Antonio McKay
"SANGRE NEGRA"
ACTOR / WRITER ANTONIO MCKAY SHARES HOW FICTION CAN SOMETIMES MIMIC REALITY.
by Jules Lavalee
Copa Style Magazine's Hollywood Reporter
Antonio McKay was born to Jamaican and Columbian parents and grew up in Chicago, IL. The “Sangre Negra” bad boy Ricky Santos persona was first glimpsed when young Antonio was caught with a girl getting frisky in an empty classroom, this resulted in his parents sending him to a strict boys’ school in Jamaica, WI. McKay’s character Ricky Santos in “Sangre Negra” chose a criminal path. While his Latin family took a different path.
Copa: Antonio briefly describe your background and explain when you set your sight on Hollywood.
Antonio: I was a kid when I knew I wanted to be an Actor. After high-school I went to Columbia College in Chicago, where I was a communications major, but I decided it wasn’t for me so, I switched to theater. Where else would I find the girls? After Columbia College, I tried my hand at Law School, but it just wasn’t for me. Ever since, I was a little kid I was fascinated with actors that I saw on T.V., but not just any actors. It was the actors with the romantic leads. I marveled at their charisma and ease on the screen. I especially liked watching the rogue characters, like those portrayed by Errol Flynn and Clark Gable in the old late night movies.What was your first role and what was it about the role that interested you?
I landed my very first role on television on my second Audition out in LA, when I still was a non-union Actor. It was for the TV series The A-Team. The series creator the late Stephan Cannel liked me so much that he wrote a Taft Hartley letter to SAG letting them know that I was better than anyone in the Screen Actors guild for the role.and that is how I got my SAG card.
Antonio: I was a kid when I knew I wanted to be an Actor. After high-school I went to Columbia College in Chicago, where I was a communications major, but I decided it wasn’t for me so, I switched to theater. Where else would I find the girls? After Columbia College, I tried my hand at Law School, but it just wasn’t for me. Ever since, I was a little kid I was fascinated with actors that I saw on T.V., but not just any actors. It was the actors with the romantic leads. I marveled at their charisma and ease on the screen. I especially liked watching the rogue characters, like those portrayed by Errol Flynn and Clark Gable in the old late night movies.What was your first role and what was it about the role that interested you?
I landed my very first role on television on my second Audition out in LA, when I still was a non-union Actor. It was for the TV series The A-Team. The series creator the late Stephan Cannel liked me so much that he wrote a Taft Hartley letter to SAG letting them know that I was better than anyone in the Screen Actors guild for the role.and that is how I got my SAG card.
Copa: Tell us about your series “SANGRE NEGRA."
Antonio: In “SANGRA NEGRA” the Santos Brothers are "Ricky" (played by myself) "Guillermo Jr "(played by Ricardo Herranz) and "Christian"(played by Danny Arroyo) and Erik Estrada plays our father. It is a story about 3 brothers sired by Guillermo Santos (Erik Estrada) a former Latin soccer phenom turned political activist and very wealthy land owner. The brothers are Ricky Guillermo half black, half Hispanic, the illegitimate son of Guillermo Santos. Ricky was born out of a youthful indiscretion by Guillermo Sr. with an African American high school student when touring the USA. His brother, Guillermo Jr. was born from Guillermo Sr’s earlier marriage and Christian is from a recent marriage. Although the brothers wound up living together they all took different paths. Guillermo Jr., is a criminal defense attorney, while like his father, Christian becomes a cop, and Ricky chooses a criminal path. I am the Writer for the series and Frank Pinnock is the Director.In “SANGRA NEGRA” the Santos Brothers are "Ricky" (played by myself) "Guillermo Jr "(played by Ricardo Herranz) and "Christian"(played by Danny Arroyo) and Erik Estrada plays our father. It is a story about 3 brothers sired by Guillermo Santos (Erik Estrada) a former Latin soccer phenom turned political activist and very wealthy land owner. The brothers are Ricky Guillermo half black, half Hispanic, the illegitimate son of Guillermo Santos. Ricky was born out of a youthful indiscretion by Guillermo Sr. with an African American high school student when touring the USA. His brother, Guillermo Jr. was born from Guillermo Sr’s earlier marriage and Christian is from a recent marriage. Although the brothers wound up living together they all took different paths. Guillermo Jr., is a criminal defense attorney, while like his father, Christian becomes a cop, and Ricky chooses a criminal path. I am the Writer for the series and Frank Pinnock is the Director.
Copa: What does Sangre Negra mean?
Antonio: It means black blood and has many connotations in this series. We were inspired by the most important and significant drama series of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s and 90’s like Dallas, Dynasty, Bonanza, and Sopranos, although “Sangra Negra” is different. It is about a Latin family with a racially diverse cast.
Antonio: It means black blood and has many connotations in this series. We were inspired by the most important and significant drama series of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s and 90’s like Dallas, Dynasty, Bonanza, and Sopranos, although “Sangra Negra” is different. It is about a Latin family with a racially diverse cast.
Copa: When is Sangre Negra scheduled to air?
Antonio: We are due to begin airing on Amazon Prime this Fall.
Antonio: We are due to begin airing on Amazon Prime this Fall.
Copa: Where do you get your inspiration?
Antonio: I get inspiration from films and T.V. Programs that I like, as well as, actual incidents in my own life.
Antonio: I get inspiration from films and T.V. Programs that I like, as well as, actual incidents in my own life.
Copa: What do you enjoy more, acting or writing?
Antonio: I enjoy writing more than acting, but I love playing the character of Pretty Ricky, so much that acting is fun again!
Antonio: I enjoy writing more than acting, but I love playing the character of Pretty Ricky, so much that acting is fun again!
Copa: Are there any similarities between the character of Ricky to Antonio McKay?
Antonio: Actually Ricky’s personality is just like mine, as in his sense of humor and style. I am more of a sympathetic person than he is, but essentially Ricky Santos is me, except I don’t kill people yet…
Antonio: Actually Ricky’s personality is just like mine, as in his sense of humor and style. I am more of a sympathetic person than he is, but essentially Ricky Santos is me, except I don’t kill people yet…
Copa: How does it feel to play Ricky Santos?
Antonio: It is the best feeling in the world to bring to life a character that I have created.
Antonio: It is the best feeling in the world to bring to life a character that I have created.
Copa: What is the best thing about being an actor?
Antonio: Being an actor, gives you an excuse to never grow-up. We are always playing and pretending and that is a great privilege when you are an adult.
Antonio: Being an actor, gives you an excuse to never grow-up. We are always playing and pretending and that is a great privilege when you are an adult.
Copa: What is the best thing about being a producer?
Antonio: The best thing is creating a plan and watching and nurturing it until all comes together.
Antonio: The best thing is creating a plan and watching and nurturing it until all comes together.
Copa: Tell us about your cast. Are you one big family? How did you choose the actors?
Antonio: Yes, we are one big family. Sometimes we fight and argue, but in the end we realize that the show is the most important thing. Putting the cast together is simply a matter of finding an actor’s strength and making it that particular character a definitive trait. Danny Arroyo’s intensity is perfect for Christian Santos and Ricardo Herranz’s intellectual presence and demeanor is right for Guellermo Jr.
Antonio: Yes, we are one big family. Sometimes we fight and argue, but in the end we realize that the show is the most important thing. Putting the cast together is simply a matter of finding an actor’s strength and making it that particular character a definitive trait. Danny Arroyo’s intensity is perfect for Christian Santos and Ricardo Herranz’s intellectual presence and demeanor is right for Guellermo Jr.
Copa: Where would you like to see Sangre Negra in five years?
Antonio: I see us going into the 5th season of Sangre Negra!
Antonio: I see us going into the 5th season of Sangre Negra!
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~Copa
(Layout by Rodney Wayne Branche)