Columbus Short Talks ‘The Girl Is In Trouble’Posted by Wilson Morales
April 6, 2015
Currently in theaters is Julius Onah‘s independent film, The Girl Is In Trouble, starring Columbus Short, Wilmer Valderrama, Alicja Bachleda, and Jesse Spencer.
Columbus Short plays a failed Lower East Side DJ struggling to keep his life together when he becomes entangled in a murder mystery involving a desperate woman, a missing drug dealer, and the scion of a powerful investment firm.
For Short, it’s his first big role since he starred alongside Idris Elba, Zoe Saldana and Chris Evan in The Losers. For the last few years, Short was well known for playing Harrison on ABC’s Scandal until his character was killed off last season.
In speaking with Blackfilm.com, Short talks about his character and working with his co-stars.
How would you describe your character, August?
Columbus Short: My character crosses path with this girl, who’s in really deep trouble. He has a choice of whether to help her, which may cost him his life as well, or not. That’s the movie. He decides to help her and it gets crazy after that. What’s special about the movie is that it’s a lower east side tale. Spike Lee captures New York in a special way. Julius Onah kills it as the director. He really kept Spike’s essence throughout the film and it’s really a lower east side tale and it’s beautiful. I loved the movie. I’m excited about the film. I haven’t been proud about a film since “Cadillac Records.”
The film took some time before it was released in theaters. Is it frustrating as an actor when shoot a film and there’s a long wait before the public can see it?
CS: With any movie that you do, there’s no guarantee that’s going to hit the big screen. What you do is show up to work and you do your job, and hope that the powers-that-be can get it to the public. There’s a myriad of reasons why movies don’t come out or that they are delayed, with this film, it just too longer before it was the right time.
We haven’t seen you in a lead role in a while so what was the attraction to taking on this project?
CS: Spike Lee and Wilmer Valderrama is one of my best friends. I saw this role in the script when I read it and I knew that Wilmer had the acting chops to play opposite me and I’m attracted to playing characters as opposed to caricatures of myself. I try to find characters that tell stories. I’m a storyteller and I wanted to play this character.
Saying that, how did you get into this character’s world?
CS: There’s a level of profession that this character has and it was about getting into New York, and getting into the Lower East Side and really spending time and feeling that history and that culture that really put me in touch with the character.
How was working with Alicja Bachleda?
CS: She’s a Polish actress and she’s phenomenal. I think the world is going to find a gem in her and we’re about to see new movie star that will be talked about for a long time. This movie is going to do wonders for her. I’m excited for her. It was an amazing time to work with all the actors because all of them came to work. When you do an independent film, and with the exception of me and Wilmer, who have made a lot of money on other project, this film wasn’t about money or being paid a certain amount of dollars. All the actors came in and put in their blood, sweat and tears along with the crew, director Julius Onah and the production staff and it took a village to put out a project. Everybody did their job.
Can you talk about working with Julius Onah?
CS: He’s a genius. He moved here from Africa. He has a twin brother. He’s an incredible writer and director. He really has a vision. Hollywood is blessed that he has arrived. He’s going to push the industry to recognize this filmmaking movement that’s happening and I was proud to work with him and I’m excited for him.
Having been on Scandal for a couple of years and now that you’re off the show, are you looking to get back in the spotlight with more films?
CS: I was never off, but I had focusing a lot on my music side. Between film and TV, I’ve done over 17 projects in 10 years, with me being the lead in a majority of them. This movie was a bit different because I narrate the film and I’m the lead; but you don’t feel like the lead when you’re surrounded by amazing talent. Nothing has changed. That’s a misnomer. I’m just working in a different way and I’m looking forward to what’s to come. Not only in the film side but the music side. I’m also producing as well. There’s a lot going on, but it’s great.
What sort of music are you getting into?
CS: I have an EP coming out. I’m with Block House Entertainment/Bad Boy South. Block manages me along with Jay Irving and I’ve been working on the music for the last nine months and we’re ready to drop that thing. It’s about getting projects done and when it’s ready to come out, it will come out big. I’m bridging the gap between my music career and my movie career.
Do you miss being on TV?
CS: No. I do miss producing. I’m about to produce a TV show on Bounce TV along with Russ Parr and Swirl Films. We’re going to start shooting in September. It’s sort of a spinoff of ‘The Under Shepherd’ but not really. It’s like Empire of Gospel and church. It’s going to be gritty and raw. I’m also producing a show in Africa like Africa Idol called ‘Ghana Got Soul.’I’ve been back and forth trying to figure that out.
Clip 1 – Phone Call
