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Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesMichael Bivins interviews….Michael Bivins?
Empire actor Bryshere Gray recently sat down with former New Edition artist Bivins to talk about the inspiration behind Gray’s portrayal of the singer in the upcoming BET television biopic, The New Edition Story.
“How did you approach it?” Bivins asked Gray.
“Coming to see you in Boston for that two weeks. And just learning where you come from. Learning your playground stomps. How you felt ’bout the situations in the movie, I had to ask you and really get into your mental to really embody the character,” Gray told Bivins.
In turn, Bryshere asked Mike how growing up in the Orchard Park housing projects in Boston inspired his music as a kid.
Bivins answered, “Within New Edition, and of course Bell Biv Devoe, my goal was to make sure that the beat feels good to the soul. So, New Edition in Orchard Park, to me, comes from the rhythm of the soul to the streets of Orchard Park. The things that was blaring out the car systems.”
“You know, what I learned from this industry is that it’s a marathon, it’s not a sprint. Playing your character, it did enhance my acting and it was a great move,” Bryshere added.
The first installment of the three-part New Edition Story TV movie premieres Tuesday, January 24 at 9 p.m. ET on BET.
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