I started acting as a child on the hit children’s show Sesame Street. Aside from working professionally I participated in all school plays and was also on the debate team and won many oratorical competitions. I would be the smallest and youngest little one on stage but would tell my story with such conviction and robust energy. In kindergarten I would often beat out Junior High students! As I grew older I began to do musical theater as I am also a singer and things progressed to working behind the camera. I presently an actor, but I also sing, write, direct and produce film.
indieactivity: Did you study acting?
Okema T Moore (OTM): I began my acting as a child at Weiss Barron in New York City. As an adult I have studied with Black Nexxus and Susan Batson, protégé Marishka Philips, Tasha Smith in her TSAW lab and with many other amazing coaches in one-on-one and/or group classes. I am presently completing my certification in Entertainment and New Media Producing at NYU’S School of Continuing Professional Studies. I take training seriously, as having natural talent is great but adding technique to that talent is golden.
Watch the trailer for Mars & Venus: Operation Equilibrium
What acting technique do you use?
Okema T Moore (OTM): Considering that I studied with a variety of coaches and in a variety of workshops I personally use a medley of methods from Meisner down to Chubbuk. I think that learning various techniques can give you an opportunity to see what gets you to your truthful space as an actor. I don’t knock anyone’s preferences, as long as they can bring the goods to create an incredible, believable and moving performance.
What wrong impressions do actors hold about acting?
Okema T Moore (OTM): If you think acting is simply regurgitating lines on a page, melodramatic expression, being seen, waiting your turn or the like…I feel quite sorry for you. As you are missing what makes acting an experience for the artist and the audience. Acting is not acting. Acting is BEING. It is stepping into the skin of this person you are playing and becoming them so much so that we don’t see YOU at all, even if they resemble who you are. You have the opportunity to add nuances, affects and quirks to be less of yourself and more of who you are creating them to be. And all of those layers create deep colors that paint this amazing picture of a person that can captivate your audience.
Do you take courses to improve your craft?
Okema T Moore (OTM): I am a workshop and class nut. I love to take the opportunity to learn in a class setting from instructors and my peers. And acting is a CRAFT. So to be a craftsman you must continually grow and improve. In any major licensed profession you are required to take continuing education courses over time, no matter how long you have been practicing. Well if you treat acting that way, you will always have more to give, more to explore with and play with and just continue to be better.
What acting books do you read?
Okema T Moore (OTM): Some of my favorites are: Acting from a Spiritual Perspective – Kathryn Marie Bild The Power of the Actor – Ivana Chubbuk The Sanford Meisner Approach – Larry Silverburg Directing Actors – Judith Weston The 8 Characters of Comedy – Scott Sedita And I also read industry publications like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, along with blogs like IndieWire, Shadow and Act and Filmmaker Magazine
How do you keep fit as an actor?
Okema T Moore (OTM): Physical fitness as an actor is imperative. You are your product and so looking and feeling your best allows one to present the best looking version of themselves every audition and every performance. Mental health is important as well. This business is rife with rejection, depravity and egos that ate bolstered by attempting to break down the spirits of others. A strong mental capacity will help you overcome the challenges of not booking a big gig, messing up on stage, being berated or belittled by an arrogant colleague or superior, and ultimately it will aid in your ability to effectively deal with success when it comes to you. We have seen major actors battle with mental issues and many have lost those battles due to lack of attention to the issue.
When you’re offered a role, what do you do next?
Okema T Moore (OTM): First I praise God for the blessing to work and see another step in my career taken. Then it’s time to work. I begin my dive into this person I’m playing, no matter how large or small the role. Research about the occupation or condition of the character if necessary. I begin to create the back story for my character and include as much specificity as I can so that I know how to move in their life, body and space. I DO THE WORK so when it’s time to begin rehearsals I come to the table with choices, thus making it easier for my director to adjust me or push me.
How do you take a character in a script to a honest, believable and breathing person?
Okema T Moore (OTM): As previously mentioned, I create specifics for that character. If she’s a waitress then I need to know why a waitress and is that making her happy or is she doing what she has to do to reach a goal. I create her existence from before the script so that I have foundational facts to pull from for the role. When is her birthday, what does she like to eat, has she ever been in love… The more specific you are about the minutia of this person’s being the easier it is to live their life!
How do you stay fresh on set?
Okema T Moore (OTM): I am very big about living as my character on my way to set. Speaking as she would, walking as she would, wearing what she would. This allows me to live as her between takes, on lunch, as the camera is resetting or whatever. I also like to improve in character with my costars. This keeps us engaged and is usually really fun!
Watch the Official Trailer for The Last Ranger
Describe a memorable character you played?
Okema T Moore (OTM): One of my most memorable characters I’ve played to date was Tommy in a run of Alice Childress’ iconic stage play Wine In the Wilderness. It was run in March of 2015 in Pittsburgh. The character was so flawed and honest with who she was and even better who she wasn’t. This drew me to her immediately. I was initially intimidated by the work needed to bring her to life but I got there through research about that time in NY, which was during the Harlem Riots of 1964. And I also used my own insecurities as fuel and not fear to portray hers. It was my most emotionally charged performance to date and I received my first solo standing ovation for a lead role in theater.
Explain one creative choice you took on set?
Okema T Moore (OTM): I long for a Director who not only directs but teaches. One who doesn’t sit there and line read for me, but that allows me the freedom to present my choices and interpretations and then tweaks and adjusts those to get me to that special place. A Director with clear vision is also helpful. As it makes the process less hectic and stressful, but more focused and actually much more freeing.
What do you want most from a director?
Okema T Moore (OTM): Communication, I love directors with clear vision. Whenever I get onset I am always close to the directors, I come like a baby ready to be molded, to learn and give a memorable performance, I trust my directors to direct me to do justice to my character, and I want my directors to trust and believe in me enough and freely communicate what they have in mind to add to my character. At the end of the day we will both be proud of the finished products.
What actors do you long to work with?
Okema T Moore (OTM): Anika Noni Rose.
Why?
Okema T Moore (OTM): There are of course a bevy of legends I would be HONORED to share stage or screen time with. But I say Anika because she has had such a harrowing experience in the business and like me she sings as well as acts for film and stage. She has won a TONY for her work on Broadway and she was about to be foreclosed on right before she landed her role in the movie Dreamgirls. And she took the role of Lorrell Robinson – that had such a strong presence and her own story in the ground breaking Broadway run, but was diluted and second to Beyonce in the film – and still smashed it! She is such a prolific artist and another brown, short sistah with much presence, and I would LOVE to work with and learn from her.
What advice would you give to actors?
Okema T Moore (OTM): Dream, then stay awake, do the work and see the dreams come true. Ignore the negative and dispel even your own defeatest thoughts, and just study and grow so that what you want you have. But remain pliable, as our own idea of our destiny is usually only and waken fraction of what it will actually be.
Briefly write about your career?
Okema T Moore (OTM): I am an actor, singer, writer, director and producer. Working in entertainment since childhood on Sesame Street, I am blessed now to have my own brand, MOOREthanEnuff, LLC and to be the co-founder of the boutique production house Boxed Out Productions, LLC. I have performed on Broadway in Dreamgirls, have won several awards for my one-act plays that I’ve Co written with my business partner and have a project that I Co produced and did the voice over for that was nominated for a Single Spot Emmy in 2013. All of these accomplishments and beyond have encouraged me that my dreams are viable and no within reach. To see my clips, reels, etc. Go to my website and follow me on social media.
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