Robinne Lee talks The Undershepherd, Miss Dial, and Being Mary JaneBy Wilson Morales
July 9, 2012
Coming out this fall and the nearby future are a slew of projects that actress Robinne Lee is involved with, including Russ Parr’s The Undershepherd, the indie film Miss Dial, in which she stars in, and the BET series, Being Mary Jane, starring Gabrielle Union.
Having started her career as part of the ensemble romantic comedy ‘Hav Plenty,’ Lee would then be seen in various films and TV shows such as ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’ ‘Deliver Us from Eva,’ ‘Hitch,’ Numb3rs,’ a recurring role on ‘Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,’ and ‘Hotel for Dogs,’ opposite Don Cheadle.
At the recent 16th Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF), Blackfilm.com caught up with the New York native as she spoke about her film, ‘The Undershepherd,’ which was screened there, and her other upcoming projects.
What’s ‘The Undershepherd’ about?
I shot Russ Parr’s The Undershepherd last year with this amazing, dynamic cast (Isaiah Washington, Malinda Williams, Lamman Rucker, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Keith David, Clifton Powell, Bill Cobb, Louis Gossett Jr., and Elise Neal). I play the wife of Lamman Rucker. Isaiah and Lamman are two guys who came up like brothers in the church together. They’re both under pastors in the church and they go their separate ways. Lamman and I go and start our own church, and Isaiah stays the main church and usurps the position of the main pastor. It’s what happens to them on their separate journeys. Our little humble church doesn’t pan out so well but Isaiah has become this huge televangelist and what the power does to him and how he becomes corrupt. It’s an interesting take on the church itself and on the black church; but really, it’s more about power and the effect it has on man. It’s a story you haven’t seen before and it’s controversial. You are going to have certain feelings about it. Either you’re going to love it, be shocked by it and talk about it more. There’s no way you will walk out of the theater and say it was okay. There are issues about the church that people don’t talk about and people will be surprised and blown away by some of the performances. Malinda’s performance is extraordinary and Isaiah is Oscar worthy. He’s a beast in this and just amazing.
What was the attraction to doing the film?
RL: It was an opportunity to work with these incredible actors who I have long admired. Russ Parr is just the sweetest, nicest guy and genuine earnest about the script he’d written. Everything came together wonderfully.
You also did another film called ‘Miss Dial’ that’s yet to be released.
RL: It’s another independent film. It’s a romantic comedy written and directed by a guy named David H. Steinberg. It’s his directorial debut. He’s written a lot like ‘Puss in Boots’ and ‘Slackers.’ He also wrote ‘American Pie 2.’ This is his first film that’s he directed and I came on board as a producer as well. It’s me and Sam Jaeger from ‘Parenthood.’ It’s got this vivacious cast we put together. We just called all of our friends in the business to come and do little cameos. Gabrielle Union is in as well along with Dulé Hill, Hill Harper, and Beth Grant. Jon Huertas from ‘Castle’ plays my boyfriend and he’s great gut. It’s just an amazing group of people getting together and we were really lucky that everyone said yes.
I guess when you’re working on a project with friends, it’s should be easier on the set to shoot the film or TV show with trying to work on chemistry.
RL: It does. When you do these independent films, there’s nothing involved. You’re basically asking friends for favors and because they are doing you a favor, you really want the shoot to be as efficient as possible and get them in and get them out. We were able to do that. Every actor came in for about 3-4 hours top. It’s rare that you can do that and we shot this all in 10 days.
Have you taken the film to festivals?
RL: We haven’t. We are about to close a deal with a distribution company but I can’t talk about it until it’s completely done.
Besides being seen on the big screen, you will also be on the small screen in a new TV series, right.
RL: Yes. It’s called ‘Being Mary Jane.’ It’s at BET and it’s Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil’s new project. It stars Gabrielle Union, who’s a very dear friend of mine. It’s this amazing take on a single black woman’s life in Atlanta and she’s 30-something and juggling a career and relationships and family. It’s an hour long drama and we so infrequently see images of ourselves portrayed that way. It’s multidimensional and complex and everything else that’s going on in her life, and although she’s doing well in her work, it’s the struggles that she has and the failures of her relationship and dynamic with her family and what’s expected of her because she’s so successful. It’s complex. It’s rare that we get to see those images of us as women; and as women of color is almost never in television these days.
What’s your character on the show? Are the two of you close on the show as you are in real life?
RL: I’m much of a better friend in real life. I’m not her friend on the show. I’m more of a nemesis. I don’t want to give anything away, but there’s a mutual guy involved.
Is doing a TV series new for you?
RL: It is. I was recurring for a while on Tyler Perry’s House of Payne. It’s a multi-camera half hour show, so that’s a completely different experience than this. I’ve also done a bunch of guest starring appearances on other shows like ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and ‘Numb3rs,’ but this is the first time that I’m a series regular on a one hour show, so that’s nice.
Between the TV show and doing films, what keeps you grounded?
RL: I write. I just finished writing my first novel. I think when I’m alone with my computer that keeps me grounded. I have two young kids, which doesn’t keep me grounded, but busy enough that I’m not caught up with other things that are going on. I have to separate myself at times and just be a mom, or just be an actress, or just a writer. It’s a lot of hats to wear but when you have all of that going on, it keeps you on your toes. You have to be focus and give 100% of your attention to whatever it is you are doing at that point in time.
