|Alphonso.McAuley|

I first met Alphonso while he was starring as the recurring role of “Hutch” on the critically acclaimed and adored ABC show, The Middle.

Me and Fonz (as I like to call him) worked on one of my favorite TV projects called The DMV.  He was a pure joy to work with… he’s one of the most positive human beings on the planet.  I think we connected and worked well together because he was the  “Peteranna” to my “Pollyanna” as far as outlooks on life goes.  In development the odds are always stacked against you.  The bad news is that we were unsuccessful in selling the pitch, but the good news is that I gained a friendship in the process.

RS:  You are a stand-up, actor, writer, director, producer… what aspect of your craft do you enjoy most?  

AM:  Being a student of the craft. I’ve been more focused on honing my storytelling skills to tell better, more engaging, stories while having fun along the way. To be a great stand-up, writer, director, producer, and actor, one has to be great at telling stories or the audience is going to check out early.

RS:  When did you know you were great at telling stories?  Or rather, when did you get a sign that people responded to your stories?

AM: I started honing my storytelling skills in high school. I remember telling a story to some of my friends — about a crazy fight that broke out in between classes that I saw. It got to the point where my friends would continue to ask me to retell that particular fight story over and over because I’d make it almost more entertaining than being at the actual fight. I’d naturally add jokes, sound effects, and colors to the story. That’s when I knew I had a knack for storytelling.

RS:  What’s harder… writing as a stand-up or writing for the screen? 

AM:  I think they both hold their own weight in difficulty, if we are talking strictly comedy.  Stand up is hard because you have to constantly work a joke/bit out on stage. The audience’s laughs become your edit points. Once the bit is completely worked out, you reap the reward of instant laughter. No waiting involved. Screen, on the other hand, is an entire process of rewrites and tweaks that one doesn’t know if the joke/bit will land until it’s actually screened and reviewed by an audience. One advantage of the screen is that you have more variables to help the success of a joke/bit/story such as music, cut aways, etc.

RS:  How does your writing process begin? 

AM: Currently my process begins by observing my experiences. Past and present.

I try to reassess my experiences and pull from those to build an engaging story.

Basically, I pay attention to the experiences that I go through or what I’ve been through and expound on that. Whether it’s some type of recreational experience that I’ve never done before. Or a dating experience that I’m able to pull comedy out of or something traumatic that I’m able to build some type of drama from. I try to reassess my experiences and pull from those to build an engaging story. Then I take a snippet from one of those experiences, add some creative water and make a meal out of it.

RS:  What’s been the most difficult part of writing for you? 

AM:  The traditional structural part.  Sometimes this becomes difficult for me to fit into that mold, but I know it must be done properly to tell an effective story.

RS:  Runners call it “hitting the wall” when they find they can’t go any further, but then the endorphins kick in and they move through it. When you hit a wall as a writer, how do you break through? 

AM:  For me, I find something to do from my childhood.  A quick video game break or maybe watch a cartoon/classic comedy to make sure I’m in a playful mood.

RS:  Who are some of your influences? 

AM:  Eddie Murphy, Jim Carrey, Martin Lawrence, Patrice O’neal, The Coen Bros., Roger Deakins… to name a few.

RS:  We’re in the midst of an exciting and challenging time in our industry when it comes to opening the doors to more diversity.  Are there aspects of this movement that you feel have not been addressed?

AM:  One aspect that hasn’t been addressed on a wide scale is having more diversity in the Hair department. There are a lot of moving parts to this, but plain and simple, black performers need more black or (people of color) hairdressers/barbers while on set.

Plain and simple, black performers need more black or (people of color) hairdressers/barbers while on set.

RS:  How have these shifts affected you as far as more roles and/or opportunities opening up to you? 

AM:  The industry shifts haven’t really affected me much. I still go out for the same roles that I’m right for and the roles where they are willing to change the role’s ethnicity.

RS:  When you go to auditions and get sides to read, what do great sides include about the character that’s helpful to you?

AM:  The motivation/reasoning to why this character acts the way he does.

RS:  What’s a role you’ve always wanted to play? 

AM:  Fela Kuti in a biopic. Fela is such an underrated icon. His music focused mainly on the political liberation of Nigeria which opened my perspective up to some of the corrupt politics around the globe.

RS:  What’s a series or film you wished you had created or written? And why… how did it speak to you? 

AM: Breaking Bad. I’ve always liked the villain’s story more than the hero because it seems that the villain’s story has many layers. Breaking Bad is simply that — the making of a villain told in an engaging plot twisting story and it’s layered with so many moving parts that keeps the audience engaged.

RS:  As a writer, what’s the best advice you’ve received?  

AM:  Just write it.

RS:  What’s the worst? 

AM:  Just write it.

RS:  How has your own journey in life defined you as a creative person? 

AM:  My journey has given me the vast perspective of many cultures that I grew up around which has heightened my creativity in so many different ways.

RS:  What are those cultures and in what way have they heightened your creativity?

AM:  The Latin, Asian, and Filipino cultures as well as the suburb and inner city cultures. I grew up around a lot of different ethnicities because my family constantly moved around when I was a child.

Making many friends in different cultures, it’s helped me to broaden my perspective and views which is great for writing.

With those experiences and making many friends in different cultures, it’s helped me to broaden my perspective and views which is great for writing. So if I’m writing a story that involves a latin character or someone who lives in the inner city, I have true life experiences to pull from that can specify the attributes of that particular character. I’m not limited to stories/jokes suited for one culture, but more universal.

RS:  Proudest moment so far in your career? 

AM:  Telling my grandfather that one day I’m going to star in a movie. Then years later… inviting him to my first movie premiere.

RS:  What is your animal spirit and why? How does it reflect who you are?  

AM: Hmmm… If I had to pick, maybe a dolphin because they’re playful, but wise. They’re skillful communicators and unifiers. I feel like I’m a mix of those attributes in some way.

RS: Lastly, what’s a talent you have that would surprise people? 

AM: Not sure if this is a talent, but I can tell the exact type of (US) coin that is dropped on the ground by hearing it without looking. Weird, I know.

And there you have it.  The always engaging Alphonso McAuley.

Bio: 

Actor/Comedian Alphonso McAuley has starred in multiple television and film projects including Fat Albert, Glory Road, Netflix’s GirlBoss, and ABC’s The Middle.  He is currently co-starring in the independent film “Broken Diamonds (2021) and will soon appear in the superhero drama “The HYPERIONS” (2022).   When Alphonso is not busy ruling the world, you can find him here: @mcphonz