Seize the moment – never put off until tomorrow what you really want to do today” – Carpe Diem; words that have inspired many. Dwayne Barnes is no exception. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Barnes has been inspired daily by those words to go for his dreams.
Experiencing and living some of life’s harshest realities in Detroit, Barnes transformed himself into an artist after losing both of his parents to untimely deaths. Barnes persevered and in high school, he was elected “Most Likely to Succeed”, won a citywide acting competition and was awarded a scholarship to Eastern Michigan University. It didn’t take Barnes long for the acting bug to bite and he was on his journey to Los Angeles.
Two years after moving to Los Angeles, Barnes landed a role in Robert Townsend’s “The Five Heartbeat: The Musical”; where he was nominated BEST ACTOR for an NAACP Theater Award. Since then, Barnes has never looked back. His television credits include such hits as “CSI”, “Cold Case”, “ER”, “Without a Trace”, “Numb3rs”, “The Shield”, “Six Feet Under”, and “Saving Grace”. His film credits include the urban classic Menace II Society, where his haunting portrayal of the ‘cheeseburger loving crack addict’ garnered him critical acclaim throughout Hollywood. Barnes also co-starred opposite Richard Gere and Claire Danes in the suspense thriller, The Flock.
Acting is not the only talent Barnes possesses. He was once a member of the Capitol Records R&B group H20, which has led him to his music venture, his own album Soulful Motivations (Mind Medicine). It's a collection of mind-inspiring, uplifting and encouraging words and music. “It’s the beginning of what I hope will be a movement to the empowerment of people of all walks of life," says Barnes. “I want my life to represent the unlimited potential of anyone.”
Always persevering, Barnes disciplined himself and just recently became a Master in Tae Kwon Do. His feature directorial debut Stranded In The Motor City takes him to an even higher plateau in his quest for the betterment of himself and his desire to help others.
What made you decide to do this film?
It seemed like an interesting story where people could gleam a lot of life lessons. I tend to see things beyond the surface and I think what lies beyond the surface of this family, my family, is a very interesting, compelling, cautionary tale, that can inspire people on a universal scale. I fought making the film, but it continued to gnaw at me and I knew it had to be made. And when my family opened up their hearts and their souls the way that they did, I personally grew from them and I think the world will do the same.
Your family talks about some pretty deep stuff. Does that make you feel like you put them 'out there' in search of fame and fortune?
My family, in their fearlessness, agreed to this. So, my family and I have put some of our business out there to heal the world. We're not ashamed of the road we've had to travel.
Do you feel that you are a better person after having completed this film?
I know my value, and I know my strength and with those two things, I feel it's possible to conquer the world. I can't say I felt that way before this.
How did your family feel when they saw the film?
At this moment, they haven't seen the film. A lot of them have viewed the trailer and expressed their excitement and anticipation on seeing the film. I'm looking forward to seeing their responses to the whole project.
What's your next step?
My next step is doing everything I can to get this to be viewed by as many people as possible. The sky is the limit and I'm Oscar bound!
Now, are you going to get your family out of the Motor City?
My intention is to get any family that is 'stuck' out. I don't want anyone to be stranded. It's not a good feeling. Learn from us. We should all be flying... living Obama-fied lives. This is the generation of true change.
