Unfortunately, in television today there are very few African-American characters who are human beings. They are typically two-dimensional stereotypes, cookie-cutter types.
Andre Braugher
As an actor, I'm allowed - encouraged! - to explore emotions that have been basically unacceptable in my life. I have a huge well of emotional stuff, and once I give myself permission as an actor, it all comes to the surface. But I'll be damned if I can give myself permission to bring it out as a man.
I've committed myself to perfecting the art of the straight man. I try really hard not to crack up.
Cops and robbers resemble each other, so there's not a lot to learn in terms of learning the logistics of committing the crime or investigating the crime.
My family life and my ideals, my commitment to the community and to other people - all people - has been improved. I think less about myself and more about my community today.
Men are not usually forthcoming in the expression of their emotions.
I worked with people I admire; Josh Lucas, who I'd worked with many many years ago on a pilot called The Class of 61 and Kurt Russell, and so there were a variety of different people that I enjoyed working with.
For me the march was a labor - a labor of love - but I was busy handing out flyers for the National Association of Black Social Workers, so I really wasn't standing in the crowd listening and observing. I was busy.
I get invited to a thousand parties, but do I show up at them? No, I don't.
To me, the psychology behind the character is critical. So I work very hard to get into the mind of the man that I'm going to be playing, because number one, I want to understand why he's doing what he's doing. It's essential, it's absolutely essential.
They're mutually incompatible I feel; being a wise thief and a wise father.
So I think what you see in this show is it's really not a just world at all, but you get what you give. So in terms of world view, I would say that's where the differences lie.
Often times people complain about the lack of time in television, but I have to say, you don't have any more time to film in feature films then you do in television. It's just a question of how many scenes you'll be doing in the course of a day.
It was good to travel to the other side of the world.
If you go back to the Conan the Barbarian series, I really liked that.
If the story's interesting and it's a compelling script, I'd be thrilled to be a part of it.
The only dangerous scene is when James Cromwell put a stake in my chest. But other than that, it turned out to be quite a punch. I didn't think much of it.
I'm not a good enough singer to pull off the effect.
I'm always a fan of a good horror film.
I was a child when the March on Washington led by Martin Luther King occurred, and I wanted to hear what was going on. I wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to contribute in the best way I possibly could.
But only if I believe that my directing talents will improve the material I'd be working on. I want to make sure I don't sacrifice beautiful material on the altar of my direction.
And I thought that was the best way for me to participate, because standing in the crowd and listening is a fantastic education, but it's not my nature. I need to be involved. So I did that instead.
I've never read it because I'd like to see one Shakespeare play that I don't know what happens. I close my ears and hum whenever I hear anything about 'Pericles, Prince of Tyre.'
I'm a member of a very complex and richly valued race.
We lived in a ghetto. I could have pretended I was hard or tough and not a square. I wound up not getting in trouble. I don't consider myself to be especially wise, but I will say that it's pretty clear that some people want to get out and some people don't. I wanted out.
I'm in love with low-rated shows. That's true of 'Men of a Certain Age,' 'Thief,' 'Gideon's Crossing.' I fall in love with projects that are almost freighted with prestige.
I knew that in order to make a more lasting impact, to be on a show that people would watch on a regular basis, I would have to change my thinking.
I'm never going to be an improv comedian.
You can't separate the phenomenal birth of unionism in the United States of America from the Pullman porters. This same small group of men, who grew to be 10,000 strong, was also the organizational foundation for the civil rights movement and all of the gains that were made in the '40s and the '50s. That, and the black church.
It's only when you're privy to the conversations and a member of the production team that you can direct the course of a series and make sure it flourishes.
Once your network has lost confidence in you, you're headed for the dustbin of history.
Leadership is by far the most important quality when it comes to making a show that's going to last and of superb quality, something classy and fun.
I've been involved with great scripts and so-so leadership, and it's clear to me that leadership is the most compelling factor.
What's so fun about doing the same thing again and again? You can only slap the handcuffs on a guy so many times.
'Complicated' is good, in my opinion.
I got tired of going to the barber to keep my fade together, so I just cut it all off.
My goal is to broaden and deepen the range of African-American characters on television, so I always try to show human beings.
I was an engineering student and spent a lot of time in the library, and no one applauds when you finish your calculations.
The distinction is large in my mind. The gay police captain is eventually going to be wearing hot pants and singing 'YMCA.' The police captain who happens to be gay is going to be a huge collection of personality characteristics and motivations.
One of the great upsides about comedy is that you're dealing with really lovely, fun material.
I think I'd work a little more if I lived in L.A.
As a father, I've tried to encourage my children to have a broader and deeper emotional life than I've had. I want my sons to be able to express their feelings about things.
