By Christopher Daniels
***Special note from the interviewer: The audio didn’t turn out as well as we had hoped, and some statements were omitted due to lack of proper recorded sound volume to hear what Adwale was saying. Rather than guess, some sentences were just left out. Our apologies to our fans, and also to Adwale, as he was a great person to talk to, and we hope that we, as accurately as possible, captured the essence of his feelings on these films! As a result, we have also included links to the original audio files.
SKNR: I’m here with Adwale who has major parts in three upcoming films, Thor: The Dark World, Bullet to the Head (which I’m really excited about), and The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete. So lets start with Bullet to the Head. Adwale, please tell us about your character, and also how you got involved with that particular film.
Adwale : It was a process like any other, I read for it, the director responded, and thats how I got the part. The character I play is slightly different than what people have seen me play, in that he is less physically involved in the action, and uses more brain. But never-the-less he is extremely ruthless. He is a character that originated from Africa, moved to the states, to exploit the post-Katrina situation. He is extremely sophisticated and has this very polished veneer. He is a very political and ruthless man who deploys his henchmen to execute his orders. He is a cripple, but he does not let that, in any way, shape or form, impair him, In fact he uses that to prove that he is more able than a normal individual. So he is a slick guy, but he is definitely ruthless.
SKNR: It sure sounds that way! Let me ask you a more on the point question. Often times, actors go through great pains to no only prepare for the role, but also in the actual filming. Can you tell me about one particular instance where during the filming, where it was challenging, in a good way, that made you say “this is a good hard-day’s work today”.
Adwale: Yea I mean we were shooting in New Orleans, and the challenges first of all is that the character has an accent, and he is crippled, walking around with a cane on top of that. Then we were shooting in a hundred degrees, and after every scene, and sometimes every take, I’d have to change my shirt, And so all of those three layers made for a real challenge to actually perform, but ya know I used them to perform, and thats when you knew what you were gettin paid for. It was a hard day’s work, and you wanted to get on with it. But I think the heat was the biggest challenge; it was just no joke. I was sweatin so bad that after every take I either had to change the shirt, or go off and blow dry it, and but it back on. It was a real challenge, and ya know, walking around with a cane. But ya know its just part of the job.
SKNR: What are you most excited about, as it relates to bullet to the head?
Adwale: I think ya know, just being the audience reaction. Because, I think [the movie is] a very interesting animal, in that its a throw back, but its contemporary, and I think the combination of the subject and Walter Hill, who is legendary in his own right. I think that what we have here is a vehicle that pays homage to the old school genre, but is also has the hard-hitting reaction. And I think what your getting is, picture the character, which quite hard to pull off in that genre, so I’m really looking forward to the audience reaction, but I think they’re going to enjoy it. Bullet to the head is stylish, but also makes fun of itself.
SKNR: Lets move on to The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete. Tell me about your character and also what you really liked about the script that drew you in.
Adwale: I mean you know its really about a relationship. Its a gritty coming-of-age story. What I love about the story is that it focuses on two children trying to survive in New York with out family, during a hot New York summer, and what they have to go through, and how they bond, and learn to support each other. And the characters they come across in their journey is where I come in. I play a law enforcement officer, Officer Pike. He is really bent on taking stray kids off the street and putting them in homes for their own good. Now he is extremely ruthless in the pursuit of his job, but he feels that the means are justified in a well-intentioned end. So without giving away the plot, ya know, hes just on the job, and he wants the kids off the street. I think this film is going to be really nostalgic for some americans and the people of New York. Its going to pull on the heart-strings. When you see these kids, you can not help but feel for them.
SKNR: In my mind, any time we are going to have a film that draws that kind of attention, it can, in addition to entertain, it can also educate that this kind of stuff is actually going on, and I’d imagine that is what you are saying is the message of the film.
Adwale: Yea, I mean it happens, and its real. The great thing about this project is that I’ve covered the spectrum, from him impact action Marvel to real low-budget-coming-of-age. It goes from the surreal world of Asgard, from Marvel, to the ghetto, and I just love that. Not only the main characters, but also the message. People will be able to relate to [this film] because its home, and its the truth of whats happening today, but most of all I think, that what you’ll get out of it is the friendship, and how thats the main main message of the movie.
SKNR: One last question – I was looking at your filmography history, and 2013 marks 20 years, 2 decades, of film making. As you look back on two decades of entertainment and story telling, What do you reflect on? What are you happy and/or disappointed about?
Adwale: Well, first of all, its that I’ve made it this far, and I’m still going strong. And its clear now that my career is blossoming into something that justifies my talent. I mean in two decades I’ve seen a range of difficulties, and different characters. But I’m really happy, like I said, because it can be a huge pit fall to be in only independent films. So that, upon reflection, I’m really happy about. That my career is getting stronger. I’m happy for looking back, at the huge fortune to have stepped on the path of certain shows that are so iconic. I’ve had the opportunity to be apart of some real iconic shows that have survived, and even some movies that have real identity. Ya know, in a career like this, your lucky to get one, but to then have a handful of projects that people revere, and will remember for a long time. Its trippy, and its an honor to be apart of those. And I just think that, looking back, the choice I made to come away form my old profession into acting {laughs} is the right direction I’m headed for writing and developing material, and pushing things forward with the acting. I’m kinda happy with the new direction that I’m headed. Regrets? No I think I don’t have any real regrets. I may have made some difficult decisions, but I think I played it…. I think I played it good, man.
SKNR: Thank you for your time, and I wish you the best for 2013!
