Giancarlo Esposito speaks for SEE’s back to school lecture

Giancarlo Esposito, known for his roles as Gustavo Fring in “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” as well as Buggin Out in Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing”, brought a sold out crowd to the Adele H. Stamp Student Union at the University of Maryland for the back to school lecture on Oct. 2, hosted by Student Entertainment Events.

Esposito’s career spans four decades as an actor and has expanded to director and producer, directing the 2017 drama “The Show”.

Before the back to school lecture, Giancarlo sat with the Black Explosion to reflect on his career as well as some of his opinions on the current state of storytelling through film and television.

When picking his roles, Esposito has always been focused on the story rather than the character that he plays.

“I don’t look at what makes me famous, I look at the story itself,” Esposito said.

Esposito reflected on his role in telling a story. He talked about the importance of stories that  reflect real people and their lives. Esposito said that stories that relate to real people are more compelling which often drives people to connect with them deeper.

“I want to play real people,” Esposito said.

Esposito was born in Denmark and grew up in Italy, eventually moving to New York with his mom and brother at a young age. He used acting as a means to support his family which eventually brought him to Broadway. He then attended college at Elizabeth Seton College in New York earning his degree in radio and television communications.

Esposito came from a Black mother who sang with Josephine Baker, a renowned Black singer and entertainer in Europe who is known for her contributions to the Harlem Renaissance. He also comes from an Italian father who worked as a stagehand. This led to an early connection to not only art and the importance of the history behind any given piece of art itself.

After college, he shifted into acting in front of the camera instead of being on the stage. 

When asked if he would do anything differently in his career, Esposito said he rarely looks back on his work. He also shared how important it is to consider what his life may have looked like when he took certain roles and how that contributed to the character he was playing at the time. 

“There’s an energy about the time and space you’re in when you do something,” he said

He also added that it is important to consider where the world is when an actor plays a role. “Do the Right Thing” is an example of Esposito knowing the history of the tension between Italian Americans and Black people in New York. He admitted to understanding both sides in the film and said that some of his scenes were emotional. 

Esposito finished the interview emphasizing the importance of gaining inspiration when trying to find out what you are good at.

“What is that one thing that really floats your boat, that really gets you excited, that really has you think beyond what it is?” Esposito said.

He encouraged students to contemplate what they are doing and find what they like. 

Indigo Nembhard, a junior theatre major and aspiring actor, attended the lecture. She said that she related to Esposito’s sentiments about inspiration.

She said she was inspired by watching movies and seeing other actors perform. Nembhard realized that inspiration ultimately would have to come from her.

“There has to be an inspiration that comes from within to say that I believe that I have something to provide to that space,” Nembhard said.

Esposito also came to the same conclusion when he first started. He began acting because he saw a Black actor on the screen and was inspired by seeing an actor who looked like him. Relating to the actor inspired him to begin acting. As his career progressed, Esposito would draw from his own experiences.

The AMC show titled “Parish” interested Esposito for this reason. Esposito, who plays Gracian “Gray” Parish, said that he related to this story because it represented real people. Esposito said that this shows the regular guy who has to struggle through a real situation, fighting for his family and for himself.

“Parish” will come to Netflix Oct. 23 and will also be in two films named “The Greatest Living Pickpocket” and “By Any Means”.