SPELL - OMARI HARDWICK and LORETTA DEVINE INTERVIEW

Actor and musical poet Omari Hardwick (Power) has a movie out just in time for the spirit of Halloween.  He finds himself trapped in a house full of VooDoo in the new movie, SPELL. 

Omari Hardwick ("Power", Sorry to Bother You) stars as Marquis, a man who loses control of the plane carrying him and his family on his way to his father's funeral in rural Appalachia. He awakens wounded, alone and trapped in  the attic of Ms. Eloise (Loretta Devine, "Black-ish", Crash), who claims she can nurse him back to health with the Boogity, a Hoodoo figure she has made from his blood and skin. Unable to call for help, Marquis desperately tries to outwit and break free from her dark magic and save his family from a sinister ritual before the rise of the blood moon.

Multifaceted, award-winning actor Omari Hardwick starred for six seasons as James “Ghost” St. Patrick in the critically acclaimed hit series "Power", earning him three consecutive NAACP Image Awards for leading actor in a drama series. His many other acting credits include American Skin, Nobody’s Fool, Sgt. Will Gardner; A Boy. A Girl. A Dream; Sorry to Bother You, Kick-Ass, among others.

Hardwick hosts his own podcast titled “Poetics” featuring deep, in-depth conversations between him and rap’s biggest stars. He is also an accomplished musician, poet and spoken word artist.

Equally at home on stage and on screen, award-winning actress Loretta Devine has created some of the most memorable roles in theatre, film and television.Devine first captured national attention in the role of Lorrell, one of the three original “Dreamgirls” in Michael Bennett’s classic award-winning Broadway musical of the same name.

Film roles soon followed including a poignant turn as a single mother opposite Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett and Gregory Hines in “Waiting to Exhale” which earned Devine her first NAACP Image Award for ‘Best Supporting Actress.’ Devine also won an NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in Penny Marshall’s “The Preacher’s Wife.” Devine received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actress for her work in “Women Thou Art Loosed.” Devine was featured in the Academy Award-winning film “Crash” and the hit movie of “Dreamgirls.” Some of her additional film credits include appearances in the successful “Urban Legend” franchise, “I Am Sam” opposite Michelle Pfeiffer and Sean Penn, “Kingdom Come,” “What Women Want,” “Punks,” “Hoodlums,” “Down in the Delta” and “Stanley and Iris.”

She currently stars in the Netflix family series, “FAMILY REUNION” which features an all-black cast and crew. Devine also appeared in a buzzy guest star role on Starz’ “P-Valley.”With a career spanning three decades, Devine has earned much praise and accolades for her work on both the big and small screen. For her work as “Adele” on “Grey’s Anatomy,” Devine earned both a Primetime Emmy Award and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination, a Gracie Allen Award for “Outstanding Female Actor in a Featured Role,” a nomination for “Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series” from the Critics’ ChoiceTelevision Awards and a NAACP Image Award and a NAACP Image Award nomination.

In total, Devine has won nine NAACP Image Awards and has received a record twenty-four nominations. Devine has received Lifetime Achievement Awards from both the Pan African Film Festival and the NAACP Theatre Awards and the Thespian Award from the LA Femme International Film Festival.

I spoke with Omari Hardwick and Loretta Devine about working on SPELL and how it took a toll on them.

SPELL, Available On-Demand and in Select Theaters October 30