ACTOR CEDRIC GREENAWAY INSPIRES OTHERS TO FOLLOW A CHRISTIAN LIFE
At right, multi-talented actor Cedric Greenaway. Insets: A few of the projects Greenaway has appeared in, "Tulsa," "Black Lightning" and "Sleepy Hollow."
▶ INTERVIEW BY KEVIN SCOTT COLLIER
In a very short span of time, actor Cedric Greenaway has risen into the realm of a performer of notice. His multi-talented skill has captured roles in both television and motion pictures, ranging from reality-based drama to faith-based inspired journeys. I recently had the opportunity to field some questions by Mr. Greenaway and the responses and came away a bigger fan than we we first connected.
CM: When did you become interested in acting?
CG: Actually, I started entertaining people, acting on stage and playing sports in the 2nd grade. I performed in the elementary school play and played baseball at the local recreation center.
CM: What were some of your earliest plays or projects before becoming a professional actor?
CG: Before becoming a professional actor, I was an extra on Unnecessary Roughness. This is a show about a Long Island psychotherapist who finds herself as the most sought-after therapist for high-profile clients. Athletes, entertainers, politicians, and others living in the spotlight clamor for her unique brand of tough love therapy during their moments of crisis. I had a great time, I learned a lot being on set.
CM: Your first big break was in The Uncanny X-Men series. What was it like getting the role of David Monroe?
CG: I booked this back in 2013, right off the website love2act.com. I’m not sure if this website is still active but this website was great for new actors. I was an still extra on Unnecessary Roughness, as well as training to become a professional actor. I didn’t have an agent and I had been submitting for roles everywhere and because I was an unknown local actor. No one wanted to take a chance on me. But Eric Green took a chance, and booked me! I was excited. There was a rush of confidence that came over me to go into this full steam.
CM: From your first pro acting jobs, to today, how did you view "how to get a job" then to "how you get a job" today, speaking of TV/movie roles?
CG: It took me two years of training before I was ready to submit for agency representation. It took an additional year to book my first professional job with Fatal Attraction. Before getting an agent, I was looking on websites myself, Facebook anything to find acting gigs to submit for. Word of mouth everything. It was hard! You’re an unknown with no resources to acting jobs. Once I was represented, things opened up, I started receiving audition requests and all. But it took another year of auditions before Jupiter Entertainment took a chance on me and book me.
Today, I’m still with my agency East Coast Talent and Barbara has worked with me, getting my name out there. We have built a body of work in television, movies, commercials and we continue to run this marathon. Now I have a network or a team of supporters that make finding acting roles easier
CM: What’s the most challenging role you have played, and why?
CG: I booked a role on Fatal Attraction again as a killer. I’m a former police officer. I had never had a role like this. So I had to research this criminal incident. I read everything about him until I mentally became him. Scary right? I scared myself on this. Long story short at the end of the shoot, the director thanked me for my performance shook my hand, hugged me.
I still have people calling and emailing me about that episode. TVOne still airs that episode. The hard part was getting that character out my head. I found myself driving to work still thinking about this character. It took about 3 weeks before I memory dumped that role and started working on the next.
CM: Your first Christian film was working with Gloria Stella. How was this experience different from what you had worked in previously?
CG: I actually booked an earlier Christian film called Virtuous. It’s story of a Hollywood starlet, a soldier on the battlefield (Jessica Lynch story), a successful businesswoman, and the cooking skills of dear old Mom. Working with Stella was great. She knew the shots she wanted and she got them. I would love to work with her again.
CM: You appear in roles in many Investigation Discovery type crime shows, such as Fatal Attraction, Your Worst Nightmare, Murder Calls. How are these types of roles structured differently that playing in more mainstream dramatic projects?
CG: Well, what I like about these shows is how they write their scripts. It’s really structured to help new actors bring across grounded line deliver by allowing them to improv and well as learning their lines to deliver non-robotic acting. It’s a great place to start.
Mainstream projects want their lines unaltered. So you truly have to know your lines and deliver grounded portrayals, not over the top. Once the director advises how he want the scene, you give him what he wants. Millions of dollars are on the line so this is why you train and stay ready.
CM: You appeared in one episode of the Black Lighting TV series. Are you a fan of action figures, heroes and comics?
CG: You know I grew up watching super heroes. So, Black Lighting is another super hero that looks like me, that I can say I was a part of. This show makes me feel proud. It’s a great TV series and the cast was so friendly. The superstars were truly nice to work with. I truly had fun on set. Great time even the extras seemed to enjoy that episode. They made you feel like family, Really.
CM: Do you believe your persona and behavior as a Christian shows others, who might not be people of faith, the joy Jesus can bring into someone's life?
CG: Yes, I think so. I have friends, classmates from high school/college and co-workers that watch my shows. And I think somehow I’m bringing people closer. I was brought up in a Christian way. I treat people right and I think my work as an actor inspire others to follow a Christian life.
CM: Explain how the devil goes after success and a destiny. Personal spiritual warfare examples?
CG: You know the devil will go after you. As an actor there are highs and lows. During the low period, the devil will creep into your mind and have you questioning your acting abilities and have you wondering why you’re not getting auditions and why you’re not booking projects. Sometimes thoughts of giving up acting will enter. Fight those thoughts off by praying, and believe-it-or-not, others will pray for you on your behalf, and next thing you know, you’re back in focus.
CM: Any closing thoughts how faith is still powerful in a seeming fallen world?
CG: I know it can be hard, in this day and time, to remain optimistic about this political climate. Keep your faith and believe that this is only temporary. But all in all, it was a great honor to work on the Tulsa project. I enjoyed the City of Augusta and all that it had to offer. Such a wonderful city to visit. No words can express how I feel about the cast and crew and everyone that came together to bring this project to life. Everyone go out and Watch Tulsa the movie!
In a very short span of time, actor Cedric Greenaway has risen into the realm of a performer of notice. His multi-talented skill has captured roles in both television and motion pictures, ranging from reality-based drama to faith-based inspired journeys. I recently had the opportunity to field some questions by Mr. Greenaway and the responses and came away a bigger fan than we we first connected.
CM: When did you become interested in acting?
CG: Actually, I started entertaining people, acting on stage and playing sports in the 2nd grade. I performed in the elementary school play and played baseball at the local recreation center.
CM: What were some of your earliest plays or projects before becoming a professional actor?
CG: Before becoming a professional actor, I was an extra on Unnecessary Roughness. This is a show about a Long Island psychotherapist who finds herself as the most sought-after therapist for high-profile clients. Athletes, entertainers, politicians, and others living in the spotlight clamor for her unique brand of tough love therapy during their moments of crisis. I had a great time, I learned a lot being on set.
CM: Your first big break was in The Uncanny X-Men series. What was it like getting the role of David Monroe?
CG: I booked this back in 2013, right off the website love2act.com. I’m not sure if this website is still active but this website was great for new actors. I was an still extra on Unnecessary Roughness, as well as training to become a professional actor. I didn’t have an agent and I had been submitting for roles everywhere and because I was an unknown local actor. No one wanted to take a chance on me. But Eric Green took a chance, and booked me! I was excited. There was a rush of confidence that came over me to go into this full steam.
CM: From your first pro acting jobs, to today, how did you view "how to get a job" then to "how you get a job" today, speaking of TV/movie roles?
CG: It took me two years of training before I was ready to submit for agency representation. It took an additional year to book my first professional job with Fatal Attraction. Before getting an agent, I was looking on websites myself, Facebook anything to find acting gigs to submit for. Word of mouth everything. It was hard! You’re an unknown with no resources to acting jobs. Once I was represented, things opened up, I started receiving audition requests and all. But it took another year of auditions before Jupiter Entertainment took a chance on me and book me.
Today, I’m still with my agency East Coast Talent and Barbara has worked with me, getting my name out there. We have built a body of work in television, movies, commercials and we continue to run this marathon. Now I have a network or a team of supporters that make finding acting roles easier
CM: What’s the most challenging role you have played, and why?
CG: I booked a role on Fatal Attraction again as a killer. I’m a former police officer. I had never had a role like this. So I had to research this criminal incident. I read everything about him until I mentally became him. Scary right? I scared myself on this. Long story short at the end of the shoot, the director thanked me for my performance shook my hand, hugged me.
I still have people calling and emailing me about that episode. TVOne still airs that episode. The hard part was getting that character out my head. I found myself driving to work still thinking about this character. It took about 3 weeks before I memory dumped that role and started working on the next.
CM: Your first Christian film was working with Gloria Stella. How was this experience different from what you had worked in previously?
CG: I actually booked an earlier Christian film called Virtuous. It’s story of a Hollywood starlet, a soldier on the battlefield (Jessica Lynch story), a successful businesswoman, and the cooking skills of dear old Mom. Working with Stella was great. She knew the shots she wanted and she got them. I would love to work with her again.
CM: You appear in roles in many Investigation Discovery type crime shows, such as Fatal Attraction, Your Worst Nightmare, Murder Calls. How are these types of roles structured differently that playing in more mainstream dramatic projects?
CG: Well, what I like about these shows is how they write their scripts. It’s really structured to help new actors bring across grounded line deliver by allowing them to improv and well as learning their lines to deliver non-robotic acting. It’s a great place to start.
Mainstream projects want their lines unaltered. So you truly have to know your lines and deliver grounded portrayals, not over the top. Once the director advises how he want the scene, you give him what he wants. Millions of dollars are on the line so this is why you train and stay ready.
CM: You appeared in one episode of the Black Lighting TV series. Are you a fan of action figures, heroes and comics?
CG: You know I grew up watching super heroes. So, Black Lighting is another super hero that looks like me, that I can say I was a part of. This show makes me feel proud. It’s a great TV series and the cast was so friendly. The superstars were truly nice to work with. I truly had fun on set. Great time even the extras seemed to enjoy that episode. They made you feel like family, Really.
CM: Do you believe your persona and behavior as a Christian shows others, who might not be people of faith, the joy Jesus can bring into someone's life?
CG: Yes, I think so. I have friends, classmates from high school/college and co-workers that watch my shows. And I think somehow I’m bringing people closer. I was brought up in a Christian way. I treat people right and I think my work as an actor inspire others to follow a Christian life.
CM: Explain how the devil goes after success and a destiny. Personal spiritual warfare examples?
CG: You know the devil will go after you. As an actor there are highs and lows. During the low period, the devil will creep into your mind and have you questioning your acting abilities and have you wondering why you’re not getting auditions and why you’re not booking projects. Sometimes thoughts of giving up acting will enter. Fight those thoughts off by praying, and believe-it-or-not, others will pray for you on your behalf, and next thing you know, you’re back in focus.
CM: Any closing thoughts how faith is still powerful in a seeming fallen world?
CG: I know it can be hard, in this day and time, to remain optimistic about this political climate. Keep your faith and believe that this is only temporary. But all in all, it was a great honor to work on the Tulsa project. I enjoyed the City of Augusta and all that it had to offer. Such a wonderful city to visit. No words can express how I feel about the cast and crew and everyone that came together to bring this project to life. Everyone go out and Watch Tulsa the movie!
