ASM: Thank you very much for agreeing to this interview. Please tell the readers a little more about Treva Etienne.
TE: I’m a lover of life, people, creativity and the evolution of what we can do for each other. The acting, writing, and directing are all one side of me. The other side of me believes in the goodness of the human spirit and people.
ASM: Your parents are from the Caribbean, but you were born in England. Can you tell us more about your background?
TE: My family are from an island called Dominica which is an Anglo- French speaking island. My grandparents were Native American Carib-Indians but my ancestory is also Haitian.
ASM: What made you decide to become an actor and who or what inspired you?
TE: I didn’t really know I was going to be an actor. I had a stutter as a kid and was very shy. Watching movie actors on TV such as James Cagney, Sidney Pottier, Humphrey Bogart and Chaplin helped me because I unconsciously listened and mimicked them. Slowly I taught myself how to speak confidently and at the same time fell in love with acting and the art form. At 13, I attended drama classes and joined about 5 or 6 different youth groups all over London. Acting was no longer a hobby anymore. It was something that I liked doing because it gave me the confidence to speak. In addition to acting, I started to write because I always wrote things down to express myself. At 17, I started a theatre company called “AfroSax” with Larrington Walker, an actor/director friend and that’s when I started directing.
ASM: Which do you find easier-Acting, Writing or Directing?
TE: They’re all difficult in their own way but they’re fun as well. I don’t distinguish one from the other, I just think that they all have different needs and preparations. When I watch movies , I appreciate the process they all go through so it’s hard to pick my favorite of the three.
ASM: How is the film industry over in the Caribbean and are you doing any thing to bring it to the forefront?
TE: I’ve got some projects I’ve written and want to see how I can merge that. But it’ll be in Europe. I feel cultural Europe has a sound and a voice that I’d like to bring to the table. What I’m working on is to expose creative people of all creeds around the world to bring new stories to the forefront. I don’t think the market wants to see just one story because they are open to variety. That’s why an underdog movie like “Slum Dog Millionaire” was a major success because someone took a chance with it. Everything lies in luck and faith.
ASM: How does working in Hollywood differ from working in the industry in the UK?
TE: There’s more opportunity here in comparison to the UK. It’s bigger; the sun shines here so I get to wear sandals. (laughs)
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ASM: Besides what you do in the industry, what else are you passionate about?
TE: I teach and mentor children. I teach them the importance of valuing and loving themselves because many of them don’t. I try to give them self confidence through my workshops so that they don’t succumb to the pressures of the society. They need to just enjoy life. I also work with an organization called Pirate Kids with CHOC (Children’s Hospital of Cancer). We help raise money in the fight against children’s illnesses.
ASM: Are you very critical of your work and do you like to watch yourself in a movie you are in?
TE: I am not overly critical….Actually I think I am (laughs). I don’t really like watching myself in a movie I am in; However, it depends on the movie. If it’s a movie I like, I would watch it a few times. If I don’t like the movie, I’d watch it only once.
ASM: Between the comical and serious roles which one do you prefer to play?
TE: I love comical roles because I love comedy and I like laughing at myself. I grew up on Chaplin, Laurel n Hardy, Keaton, and they always made me laugh. I wrote sketches episodes for a British comedy show called “The Real McCoy” which was like “In Living Color” show here in America.
ASM: If you were not in the industry, what would you be doing and was your family resistant to your decision to become an actor?
TE: I think I’d have been a doctor. My family was supportive of my decision to be an actor. All they asked was “Can you make money and support yourself ?”
Once they got a yes, they gave me their blessing. Besides, I come from a creative and artistic family so my decision to become one was not alien to them.
ASM: What misconceptions do you find people have about the movie industry?
TE: It’s not easy as people think. Like anything in life, they have to love it and be good at it. The great actor Rod Steiger, had a quote “ Do you want to do it or do you need to do it ?” You can walk into an industry that is very rewarding or can be detrimental because of the rejections that come along with it. Rejections are part of this industry which can easily be taken personally, but its business like any other job that one interviews for, it’s tough and you need rhinoceros skin to keep going, however, aspiring and determined people learn to brush off the rejection and keep going on to the next opportunity.
ASM: So what’s next for you?
TE: I completed a film called “Tic” which premiered last week and I’m working on producing/directing a new comedy pilot…
ASM: Thank you so much for taking some time out of your busy schedule to talk to AfroStyle Magazine. Wishing you all the best in your endeavors.
TE: Thank you.
Amaka Nkele
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n a hot sunny Monday, I met up with British Caribbean actor, writer and director Treva Etienne- (known for his roles in movies such as “Terminator Salvation”, “Pirates of the Caribbean, Black Hawk Down, Bad Boys II”) at one of his favorite restaurants Magnolia Grill in Studio City, California. It’s a restaurant he enjoys patronizing because it reminds of him of home and the simplicity of life. Enjoying his cup of tea, Treva honored AfroStyle Magazine with an interview.