Interview: A Candid Talk With Black Actor and Film Producer Marcus Murphy

A classically trained actor, Marcus Murphy has a lot of buzz surrounding him as of late as a talent to watch in 2022. With ten years of experience on stage and on-screen, the Washington, D.C. native most recently could be found playing Rashad Robinson in The Souls of Black Pebbles by Anthony Green. He also entertained audiences as Paul in the Off-Broadway production, Until the Flood by Dael Orlandersmith, D.J in Kenosis in Wonderland by Kenya Crawford, and Sleek Art Buyer in What Would Picasso Do by Andrew Brooks.

In this brief Q&A with Marcus, we dive into his journey with performing arts, thoughts on racial equality and why he draws inspiration from the late, great Sidney Poitier.

What are you hype about for the coming year?

Marcus: I feel like every year I am hype for the new year to see what will occur. Truthfully, I am ecstatic for the upcoming year in entertainment because of all the projects I have coming up. First, I will be part of The Realness Behind The Crown created by King Liam. It will be my first scripted reality production; it will resonate with the audiences.

In addition, working as Executive Vice President with Pure Prestige Productions founded by DeWayne Etheridge. We have a lot of films coming such as Greed & Loyalty, Halloween Slasher, and Slumber Party Slaughter Party 2, just to name a few. My year will be very busy and productive within my craft. I cannot wait to share it with my audiences both old and new ones.

What are some of your latest projects that meant the most to you?

Marcus:Until The Flood Off-Broadway production created by Dael Orlandersmith will always hold a special place in my career. The experience of learning theatre and being able to relate to my character was refreshing. I felt like I was reading myself at that age again, who lived in poverty and knew education was my golden ticket to success. The project was therapeutic despite the content surrounding Michael Brown’s murder.

Currently, I am in preparation for How Old Is A Hero? The production will take at Smithsonian Institute pertaining to the Ruby Bridges story. I will portray her dad Abon. Honestly, learning his story has been worthwhile and provided me with even more confidence as a black man. Lastly, The Souls of Black Pebbles written and directed by Anthony Green. The story is a social horror film surrounding society’s fear of black bodies and the concept of sexual soul ties, where remnants of the soul linger within sexual partners. My character Rashad Robinson is an example of black bodies. I have never seen a social horror film and after reading the script and being offered the role meant a lot to me.

As an actor how important is it to have chemistry with your ensemble cast?

Marcus: It is very important for me to have chemistry with my ensemble cast because if we don’t get along, I know it will appear on the screen and come off awkward. However, building chemistry builds the morale on set and if I am having one of those days, I should be able to lean on my cast for support. The reality is we are aiming for the same goal to create an amazing film for the world.

How do you prepare for a role?

Marcus: I like to be as authentic as possible when portraying a character. I don’t want to appear too monotone so depending on the role my preparation is different. For instance, my upcoming movie Greed & Loyalty filming this summer is an urban film. I am by far not my character. The way I have been preparing myself is being around communities that are low income studying the guys who experience that kind of life on a day-to-day basis. In addition, drawing from my own experiences and work with my acting coach. Once I can’t recognize myself while rehearsing, I feel content and know I am contributing to someone in those shoes.

Were there ever any character difficulties that you got through while on set? How did you overcome those moments?

Marcus: My last project Souls of Black Pebbles was a fun experience but difficult, to say the least. My character was blinded the entire time by wearing contacts and I had to deliver physical movement without seeing. I felt like I was delivering horribly but to my surprise when it premiered, I received great feedback and liked what I saw on the screen. The way I was able to overcome my feelings was by having a supportive cast and crew to talk to and motivated me to do my best.

What do you prefer theater or film and why?

Marcus: I prefer both film and theatre because they bring different emotions. In film, you have long days on sets and see your hard work after the editing is completed. In some instances, you can be pleased or not so pleased. On the other hand, with theatre, it’s a live audience that propels you to give it your all. The best thing about theatre is every night you have different people seeing you bring a character alive. It is priceless seeing their emotions.

What are some social awareness topics that mean a lot to you?

Marcus: The two social awareness topics that mean a lot to me are racial injustices and the income gap. As a black man in America, the stigma that we are dangerous is absurd. The reality is every ethnicity is dangerous in some way. It is certainly a disconnect when people base their perception on us based off the media. And, although men and women are not paid equally, is a problem within itself. The ultimate disrespect is black men being paid lesser than their non-black counterparts. A lot, of work still must be done surrounding these issues. One of the generations will have the opportunity to benefit from the changes.

Who is your favorite actor? What have you learned from them?

Marcus: Sidney Poitier who came into America as an immigrant and felled immensely as an actor before being the first black man to win an Oscar. He is an example of what perseverance and hard work is. It is amazing to have someone in that position that has paved the doors for me as an African American talent. Ossie Davis inspired me in films but primarily on the activism he did outside of entertainment. He has shown me that having an entertainment career is beneficial but using your platform for the community is just as better.

We are huge fans of your work. What would you like to say to your supporters?

Marcus: Thank you all for the continuous support. It means a lot to me and often this career choice can be overwhelming, but with faith and supporters motivates me to propel in all areas. The quote I live by is “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.

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Tags: Actors, amanda broadway band, black film, Broadway, film, off-broadway, racial equality, sidney poitier, social awareness

About the Author

Crystal Willis Crystal Willis is an Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker, Entertainment Publicist and CEO of The Omni Firm. She is also a Transformational Life Coach and Founder of The Crysalis. Her personal story has been seen by millions of people on media outlets like Marie Claire Magazine, PBS, Blaze TV, Daily Signal and more.