• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • NEWS+OPINIONS
    • NEWS TO US
    • COLUMNS
      • APPARENT HORIZON
      • DEAR READER
      • Close
    • LONGFORM FEATURES
    • OPINIONS
    • EDITORIAL
    • Close
  • ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
    • FILM
    • MUSIC
    • COMEDY
    • PERFORMING ARTS
    • VISUAL ARTS
    • Close
  • DINING+DRINKING
    • EATS
    • SIPS
    • BOSTON BETTER BEER BUREAU
    • Close
  • LIFESTYLE
    • CANNABIS
      • TALKING JOINTS MEMO
      • Close
    • WELLNESS
    • GTFO
    • Close
  • STUFF TO DO
  • TICKETS
  • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT
    • MASTHEAD
    • ADVERTISE
    • Close

Dig Bos

The Dig - Greater Boston's Alternative News Source

DOPE INTERVIEW: “DOPE” STAR SHAMEIK MOORE ON SUDDEN STARDOM AND THE SWAG GAME AT SUNDANCE

Written by JAKE MULLIGAN Posted June 19, 2015 Filed Under: A+E, Film

FM_Dope_728

 

Actors need confidence. But Shameik Moore—who plays his first lead role in Dope, a Superbad-by-way-of-black-culture teen comedy opening this weekend—has more than that. Speaking to us months after a successful premiere at Sundance, he’s downright cocky.

 

“The way I think is: When I get the chance, it’s going to be the biggest movie out there. So did I expect this response? Yes, I did. I’m thankful for it—but I did expect it.”

 

Moore, who played tiny parts in a few movies and had been uploading his own rap videos to Youtube, was living in Atlanta when he got the call for Dope. Less than a week later, he was out West watching movies with his co-stars (“[A$AP] Rocky showed me Boyz n the Hood, Menace 2 Society, Superfly.”)

 

Then he was cutting the soundtrack—his character’s an old-school rap nerd fronting an indie band—with Pharrell. When we asked if he was concerned he’d been seen as an actor-first, musician-second, he (no hesitation) compared himself to Drake. Then he told us his master plan.

 

“It doesn’t matter if you see me as an actor first, because I can sing, and I can make great music. Period. If I put my heart and soul into what I’m doing, then you’re going to receive it the way I want you to receive it. I’m recording an album while I’m shooting The Get Down [a Netflix series directed by Baz Luhrmann.] Then I’ll hit you guys with the tour. Then I’ll blow up.”

 

Once he finishes all that world-conquering, Moore plans to work on his own films projects. (“I’m writing ideas. I’m a creative being; I want to do it all. If I see a director be great, then I want to be a great director.”) But he also concedes that this is all new to him. He’s still getting staggered by the attention, the workload, and all the mess that comes with it.

 

“The swag game at Sundance is strong, man. It’s movie-star stuff, and it’s the first time its happened to me. I’m still Shameik, you know, but life is changing before my eyes. I’m smiling all the time.”

 

DOPE. NOW PLAYING NATIONWIDE. YOUAREDOPE.COM 

JAKE MULLIGAN
+ posts
  • JAKE MULLIGAN
    https://digboston.com/author/jake-mulligan/
    INTERVIEW: FREDERICK WISEMAN

Filed Under: A+E, Film Tagged With: baz luhrmann, boyz in the hood, dope, Drake, menace 2 society, Netflix, p. diddy, pharrell williams, Shameik Moore, Soundtrack, sundance, superfly, the get down

WHAT’S NEW

State Wire: Advocates Push For 'Tax Fairness' With Expanded Child Tax Credits

State Wire: Advocates Push For ‘Tax Fairness’ With Expanded Child Tax Credits

Mass Lawmakers Hear Testimony On Cannabis Testing, Medical Access

Mass Lawmakers Hear Testimony On Cannabis Testing, Medical Access

Massachusetts Bill, Victim Advocates Call For Coordinated Date-Rape Drug Response

Massachusetts Bill, Victim Advocates Call For Coordinated Date-Rape Drug Response

Report: Fewer Youth Transition Out Of Massachusetts Foster Care System

Report: Fewer Youth Transition Out Of Massachusetts Foster Care System

State Wire: Activists Urge Congress To Raise Debt Ceiling, Resist Spending Cuts

State Wire: Activists Urge Congress To Raise Debt Ceiling, Resist Spending Cuts

Dancing On Banana Peels: Life On Lifetime Parole In Massachusetts

Dancing On Banana Peels: Life On Lifetime Parole In Massachusetts

Primary Sidebar

AAN Wire


Footer

Social Buttons

DigBoston facebook DigBoston Twitter DigBoston Instagram

Masthead

About

Advertise

Customer Service

About Us

DigBoston is a one-stop nexus for everything worth doing or knowing in the Boston area. It's an alt-weekly, it's a website, it's an email blast, it's a twitter account, it's that cool party that you were at last night ... hey, you're reading it, so it's gotta be good. For advertising inquiries: sales@digboston.com To reach editorial (and for inquiries about internship opportunities): editorial@digboston.com