Lyriq Bent – In the Eyes of the Law

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

A) I just finished working on the show “Angela’s Eyes” and have the film Skinwalkers coming out in the Fall, but I am not sure of the release date on that yet. I have some other things in the woodwork.

Q) Please tell us about the show “Angela’s Eyes” and about your character Leo Jetson.

A) It’s about Angela’s family and the mother and father are both in prison for espionage (selling secret information about America to other countries). Her and her brother (mostly him) are trying to prove that their parents are innocent. Angela just feels they are guilty because of things she has seen. She’s joined the FBI because she is trying to stay away from her parents, but embrace them because this has been following her all her life. She’s got vital information locked away in her mind that she knows nothing about. Her parents are trying to send her codes and messages to release the information and to expose the government for what is really going on. Are they guilty? I don’t know. I guess you’ll just have to tune in to see. It’s about showing Angela’s ability to sense when someone is lying. She’s been around that all of her life and she can’t have a normal relationship because of that ability. My character is what some people would like to say a hard edge and a little bit broody. He’s a perfectionist at what he does and he’s misunderstoond. He’s passionate about being an FBI agent and he backs up his partner 100%, but he will question her abilities.

Q) Why did you want to be a part of the show?

A) Well, Michael Watkins was the director of the pilot. He spoke to me about the show and said that it was a good project. He felt it would be one that fit my acting style and what I liked as far as giving a performance. I read the script and he was correct on all counts. My concern was making sure the show is entertaining and that the pilot is well written. It was a bonus to find out that Tom Nunan was a part of it. Then I met Scott Shepherd and all of the other execs from the network. It’s been a great project to work on ever since.

Q) What is your most memorable moment from filming?

A) It’s been such an exciting time, thus far, shooting, but nothing has stuck out that makes me say it is the most memorable. I am looking forward to that moment.

Q) What is a typical day of filming like for you?

A) There is no typical day. The days are so hectic. One day you come in and shoot for twelve hours and the next day you can come in and shoot for eighteen hours. It’s because of the complexity of the story. I like that. I like the fact it is not routine and it doesn’t get boring. it doesn’t feel stagnant because you always have something going on each day in terms of what the characters are going through. It’s intense if you were really to look at what was consistent. The intensity is always there and I think it comes across in the final product. It’s a good intensity.

Q) How did you prepare for your role?

A) The first few episodes were challenging because I put a lot of trust in the producers, execs and writers. I put a lot of trust in them in guiding me and directing me in the direction they wanted for this character. Leo wasn’t supposed to be Leo. Leo is who he is now so we try to make him flush himself out on his own, based on what they wanted and what I could bring to the character and project. I think it is working, it works and it’s getting better. I come in as a blank slate, I kind of let the character open up and then guide it along the way.

Q) Why should viewers take the time to tune in to the show?

A) It is a great show. It’s well written and it’s fresh (from a sense that it is not the typical FBI agent or authority figure that you’re going to tune in to see). It’s young and edgy. It’s sensitive, it’s real and it’s a well rounded show. Everybody could relate to the story in a certain way because it deals with real topics. I think that’s what every show tries to do and I think this show has done it. People will enjoy it for that reason. There are so many other reasons, but that’s the main reason they’ll want to tune in to the show week after week. Also, they’ll want to get the final scoop on Angela’s family in prison or what the real scoop is. The story line is great and I think it’s going to be captivating.

Q) You’ve worked with Mark Wahlberg, Andre 3000, Jessica Alba and Antonio Banderas. Who would you most like to work with in the future?

A) I haven’t really thought about that. The one person that I’ve ever looked at, in terms of wanting to have a career like, was Ving Rhames. I’ve always been focused on what I was set out to do and I really try not to overlook that by seeing what others have accomplished because then I think I am off focused. I understand that someone else’s path may not be my path and what I want may not necessarily be good for me. So, I try to just set my goal and work towards it. Whatever life throws at me, I adjust at that and hopefully make it all work out. I respect actors, period, just for being in the business and what this business is all about, how it is and what it does to your ego. It can really break you down. I have a lot of respect for actors. Anybody who calls themselves an actor and shows up on the day ready to rock and roll, I enjoy working with. If it is a recognized named then I can say I worked with so-and-so and that they were great.

Q) You originally studied to be a graphic technician. Why did you change your mind and decide to become an actor?

A) I made a bet with a coworker at the time. I was really down and out and had put myself through school, but did not have a job because everyone was downsizing. I kind of did work that I never thought I would be doing like door to door sales and selling long distance services. I just got a lot of compliments from people who thought they had seen me on TV or would ask if I was a model. A lot of people said I should get into modeling or acting and I got that quite a bit. My coworker suggested it saying I should get into it. I kind of shrugged it off because it was just not something that I was all about. He made me a bet and I lost the bet. So, here I am! My ego, pride or whatever you want to call it was bruised when I went to an acting coach that my coworker suggested I go see. I thought it was ridiculous, seeing what you do in an acting class. They have you do really weird things and stupid things, but they do them to make you not feel stupid. The process was stupid to me. Seeing myself on camera for the first time, where people see me and not a mirror image, was very surreal. I thought, “Who is that knucklehead on camera?” You realize it’s yourself and I was really embarrassed and ashamed. I almost got into a fist fight with my coach. I just told myself that I will never be like that again and I’ll never be that bad boy again. it was probably the perfectionist in me. I never made mention to anyone that I was an actor because it wasn’t about me becoming an actor, it was about me being comfortable knowing that I could do something and not feel bad about it. Before I knew it, three or four years of my life went by. I thought, “What do I do now, now that I’ve opened my eyes and realized I’ve been focused for so long?” I made the step to get into the game and here I am.

Q) What do you do in your spare time?

A) I don’t even remember it’s been so long! I am always working. People say that I should get away from it so you can have a normal life, but that is my life. My life is what I do. I like to just relax, listen to music and think about the world that I would like to be in or the character that I would like to create. I am always thinking about my role and my position in the role. Every single day I am studying the craft. If I am reading a newspaper, if I see a headline and read a story, I find myself putting myself in that situation, finding an answer and how I would play that scene. It may be weird to a lot of people, but that’s how I relax and chill out. Also, my spare time is when I hang out with friends just being a total goofball.

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

A) For those who are out there, thank you very much. I hope I don’t let you all down. At the end of the day, I try to be true to who I am as an actor and to the character that I play. I feel if I do that then everything else will fall in place and the fans will appreciate it for what it is. They’ll appreciate that I am not taking them for granted. I believe I need to be true to what I do so that the audience can appreciate it at the end. I appreciate the fans for that. Thank you for helping me to keep it real. At the end of the day, if it ain’t real, then it ain’t real.