Belizean Actor Kareem Ferguson on H.B.O. Max
We often hear stories of Belizeans in the Diaspora doing impressive things. Tonight we feature an actor in Hollywood who was born and raised in Belize City, before migrating to the U.S. with his family. Kareem Ferguson has not forgotten his roots, even though he has been able to establish a successful career in the entertainment industry. He also has a love for aircraft, mentoring, and human rights advocacy. Today he spoke with New Five’s Paul Lopez about his journey over the years from Belize to Holly Wood.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Meet Kareem Ferguson, the Belizean recently featured in a series on H.B.O. Max. Ferguson played a role in an episode of Winning Time, a show based on a book about the rise of the Lakers dynasty. Ferguson also acted in and produced an indie horror movie called “Tethered” in which he plays a hunter who tries to save a blind teenage boy who lives in total isolation. Ferguson has also been featured in OFF BOOK, a new online theater magazine. And, the list goes on. It is safe to say, Ferguson is doing his thing in the industry.
Kareem Ferguson
Kareem Ferguson, Belizean Actor
“I am not a star but I am a successful actor, and that has taken a lot of time to have to own that, because there is this artificial thing, you can’t even though it, like you have made it. What is making it? Making it for me is being happy, being happy without material things. I am grateful that I am have quite a few material things, but having absolute happiness.”
Ferguson grew up in Belize City and migrated to the US with his family when he was in standard five.
Kareem Ferguson
“I grew up in Kings Park area, Don Street. I went to All Saints School and some of my, I talk to people in Belize almost every day. I left Belize physically but anybody weh know me weh know me know that Belize is not gone, people weh come over yah. I dah like, nuh come over yah the try fih speak we talk Creole.”
When Ferguson is not acting, producing and working as mentor to young talents in the industry, he is flying planes, a passion he discovered after seeing British harrier jets in Belize.
Kareem Ferguson
“When the British mih the deh and deh had the harrier jumbo jets and those Super Puma helicopters, I wanted to fly helicopters more than what they call fixed wing airplanes, like you know on your stereotypical airplane the wing is fixed. The helicopter that is called a rotary wing, I wanted to fly helicopters because I was fascinated by them and the harrier could do all this kind of move.”
So, how did he get into acting? While doing his undergraduate studies, Ferguson followed some friends to audition for a musical. To his surprise, he was cast as one of the leads. Soon he left aviation studies to take acting classes.
Kareem Ferguson
“Of course my parents were not happy. They were like, what? From the time we know you want fly plane and you actually have license. At that time I had had this professional internship for this major airline. I was on the track to work my way up. But, I put that aside and said I want to learnt to act. That is what took me off.”
The Belizean actor is also passionate about Black issues and L.G.B.T.Q. rights.
Kareem Ferguson
“It has been filled with fear, frankly. It has been filled with, fear is the root. You might say you are embarrassed, ashamed, you wonder am I going to make it in the business because of the homophobia? I am like, you done black. There was a time in Hollywood, and thinks are changing, but there was a time where it was like this one kind of black representation and you have one or two people who makes it in. It took a lot faith, a lot of never giving up, just pushing through, to say you know what I am valid, this is who I am, and stop apologizing. You are not going to win them all.”
Reporting For News Five I am Paul Lopez.
As for his contributions to the local entertainment industry, Ferguson has shot two short films that have been featured in the Belize Film Festival and plans to shoot another soon.
