Interviewed by Influential People Magazine
TRAE IRELAND IS AN AWARD WINNING ACTOR, PRODUCER/DIRECTOR, WRITER, AND PHILANTHROPIST.
Chicago native Trae Ireland is an Award-winning Film and Stage Actor. He is also a Producer, Director, and Writer. His television career began on the awardwinning sitcom “Moesha.” Following his stint on Moesha, Trae landed roles on Emmy awardwinning shows, “Once and Again” and “JAG,” which led to being cast in the films, the award-winning “Coach Carter,” and “Breaking All The Rules.” On the set of “Breaking All The Rules,” Trae met CEO Clint Culpepper of Sony Screen Gems, the film studio that produced “Stomp the Yard,” “Takers,” “Think Like A Man, Underworld & Residence Evil.”
Trae expressed to Mr. Culpepper his passion for film as an actor/ producer. After three years under Screen Gems’ tutelage, Trae co-produced the hit comedy, “First Sunday” directed by David E. Talbert and starring Ice Cube, Tracy Morgan, Loretta Devine, and Katt Williams.
Trae has also been a Producer on “Armored,” starring Laurence Fishburne, Jean Reno, and Matt Dillion. He has also produced “Death at A Funeral,” starring Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Peter Dinklage, Zoe Saldana and James Marsden. Acting still plays a big role in Trae’s career; currently he is recurring on the Hit TV show “Family Time” starring alongside Omar Gooding and Angel Cowan. Trae also has an upcoming episode of the “Golden Globe” nominated show “SMILF” this year. Trae has also produced and starred in the hit seasonal “BET” Christmas movie, “For the Love of Christmas” which is airing now. Streaming now, Trae also produced and starred in the smash runaway “NETFLIX” Movie hit “Pierre Jackson” where he also won the “HAPAWARD’S” “BEST ACTOR” Leading male for his role in “Pierre Jackson.” On the horizon, Trae has a feature movie that he has funded, produced, starred in and edited himself titled, “I Left My Girlfriend for Regina Jones” starring Elise Neal, KJ Smith, Wesley Jonathan and Adel Givens. Let’s give a round of applause for this dedicated inspirational man!
Trae Ireland is acting as Salem Poor in the upcoming movie “Bucks of America”. Who is Salem Poor? Salem Poor was born into slavery in 1747 on a farm in Andover, Massachusetts, he was owned by John Poor, and his son John Poor Jr. As an enslaved African American man who purchased his freedom, Salem became a soldier and rose to fame as a war hero during the American Revolutionary War. He is one of some three dozen African Americans who fought at Bunker Hill. As many as 5,000 African Americans, both freemen and slaves, fought on the patriot side, while many more, perhaps 20 to 30 thousand, aided the British in some way. The hopes of blacks that military service for either side would lead to full equality were dashed. In December of 1775, Minutemen officers, including a Colonel, wrote a petition, citing Poor’s heroism explaining that “…we declare that a Negro man called Salem Poor of Col. Frye’s Regiment, Capt. Ames Company in the late Battle of Charleston behaved like an experienced officer, as well as an excellent officer to set forth particulars of his conduct would be tedious. We would only beg leave to say in the person of this centers a brave & gallant Soldier.” Poor’s service record shows he reenlisted several times and was involved in battles at Saratoga (New York), Monmouth (New Jersey), and Valley Forge (Pennsylvania) before being discharged in March of 1780. Salem Poor died in 1802 at the age of 55 and was interred at Copps Hill Burial Ground near Boston, Massachusetts. On March 25, 1975, “Salem Poor- Gallant Soldier” was honored with his image on a ten-cent postage stamp, as part of the Postal Service Revolutionary War Bicentennial Series of stamps entitled “Contributors to the Cause.”
IPM: Tell us about your audition. What did you do to set yourself apart from the others in the casting call?
Trae: This is Robert Gatewood’s baby…he has the rights and is the writer/producer of this movie. He himself was watching a film of potential actors and saw something fitting in me to portray Salem. So, he reached out…we talked…he sent literature…I researched and discovered…now I’m in.
IPM: What is the most important thing that you want people to know and remember about Salem Poor’s life?
Trae: Everything…all of the good and greatness he achieved as well.
IPM: What was your biggest take away that you think our readers should know about Salem Poor?
Trae: That there is eventually recognition and appreciation of achieving.
IPM: You, in essence, started your career as a producer. What attracted you to begin a career as an actor?
Trae: The initial attraction was me being a kid seeing other kids on TV with their own shows like Nickelodeon’s “You Can’t Do That On Television” and those kids being treated better than most adults…being catered to and gifts and just having fun while making money.
IPM: Is acting difficult?
Trae: Not difficult to act…difficulties are getting the funds for movies and getting the opportunity to get cast in a studio feature movie to be released in theaters.
IPM: What piece of advice would you give to someone aspiring to become an actor?
Trae: To truly (and this is not cliche) really build your relationship with God (creator of everything). You will undoubtedly need God each and every level you land on and achieve too.
IPM: Where did you learn the art of acting?
Trae: Life experiences trained me IPM: In closing, what advice would you like to share with our readers and people aspiring to be a part of the entertainment industry?
Trae: Really do your best to know not only about the persons you’ll be doing work with or at least find out their commitment to do things before you overly invest your time. Sometimes you may find yourself seemingly more passionate about someone else’s project than they are of their own and you may do more than them.
IPM: Thank you Trae for sharing with us your experiences and perspective on Salem Poor and producing and acting in major motion pictures.
Trae Ireland’s Social Media:
Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube
Mark your calendars moviegoers! This must-see film will be hitting theaters in the summer of 2021. Its projected release date is set for the 246th anniversary of Bunker Hill. See you there!
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