Long before Jamie Hector played Marlo Stanfield on “The Wire,” the 35-year-old actor got his break in a short film.
Hector was discovered by “The Wire” creator David Simon in the short film, “Five Deep Breaths.” Directed by Seith Mann, the film went on to win 16 awards and was featured at Cannes, Sundance, Tribeca, and IFP Film Festivals.
Hector talked about how he was discovered and the transition to television with “Lens On Talent” host Kim Fields on yesterday’s episode.
Taking on such a high profile role on “The Wire” was made easier thanks to his fellow actors on the show. “I felt comfortable because I was embraced by the cast,” Hector said. “When I came in, Sonja Sohn, Idris Elba, Wood Harris, Wendell Pierce gave me a nugget. I got on set and I was just ready to do what I was taught to do. And I was prepared.”
Hector feels that practice is the key for anyone trying to make it in the film industry.
“One thing that I learned early is Jordan, Tyson … all of those that were the best in what they did, practiced,” he said. “The hard work came in practice. When it was time to work, that was the easy part.”
The featured film was “A Nick in Time,” by Bé Garrett. The short is about an old school barber recounts a story from his past to teach a lesson to a troubled young man. Garrett was a 1994 recipient of the prestigious Silas Rhodes Scholarship for Film, at the School of Visual Arts and graduated as a Film major.
