Christians in Cinema: Denzel Whitaker
Actor – The Great Debaters
In talking with Denzel Whitaker, I was immediately struck by his poise. The 17-year-old actor portrays James Farmer, Jr., a member of a debate team from a small black college in East Texas, who goes on to become one of the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.
I had a few moments to talk with Denzel about the upcoming film, his family, and what he likes to do in his spare time.
I wanted to BE debating, not just acting like I was debating.
CC.com: Denzel, you’ve been called a “brilliant young actor” by your co-stars Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker (no relation). What is your acting background?
Denzel: I started acting officially about 5 years ago. For two years before that, I did background work. I was told if I could survive that, then I could go into acting. It wasn’t really one of those things I planned to do. An agency recommended that I try acting. So my parents drove me down to the audition and encouraged me to just try it!
Once I started acting, I found it fascinating. I enjoy being able to play different characters and put on different hats. I can be someone other than Denzel Whitaker. When I became James Farmer, Jr., it was a chance to step out of reality and be someone different.
CC.com: You worked on a filmset with two of our time’s most legendary actors. Can you tell us a little about what you learned from both of them?
Denzel: They are both so humble and generous. Denzel Washington is such a great director. I want to go to film school for directing, so it was great to learn about that from him. And every day I would go back and enter my “Denzel quotes” into my laptop. I collected a lot of them over the course of the film.
What I learned from them were really life lessons. When they look back over the body of work they’ve done, they’re happy with it. And that’s something anyone could be proud of. They both strive for excellence in their careers, and maybe by emulating them, I can succeed in this acting world.
CC.com:
Denzel: There were some. You know, your dad is your first male figure in your life. It can be simultaneously touching and intimidating. If you’re a little kid and your dad is a 6-foot tall man, that can be challenging.
There are many things I’d rather go to my mother for than my father, so I suggested inserting that into the film. When our debate team comes back from Harvard I go running into my house. The script called for me to go straight to my dad. But I told Denzel that I would naturally be looking for my mom first, so we made that change.
CC.com: Denzel took y’all to a debate “boot camp” at Texas Southern University. Did you find things there that you can apply to your acting?
Denzel: Yes, especially to stage acting. They are very conscious of using your posture and gestures to create emphasis. And we learned about hitting certain words to make your point. Those are things that translate well into acting.
When we were there, we were reading all kinds of papers, doing research, and watching CNN all the time. It was my first experience at debate, and I wanted to soak up as much as possible, because I wanted to BE debating, not just acting like I was debating.
It also helped me become a better arguer. You know, what’s the point of arguing if you’re not getting your point across, and that’s what debate is. Every argument is a debate, but when it’s structured, it makes a huge difference. I came away really admiring debaters because they put a lot of time and effort into research, but sometimes they only have 15 minutes to prepare, so they have to always be on their toes.
CC.com: Are there any life lessons you took away from the film itself?
Denzel: That we all have a voice, and we should use it to speak out. Each of us has opinions, and we should find the ones that will change the world. Our opinions can change the world for good or for bad; we need to get them out there. We have amazing resources available, and need to do something with them.
CC.com: You’re 17; are you still in school?
Denzel: I am. I attend a public school, and find the teachers and friends there very supportive of me and the work I’m doing.
Follow your dreams and be passionate about them!
CC.com: What do you enjoy doing in your off-time?
Denzel: I’m a complete techno-geek. If something has a power switch, I’m into it. I dig animation – cartoons and the like – and have taught myself some digital animation software. That is something I just love doing.
CC.com: Do you have any projects in the works right now?
Denzel: I’m reading a lot of scripts right now. I want to keep auditioning and hope that God keeps blessing me. I want to do things that speak to me, and things I can be passionate about. I want to make sure I don’t take roles that are derogatory or denigrating, but that they’re roles I can look back on in 30 or so years and be proud to have done it.
CC.com: In your interviews on the Oprah Winfrey show, Denzel Washington credited God with the smoothness of filming and even his own success.
Denzel: It was a very spiritual film set. I believe that everyone involved was a person of faith. Forest Whitaker was always bringing hymns and scriptures into the script, and Denzel really encouraged that from us. I’m not ashamed to say that God is a big part of my career and life. People who don’t recognize and love their creator God are on the road to trouble.
CC.com: What would you say to youth who are considering acting for a career?
Denzel: To follow your dreams! You have to be passionate about what you’re doing, because there will always be someone telling you that you’re not good enough, that you’re not getting it.
My parents allowed me the room to experiment, and they encouraged me. If they hadn’t, I wouldn’t have taken the leap. If you’re not getting support from your parents, talk with them about it, because they can be your best cheerleaders.
CC.com: Denzel, thank you for your time. I look forward to seeing the film, and wish you much success!
