Actor Jason C. Louder talks Black Lightning, Wu-Tang, and new season of BMF
WJBF – Actor Jason C. Louder has been on our television screens on shows such as Black Lightning and Wu-Tang: The American Saga, and he is currently on the hit series on Starz, BMF, which premieres its third season on March 1st.
Louder sits down with WJBF to talk about his illustrious journey on the stage and the screen.
Thank you for joining us on Celebrating Black Excellence. Can you please tell us about your humble beginnings? How did you get started with acting?
So, to make a short story long… (Laughs) Acting found me. It found me in 2009. So, I was teaching at a private school – shout out to Imhotep Academy, a beautiful Black African-centered in a school here in Atlanta, Georgia. But I was teaching and coaching soccer, and one of my homeboys called me, actually, we were in the same rap group; I used to be in a rap group back in the day called Unknown Seeds. I was the hype man, so I would always come with the energy. You know, I had some bars, too, but I was always bringing the energy or whatever. So, he hit me up and he was like, “Hey, man, you should go to this audition.” And I was like, “Audition for what?” He was like, “For this play at Georgia State.” And I was like, “A play? To do what?” He was like, “Yo, you should. I think you could act.” And I was like, “I don’t know, man.” I mean, we had to dabble with some stuff before. We actually did a stage play about our lives as a rap group, but that was us being us, you know what I’m saying? So, it hadn’t crossed my mind. So, I said, “You know what, I’m not doing anything. I’ll go to the to the audition, man.”
I went to the audition, and the lady was like, “Here’s your sides.” And I was like, “Well, what am I supposed to do?” She was like, “Oh, you, green.” And I was like, “No, don’t do that.” So, she was like, “Well, let’s just go over these. The sides are what you are given for the audition. You have to read that as a part of the script.” So, she gave me the sides. I went over the sides, and then, she called me in. When I went in with the director, we started reading with each other back and forth, and it was like, “Oh my God! This is powerful. This is amazing.” So, the next director said, “Hey, can you read mine?” And I was like, “Yeah, I read it.” Same thing happened. The next director said, “Can you read mine, but can you use a Jamaican accent?” And I was like, “Yeah,” and so I did that. Then, later on that evening, the department chair – her name is Dr. Charlene Holmes – called me, and she said, “Hey, Jason Louder. We want to let you know that you’ve been cast in six of the pieces, but because you’ve never acted before, that would be a disservice to you. So, I’m going to allow you to choose two.” And I was like, “Yes, ma’am.”
So, I chose two. One of them was called “Our Liberated Justice,” directed by Dr. Asantewaa Suni Ali. It was about the Black Panthers. It was about her family, actually: her mom and dad. The other one was called “Salaam.” It was about a Muslim terrorist. When I performed those two pieces, man, it was like my life. I was like, “This is what I want to do. I want to act.” So juggling acting and teaching at the same time was like, “Okay, I got to go to school. I’m teaching during a daytime, and even sometimes, I might have to have auditions, and they would cover for me.” They would always make sure that they would support me. My students would help me learn my lines. So, it was just like this beautiful synergy that had happened. Once I said yes, and once I opened myself up to the possibility of pursuing this thing… and then in 2016, they called me to the office. It was like, “Hey, we’re not going to be able to renew your contract because you miss 50…” I missed a bunch of days of school because I was working on different projects. So, they were like, “We want you to pursue your dream. This is something that you really love.”
I asked the principal then, Ms. Jackson, “Can you have two things that you love? Two passions.” She said, “You can have way more than two passions, and teaching is one you love, and acting is another one. We want you to go and pursue the acting.” I was like, “Okay.” I mean, I had no choice because I was like, “Well, maybe I could teach part time, or maybe I could come in three days a week.” She was like, “No. No. Go.” And that push forced me to really just go all the way in. I went all the way and literally and physically. I was taking everybody’s acting class. I said, “Let me train.” If I’m going to do this seriously, I need to study because I can’t just be like, “I’m going to be an actor.” No, I want to study, I want to train. So, I was in everybody’s acting class: GregAlan Williams, Victor Love, I even went to Tasha Smith. I did a drop in with her. So just training, training, training. Then, I was like, “Let me do all the plays that I can.” So, at one point, I was in two stage plays at the same time, running at the same time. I wouldn’t recommend that to anybody, but that’s how bad I wanted it. I knew that this is what I had to do to put myself into it if I really want to get back or get the return that I’m looking for.
How was that for you being pushed out of the nest? How was that initial feeling for you?
It was scary. I’m like, “Hey, Can I come back once a week?” She was like, “No, no.” And so, I didn’t know. I was like, “Oh, my God. So, what am I going to do to make money?” So, I called my cousin immediately. I said, “Hey, man. They are not going to renew my contract. Do you think you can help me?” He was like, “Hey, man. I’m doing DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Postmates. You can do that.” And I was like, “Oh, okay, bet.” So, I started doing that. Then I was like, “You know what? God, I want my source of income to come from acting. I would love to have that.” So, “the universe” started collaborating and somebody called me was like, “Hey, have you heard of Emory University standardized patients? They need actors to act like they’re sick or like they’re going through these different conditions, so the doctors can learn how to be better doctors.” I was like, “Yeah, let’s do that.” So, everything started lining up. Then, the library started calling me. They were like, “Hey, we heard you do storytelling. Can we come? Can we book you for the summer to come to read stories to our children?” I was like, “Yes.” It was back to back. Somebody said, “Hey, do you do dinner theater?” I was like, “Yes”. I mean, and that’s how it was. It was serendipitous. God was just like, “Okay, that’s what you want. I got you. Watch.”
Now, we’ve got to talk about your role as 2 Bits on Black Lightning. So, what was that experience like for you being a part of that cast?
Man, once again, that was serendipitous. I auditioned for one role. My agent called me and was like, “Hey, you didn’t get cast for that role, but they have another role that we didn’t even know existed. So, would you like to take that?” I’m like, “Yes! What?” So, just doing that… I mean, being on a set with a Black writer, a Black producer, a Black executive producer… Yo, this is all us! This is us operating at our finest, right? Telling a story about a Black superhero and a Black family. I was like, “Man, I can’t be any more blessed than this.” So, just being on the set and working with Cress [Williams], working with Nafessa [Williams], working with Christine [Adams], working with everybody… everybody was just so beautiful, man. Then, Salim [Akil] and his wife, Mara Brock Akil, they were on set as well. So, they were there to give us guidance if we had questions. It was just like family, man. It was like family. So, I was really blessed to be a part of that project, that experience, and that family. I was blessed.
What impact have you seen since doing Black Lightning?
Oh, man. I mean, the list goes on. I mean, because right around the same time Black Lightning had entered the stage, Black Panther was also coming in. So, it was like, “Oh, wait a minute. We have Black superheroes. So, children were able to say, “Oh, wait a minute. It’s not just Superman; it’s not just Batman. We have people who look like us, who are saving the world.” We’re transforming. We’re making these things huge changes, and we have superpowers. So that right there, that was, I think, the epitome of what we are capable of, and it showed everybody, not just Black people. They were like, “Okay, wait a minute. Y’all can make money overseas.” Like, people want to see you all in these spaces. So now, it is giving other creators opportunities to say, “Oh, wait, we have more stories to tell. Guess what? We have more stories to tell.” And now we’re seeing that more than ever, and it’s a beautiful time. It’s a beautiful, beautiful time.
We also saw you on Wu-Tang: An American saga. How was that experience?
So, I’m not going to lie to you. So being a hip-hop kid and also being in a rap group, Wu-Tang was one of the groups that we were like, “Oh, man, yo, they’re doing their own thing. They got their own style, and it’s a group. It’s a huge group.” So we knew that, okay, there’s a possibility for us to be a group and to be successful, right?So, even that opportunity presented itself to me. Once again, serendipitous, you know. My now girlfriend told me about that role. She saw it on actor’s access, which is a database that we use as actors, but she saw it. I didn’t see it. She saw it. She told me about it. She said, “Your manager should submit you for this.”Manager submits me. I put up the tape, she records, she tapes my audition, and we went all the way. We went fully in. Then, in booking the role, the RZA called me. I was like, “What? The RZA from the Wu-Tang. He called!” So he calls me, and he tells me, “This person was real.He didn’t say a lot. But when he spoke, we listened, but he was very dark, and we didn’t know why. So, I want you to bring that out.” I was like, “Yes, sir, I will. And thank you.” I thanked him. So, when I got to set, just working with that phenomenal cast man. I mean, Ashton Sanders, my boy, Johnell [Xavier Young],just everybody, man. It was truly an amazing experience. I will say this… I got to see Method Man, and I told him, “Hey, man, I listen to y’all when I was young.” He was like, “Man, I’m not old.So, you make me seem like I’m old.” I’m like, “No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I’m just saying, we grew up on your music. Y’all’s music influenced us.” He was like, Yo, peace. That’s respect.” So, I was able to talk to The RZA, Method Man, some my idols… these guys are my idols, and I’m able to talk to them, and then, also like just working and collaborating with some brilliant people, like Alex Tse, one of the co-producers and and the RZA… they were incredible to work with. The RZA was on set for several days, and it was great to have his energy on set. Then, watching some of the performances like T.J. Adams…. Man, when he was Old Dirty Bastard, I was watching Old Dirty Bastard, but like, he would not come out of character. He was in character the whole time. So, I’m like, “Whoa, that’s okay. That’s beautiful to watch.” Then, the guy who played Ghostface Killah went to Yale. I mean, this guy is just a master at his craft. I’m like, “Man, this is beautiful.” Then, the great Erika Alexander… just watching her… I was like, “Man, this is a blessing.” So, I was just blessed to be able to be a part of once again, history. Wu-Tang is one of the greatest rap groups alive. So, just being a part of this story was like, “Oh, I couldn’t ask for this. I could not make this up.” So, man, I was truly blessed to be a part of that story as well.
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Is there any pressure knowing that you’re playing someone that actually existed versus you playing a fictional character?
Oooh…. Lots of pressure. Unfortunately, the brother who I played, he transitioned. So, he was no longer with us, you know, but I believe that there’s a responsibility to not only to that person, but to that person’s family, you know, that comes into play. So, I wasn’t able to talk to either him or none of his family. But just knowing that, I don’t want to negate the fact that this person was real, and so they lived a real life. So, I want it to be as honorable as I could in the portrayal of this individual. You know what I’m saying? And they had to change the name for purposes of… His name wasn’t Cressy. (Laughs)
Which brings us here to BMF, which you are currently on. So, when you got the call for that, how was that for you? What was that like?
So, what I’m telling people is that never, never dismiss the humble beginnings. You know, I’m saying. Every opportunity as a blessing. So once again, I auditioned for one role. My agent called me, was like, “You didn’t get cast as this role. They cast you for another role.” And I was like, “Okay, let’s do it!” So, I get the script, and I see the name of the writer on the script. I’m like, “Shaquayla? Oh my God! It’s Shaquayla Mims!” So, lo and behold, me and Shaquayla had a conversation four years prior at a dinner, and before she was going to move to L.A., she was like, “Hey, man, I really want to work with you. One day we’re going to work together. One day.” And I was like, “Yes, we are. I love your work. Asé. And so it is.” So, that’s what’s going to happen. When I see her name, I’m like, “Yo, Shaquayla! Your name is on this script!’ She was like, “Oh bro, you have no idea. I had you in mind when I wrote this character. I had you in mind.” I was like, “Oh my God!” So, she was like, “Listen, do what you. Do what I know you can do. Bring what I know you can bring.” And I was like, “Yes, ma’am. It’s done. I owe you.” She said, “No, you don’t owe me anything. Just do the work.” So, that was how I got ushered into this role as Remi Ransom.
And then just being on set with Da’Vinci, with [Lil’] Meech, with Michole [Briana White]…. Oh, man. I mean, they are just truly a blessing to to watch. You know, these are legends, and when I say legends, I’m talking about Michole [Briana] White and Russell Hornsby – just watching them as they craft their characters. I was like, “Oh, my God. This is amazing.” So I’m like, “Okay, I really got to bring what I know I can bring in.” So, it was just great to go toe to toe with Meech in scenes. We would go. We’ve been going toe to toe with each other. Man, for season three, it’s going to be toe to toe again. Like just going ahead and just knowing this story, man. I’m from Atlanta. So, just knowing that when I was in high school, we would see billboards that said, “BMF: the world is yours.” I’m like, “Who is BMF?” And then, we would go to the clubs. We would see these flashy cars pull and these guys come out. Like, “Who are they?” That’s BMF. So now, I get to be a part of telling this story that I was a part of anyway growing up. So I’m like, Oh man, this is crazy. You know what? It’s not crazy. it’s truly serendipitous, and it’s divinely aligned. So, I think that I was chosen to be in this space and in this moment in time. So, I’m really grateful. I’m grateful for all of it. All of it.
For anyone who has never watched BMF, can you please tell us about your character?
So, my character is Remi Ransom. Once again, this is a name that they had to make this up because they didn’t want to you know… Remi Ransom. is one of the leaders of a community called Techwood Homes. Techwood Homes is a real place in Atlanta. You know, it’s the projects. So, he’s pretty much the leader of that hood, and in one instance, you know, he’s selling drugs. He’s doing what you got to do to, you know, to hustle. And then, on the other instance, he’s also wanting to see the community do better. He wants to see the kids go to school, so it’s kind of like this is in a weird way, like a dichotomy, like a Robin Hood, but at the same time, you’re poisoning the community. So, it’s really interesting to see who he is and how he moves. So, this story is going to explore how he came to be who he is, and then, how he interacts and how he has beef with Meech because they’re coming from Detroit. And so he’s like, “Y’all are coming to my hood and my city, and y’all trying to take over? Not if I have nothing to do with it.” So, that’s what happens.
And season three starts on March 1st. Why should people tune in? Why should we be excited about this new season?
Man, this season is going to once again explore the depths of the world that these two – I say these guys were geniuses – with regard to like how they decided to create a business and their operation, how they had managed it, and how they were looking out for their people. So, it’s going to explore deeper into why they were doing what they were doing and some of the decisions that they made. So, it’s almost like a cautionary tale. Like, “Listen, if you get into this world, just know that these are some of the things that you may be coming up against.” So, I think that’s important, too, for our young people to know that, “Hey, you might see it as glamorous, but there are some there that are not pretty.” And it’s going to show all the pretty and the not so pretty.
So, for people who want to get into this business or want to get into acting, what words of advice could you give someone?
I think the most important thing that I tell young people or people who are just starting, “Know your why.” If you’re doing this to be famous, you could be famous doing anything else. You could be famous doing some other things. But if you want to do this because you love storytelling and you love to walk into another person’s shoes, get the training. I promise I’m going to continue to train and to study the craft of acting until the day I die as a performer and as an artist. So always stay training. If you can’t afford training, you can go online. You can read a script. Reading is free. So I tell people, read a script, read a play, read a movie, etc. Just do whatever you can to prepare yourself… to be journeyman because this thing is a journey. it’s a marathon. It’s not a sprint. It is a marathon. So, if you’re going to do it, know that you’re going to be in it for the long haul. And the only time you lose is if you quit. So if you’re going to do this, just know there’s some highs, and there’s going to be some lows. Don’t stop. Don’t stop if you really want to do this.
Now, if people want to follow your journey and continue to keep up what you got going on, how can they do so?
So, I’m learning to be more savvy on social media. My manager and my publicist advise me to be a little bit more savvy. So, I’m on Instagram @Jason.Louder, I’m on Facebook as Jason Louder, and I’m on X @JasonCLouder. So, I’m also doing some fun skits with Kountry Wayne, Mike Bless, and D from the South Side. I’m also working on some stuff… some independent stuff myself. So, I’m creating my own content, and that’s what I would tell some young people as well. Create your own content. You don’t have to wait on nobody to tell you because we’re in an age of technology where we can create our own content. So, just get your phone, and create your own content. Period.
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