They say if you want something done with creativity and flair, get a Jamaican to do it. Whether it is music, cuisine, alcohol or athletics, we dominate, and we may as well add acting to the growing list of things we excel at as Jamaican actor Marcos James is making strides and gaining recognition for his work both on the stage and on screen. James, who spent his formative years in Jamaica before moving to the United Kingdom for college, is on a meteoric rise and come July, will be all over our television screens as he stars opposite actress Vivica A. Fox in Lifetime Movie Network’s (LMN) hot summer movie series ‘Keeping Up With the Joneses’.
Fans of James will remember him from the Emmy award winning HBO series ‘Game of Thrones’ where his character White Rat was riveting and intense. It is that same intensity that caught the attention of Fox who is the lead actress as well as the LMN’s series executive producer.
‘Keeping up with the Joneses’ chronicles how a sophisticated matriarch assumes control of the family business following the death of her husband.
When the family and business come under threat, she and her four stepdaughters will stop at nothing to protect themselves and all that they own. Dubbed LMN’s first ever movie series event, the three films will air on three consecutive Thursdays in July beginning with the world premiere at 8pm ET on Thursday July 8.
Keeping up with the Joneses’ is part of LMN’s popular “WRONG” franchise, a series of movie dramas often dealing with mystery, romance, crime and betrayal.
Personally handpicked by Fox, James plays the role of William French, the fiancé of Fox’s stepdaughter Kayla Jones (Shellie Sterling of ‘Snowfall’). According to James, after reading the character breakdown for the role of William French, there was an instant connection.
“I began to think of interesting ways that I could portray the character, while staying within the parameters of the role and storyline. I became comfortable with the strength of my interpretation and that in turn allowed me to really have fun with the casting session.
Overall, I think I displayed a ‘comfortability’ with the role and displayed certain technical skills that both Vivica and the production team were looking for. My previous credits with HBO, Walt Disney and other companies, also aided with the overall positive perception of my profile as an actor.”
His preparation for this role on LMN was an extension of what he had started during the casting process. “Since the entire project would be a collection of three films, with a quick turnaround, I wanted to arrive on set extremely prepared. As such, I worked with a private acting coach and together we navigated the script, further experimented with the character’s tone of voice and created a template for which scenes would benefit from minimalism and which scenes could be more dramatic. Although I always prepare thoroughly for my roles, given the time constraints and demands of this project, I went the extra mile. Once on set, I was able to fine tune the character through collaborating with the director and the cast.”
The production also features Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee Eric Roberts (‘Runaway Train’ and ‘The Dark Knight’) and is narrated by singer/songwriter Kandi Burruss of ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ fame. According to James, his character William in ‘Keeping Up With The Joneses’ is a departure from the roles he has played in the past, but one he welcomed.
“Many of the characters I’ve played before, in productions such as ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘The Mahabharata’ were warriors in epic, otherworldly productions- men expressing strength along with hints of vulnerability. But while William in ‘Keeping Up With The Joneses’ is just as complex, it was new and intriguing to navigate his ideas around life and success within a modern day context. I had great fun playing him and audiences who tune in will see exactly why.”
Known as a ‘triple threat’ performer- actor, singer and dancer- James began honing his craft in the popular Cathi Levy, Little People and Teen Players Club and ASHE Performing Arts Ensemble plus the L’ACADCO Dance Company. While acknowledging that the transition from stage to screen was challenging, like everything else, he welcomed the challenge and rose to the occasion.
“In the early stages of my career in London, most of the initial jobs were theatrical. My breakthrough in film came with the role of Simon, in the UK production ‘Reunion’. From that point, I was able to leverage my experience, to land an acting agent. Having an agent was the key to having increased access to film and television castings. Beyond the practical transition, there was also the artistic transition and learning the difference between acting for stage and acting for screen. I had to break certain habits, learn the art of emotional subtlety, trust my on-screen presence and appreciate the impact of minimalism.”
His career catapulted after being cast in the West End production of Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ followed by the leading role in Sadler Wells’ ‘The Mahabharata’, as well as roles in ‘Aida’ and ‘Death In Venice’ with The Royal Opera. Other screen appearances included the TV series ‘Escape the Night’, and the UK Channel 5 docuseries ‘Mummy Mysteries.’
James’ next big project involves developing his first screenplay which contains one of his dream roles.
“It’s an intriguing storyline based in the United States and The Caribbean. Initially, I set out to write a short film. After pitching the script and template for the project to some personal industry contacts in Los Angeles, I was told that the material would work well as a feature film. There is a real demand for original content at this time and so it’s a great opportunity now for creatives to be proactive with their own material. So I am in the process of finalizing the script for the feature film and am being guided by an accomplished producer, as well as personal contacts in Los Angeles and Florida. Beyond that, I trust the vision of my representatives and look forward to future roles that will engage and develop my artistry.”