Exit Strategy | Interview with Co-Star Jameel Saleem.

In the upcoming film Exit Strategy the main character, Jameel Saeem is evicted from his apartment and decides to move in with his girlfriend, Kimelia Weathers. After he discovers she’s not the woman he expected, he solicits the help of friends to develop an exit strategy for the relationship.

Brian Riddick – LuxuriousPROTOTYPE (LP) : For an audience who may not be familiar with you or your bodies of work, give us some brief background info.

Jameel Saleem (JS): Well, I’ve been acting since 2000 and done some directing and writing too. This is my first major project but I’ve been in the business for a while. The film Exit Strategy actually started as a web series; the first episode just went out and it sort of caught on. People passed it around and it got out there.

LuxuriousPROTOTYPE (LP): It seems that not only are you starring in the movie Exit Strategy, but you wrote the screenplay as well. What inspired you to write it?

JS: We started the web series in 2007 with seven episodes. I wrote the episodes with nothing particularly in mind. Over time I sort of started my career in screenwriting and suddenly all I spent my time doing was writing. Eventually I was writing and thinking of the next script as current ones came about.

LuxuriousPROTOTYPE (LP): What inspired you to star in the film as the main character?

JS: I had starred in the web series so it made sense that I would star in the film as well. While it wasn’t necessarily a continuation, there are some scenes that are recomposed for the film. Online we had quite a bit of a following and those people seemed to enjoy me and Kimelia (Weathers) as the series’ main characters. She and I are two of the only three who went from the web series to the film.

LuxuriousPROTOTYPE (LP): This is the first production that you’ve both written and starred in, yes?

JS: For the most part, yes—though I’ve written and been in a few of the short films.

LuxuriousPROTOTYPE (LP): As an actor/director/writer, where would you say your passion lies? Which of the three is your more natural calling?

JS: I’d say my calling is within acting and writing but it’s hard to decide which I love more. At this point I guess I can say I want to write and act and I love each equally. I enjoy directing but my passion is not really there.

LuxuriousPROTOTYPE (LP): Kevin Hart has a feature in your film. I’ve seen him in stand-up comedy several times and he’s a pretty hilarious guy. What was it like filming with him?

JS: It was nerve-wracking. The scene we did was improv, and we had to improv with this guy who’s one of the funniest people on the planet. I had to make sure I didn’t break character and laugh during the scene. There were a few times when I almost laughed. I must say, it was an honor and he’s a great guy; we appreciated him being in the film.

LuxuriousPROTOTYPE (LP): What industry legends have been inspirations for you?

JS: Spike Lee and Woody Allen are two I definitely look up to as screenwriters because of the type of stories they create. They’re so unique and their work is so distinctive; I aspire to have a body of work similar to what they’ve create. Jimmy Stewart is another industry role model. I’d like to mimic his career as an average, relatable, nice and decent type of person.

LuxuriousPROTOTYPE (LP): What is your biggest self-critique or what area would you like to focus on developing and strengthening?

JS: Nothing specific—no specific area. I’m not really that hard on myself. I don’t think that my performance was perfect or that I’ll ever come out with a perfect performance. I just know that I can improve. With everything, the more you do it, the better you become. Success isn’t being better than anyone else, just being better than you used to be. With every project I am to be better than I was before.

LuxuriousPROTOTYPE (LP): What can we expect from you in the future/what’s the next venture?

JS: A sequel is certainly possible but it’s not even being discussed at this point. I have four features that I wrote and they are in different stages of development right now. There are a couple of scripts that have been written that I’m not set to star in. I am now developing a script with one of the writers from The Office, Anthony Q. Farrell. That’s still in the works.

LuxuriousPROTOTYPE (LP): Sort of along those lines, where do you desire to be, in the industry, in about five or 10 years?

JS: The long term goal is to keep making movies that I want to see. I really don’t have a set path; I just want to have fun and continue to pursue this leading man experience on Exit Strategy. Before Exit Strategy I did a lot of behind the scenes stuff and didn’t see myself starring in movies. I had so much fun I think I’ll continue to do this.

“Exit Strategy” in set to hit select theaters in Philadelphia on February 10th. Tickets can be purchased at www.fandango.com. Demand It! via http://eventful.com/exitstrategythemovie. The official movie trailer is available on YouTube.

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-Brian Riddick