Interview by Carol Wright | Photos Courtesy of Elijah Bell
We got to chat with up-and-coming actor Elijah Bell about his role in the film Safety. Plus, how he is staying creatively motivated during the pandemic.
Who are some of your acting inspirations?
Some of my greatest inspirations are artists such as Denzel Washington, Marlon Brando, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Julia Roberts. I admire the way they bring the characters they are playing to life. The realism they bring to cinema is outstanding.
How did it feel to book Safety on Disney+?
Ahh man, it was an amazing feeling to book Safety. Working with such a great cast was so surreal. I’ve always wanted to work on a Disney film, so it was sooo bizarre to book Safety and have it be a Disney film, and having one of the most talented directors to be a part of this film Reginald Hudlin.
How did you prepare for the role of Marcus?
My character’s name is Marcus and I am one of the best friends of Ray Mcelrathbey, who helps Ray secretly raise his younger brother on campus after his home life became too unsteady. Marcus is a very outgoing guy and brings the party to everybody. But he does have a soft spot for Fahmarr, and when it comes down to helping his best friend Ray out. He’s all down for it.
This is your first first role. What did you learn while working on Safety?
I learned a lot from working on Safety. I learned a lot more about not just being in front of the camera but also learned what’s going on behind the camera and how much effort the whole crew puts into making a great movie. It takes a whole empire to make a great film and I say that as far as, it doesn’t matter what position you have in the film. you can be number one on the call sheet to being an extra on set. Everybody is just as valuable as the next person.
During the pandemic the entertainment industry has gone through numerous changes. How have you been staying creatively motivated during this time?
I watch a lot of interviews, movies, documentaries and I’ve been reading a lot more plays… and really just staying sharp with my craft.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
Times are really tough right now for a lot of young creative artists. The best advice I would give a young artist is to just keep pushing forward no matter what, you can do whatever you set your mind to and don’t ever let somebody tell you, you can’t do it. You fall down seven times you get back up eight and you keep moving forward. Without commitment, you’ll never start, but more importantly, without consistency, you’ll never finish.