Interview with Ernie Hudson, actor from Ghostbusters Frozen Empire.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Well, when we first did the original movie, there was a whole section of Winston, having
00:05been in the Air Force, been a demolitions expert, he came in and part of his whole introduction
00:12was sharing that history.
00:15That never made it to the film, but Winston, I think he was more than qualified for the
00:21job of ghost busting.
00:25But you know, sometimes, certainly in the African American community, you may be qualified,
00:30but that doesn't necessarily mean you won't get the job.
00:32So at that point in Winston's life, he's just looking for a steady paycheck, like he says
00:36so well in the movie.
00:38But what was important for me, and thankfully, Sony and Jason Reitman felt the same way,
00:45that it was important for him to, 40 years later, not be still looking for a job.
00:50It was important to me that he be an example of what's possible.
00:54I think in Afterlife, he mentioned that, I want to be an example of what's possible.
01:00But he's managed to have a family.
01:03He does have a family we don't get introduced to in this movie.
01:08And he's been socially responsible and responsible to his community, to not have forgotten where
01:14he'd come from.
01:15And I think a large part of what Ghostbusters is, is that part of him that still appreciates
01:20the fact that these guys were there for him at a time when he really needed it.
01:25When he came into that, he really needed a job and didn't believe whatever these crazy
01:31people were doing, but he became a believer.
01:36And I think he feels a certain loyalty and dedication to them.
01:40I think he's still paying raise, rent, but he's just one of those people.
01:49And what I really appreciated for me is the fact that he's been successful and still held
01:54on to his humanity.
01:55Because so many examples, the guy who's ruthless, he's hard, he does these awful things, be
02:04it in the streets or in the boardroom, that goes against humanity.
02:10I like the fact that Winston, hopefully, is an example of what's possible and still be
02:17and still hold on to what's important in your humanity, your community.
02:22And unfortunately, we haven't seen a lot of that in the movies.
02:26But if the franchise moves forward, I'd like to see just more of that as well.
02:31And I think, you know, and I look at my own life, I go, you know what, I've been very,
02:34very blessed.
02:35I haven't had to do or even consider some things that I've heard other people doing.
02:46You can still, you know, there is a God and there is, in my mind at least, and, you know,
02:52we can, you know, we can live a good life.
02:54That's what I hope Winston represents to the community.