Arts & Entertainment
Jasmine Guy: The ‘October Baby’ Interview
Born in Boston on
March 10, 1962,
C ELEBRITY
Jasmine Guy is a
I NTERVIEW
Renaissance woman
with dancer, actress,
singer, director, and
by Kam
writer
on
her
Williams
resume. She per-
formed
in
the
Broadway produc-
tions of “The Wiz,”
“Leader of the Pack,” “Grease,” and “Chicago,” and she
has also served as a stage director and choreographer on
numerous occasions.
Still, the versatile entertainer remains best known for her
work in television, especially for creating the iconic char-
acter Whitley Gilbert on “A Different World.” Her other
TV credits include recurring roles on “The Vampire
Diaries,” “Fame,” “Touched by an Angel,” “Melrose
Place” and “Dead Like Me.”
On the big screen, Jasmine appeared in such movies as
“School Daze,” “Harlem Nights” and “Stomp the Yard 2.”
She is the author of “Evolution of a Revolutionary,” a book
about the life and journey of Afeni Shakur, and she
released an eponymous record album on Warner Brothers
Records in 1990.
She is currently producing director of Kenny Leon’s True
Colors Theatre Company in Atlanta, where she resides
“October Baby,” a faith-based morality play inspired by
the true story of a troubled teenager who
discovered she survived an attempted abor-
tion as a 24 week-old fetus.
KW: Hi, Jasmine. Thanks for the time.
JG: Thanks.
KW: Did you do anything different to
prepare for this role?
JG: I knew Nurse Mary. There was little
to prepare, just my own experience lent
myself to the character.
KW: Was there anything dif-
‘I always try to honor a character by
being honest and truthful to who they
are, in spite of my own personality and
beliefs’
with her daughter. Here, she talks about her new movie,
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Page 6 The Seattle Skanner March 28, 2012
ferent about working on “October Baby” from other films
you’ve done?
JG: The cast and crew were very positive, warm, and
inviting. I felt comfortable and embraced in set.
KW: Children’s book author Irene Smalls says: This
very dramatic role is very different from the comedies you
are known for? What attracted you to “October Baby?”
JG: I was attracted to Nurse Mary because she was older
and alone, full of stories to share and secrets she had har-
bored for many years.
KW: What’s your secret to embodying memorable char-
acters?
JG: I always try to honor a character by being honest and
truthful to who they are, in spite of my own personality and
beliefs. I also like to embody them physically and remove
my own thoughts, walk and mannerisms from their por-
trayal.
KW: What message do you think people will take away
from “October Baby?”
JG: I think people will be reminded to be safe and
thoughtful in their intimate
relationships and not just use
sex for recreational purposes.
KW: Larry Greenberg asks:
How did co-directors Jon and
Andrew Erwin protect the
subtle emotional drama from
the politics that surround the
movie’s incendiary topic?
JG: In my one scene in the
movie I felt Jon and Andrew
left me to interpret Nurse
Mary as I saw her. They creat-
ed a freedom on the set that
was uplifting and created a
confidence that was conta-
gious.
KW: Editor/legist Patricia Turnier says: I loooove your
work. I am an Afro-Canadian who used to dream of attend-
ing an African-American college when I watched “A Dif-
ferent World.” Studies mention that when the show was on
TV in the late 80s and 90s, it created a positive impact on
the African-American community in terms of college
enrollment. In addition, it was the first time in American
TV history that young African-Americans were showcased
in a college environment.
What is your assessment of today’s images representing
the African-Americans in the media? Do you think that
there is a need to have more TV shows and movies which
present black people in intellectual settings?
JG: I’ve always known the greatness of black people.
We come from intellectuals, philosophers, educators and
activists. We are not a monolithic group of people bound
by color. It is up to us as individuals, parents, teachers and
communicators to teach that to our people and our broader
community. I think it’s dangerous to depend on the media
or the entertainment industry to facilitate that knowledge.
KW: Patricia also says: You directed the musical “I
Dream” and the play “The Colored Museum.” Would you
consider directing a movie in the future?
JG: I would love to direct a movie, something I really
like with a great cast. What a dream!
KW: Thanks again for the time, Jasmine.
JG: Thank you, Kam.