2014 was a game-changer for actor Jessie T. Usher. Early in the year, he had a supporting role as high school football player Tayshon Lanear opposite Jim Caviezel in the film “When the Game Stands Tall” and by October he was starring in the Starz-scripted, LeBron James executive-produced dramedy “Survivor’s Remorse.”
Usher plays Cam Calloway, a basketball phenom from Dorchester, Mass., who is suddenly thrust into the limelight when he signs a multimillion dollar contract with an NBA team based in Atlanta. Along with his cousin, confidant and mentor, Reggie Vaughn (RonReaco Lee), Calloway moves his mother Cassie (Tichina Arnold), his sister Mary Charles a.k.a. ‘M-Chuck’ (Erica Ash) and Uncle Julius (Mike Epps) out of the projects and into a hi-rise condo with him in Atlanta to begin their new life together.
But the transition from living in the projects to a life of new found wealth isn’t easy for Cam or his family. Season one finds Cam and Reggie having to confront the challenges of supporting his family, as well as contend with the notoriety and responsibility of being a high-profile athlete.
Jessie T. Usher, who is slated to star in “Independence Day 2”, spoke to the Banner about his role as Cam, the chemistry on set and what season two holds for the Calloway family.
What was it about the role of Cam that interested you?
JU: Actually, it was a few things. One, the character that they had already developed before anybody had started to audition for it was good. It was a solid character to play. A character like Cam is a good one to portray because you know there’ll always be a good message at the end of the day. It’s something you’ll be proud of, a character I would want to talk about. You don’t really want to do a role that you feel embarrassed about. Cam’s one of those guys that was going to be an all-around good experience for me. And of top of that, the team that they had behind the project is incredible — from the producers to the writers — everybody was good. So, I was like, ‘Okay, this is going to be a good one to work on.’ Actually, it wasn’t until after I got the role that I found out who some of the other producers were and I was like, ‘Oh, it’s even better than I thought’ so it made it that much more exciting.
The chemistry between the cast seems very real and genuine. Was it easy for everyone to come together on this new project?
JU: As far as chemistry, things were locking into place early on. We were all looking forward to working on this project. We knew it was going to be fun. Everybody had their guard down and we were able to just come together and trust each other. Guys like me and Erica [Ash] and Teyonah [Parris] were looking forward to working with Tichina [Arnold] and Mike Epps. We were all sort of feeling mutual energy and it just worked out that way that nobody was a diva or anything like that. We were all excited to work on the project. We were all open to suggestions and to helping each other.
Can you give us a hint of what season two has in store for Cam and his family?
JU: The second season takes place during an actual basketball season. So now, you’re not hearing so much about, ‘Oh, we’ve got this money, what are we going to do with it?’ It’s more so that Cam is just trying to stay focused. He’s worried about being a great basketball player. He’s made a name for himself and the pressure is really on. He has a lot more to deal with in terms of practices, interviews, press conferences, appearances, all that kind of stuff. He’s having to balance a lot more than what he had anticipated originally. He knew he was going to have to play basketball but now there’s a ton of other things about being a professional athlete that he completely forgot about. And the family as well; everybody has kind of figured out who they are and where they fit. But now, it’s like okay, ‘So what happens when we’re away from each other because we’re not always together?’ We’re a very tight family and sure, we all live in close proximity, but Cam goes off to play his game or he goes off to practice. What do they do? That’s a question we definitely answer this season.
I read that you’re starring in “Independence Day 2” next year. You must be so excited. It’s such an iconic movie.
JU: Excited isn’t even the word. I’m extremely humbled by it. I’ve been welcomed into this huge machine that’s already going — and it’s been going for 20 years — and now they want to do a part two, and I’m just lucky to be a part of it.
