Exclusive: Jay Ellis On Being ABFF 2018 Ambassador & Insecure Season 3Posted by Wilson Morales
June 16, 2018
During the 22nd American Black Film Festival (ABFF), held here in Miami, Blackfilm.com had the opportunity to speak with actor Jay Ellis about his role as this year’s Ambassador. Best known for his role as ‘Lawrence’ on HBO’s critically-acclaimed comedy series, ”Insecure,” Ellis has been increased his visibility since he first came on the scene in the hit BET series, “The Game.” Besides being the Ambassador, Ellis will also be seen in the indie, “A Boy. A Girl. A Dream,” with castmates Omari Hardwick and Meagan Good. Directed by Qaism Basir, the film is among the Spotlight Screenings selected for the festival.
The last ast five years have been big for you. From The Game to Insecure, and now you’re this year’s ABFF ambassador. How does that make you feel?
Jay Ellis: You know, I feel like a kid in a candy store and I’m royalty so I get all the candy. I get to take it home.
Nah, it’s amazing, man. It’s a big honor and I’m very grateful for it. I’m grateful to be here. I’m grateful to bounce around and see a lot of people I know and meet people and watch their projects and see careers that are starting and careers that are mid stride as well, so it’s just great. I couldn’t imagine not being here. When Jeff called, I was like, “Yo, you sure? Me? All right, bro. I’m just telling you right now. I’m going to be at every single thing.” And he was like, “All right. Let’s do it.” So, I’m very grateful for it.
What comes with the responsibility of being an ambassador?
Jay Ellis: A lot of interviews, a lot of pictures. I’m judging a couple of different things from the comedy wings to doing some stuff with HBO Short Film competition, made, obviously, remarks at different films. I have a film that’s here on Saturday, so I’ll get up and probably talk about that a little bit also. And then spreading the word. And getting people excited about supporting and creating and being a part of this community of film makers and creators.
What do you say to the emerging talent who are coming up to you, seeing the success you’ve had so far. How do they keep it going to get their message across?
Jay Ellis: Can’t stop. Every single day. It’s just like riding a bike or being in the gym or acting. It’s a muscle, right? So you have to constantly flex the creative muscle. If you don’t, it’ll atrophy and then what’s the point of doing all that work? So, I think you have to constantly be creating and taking yourself out of your comfort zone to meet people, to talk to people, to go see things you normally wouldn’t go see, because those things are going to challenge you and inspire you in ways that are going to hopefully effect your creative process even more.
And then, be here. I think that’s another thing, too. You constantly have to find a way to make sure if this is what you want to do, you want to tell stories for a living on any side, whether that’s at on the studio side, the network side, whether it’s independent, writers, creators, actors, whatever it is, you constantly have to be around it. And see people doing it and study how they do it.
With Insecure coming up, third season, where do we go with your character? Some people may think his arc is over, but is it? What can we see happening with Lawrence?
Jay Ellis: I would say, to me, it’s over. I don’t know if Lawrence’s life will exist anymore in that world. I think we’ve seen it kind of come to an end. I think that’s the thing with closure, right? To be in the relationship that Issa and Lawrence were in for so long and then to come full circle, for them to say goodbye to each other, I think is what the purpose of that story was.
If we don’t see you on Insecure and folks don’t see you this weekend, where else can we see you next?
Jay Ellis: A Boy, A Girl, A Dream just sold. I’m in that with Omari Hardwick and Meagan Good, Omari Hardwick and Meagan Good. Qasim Basir directed that, so we will be in theaters this year. I have another film called Escape Room, it’s a Sony movie, it’s a big psychological thriller that I spent three and half months in South Africa filming. That will be out in November. November 30th is our date now, so hopefully the people will go see that and it will be fun. And then I’m out doing a bunch of other stuff. I’m on my way to go do a thing later this summer, too.
