Ernie Hudson – Molding Minds

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

A) Right now, I’ve been working on the film Snoop Dogg’s Hood of Horror. It’s a horror science fiction film. It was a lot of fun working with an actor by the name of Anson Mount. It was just a real good group of people. It was fun to do. It just played at the L.A. Film Festival and it just got a release date for it. I also recently finished a film calledNobel Son with Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman and Mary Steenburgen. I am not sure when that will be out. I pretty much stay busy. In fact, I also did an independent movie called I Am Burger, as well as the movie Halfway Decent that played at the Calabasas and Sante Fe Film Festivals. I don’t know if the industry has changed or I’ve sort of changed. Time does that, but you just stay busy doing the things you like to do. Another project I did not that long ago with a big cast was called Sledge. Angelina Jolie is in it and so are Hugo Weaving and Carrie-Anne Moss. Eric Roberts is in it, as well. I am not sure when that will be released, either, but I read some place where it might come out soon. That was a fun movie to work on, too. It’s been fun. I did some work on “ER” during sweeps week playing an Army colonel. I kind of hang loose and go where my heart tells me.

Q) Please tell us about your role as Principal Turner in the film The Ron Clark Story.

A) He’s the principal of the school and he’s seen some very hard beginnings. He worked his way up, but still feels a lot of things passed him by. I think a lot of people can relate.

Q) What made you want to be a part of this project?

A) First, I read the script and before I made a decision to do it I picked up some Ron Clark books, which he’s written a number of. I really liked what he had to say and I also appreciate the contributions that he’s made for education. He’s gone into some really rough schools and taken some kids that, basically, society has given up on and really turned their lives around. I was really impressed with that so I thought it was a story that really needed to be told. We hear so much of the negative and rarely hear something about someone doing anything about it.  I really wanted to be a part of the story, but when I read the script I thought the principal was a little bit hardnosed. He didn’t seem to have an arch in his character. Later on, I found out from the real Ron Clark that the original principal was a woman and she didn’t have much of an arch. I found out that she was pretty intense. I felt it was important in telling the story that the principal also be struggling with some issues and he does. He is facing a divorce, going through his own changes, trying to run the school and he still wants to be politically ambitious. On the other hand, he’s gotten older so a lot of opportunities have passed him by. He’s not stuck in the school, but at the same time he is. There are still things he wants to do and the opportunities seem to be fading. He is disappointed and fading, as well. He’s trying (at least in his own mind) to do a good job, but it’s very frustrating without a lot of help from the staff and other people. I think the Ron Clark character comes in and reminds him of why he started doing this work in the first place. It wasn’t to become governor. It was to try and reach some of these kids. I think during the course of the film we see this character remember who he is and I think that’s an important aspect to it. I also was very happy that the story was dealing with inner city kids, especially black kids. To me, it was important that one of the roles that was at least positive was a black man. Sometimes it doesn’t seem to happen and so I was really glad to do the part and really liked the character.

Q) What was your most memorable moment from filming?

A) When I got to Canada, for whatever reason, from the time the plane landed (almost) my back went out. I think I bought some new jeans and the sales girl who sold them to me told me that they really looked cool, even though they weren’t the kind of jeans I wear. They were kind of low-cut, but the pocket was sort of underneath so I think I sat on my wallet on the plane going up there. It just threw my back out and the whole time I was doing the movie I was in intense pain. It’s never happened to me on a film before, but the show must go on! While I was there I was going to all of these chiropractors, acupuncturists and hypnotists to try and make my back feel better. In time, I really feel that it was appropriate to the character. I think he is in a bit of pain. Oddly enough, when I finished the film and came back home, I haven’t had back problems since. Something had to be going on, but I met some great people while I was trying to figure it out. That was the most painful, but I was pleasantly surprised. Also, Matthew [Perry] was a lot of fun to work with and he joked around a bit on the set. I really enjoyed him, his process, how he worked with the kids,  how he kind of got their confidence and got them to want to play with him. I think that’s what the real Ron Clark does. It was an amazing experience.

Q) Why should viewers take the time to tune in to The Ron Clark Story?

A) It’s entertaining and, certainly, very moving. The issues that we are dealing with now are our schools are in trouble and teachers are doing the best that they can. On the other hand, we have dumped so much money in our education system and, yet, we don’t seem to be getting results. Then, you see somebody like a Ron Clark come along, it makes all of the difference! I think this is something that is effecting all of us and people really should watch. I know they will like it. Also, it says something about the spirit of us, as a society. It’s about kids and about if given the opportunity what they can accomplish. It’s a very inspiring and fun story. Matthew Perry is very funny. It’s the kind of movie I’d like to watch. I think there is something really for everyone, especially for family.

Q) You attend a lot of conventions, what makes attending them so appealing?

A) I think it’s a great way to talk one-on-one with fans. Out here in Hollywood, we make movies. We take on these characters that reflect the average guy on the street, but we lose contact after a certain point. We don’t really deal with the average guy on the street. It’s important for me to get out, talk to people, shake hands and hear their stories. I get to go to places that I would normally not go to like Knoxville, Tennessee or St. Louis, Missouri. It’s good to get out of this place and meet people. It’s good to know that the stuff we’re doing people are watching and are touched by it. I am always surprised to find fans in strange places. Recently, a fan came up to me and was discussing a film I did thirty years ago. So, your stuff does go out there and it goes around the world to different countries. It’s nice to hear what the fans actually have to say. If you stay with them long enough, they’ll really tell you how they feel, which is always interesting. But, I enjoy it. I enjoy it because it gives me the chance to meet people.

Q) What has been the highlight of your long lasting career?

A) I don’t know. I’ve been very fortunate and very blessed after all this time to still be doing what I am doing. Ghostbusters was over twenty years ago! I have always made a living as an actor. I don’ t know if there is any specific highlight. Every day is a lot of fun! I love what I do and I am never confused that it is just a job. A lot of the hype that is given to entertainment and entertainers and it really doesn’t mean a whole lot. It’s what I do and if I didn’t do this, I’d probably have a job working nine to five. I never worked nine to five, but I know that it is really just a job.

Q) What made you want to become an actor?

A) I really wanted the nine to five. I wanted to fit in. I saw myself as the average guy next door. The truth is, I had several jobs and I was very bad at them. Acting was something that I did while I was in college. I took some acting classes and I really enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun, unlike the job that I kept trying to make work. When I was a kid, I did church plays and a couple of plays in high school. I thought, “I like doing this and I can’t seem to fit anywhere else doing something else.” While the risks were high and everyone was quick to tell me the difficulties of being an actor, I thought at least I’d be doing what I enjoying what I do. There is a writer named Joseph Campbell that talks about following your bliss, going for those things that really make you happy and somehow they will work their way out. So, I made the commitment to be an actor (If I was going to be an actor, I would try to be the best that I could be. I wasn’t going to really be in competition with anyone, but just to know that I did my best on everything that I do.). I think it was really just accepting what I really love to do. I knew that as long as I was be able to do it, I wouldn’t have days where I would wake up thinking, “My life sucks.”  I had days when I’ve done that, but I am having a wonderful life. I think it has a lot to do with the fact I chose to do something that I really love.

Q) What do you do in your spare time?

A) I have started studying a book called A Course In Miracles. I suppose I am really not that religious, but I do consider myself to be very spiritual. It’s an amazing book and I’ve been sort of studying it. I like studying, reading, motivational things and spiritual things. I am trying to make sense out of this level or plane that we’re working on. When I am not working, I go to seminars. I find that fun, as well. There are times when I go to schools and other places to give speeches. I try to go out and meet people and see what they have to say. I want to find another way of looking. I find when things start to feel difficult, it has a lot to do with how I look at it. I find that if I just apply myself a little bit and really listen, I realize that there is another way to look at it and that maybe I’ve just been perceiving it in the wrong way. I’ve also started to get back into my singing and taking lessons. I have started to learn how to play the piano and I also write. I am a big believer in the things that you want to do that will bring you joy and fun, that is what you should do.

Q) What would you like to say to all of your fans and supporters?

A) I want to tell them the same things I say to myself, “Follow your bliss.” Find out what makes you happy and do that. Don’t let anyone else take your happiness away. Of course, no one can really take your happiness away from you, but you can believe that they can. So, don’t believe that anyone can take your happiness away. If you’re in a situation and it’s not feeling good, then think about what does make you feel good. Think on those things. Be happy and make up your mind that you’re going to be happy.