actor insights

PowerTalk's inaugural speaker series, Creative Conversations, continues with its next discussion, Actor Insights. This week's dialogue will explore some of the trials and tribulations these well-known actors had to overcome on their path to stardom. Also, they will share their nuggets of wisdom to help up-and-coming creatives achieve their objectives.

RONREACO LEE | ACTOR & DIRECTOR

The multi award-nominated actor RonReaco Lee stars in the BET Network series First Wives Club adapted from the cult film of the same name. Lee plays Gary, husband to Bree, played by Michelle Buteau, the dedicated teacher, and father whose infidelities will prove to be a challenge to his family and marriage. The show premiered on BET's new streaming platform, BET Plus which launched on September 19, 2019.

RonReaco starred in the Starz comedy series Survivor's Remorse alongside Tichina Arnold, and Jessie T. Usher, for which he was nominated for several NAACP Image Awards. He starred in the BET comedy series Let's Stay Together, UPN's Sister, Sister, ABC's In the Motherhood and had a recurring role on FOX's The Good Guys.

Lee's breakout role was opposite Denzel Washington in the award-winning feature Glory. He starred opposite the late Bernie Mac in Guess Who? and opposite Viola Davis in Tyler 'Perry's Madea Goes to Jail.

Directing is a big passion of his and recently directed his first short A 'Father's Love co- written by Allen Maldonado and Jessie T. Usher. The short premiered at the American Black Film Festival.

RonReaco enjoys spending time with his family, photography, art and cooking.

JESSIE T. USHER| ACTOR

Jessie T. Usher is currently starring in the new Amazon Original Series “The Boys” playing super speedster “A-Train”. Previously Usher starred as basketball phenomenon Cam Calloway in the Starz original series “Survivor’s Remorse”.

With standout performances in Survivor’s Remorse, Sony Pictures’ feature film WHEN THE GAME STANDS TALL,” Universal’s “ALMOST CHRISTMAS,” and 20th Century Fox’s blockbuster “INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE,” Jessie has made quite the name! Jessie’s recent films include, New Line Cinema’s “Shaft” playing John Shaft Jr. aka: JJ., Apple TV’s “The Banker”, and the Netflix feature film, “DANGEROUS LIES,” opposite of Camila Mendes. 


Usher was featured on both Variety’s 2015 ‘Top 10 Actors to Watch’ and The Hollywood Reporter’s ‘Next Gen 2017’ Lists.

Jessie was inspired to act at an early age. When his family moved to Los Angeles in 2003, he landed guest-star roles in numerous television shows including “Without a Trace,” “Numbers,” “The Mentalist,” “Criminal Minds,” “Lincoln Heights,” “Hannah Montana” and “Summer Camp.” Jessie’s first big break came in 2011 playing the role of Lyle Huggingsonin Cartoon Network’s television movie “Level Up.” The project became a well-loved TV series and Jessie reprised his role throughout the show’s two seasons.
 


Born a leap year child, he excelled academically from elementary through high school as a top honor student. He graduated class salutatorian before moving straight to the Dean’s List in college, studying the Art of Culinary and earning the honor of being a member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society.

SHAWN EDWARDS | FOX TX

Shawn Edwards is a journalist, TV and film producer and marketing and event consultant. As a nationally recognized film critic for Fox 4 News in Kansas City, Missouri he has won numerous national awards including Best TV Film Critic twice by the LA Press Club’s National Entertainment Journalism Awards. Edwards has produced numerous TV shows and documentaries for FGW Productions and Black Tree TV, both based in Los Angeles. Edwards co-founded the African American Film Critics Association in 2003, and has produced their award show that takes place annually in LA. Edwards also created ‘A Celebration of Black Cinema’ in conjunction with the Broadcast Film Critics Association, which premiered in 2014 in Los Angeles at the House of Blues Sunset. Edwards created iloveblackmovies in 2008, the popular website, web series and clothing line. He currently works at Hidden Empire Film Group, based in Los Angeles, as a Creative Marketing Specialist. He co-founded Hotel Girl/Movie Boy Productions in2015 with O’Leary. He is a life-long lover of movies who began making his own films in the 7th grade. He is also now the co-creator of “Movie Trip TV.”