Jamaicans make inroads into California movie industry

Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

Born to Jamaican parents, Andrew and Abigail McFarlane are currently making their names in California's competitive movie industry.

Their mother, Joan McFarlane, said it all started when Abigail decided to go into acting after a few weeks studying law in middle school. She explained that Abigail, along with some of her friends, wanted to go to a casting for models but none of the other parents wanted to take them.

"I volunteered to take her and her friends and I just decided to just take Andrew along and the little one, Breanna," she told The Sunday Gleaner.

Andrew, she said, was chosen by many people and went on to appear in the soap opera As The World Turns and on David Letterman's Late Night Show. At 13 years old, he went to California with his manager.

"He said he's not coming back home 'cause there's nothing in Florida for him," Joan said, noting that he has also appeared in advertisements for Sears, JC Penny and Mitsubishi.

However, the concerned mother told Andrew he should return to Florida and they would go to California as a family. When they went, he got roles on the TV series Any Day Now and Hot Boyz with rappers Snoop Dogg and Master P.

"It (acting roles) just kept coming. He was playing every girl's boyfriend on those sitcoms. It was Abi who wanted to do it first but Andrew just fell into it," she said.

Over the last 14 years, Andrew has appeared in television shows like ER, West Wing, The Bernie Mac Show and One on One.

However, he got his break as a series regular on My Wife and Kids, playing Tony, an immature and overly passionate Christian boy who dated Michael Kyle's daughter (played by Damon Wayans).

Andrew is not only an actor, as he is also a writer and producer. He is currently developing numerous projects including Reality Check, a show about four guys trying to make it in reality TV, and No Big Deal, a show about four friends with too much time on their hands living in Los Angeles.

theatre scholarship

Meanwhile, Abigail received a full scholarship to Carnegie Mellon University, one of the top theatre schools in the United States. She has appeared in television shows such as Off Center with Eugene Levy, The Young and the Restless, and City Guys.

Her most recent credits include Grey's Anatomy, in the role of Jamie Anders, and an independent film, Free Samples, starring Jessie Eisenberg. She also teaches acting for Peapod Music and Arts, a non-profit organisation funded by the Black Eyed Peas, and has recently held workshops for Cirque du Soleil.

Although her career isn't where she wants it to be, Abigail said she is still proud of her accomplishments.

"I feel really, really great about everything that I have accomplished. My career isn't as far along as I would like it to be, but I am still happy and hopeful it will happen eventually," Abigail told The Sunday Gleaner.

Nonetheless, she said she recently joined Echo Theatre Company and is also conducting a woman's-empowerment
workshop that will be held in high schools in Los Angeles. Abigail is also writing and directing a pilot called School of Drama.

Joan said she is proud of her children and what they have done so far in their careers.

"I am happy that Andrew has made it thus far and I would love to see him go further with it. The black community needs to support black actors 'cause the more support you get, the more roles you will get. Abigail did her bachelor's in theatre. We would like her to get her dream," she said.

"I am proud of the training I got as a mother in Jamaica 'cause I use my training to teach my children here. My last daughter (Breanna) isn't an actress but she's going to college and on the honour roll."

Although they were not born in Jamaica, Joan said her children visited Jamaica during summer in their early years. They have plans of visiting Jamaica this summer to visit relatives.

"They love the culture. They love Jamaica. They say they are Jamericans," she said, laughing.

Andrew, who is a vegan, added: "It's been a long time since I've been to Jamaica. I haven't been there since I was 12. I love the culture and I love the fruits. I just had my aunt and grandma send me a box of mangoes. I am looking forward to that."

Andrew, who teaches yoga part time, said he has plans to open a business that will sell fresh juices and herbal teas. He said people will be able to socialise while consuming healthy medicinal juices.