Usher

Interview By: Bruce Bluett
BruceBluett@TheCinemaSource.com

The evolution of Usher Raymond the actor had it's beginning, obviously, in the music industry. Usher is a self proclaimed work-aholic, and has continuously dabbled in acting, music, and dance. With the release of in the Mix Usher makes his return to the silver screen and tackles his first major leading role. While films like The Faculty, Light It UP, and Texas Rangers broke him into the film industry, Usher is cutting his proverbial acting teeth with this meaty leading role. He comments on the challenge of navigating medium to medium and if he had any anxieties in doing it.

'Nope. I wanted something different,' he says. 'I've always accepted a challenge, that's what makes me who I am. Some people may say 'listen, you've been so successful as an artist. Why do you want to pursue other avenues''. That's almost like telling a child 'Hey you got a good grade in this one thing, so don't worry about the others. You're good at one thing, so only do that'. Explore your options, I'm still young and I want to do as much as I possibly can. In being respected as an actor, you have to consistently be working on films and finding yourself as an actor. I never want to be an actor who is considered to be typecast. I want to work on all types of roles. I looked at this character, and I said this type of character isn't shown every day. He can broaden people's perspectives of black characters in Hollywood'.

While In the Mix touches on racial issues in it's storyline, Usher admits that he is glad that the love story breaks exceeds traditional boundaries of inter-race relations on screen.

'In this day and time, love is colorblind. Its just happens to be us and our differences we need to deal with. With a film like this, it gives you a vivid reality of how we work together. Race and the animosity between races was not played up. What it said was love is colorless, love is colorblind. The characters are so similar in so many ways that no one has noticed it and no one has taken the time to point it out.'

After arguably conquering the music industry in 2004/2005, Usher's return to the screen is at an all time high in his career.

'I was bit by the bug. I realized that this was another way to creatively show myself as an entertainer' he admits. 'And at a young age I was introduced to triple threats like Fred Astaire, Ben Vereen, and Elvis Presley, even John Travolta. To have the ability to do all of the above would make me a great entertainer, which is ultimately what I want to do. I want to be one of the greatest entertainers ever to walk the planet. For that reason I went after soap operas just to see if this was something that I liked. Or do I want to go into major film' This is my step back into the acting world, and I plan to do more'.

That's a fact that I'm sure none of his millions of fans will object to in the coming years. Usher explains that he is still tenaciously managing his music career and other areas but this role was a golden opportunity for him in many ways. With racism being a prevalent issue in America in the daily lives of the people and the artist himself, Usher explains the effect on the character and his real life.

'Unfortunately I had, have and still have to deal with it. People are people man, and the only way to fix it is to have people who are in the right position to point at the reality of life. We as a people are segregated and still stereotyped. That's part of the reason why I didn't go for a stereotypical role of a guy who was from the inner city who was a gangster, shoot 'em up and that's it. Not to say that it's not reality, because partly it is. But an image like this would only portray a new positive image for black actors. Hopefully it will open up some new doors, a new dimension. Race is something that I have had to deal with because I'm from the south. But I think my character handled racism in a way I think we all should You don't address ignorance with ignorance, you show that you're the bigger man and you walk away, and you win at the end of the day.'

He wasn't lying when he said he was a work-aholic. Usher goes on to explain in detail his philanthropic pursuits both before and after Hurricane Katrina. He has started a camp in Atlanta, Georgia devoted to showing kids the wealth of opportunities for them in the professional world. He has also fervently pursued housing for those left homeless after the hurricane and will continue to help those in need as long as his success allows him that great ability.

'This is the true meaning of being successful. You start opening doors for people in need.'

Usher has admittedly remained 'cool and collected' about his success, but wants to remind all the young performers of tomorrow that the entertainment industry will only reward you if you live by three rules.

'Be prayerful, patient, and persistent to get anything in this industry' he says.

With his level of success, that doesn't seem like advice to discount by any means. In the Mix is in theatres November 23. Usher will begin work on his new album in the middle of 2006, but until then keep an eye on the next big triple-threat of the entertainment industry.