The Hollywood Success of Cedric Sanders!

Cox:What brought you to Hollywood?

Sanders:Well, you know just like anyone else. I was a kid in the arts and I wanted to be in the performing arts. I wanted to be an actor and I knew that I wasn’t going to be a professional actor in Tv and film there. So I applied for all out of state schools and ended up at Howard University, and made my way to New York. After New York, I ended up in Hollywood.

Cox:. Did you ever have a self doubting moment when you were going through any of these pivotal parts of your journey?

Sanders:Yes, of course. Even going to college and majoring in theater, I knew I wanted to do that. And that was the only option because that’s just what I was interested in. That’s just what I wanted to learn more about. But I’ve always had the “well, what if.” thought. When I started thinking about statistics and the numbers of people sticking with acting or performing as a career. And you know moving to New York where it was so fast paced and expensive. So yes, I’ve had those thoughts but I do love what I did more than what I thought would outweigh the fear. So like you said, I just kind of dove right in and said hey, lets just see what it’s going to be. 

Cox:Nice. You know, I was reading something. And is it true, that when it came to the ABC series Mind Games, you didn’t get it at first. But you actually re-recorded your role for it and you sent it in again?

Sanders:Yeah, that is crazy. I saw that I got this audition for this show. The character was right for me and I went in, gave what I thought the character was like and they were very nice and like okay, thank you.  And they talked to me a little bit after but I just felt like I didn’t hit the mark. So I called my team and told them about it and they said well, we’ll call and check in and see how it went.They called them and said oh, he’s a great guy but he’s just not the guy. You know, we were thinking of Dule Hill in the West Wing. No one had ever said that before. So I said, oh I know what Dule Hill was giving in the West Wing. I actually replaced Hill in a stage reading of a show a couple years before. So I said, I’m gonna tape it again. 

Cox: Did that moment do something for you? Like where you are now, you go into the moment telling yourself I am the guy. Especially since you didn’t know what they were looking for with Dule Hill from West Wing. And does that even change the way you approach scripts and approach directors and producers?

Sanders: Absolutely. Absolutely. And I did that same thing a few more times. No It didn’t always end up that way. But I ended up getting further and I had no fear of doing it. If anything I was a little bit more aggressive.

Cox: So what advice do you give people who are coming up?

Sanders: That’s a good question. Because I have friends who go through that. And that brings the question: what is making it? What is success? And I really wait for the answers. Is it just looking the part you want or being seen on the show or movie or whatever it is. We have this measure of what making it truly is. But the fact that you’re truthfully going forward and doing all that you can, makes you already successful in just doing that. And I think everyone’s journey is different. I thought my journey was supposed to begin at a certain age. I wanted to do all these things before I got married and had a child. But it didn’t. So I think for every person it’s designed when things will happen. 

Cox: Since we’re on the subject matter, what does success look like for Cedric?

Sanders: I think success looks like leading with your heart and doing what you love. Fearlessly doing what you love. Keeping in mind what lies ahead. I think it’s just really living in your purpose and believing you can live your purpose. And that’s what I understand. Part of being here is being a husband and a father and an artist. So I’m successful right now.It doesn’t matter if I book another movie or tv show for two years. I am successful because I am always going to be an artist who loves what I do and actively pursuing that.