Dewayne Perkins continues to make his mark on Hollywood.
A jack of all trades, Perkins is a comic, actor, author, and producer with a formidable and numerous resume that’s solely getting longer.
Recent off the success of The Blackening, one of many freshest and most profitable horror-comedy movies of the final decade, which Perkins co-wrote and starred in, the rising star is buying and selling within the massive display for an Apple TV+ manufacturing stuffed to the brim with Hollywood royalty.
The brand new sequence, headlined by Seth Rogen, is a comedy set in Hollywood at a serious studio.
Perkins stars alongside Rogen and lots of others to carry the story to life, and it’s a extremely related story, given the forever-changing nature of the enterprise.
We hopped on a name with the hilarious and interesting Perkins, and in a wide-ranging dialog, we touched upon a number of issues, together with The Studio and a lot extra.
Get pleasure from, TV Fanatics!
Let’s begin by speaking about The Studio, which could be very hotly anticipated, popping out on the finish of March. What drew you to that undertaking? What in regards to the undertaking did you’re feeling you wished to be part of?
Firstly, I feel that Seth Rogen is a unbelievable artist. He’s one in every of my favourite comedians, actors, and writers. He’s sort of been a blueprint that I’ve been following for my profession as a result of he does plenty of issues that I want to do.
So, that was primarily the most important draw, and I’ve labored with him beforehand. I used to be a author and did some voices on Sausage Occasion on Amazon, and the expertise working with him was simply actually nice, and I really like me a pleasant man.
And so I wished to proceed working inside that camp. I simply actually love comedy. I’ve a deep, pure love for issues which can be actually humorous, and it was actually humorous. So, a mixture of good folks and nice materials was a profitable combo.
What are you able to share with us, if something in any respect, about your character and who they are going to be within the sequence?
Sure, my character’s title is Tyler. He’s the top of publicity inside the studio that the present relies on. And he’s, I’d say, a personality who simply has a job and desires to maintain it.
That’s relatable, proper?
Yeah, particularly inside these occasions. So yeah, there was rather a lot, it felt very near myself. I perceive being in areas the place you’re like, “Yeah, I’m simply making an attempt to maintain my job. That’s it.”
No, I get that. Once I noticed the trailer and browse up on the sequence, my first thought was, “What a well timed and related undertaking for proper now!”
Agree.
Are you able to converse to that? Why do you assume now could be a time for a sequence like this?
Completely. On this specific time, the dialog round artwork and commerce is one which could be very related.
And having that dialog across the expectation of that relationship, what that relationship seems to be like, and the execution of making an attempt to exist in that relationship, I feel, is one thing that lots of people can discover relevance in and feels common, simply with current in a capitalistic society.
And because it continues to get extra capitalistic, seeing how that impacts artwork and the folks which can be making an attempt to make it.
Yeah, for certain. And I do know you simply spoke about the way you’ve labored with Seth previously, however the solid is a who’s who of Hollywood heavyweights. What was that filming expertise like?
To be fairly frank, fairly gag-worthy. I simply saved being like, “Wow.” And I typically joke about it, identical to, “Wow, legend, legend, legend. After which me.” So it was very, very cool. I’m very grateful to have been in a position to expertise working with folks I’ve regarded as much as for a very long time.
And to have that have be so nice, to have a present that’s about massive enterprise, and a number of the dangerous elements, and dealing with individuals who have been exhibiting me in real-time, a number of the good elements was such a cool expertise.
I’m very grateful to have performed that and for them to have stayed so grounded and funky. I’m simply obsessive about all of them.
I really like that. In addition to laughter, as a result of I do know will probably be humorous, what do you hope audiences take away from the sequence after they’re watching?
I feel there’s one thing very lovely and suave about seeing folks pursuing their goals, a number of the limitations they face, and what they do to push by way of that could be a very common journey. And so I hope whereas they’re laughing, they’re additionally gleaning the human facet of it.
And that’s one thing lovely: that mixture of humor and actual grounded feelings.
I wished to speak about your comedy background. Is that one thing you at all times knew you wished to do? Have been you want, once you have been youthful, “I wish to be a comic.” Is that one thing you at all times felt such as you had in you?
Probably not. I’m a really go-with-the-flow sort of particular person. Once I was youthful, that was very a lot the vibe as properly, the place I used to be very open to something that stimulated me in any method that made me wish to proceed doing it.
So, in highschool, I began off as a soccer participant. I used to be taking part in soccer, was a jock, after which I stop that as a result of I used to be like, “That is so aggressive,” to affix my faculty’s dance crew then.
As a result of I used to be like, “Properly,” I began taking ballet as a result of I used to be advised that may make me higher at soccer. And I stated, “Properly, that is simply extra enjoyable.”
From dance, I then discovered improv and sketch, took the director of my highschool’s improv schedule, and likewise the director of the musical. So then I began doing musicals. After which that began me with performing basically. In faculty, I used to be in an appearing conservatory, which was very dramatic.
And I used to be like, “Oh, I come from a comedy background.” So I began working at Second Metropolis, the place I solely began taking lessons as a result of one in every of my greatest buddies was in a dance firm that I used to be in.
She was taking a category there and was like, “Hey, it’s best to come take a category with me. You are able to do comedy as properly.”
So, it was simply one thing that I fell into. Then, particularly, stand-up got here as a result of I did a present in Second Metropolis in 2016 referred to as Black Facet of the Moon in DC that was half stand-up and half sketch improv. I used to be additionally concerned within the sketch and improv half. However the stand-up comedians have been like, “You must do stand-up.”
So then I attempted stand-up for the primary time after I was again in Chicago for Thanksgiving that yr, and it went rather well. And I believed, “Oh, it is a area the place I’ve probably the most energy in any sort of creative lane that I’ve been in a position to occupy.” It was the most effective artwork kind to actually showcase me in probably the most unfiltered method.
And that was one thing that modified my profession as a result of it allowed folks to see me in ways in which they hadn’t earlier than, which was as a full particular person. You might see that I might write, you can see that I might carry out, you can see that I’m humorous, you’re seeing the tales that I’m telling you, that are about my life.
I feel it allowed folks to see me in a method they hadn’t been in a position to see me earlier than as a result of I used to be entering into plenty of characters and never essentially projecting myself. Stand-up was the artwork kind that I felt actually amplified me as Dewayne, the particular person.
And that modified folks’s notion of me, how they have been in a position to see me, and what I might do.
I find it irresistible.
Very grateful, very grateful to have.
I really like the reply a lot as a result of I had another questions, and also you simply answered them multi function massive reply there. I used to be curious how stand-up helped you with appearing or how you’re feeling prefer it formed you as an actor, which you touched upon there.
However I don’t know in case you had something so as to add about stand-up and the way it helped you with appearing.
I feel stage presence and recognizing the connection with the viewers have helped me within the sense that I’m very acutely aware that that is artwork that I wish to be consumed by folks, and if that’s the case, then the folks needs to be in thoughts after I’m creating artwork.
And so I feel that has simply given me a perspective of elevating my consciousness and consciousness of how I would like folks to understand it and obtain what I’m doing, that I feel offers me a better sense of motivation and knowledge to floor my characters in one thing that I really feel folks can really take away with them.
So, I undoubtedly assume that it helps rather a lot as a result of I don’t assume performing is in a vacuum.
I completely agree with that.
And so with stand-up, you don’t have management over who’s seeing it or who’s receiving it. So there may be this concept of, “How do I create this with a universality that can hook up with as many individuals as attainable?” And that mindset I take with me to appearing as properly.
You’ve gotten an opportunity in your profession up to now to do many various issues. What’s one position that you simply haven’t tackled but that you simply assume you’d wish to?
There’s two particularly. I’ve a background in soccer, and I danced professionally for a decade. I don’t assume folks acknowledge how bodily I’m, and I’d like to be in an motion comedy or an motion film like John Wick. I feel I’d eat that up.
Additionally, I’ve a deep fantasy to carry again the dance film, as a result of I’m obsessive about dancing, and I’d like to be in one thing like that. Lastly, I feel I’d actually wish to be a villain. I feel due to comedies that interprets to love, “Oh, humorous, glad,” however I wish to be horrible.
I wish to terrorize folks. I feel I’d be nice at that. Be a villain sort of an individual.
Yeah, like an motion villain. I might see that. You may mix the 2.
Completely. That’s my subsequent purpose.
I hope it really works out for you.
What’s your all-time favourite consolation present? I work for TV Fanatics, so we’re simply TV-obsessed. We watch a ton of TV, and I like to ask others this query and see what they love to look at. So, I’ve to know what your all-time favourite consolation present is.
Yeah, I watch plenty of tv, so I feel there’s a bunch of various ones, however my all-time favourite one, which I’ve watched many occasions and assume I’m due for a re-watch, is Avatar: The Final Airbender.
It’s only a present that I watched in real-time again within the day. And from season one to the final season, simply the expansion, the storytelling. I simply assume it’s a really properly performed present and combines with plenty of issues that I get pleasure from. In order that could be very a lot a consolation present of mine.
Is there something you’ve picked up just lately that you simply simply began watching? Is there something new on the market that you simply’ve been having fun with?
Sure. I’ve been watching two exhibits. I’ve been watching The Pitt on HBO Max.
Oh, so good.
I really like me a medical drama. I really like that their formatting of each episode is an hour, so you’ll be able to actually sit in that. Love that. After which I’ve been watching Paradise on Hulu, with Sterling Ok. Brown. What a person.
Oh, sure.
[singing] What a person, what a person, what a mighty good man. So proficient.
After which the present itself twists and turns. I’m like, “What’s the factor subsequent?” I feel as a result of I eat a lot, I find it irresistible when one thing is stunning and stunning, and I can’t anticipate what’s subsequent as a result of, as a author, that’s how my mind works.
I’m wanting on the patterns. I’m trying to see, like, “Okay, what are they doing with the ability? Simply flip that half off?” So, a present that forces me to? Obsessed.
Completely.
Paradise merely does that.
We’ve edited this interview for size and readability.
Perkins was such a delight, and The Studio is poised to be one other hit sequence for Apple TV+.
Share all of your ideas about this interview within the feedback beneath!
The Studio premieres on Apple TV+ on March twenty sixth.
Watch The Studio-2025 On-line
TV Fanatic is looking for passionate writers to share their voices throughout numerous article sorts. Assume you’ve got what it takes to be a TV Fanatic? Click on right here for extra data and subsequent steps.