Derrex Brady – Johnson

By starrymag | August 7, 2022

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) Please tell us what is new this season on “Johnson.”

 

A) Season 2 of “Johnson” I would say in one word is “complexity.” None of the characters are stagnate. We all have elements of ourselves through our experiences of Season 1 that are causing us to learn, evolve and implement choices that will impact our brotherhood amongst the four guys as well as our individual romantic relationships and business endeavors. The layers and complexities of all four: Jarvis, Keith (Philip Smithey), Greg (Deji LaRay) and Omar (Thomas Q. Jones) are present, and how they navigate forward will determine their relationships with everyone for the future.

 

Q) How was your character Jarvis Johnson originally described to you?

 

A) Jarvis was described as an entrepreneur and owner of his own mortgage brokerage company. He’s a married man in an interracial relationship of five years to his wife Lisa Johnson (Jessica Luza), who is white, and they met when they both attended and graduated from Yale. He is one who always wants to keep the peace, which means he often bites his tongue and doesn’t always says what’s on his mind.

 

Q) What have you added to Jarvis that wasn’t there for him initially?

 

A) After Jarvis experienced a police brutality incident when he was pulled over while his wife was driving, he has begun to see the world a little differently. I love playing this evolved Jarvis because in Season 1 Jarvis did whatever was needed to protect his relationships – whether it was dealing with micro aggressions with other work associates or going against his instincts and taking jobs his wife thought would benefit the family. He also took jabs from his brothers to maintain unity, especially from Greg. In Season 2, after his experience with the police, business deals that went against his instincts and have gone bad; Jarvis has become more vocal with everyone around him. In Season 2 if Jarvis sees or feels something and he is now committed to saying something. Jarvis is no longer disrupting his own peace in order to keep peace with others.

 

Q) Coming into Season 2 who were you looking forward to sharing more scenes with?

 

A) I love when all of the four guys have scenes together. There is something magical that happens when we all get together. We are all so close on and off screen.  Most of the time we know what each other are thinking even before we say it or even improv it, which shows the depth of our chemistry. I also would like more scenes with D.L.[Hughley] and Cedric The Entertainer. Those two are legends and anytime you can live out amazing scenes with legends, it’s really special.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. What kind of fan response have you already been receiving to this new season?

 

A) The fan response for Season 2 has been amazing. All four of us are constant on our social media with posting trailers for the upcoming episodes, as well as posting questions. Seeing the social media response has been exciting. I think right now, especially with regard to relationships, there is a significant divide amongst men and women. Are there gender roles? Should there be gender roles and, if so, why should we subscribe to them? Both men and women’s perspective are valid and extremely important, and I believe our show is actively playing a role in giving food for thought that can possibly help close the gap a little more between men and women. The comments on our social media pages confirms that, as well as the social media pages for Bounce TV and specifically @JohnsonBounce page on IG.

 

Q) Fans are hoping that Jarvis and Danmi will work together again. Should they be holding out hope?

 

A) That is a very real “want” we continue to see in the comments as Season 2 plays out. In Season 1 Danni (Chloe James) ends up moving on from her intern position at Jarvis’ mortgage company as his assistant. Danni choses to get more involved in nonprofits and protesting the current environment when it comes to the community and police. In Season 2 we see Jarvis is suing the police department due to the police brutality he experienced at the end of Season 1. Danni has galvanized an active group of people to support him. So, we’re going to see if they begin working together to turn up the volume for justice and to have a positive impact on the community. Will Danni resume working for Jarvis’ company? That, of course, will have an impact with Jarvis’ wife, Lisa. So, there are some complexities with both those relationships going forward that are a possibility. Season 2 may have some answers.

 

Q) What can you tease were some of your favorite episodes or scenes to film from this season of “Johnson?”

 

A) I really enjoyed filming a poolhall scene with my three brothers: Deji LaRay, Thomas Q. Jones and Philip Smithey. It was a really fun scene and, like I said, Jarvis is living life more out of his shell in Season 2 as compared to how he was more stoic in Season 1. So, finding humor and laughing with my guys has been really fun. There are a few really creatively fulfilling scenes in upcoming episodes that I’m not able to share now, but were really well written by Deji LaRay, who is the creator of the show, as well as Showrunner, along with his producing partner and our other Showrunner Thomas Q. Jones. I enjoyed diving into the emotional state of Jarvis as he navigates through new territory as the man he is continuing to evolve into with regards to his marriage, his pursuit of justice with the police and his business. The audience will see some Jarvis’ growth as he deals with life in Season 2.

Q) What do you think it is about this series that has made it such a fan favorite?

 

A) I think for such a long time on TV we have seen the same collective stereotypes. I believe “Johnson” is bringing a balance in how Black Men truly live life. I believe fans of the show appreciate seeing, for the majority, how the everyday Black Man truly lives life. Black Men who are entrepreneurs, tech app developers, photographers, college graduates, etc… Black Men who do desire and want healthy, committed relationships and are focused on building a legacy that lives beyond themselves. I often say if women really want to know what men are thinking, watch our show. We are living out our authentic lives and it starts with the creator of the show, the writing, the music score of the episodes and the acting. I’m so grateful to Cheryle Harrison (President of Bounce TV), David Hudson (President of Programming for Bounce TV), Cedric The Entertainer and Eric Rhome (Executive Producers of Bird and A Bear Ent.), Reesha Archibald (Producer of Bird and A Bear Ent.) and, of course, Deji LaRay and Thomas Q. Jones (Showrunners and Producers of Midnight Train Prods.). It is through this team and more that we have the space to tell and act out our authentic selves on screen.

 

Q) What have the other recent projects that you have been busy working on?

 

A) Aside from “Johnson” I also have a few upcoming acting projects. I’ll talk about those more as they are released. One of the projects I’ve been working hard on, moving forward with my producing partner M.D. Walton through our banner Skyscope Pictures, has been working on a feature film that is set in the world of mixed martial arts. It tells the tale of a deaf African American man who gets back into the ring to overcome poverty and gain a chance to reunite with his three-year-old son who is spiraling in foster care. Aretha Helmer Hemingway is set to direct and produce the movie with Simon Mirren. I will produce under our Skyscope Pictures banner, along with my producing partner Walton who also serves as writer. I’m really excited to tell this story. Michael Anthony Spady (The Hammer) is deaf and stars as one of the leads. More pieces continue to come together and I’m looking forward to announcements being released toward the end of the year.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of you and the work you do?

 

A) I would like to give my sincere thanks. There have been so many people, fans, friends and family who have supported me on my journey as an artist. As I continue to navigate in the Film and TV industry, I have ventured into multiple areas – starting as an actor and moving into arenas as a producer and writer. The support I have and continue to receive has truly been special. Thank you to everyone for continuing to support and encourage me and viewing my artistic expressions. To my wife, Kelly Brady, and my sons’ Jared Kray, Julian and Logan Brady, your belief in me continues to inspire me. I love you and thank you for the fuel to continue my dreams. Lastly, to my mother Julie Ann Lee who has since passed but forever lives within me, I love you and thank you for all of the double feature movies you took me to as a kid and all of the TV shows we watched together that gave me a vision of what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

 

 

Find Derrex Brady on social media: @derrexbrady