Willie Macc cited as "modern day Eddie Murphy"

January 31, 2008 (Fresno, CA) -- In a recent interview with De novo Magazine, Feature Writer Ozzy Neav made reference to actor / comedian and BET College Hill Reality star Willie Macc as a "modern day Eddie Murphy". Below is the complete text of the interview that appeared on denovomagazine.com:

WILLIE MACC
By Ozzy Neav
Posted: January 2008

A College Hill funny man and CSI alumnus, Willie Macc ("Meet the Spartans") is set to light comedy entertainment on fire. Focused yet easy going, Willie is very much a modern day Eddie Murphy. They both drip charisma and self-confidence and posses the ultra rare camera presence that turns everything they touch into gold. From hair and t-shirts, to career and comedy, De Novo Magazine recently had the chance to find out what Willie Macc is all about.

Ozzy: Let's kick things off with the hair. The public appears to like it, but it seems as if you're unsure. Why do you want to change your unique appearance?

Willie Macc: It's not that I'm unsure about my hair, I love my hair; I mean come-on, don't you? But seriously, I’ve rocked the fro since 10th grade and now it's probably time for a change. Plus, there just don't seem to be a lot of leading roles right now for a kid with an afro. However, I'm really interested in what my fans think, that's why I'm letting the public: vote on it at http://www.myspace.com/kingonthemic.

Ozzy: Please give us some info about your new comedy sketch with fellow "College Hill" star Ja'Ron (JayTee) Thompson.

Willie Macc: We were inspired by the overwhelming positive response that our sketch comedy show on College Hill received. I mean, we received so many comments and messages on MySpace. So, we thought, hey, why not take it further and go prime time baby. However, everything is still under wraps about it right now, so I can't go into details. But, I promise, when I can tell you more I will come back and share some love with the De Novo Magazine readers.

Ozzy: You were on CSI for several episodes. Describe the experience and how it changed you as an actor.

Willie Macc: It was a great experience. It was my first principle role after doing so many background / extra roles. I had my own trailer. I had a chef come and ask me what I wanted for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And by doing that principle role, it made me want more - - it made me want to work harder so that I could get more principle roles and some day, star in my own comedy series. I had seen the light, and it was inside a double-wide trailer.

Ozzy: How do the local women in The Virgin Islands differ from ones in L.A.?

Willie Macc: The Virgin Island women don't really do the whole make-up thing, so what you see is what you get, and they have this natural beauty. Some females in LA wear a lot of make up and can be real divas....you think you taking a black girl out to dinner and when you take her home and she takes off her make up, she’s really a 60 year old Chinese woman, (lol) but that’s cool. I like me a real diva sometime (never really dated a 60 year old Chinese woman, but who knows, I might like them too).

Ozzy: Coming from a conservative background, was it difficult for those around you to support what is still considered a non-traditional career choice?

Willie Macc: My family supported my desires to be an entertainer. As long as I am doing what will further my career they are pretty supportive. Of course they were not the proudest of parents when I had my "breaking the bed" scene on College Hill, but I think both my dad and mom understand that they weren't always saved. They understand that I am still growing up and I will make mistakes. My family prays that I succeed, and for that, all my mom asks in return is a new Cadillac Escalade. (Don’t worry mom I still got you.)

Ozzy: How did you first get started in stand up comedy?

Willie Macc: When we were doing press interviews for College Hill, some of the interviewers would say "Willie Macc, since you are the "funny man" on the show tell us a joke." After not knowing what to say the first couple of times, I decided to make a short routine to have ready whenever someone asked me that question -- and, I would get mad laughs. So that developed into more and more little routines, and that's when it all sorta started (I guess if you don't count being a class clown in high school.) My passion has always been making people laugh, that’s what I'm good at. So I figure why not get paid for it. It was either that or continuing to make my little brothers laugh from my prank phone calls.

Ozzy: The Afro Man t-shirts you made look really "kewl". Was this a one shot deal or can we expect more from this clothing line?

Willie Macc: Those are hot huh! I wear them on the red carpets and people seem to LOVE them. It's actually a little weird for me right now when folks be showing mad love for the "Lil Willie" shirts. We are actually starting the process now of meeting with manufacturers and distributors about the line. I have about 5 of them right now; well had -- my family jacked me of most of them when I was home over the holidays. My mom wore one to school (she's a teacher) and her kids went crazy over them. My little brother was pimpin one at the mall in St. Louis. So it's cool. The Lil Willie line should hit in the latter part of '08. We will probably first roll them out on http://www.williemacc.tv

Ozzy: Tell us a little bit about your silent movie "Young Love".

Willie Macc: Man, that seems so long ago. "Young Love" was the very first acting gig I got when I moved to LA in '05. It's definitely a long way from my two upcoming movies, "Meet the Spartans" which opens in theaters January 25th, and my direct to video movie "House Arrest", which drops in March.

Ozzy: Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Willie Macc: God willing, in 5 years I would have accomplished so much. I would have crossed over from reality TV star to that of a Hollywood entertainer to be reckoned with. I would have had a string of hit movies and television shows under my belt (and not just as one of the stars, but also possibly as the creator and producer of a few). I'll be on my way baby, making it to the Eddie Murphy, Will Smith, and Tom Cruise status! I might even try and date Oprah. Hey, if Ashton Kutcher can have Demi, I want Oprah dammit...I want to be sitting on 25 million by 2011 (and I don't care if I made it or earned it the ole fashion way -- by marrying into it!)

Ozzy: What has "College Hill" taught you about yourself, both as an actor and as a person?

Willie Macc: College Hill taught me to take advantage of my life. Before College Hill, being on TV was just a dream. Now that I have accomplished that and have had the taste of a little celebrity status, I want more -- more shows, more fans, more from life. I know it was just a reality TV show, but College Hill gave me something to prepare for -- Stardom. Some people don’t know how to handle stardom. By getting a little from College Hill I am now more prepared for more of it. You have to learn to walk before you run. College Hill let me see that I really do have a funny side. At first I just looked at myself as a goofy class clown, now after hearing man y people say stuff like, “Willie Macc you really can go far, keep up the comedy”, I have more to strive for.

Ozzy: What is the single most important piece of advice you can give to an aspiring entertainer?

Willie Macc: Keep at it. Don’t let nothing stop you -- people, Hollywood, or YOURSELF! I slept in my car, I had eviction notices, I been hungry. But all that did was made me more hungry to succeed and that is how a star is born -- no really, look it up in the dictionary. When you can go through the storm, the trials and tribulations, and find that you still are keeping on, then you will make it. Take it from me.

Ozzy: If you had the chance to have dinner with any three people, alive or dead, who would you choose?

Willie Macc: I would want to break bread with Eddie Murphy...he is what I strive to be --kids and all, someone who can really say they knocked up a Spice Girl...but for real, he has accomplished so much. I have read every Eddie Murphy article, watched all his acts and his movies. He has never had to audition, now he makes 20 million a movie. He dated, and married one of the most successful and beautiful women in Hollywood. Eddie Murphy is the MAN! The other person actually will take up two of my three slots because HE died and came back from the dead...of course, I'm talking about no one other then Jesus. I have a few questions I want to ask him about life...

Contact:
Margaret Merriweather
Charles Belk Management
8939 S Sepulveda Blvd 110-240
Los Angeles, CA 90045
mmerriweather@charlesbelk.com
(323) 282-7926

About Charles Belk Management
Charles Belk Management (http://www.myspace.com/charlesbelk) is a Los Angeles based entertainment agency that offers artist brand development & awareness and artist management. Services include a complete "branding experience" for up & coming and established recording artist, music producers, actors, models, comedians, directors, on-air personalities and professional athletes.

This release was published on openPR.