Jeremy Meeks is part of the new action film Dutch. A story based on a action thriller trilogy written by Terry Woods.

The Synopsis

DUTCH introduces a player who will use any means necessary to dominate the streets and beyond. For Bernard James, Jr. aka “Dutch” (Lance Gross), survival is the ultimate score and power is the deadliest high of all. There isn’t an angle he can’t work or a woman he can’t seduce. When he gains control of an African drug lord’s stolen heroin business, Dutch quickly makes it the most feared drug empire on the East Coast. Naturally, there are plenty of enemies vowing to take him down, including a vengeful Mafia heir, an ambitious DA and a conscience-stricken former friend. With Dutch fighting for his life, while on trial, he plays the game and scores a winning hand in the face of all that betrayed him and finds justice his way …the street way!

The Stockton native is known for his mug shot going viral in 2014. Today he is an actor and is feeling blessed to be a part of Dutch. I connected with him via phone to talk about the film and he shared being a fan of the writer Terry Woods while reading the novels while  incarcerated and is super thankful to now being a part of the screen adaptation. Read the full interview below.

Jeremy Meeks: Nancy, hello! How are you?

Nancy Tapia: Hi, good. How are you doing?

Jeremy Meeks: Oh, I’m doing amazing. Very blessed.

Nancy Tapia: Indeed. What a fun day to talk about Dutch, right?

Jeremy Meeks: Yes. Wow.

Nancy Tapia: I know.

Jeremy Meeks: What a blessing.

Nancy Tapia: That’s what I said after watching the film, by the way.

Jeremy Meeks: Oh, you saw it?

Nancy Tapia: Yes. Oh my gosh and that ending, I was just waiting like, something’s going to happen. Something’s going to happen.

Jeremy Meeks: I still haven’t seen it.

Nancy Tapia: No way, you haven’t?

Jeremy Meeks: No, I wait until the premiere, until I see it in the theaters. Because that is the crazy thing for me, to sit in a movie theater and see myself on the big screen. It’s unrea, so I like to wait for that. Because that’s just a surreal moment for me.

Nancy Tapia: That’s awesome. It must be a bit more flattering too, to watch it with other people in this case.

Jeremy Meeks: Yeah and hear their reaction, see their facial expression. I mean, even though I kind of just watch them.

Nancy Tapia: Well, in that case, let me ask you what scene of yours are you looking forward to seeing on the film?

Jeremy Meeks: I am just really looking forward to… I know how incredible it was shot. I mean, Preston Whitmore is an incredible director. I am looking to see progression in myself. When I look at the screen, I want to see myself progressing on screen. 

I want to see the crowd reacting the way I think they might react in certain moments. It’s nice to see them react in moments that I didn’t think I would even get a reaction. I just like to feel the energy of the people in the theater. That, to me, is just everything because from where I came from, then to being at my own premiere it just doesn’t seem real.

Also Read: Preston A. Whitmore II Was Inspired By His Background To Make Dutch [Exclusive Interview]

Nancy Tapia: You say you like feeling the energy. Is that how it pretty much is for you when you’re on set?

Jeremy Meeks: Definitely. Once they yell, “action” I lock in. It’s all about energy and I feed off of everyone else’s. I was just very blessed to be on set with Lance Gross and James Hyde, Tyrin Turner and Macy Gray. There’s so many incredible actors and actresses that I was able to feed off of their energy and also be a sponge to learn from such seasoned veterans. I’m trying to learn everything I can about every aspect of film. So, it was dope to feel their energy, their process of getting into character and staying in the character. It was an incredible learning process for me.

Nancy Tapia: Speaking of the cast, it was a great cast. Can you share a little bit about them? Any fun times on set with them?

Jeremy Meeks: Well, Tyrin Turner, for one, is an incredible dude. We had so much fun. He’s hilarious. Michael Blackson, obviously [chuckles] he’s crazy. Lance was in our moment he

was teaching me the subtle things, teaching me about the subtle facial expression, then know the small moment. I didn’t have any screen time with Macy Gray, I’m sad to say.

Nancy Tapia: You didn’t get to see her at all?

Jeremy Meeks: No, not at all. We missed each other the whole time. We didn’t had no filming days together. But, I did work with O.T. Genasis, and he surprised me a lot. With him being a rapper, I didn’t know how his acting skills were going to be. But, he was much better than I ever anticipated and he took it more seriously than I thought he would, too. It was a good surprise. He killed it, too.

Also, I think it all starts with Teri Woods. With her being a writer, none of this would be possible. I sat in prison for 10 and a half years and pretty much learned how to read while incarcerated. I learned by reading all of the Teri Woods books. So, to sit in prison reading these books and then 10-15 years later I’m in the movie, was just a blessing. It’s just unreal.

Nancy Tapia: I was going to ask if you had read the novels. It’s amazing that you read these novels at a time when you had no clue what the future had in store for you.

JJeremy Meeks: Yeah. I would’ve never… To be honest, I’d probably read at a sixth grade level when I went to prison. I taught myself how to read while reading all of the Teri Woods trilogy.

Nancy Tapia: That’s amazing, Jeremy. That speaks highly of you. I mean, although you were locked up, you decided to make time for improving yourself.

Jeremy Meeks: Yeah, and I’m forever grateful to Teri Woods for writing such incredible stories.

Nancy Tapia: Since you had been a fan before, what character would you have liked to play?

Jeremy Meeks: I mean, obviously I would have loved to play Dutch. But now, being in the film and now knowing my strengths and my weaknesses, I know that they casted it exactly how it was supposed to be casted. Lance Gross was the perfect Dutch and I was perfect for Craze. Everything happened the way it’s supposed to. So yeah, I’m blessed.

Nancy Tapia: Let’s talk a little bit about how you got into the entertainment industry. Would it be fair to say that you are thankful to law enforcement for your current status today as an actor?

Jeremy Meeks: 1000% None of this would’ve been possible without them posting my picture.

Nancy Tapia: Did you ever send them a thank you card? Haha…

Jeremy Meeks: Haha…I don’t think they would like that very much. They’re not very happy, even though they should be happy. You know what I’m saying? They helped change my life for the better. So, I would hope they would be happy, but I don’t think they are.

Nancy Tapia: Leading from that picture. What is your all-time favorite meme of you that you saw out there?

Jeremy Meeks: I don’t know. It’s been so long since I’ve seen one. I really don’t even remember what the memes were. I remember them saying something about a blue-eyed bandit, and they put me next to some dog that had blue eyes. I don’t know….You got to understand, I was gone for 36 months after the mugshot. So, when I came home most of that had already died down. And then, I really didn’t Google myself, I don’t know why.

Nancy Tapia: That’s smart.

Jeremy Meeks: I never really Googled myself.

Nancy Tapia: That says you are a humble person and you didn’t feel the need to do that.

Jeremy Meeks: I mean, my whole thing is, it’s not going to change me, whether they say good things or bad things you know? [Cluckles] So, I just never really looked for some reason.

Also Read: Edgar Ramirez Is Thrilled For His Debut In A Family Film Yes Day On Netflix [Exclusive Interview]

Nancy Tapia:To start wrapping up, what do you have next, after Dutch? Is there anything you can share or talk about?

Jeremy Meeks: I’m working on a couple projects that I can’t speak on. But, I’m working on something that’s going to be insane. It’s a series, a TV show that’s so powerful. I’m so excited for you guys to hear about it. I can’t speak about it now, but you guys will be hearing about it very soon. I’m excited for the future. I’m looking to do a romantic comedy. A lot of people consider me a ladies man. I would kill a romantic film. So, I’m just waiting. I know that role is coming soon.

Nancy Tapia:I was actually going to say that because we see you in action films and as a rebel. You have the look for a rebel, bad boy but I feel like…

Jeremy Meeks: This is not me. I’m a lover, not a fighter. I fight, but I’m a lover. I’m a hopeless romantic at heart. So I know it’s coming. I can’t wait for it.

Nancy Tapia: Well, thank you so much for your time. For now we will enjoy watching you in Dutch. 

Jeremy Meeks: No, thank you. Everyone, go see Dutch, March 12th in theaters near you. Got to look and check.

Nancy Tapia: Thank you so much for your time and good luck.

Jeremy Meeks: Have a wonderful day.

Nancy Tapia: All right. Bye-bye.

Jeremy Meeks: Thanks, Nancy.

Dutch is available in select theaters nationwide today!

Source: LRM Online Exclusive