Interview with LaMarcus Tinker

LaMarcus Tinker plays the part of Dallas Tinker in season 4 of "Friday Night Lights". In the interview he talks about what he loves about acting and what it's like to be on a show like FNL. He sends out his love to the fans of the show and says he can't wait until his first trip over to see them.

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1. "Friday Night Lights" is your first acting job. When and why did you decide to become an actor?

"Friday Night Lights" is my first professional acting job. I have been doing theater my entire life. Writing, producing, and directing plays & film have been life's journey. I love to tell stories about life's triumphs and failures in the art form of acting. Acting allows one to embody the emotions and actions of a fictional character and sometimes a real life character, but in the midst of that you are still telling a story and changing lives at the same time. So, this is why I became an actor.

2. Have you been a fan of the show before? Are you a football fan?

I actually had not been a fan before but once I got on the show, I did go back and watch the seasons and became a huge fan. I actually am not a hardcore football fan but I love to watch the Superbowl and the last games of the playoffs.

3. On FNL you've got a lot of freedom to improvise in front of the camera. Do you think this is an easy approach to acting or is it more challenging?

This is a easy approach because it allows the actor to truly embrace the character they are portraying for the audience.Although, this is the case there is still a skill to it. On set we do have freedom to react as our characters would in certain situations but there are still limits to it. Peter Berg said it best "know your script 100% and know your character 110%".

4. Dallas Tinker is a football player. How does it feel on set when the games are shot?

Its a feeling that is in some case indescribable. When we are shooting the games, it truly feels like I am in high school and I am fighting to be the best there is. The energy on the field is unmeasurable and it drives all of us actors to give it, all we got, every time.

5. In season 4 Tinker is a good friend to Luke Cafferty. He comes across as a reliable and good hearted guy. Are we going to see more of Tinker in season 5?

Yes, you will see more of Tinker in Season 5.

6. Coach Taylor turned football amateurs into a team - the Lions. Is it realistic that the Lions were able to win against a well-experienced team like the Panthers?

Yes, it is realistic because the Lions are a team that is a combination of lots of talent but is plagued by personal issues and outside influences. Therefore, the Lions do not lack the talent but in some of the season lacked the will. So, when it got to the point in the season where we faced off with the Panthers, we were not lacking the will. Maybe, we were a little nervous, though... LOL

7. After 3 seasons of rooting for the Panthers FNL made the impossible possible: The viewers turned their backs on the Panthers and rooted passionately for the Lions. What do you think made that work?

What made that work was the brilliant writers that we have on the show. They were able to bring in this new team and new actors, in a way that was not to overbearing. The audience was able to slowly grow with this new team and actors. Which allowed the audience to learn to love and feel for this new entity the East Dillon Lions.

8. It is said that FNL is a realistic portrait of life in a middle-american town. When cast and crew come together for shooting in Texas, do you meet people that are a lot like the characters in the show?

Yes, you do. Sometimes, you get more then you bargained for. I'm just kidding. I love everyone that works on the show.

9. Is there a lot of goofing around on set? Can you share a little anecdote?

We actually do have lots of fun on set. We laugh so much, that sometimes when you leave set, your cheeks are hurting. Even though we have lots fun, we know when the time is right for it but the feeling you get when your on set, is not the feeling that your at work. It's a feeling that you get when you go to a family reunion because that's what we are. A FAMILY.

10. Was it difficult for you as the new guys in season 4 to join the cast who had already been working together for some years?

It was not difficult one bit. The cast opened their hearts to me, right from the get go. In the matter of 2 days, I was officially a part of the family.

11. If you could put together an entire crew for a movie or show: Who would be the director? Who would be the writer? And who would be in the leading role(s)?

There are so many choices: Okay,

Director: Peter Berg
Director: Patrick Norris
Writer: Jason Katims
Lead Roles: Will Smith, Journee Smollett, Michael B. Jordan, Matt Lauria, Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, Johnny Depp, Alfre Woodard, Kathy Bates, Cicely Tyson. (There is just so many options.)

12. What is your favourite place in the world? Where do you feel most comfortable?

My favorite place in the world is home. At home I feel safe & I am able to relax & think about my next moves in this industry.

13. What do you as an artist think about platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Myspace?

They are great platforms for keeping communication with friends & networking. These are the only things, I believe they should be used for.

14. Since myFanbase is an online magazine about TV series, do you have a favorite show?

I have many favorite shows but a few are, I love "GLEE", "Law & Order" (All Branches), "Three's Company", "The Jeffersons", "Hawthorne", Kathy Griffin "My Life on D-List" (she is hilarious), "Bayou City" (Web-Series), "Friday Night Lights" (of course), "True Blood" & many more.

Nicole Oebel - myFanbase