Thursday, February 11, 2010

I feel so blessed to be where I'm at- I'm beginning to question, is destiny inevitable? God has truly orchestrated my steps to be in the city of Los Angeles and pursue this career while getting an education. I know it sounds complex, but I really believe that His plan for my life is so much bigger than I can even fathom. If you ask my parents, I was supposed to be the Pediatrician/Hospital Administrator in the family!

Tonight I had the opportunity to attend a private screening of "Precious" at the Pacific Design Center in Hollywood! What a blessing that was! The movie was extraordinary and really essential for black filmmakers to take the next step in showcasing the diversity of talent that we possess. Afterward, Gabourey Sidibe (lead actress) in "Precious" answered questions about her journey and how she got the role.
Unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to take a picture, but I did have the chance to take notes!

She came out with quite an entrance but above all her personality and humor radiated. After having auditioned, over 400 other girls for the part, Gabourey went to an open call, just because. She had no intention of becoming an actress or even getting into the entertainment industry. She was studying Psychology in school. In the audition, she had no pressure- because unlike many actors who depend on acting for sustenance and future success, she had nothing to lose if she didn't get the part. In a matter of days- 3 to be exact, she got the part! They had been looking for the lead actress for years. What ultimately sold Lee Daniels (the director) was that she was not like the character at all. Gabourey said Lee did not want to exploit the situation in the movie. The other 400 girls who auditioned for the part of "Precious" were like "Precious" in real life, but Gabourey wasn't.

I even got to ask a question: "How do you feel about the roles available to young black actresses as far as pursuing roles with characters that are resilient and comples?"

Her answer was: "Hmmmm...(she took a second to think about it), I hope that this brings light to the different roles that we can take on- I hope I play a part of expanding the category."

In concluding, she raved about her excitement for an Oscar nomination and how she believes in DESTINY and how the most important thing about the film is not that there were black characters, but rather people- people with a story.