Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Karen’s Roger Dorman

Roger Dorman is an emerging storyteller who’s bringing important narratives to life on the screen. This fall he starred and produced the crime-drama Karen.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Roger about Karen, his journey in the industry, and his mission as an artist.

PC: How did you discover your passion for storytelling?
Roger: I’ve always enjoyed reading stories. I used to read a lot when I was a kid and all through high school and such. I loved reading fantasy, sci-fi, and action novels. But as far as acting, it wasn’t until I first stepped foot on an actual set after having spent hundreds of hours preparing for a role. I broke down crying internally, realizing how scary it was and then pulling it off. I walked off of the set and I was like, “I can’t believe I just did that.” There’s nothing that can top that feeling of doing a great job after putting all the time and effort into it.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Roger: Mary Aloe is my producing partner, close friend, and acting manager at the moment. She has involved me in a lot of her movies.

Susana Morris is my private acting coach. She’s the one that’s helped me bring out all the emotions needed for the different roles that I’ve played.

I attribute all of my life experiences to my parents, siblings, and friends. You don’t realize how much of an actor you have in you until you start revisiting your life and realize how much content there is to pull from. Not everything needs to match perfectly as long as the emotions required in a particular scene or for a certain line are matched in some way. To be able to pull from my experiences to create art has been such a blessing in my life.

PC: In addition to acting, you’re also a producer. How has your work behind the scenes made you a stronger actor and vice versa?
Roger: Talking to my peers about what is needed for a particular role and listening to their responses and reactions has been very enlightening. Understanding from the other side of the camera what they’re looking for, combined with talking with my acting coach, I feel like I have a greater perspective on what is needed. That’s like having the playbook of the other team. I know what’s needed and am able to prepare accordingly.

PC: You’ve got a new film out now. Can you tell us about Karen and your character in the film?
Roger: Karen is a story about a single White mother who has a couple of kids living in a White suburban neighborhood. An African American couple moves in next door to her. She has a history of abuse and a fear of living next door to African Americans from when she was a child. Therefore her racism comes out.

I play her older brother, who’s also a cop. He thinks he’s above the law and feels like he can get away with whatever. He is backed by a secret society of cops, even when he’s in the wrong.

One thing leads to another. She goes “crazy Karen” on things, and my character tends to take things a little too far.

PC: Were there any nerves heading into this project playing the character that you do?
Roger: Throughout, I was very concerned about delivering the performance that I needed to. There were stretches on set where I would talk with Coke Daniels (our director) about how to handle a scene. There are a lot of intense moments between my character and Cory Hardrict’s. I didn’t know if I could match that energy and deliver the racial slurs. I didn’t want to. It wasn’t natural for me, but I was given help by Coke and by Cory. Through their encouragement and the practice I had done with my acting coach, I was able to pull off a believable performance.

PC: The film hit #1 on iTunes. Congratulations, by the way. What is it about independent filmmaking that excites you as an artist?
Roger: Independent filmmaking isn’t necessarily beholden to the same structure as some of the higher-end projects. Real stories are able to get gritty and truthful and are able to share what’s really going on verus being limited by the concerns or conflicts of interest of some of the larger corporations that would back larger projects. It’s a freeing experience to be able to be involved in some of these smaller projects and to be able to tell a true story, whether that’s conspiratorial or racial or whatever it is. It’s shared in its most truthful, raw sense.

PC: What do you hope audiences take away after they see this film? What’s next for you?
Roger: There are things that are done and said in the film that are, as critics have said, almost too on point. But that’s the whole point.

We’re bringing all of that to the forefront. We’re recognizing that regardless of how outlandish or crazy it sounds, these are things that have happened and continue to happen every day in different ways. Yes, we all know there are bad apples in every organization. Not everybody is one, but there are bad apples.

In this case, it’s my character who is a brutal, racist cop who tends to have some serious issues with his temper. There are people out there like this. There are many, especially in minority communities, that have come across these bad apples.
I hope audiences take it in. If you feel uncomfortable while watching it, take it in. Don’t hate the movie because it throws it into your face or that it’s too soon to bring that information out. The reality is, it’s not too soon. We have to address it. If you can’t do anything about it, at least be aware of it and look out for it. Be sensitive to the fact that there is an issue and hopefully we can create a dialogue and create change.

As far as what’s next, I’ve been cast in several movies. The only one that I can really talk about is Bird’s Eye. It’s a Russian spy thriller. I play a U.S. Senator. It’s going to be incredible. There are some incredible people attached to it. It’s a beautiful project. Hopefully, it’ll be out in the latter part of 2022 or early 2023.

Another project that I’m in is called Armastus. That one involves aliens and a U.S. president and has a historical basis. That should be a fun one. It’s a period piece mixed with a lot of suspense, drama, and truth.

To keep up with Roger, follow him on Instagram. Watch Karen wherever you stream movies.

Photo Credit: Mitch Rose- Roses Reelz