Student, photographer, writer, actor and burgeoning singer and dancer.
At just 18 years old, Danté Crichlow has set a clear path for himself while many are still struggling to discover who they are.
The multi-talented New Yorker is no stranger to the island, as his father Philip Crichlow, who is Barbadian, often visits his family here, bringing Danté with him. To date, the youth has not only played in short films and school plays but has landed a role in an award-winning independent film making the rounds across the Caribbean and the world.
The WEEKEND NATION visited the young man and his dad in their family home in Friendship Terrace, St Michael, where Danté revealed his first love was photography.
“I thought about photography first as my mum is a photographer; but at the time I was going through a lot of emotions and I found I couldn’t express myself properly through photography. so one day, I took part in a play in middle school and I found I could express myself. I really got off the ground in my sophomore year when I played in Oedipus [the King],” he said.
It was this play that cemented in his father’s mind his son was destined for the stage. Before then, Philip, who works in the field of outdoor advertising, said he hoped his son would get into a different field.
“My first choice for him was in business, but when I saw him in Oedipus, I was sold,” the elder Crichlow said.
Not stopping there, the young man soon landed a starring role opposite another young actress Eden Duncan-Smith in the Spike Lee produced film See You Yesterday, which
has been screened in New York and the Caribbean and won an award during the recent Barbados Independent Film Festival.
“See You Yesterday is about two prodigies who build a time machine in order to head off the girl’s brother from getting killed by the cops but they soon realise it was not going to be that easy.
“I am really proud of the film because it is the first time I’ve been in front a movie camera which allowed me to understand if I really wanted to do this as a profession – and I do. Right now, it is going through the cycles to hopefully become a feature film,” explained Danté.
Since then, the young actor has also played in a short film named Love Danté – funnily enough not playing the lead character Danté – and will be playing in a documentary premièring next month as a young Booker T. Washington.
But Danté still has his head firmly planted on his shoulders and means to finish college before attempting acting full-time. He currently attends The New York University Tisch School of the Arts.
“All this has been a really humbling experience. Now I just want to learn my craft more and keep getting better,” he said.
As for photography, Danté has not given that up. He said he earns money “on the side” photographing weddings and other private functions.
Both Danté and his father Philip said they were impressed by the quality of the entrants in the film festival, although they focused on differing aspects.
“I liked the cinematography which to me is even more important than the acting. I really hope the local industry gets bigger,” said Philip.
For Danté, however, it is always about the acting.
He said: “The Barbados Film Festival is really showcasing that raw talent which pulls you in.”
Anyone wishing to know more of the film may visit http://seeyouyesterday.com. (CA)