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Gay men of color (and everyone else) will find a lot to love in Christopher Street, the groundbreaking new show from model/actor/producer/handsome charmer DWIGHT O’NEAL
INSTINCT: Give us a glimpse of your entertainment industry resume, please.
DWIGHT O’NEAL: Call me a Renaissance Man—fashion, writing, producing, directing, modeling, acting, singing, dancing, rapping, hosting, promoting!
Whew! Your most recent venture is Christopher Street: The Series.
I was inspired to create it to showcase positive role models for the young LGBT community. When I was growing up, I did not have an openly gay person to admire or seek advice from. My characters are great examples of why many of us move to the Big Apple—to reinvent themselves in pursuit of their true happiness.
Was your show inspired a little by another four-friends-in-NYC series?
Sex in the City was definitely a huge inspiration for my baby, but I’d say Christopher Street is the young, gay 90210, with a pinch more of comedy. Christopher Street is the title character who holds within him every characteristic that the infamous street in NYC possesses. As for Jharemy (the drama queen), Ashton (the quiet one) and Shawn (the diva), they keep "Street" from becoming a maniac. I mean, with so many characteristics, a guy could go insane. [Laughs]
Tell us, as a Southern boy turned New Yorker: who really took Manhattan: Jason or the Muppets?
The Muppets! They are far more powerful by ruling with sweetness and kindness.
So much of pop and LGBT culture seems dominated by white faces. In the past, LGBT of color have not always been given equal representation, and when we have, it’s not always in a positive light. With Christopher Street, I want to tell the good, the bad and—most importantly—the funny.
Noah’s Arc is the only major program I can think of that really focused on what it means to be an LGBT person of color, and now Christopher Street is carrying the torch. What advice do you have for aspiring LGBT creators of color?
All things are possible. Just hang in there and know that you can have whatever you truly desire. Ask, believe and receive.
What's the most fun thing about creating, writing and producing your
own show?
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I always get to decide how hot my character's boyfriends are! [Laughs]
Tell me about the "Beyond The Street” tour—the HIV/AIDS charity work you are spearheading that’s tied into the show.
The tour allows me to talk to people about self-love, which I think is the cure for everything. With love, we can conquer the world. On the tour, we go beyond the TV screen and we enter the world of our audience members to talk to them about the issues the series deals with. One major talking point is about one of our primary characters being diagnosed HIV-positive—we talk about what he is dealing with and how his life is changed in a matter of seconds. We also take feedback from the audience, and we offer them the chance to be tested with a health care specialist.
Who's your dream guest star?
I would love to have Lynn Whitfield on as one of the character’s mother. I had the opportunity to show her my trailer and she gave me great feedback. The actor who plays my title character, Jared DeWese, was in tears, because he has idolized her for years. She is an amazing, beautiful actress.
What TV show has you obsessed?
I have always been a huge fan of Bewitched. My mother loved it, and when growing up, I watched it with her. I wish I could twitch my little nose and make whatever I wanted happen—let's just say that Paul Walker, Shemar Moore or Reggie Bush would be right here with me answering these questions! [Laughs]
Your goal is to inspire LGBT people all over the world, but who inspires you? My mother. She has supported me in everything that I do. Growing up, I watched her have unconditional love and a forgiving heart toward all. When I was 3, I told her while watching The Cosby Show that when I grew up, I wanted to live in the TV. [Laughs]
How can people see the show? We are being screened at Prides and film festivals through the entire summer. DVDs are going to be available online on September 5, 2009. My website gets close to a two thousand hits per day, which is insane! Each day, someone is emailing me about what is hot on the "Street!"
For more information on the show and the latest updates, visit christopherstreettv.com and myspace.com/christopherstreet
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