Interview with actor, Edwin Hodge, who portrayed Joe in The Alamo (2004).
AS: Hey Edwin, thanks for the interview! First, why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself! What got you into acting?
EH: I started acting when I was three. I was simply watching The Cosby Show and told my mom, “I want to be in the box” a.k.a the television. We hit the pavement in New York City, found a manager and twenty years later… I’m still doing what I love to do.
AS: What did you work on prior to The Alamo?
EH: I worked on various projects prior to The Alamo. To be honest, I can’t recall a lot of it.I tackled Broadway for two and a half years performing in the musical “ShowBoat”, FOX’s hit show “Boston Public”, and many other commercial, tv, and movies appearances.
AS: When were you first approached for the role of Joe, the slave of William Barret Travis, in the film? How did the casting process go?
EH: I was approached about a month before I flew out to begin filming. The audition process was like most. I had the initial audition and was called back to work with the director. The next thing I remember is getting a call saying I needed to pack and get ready to fly to Austin.
AS: The character of Joe is as shrouded in mystery as is the story of The Alamo itself. Given this, and the script to work off of, what direction did you want to take your character? What did John Lee Hancock have in mind for you?
EH: I, as well as John, wanted to keep the character simple and true. It’s not often that we get to highlight the lives of slaves in film and to bring another positive story within African-American history was important to me. I don’t think people realize the importance of the African-American influence and the many accomplishments. Thanks to this project,I was given the opportunity to tell what could be a very important part of history that not most people heard of.
AS: What kind of training did you participate in before filming began?
EH: Training was a lot of fun. You had a bunch of guys running around with eighteen pound rifles and pistols. It was great to step back in time and experience the extreme procedures people had to endure. With the combination of the Texas heat, heavy clothes, and living out a childhood fantasy within a large fort… it’s was amazing.
AS: What was a typical day on set like? Any interesting stories you’d care to share?
EH: Life on set was great. The crew and cast made shooting enjoyable while working those long, crazy days and nights. I actually don’t have too many interesting stories, but I had good times out there.
AS: Both Patrick Wilson (W.B.Travis) and Afemo Omilami (Bowie’s slave Sam) provide your character with internal conflict throughout the film. How was it to work with the two of them? And how was it to work with your other co-stars?
EH: Working with both Patrick and Afemo was a learning experience. They were true professionals. All of the co-stars were great. Billy Bob Thorton was hilarious.
AS: I understand it took about a month to film the final battle sequences. From the fight on the north wall, to the death of Travis, to your “Soy Negro No Desparo” scene, how did it go?
EH: Those were long, rough, and exhausting days/nights. I still haven’t been able to get back to my normal sleeping schedule. It was very rough on the body. The physical aspect of the shoot was something I wasn’t ready for. I got sleep anywhere I could. I remember waking up on top of a ladder. I had no idea how I got up there when I woke up.
AS: We all know that sadly, before being released, a bunch of amazing footage ended up on the cutting room floor. Are there any scenes that you were in that didn’t make the theatrical cut? I share my thoughts with other fans and students of The Alamo, hoping that a Director’s Cut is released in the near future!
EH: That’s a sore subject for most. The film lacks a lot of important moments in my opinion and that’s all I’d like to say about that.
AS: Joe was, arguably, one of the only male survivors of The Battle of The Alamo. After he identified the bodies of the ranking officers, Joe led Susannah Dickenson and her daughter to Sam Houston’s camp to spread word of the Alamo’s fall. After that, Joe escapes slavery again and quite literally disappears after telling the Travis family the news of his master’s death. Upon knowing this, and having portrayed him yourself, what kind of person do you believe Joe was? What kind of life do you think Joe would’ve led after the traumatizing events at The Alamo?
EH: Well, initially I would think that he was a strong willed man. Slavery is a horrible act that could break anybody, but he was able to survive through it. I would like to think that he started a new life for himself… had a family and found his freedom.
AS: So, how was it to walk the “yellow carpet” for the premiere of The Alamo? I can imagine it was a great time!
EH: The premiere was a lot of fun. It’s always cool to walk down the carpet, take pictures and interact with fans. The yellow carpet was a first for me. The streets of San Antonio were packed. The after party great as well! There was great food and a lot of dancing.
AS: What message did you hope the audience would walk away with after viewing the film?
EH: I just wanted people to walk away educated and understand what actually happened within the walls of The Alamo. Amongst the many stories told, I thought this one was more accurate.
AS: And finally, you’ve had very steady work since The Alamo’s release! What have you done since then and what do you hope to achieve in the future?
EH: I’ve had a series on the WB entitled “Jack and Bobby”, “Invasion”, “Grey’s Anatomy… I’ve done a few more films and am now working on getting projects that I’ve written produced. I just want to explore new avenues within the industry and be successful. I have other ventures outside of the entertainment world and I’m just hoping that those opportunities will be achieved through my many years of hard work.
Best of luck to you Edwin and thank you for the great interview!
