Tribeca Filmmaker Party with Lance Gross

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Last night, the Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) and Heineken hosted an awards ceremony at Stage 48 for the winner of the 2013 Heineken Affinity award, Ava DuVernay. The award’s purpose is “a new platform celebrating and creating awareness and dialogue around the work of ten emerging and established African American filmmakers.” DuVernay will receive a cash award of 20,000 and year round support from TFI on all her future projects. The other nine finalists for the award were: Andrew Dosunmu, Victoria Mahoney, Terence Nance, Cheryl Dunye, Akosua Adoma Owuso, Yvonne Welbon, Ross Williams, Nelson George, and Kahlil Joseph. All of them received a $1,000 cash award for being finalists. A huge party sponsored by Heineken followed the ceremony. Notables in attendance were Tyson Beckford and Lance Gross.

Check out our interview with actor Lance Gross:

Q: You recently worked on “Temptation” with Tyler Perry, how was that experience for you?

A: It was an awesome experience, we had such an awesome cast. Working with Jeremy
was amazing, the script was amazing, it was a great opportunity. I feel like the audience saw me in a
different light, then they normally see me.

Q: Did you work with Tyler directly at all or was there no communication?

A: Oh no me and Tyler have been working together since 07. I’ve been on “House of Pain” since then, I
did “Meet the Browns,” so this is my second movie with Tyler and then the shows. It’s like working for
family.

Q: Do you have any future plans with him?

A: I went to school for directing, so I’ve been watching him as far as the way that he directs, produces,
and writes. So maybe I’ll hit him up to ask him to direct a couple of episodes of one of his shows for
sure.

Q: Tribeca is obviously a huge film festival in New York and has a lot of history here, what originally
got you interested in it?

A: I support people who support African-American directors and filmmakers. I got the chance to
produce my first film called “The Last Film,” it was also an independent film. So I’m just all about
that, man, because I know how hard it is, when you’re starting out, to get your film off the ground. And
Heinekin awarding $20,000, that’s amazing to me. So I really appreciate things like that because I know
the grind, I know how hard it is.

Q: I read that you’re from Oakland, CA. Coming from the Bay Area, I feel like most people assume
actors come from New York City. What was your biggest inspiration in your hometown to make you
want to pursue acting?

A: Oakland is big on the parts. We got Berkeley, San Francisco, Oakland. I’m an artist myself
man, just coming from that background, I got to support it.

Q: Do you have any upcoming projects you’d like to put out there?

A: Yeah I just finished filming a pilot for NBC, it’s a working title but I think they’re going to call it
“List of Demands.” It’s produced by Rand Ravich, directed by Phil Noyce. It’s an action project ,so I’m
a playing a secret service agent. It’s fun, man, like I’m doing all my own stunts so I’m really excited
about it.

-Jagpal Khahera