Exclusive: Cory Hardrict Talks About Playing Two Roles In ‘Destined’Posted by Wilson Morales
November 15, 2017
Coming out this week in theaters from XLrator after traveling the festival circuit is the drama film “Destined,” written and directed by Qasim Basir and starring Cory Hardrict. The film will hit theaters on November 17.
The film premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival and has since won nine awards, including Best Director and Actor at the 2016 American Black Film Festival and Best Narrative Feature at Urbanworld the same year.
Also starring in the film are Jesse Metcalfe, Hill Harper, Margot Bingham, Zulay Henao, Mo Mcrae, Jason Dohring, La La Anthony, Paula Devicq, James McCaffrey, and Rob Christopher Riley.
Through the parallel stories of two young men, Sheed and Rasheed (both played by Cory Hardrict), DESTINED explores how the smallest incident can manifest itself into a life changing event. In one world, Sheed is a hardened criminal who has spent years building his drug empire. In another, Rasheed is an ambitious architect who has been working his way up the corporate ladder. Through the lens of parallel realities and lives, DESTINED explores how one man’s future can be changed by a single moment. As they navigate their respective worlds, they face similar dilemmas – street violence to corporate corruption — demonstrating that on any path, life is never simple and the journey toward fulfilling your destiny is always full of choices.
For Hardrict, the role represents another solid performance for the Chicago native. Last seen in the Tupac film, All Eyez on Me, Hardrict is currently in November Criminals opposite Ansel Elgort and Chloë Grace Moritz and has the upcoming Crackle drama series The Oath, executive produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, ready for 2018.
Hardrict recently spoke exclusively with Blackfilm.com regarding his role in ‘Destined.’
How grateful are you that movie has finally hit in theaters after being on the festival circuit for some time?
Cory Hardrict: Oh, man. It really feels great to finally come out and people can see. You know, it’s been a long journey but I’m excited because I feel like the movie is much needed right now. The final product, I’m really proud of it. It’s very relatable to what’s going on in the world today. It’s a lot of learning lessons in the film that people can take from it. It’s entertaining, it’s real, and I get to play two characters. I’m excited.
What was the attraction of doing this?
Cory Hardrict: My attraction to this was first, it was the material. The script was really, really great. Qasim Basir wrote a great script. It was all in the page and I felt it would be a great challenge for me to tackle two characters in a movie, pound like sliding doors but more of a realer version, more grounded set in Detroit. I was like, “This could be great if it’s for the, you know … executed properly.” I was like, “Hey, I’m all in,” you know. Let’s give it a shot. We all put our heart and soul into it, so.
You have an act to play two roles in a film. How would you best describe both characters?
Cory Hardrict: I would describe Rasheed and Sheed, they’re both similar in a way. It’s just both of them have similar background. Both of them are from the projects like urban areas . The challenges you face working in corporate America is you leave what you live and go to work. It’s similar in a workspace of trying to fit in and just always trying to be the guy to do the right thing and you don’t want to be too opinionated or be too vocal. You just want to do your job and go home. That’s kind of what, you know, that a lot of people face in today’s world. That’s for everybody to pull.
The Sheed character is relatable in a sense to fathers across the world having a son, having a child in their life that hasn’t been in their life trying to make sure that he doesn’t go down the path of doing the wrong things, because I was incarcerated. When I got out, I just wanted to make sure that my son didn’t go down my path. I think both of them are just real in a sense of the real world. That makes it very relatable to people.
How did you prepare to play both roles with different personalities and different looks?
Cory Hardrict: Right. Well, I just try to make sure I play both characters real. I keep them both simple and just ground them both. The architect world, I read a lot about architects and how they conduct themselves in the workforce. The Sheed world was pretty easy for me coming from playing a lot of tough gangster roles. That was pretty easy for me to play, but I just wanted to keep that simple as well. I like to just keep stuff real. I just like to keep it real and simple, and make it relatable to where someone can say, “Hey, I know a guy like that,” or “That’s my uncle,” or “My dad went through that …” That’s about how I do it for most characters.
Can you talk about working with the director?
Cory Hardrict: The chemistry was really cool because Qasim was a cool director. He’s real calm and laid back. He lets you find it on your own. He sets it all up for you. He doesn’t really tell you how to act it. He just wants you to be present. We had a good time collaborating.
Shooting in Detroit was cool because that’s where he’s from so it was his backyard. It was a good collaboration for us. Hopefully, the world will enjoy it, his directorial … not debut, but his second film, and it’s kind of like my first.
You’ve worked on a lot of projects, bigger and small. Although you’re the lead in this movie, is this the biggest role for you?
Cory Hardrict: Biggest role for me? Yeah, I could say because I’m playing two characters and this is kind of like I’m almost on every page. Yeah, I would say that. We all put our blood, sweat, and tears into it. Like I say, it was a collaborative effort from the start to finish. Yeah, I believe it’s a great film. I think it’ll stand up for some years to come.
Besides from playing two roles, you’re also the executive producer in this movie. What does that mean to you to be behind the camera for his movie? What exactly is an executive producer?
Cory Hardrict: Oh, man. I think more of an active role of executive producer. I wasn’t day-to-day hands on with it. That was Tommy Oliver and the other producers for the production companies. I’m cool just to start here and just be around people who know it, more and more experience to me because that’s what I want to get into, is producing. It was cool to be in a part of the process like that, but I didn’t really have too much influence on the decision making that went on with it. It’s cool.
What do you want people to get out of it when they come see Destined?
Cory Hardrict: Your life is all about decisions and choices that can, you know. You’re just one moment away from making the right decision that can determine the next 30 years of your life, or the wrong. It’s up to you to decide. It’s not too preachy and message-y. We’re just trying to let you know this is what could possibly happen if you go down the right or wrong path. That’s what we tried to show. You are your circumstances.
We recently saw you on TV, on OWN, on Tommy’s new series “Black Love”. It gives you more visibility, but we’re also going to come see you in a new series called “The Oath.” Can you talk about that series and the character you’re playing?
Cory Hardrict: Yeah, I just finished Oath. It’s a powerful series that premiers on Crackle Sony next March in 2018. I play a guy named Cole Hammond. I’m the adopted brother of Sean Bean, who’s on Game of Thrones, who plays my dad, and Ryan Kwanten, who played on True Blood, he plays my brother. We’re part of this police force, we’re underground police force where it’s all, you know. It’s a bunch of crime, violence, everything. It’s a great rounded story. It’s powerful. It’s something that, like, you know. If I would control the television, I would say it would be this show. This is the show. We’ll see what happens, everyone is excited about it, and I can’t wait for you to see this guy.
You also have a Labyrinth coming out. What’s your role in that movie?
Cory Hardrict: I play this guy named Kelly Jamerson. He’s leader of the Crips. I’m always finding this tough guy. It’s a bit pivotal role for the moment that I come in. I think it’s very memorable. I can always jump in to those characters really quick. I can’t wait for you see that one as well without giving too much away for that film. November Criminals is out now. I think this is out December 8th. They asked when this came out digital today.
With Destined coming out, what’s the good reason for people to check it out in theaters?
Cory Hardrict: The good reason that people will check out Destined is because it’s a movie about what goes on in every community across the world, and that it’s a very powerful story that’s set in Detroit. It’s kind of like the real Detroit that people need to see. It’s relatable. It can change your life. Definitely, a great experience for those who just want to go in and just grab a real story that they can relate to. I would say check it out.
Destined clip 1
Destined clip 2
