‘A dream come through’ - Cornelius Grant scores big in Bob Marley’ biopic
Actor, radio/TV host and award-winning film director Cornelius Grant is now counting his blessings as he landed a role in the Paramount Pictures film, Bob Marley: One Love, a biopic of the late reggae legend.
For his 18 years of hard work and staying true to his "passion" despite the many obstacles, the 37-year old said his work is finally paying off.
"Landing this movie role is a dream come through. I played the supporting role of 'Bucky Marshall', a notorious don and close friend of Bob Marley; a me basically have Bob's back. But getting this opportunity is really my dream coming through because acting is my passion and my main aim was to act in a Hollywood film, visit Hollywood and be among some of Hollywood actors, and it a happen. I have worked for it and now I get a taste of how movies really mek," Grant told THE STAR.
He now has plans on landing more international movie roles and bringing more exposure to his team of actors under his company, Good Vybz Entertainment.
"I got more experience in cinematography, the number of production personnel needed on a set to make a big movie - so I got a feel of what to do when I plan to make it big with my productions. Personally, me naah stop because this is huge. So when I visit Los Angeles, I'll be looking for an international agent, to keep afloat, network, produce some Netflix series and possibly win [an Emmy] award," he said.
Like many inner-city youth, the Kingston-born creative has seen the struggles faced by many Jamaicans and has always dreamt of "making it big" on the movie scene. Through his first movie production, Kill Dem All And Done, came the need to tell more 'reality stories' "to inspire ghetto youths".
"As a youth growing in the inner-city, my movies depict a replica of what I see and it started making an impact in the world while providing employment for the regular man on the street selling DVDs. [Despite the movie's title] the main lesson I intended for this movie to convey is that 'violence don't pay'. I also hoped for it to impact some a di youths who wanted to take up gun, not to go down that route," Grant explained.
The movie, which was released in 2011, was shown in a small theatre in Brooklyn, sold on DVDs in Canada, the US and England and garnered more than 1.8 million views on YouTube. The cast of the Marley biopic was diverse, but Grant said they bonded like a family.
"We just operated as a family and despite our roles, nobody nuh act like dem bigger, more experienced dan nobody. Di movie title seh One Love and a dat we portray on and off set," said Grant. The movie premiered last Tuesday at Carib 5 cinema in Cross Roads, Kingston, and will be released to all theatres on February 14.
In addition to his film work, Grant is also a recording artiste. Some of his singles include Stay Connected and Question. He has appeared in almost 200 music videos for artistes such as Erup, Teejay and Vybz Kartel. He was also featured in the TV series Me and Mi Kru and popular YouTube series, The Bartender.