Many of you may not recognize the name yet, but the face may be familiar, Sean Patrick Thomas is quickly making a name for himself as one of Hollywood’s most talented rising stars. He recently had a memorable role in the hit film Cruel Intentions, and now he has a role in Wes Craven’s Dracula 2000 and is starring opposite, Julia Stiles, in MTV’s Save The Last Dance, which opens two weeks after Drac 2000. You can also see him in CBS’s controversial new Washington, DC police drama “The District.”
Editor’s Note – I originally interviewed Sean several years ago, right before he hit it big with the surprise hit “Save The Last Dance”, since then the actor’s career has really taken off, and once again he finds himself in the number 1 film of the weekend, “Barbershop”. Once again at EM we “discovered” someone who was on the verge of hitting it big, and now he’s done it. I thought it’d be fun to do an EM rewind. Congrats Sean!————————————————————–
The hot young star hails from Delaware. As many of you know, we love to catch people right when they are on the cusp of fame and fortune, so we recently had a chance to put Mr. Thomas on the Hot Seat.
EM
Tell us about Save The Last Dance.
SPT
It’s an old fashion love story, along the lines of Romeo and Juliet.
EM
When the film was originally pitched to us, we were like, yeah, MTV, Teeny Bopper Romantic Comedy. Wow this will be good. The film was surprisingly serious, not a chuckle or laugh to be had. It was a refreshing change from all of MTV’s other recent efforts. When you read the script was the film pitched to you as a comedy, drama, etc.?
SPT
They pitched it to me as a dance movie with interracial themes. I really didn’t take it seriously when I first got it, I thought, ‘oh, it was a teen movie that has some cool stuff in it.’ I did think that I could bring a different take to it, and add more ‘gravity’ to the part. I was very pleased with the way it turned out.
EM
Did you have a dance double?
SPT
I would say I did at least 80 percent of the dancing.
EM
What was your experience with dancing prior to doing this film?
SPT
Very little, growing up I didn’t spend a lot time at the clubs or going out. For this role I spent a lot time learning and hanging out at clubs in Chicago.
EM
How do you prepare for a role like this?
SPT
I had to learn how to turn my brain off and relax. Normally when I take a part, I spend a lot of time doing homework and disciplining myself. For this role I had to learn how to be more improvisational and just wing it.
EM
How would you compare yourself to your character?
SPT
We’re both ambitious, have similar goals, care about our families. When I was growing up I wanted to be a Lawyer. When I was in college, I was an English major and started acting to kill time, and I just got swept up in it.
EM
Being from this area, did you find it harder to break into the business? In your bio it says that you moved to New York. Do you still have to be in NY or LA to become successful?
SPT
You have to be in one of those two places, otherwise it’s very difficult. You have to be in NY if you want to get into Theater. DC has some great productions, but you still have to be in NY if you really want to make it. For me I had to go to NY, I went to NYU Graduate School for Film. My dream was to do theater and to perform on Broadway.
EM
This is arguably your first really big break. How is this different than the other things that you’ve done, do you feel more pressure?
SPT
Well, you’d think it would be harder, but for me it’s been better. The quality of my work is better when there’s more pressure on me, and when I have more to do.
EM
How is “movie” acting different than “TV” acting?
SPT
It’s basically the same. Acting is acting. I would say the only real difference is on a movie set you have more time to fool around and work on getting a scene down. On a weekly television series, you generally only have 8 days to do an episode, so the pace is faster – there’s not much time for rehearsal or reflection.
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EM
Which do you prefer?
SPT
I love it all.
EM
Where is “The District” (SPT’s CBS Television Series) filmed at?
SPT
In Marina Del Rae, CA
EM
Before “The District” premiered, there were numerous articles slamming the show for its inaccurate and stereotypical portrayals of the city of Washington. Many felt that the premise of the show, which features Craig T. Nelson as an heroic white police chief, who comes in to single handedly save the town from the corrupt police force and the city’s crooked black male was offensive. Did you hear any of this criticism and what is/was your response?
SPT
I heard it and I thought it was funny. Most of it was based on an old pilot that was completely redone, which no one had seen prior to the show’s premiere episode. The pilot was changed before most of those articles were even written. Beyond that, you can’t criticize an entire season of a show, based solely on a pilot episode. I’ve noticed that once the show aired, the criticism disappeared.
EM
Are you happy with the way the show is turning out?
SPT
Very happy, it puts a really optimistic spin on fighting crime. Most cop shows are very pessimistic it shows the criminals are winning and that it’s a hopeless fight. Our show puts a very upbeat spin on it. It says that eventually criminals will be beat, if we stick to it.
EM
Along those same lines, the new Steven Soderbergh film, “Traffic” is getting rave reviews yet it’s not a very hopeful film.
SPTI haven’t seen it yet
.EM
To be honest, neither have I. But from what people have told me, the film shows the drug war, as a loosing battle, a hopeless cause. It lays the problem out there but doesn’t offer any solution or hope. How would you say “The District” differs?
SPTOur show is more positive. It offers solutions and hope. It’s more solution than problem oriented.
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EM
You have three projects out simultaneously, how did you squeeze all of this work into your schedule?
SPT
It all just kind of worked out. I finished “Save The Last Dance” last year, right after that, I did the pilot for “The District” and then Dracula 2000 came along. As soon as that was finished, we got the news that the show was being picked up.
EM
Has the show been renewed for next year?
SPT
We won’t find that out until April or May. We did get a full season pick up, which we found out earlier than any other show this season.
EM
Now that you are ‘out there’ do you find that it’s getting easier to find work?
SPT
To a certain extent, it’s always easier to get work and auditions if you have something that you can point to. A couple of years ago, I did a movie called “Cruel Intentions”, now when I go into a casting office, they say who are you “Sean Patrick Thomas?” When I say I was the black guy in “Cruel Intentions” they say “Oh yeah, I remember you.”
EM
Now that it’s easier to get auditions, do you find that you still get nervous, or is the process easier now?
SPT
Auditioning is always a scary thing, no matter how much they know you. As I’ve gotten older, I find that I don’t worry as much about what they think anymore. I care more about whether I thought I did a good job or not.
EM
Have you gotten any advice from any established actors?
SPT
Craig T. Nelson gives me advice from time to time, and during an audition, Denzel Washington gave me some tips.
EM
What kind of characters do you like to play?
SPT
Generally speaking, I like to play roles that aren’t written for black people. Those roles are ok, but I find that those parts [black] are not as well constructed or three dimensional as a role written for Matt Damon. I’d like to play that young doctor, or lawyer, or hero that usually isn’t written for a black guy.
EM
So do you want to break down boundaries?
SPT
No, I’m not trying to be an activist. I’m not crusading to change the world. I just want to work and do what I want to do.
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EM
Let’s talk about some of the racial issues that came up in “Save The Last Dance” How do you feel about your character in that?
SPT
I wasn’t trying to play the racial aspects of the role. I only wanted to show that this guy likes this girl, how is he going to pursue her to notice him and also maintain this relationship. I really didn’t think about the black/white issue unless it was part of a specific scene.
EM
Do you think the film plays into racial stereotypes?
SPT
No, I think it plays against type. Even though we live in the projects, you don’t see the things that are normally associated with it. My character is a straight A student on his way to being a Doctor, and we come from a good home, etc.
EM
Yes, your character is against type, but what about your ex-girlfriend and drug-dealing best friend?
SPT
Well the movie is a fairytale and you have to have your stock villains.
EM
Did you have any friends in real life that were like Malakai (his drug-dealing friend)?
SPT
No, I never had any friends who were straight up criminal. I’ve had friends who wanted to party to much, but that was about the extent of it.
EM
Do you feel the end product has anything to say about interracial relationships?
SPT
The movie puts out the opinion that a lot of black women don’t like to see black guys dating white women. Black women that I know feel that every time a black man makes something of themselves, they start dating white women, which some black women see as a slight to them.
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EM
How do you respond to criticism like that?
SPT
I’m definitely sensitive to it. But I think that point ignores the fact that before you are a Doctor, Lawyer, Black Man, you are just a man and that people fall in love for all kinds of reasons. Before you are anything you are who you are.
EM
Do you find it upsetting when a black woman comes up to you and makes those kind of comments, and I’m not implying that you are dating outside your race.
SPT
Upsetting? I wouldn’t say it’s upsetting, but it makes you think. I’ve never really dated anyone outside my race.
EM
I have friends who feel that way, and every time they say something, my response is generally, why do you care? You aren’t dating him. Are people bold enough to come and let their feelings?
SPT
Not strangers, I’ve had friends tell me that they get upset when they see a black man with a white woman. I’ve had strangers come up to me and say “you’ve been in two films now and in both of them you are dating white women.” It’s just a coincidence, I’m just a young actor and these are the roles that I’ve got.
EM
Do you think there are more roles for black actors today?
SPT
No, I think it’s about the same as it’s always been. It’s not the quantity that’s the issue, it’s the quality, there are lots of hoodlum roles, and roles where your eyes bug out. Just because there’s a ton of that doesn’t mean we’re getting anywhere.
EM
Are there more Matt Damon type of roles available for black actors today?
SPT
If there is, it’s very minimal – as far as I can tell. I still think that black characters and actors are still marginalized to a large extinct. I’m not particularly surprised or even upset by that it’s just the way it is. I just have to find my own way.
EM
In the early stages of being in a series like “The District” do you have any say in how your character develops?
SPT
Not now, but I think as the show progresses it’ll come. During lunch breaks I hang out with the writers and make suggestions, some of which are being incorporated into my character.
EM
Would you like to play more grown up characters like the one in “The District”?
SPT
Definitely. I don’t see myself doing teen roles much longer. I have a responsibility to myself as an actor to try something else. For the most part I find them to be limited, and the type of things that teenagers obsess over pretty boring.
EM
Boring? Like?
SPT
You know, “am I popular”, “does she like me,” etc. I’m sure they are important when you are 16, but when you are far older it’s hard to get excited about those kind of roles.
EMHow old are you?
SPT
A lot older than 16.
EMThe few teen roles that you have done, have all been against type and serious. Do think the Genre has gotten better or would you say that there are still to many “Never Been Kisses” and “Drive Me Crazy’s” out there.
SPT
You have to take it on a case-by-case basis. They don’t want a guy like me in a film like that – “Road Trip”, or “American Pie” I’m just not their type of guy and that’s fine.
EM
Why did MTV produce this film? It seems so out of character for them.
SPT
MTV didn’t produce it. Paramount did, when they saw the finished product they felt that MTV would do a great job marketing it towards their audience.
EM
What kind of job do you think they are doing?
SPT
Fantastic, every time I turn on MTV I see commercials for it.
EM
So are you going to be on TRL (Total Request Live) anytime soon?
SPT
No, I’m going to host MTV’s New Year’s eve party, and Julia (Stiles) is going to do TRL.
EM
How did you like working with Julia Stiles and how much of her own dancing did she do?
SPT
Julia was great to work with, very professional, fun to be around. She had dancing her background, so she picked up the moves easier than I did.
EM
What type of role would you like to do next?
SPT
My dream role would be James Bond, which I’m a little too young for. Currently I have to say that I just finished my dream role, growing up I always loved watching musicals like Singing In The Rain, and always wanted to be the cool guy that could dance and get the girl, and I got to do all of that in this film.
EM Interview
by Michelle Alexandria