I had the pleasure of sitting down with Harold Dennis to discuss his many projects. He is best supporting actor at the 2015 Laugh or Die Comedy Festival for What in the Sam Hill. Check his demo reel on You tube:
Tell us about 99 Films on the Wall?
99 Films on the Wall is an idea I had 12 or 13 years ago, actually 2002. It’s in development still and it’s my production company. I figured once I start producing films then I will use 99 Films on the Wall as that vehicle. What happened was I was laying in the bed one morning staring at the walls, and (he laughs) the name 99 Films on the Wall came to mind then right after that song 99 bottles of Beer on the wall starting ringing in my head, I guess that was confirmation that was going to be my name 99 Films on the Wall. It would be great to get 99 film credits on that wall and I did it in 9 years.
Tell us about your latest project that you are working on and when we can expect to see it on the big screen?
I have a few projects that I am working on right now as of this Friday I will shoot in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on a film that we started working on last year, we had to wait for the season to change. It’s called Legal ThreaT and I will go up and shoot my next to last scene playing an ex-military agent operative. Then that Saturday night I will go up to Courtland, IL outside DeKalb, IL and film in a barn on a film called Fangs vs. Spurs. It’s like an 1882 vampires vs. cowboy’s film comedy. We were shooting that last fall but had to wait for the season to change. I have like 3 or 4 more shoot days on that film. I am excited about that because I am a cowboy farmer.
The TV series Chiraq is coming up and we’re supposed to start filming this month. They shot the first two pilot episodes last season. They are going to go all out and shoot maybe 8 (I think) and I will be in the rest of those episodes. Its Chiraq taking back our streets an urban drama. Basically, it’s about securing the streets with all these shootings that have been taken place especially in Chicago. In the next couple weeks, I will shoot on Bar-Star City, a Sci-Fi Film by Ytasha Womack. I have been waiting to work with her since 2002 and finally 13 years later. It’s Cheers meet Star Gate. In a couple weeks, I will be shooting a Sci-Fi short-film called Reset with Chris Adams who I have worked with off and on over the years. I am a military operative fighting a robot. It’s only mission in life is to wipe out humans. In August, I will shoot another film called Sister of the Wolf. It’s in a mental institution and I play an orderly and it’s being filmed here in Chicago.
In November, I am producing a film called Punch and Judy with a guy that used to live in Chicago he now lives out in New Mexico. We will shoot some here in Chicago and take a road trip filming in the car to New Mexico. It’s an ode to Breaking Bad and it’s got Breaking Bad all over it, a comedy. That’s what’s in front of me and there are other projects coming.
Do you have a preference of film or television?
I like television and film. I like television because I have the opportunity in a series to build a character, build an audience, build a fan base, and develop a relationship. The audience can watch me grow as a character and I like that. In film, I like the idea of going in and having one huge emotional impact on the audience. That impact good or bad can change someones life depending on my character good or bad. It can make someone stop and think that their life is not so bad. However the audience perceives whatever they seem to have going on in their lives at that moment, I have an opportunity to make a huge emotional impact instantly.
Is there a particular actor or actress that you would love to work with?
Well, there are a few of them with Denzel Washington at the top of the list. Others such as Morgan Freeman, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, Forest Whittaker, and Clint Eastwood. Of course, there are a ton of actresses I’d love to work with too. But that male bonding thing in film is great. Even if I am playing a protagonist or antagonist, I would love to do something with those guys. I like Angela Bassett, Meryl Streep, and Kate Winslet to name a few.
Who inspired you to pursue a career in film?
My high school band teacher John Watson Sr. I have an Aunt by the name of Marian Rolle, she use to act and she did a one woman show off Broadway. She did shows in London, England, and all over the world titled “Desiree”. My farther used to talk about her when I was a kid. I ended up in a play in the 2nd grade and I remember getting on stage sitting there and forgot my lines. After that I started playing multiple sports growing up, music, band, just all types of things. When I was in high school I was in the band as the lead trumpet player. Mr. Watson was like a mentor to me and to all of the other kids. He got us paid summer jobs playing our instruments. He inspired me to pursue a career in film.
What advice would you give an aspiring actor or actress?
The advice I tell any aspiring actor or actress is that you have to research what acting is first. With Google and You Tube you can ask all types of questions, do the research, and decide if this is something that you want to do. From there you have to train. We all have natural ability, but acting for the most part is a learned skill. Harry Lennix said that, “just about anybody can act, it’s a learned skill.” So get some training, develop, get more training, and develop more.
I have been in class accumulating 16 years now. As a matter of fact, I will be in class in two days from now studying with Ted Sarantos for the last 11 almost 12 years religiously. He always says, it takes 17 to 20 years to become an overnight success. I didn’t know what that meant at first, but what I have come to understand is that after 17 years you just know. Depending on you, you’ve done your due diligence, you’ve done your homework, you’ve studied, you’ve gone out on auditions, you’ve failed a thousand times, you had success, you’ve been on stage, and you just know. You are who you are. Keep studying and don’t quit. Keep getting the rejections because eventually someone will say yes and it will feel good. If it doesn’t feel good then it’s not for you.
It was a pleasure to sit and talk with Harold Dennis about his film projects. You can learn more about him by following him on Twitter at @99Filmsonthewal.
Photo source & Video : Courtesy of Harold Dennis