Edwin Martel Basil Hodge is an American actor and the older brother of actor Aldis Hodge. He is best recognized for portraying "Dwayne, The Stranger" in The Purge film series, the only actor to appear in all three films.
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» All Actor InterviewsI'd love to answer whatever questions you may have about The Purge franchise, my career and life in general! Ask Away
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What would be the first crime you would commit if a "Purge" (as depicted in the movies) actually happened?
I honestly wouldn't voluntarily choose to purge. If protecting myself or my family is the issue... Then I will do everything in my power to make sure they're safe. I might just run around jacking high end cars rather than take an innocent life.
How close to a Founding Fathers situation do you think we are in America? What would push us over that edge?
Looking at the state of politics now, we may not be far from it. I would hope that the majority would be opposed to this idea though I feel it happens in others ways that aren't so aggressively violent now. Ignorance and the lack of moral value for lives, if taking to the most extreme level, will push us over the edge.
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Interesting question...
I would hope that people would hope that the staff have moral value and protect them if the situation actually occurred.
How many full grown men do do you think it would take to take down a full grown gorilla without any weapons?
Funny question! Honestly I'd take a full grown gorilla over eight men any Day. Even then, I think the gorilla would be able to handle more.
if an event like the purge were to happen yearly in real life, how do you think society would change?
Good question...
With the state of the world today, I believe it would only get worse. There are always going to be the few that wouldn't follow the law. The underprivileged would continue to fear poverty and death while those in a much higher position succeed without failure. At the end of the day though, no one would be safe from the purge. Sometimes the weak will find the strength to fight back.
Have you and your brother Aldis ever gone for the same role?
Indeed we have! In fact, we both auditioned for his amazingly produced show "Underground". He was definitely the best thespian for it!! He's done things with his character that has helped me as a performer. We're both lucky to have the careers we have and look forward to working together again in the future.
What would you think about a prequel called "The Binge", which is just about people boning as much a possible in a 24hr period to make a fuckton of babies?
lol Honestly, I don't know how to answer that question. Make the movie and see what the public thinks.
Hi Mr. Hodge, what is the best thing a director can do for you on set? :~)
Communication is the key. I like working with directors who have a understanding from the performers point of view as well as maintaining the structure of the visual world he or she wants to create. There has to be a balance of allowing the artist to be creative without pushing the limits in a way that the story wouldn't make sense.
What was it like working with James DeMonaco?
James is one of my favorite directors. Working with him on these films have been a great experience. He truly had a vision of the story he wanted to tell and was gracious enough to allow me to help bring his vision to life. He worked with the cast in a way that felt inclusive rather than authoritative.
What was it like working with John McTiernan?
Wow! You threw it way back. John is a great guy from what I remember. Definitely humbled to have had the opportunity to work with him. I just remember running around and having fun on set as a kid.
What do you look for in a script? :~)
The story has to move me in a way that I feel will make the audience really sit back and pay attention. I like scripts that can truly pull on every emotional string you have and leave you wanting more in the end. That means I try to look for scripts that will challenge me and make me better as a performer as well as it being entertaining.
What was it like playing The Bloody Stranger, The Stranger and now Dante?
Dante has a nice evolution in my opinion. We were able to take a beaten down and somewhat hopeless man and turn him into a fighter over the span of the three films. The fact that he gets stronger and his objective becomes more clear to him that he has to fight back says a lot about the people of our nation in reality.
What was it like working with Keith Stanfield? :~)
I actually didn't have the pleasure of working with Keith personally. He definitely did a great job adding the suspense in the sequel.
In all honestly, which Purge film do you think is the best?
I can't answer that because I haven't seen the third installment yet. Unfortunately I wasn't able to make it to the premiere. The first one will always be my favorite because it set off the success of the franchise, but they've gotten better every time. I wouldn't expect anything less. I'll be seeing it opening night for sure!
Lol. Wouldn't even know where to start with that question. Film it and see what reaction you get.
I will take that as written permission.
Be back in 3 years.
lol
Where would you hide in the event of a real life purge?
I would like to think that I'm safe in my home. I'd lock it down and hope I wouldn't have to defend myself. I could just take a vacation while the purge is happening. That's a better idea.
Have you ever thought of the complications that "All crime being legal" could bring? Like if all crime was legal, people could kidnap and rape 5 year olds and traffic them?
I haven't thought about it to that extreme, but that's something that sadly happens even without the idea of the purge. All crimes are bad and places us in a regressive state. Our focus is more about the political injustice we face.
Do you prefer a director that asks for a specific kind of performance or a director that tries several takes with varying interpretations, that will be selected in editing?
Great question! I feel I work better with a director who has a very clear picture of what he or she wants. I usually will tend to stick with a certain idea based on the material, but I love being able to play around with a scene from time to time.
As Above, So Below is one of my favorite recent horror films! What was it like filming in the Paris catacombs?!
The Parisian catacombs were pretty intense. Being claustrophobic didn't help at all, but it was an amazing experience being able to film in such an authentic environment for the show. It definitely heightened the scare factor a lot.
How did it impact your career being Basketball Teen #1 in Big Momma's House?
LOL At the end of the day, it was a highly entertaining gig to work on. I got to work with my brother and someone I was a fan of. Martin Lawrence had us laughing the entire time we filmed. With where I'm at today in my career, I'd say the impact certainly was positive.
Now that the movie is out, and reviews are in, what do you think of the purge movies?
That question can be answered once I see the third installment tomorrow. What I can say is that the effort put into the films are evident once they hit the big screen. I think they serve a purpose to entertain and educate in a way. It's one of the primary reasons I chose to sign onto the first film.