Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Pink Opaque’s Elijah Boothe

Everyone’s eyes are on young Hollywood’s Elijah Boothe. The talented up-and-comer has continued to impress since making his breakthrough in 2016 as Young Cottonmouth in Marvel’s Luke Cage, where he shared the screen with Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali. He then went on to appear in Woody Allen’s A Rainy Day in New York, Netflix’s Coin Heist, and CBS’ Blue Bloods.

This summer, he stars as the lead protagonist, Travis Wolfe, in Pink Opaque, an award-winning film that follows a struggling college student who reconnects with his estranged uncle and navigates a budding romance against the wishes of his girlfriend’s older brother. His performance earned him best actor at the San Diego Black Film Festival.

We caught up with Elijah to learn more about him and Pink Opaque.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Elijah: I sort of fell into the craft of acting by accident. I come from a very musical family, so the arts were always around me in some capacity. One day my mother, Clara Boothe, heard about auditions for The Lion King on Broadway and I thought I would be perfect for the role of Young Simba. I ended up getting numerous callbacks and eventually went to the Disney Cub School. The rest is history.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Elijah: I think the journey itself has had the biggest influence on my career: all the noes, all the rejection. Looking back now, I realize that everything I’ve been through was necessary in preparing me for where I am today and where I’m going.

PC: You got your big break in Marvel’s Luke Cage. What did you learn from that experience that you’ve been able to apply to your career moving forward?
Elijah: Marvel’s Luke Cage was the first time I had really seen myself fully carry a complex character like that with so many layers. I will never forget it. I was in the studio recording ADR for Episode 107. When I watched the scene where I killed Uncle Pete, I literally said to myself “Oh snap, I’m really doing this! It’s really happening!” That very experience woke me up in a sense artistically. It lit a passionate fire in my heart that I make sure to carry with me on every set or stage that I step onto going forward.

Pink Opaque

PC: Tell us about Pink Opaque, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Elijah: Pink Opaque is a coming-of-age story centered around a struggling filmmaker, Travis Wolfe. The film takes viewers on a riveting journey of passion, pain, and romance. Throughout the film, my character, Travis, is trying to balance chasing his dreams, a relationship with his girlfriend Kristen [Ruby Park], along with forging a newfound relationship with his long-lost uncle Robin [Chaim Dunbar]. When the script came across my desk, I was immediately sucked in after reading the first five pages. Pink Opaque begs the question “How bad do you really want it?” This is a film for every dreamer working towards that big break.

PC: The film has made its way around the festival circuit and been well received. What do you think is resonating with audiences the most?
Elijah: So far at a majority of the Q&As, we’ve seen viewers rave about the diversity shown throughout the film, along with how the movie ended. [laughs] Honestly, everyone so far has really enjoyed how Dave Ragsdale [executive producer], and Derrick Perry [director] shaped the ending of the film.

PC: The film comes out August 31. What do you hope audiences take away?
Elijah: I hope audiences are inspired to never let anything or anyone stop them from chasing their wildest dreams.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Elijah: The Parkers

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Elijah: Fighting Temptations

PC: Favorite book?
Elijah: The Power of the Actor: The Chubbuck Technique by Ivana Chubbuck

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Elijah: The Wiz

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Elijah: Fleetwood Mac

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Elijah: A talented young actor by the name of Ramon Reed!

To keep up with Elijah, follow him on Twitter and Instagram.