order of my life as a man and as an actor, or as Alex Sanon period. I am finally doing what I love and I am having fun doing it. I am done pretending to be someone else to please society. Acting is also a job—a way of making a living. At the end of the day, I am back to being the dad, the son, the brother, the friend, the lover that I am.

K. St. Fort: When you were growing up, did your parents encourage you to pursue a career in the arts?

Well, my parents—mostly my dad—always encouraged us to do what we love. I remember my dad buying my brother and I drawing accessories and comic books every month. And when we were singing, he would sing along, and even offer some vocal lessons. [Whether] in sports, arts or academics, we always had that freedom to choose what we want to do. We got the full support of our parents.

K. St. Fort: What would you say to someone who’s graduating from high school next year, and planning on pursuing a career as an actor post-secondary school?

I don’t think you plan to pursue a career as an actor. Once you discover that you have a passion for acting, that career will find you! I emphasize on passion because if you don’t have that no matter how talented you are, you won’t last. People see the glamour and call you a star, a celebrity, but they can’t begin to imagine the sacrifices along the way. If you can drain your bank account to invest in yourself, go for it! If you can drive six hours back and forth to a ten-minute audition for a role you are not even sure you are going to get—go for it! If you are willing to take a 26-hour commute on the bus from one set to another because you could not afford the plane ticket, go for it! If you can take criticism and you don’t take “no” for an answer, go for it! If you can be self-motivated, when family and friends don’t approve of your choice—go for it!

K. St. Fort: Do you have a dream role?

To play a Super Hero probably, that is what came first in mind. Roles that attract me got to be intense, dramatic or thrilling. I am not the clean-cut soap opera-kind of actor. Let me give you a few examples: The dirty cop, Denzel Washington in Training Day, the concerned father who would do anything to protect his own, Denzel in John Q, Anthony Hopkins playing Dr. Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, Idris Elba’s paranoid character in No Good Deeds, The male version of Claire Danes playing the bi-polar CIA agent Carrie in the TV Show “Homeland”—just to name a few.

K. St. Fort: What’s next for you?

There are so many opportunities to talk about, we would not finish this interview. I have the lead in Tables Turn—a film by director Stacey G. Travis—where I will play a devoted father who’s 17-year-old son got shot and killed by a white man. He is facing the fact that the murderer will get away with it and finds out that his son was not the first. My last project Mercy Street, a PBS war drama series in which I have a speaking role will air in the winter of 2016. I am working on my first screenplay. Thank you Kreyolicious for giving me the opportunity to share a bit of myself with the world. Remember dreamers, success is the fruit of the tree of failures—so keep dreaming.

Photography Credit: Martin Deschenes and Wil Gibain

ALEX SANON ON YOUTUBE | ALEX SANON ON TWITTER | ALEX SANON’S PAGE

Ever watch that film Romeo Must Die with Ving Rhames, Aaliyah, Isaiah Washington, and Jet Li? Do you recall a scene where a character’s head was dipped in a barrel of vicious crabs? That was Montreal-born actor Benz Antoine in one of his earliest USA film industry roles. Since then, the son of a Haitian immigrants has been in some of Hollywood biggest movies including Gothika, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, and even TV movies like Betty and Coretta. In his home country Canada, he’s the award-nominated star of the popular detective show “19-2” on Bravo Canada, playing the ever astute character Tyler Joseph. Read on as we talk about his growing up as a Canadian of Haitian heritage, and of course, about his career.

K. St. Fort: You accompanied your girlfriend to an audition, and ended up auditioning yourself, and thus started your film career. When you’ve think of all you’ve done as an actor, what would you say has been the moment that defined you as an actor?

I honestly don’t think there is one moment. So many things have to go your way in order to accomplish all of the great things I have been able to over the course of my career. Certainly, dating that particular girl—at that precise time—was serendipitous. But then again, reading for a French cop show, having that run for three years. It becomes a cult hit with over two million viewers in Quebec alone. Get nominated as best supporting actor…the show gets translated into English. I end up being the only one who got selected again and then earn another nomination for the same role of Tyler Joseph. If I had read that in a script I wouldn’t have believed it…but it’s 100% True!

K. St. Fort: So you were born in Canada of Haitian parents. In Montreal, to be specific. What was it like growing up as a Canadian-Haitian?

I don’t think Canadians have the same nationalistic pride that Americans do. As a result, I grew up thinking I was more Haitian than Canadian. That was my environment. Those are the things I was connected to…the music, the food, the entire culture was second nature to me. Even though, to this day, I have never been to Haiti. There is a very large Haitian community in Montreal, so it’s very easy to make friends as long as you “proved” that you were really down. By the time I was fifteen, I was fluent in Creole. But, I saw countless others struggle to be accepted simply because their creole was weak. I understood at an early age that in order to be successful within any community you must not only frequent the community often. You also have be able to adapt—which I do very, very well!

K. St. Fort: Let’s talk about your show “19-2”, which airs on Bravo Canada. What’s it like on a shooting day?

Shoot days for me are happy days. You have a bunch of people ready to cater to your every need starting with what will you be having for breakfast, to getting dressed, makeup…hair, etc. What an amazing feeling to be paid to do something you love—and on top of that—they feed you! And all you have to do in return is play. Play with the words, play with costumes…you basically get to be a kid all over again! To me, it’s a dream come true. I have been doing this show for six seasons now—three in French and three in English. That place is like my second home. I am sure I will look back on this one day and realize that I am even luckier than I think I am!

K. St. Fort: How do you stay connected to Haitian culture? Have you been to Haiti?

I don’t actually feel the need to “stay connected”. I am always connected. Once while doing a scene for “19-2”—the French version—[the script called for me] to invite Ben Chartier—played by Claude Legault, one of the most famous people in Quebec—for a drink. When he refused I jumped at the opportunity to mention Barbancourt. My character told him on live TV with two million people watching that he could not refuse Barbancourt Rhum, especially if it’s a Five Star. Of course, all the white people on the set—and those watching—had no clue what just transpired, but Twitter exploded with pride over the fact that our rum was mentioned on national TV. I always envisioned that one day I would be the ambassador for Barbancourt! How’s that for connected [Laughter].

[Photography Credit: David Giral and Rob Daly]

Watch out for Part 2 of this interview. Meanwhile…

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE ACTOR’S TWITTER PAGE

Welcome to Part Two of my interview with Canadian-Haitian actor Benz Antoine. Antoine is an actor who’s juggled three different industries, the Canadian market, the film market in the USA, and has even starred in a Haitian movie or two. The award-nominated actor his represented in Canada by the prestigious agency Oscars Abrams Zimel and divides his time between Montreal and Los Angeles.

In the first part of our interview, he discussed his upbringing in Montreal. This time around, we go more in-depth in regards to his career, as well as his college years. CLICK HERE if you missed Part One, and read on if you’ve already read Part 1.

K. St. Fort: You attended Concordia University. Do you think going to college prepared you for real life?

I went to University and did ultimately land in the Theatre program at Concordia. I found the training I received to be very useful in many regards. It gave me the confidence
to be a true artist. The thing about acting though is that you are always learning and constantly changing. So to me, the best place to hone your craft is on the battlefield—if you are lucky enough to get there repeatedly as I have. Angela Basset has a Master’s degree in Fine Arts. Halle Berry does not. But who has the Oscar? My point is there is no right or wrong way to do this. Education is essential, but experience is equally as important.

K. St. Fort: How do you usually prepare for your roles?

My preparation is an on going process. I don’t overload myself with information that may or may not be useful. I try to pick things up everyday from anyone and anything. Every time I meet someone its an opportunity to learn something—to inject life into a new character. It could be a mannerism, an accent, a speech pattern, the way he wears his hat…if I like it, I’m stealing it, and adapting to the character of my choice. As an actor, you have to constantly ask questions but to me it makes no sense cramming all the info two-to-three weeks before shooting. To me, it’s a way of life.

Above: As Tyler Joseph in the Bravo Canada hit show “19-2”. [Photo Credit: Bravo Canada]

K. St. Fort: You were raised by a single-mom. Do you think she’s proud of whom her son has become?

She better be because ultimately that is what we all strive for; approval from our parents. I am only a few years away from retirement. I am set to retire in 2019, and after that, I will try to make her proud in all the other aspects of my life that I have been neglecting while chasing this Denzel guy. [Laughter]

K. St. Fort: If you could speak to an up-and-coming actor who has just won a small role from a first audition…what would you say to him about the road ahead?

Haha. Wow! I would tell him or her that if they are looking for a fast track to success, fame, fortune or anything like that; they have come to the wrong place. Although it is true that certain entertainers do make a healthy living, the amount of work, luck and patience involved is in mind-boggling. I have been chasing Denzel for 22 years, and it doesn’t appear that I’m any closer to my goal. A friend of mine once asked me why is it that people who need to be loved the most, enter into a business with the highest rate of rejection. And if they were still interested in pursuing a acting career, I would tell them to never let anyone tell them what they can and cannot do. Not even me.

Above: In a still from the film Another Silence.

K. St. Fort: What’s the difference between being an actor on a TV series, and an actor on a film?

I prefer being an actor who is working. If you make a list of how many traditional movie stars who are doing TV it would hard to deny that things have changed…Halle Berry, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, Matthew McConaughey—to name a few. My overall approach doesn’t change whether I’m doing a TV show or a movie. However, I will concede that not every actor has what it takes to rule the big screen. There is an extra charm, a unique delivery, a certain je ne sais quoi that is required to become a movie star so I am on the lookout for the right opportunity to showcase what I’ve been practicing for over twenty years.

Above: Benz in a scene from the Sony Pictures film Ice Soldiers with fellow Canadians Camille Sullivan and Michael Ironside. Photo Credit: Sony Pictures Intl

K. St. Fort: What’s next for you?

Writing. Producing. Directing! I love it ALL! I am actually making my directorial debut on a project that is very close to my heart called Dear Mr. President. It touches on the issue of police brutality that is constantly dominating the headlines in America.It’s time for each and everyone of us to step up and do our part if we really want to make a change.

[Main Photo Credit: Patrick Lamarche]

Perri Pierre is not your typical New Yorker. Born in New York, but raised in the city of Les Cayes in the South of Haiti, Pierre is as much Haitian as he is a New Yorker. But he’s more of an actor than anything else. You’ve probably caught glimpses of him in the films The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, The Bounty Hunter, The Morgans, Brooklyn’s Finest—not to mention his roles on television. The dimpled thespian easily juggles his different careers as writer, poet, actor, screenwriter, and director. Did we mention documentarian?

Pierre has his own film production company Amis Entertainment, which has produced J-12, a short film that he personally directed. He produced and starred in another project Three of a Kind, a comedy about an egomaniac whose string of failed relationships has him questioning everyone except himself. The film premiered in New York this summer.

An actor’s life can often be filled with regrets. The role that didn’t pan out, the movie that didn’t go as planned, but Pierre says he has no regrets about life so far. He’s only human after all; he just tries not to repeat his errors, and tries his best to learn from his mistakes.

Q & A