Shemar Moore, best known for his roles on The Young and the Restless and Criminal Minds produced his first independent film The Bounce Back, which was released in Dec. 2016. The film is a romantic comedy that focuses on a father and author, Matthew Taylor, who is promoting his new book about recovering from a break up. He meets his match in the form of a talk show circuit therapist, played by Nadine Velazquez, who does not feel he is legitimate.
Besides The Bounce Back, Moore has been busy in his career, beginning with a new show on CBS called S.W.A.T. and making a return to Criminal Minds for the season finale.
Being a passion project for the actor, the film something his fans can enjoy as he expressed himself through his work. Now due to be released on Digital HD & DVD on April 4, TheCelebrityCafe.com spoke to Moore about the film and his thoughts on the journey he has taken as he moves forward in his career.
Elizabeth Learned: Your film, The Bounce Back is due to be released on Digital HD and DVD April 4. What has been the reaction you have gotten from your fans since the movie’s release?
Shemar Moore: It’s been a fun ride especially because I’ve been able to make the movie along with my fans. Because initially, when the idea just got started, we raised, with the help of fans on Indiegogo, we raised $630,000. They just like how light and fun and what a feel good movie it is.
I’ve gotten so many comments on social media, fan letters, just saying how much they enjoyed it and could relate to it. That it was funny. They are so used to seeing me play Derek Morgan, being the tough guy on Criminal Minds and now seeing the sweet and vulnerable and corny dad. They just thought it was a fun film and I was very proud of that.
EL: What has been the most rewarding part about the journey in getting the funding for this film and turning it from an idea to a film people can watch?
SM: To make a movie is not an easy task. I starred in the movie and I had some friends of mine join me. Nadine Velazquez is so talented and so beautiful. And very funny, she’s very funny. She has what I call the Tarzan scene in the movie which is just one of the funniest moments in the movie and she kills it. To be able to make a movie and get it made and get it out there for the people to see. We got it into theaters and I was very proud of that.
Now for it to be on DVD, people around the world are going to get to see it. My fans around the world are going to get to see it. And to be a producer, this was my baby, it was a passion project. I wanted to take my turn in producing and where I got to be more in control of the content, the story, casting and location and it was really my little baby and I watched it come to life.
EL: What do you feel is the most important message of this film?
SM: The message I want to give is hope and always believe, believe, believe in yourself and believe there is love out there for us. Love is a tough thing, it’s a beautiful thing but love can feel so good and love can hurt. We wish it was forever, sometimes it’s not. You gotta believe even if you tasted it once and lost it, you gotta believe you can get it back. It’s a movie about relationships, about fatherhood. It’s a movie about taking risks and it’s a movie about hope and faith. But it’s done in a silly, fun, cute way.
EL: What can people expect from the DVD in terms of special features?
SM: You’ll see the movie itself is going to thrill you. But you’ll have behind the scenes footage, you got pictures and video clips. You got outtakes and goofy moments where we were messing up. You’ll get to see the making of The Bounce Back and hear from all the actors.
EL: What was your favorite part about working with a cast that included Bill Bellamy and Nadine Velazquez?
SM: We just had so much fun on the set and it translated to the screen. Bill Bellamy is a hysterical comedian and he’s really is one of a kind. There’s lots of comedians out there but he was perfect. He was perfect for the role of Terry, my best friend/manager. I know Bill from a movie we did about 15 years ago called The Brothers. That’s when we first linked up and became friends in real life. We had a cool little chemistry together and so it was easy and fun to work with Bill because we play off each other so well. And he just kept it light and he’s always telling jokes. That boy doesn’t shut up, he has joke after joke after joke. That kept it fun.
Nadine is such a pretty girl. I joke that I stole her from Denzel Washington 'cause she was in a movie, The Flight with Denzel and I was like ‘Okay, Denzel, but now try some Shemar Moore.’ So I was making jokes with that. But not only is she beautiful and for the fellas, she’s really fun to look at, but she’s really, really talented and very funny. It was fun to see her let go and bring out the humor because she was really good at it. She was a little nervous about it in the beginning but then once she just jumped in and went for it. Again, my favorite scene with Nadine, and in the movie, is the Tarzan scene. I’m in it but it’s got nothing to do with me. It’s about Nadine.
EL: In other exciting news, you began filming your new pilot, S.W.A.T. What drew you to this particular character?
SM: Well, not everybody knows, but people of my generation know that S.W.A.T. was originally a TV show in the ‘70s and 15 years ago, it was a movie with Sam Jackson, Michelle Rodriguez, LL Cool J, Colin Farrell, Jeremy Renner. So we’re not remaking the TV show or the movie. It’s a reboot. It’s an original version of S.W.A.T. set today in 2017.
I’m very excited. We just began filming last week so we’re about five days in. We got another 2.5 weeks to go. I’m playing the lead character of Hondo and he’s just really an interesting guy. He’s got to deal with his loyalty to the streets where he came from, and still lives in, which is pretty much in the hood. But he got out of the hood, became a cop and was pretty much the head of his class.
He’s a fierce man to be reckoned with as a police officer. But he’s got humility, he’s got a heart so it's the struggle of keeping it real on the streets but also keeping the streets safe. He’s got this team of people with him, the S.W.A.T. team and it’s grimy, edgy, it feels real. It’s not just a TV show to entertain you of chasing down bad guys. The storylines and content is based on things that are happening in real life today with Trump as President, immigration issues, racial issues, stereotypes with young kids getting shot unnecessarily. I’m really proud of it. I’ve been in this business for 23 years and here I get to be the lead actor on a TV show. I’m also a producer on the show. It really is and I’m not just saying it, it really feels like a dream job for me.
EL: You are set to return to Criminal Minds for its season finale. Is there anything you can tease us about coming back to the character of Derek Morgan?
SM: I’m just excited that it’s happening. I’m so grateful for my 11 years on Criminal Minds and playing Derek Morgan, flirting with my baby girl Penelope Garcia, chasing bad guys and kicking down doors. And I always said when I walked away, it was one of the hardest decisions I made.
But when one elevator door closes, and they are finally going to open up again. Even though it’s only going to be one episode for right now, baby boy, brown sugar is coming back and he’ll be rejoining the team. He’s going to get his flirt on with his baby girl. Then he’s going to walk on out again over to S.W.A.T. So hopefully fans are going to enjoy the finale and I hope everybody gets really excited for the premiere of S.W.A.T.
EL: What would you like to say to your devoted fans for all their support during these exciting moments in your career?
SM: Just know that, I say it all the time on social media to my homies, my fans, my baby girls, what they're witnessing is a journey of a dreamer. I’ve been very blessed in my life and in my 23 years. I couldn’t have done it without my fans. They supported me, they rooted for me, they’ve flirted with me for 23 years.
This train is just picking up speed so there’s more room for on this train for more homies, fans and baby girls. I just really appreciate that they believe in me and enjoy this ride with me. I’m trying to make this ride as fun as possible. So without them, I couldn’t do what I do and I never take that for granted. I really appreciate their support and love.
Check out a trailer for The Bounce Back below.