Exclusive: Courtney B. Vance, Tosin Cole talk AMC’s ‘61st Street’
Premiering this week from AMC Networks is 61st Street, the propulsive thriller starring Emmy-winner Courtney B. Vance. The two-season event from BAFTA-winner Peter Moffat, J. David Shanks and Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society debuts Sunday, April 10 at 10pm ET/PT on AMC, with the first two episodes streaming on AMC+ and ALLBLK. New episodes of the eight-episode first season will rollout weekly, on Sundays, and will be available one week early on AMC+ and ALLBLK.
61st Street courses through the dark heart of the infamous Chicago criminal justice system as police and prosecutors investigate a deadly drug bust that threatens to unravel the police department’s code of silence.
Cole’s Moses is a kid from Chicago’s South Side. Athletic, smart, savvy, funny and a seriously gifted runner, his future is mapped out. He’s 24 hours away from leaving home to take up an athletic scholarship at a college in New Hampshire, which is when he has an encounter with the Chicago Police Department that ends in the death of a white officer and Moses’ arrest for his killing.
Vance, a two-time Emmy and Tony Award-winner, was last seen in HBO’s Lovecraft Country and in addition starred in Nat Geo’s Genius: Aretha as Aretha Franklin’s father.
Cole’s previous feature credits include Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Burning Sands. He will next be seen in Debbie Tucker Green’s feature, Ear for Eye, and the remake of House Party.
Blackfilmandtv.com caught up with Vance and Cole as they spoke about their decisions on taking on this project.
Vance leads an ensemble cast that includes Emmy-nominee Aunjanue Ellis, Mark O’Brien, Holt McCallany, Tosin Cole, Andrene Ward-Hammond and Bentley Green.
Courtney, what led you to take on this project?
Courtney B. Vance: The role is about a man whose whole life is turned upside down, and that’s very interesting. My only question to the show runner Peter Moffat and J. David Shanks was, “Are you willing to support all of us on this huge journey?” Their answer was yes, so I jumped right in.
What about you Tosin? Some people know you from other small roles you’ve had, with this being a big step for you, why did you say yes?
Tosin Cole: The character was very compelling with so many layers. I was interested to see where he went, and was he able to beat the impossible or is it possible to beat the impossible. Or did the fact remain that it is what it is. To go through that journey, and to experience it was intriguing to me. While alongside Coutney and the entire cast including Peter Moffat. I'm a fan of Peter and it was exciting to me. I was excited to have a team who wanted to support, collaborate and get to the real essence of what the show was about. I was excited to devote my time.
Courtney, you're playing a lawyer. No spoilers given, but there is a lot going on with your character. What did you do to get into character?
Courtney B. Vance: I always feel like I'm bigger than any character I play, because I'm actually living and breathing. Also, I just want to find out who the character is based on who they are and what their journey was, in order for me to jump right in. Some characters are easier than other. This character journey wasn't a sermon or real person we all knew. So, I didn't have to deal with that. Making it easy to jump right in. We have 20 days to do two episodes, that's 10 days a piece. So, you have to cast well. That's why they casted me. I was able to jump in and be that character. My life experience that I’ve had and Tosin’s life experience mixed with that characters reality. The beauty is how all of us immediately became family. That's the beauty and challenge of what we do. We have to become family now, not tomorrow and not after we rehearsed for four weeks, but now. And the directors have to direct now and the writers have to write now. So you cast the best actors you can, and everybody has to jump in. So there is not time for research or touch sounds. There is no time to cast the best actors and everyone knows the deal.
Tosin, your character is a track star. Did you have to learn how to run like an athlete?
Tosin Cole: I wouldn't say I’m an athlete, but yes I’ve played sports. I did learn to run by learning the proper form and how to get off the marks. Additionally, I did a bit of training in London, and learned from an Olympic runner. However, getting into the mindset was interesting. I had to learn how runners think, and what that process looked like. When you do something repeatedly it starts to trickle throughout your life in general. So those experiences and conversations helped me get into the character of Moses.
Courtney you're working opposite of Aunjanue, who's having a good run of roles lately. We had the pleasure of seeing what she's done on TV and film. How was working with her again?
Courtney B. Vance: I love her! I fought for her to be in this project, because we have a wonderful dynamic and chemistry. I want to work with people that get it, that can move quickly, that can ask the right questions and not be afraid of the moment. Because this is what we do. We don't have a lot of time. So, you have to have someone with a core. Someone that’s not afraid to get into wherever we need to get into. Because, there is no telling once we get into the core of the scene; it's like wow I didn’t know the scene was all that! She’s fearless, as is Tosin, Andrene, Bently. Everyone they casted is fearless and we have to be. Performers are the most courageous people I know, because we have to jump into the unknown and still be okay.