Bus Howard
He played in Gerard Ender‘s Dollar Baby Flower Man as Vendor.
SKSM: Could you start with telling me a little bit about yourself? Who are you and what do you do?
Bus Howard: I am Bus Howard, born and raised in Chicago. I was the baby Jesus in our church’s Christmas pageant…and I joke that my acting career has gone downhill since then. Each year I was given more to say and enact, which led to school plays and community theatre. I was exposed to professional theatre at the Goodman Theatre and other theatres in Chicago.
SKSM: When did you know you wanted to become an actor?
Bus Howard: I was bit at an early age. My parents divorced when I was young and my father located to NYC, and in summer visits I was exposed to the magic of Broadway. I feel wonderfully alive when I am onstage.
SKSM: How did you become involved in Flower Man Dollar Baby film?
Bus Howard: Gerard and I met in Washington DC as extras on films being shot in DC. Over the years we became fast friends. We both had recurring roles on the HBO series The Wire. It seemed we were destined to work together. Gerard called me to ask if I would be interested in working this film project…I jumped at the chance.
SKSM: What do you think it is about the story that attracts people so much?
Bus Howard: “The Flower man” tells the same type of story…it has the viewers wondering what could possibly happen from an ordinary situation.
SKSM: You worked with Gerard Ender on this film, how was that?
Bus Howard: Gerard as a director has a wonderful eye for showing the action, and is a wonderful storyteller in his dialog.
SKSM: What are you working on nowadays?
Bus Howard: I am a student of Paul Laurence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, Zara Neale Hurston and many other writers of color who tell the stories of those who have at one time been “voiceless”.
SKSM: Are you a fan of Stephen King’s work?
Bus Howard: I have always been a Stephen King fan, from the serial presentation of “chap books” telling the story of the “Green Mile”…the all too believable story of “It”. I enjoy tales of the unexpected, the macabre, and metaphysical intrigue.
SKSM: What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Bus Howard: I think people would be surprised that I play guitar…mostly the Blues…and I write short stories about dimensional travel, time/space issues, and out of everyday situations…something incredible takes place.
SKSM: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Is there anything you want to say to the fans that read this interview?
Bus Howard: I ask fans of “The Flower Man” to view it, leave comments and give it their support…what a wonderful film.
