My Interview with Brandon Fobbs of the Hit Movie, Pride

The year, 1996, the place, P.G. County, Maryland. The first time I met Brandon was in the 96-97 school year. He was a junior in High School and one of my brother's best friends. I remember Brandon and the rest of my brother's crew coming over all the time. Be it to do school projects or having their boys night in watching movies and playing pool. Who would've thought that just 11 years later we would be seeing Brandon in his first motion picture role and a comical performance in a McDonald's commercial. Prior to his break through performance in Pride, he was a drug hustling Baltimorian on HBO's The Wire.

In an interview I conducted on 4 August 08, I catch up with Brandon and find out what the "Hollywood" life is like for him and touch base on the beginning of his career.

You graduated from good ol' GwynnPark HS in 1998. Have you been back to visit since?

I have not to been back to uh well yea I have I have been through once and actually I went though there to say thanks because my mother setting up a theater for when Pride was showing. Alot of people from Gwynn Park went the school made a big thing about it, so when I went back home I went back to say thank you.

How was life growing up in P.G.County?

Pg county was beautiful...it was like the premiere black county in the nation and it was great for me because I was able to see black folk regular you know because sometimes we get cats in a bad light in other regions of the country because the only thing you see of us is poverty and hood and stuff like that. It wasn't all rich it wasn't all poor it was all black people from all walks of life. Getting to grow up there I had a great time you get a sense of self from my own personal growth

Is there anything you regret in life that you would want to do over?

Umm...not many not hardly any....no not one thing. Even where I am now in life with personal things and stuff like that I trust god to use every situation and decision I make I trust him to use that as a lesson or blessing for me and I noticed everything I do and everything I've done comes back full circle and show me how good God is and how I needed that lesson to get me through my life and to where I'm goin to in the future even show me how

How did you get started with acting? What inspired you?

What inspired me to do acting was in '93 me and one of my best friends was in a movie theater watching Pulp Fiction. When that scene with Samuel Jackson in the apartment came on and they were doing their thing we were rollin, laughin hard, and next thing you know it just hit me...a light bulb went off, and I was like 'that's what I wanna do' and I was just 13 then, that's what started it. I didn't jump in right away until I got into high school. In Jr. year I had a need to want to find if we had a theater club so when I found out we did I started doing silly little plays in my Senior year. It was something I should have been embarrassed about, but I wasn't because I loved what I was doing and I was right there in the middle of it wearing my heart on my sleeve...it was great.

Who are your favorite Actors?

My favorite actors...I have a couple of them...I'm glad you asked me this question because so many people ask for one and it's sooo hard to name just one. I love Denzel's acting, he's a great person, Brad Pitt,, Al Pacino, Robert Dinero, all these people are certain types of actors that I would like to have a piece of their talent. Martin Lawrence I like his freedom and being himself. Denzel, Will Smith, I love the fact that they're able to be themselves on screen and people love them for who they are. I like Brad Pitt because he's a character actor/lead and I like how character actors become a whole different person and be able to lead in the film as well.

Did being in Pride bring back memories of your High School swim team days?

Haha yea it sure did HS swim days helped me out it was a hand in hand exp. Being in pride was fun doing the swimming thing getting up early in the morning. The funny thing was we were doing it in Louisiana so we had to get up early in the morn and go swimming outside you know and the water was heated but it was cold outside the pool. The work we were doing was fun and reminiscent of the swim team, swimming laps on your own and being able to pause when you like, but when you have a coach pushing you it def took me back to school days.

What was it like working w/ Terrence Howard? Was it intimidating?

It was interesting because it was and wasn't. It was intimidating to be around him sometimes because you don't' know what to ask or how you want to come across. At the time I do regret not sitting down and talking to Terrence more than I could have. I talked with him in a group with people and a little bit one on one. SO when you asked me if I would change anything earlier, yea that's something what I would do differently. Acting with him it was comfortable, me being the type of actor I am, that's my sport, that's what I know I'm good at so when I get in there I m ready to do it the way I do it and be comfortable so he's comfortable and I'm comfortable. We just had good energy back and forth off each other and I was ready for that. It was more off stage intimidation if anything, but on screen it was ok

What was life like behind the scenes?

All in all behind the scenes was fun; kicking it with Even Ross, Alphonso, Nate Parker, and Kevin Philips. We had our fun and for most of us that was our first big budget studio film and first leading type of film. It brought new stresses and new challenges, but we all rose to the occasion.

When did it finally hit you that you were really in a major motion picture?

That's funny. You have some good questions, I'll tell you that...because that is something that hit me. It hit me that I was in a major motion picture when I set up in my hotel room and looked around and was thinking about back in here in California, where I live, and I was like wow that's taken care of I have money to take care of that I'm out here in the hotel ..money for this not paying for the hotel, they call me to come shoot I do that every day for 2 months and I was like wow this is it. I actually said to myself, "I'm living a dream right now" it was great realization. Now there's so much more that I want to do now.

On average, how long do you get to look over a script before you are required to perform?

It depends because the script is ever-changing sometimes you get to look over the initial script and end up getting a different script the next day. You read a script one time during the audition and other times you look over the script scene by scene, day by day.

Do you find that people recognize you? If so how do you handle it?

I love the fact that people recognize me. It's a funny thing to come to terms with...and you realize that you love attention. It sounds so bad though saying you love attention, but after a while you tell yourself it is ok to love attention. Those are the events that God put in place to bring you to where you are. Now I'm starting to realize that yea, I love attention and when people come up to me I say thank you and to keep a look out because there's more to come.

Has anyone ever mistaken you for another actor?

I've had people say that I looked like Taye Diggs when I was in college, the dude that plays Jett Jackson. Nowadays people mistake me for Anthony Mackie when I'm out and about. Even Forrest Whitaker's Manager came up to me and was like, "Mackie what's up" and I was like, "I'm not Mackie dude." I think that Spike Lee was even fooled onetime he was like, "yoooo what's up..." and after we started talking he realized I wasn't Mackie. There's actually a picture my friend sent me of me and Anthony Mackie that he took one time. ...the resemblance is pretty amazing.

What is your stance on drugs in Hollywood and the effect it may have on kids who look up to these celebs?

I think those people that are into alot of drugs out here, I think they don't really have a deep goal that they're going for and what happens is they are at a level where they're lost and don't' know where they're going. They just look for more money more fame...when you look to something you value life alot more, like helping people. It's sad because the kids mimic what these people are doing.

Would you consider yourself the perfect role model for young men and women out there?

I consider myself a role mode, but not the perfect one. The only perfect role model would be Jesus. Other than that we can strive for perfection. Striving for perfection would set you so much higher in your potential to reach fulfillment. I would love to have people look up to me and I would submit to the responsibility to doing the right things and make the right decisions. I don't act like I'd ever make wrong decisions even if I could that would put a burden on people who want to be like me....but like in the first Batman, Batman Begins, there was a quote, "why do we fall? To learn how to pick ourselves back up." So I wouldn't say perfect, but I'm a good role model.

Alot of people think that paying thousands on acting schools and agents who promise them their ultimate dream. Do you think that's a scam?

Yea pretty much. Alot of times the people you're going to be in front of are just assistants to the casting directors. The casting director's don't have the last say on who gets into a movie, the producer is. The casting director is a very good gateway in getting your foot in the door. I've had plenty of casting director's love me, but they can't use me it in the role I was going for. It's worth being known and liked by casting directors but it's not worth several thousand for. You're paying thousands for a chance. You're basically gambling you might as well go to Vegas and try to hit it big because you're throwing in thousands and thousands of dollars and you're not sure if they like you. Then, you're not sure if they like you if they'll be able to use you and you don't know if they use you if you're actually going to be filmed. In acting you don't pay anybody unless you get paid. The only thing you are supposed to pay for is acting classes and pictures, but you have to be careful because some of those are scams too. Out here in L.A. they don't charge as much as the small towns charge. Areas outside of L.A. and New York have no competition so they charge you more whereas in New York and L.A. there's competition so they make it less expensive to try to get people to use their services.

Have you attended any award shows or the infamous Hollywood parties? Any Playboy mansion action?

Yea I've been to the PlayboyMansion, it was a party for kids with autism, but it was funny because I definitely didn't see any kids with autism there. It was still cool though. I had some issues at first about going to the Mansion like, 'mmm should I go to this?' then I was able to look at the whole situation and went. I went to alot of award shows and parties. I hung out with alot of big starts here and there it's all cool and it's fun, but the world gets real small when you've done it. After a while you see more things that matter more like your own personal accomplishments and have your own people that you love around you. You get around these stars and people and there's alot of fake, false love around them. It's nice and glamorous because you've seen these people growing up. Overall, after a while you start thinking that you want your own circle. It's nice to be walking around with these circles, but you start to want your own circle and see those nice, genuine people when you are at the top also.

Do you find it hard to find love in Hollywood?

You know I hear a lot with people saying that they're tired of Hollywood people. I've been single out here before and I ran into a lot of people. Didn't really fall in love or anything like that, but I did meet somebody through a friend. She was out here visiting from New York and her and I became boyfriend and girlfriend after a while. California is full of people from other states anyways so it's basically people from everywhere else coming out here trying to be something they're not to try to look cool. You can find love wherever you go it's just depends on the amount of love you put out; like are you loving yourself, are you loving the truth, are you respectful. When you put those things out there the bad elements fall off pretty easily and the good elements rise to the top.

Do you think it is monumental to vote this coming election?

Oh yea oh yea, you definitely have to vote this election. The world is in so much turmoil. I think it's great that he's black, the next president, he brings up a "we" kind of thing you know. He empowers America to start helping themselves. Lately politics have brought America to a weak mentality of "save me, save me." So like all we do is look at the people who are running and hope they will say what they are going to do to help get us out of this mess. You hardly ever hear Barrack talk about "I" you hear him talk about what "we" are gonna have to do. That's a more feasible approach. Any other politician you usually hear "I" like, "that's what I'm going to do, that's what I'm going to bring to the table." We already have an "I" person in there now and he's jacked up the world and nation so much to the point that you now know that someone saying "I" is not believable. The fact that Barrack's campaign is "Yes we can," you know he sets people in a different mind set to get people back on track.

Do you have any upcoming projects you'll like promote?

Vietnam project that I did called Tunnel Rats, 1968 Tunnel rats about different accounts of soldiers in the Vietnam War. During the Vietnam War, the North Vietnamese had a system of tunnels that ranged for a hundred miles and they were able to go underground, pop up, kill soldiers, and disappear. America didn't know what was going on and how there were doing this until they found this system of tunnels in Ku Chi and overall they had to pull people from different branches and put them together to make a elite unit called the tunnel rats. They weren't that technically engineered for the task. They sent them in with a handgun, flashlight and a knife. The tunnels are so small that the Americans had a hard time maneuvering in those tunnels. There were booby traps and deadly turns around every corner. There's also another movie I did with Cuba Gooding Jr. called, "Ice-44" that's what the name is now we hope it stays, or it may change. The movie is almost a cross between Resident Evil and Aliens. It's about a Marine unit that goes down to a base to see why the scientist weren't responding and once they get down there they find something that they never expected. It comes back that it isn't just mutants; it's not just physical, but spiritual. When I was shooting it I was like, "I'm in a real life Resident Evil type movie," like I've always wanted to do one of these things.

I couldn't do that I'd be screamin on set; those screams in the movie would be real.

HaHa...Yea, yea right! You know we shot in the same place that the Freddy movies were shot, the Boiler boiler room.

Do you miss the east coast because the east coast misses you!

Aww yea, I miss the East Coast, but at the same time I don't. I love it and I love my family out there, but this is where I'm supposed to be so it's hard to say that I miss it. I'm out here feeling right on point with what I'm supposed to be doing. So it's like I miss my family, I miss my friends, but at the same time this is where I feel like the most essential place for me to grow.

Well, that's all the questions I have for you. Thank you for your time, stay blessed and humble. Now, this is where you say how awesome I am and that no one could top this interview! HaHa...just kidding. We all are proud of you Brandon and we wish you continued success and longevity in your career!

I'd say Hollywood is in for a big surprise. There will be more to come from this rising star. For a more in depth look at projects Brandon was a part of click HERE.