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  • 7 weeks ago
David Oyelowo shares his feelings about Bass Reeves finally getting the attention he deserved, his upcoming Apple TV projects and more at the SAG Awards.
Transcript
00:00You have a first look deal with Apple TV.
00:02That's right.
00:03What sort of projects are you looking to take on coming up with that deal?
00:06Yeah, when I had a conversation with them about having a first look there,
00:11the idea is to take advantage of the fact that streaming is truly global.
00:16And so how do we make shows that are both specific and universal,
00:21that center people of color and women?
00:24And my big thing is how do we normalize the marginalized?
00:27And that's the basis on which we're going on this journey together.
00:31We're shooting a show called Government Cheese right now here in LA.
00:35And we're just going to keep on building.
00:37And of course, tonight we're here at the SAG Awards,
00:39and you're nominated for Bass Reeves.
00:41What would it mean to win and be honored by your fellow actors?
00:44Well, of course, it would be amazing to win.
00:48Mostly, actually, because I'm just so proud that Bass Reeves,
00:53the person, the historical figure is now getting his due in terms of people,
00:58you know, his name is on your lips and many other people as well.
01:02And that should have been the case a very long time ago.
01:04So I think any further acknowledgement of him or our show is the win, really.
01:10What's the most challenging part of playing a historical figure in a real person?
01:14The fact that you have to let go of the idea of pleasing everyone, you know,
01:17everyone's going to have their opinion of who he was, who he is, what he represents.
01:22And as an actor, you've just got to do your work,
01:26recognize that what you're going to produce is ultimately an amalgamation of him and you.
01:31And so that is not going to be in its totality him,
01:35but it's going to be a representation.
01:38And hopefully it's truthful enough that people can embrace that and he's somewhere in heaven cosigning on it.
01:45Since we're here at the SAG Awards, what role got you your SAG card?
01:48I did a film called American Blend probably about 20 years ago.
01:52I remember flying in from the UK to do it here in LA and that got me my SAG card.
01:57So thank you, American Blend.
01:59Does it feel like there's a renewed energy at the SAG Awards this year, given last year's SAG After Strike?
02:05I think inevitably, after what amounted to about six months of really difficult,
02:11not just negotiating, but financial difficulty for a lot of people,
02:16to be back at work to, you know, it's that thing, you don't know what you have till it's gone.
02:20And to be benched the way we were for so long,
02:23whilst the rest of the world was kept on going.
02:26It wasn't like COVID where everything stopped.
02:27We were the ones kind of like going,
02:29oh, well, nothing's really happening in our industry.
02:31So of course, there's a level of appreciation and gratitude
02:34that we get to go back and do what we love.
02:36What's the biggest lesson that you personally feel you learned from the SAG After Strike?
02:40And how has it impacted you in your return to work?
02:43I think the power of solidarity.
02:46You know, I think as actors, it can be a lonely journey.
02:50You're out there, even though you're collaborating with people,
02:54but as an actor, whether it's auditions or the financial insecurity of it,
03:02or the rejection that comes with it, you know, that can feel quite isolated.
03:06So in a moment like this, where everyone was in this thing together as actors,
03:11I think that was very galvanizing and brought people together as a community,
03:15again, in a more broad way.
03:16And I think, hopefully, we can hold on to a bit of that.
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