Exclusive: Susan Heyward Talks HBO’s Vinyl And Sony’s PowersPosted by Wilson Morales
March 2, 2016
Currently airing on Sunday nights on HBO is the new drama series “Vinyl,” created by Mick Jagger, Martin Scorsese, Rich Cohen and Terence Winter.
The 10-episode drama series is set in 1970s New York. “Vinyl” is a ride through the sex- and drug-addled music business at the dawn of punk, disco, and hip-hop.
Richie Finestra (played by Bobby Cannavale), the founder and president of American Century Records, is trying to save his company and soul without destroying everyone in his path. With his passion for music and discovering talent gone by the wayside, and American Century on the precipice of being sold, he has a life-altering event that reignites his love of music, but severely damages his personal life.
Featured in the series is actress Susan Heyward, who plays Cece Matthews. As Richie’s secretary, Cece can anticipate Richie’s needs, deal with his temperamental moods, as well as charm any musician she encounters at American Century.
Besides Vinyl, Heyward can also been seen in a lead role in Season 2 of Sony PlayStation Network’s first scripted original program, “Powers.” Based on the comic book series created by Brian Michael Bendis, Heyward plays Det. Deena Pilgrim, opposite co-star Sharlto Copley. Prior to that, she had a recurring role on the last season to the Fox TV series “The Following” and was last seen on the big screen in the 2015 remake of “Poltergeist.”
Blackfilm.com recently spoke with Heyward on her character on Vinyl and working on Powers.
How would you best describe Cece?
Susan Heyward: I would say that Cece is a practical girl Friday for Richie Finestra, Bobby Cannavale’s character. She’s his personal secretary. She makes sure the wheels keep turning when things are about to go off the rails. She makes sure that his personal life and his business run smoothly as possible, even when he gets himself into trouble.
Is Cece an African American character or a colorless role?
SH: I would say that she’s a character that happens to be Black. I would also say that she’s aware of her blackness and Ritchie’s aware of her blackness and it’s a time when it’s such a potent thing to talk about that and people definitely skirt around it. Cece skirts around it because she’s not in a position of power; but she’s in an office where people notice her blackness. People try to use it and she’s at a place where she can’t stand up and use it for herself.
How much research did you do about that time period?
SH: I wanted to keep it true to the world that we were building so I didn’t want to have too many stories clamoring in my brain. I had a backstory that I created for Cece during the audition process. I wanted to focus on her relationship with Ritchie as opposed to the larger cultural revolution that was going on at the time. Hoping there would be more space that we can address in later seasons. For this first season I wanted to focus on what she does in the office and her relationship with Ritchie and her co-workers.
Was this a role that you were called in for or did you audition for it?
SH: I definitely went out for it. It’s something that came across my desk when I was working with a new agent. He was able to introduce me, through this audition, to (casting director) Ellen Lewis, whom I had never met. I had heard about her amazing work in the industry before and when I went in for the audition, I was just excited to meet her. I was focus on meeting on her and doing the best on what’s on page and it flowered into this.
What do you know about the music of that era?
SH: Very little. I’m more of a 90s baby. During the course of filming, I learned a lot more about funk and punk. I didn’t have an idea of what was going on then, which is what I think is great for Cece. She’s on the business side of things and gets things done. I enjoyed her standing professionally in the office as opposed to getting caught up in the music side.
What do you think about the wardrobe for the series?
SH: It’s a dream come true. I’ve always loved that style. I get to play with those stilettos, which is really fun. I love the journey Cece goes through. You can tell a lot of her mental state based on what she’s wearing.
Can you talk about working with this ensemble?
SH: The best part about working with this cast is that we have a lot of fun. Everyone shows up really prepared. When you get those names on the producers’ sheet, especially with Mr. Winters, you go “Ok.” These are veterans so you come prepared to work. Because everyone comes prepared and ready to give their all, we’re free to have a lot of fun and create small moments to really create a rare texture to the piece. It’s fun and it’s work, so it’s one of the best combinations you can ask for.
Besides Vinyl you also have series that will enter it’s season. Can you talk your work on “Powers?”
SH: “Powers,” in so many ways, is the opposite of what is going on with Vinyl. The comic book had a plethora of stuff to pull from. I had all the great characteristics to throw in the television show. When we started working on Season 1 we changed the dynamics between Deena and Walker a little bit. In Season 2 we’re pushing it even farther. In the first season they didn’t know how to work together and had a hard time trusting each other. The new season will show how they come together as a team in the wake of Retrograde’s death. It’s bigger, it’s splashier, and it’s more colorful and that central relationship is going to grow deeper.
How do you promote the series when it’s on Playstation?
SH: The first season is now available on iTunes and on Crackle. While Playstation subscribers will get first preference, it will become available to others in due time.
How much of a comic book fan were you before you took on the role and series?
SH: You know, I wasn’t really up on my comics before I took on Deena. I had moved away from comics but in the last years, it’s been fun to catch up and see all these great things that has happened. There is so much variety and deep thinking in the comic book world. I’ve been excited to get back to it.
What’s a good reason to watch Vinyl, especially when it airs on a Sunday night with heavy competition?
SH: I would say that if you are looking for something different and something that will surprise you and expose you to a world that you thought you knew but you didn’t, this is it. I would also recommend this to folks who were there to watch the show and go back to memory lane. It’s been amazing watching folks reminice on those times and hearing how things have changed. It made me aware as to how much more we need to grow as a culture.
