Showtime has given new, young filmmakers - black, white, across the board - an opportunity to make films, as well as actors who want to cross over into directing.

I want viewers to relate to me on a different level, not just a sexual level.

I've had some physically challenging roles.

And I think from a male perspective, we have men talking about their feelings and it being okay.

I didn't pursue acting to become famous. I was actually just trying to make a living.

Some people make a career out of doing one thing, but I wanted to diversify my body of work.

I remember when we were in rehearsals and we were going through it because we rehearsed before we went to Toronto, and it's more of the same. She and I had to deal with a lot of stuff in this movie and we really have to take ourselves there. It actually started in rehearsals, and just revisiting that piece of it all. Just the way Monica is and what she says and the way she looks at me, it really affects me throughout rehearsals and throughout the scenes.