‘sorry to bother you’ actor jermaine fowler on being a black weirdo, code-switching & new play ‘hidden fences’

By Jordan Temple, creator of ‘Hidden Fences’

Over a year ago now, two different wypipo and I assume many others mixed up two black movies, Hidden Figures and Fences into Hidden Fences, something that doesn’t exist. When the mistake happened at the Golden Globes I woke up one morning at the beginning of Black History Month and thought “I’m going to make this a whole ass play”. I sought to reclaim it. Online, Hidden Fences was another goofy mistake, onstage, Troy wants to be the first black man to hit a baseball into space and the Hidden Figures did the math to help get it there. The first and second stagings coincidentally sandwiched the second mistake made at the Oscars. Then I staged it three more times, changing the script with each staging and refreshing the show with the newest pop culture and current events.

My goals with the show was always to make black people happy, and try to bring back just an ounce of that black ensemble (plus one white guy) stomp your feet and run up the aisles, “In Living Color” level laughs feel. I never thought of taking Hidden Fences to Hollywood until my friend, comedian Jermaine Fowler, who produces and stars in the L.A. edition of the show offered to help. This summer, Jermaine stars in the upcoming Boots Riley movie “Sorry To Bother You” alongside LaKeith Stanfield and Tessa Thompson. I interviewed him about the movie, why he chose to produce Hidden Fences, the age of the black weirdo and more.

You are in a dope summer movie many people are dying to see called “Sorry To Bother You” starring LaKeith Stanfield and Tessa Thompson, what was it like to work with them and what how does it feel to be in the new class of black weirdos?

LaKeith and Tessa and Steve (he’s Korean but those folks have Black vibes) are treasures. Down to Earth with high levels of standards. The way they approached Sorry To Bother You made me life long fans of them. They treated the project with the same respect as they would a summer blockbuster. Learned a lot working with them. So collaborative and talented! One night we all stayed up and just shared stories with each other. There are a bunch of Black paradoxes I look up to; Erykah Badu, Eartha Kitt, Andre 3000, Pryor, Kanye before the aliens took him, the list goes on and on. I know I’m Black, I understand I have enigmatic qualities, but to be a part of a “new class” of that is something I don’t know I’m comfortable with. I’m just a dude that likes what he likes and enjoys creating things.

“White” or “phone voice” is a comedic element of “Sorry To Bother You”. When is the first time you remember employing it or knowing you had the ability to speak two dialects of English?

Now I appreciate people who try to make other feel comfortable, but at the same time doing it 24/7 requires a piece of your soul to be chipped off. You lose yourself in the process. According to Boots, the director of ‘Sorry To Bother You’, I have this thick Maryland accent. I was so proud he said that. It’s something I don’t EVER wanna dilute for anybody. I love the way I speak. It makes me, me. When you watch the film you’ll see certain characters who’ve code-switched so much they don’t know who they are anymore. It’s pretty fascinating and unsurprisingly common especially in entertainment. Michael Jackson had two voices. There was Hollywood Mike and Gary, Indiana Mike. Playing two different people must’ve attributed to his strange behavior right?

You’ve been in television and movies, what were your first thoughts when you saw Hidden Fences and what made you want to produce a play?

When I watch Hidden Fences I see a cast embracing freedom of expression. Everything from the script to the acting is felt. It’s beautiful to see them full of wonder and joy to be onstage. The show spoke to me. So it was my mission to help bring it to more people. I see something massive for Hidden Fences and the cast as individuals. Everyone involved is sooooo talented.

What does “Hidden Fences” mean to you as a viral mistake in the zeitgeist?

Growing up poor I’ve had to learn how to embrace the crap life threw at me . That red carpet “mistake” was bullshit, but this play is a middle finger to all of that. You can throw ANYTHING at a creative mind and all we’re gonna do is flip the script on it. We don’t cry, we get mad and make sandcastles out of bullshit.

How does it feel to be a black comedian helping a black play based in N.Y. make it’s debut in Hollywood where the original mistake originated?

Fuck Hollywood. I want to help this play premier on the moon for Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary!

Hidden Fences proudly makes it’s L.A. debut (and final stagings) at The Dynasty Typewriter 6/7

and 6/8 at 8/7:30 doors. Hosted by Langston Kerman. Get advance tickets at www.dynastytypewriter.com

Photo credit Mindy Tucker Photo credit Phil Provencio