Today it is my supreme pleasure to feature Kevin D. Benton, yet another actor to be cast in Nick Belial‘s upcoming film To Avenge. Kevin will be portraying Assistant District Attorney Darnell Buckley, and after speaking with this humble and talented guy, I can hardly wait to witness how he will be infusing his talents within the already solid cast of this aforementioned thriller that is saturated with a contemporary, timely message. Recently, Kevin and I participated in an informative and inspiring chat about his inception in the industry as well as his significant roles (past and present), including his inclusion in the cast of To Avenge.
RH: Nice to chat with you today, Kevin. I truly enjoy getting to meet with everyone as they are added to the cast of To Avenge.
KB: Ruth, thank you. It is indeed my pleasure. Nice to meet you.
So, first off, how did you get started as an actor?
Well, I got started in first grade. I participated in stage plays and things like that, and that’s how I got a feel for it. I really, really loved and enjoyed it. Once I began to play basketball and get really good at it, I continued to play throughout high school, and that is how I kind of drifted away from acting. After a decorated high school basketball career, I earned a Division I scholarship to college. I continued to play Division I basketball throughout college, and then I went on to play professionally.
During the summertime, when basketball was over, I would go visit family in Florida. While I was down in Florida, we would make our way to the Disney Parks. They had the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular there, and I got cast as an extra. Then I got upgraded to what they called “Jack’s dying scene.” That was where the guy leading the show would pretend like he shot you, and you had to pretend like you were dying. I did that, and the crowd loved it. I said to myself, “Wow, I kinda like this.” So I made my way over the backlot door, which is now closed down…I think it was Hollywood studios at the time. But I got cast as a sea captain in the Nautica Battle Stage, and I loved that. So I was getting my fire relit, and I made my way over to what was called “Disaster: A Major Motion Picture Ride Starring You.” You get on this ride, and they’re filming it while you’re riding. You have to go through these doors before you get on the ride, and they cast certain people for different roles, and I got cast as the evil lab worker. And the crowd loved it.
Audience Shot from Creed
All that got my juices flowing again, and then I got cast in the movie Creed–the first Creed. That experience was one of the best experiences of my life. As a result, I decided that this was what I wanted to do professionally and I was going to take it seriously. And ever since then, I have been approaching acting with seriousness by taking acting classes, seminars, workshops, and anything else I can. I am really enjoying the journey.
That’s actually a cool way to get into acting. I have been to all those Disney Parks, but I think you’re the first person I’ve interviewed who worked at one and then decided to seriously pursue acting as a career. In addition to Creed, what other works do you consider significant in your career?
When I made my transition from background to principal actor, a director by the name of Rodney L. Cherry gave me the opportunity to play One Eye Willie in a movie called The Gift You Forgot To Open. I distinctly took all the disciplines I had learned in basketball and transferred them over into acting. Just like I wanted to be good at basketball, I also wanted to be good at acting. In fact, I always want to be good at anything I do. And I actually got nominated for Best Supporting Actor for the Church Stars Network for that film, and I wasn’t even trying to win any kind of award or recognition. I was just trying to be believable, professional, and know my lines.
Emergency Landing
And then Rodney gave me another opportunity in a movie coming out shortly called Emergency Landing. I was a supporting actor in that movie where I had to play a character who was down on his luck and his wife wants to leave him. It was a challenging role because it’s more of a thriller with some very heavy content in my storyline. I really had to dig deep to play someone that wasn’t like me in real life. Again, I got nominated for Best Actor, and I didn’t even have the most coveted role in the movie. That was also through the Church Stars Network. I would say those two films are like transitions that have really helped to change the direction of my career.
I believe Nick said he had worked with you before.
Delaware Shore
Yes, I met Nick on the set of Delaware Shore. I was a supporting character in the movie, and my character even has a love story. My desire is to be the best believable me and to come off as authentic. Our entire cast ended up getting Best Ensemble Cast award at one of the film festivals. It was nice to connect with Nick on that movie and also on Free Ride. Nick is an awesome guy and a phenomenal photographer.
Speaking of To Avenge, how did you get involved with this film?
One of the things I’ve learned in this acting journey is that a lot of it has to do with the good reputation and brand that you build and how you are able to connect on set with people. Somebody could be holding the camera during this film, but in the next one, that person ends up being the director. When you go on set, it’s important to be on time and to be friendly and kind to everyone. If you say “thank you” and you’re pleasant to people, sometimes you won’t even have to audition for your next role. Nick got the chance to see my work on Delaware Shore, and from what I could tell, Nick decided that he had a role for me as a result of what he saw. It’s one of those things where your reputation precedes you. He was aware of what I could bring to the table, and that went a long way in this case.
Tell us a little about the role you play in To Avenge and why you are looking forward to portraying this character.
My character is ADA Buckley. And it’s interesting. Before I got my degree in psychology, I wanted to be a lawyer. I’m a big fan of Judge Mathis; I watch that show every day. So this is one of those times when acting is giving me the opportunity to be one of those things that I’ve always wanted to be. Even though I didn’t get to be a lawyer, now I get to portray one, and I’m looking forward to that. I truly believe I can pull it off due to the knowledge that I already have. But I’m also gonna work hard on my part because I want to be professional and believable.
Just learning the overall theme of the script was something that made me excited. It is a very contemporary theme in today’s society, and it is very forward-thinking of Nick to write such a timely story. I think that everyone who will have the opportunity to watch the completed film is going to be able to identify with Vera and the overall theme and then, perhaps, my character too.
I think there are several cast members who were connected with Delaware Shore, so it must be nice to get to connect with some of the people you’ve worked with before.
It really is, but in general, I just love people. I feel like I have the type of personality that can fit in anywhere. In your acting journey, if you don’t love people, you probably shouldn’t be doing this job. It is always good to have a foundation for knowing some of the people you’re working with. But the others that I don’t know yet, I am looking forward to meeting. I originally got into acting because I was looking for a place to belong and meet positive people. You know, if you watch the news, you see all the negativity in the world and that can color your perspective. But the acting journey has shown me that there are more good people than bad people in the world. And by nature, I’m a pretty competitive person. When I was playing basketball professionally, I loved the competitive side of things, and that is still there inside me. Acting is something that fuels my competitive juices, and I’m always competing against myself. There’s no reason to compete against my fellow actors because we’re all on the same team.
You’re not the first actor I’ve spoken with who began in sports and makes comparisons between team sports and acting. There are lots of different reasons for people to choose to become actors.
I love the fact that so many of the actors I’ve worked with want to share their gifts, talents, and abilities with the world. And those kinds of people also share all that with you, and hopefully, everyone is growing and learning and making some awesome friends that last a lifetime. For me, I am just enjoying the process and I’m really amazed where it’s taking me. I never know who I’m gonna get a chance to meet, and that is just an amazing part of this entire journey.
Jason’s Letter
It looks like you’ve got some other works coming up in addition to To Avenge.
Yes, I will be in a movie on the Starz network. It’s a small part, but I’m really excited about it since it one of my biggest films ever in terms of exposure. It’s called Jason’s Letter, and it will premiere on September 1st. I have a few lines, and I play one of the parents in that film. I am excited about this role because that scene took me back to organic parenting when parents used to go up to the school and check on their kid and go talk to the teacher. When I was a kid, my mom would come up to the school and sit in the back of the class just to make sure I was doing the right thing. She would take the day off work every now and then and just come check on me and my brother. So in the movie, I’m the dad who goes up to check on his son who was showing off in detention with the other kids. And with all the parents who go to check on their kids, my character is the only father who shows up.
With Vivica Fox
Jason’s Letter
What was really meaningful to me is that the movie sends a message, especially to African-American fathers…most African American kids come from single-parent homes. I wanted to represent that dad that cared to take off work and go check on his son. And I made sure that I looked the part; my wardrobe showed that I was a business professional. And everybody is excited about this film. It’s got a great cast–Vivica Fox is in the movie. Quinton Aaron from The Blind Side is in the movie. Claudia Jordan, Paul Anthony from the House Party movies, Nakia Dillard and a whole lot of other talented actors are in it, and I was just honored to be able to share the screen with all of them. And, of course, Vivica Fox.
As to anything else, I’m just looking forward to breaking out into the bigger roles.
I notice you’ve also done some writing.
Yeah, that’s true. We actually wrote a script called Second Chance. I was the co-writer, and I am very excited about participating in this because the story…it was always my dream to make it to the NBA. I actually did play overseas, and I did play against some notables including Kobe Bryant. But in Second Chance, I get to portray an NBA player who is looking for a second chance, but he is trying to get that second chance through his son who is going to go to the NBA from high school, but this dad hasn’t been in his son’s life. It’s a very well-written script. Jessica {J. Immanuel} went as far as she could go, and she asked me to read it and finish it off. And she really liked how it ended up.
Is this something you have actually filmed?
Photo by Rodney L. Cherry
Well, we started shooting it, but we just have to finish it. So we will definitely finish it and then market it and shop it around.
I know about that. I firmly believe that anything that gets filmed and actually makes it to the point where the general public can see it is definitely a miracle.
I agree. And I think the distribution part is the hardest. One of the things you sometimes see in the industry is people shoot these movies and create a lot of fanfare on social media, and then they have the premiere, and then the question is–where is this gonna go after the premiere?
Did I miss anything that you wanted to be sure to mention?
I nearly forgot to mention this. I was honored to be the recipient of the 2018 Spiral Award as a film actor for my performance in Emergency Landing and my overall body of works to this point. The Spiral Award is an internationally recognized award, and from my perspective, it came out of nowhere. After all, I got into acting for very humble reasons, and winning awards is something I never ever considered or thought about.
That is truly amazing, Kevin, and it sounds like it is a well-deserved honor. It makes me even more excited for To Avenge and to see your work in it.
Thank you, Ruth, and I cannot tell you just how honored and excited I am as well. Very excited for To Avenge, and I thank you so much for chatting with me today.
2018 Spiral Award Recipient
Sometimes independent film actors are plagued by flagrant misconceptions in which some people dismiss them as substandard actors, maybe even beneath the perceived talent of other better-known actors in the mainstream acting community. However, I beg to differ because in all my interactions with the independent film community, I have found these people to be some of the most vivacious, loving, enthusiastic people I have ever met, and once you have made a connection with one of these industry professionals, you can count on their gratitude and kindness for life. They understand the importance of community in this segment of the industry, and just because they do not have the name recognition nor the celebrity status does make them any less professional, talented, or friendly.
In the case of Kevin, he has come into the acting profession with the correct attitude, motivation, and drive. For that reason, his star has continued its steady rise, and he is always overwhelmed by the recognition he receives because he is never searching for it. His goal is to enjoy the journey and fuel his passion by doing what he enjoys, and the fringe benefits of that just happen to be acknowledgment coupled with even more dynamic roles headed his way.
As we await his appearance in the highly-anticipated To Avenge film, it is my sincere hope and desire that all of my readers will visit his links as well as the links to the film itself (all are listed below for convenience’s sake) and consider following him and the film on social media where possible. As Kevin continues his phenomenal, celebratory, soul-searching journey on the road to the fearless pursuance of his dreams, as long as he remains as grounded as he currently is, I believe that he will only be limited by his own imagination. Furthermore, I am honored to be supporting him (and the film) every step of the way.
FOLLOW KEVIN
FOLLOW TO AVENGE
