The Gateway to the World of Art; Why Colman Domingo Never Forgets His Roots
According to the CinemaDrame News Agency, the city of San Francisco holds a very special place in Colman Domingo’s heart. He called the city home between 1991 and 2001 and says, “That was where I came of age as an artist.” For this reason, it was highly fitting that Variety, in partnership with the Frameline Film Festival, presented Domingo with its “Creative Conscience” Award at the Castro Theatre on June 27.
Domingo is no stranger to this festival. He says:
“I used to go to the Frameline Festival every single year, especially to watch the short film programs. Short films were very important and ambitious to me as an art form, showing a slice of life. They provided a reflection of who you truly are and who you wish to be—whether it was about love, struggle, or joy. I looked at this event as a pilgrimage every year, so the idea of returning home and going back to the Castro Theatre is incredible to me.”
Domingo credits the Frameline Festival as an influential factor in finding his artistic path, stating, “I owe a great deal of my journey to Frameline.”
The actor is experiencing a phenomenal run in his career; he features in the highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic Michael, Steven Spielberg’s Day of Disclosure, and has wrapped up his role as Ali in HBO’s hit series Euphoria. He also stars in Netflix’s series The Four Seasons, where he also stepped behind the camera to direct an episode.
When asked how he selects his projects, Domingo says:
“It all comes down to taste. I am very decisive when analyzing what I think works for me. At the same time, I think I am someone who has never forgotten his roots in the San Francisco Bay Area.”
He recalls that in his youth as a budding actor, he would sometimes reverse roles with directors and producers:
“I want to know the room I’m going into. I want to know my collaborators. What is this experience going to be like? How is it going to feed me, and how am I going to feed it? Do I even have anything to offer?”
Both Steven Spielberg and Antoine Fuqua (director of Michael) asked Domingo during their meetings for their respective films whether he felt he had something to offer to the role and the experience. Domingo notes:
“How beautiful is it to be asked that as an artist! It forces you to think: Do I have something to offer? What can I give—not just as an actor and an artist, but as a human being? How are we going to shape the set and treat one another? I am very clear about these things. I think that’s why my career has shaped up the way it has, and perhaps it is the reason for my beautiful successes.”
Domingo has a philosophy that serves as a North Star guiding his choices: “Pursuing great work, creating a good environment behind the scenes, and achieving meaningful success.” He says:
“I’ve been following this blueprint for a long time, and I’ve never done anything just for money or status. Sometimes I’ve had to walk away from roles because I felt it wasn’t right for me at that moment, trusting that more opportunities would come. I always feel like there is abundance for me in the world. So it’s okay to let go of certain things and move toward that North Star, because it will lead us to incredible moments and collaborations.”
Domingo’s momentum shows no signs of slowing down. Later this year, he will begin work on the Nat King Cole biopic Unforgettable, a project where he will simultaneously take on the roles of director, producer, and lead actor.
