Omari Hardwick

“I think actors make for very good directors, and I would like to do that one day.”

“Life as a poet and actor truly became full circle as I stood on stage as host of 'Verses & Flow' and lived in both of these outfits. It was one of the best experiences of my professional life.”

“I tend to want to put my fingers over my ears and not hear all of that, not hear that there are so many fans.”

“People are fond of that 'crabs in a barrel' mentality, and I'm like, 'No, there needs to be more so we can create more barrels; there doesn't need to be one barrel.'”

“I always had an interest in telling stories.”

“As an actor, I come to set, and I have already broken the character down by writing a poem about the character. I try to write in his voice, the way he would write it.”

“I've been writing for years, you know, and when I get to a particular place, city, or different locale, I find myself first of all being challenged by those that love me to write more.”

“I would say, as loving as I am... I am definitely an extremely temperamental man who has a very large temper.”

“'Dark Blue' was a really solid show, and it stopped at season two.”

“If you remain open to great directors who look like you, who know what they're doing and are making impactful films that are destroying these 'blockbuster films,' you can do okay, and everybody can get more of a piece of the pie. But you've got to be open and brave.”

“Spike Lee gave me the greatest reaction to the fact that I was this athlete-meets-artist, because I think he saw that I was different. I learned that oftentimes, Spike directs in a sense that he might just stare at you and look at you in a telepathic way of communicating.”

“That point of life when I learned I could cook, that always made me understand what cooks felt like feeding other people. It's okay to receive, but it's really cool to give, so food is to me sexy because it's the fact that someone is giving it to someone else.”

“For me, I'm always looking for the opportunity for a character that challenges me and lets me play two for the price of one.”

“I have very much been a guy who's acknowledged how many women have directed me, have produced... it's been unbelievable.”

“I kept on hearing the voice of God saying if you are going to be the minister that your mom mentioned... then you have to act. My pulpit is acting.”

“I would honestly say I'm in the turtle's race. My journey is a marathon.”

“I was definitely a Daddy's boy.”

“'Power' is really such a good show that I forget I'm in it sometimes.”

“What we have as artists is the immortalization opportunity that others don't have, because our work is lasting; it's there forever to view.”

“Real to Reel is a rare opportunity for new filmmakers to screen their work for industry insiders.”