Interview: Dorian Missick Talks ‘For Life’

Watch our conversation with Dorian Missick, the star of ABC’s legal drama For Life, as we discuss the significance of the show and how it facilitates a much needed conversation about the justice system.

Shawn Richardz: Hey Dorian, how you doing?

Dorian Missick: I’m very good, how are you?

Shawn Richardz: Good, good, good. So with this show, which I am a huge fan of – huge fan of your DJing and also a huge fan of your work. What is it about this show in this particular time do you think is important?

Dorian Missick: I feel like America is ready, you know, if they are not ready then they’ve been primed enough to where we can get them listening. The conversation about the American penal system has been going on and I just think that we have an opportunity to address it, and to be in people’s living room every day, every week rather, it really brings it home. A lot of times I think that if you are not from certain communities and something doesn’t affect you you feel like this is happening out there, this is not my thing. You can have an opinion about something that’s happening across the river, whereas when we are in your living room every week, there’s a certain feeling of having to deal with it. When you start rooting for Aaron and you like, “I don’t know anybody like this guy” but you’re rooting for him, it starts to open up your eyes and think that there are other Aarons. Or when you’re rooting for Jamal. And I think that’s an important thing about television, and one of the greatest things about our show – is that we’re able to open up a conversation for people that maybe wouldn’t talk about it…

Shawn Richardz: … Or are afraid to talk about it

Dorian Missick: Right! Or don’t even know, [or] have the tools to discuss it. Don’t even know it has to be talked about. I think that’s the biggest thing in America – people don’t realize that certain things have to be addressed. If it doesn’t affect them personally they feel like this is something that needs to be talked about. There are millions of people in this world, people in this country, that have a different experience than you and I. And it needs to be addressed.

Shawn Richardz: Well, I find it very interesting that your wife is playing a judge and you are doing this…

Dorian Missick: You find it interesting, I find it very natural. That’s a judgy lady! (laughs) I’m just kidding. I was like, yeah they picked the right one, you’re a judge for sure!

Shawn Richardz: So what are those conversations like when it comes time to coming home and maybe just decompressing from the character – for you and for her?

Dorian Missick: We talk about our work so much. I’m so glad we’re both doing something we are inerested in because we come home and we unload on each other, or download, however you wanna say it. Discuss our work at nausea. We discuss how to approach scenes. It’s just a lot. So this is just a natural progrssion that we both have shows that deal with the legal ssystem. And it’s a conversation that we have, especially her said of the family. Her side of the family is very political. We do family calls with her parents, and her brother and sister, it’s usually politics. Our family – we usually talk about religion or something, but her family – it’s usually politics. And so it’s like a very natural thing. I love debating with her dad, he’s my dad, I love debating with him about politics. So, it’s a natural progression in our household actually.

Shawn Richardz: Being that you are the DJ, is there a song or a music when you are on set to get in character?

Dorian Missick: I have a playlist that is kind of crazy, it’s all over the place. It really depends on what mood I need to be in for the day. It changes. As time goes by, the character kind of dictates what he needs to hear. And sometimes it’s not at all what I chose. Joy Bryans dressing room is next to mine, and sometimes I feel really sorry for her cause I blast my music. I wonder if Joy has a problem with this, she never said anything to me but I wonder (laughs). And I noticed that I’ve been mysteriously placed the furthest from the set. I think that’s because I make the most noise, Imma just be real (laughs)

Shawn Richardz: Well thank you so much. And we at Hollywood Melanin are so excited for your character and just having you come to the screen and bring all of these elements to your character.

Dorian Missick: Thank you, it’s been a pleasure

Shawn Richardz: Thank you!