Aldis Hodge Quotes

Surviving the elements is working, but being on set and having to do a scene and being in a room with the same people who you actually enjoy and respect, your day project was easy.

For some reason, I think that I’m not doing enough work. People are like, ‘You’re on a series right now,’ but I’m always like, ‘Yeah, but I can do more!’

My sister is raised to know her value and to know that she stands behind no man. You know, when she gets a husband, you stand side by side, equal partnership. You stand behind no one cause you have to lift each other up. You can’t do that if you’re 30 percent of the value in your relationship or the household.

You get into these executive offices, and people say, ‘Oh, we have this project. Wait a minute, guys, we need diversity – let’s choose a black actor for this; let’s choose a Hispanic actor for this,’ instead of saying, ‘That’s not diverse, that’s just normal. That’s what makes up America.’

It’s crazy how intelligent kids can be at a very young age and how they know what they know.

I am fortunate enough to find opportunities that have a lot of presence.

I feel Noah has been alone for the majority of his life and inherently searching for a family, even though he may not express that outwardly. But his encounter with Rosalee gave him hope in finding someone who thinks like him.

I came out of the womb drawing on everything; I used to draw on my mother’s white furniture and her white walls with her red lipstick and my pencils. Little did she know that would later materialize into me doing what I do now – I’m a painter as well and a micromechanical engineer.

I think enslavement has evolved to what may seem appropriate to this day’s generation. Modern enslavement is imprisonment.

I hear all the time from our audience about how it’s nice to see a positive African-American role model for the younger kids out there that are watching.

I remember, growing up as a kid, history class was very washed-over. They didn’t really get into the gritty bits of slavery. It’s a very, very small section in the history books. It’s not something they really touch on directly with American curriculums.

We’re still talking about women’s rights. We can’t be the greatest country in the world. I think once we lose that illusionary veil of thinking that we are, we can face the problems and really try to fix them.

I think that my humble beginnings were very deliberate, and I’m grateful for them because I’m not sure I would see my achievements the same way if they were handed to me. I’m not sure my work ethic would be the same.

What you do does matter. And people do remember it and feel it.

I’ve always known I wanted to be in design somehow. It was going to be architecture, but I would’ve had to quit acting for it. I realized with horology, I could learn at my own pace.

My mom told us that we should have good shoes, a good suit, and a watch, so I was running around at age 10 looking like a little old man. But somehow I grew to understand that a watch is a representation of myself, of my culture, taste, awareness and aesthetic.

We have far more options for black Americans to tell stories outside of slavery, but whenever it comes to slavery, it’s an uncomfortable subject. Why? Because it’s the most unresolved subject in American history.

A new setting is amazing cause it’s new for the team, and it’s new for our characters. It’s a breakaway from the normal deal. You get so tired, locked into a show for so many years. You get used to doing the same thing. A little shake-up and change is good.

Every job you do, somebody’s looking at it. You’re leaving an impression on somebody. What is going to be your footprint?

With any good projects, I feel like the off-screen chemistry factors on-screen. It’s great when you don’t have to force it, but when it’s not there, you better focus on getting there because, as we live with these characters, we spend more time with one another than we do our families at home.

My approach is always the same. I try to be as honest as possible. Find the real honesty and humanity in the character because even a fictional character is supposed to feel real. And my job is to find that reality and bring it to the screen.

I’m constantly looking for ways to learn and elevate your craft, patience for yourself, and patience for this business. It’s not a fair business. You may be great, but it may take years for someone to notice what you’re capable of because of politics.

When you do learn these things, when you understand what inclusion is, then we can accomplish greater things together.

You can’t just look like one culture and expect to inspire a multitude of people. That doesn’t work over time. Everybody wants somebody to look up to that looks like them so they can truly believe in that reality for themselves.

You don’t ever want to seem less than a person.

Most people say they’re slaves, but in my opinion, to say that I am a slave is to take ownership of actually being a slave – to be a tool, be a thing. Basically cattle.

Sometimes there’s something that a writer doesn’t see or a producer doesn’t see when he’s looking at a shot.

Every single step, although I couldn’t see it, was a step forward and built to where I am now.

I want to have a resume that is substantial enough to hold itself as respectful.

When I was 18, I began attending college for art and design, and I designed all sorts of things from furniture to industrial designs and even watches.

I was in public school until third or fourth grade, and after that, I was homeschooled. I was homeschooled until I was 14, and then when I was 14, I began attending college. Mom was not playing about that education.

I can literally count on one hand how many slave stories have gotten notoriety over the past few years.

Everybody wants somebody to look up to that looks like them so they can truly believe in that reality for themselves.