Brian White – Bronx SIU

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) Currently filming Season Six of Showtime’s “Ray Donovan,” producing a TV Series called “Black & Privileged” in Chicago and out shopping my co-Directorial debut feature film, a dramatic thriller called Dear Frank. Aside from entertainment endeavors, my wife and daughter have launched a family hair care brand for curly hair called CURL CULTURE and fashion brand called BLACK (Become Lucid About Cultural Knowledge), which makes shoes, shirts, hoodies and hats and is aimed at uniting the world’s entire ‘black’ population; and even launching our own beer brand (imported from Argentina) called 10 SAMROCKS BREWING CO after my late father and Boston Celtics #10, Jo Jo White.

Q) Please tell us the premise for the new series “Bronx SIU” and about your character.

A) It’s “The Wire” meets “The Sopranos.”  My character Detective Jimmy Blue is Tony Soprano and Stringer Bell in the same person.

Q) What made you want to be a part of the show?

A) I had worked with Creator, Dan Garcia on the film No Regrets and had a wonderful experience with him and already knew how talented he and his production team were.

Q) Was there anything you added to the role that wasn’t initially described to you?

A) Dan and co-Creator, Mike Mayhall had “Jimmy Blue” very well crafted and fleshed out before the project ever came to me.  My job simply became about listening to them and not being afraid to ask questions if I didn’t understand anything or any of his motivations and they always had a logical and surprisingly simple answer for me. Both were extremely prepared.

Q) What have you found challenging about your portrayal of Jimmy?

A) When your directors are as prepared as Dan and Mike, the biggest challenge is delivering for them and helping the project reach its full potential.  That’s the best situation any actor can ever ask for.

Q) What physical regimen did you have to do to prepare for this role?

A) When I’m filming I pretty much have the same meal and gym routine all the time.  Every other day at the gym and smaller meals eating perhaps every four hours to keep my metabolism burning fast and my mind and body ready to produce.

Q) Who were some of your costars you were looking forward to working with?

A) I’ve always been a huge fan of Miguel Nunez and it was a great experience working together.  And even though we don’t share any scenes in Season One together, Denise Boutte played my wife in a previous project and is one of my favorite actresses around.

Q) What were some of your most memorable moments from filming this first season of “Bronx SIU?”

A) Filming in New York added so much.  Each location was bigger and better than the last.  However, this was not done with Network TV money, so the fun part was working as a team to figure out how to use these wonderful locations and out very limited time to get the best results possible and tell as much of the story as we could, with less resources than might have been ideal.  Our production family always rose to the occasion and became a real team or “unit,” as they say in the police business. In the end we everyone involved was left with fond memories, positive work relationships and new friendships that will last a lifetime.

Q) What do you think it is about Amazon Prime & UMC that makes this show a good fit?

A) Amazon and UMC both service an extremely diverse, worldwide customer base.  “Bronx SIU” sports a diverse cast, with storylines that embrace and explores how this cultural, racial, religious and social diversity often leads to extreme clashes and or confrontations in the real world – and examines the lives of those charged with cleaning up the mess.

Q) You often take on dramatic roles. What is it about this genre that really draws you to it?

A) I try to play the spectrum and enjoy diversity in roles.  What I liked about Jimmy was he is flawed and dark, but also has a big sense of humor and is allowed to express that truth at times.

Q) You had an incredible arc on “Ray Donovan” last season. What did you personally take away from working on the show?

A) We were just getting warmed up in Season Five.  If you liked “Jay White” last year, I am fairly confident you will love him this year. Creator David Hollander allowed me to participate a bit more in their creative process and my take away was similar to what it was with Dan and Mike – when you are working with The Best all you need to do is focus on YOUR job and that is when a real team elevates the individuals who are part of it to that next level.  It was a real honor to be a part of Season Six and I can’t wait for people to see it starting October 28th on Showtime.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is and supporter of you and your work?

A) Thank you so much for all your support and please stay tuned for more!