Bet You Didn’t Know: Secrets Behind The Making Of “Drumline”

Stone on Orlando Jones

Director, Charles Stone wanted to make sure that Orlando Jone’s character, Dr. Lee, was completely different from any other character he was more commonly associated with. There were times when he instructed Jones to tone it down so audiences would be surprised by his performance as he told Nitrate Online

Yeah, he’s a really smart cat. The big thing with his character was to play it down, so ordinary. And he was excited to play a teacher, since his father is a teacher and coaches college ball. And we worked on keeping it simple. One example I always bring up is that scene when he says, “What are you, Beavis and Black-head?” Originally, he did it with a smile, and I said, “Be serious when you drop the joke.” People are waiting for Orlando Jones to make a joke. And it’s funny, at every screening I’ve been to — and that’s a lot — everyone laughs when Orlando first comes on screen. And then they realize he’s not going to do what he usually does, and people are walking out going, “Gee, he’s really good.” It’s a shame that he’s been stuck in these extreme comedy roles. I’m so happy for him that people are seeing him differently.