Therron Dumas, a Newark Native, is as captivating as the characters he portrays on screen. Growing up amid Newark’s toughest eras, Dumas chose a different path, finding purpose in the Navy and later in acting. With an accidental entry into the entertainment world, Dumas is now preparing his first full-length feature film, “ORGANZ” under his production company: Nasavri Films.
We spoke with Dumas to learn more about his entry into entertainment and his ambitions for his new film.
Share your origin story with us. Introduce us to who Therron is.
Originally, I am from Newark, NJ. When I was growing up, Newark was considered the car thief capital of the world, and rightly so in the 80s. I’ve lived through many eras that many of my friends did not make it through—the crack era, the cocaine era, the robbery era, and even the car thief era.
I was one of the few children in a position where I didn’t have to indulge in street foolishness, but I chose to off and on because I was young and I wanted friends and deeply wanted to fit in. My mother worked for the government her whole life, even for the FBI at one point; my grandmother owns her own Beauty Salon. I grew up in a seven-bedroom, three-bathroom house and went to private school the majority of my life, but when you are an impressionable, young child, you still try things to fit in. As I got older, I realized I wasn’t meant for the streets, so I went to the Military and finished school. I was in the Navy for 3 years and 8 months before I hurt my knee and got out.
Your journey in the entertainment industry spans a wide range of projects, from web series to national television. What inspired you to pursue acting and filmmaking?
Wow! The crazy part is I never wanted to be an actor; it was never on my radar or a thought in my head. When people say they fell into something, that’s literally how it happened for me.
My wife….13 years ago, was submitting our oldest daughter for modeling and saw an ad that they were looking for male actors. They asked me if I wanted to do it, and I said absolutely not. They submitted my photo and martial arts background, and they ended up calling me. I was placed in my first film as a futuristic assassin and one of the posters for the movie. Things happened with the production and it never came out, but I got bitten by the acting bug so 13 years and 60 movies later… here I am.
Were you always passionate about creation? Do you consider yourself a born visionary?
I guess once I accepted the fact that I am actually an actor, I became truly passionate about my craft, even though I am often portraying the villain. I’ve made it my mission to deliver the best damn villain every single time I get in front of the camera!
As far as being a visionary, definitely not a born visionary. I believe I became one when I started writing. Seeing people on screen saying the words you created and winning awards? That is when I became a visionary.
How have your artistic influences and journey evolved over time? Looking ahead, what do you hope to promote and share with the world?
I would have to say my artistic influences have changed over the years in a way that I’m an actor for my audience now and not for myself. In the beginning, I was just racking the movies up, almost saying yes to anything to get my numbers up. As I have gotten older and more experienced, I am more selective and pay attention to how people react to the characters I portray in films. I listen to critiques and opinions and adjust accordingly. Now, I am one of the most hated characters on Tubi TV!
“Atlanta’s Ugly 2.0-2.1” has been acclaimed for its direction and storytelling. Tell us about the inspiration behind this project.
It is a project I brought in as a character a few years ago by my friend and business partner Carlton Kernahan, the creator of the show. After my first episode, we discussed different changes that could be made as far as scripting, casting, and recasting characters, and things of that nature. Then, I became a co-writer and co-director while still portraying my character. Now we are a multi-international award-winning series that has been picked up by Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and others.
With 57 movies to your credit, you’ve demonstrated remarkable versatility as both a writer and an actor. How do you balance these roles, and which aspect of filmmaking do you find most fulfilling?
As of this interview, the new total is 60 movies to my name! Balancing both aspects can be tricky. I find myself not being in as many episodes of the show as I used to be because I’m now behind the camera writing more, concentrating on our first full-feature film: Organz.
ORGANZ marks your first full-length feature film under Nasavri Films. What can audiences expect from this project, and what inspired you to pursue this particular story?
Organz will mark our first feature film endeavor. The audience can expect suspense, drama, and even a little humor. Through this project, we intend to show that we are very diverse in our creativity
You recently were honored with a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. How fulfilling was it to be seen and validated in this way?
Being nominated for a presidential Lifetime Achievement Award is still a shocker to me, I remember how difficult my early days were starting out in this industry. I never took a tally of those I helped get placed in movies, but it came to over 100 people that I’ve helped move forward in the entertainment industry. Now that I am in a position to help others, I intend to do so.
You can learn more about Therron Dumas here on his website.
