A Journey with Denzel Whitaker
Marvels Black Panther directed by Ryan Coogler invites moviegoers, comic fans and ethusiast of all diversity to herd ticket booths at theaters around the nation.
Black Panther rolls in at number one for the fourth week in a row. Racking in a wopping $521 million, and counting, in the U.S. in addition to surpassing $1 Billion worldwide. The film hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Seemingly, the movie that has swept the nation holds it’s own special connection to the south bay area of California.
As him and I talk over the phone, cast member Denzel Whitaker finds himself driving toward familiar scenery and a place he once called home.
The roots that have sprouted abundantly much similar to his career as an actor, rapper and entrepreneur were firmly planted in his hometown of Torrance, California. Even with proper foundation by his parents Dale & Younalanda Whitaker, Denzel says that he “tripped into the business”. He elaborates further by expaining the scenario that punched his ticket to the big screen.
As a child Denzel always wanted to be an artist, a cartoon artist that is. He was handed a pencil and paper and he never looked back. His passion to draw only grew more and more with the progession of his skill. Unexpectedly, around the age of 10, Whitakers mother, Younalanda Whitaker recieved a phone call from a casting agency voicing interest in her son attending an open acting audition. Referred by a relative of the family, the household settled in momentary shock.
Denzel then reveals, “…at the time we didn’t know who that relative was and later we found out that it was my cousin who just basically signed me up at a kiosk booth in the mall.”
With a mindset fixed on being an artist also shy and reserved, he took the opportunity to leave his comfort zone by going to that audition not knowing it initiated the begining of a new art he would soon learn to perfect.
Denzel spoke briefly about a tool that has led him toward his own journey of spirituality through the years. Brazilian author Paulo Coelho’s novel The Alchemist, echoes a consistent message of prophecy effectively pairing itself with will. Since reading this novel, Denzel can attest that his potential may be endless but it’s his persistent work ethic that sets him apart.
“The more and more I learn about my inner-person, my personal legend the more and more things start to make sense and that nothings a coincodence.”
Denzel continues to favor a more dignified approach in all aspects of his craft, “There’s nothing I’ve done in my lifetime thus far that has given me the same feeling that acting or directing or anything in the entertainment industry to fulfill me…purely God’s plan just putting me in motion.”
Going back in time he relfects on the many moments spent in Torrance, Carson and Palos Verdes, and pays tribute to those bonds he made that will forever carry him to achieve each and every goal he sets. From the day long outings at Del Amo Mall, up to the nights just out with peers by the beach.
“I could go into the city and hang with my acting friends and then come back and hang out with like my real friends, my hometown friends. Most of them I’ve known since elementary school so what I was doing was nothing new to them, it wasn’t exciting because I was still the same.”
No matter the distance, nor duration away from home he made it a critical purpose to never lose his connection with his stomping grounds.
Emerging on the scene at such a young age Whitaker made many TV appearances in shows like Nickelodeons All That, Disney Channels Dadnapped, Suite Life of Zack and Cody, ER, and The War At Home.
His most notable film pressence surfaced in 2007 in The Great Debaters. Based on a true story, the Wiley College debate team fought the uphill battle of equal rights during the 1930’s in the deep south of Texas. Denzel portrays the 14 year old James L. Farmer Jr. a member on the debate team who broke ground for African Americans by participating in the first interracial debate in the United States. Directed by and starring Denzel Washington, the movie would go on to win an Image Award for Most Outstanding Drama and Denzel Whitaker would recieve an Image Award for Supporting Actor in Motion Picture along side Jurnee Smollett, Nate Parker and Forrest Whittaker.
Denzel credits his mentor Denzel Washington for showing him the intracacies on honing the entertainment field. Denzel Whitaker reitterates “…he actually pushed me to get behind the camera and start producing, conveniently it’s something I always saw myself pursuing.”
Putting the words of advice in action, by 2012 Denzel’s production company Blackmouf was underway. Aimed toward youthful mainstream material and multimedia services through entertaining content viewed and shared globally.
“I just want to basically tell stories from an imaginative youth perspective, from just letting your mind roam free…stepping out, creating a form of escapsim.”
Beyond making films, Denzel plans to gravitate his brand toward both fashion and music industries as well. It’s a part of the reason he sees Blackmouf being celebrated on a much larger scale for more than just visuals on screen but an embodiment of many arts while still maintaning its echelon in the field.
Creating is a skill that he continues to exhibit for the world to see, the process of sharpening each one of his skills has been his favorite along side the promotion of his friends and their art.
“At the end of the day bro, I just want to see people win. I fight hard obviously to make sure I’m taken care of, but you know my gift and curse is that I have a big heart so sometimes I help a lot of people without helping myself.” , said Whitaker.
That same attitude has carried him along way in his promissing career.
After auditioning for what was an unknown character at the time, with the only knowledge being that Ryan Coogler was the director and the movie was Black Panther. Whitaker possesed the determination to showcase his ability to portray the image that was desired by the casting crews and the directors.
“…I made sure to say some heartfelt word on the tape and just let it all go…walking away from the audition, I don’t hear back for about a month maybe two months. I really just don’t hear back at all.”
Surely, soon enough Whitaker would receive some big news from his agent around Christmas time. Denzels agent disclosed that he held the news for some time so that he wouldn’t get too excited. Leaving a swaying impression on the directors, Whitaker had booked Black Panther and was headed for work in Atlanta, Georgia.
Filming with yet another star studded cast, Whitaker say’s not knowing all of the details and only the simple fact that it was a Marvel film and the superhero was black he was was all aboard.
Black Panther is Marvels first predominantly black cast, and bares no shortage in big names like, Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o, Michael B. Jordan, Sterling K. Brown, Angela Bassett, Forrest Whitaker and Daniel Kaluuya.
“I like to take a look when I’m surrounded by people like that and really observe how they carry themselves decorum wise, like how do they make sure they stay on task and locked into the character.”, Whitaker said.
Even with his own understanding of acting and what it takes, Whitaker still finds time to become a student and soak up helpful pointers while at work.
In the movie Whitaker plays young Zuri, a Wakandan spy sent to the U.S. by King T’Chaka on a mission to keep a watchful eye out for his self-exiled brother N’jobu who’s settled in Oakland, California. N’Jobu who betrays his nation by selling its most valuable resource known as Vibranium, into the hands of a dangerous and deceitful arms dealer, Ulysses Klaue. Young Zuri reveals himself as a spy upon the arrival of N’Jobu’s brother who is the Black Panther in past-time. N’Jobu’s heart lies with the poor and abused black people across the U.S. and believes that Wakanda can use its resources to help them overthrow the leaders that are in place. T’Chaka sees his brother as a problem and a traitor, and kills him before N’Jobu attempts to kill young Zuri out of anger of now knowing his true identity.
Fast forward present-time and T’Chaka’s son T’Challa is next in line as ruler and Black Panther after his fathers death. What we learn later is that N’Jobu left behind a son, Erik Killmonger played by Michael B. Jordan who vows to avenge his fathers death and carry out what his father started. Because Killmonger has an Wakandan bloodline, he is able to get into the hidden and technologically advanced nation to create the perfect nightmare fans anticipated in this remarkable film.
Denzel Whitakers character grows older in age and is later played by a familar face Forrest Whittaker, whom he worked side by side with in The Great Debaters. In present-time, Zuri dies by protecting his king like once before at the battle for the thrown between Killmonger and T’Challa.
On the back end of production the industry and fans haven’t seen anything like it before. The illustrious talent pool of actors and actresses alone would promote the film but the awarness and effort brought to the table about many social issues that black people face as whole is what sets this fim apart.
The realease of the movie sat in Black History month and obviosiously resonates with the black community, “…leaving the theater I was so proud, I’d never seen images like that.” Whitaker spoke about his first time seeing the movie and feeling moved by the powerful depiction of “black excellence”.
Strong culture, fearless women and unity are just the few elements that epitomize the representation intended for African Americans and society to sense.
Apart from commercialized publicity, social media took this film and ran with it at the light of its fruition. Leave it to “Black Twitter”, Whitaker knows without a doubt that social media apps like Twitter and Instagram are just ways that people can connect. In this case, millions of people shared their love for the projects idea and what it could do for the youth in the midst of racial turmoil today. Wether you were dressed in African garbs or filling the lines with a large group of friends, black people really “showed up and showed out” and wasted no time to let the world see it.
Likewise, black and brown kids around the world saying that they want to be kings and queens of Wakanda is powerful. Despite being a fictional place, the mindset is what nurtures the vision for much of the youth.
A celebration of many things, Director Ryan Coogler, marries the lifelike social indifferences symbolized today with uncanny dramatization on the big screens and it’s interpreted on all cylinders.
Whitaker uses his platform to speak and highlight issues that people typically avoid, because his persona is cherished individuals tend to be influenced by his message from all outlets he chooses to engage with.
Moving and growing rapidly the way Whitaker does, he relies on a set of rules or principles that govern his activity during his journey and depends on them heavily.
Rule #1 : “Understand the opportunity and understand what the distractions are.”
Rule #2: “It’s a marathon not a race…everyone has a season and if you stay down and keep your head focused you can have a season that will last longer.”
Rule #3 “Its not about assuming the outcome but reflecting on your past and truely thinking about how great something can be.”
If you’re wondering what you will see, hear or read about Denzel Whitaker in the near future you can expect that he won’t dissapoint. With two big movies debuting in 2019, a new artist he’s producing and more directed films. Whitaker plans to have a long and rewarding season.
The story of what was once a shy young boy dreaming of becoming a cartoon artist from Torrance, Palos Verdes California, is still being written.
