- 1 day ago
Toronto actor Shamier Anderson shares the story of how he was hand-picked to star alongside Halle Berry in her directorial debut film, "Bruised," his role as Trevante Ward in the Apple TV+ Sci-Fi series "Invasion," and how he and his brother Stephan James are creating spaces for Black actors in Canada to shine.
Category
🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
00:00I saw what you did. I'm offering you a second chance. You gonna take it? Yeah, I'm gonna take it.
00:11Well, let's jump into Bruised. I love a good audition story. So I would love to know,
00:17you know, landing the role of Immaculate, which I love that name. And did you know this was a
00:21Halle Berry project when you tried out for it? So, so funny. Audition stories are, I love audition
00:26stories too. So funny enough, I actually did not audition for this role. So what happened was I
00:31had finished one project. I flown in back to Toronto is where I live. And I was on my mama's
00:36couch watching TV. I don't live with my mama. I was just on my mama's couch watching the elevator.
00:42And, you know, I'd gone out the night to hang out with some friends. I haven't seen some friends.
00:46And I got an email late at night saying, you know, there's this project with Halle Berry, you know,
00:51we want to see if you want to, you know, look into it. So I kind of looked at it. I was like,
00:53oh dope, Halle Berry. You know, I didn't really look into it. The next morning, my agent called
00:57me and said, you got that email. There's a Halle Berry project that they would love to have you
01:01play this role of Immaculate. So I'm like audition, self tape usually is usually the process. And
01:06none of that happened. They said, if you like this role, you got to get on a plane Monday morning to
01:11New York to get started. So it was fast and furious. I got the email like the Friday night,
01:17Saturday morning, my agent called me. I had to make a split decision if I wanted to do it.
01:21Obviously, when you hear Halle Berry's directing it, starring in it, it's a no brainer. It really
01:26felt like it was a bit of, you know, timing and preparation is what they say. It comes together
01:30and then boom, the opportunity. And so for me, I just felt like, you know, it was a, it was kismet.
01:35It was a God sent moment for me, truly learning, you know, even when I got to set and I got to meet
01:40Halle and the whole team, I still wondered like, how, how was my name in this conversation?
01:44So Brad Feinstein, who's one of the executive producers on Brewers, actually had cast in me
01:51next to Brad Furman in a film called City of Lies. That was Johnny Depp and Forrest Whitaker. That
01:56was my first film that I did, you know, moving from Toronto to Los Angeles. And, you know, it was
02:02that movie that Brad rendered my work. And because of that movie, he was able to vouch for me and then,
02:09you know, get this job. So it really was a ripple effect of good people, good reputation and good
02:14work. And so work begets work. And that's kind of the reason why I'm here today. And I feel like
02:19the luckiest actor in the world to be in a film was such an icon, especially in her directorial debut.
02:24Yeah. Oh, that's amazing. And was City of Lies, was that like, I know, I think you moved to LA,
02:29like 2010, I think, or something? Yeah, around that time. Around that time, I'm getting busy now.
02:34That's amazing. Yeah. And then you have martial arts training background, right? Is that?
02:43I do. I got, I got martial arts training. I do, which served me on my other product that I just
02:48finished, which was John McFord. Yeah. I want to ask how it was for you stepping into this different
02:53world of fighting with bruised. Yeah, no, I played Immaculate, which is Halle Berry's coach,
03:00owner of the gym, rather not even coach, but the owner of the gym. And so,
03:04you know, I actually didn't have to do any physicality in this role. It was mostly Halle.
03:08However, you know, being around those incredible, powerful women who are MMA fighters, boxers,
03:14it was definitely a humbling experience for me to know that, you know, don't cross the line.
03:19No, I'm joking. But those women were athletes, but the sweetest people. And to be able to witness
03:25Halle, you know, in that element, you know, to be able to see her train, fight, work, direct,
03:33star, conduct a set, you know, was definitely a masterclass for me.
03:38Okay. Nice. And then you're also on Invasion right now. Tell us about the series and your
03:43character, Trevante.
03:45Yeah, thanks, Brandi. So I'm on Apple's Invasion right now. You know, Trevante is a Navy SEAL
03:51who, you know, was on tour in the Middle East and, you know, there's this worldly issue happening,
03:59which is an invasion, you know, that's happening. And, you know, Trevante is in the middle of this
04:05all by himself. And so I play this man who goes on this journey trying to get back home to his family.
04:10And through his journey, he meets people, he's encountered by aliens, you know, and having to
04:16deal with what's, you know, happening in this world, a lot of it by himself, which was really
04:22difficult for me as an actor, because usually you have a lot of scene partners. And there are a
04:26couple of actors that I got to work with, for the most part, a lot of it was done on my own,
04:30which takes a whole other set of skills to be able to really lock in and channel,
04:35you know, all the things that you need in order to get that performance.
04:38Yeah. And I feel like you've played such a diverse, you know, array of characters and even a short,
04:47you know, feels like a short time, you know, relatively looking in. Did you think that you
04:52would go in one particular direction, you know, when you started out or were you always wanting
04:56to kind of do all kinds of different roles? I love acting. You know, I went to theater school
05:01for four years. And so for me, it's about finding the best role, the best story, you know. And so
05:06as actors, people tend to ask, oh, do you only want to do action? Do you only want to do romantic
05:11comedies? And for me, I just want to tell incredible stories. And so I've had such a,
05:16you know, a really cool career playing cool characters, whether it be an astronaut in Stowaway,
05:21you know, or playing, you know, Halle Berry's, you know, in Halle Berry film, an owner, a fighting
05:26owner, or even like just finishing up John Wick 4, where you'll see my martial arts skills. I can't give
05:31away too much of the character. You know, it's just, it's just incredible to be able to play
05:41these incredible humans, and to discover different sides of me. And, you know, just explore these
05:48minds that I get to play every day, which is so exciting.
05:51Yeah, I have to tell on myself, because I cannot look at you without thinking of your
05:55Dear White People character. Oh, man, the whole chat. I know, I know. And I was like,
06:00he was a character. That may not be him. Do people come up to you and say that?
06:05Oh, my gosh. Dear White People fans are probably the best fans in the whole world. People love that
06:13character. I hate him. I hate him. But Justin Simeon's A Visionary, and that show was iconic,
06:19and it's still iconic. And I just wanted to be a part of that. And I was so blessed to be,
06:23you know, a part of an episode with some incredible people, you know, that, you know,
06:28I still know today. And I love that show. And people, like I said, people love and hate that
06:32character. I had an incredible time, you know, working with that cast and crew.
06:36Okay, nice. And I want to go back to your story. You mentioned, you know, you studied theater,
06:42but I saw that you also studied criminology. Is that right?
06:45I did. I did.
06:46Okay.
06:46I went to university for criminology.
06:49Okay.
06:49My mother is an immigrant Jamaican woman. And those of you who have parents from the
06:54island, they know all about education. So even though acting was a passion of mine,
07:00it was important that my mother wanted to instill in me that education is everything.
07:04So because of her, I did go to school for criminology and minored in forensic psychology.
07:09Wow. So when did you make the switch?
07:11Halfway through my presentations, I realized people started watching me on TV and going,
07:15wait a minute, you're in my case study class, but you're also on a TV show. What's going on?
07:21So I just, I felt like, you know, it was something that I love learning. I love, I love school.
07:27People that are close to me know that I love to read. I love to educate. I love finances. I love law,
07:32love policy. I love these things. These things really fascinate me. And if I wasn't an actor,
07:36I'd probably be a doctor, a lawyer, or even a judge. And judge was an aspiration of mine,
07:40you know, growing up. But to that end, you know, I said, I wanted to really pursue this
07:44acting thing. And if I was going to do it, I have to do it a hundred percent. So funny enough,
07:49you know, I moved to Los Angeles with my brother, Stefan, who's also an actor. You know,
07:55many moons ago, we lived in this small quaint apartment in East Hollywood. And we had a dollar,
08:00a dream, and a suitcase, and a Canadian health card. And we said, it doesn't work down here.
08:05That Canadian health card doesn't work in the U.S. So we got to figure out something,
08:09and we're going to have to go back home. And long story long, you know, one thing led to the next.
08:15And now I got to meet you, Brandy, at the Chinese Theater, premiering in the morning.
08:20Exactly. And tell me about, I mean, you and your brother,
08:25Stefan, are just doing such amazing work. I was reading about Black Canada, your nonprofit.
08:30Can you talk about that a little bit? Oh, Brandy, I love all of this.
08:35You know everything.
08:36I did my research, yeah.
08:38You got to talk about that spread next, that cover.
08:41You know what I mean?
08:41You're right.
08:43That's, Brandy, that's next. I'm going to hold you to it.
08:45John Wick 4, spring, we'll get the long lead.
08:48Talk about that because you know.
08:49I got you.
08:50All right.
08:51I'm going to hold you to it.
08:52Can I get you to the cologne?
08:53You get your spread, and I'll get you to the cologne.
08:55Okay.
08:56It's a deal.
08:57It's a deal.
08:58But yeah, my not-for-profit, Black.
09:01So Black is an acronym for standing for building a legacy in acting cinema and knowledge.
09:06It's a not-for-profit that my brother and I founded about seven years ago.
09:11And this not-for-profit was a tool that we wanted to use to empower Black voices in the arts.
09:17You know, being from Toronto, Canada, being a Canadian actor, I always challenge people
09:22and I say, you know, name your top 10 favorite Black actors, you know, and all of them, if
09:26not most of them, are from the U.S., you know, and we really believe that representation is
09:30important, you know, not just internationally, but at home.
09:33And so we wanted to have this initiative to kick off to really empower people and empower
09:37young people that they can do this by empowering, creating programs, acting programs, monologues,
09:42slams, those types of things.
09:43And so, you know, this past year, we launched the Black Academy.
09:47The Black Academy is a subsidiary of our not-for-profit Black, which is going to be producing
09:51the first ever Black Award show on the CBC, which is a major network in Canada.
09:57We just signed a multi-year deal, which is going to be honoring and amplifying Black voices,
10:03you know, similar to the Oscars, NAACP.
10:05We're going to be having it here, which is the Black Award show.
10:09And that's going to be happening in 2022.
10:11Stefan and I are executive producing it.
10:13We signed a multi-million dollar deal with the network.
10:17And it's something that we're really excited about.
10:19And Randy, hopefully, you know, we'll be calling you to cover it.
10:22Please do.
10:23Absolutely.
10:24Part of the spread.
10:25Part of the spread.
10:25It's important.
10:26Got a whole 360 plan.
10:28A whole 360 plan.
10:30Come on.
10:30The multi-hyphenates over here.
10:31Exactly.
10:32I see.
10:34I love that.
10:36And I want to ask, you know, to your point about people's favorite actors, you know,
10:41always being American.
10:42And I think about when I talk to Black British actors, you know, they say they come to the
10:47U.S. because of lack of opportunities, you know, in the U.K.
10:50Is it a similar situation in Canada?
10:51Do you feel like you have to come to the U.S.?
10:54Yeah, 100%.
10:55We definitely have to come to the U.S.
10:56You know, there's not a lot of people or beacons that you can say, hey, I want to be like
11:00that person.
11:01You know, my brother and I have been so blessed to accomplish what we've accomplished in a
11:05short period of time.
11:06You know, specifically my brother, why I tip my hat to him, was a Golden Globe nominated,
11:09Emmy nominated, NAACP nominated actor.
11:12I made jokes saying, man, you're more decorated than a Christmas tree.
11:15You know what I mean?
11:15And so it's important to let people know that you can come back home, you know, and
11:20be able to do it at home.
11:21And so, you know, as a Canadian, this is why we love going to the U.S.
11:25And the U.S. is incredible for us.
11:26I mean, we live in an international business.
11:28Storytelling is an international medium.
11:30You know, there's no borders to great stories.
11:32However, you know, I'm still me before I'm an actor.
11:35And so it's important that people can see that it's possible.
11:38And that's why we want to come home and, you know, start these initiatives, start the
11:41Canadian Black Award Show, honor people that have been doing, Black people, rather, that
11:46have been doing incredible things from home, you know, at home internationally.
11:49You know, we've seen it with incredible artists like Drake, The Weeknd, just the name of you.
11:53And so it's important to do that at home.
11:55And so, yeah, there's definitely similarities like the U.K. or Australians or whoever.
11:59You know, it's important to tap into your home soil.
12:02Yeah.
12:02And will this be the first project through your production company with your brother?
12:06Yeah, we actually have a few productions right now that we can't speak of at a brewery.
12:12Yes.
12:13And so the thing about the award show, this is one of our, you know, this will be classified
12:17under our, you know, reality or unscripted division.
12:20So, yes, we're producing this.
12:21Baymo Studios will be producing the show.
12:23Okay, excellent.
12:24Well, I know John Wick is next year.
12:26Award show is next year.
12:27Is there anything else you can tell us that's coming for 2022?
12:31Actually, I just, I'm in the middle of a conversation with a, for a project.
12:37That my co-star, you guys are very familiar with.
12:41Okay.
12:42And, you know, hopefully if things go well, that announcement will be imminent.
12:46And I'll know you'll know who this person is, Dan.
12:48Okay.
12:49We talked about this person.
12:50He's a brilliant actor.
12:51It's a he.
12:52So there's a first giveaway.
12:54But, and that's it.
12:55I'm just talking.
12:57There's another project I did that's actually public knowledge is a project called A Lot
13:03of Nothing, starring Alain Noel from, you know, Insecure.
13:06So me and him, a project together that we're starring in next to Lex Scott Davis, directed
13:11by Mo McCray.
13:12So hopefully that'll be premiering next year as well.
13:15Okay.
13:15Excellent.
13:16You got some great stuff going.
13:18Well, I thank you.
13:21I so appreciate your time.
13:23Love talking to a fellow tourist.
13:24I saw your birthday's four days before mine.
13:26No way.
13:27Yeah.
13:28Look at them.
13:28That spread.
13:29We just did.
13:29I know.
13:31We're alive, I think.
13:32I know.
13:33We're very alive, Brandy.
13:34Yes.
13:35We're very alive.
13:35I love you.
13:36Happy early birthday.
13:38Thank you, same.
13:39You said it's four days before mine.
13:41So fifth, fourth, three, fourth, two.
13:42After yours.
13:43So I'm the 10th.
13:43After me.
13:44Which one?
13:45The 10th.
13:45May 10th.
13:46Yes, yes, yes.
13:47Oh, wow.
13:48I love that.
13:49May 10th.
13:50I got you.
13:51Okay.
13:52Sounds good.
13:53Well, thank you.
13:54Thank you, sir.
13:54I will be in touch.
13:55I promise.
13:56Please stay in touch for the awards.
13:58And looking forward to more.
Comments