I was a black center in the middle of all the nature. I was nothing, but I could do anything.

When I was a young actor, I just didn’t understand how to function in this business as an artist. It is a business, it’s called the film business for a reason, there’s money involved ... But on the flip side, now I do not let the business side of it rule either. It’s a balance.

When I went to film school about three years ago, the first two years you're required to make a series of short films. I started making films based on short poems.

The first piece of art that I ever bought - when I could afford it - was a Warhol sketch from the period when he was just getting out of doing commercial work and more into art. It's a sketch of a young guy's face. I guess the gallery that I bought it from thought I would like it because the young guy kind of looked like James Dean.

I've decided I can't really control people's perceptions of me. All I can do is decide on what I work on and how hard I work on it.

When I research a role it does get a little crazy and maybe even a little stupid.

There's a large chunk of me in all the parts. As an actor, I got involved largely because I want to let things out. The best acting is that that is most real and the only way to do that, is to genuinely feel it.