Anthony B. Jenkins Talks Devante, Emmett & The Chi Season 8

[00:00:08] Anthony, thank you for joining me today on Pop Culture Unplugged. Thank you for having me. Congrats on The Chi, and first of all, congrats on your career, man. You've been busy the last few years. Yes, thank you. I appreciate it. Before we jump more into it, I want to know, what acting bug, what made you jump into this? It all started when I was like four years old. I was a very energized kid, and I kept like, I was like, kind of like the class clown in school.

[00:00:35] And like my dad, he was like, because since he was an actor, he was like, I really want to test him out for this. And he brought me to like this, like this one set. It was a Disney Huggies commercial. And I remember I was just talking to everybody, everybody. And I remember I was talking to this one lady I was chatting, and then I had to go on the audition place. I went in there, I saw the lady again, I waved at her. And after I booked it, we realized she was the director. And then my dad was like, we got to keep going. Keep grinding away. Yeah.

[00:01:05] Yeah. Now you have the opportunity to work with some incredible talent throughout your career, you know, Halle Berry, you know, with just to name a few, you know, like, but for you, what do you think has been like the biggest lesson you've learned from working with actors at that level? I'd say it's, it's professionalism, like getting on, like getting to set on time, always staying focused, reading your script, and just knowing like, like, I can be myself on set and just, like just being professional overall.

[00:01:35] I like how you know, some of the shows you've worked on. They've been like, first of all, they're great shows, you know, you had Stranger Things, you had The Pit, now The Shy, you know, Blake, for you, like, I need to know what's been your favorite project so far? Because The Pit, I love The Pit, The Pit's a great show. I would say my favorite project, like, it's not like a certain one. Okay. But, like, because it's like all of them overall, because like, I learned like something new from like every single set.

[00:02:03] Because like writers write differently, actors, like they all act differently. And like, I feel like I learned something new from like every single set. And I feel like all of them is just, I just like that. But for you, you ever had a favorite project that you've been part of? Or is it hard to pick? It's really, really difficult because like everybody's so like nice and kind. So I don't know yet. I don't know yet.

[00:02:29] But for you now, any pressure step into another show like The Shy, who's got a huge fan base, you know, and a new character that we see also? So I would say like the pressure, I would say, I feel like the challenge for me is just like, learn, like just entering like the new set. But usually like for The Shy, like everybody was like so, so welcoming to me.

[00:02:54] And like, it's like by the next day, we was all just like locked in, ready, and we was getting the scenes done. What was the audition process like for Devante? I'm curious. For Devante? Devante, it really wasn't that long. I think it was like, I did an audition, and I think I just did a callback and then I got it. And after I got it, I was so, like just so happy because like I watched the show like before, like I got it.

[00:03:21] And like when I like got the audition, I was like, Dad, we got to lock in. I really want to be on this. And I'm really honored that I was able to. Do you remember the description of the character when you first auditioned? I think it was like, it was, it was saying because like Devante was on the show in past seasons. Okay. But it wasn't, it just wasn't me. And I think it was just talking about how he's Emmett's son, black male, like 12 to 13. And yeah.

[00:03:50] So in the premiere, you know, we see Devante moving with Emmett and Keisha too, you know, after getting in trouble. Like what can you, what can you tell us about Devante's mindset when the viewers tune in to see this? Uh, I feel like he, like he knows that he's misunderstood because like he was like, and like, cause mid scene, he was trying to tell his dad. He, he, he said, uh, he said, do you even want to know what he said? So that technically means he said something like really, really rude to Devante. So Devante is trying to protect himself.

[00:04:20] He's misunderstood. He's been in Pittsburgh with his mom and now he's in a new environment and it's just very difficult. It's a big change for him. Hmm. For you as an actor, did you approach him as a kid acting out or, you know, or, um, you know, acting out, getting in trouble or was someone like struggling to find himself?

[00:04:44] I feel like I was trying to approach it as a kid that was struggling to find himself because like I said, he's in a new environment with not new people, but like, it's just new form. He's living in his new house. It's crowded. And he's just, it's, it's, it's a lot for him. And he's just trying to find like what he can do. Um, you know, throughout the series, Emmitt has spent the entire series trying to become a better father.

[00:05:12] Like for you, what kind of impact does Devante have on that journey for him this season? It's, it's, it's making Emmitt stress because it made, it brought him to the point where he talked to his own dad and asked his dad for advice, even though his dad wasn't really there for him that much either. And he's asking his dad for advice, using that advice. And he's going to try using that on Devante and he's going to try hoping it works.

[00:05:38] You, you, you share some incredible seeds with Jacob, you know, uh, first time having the seeds with him. And he, uh, how did you guys build that chemistry on set the relationship? Well, like he, he welcomed me like instant. He was like, yo, what's up? He was like, just like helping me. Like he's like taught me, like he's just telling me like how everything was and like the entire atmosphere of the side. They're all such positive energy. And I'm just, I'm really honored that I was able to be on the show.

[00:06:07] Any advice from him stepping on a set like this? Uh, I mean, I remember he was telling me, he was like, I can always be calm. If I ever have any questions, just ask him and he got it. I mean, Devante understands how much pressure his dad's under too. You're like, uh, do you think he's, do you think it's like mostly focused on his own problems? Or do you think it's part of Devante also? I feel like, like, uh, like, is it, is Devante focused on his own problem?

[00:06:36] No, like Devante understands how much pressure his dad is under or is he most focused on his own problems too? I feel like Devante is mostly focused on his problems because he, like, like, like I keep saying, new environment. He's trying to like adapt to it. It's different. New school. That's the biggest part, especially for like a lot of kids. Like for me, I moved to a different school. I was upset and it's like, it's weird being the new kid. And that's, that's what it is for Devante.

[00:07:04] I know we're a few episodes in, but so I don't want you to give away spoilers or everything. But like, what surprised you the most about Devante's story? This is season, his arc when you read the scripts. It's character development. Like he, like after reading the script, like he develops so much and it's, it's just like the way he changes throughout the entire script. I can't say anything else, but that's, it's just a lot of character development.

[00:07:33] What do you hope the viewers get out of Devante this season? I hope they just know that he's like very misunderstood. He hasn't, like he visits his dad sometimes, but he's not with his dad the whole time because his parents, like they're not together. So it's just, it's, it's very, very weird for him. Would Anthony be friends with Devante? Um, I mean, after seeing that he brought a gun to school, I don't know.

[00:08:02] Cause I'm trying, I'm trying to, I'm trying to stay safe myself. So if I saw that, I'd be like, um, yeah, nah, nah. So yeah, I don't know. How about, would you give him any advice to stay out of trouble? Would you give, would you, how would you try to help him out? I would tell him like, like the advice Keisha gave him just like, you don't, you don't gotta like resort to violence instantly.

[00:08:26] Like maybe like calm down and like, maybe tell some teachers, tell the adults or something, but bringing a gun. That's, that's, that's big step forward. As a young actor, do you have like a goal in mind? Like a certain role that you kind of hope you get your hands on someday? Action. I've been trying to get some bow, bow, bow like in. And that's what I did for, uh, they fight. That was a movie that I filmed with Andre Holland. And I was, I was really, really hyped about that.

[00:08:56] I was able to like practice some boxing. So I know how to box now. Sometimes I'll be like trying to show my dad, but I never win. But yeah. So maybe we'll see you down the road and then some good action movies. Who knows? Oh yeah. Hopefully. Anthony, I want to thank you for giving me a few minutes today. This was great. We'll have to get you back on and good luck with your young career. Hope you keep grinding away. Thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you for having me.