Mark McKinnon is giving back on and off the screen. His trajectory as an actor has always been fueled by the wish to bring forward stories that will make an impact, whether that be on a person’s life or on how issues are seen and talked about. His latest acting project, the BET Her film The Waiting Room, sheds light on the realities of a Breast Cancer diagnosis on women and their loved ones. By partnering up Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), McKinnon goes the extra mile for Breast Cancer awareness. McKinnon shared his experiences on the set of The Waiting Room, BET Her’s trailblazing example in the film industry, and his work with PCRM with Jejune. For more on Mark McKinnon, please continue reading our interview below.

Where are you based?
New York, NY.

What inspired you to get into acting?
What inspired me to get into acting was seeing how much of an impact a show and/or movie could make on a person. The message and/or the theme of a movie can sometimes even save someone’s life. I remember being in a theatre show, and right after the show, someone walked up to me to say how much I inspired them to make a change in their life, because of what my character went through.

I started to see acting as a potential career as early as my Junior year in High School. I showed up to an audition to support one of my friends who was auditioning for the Fall play. At that time, there weren’t too many males and Black people in the theatre productions at my school. So when the director came out, she saw me and encouraged me to audition. I denied at first, but she kept asking me to, and after a while, I decided to give it a shot. I booked the lead role in that play. It was the character of Laurie in “Little Women''. So many of my teammates from the football and basketball team came out to see me perform. Of course they laughed at me, but they also showed great support. However, a few months later for the next play, so many Black males came out to audition to be a part of it — a few of them being my teammates. They told me how much I inspired them. When I saw the impact I made by being a part of the Fall play, it made me realize at that moment that I wanted to continue to inspire others and take acting more seriously.

Could you talk a little about your newest film, The Waiting Room? How was the filming experience, particularly dealing with Covid-19?
It was truly an honor to be cast in The Waiting Room. I was excited to be a part of this project because it is a part of an Initiative by BET and BET Her to shed light and awareness to Breast Cancer and the impact it has on Black Women and their families. This project follows the lives of two Black women who find out they are diagnosed with Breast Cancer. The stories give an in-depth look at what someone goes through in their fight against Breast Cancer; including the process, self-reflection, relationships, and so much more. It was great to be a part of something that wasn’t just entertaining, but something that would make a major impact in my community.

The production company, Megamind Media, did a phenomenal job of adhering to the COVID-19 guidelines and protocols. I felt very safe and comfortable on set. My character was engaged in the movie and there were several parts of the movie that required me to be very close and even kiss my co-star a few times. It was scary at first though, because of the pandemic and everyone trying to keep their distance. However, my co-star, Jasmine Luv, and I developed a great relationship on set that made us comfortable with each other. Megamind Media also enforced never having more than 10 people in a room at the same time while we were filming. The food was packaged separate for each person, so no one had to dig into the same bowl or tray.

Could you talk about your character, Derik Dubois? In what ways are you similar? In what ways are you different?
My character in The Waiting Room is Derik Dubois. He is engaged to Raven Taylor (played by Jasmine Luv) who finds out that she has Stage III Breast Cancer. However, Derik lets nothing get in the way of his love for his fiancé and the future plans he has for her. When Derik finds out that Raven is diagnosed with cancer, you will see how he uses love to keep their relationship strong and his fiancé hopeful.

Derik and I were very similar in the way we love. It’s very tough for a lot of relationships when someone is hit with a health scare. I've seen relationships broken because of it, but in the film, Derik Dubois’ love for Raven is strong throughout. He did not give up on her at all. He kept affirming her and helping her feel loved despite her cancer getting worse. In the same way, I loved my wife, Brittney Carter McKinnon, through her health scare.

In Dec of 2018, my wife was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy. The entire right side of her face was paralyzed. When she was diagnosed, she was told it could take years for her to heal. In some cases, a few months. She knew that it was going to be a long fight. This news defeated her at first and made her give up on a lot of the plans she had for herself and her career. After much prayer and affirmations, she began to believe that she could defeat Bell’s Palsy. She started to believe that the fight would not be as long as what the doctor predicted. So, she was consistent with her therapy and her treatments. Every day she would say her affirmations out loud of being healed. My wife ended up being completely healed from Bell’s Palsy in only 45 days! Yes, in less than 2 months, she was healed from something that was supposed to take years.

The Waiting Room raises awareness on the heartbreaks of Breast Cancer. What do you hope audiences will take away from this film?
I really hope the audience will walk away from this film knowing the importance of getting checked early. Don’t wait until it’s too late. When you get checked early, you give yourself a higher chance of defeating cancer and taking the necessary steps to remain healthy. I also hope the audience gets to see how the family member or friend who has to assist the person diagnosed, is affected. It is emotionally tough for that person as well and is not easy. It takes patience from both parties.

The Waiting Room is written and directed by all Black women. How was your experience working alongside director Sheryl Lee Ralph and a team of Black female creatives?
I am truly honored to be a part of a project that was filled with Black excellence. The writers did a phenomenal job of writing stories about Breast Cancer and the impact it has on Black women and their families. So many people will be able to connect and relate with these stories. When I first was offered the role, I was extremely excited to hear that I would be directed by Sheryl Lee Ralph! She is an amazing actress but is just as great at directing. I truly believe the audience will love her direction and vision for the project. Sheryl was such a big motivator on set. She affirmed me throughout the entire filming process and gave me permission to be me. The vibe on set was amazing. The production crew and cast did everything in excellence.

BET Her gives Black female creatives a platform to tell their stories. What do you think the film industry can do to better champion BIPOC female empowerment? What can the entertainment industry at large learn from BET Her in terms of inclusivity?
I truly believe the film industry can go the extra mile to see the stories and projects that Black female creatives have done on their own with their own budget. The fight has been to get a budget to start the next project. But what about the amazing projects that were already created. The film industry could introduce more film festivals and web series festivals on TV so that people could have their work seen by a larger audience.

Also, representation is so important because it has a major effect on how others see the Black community. More importantly, it inspires people in the Black community to go for more and want more.

What was it like working with BET Her?
Working on a BET Her project was a great experience. Their audience is very supportive of their content and projects, and I felt that as soon as the first trailer was released the first week of October 2020.

You also have an upcoming film, The Available Wife, airing in early 2021 on BET. Could you also describe your experience working on this film?
I’m excited for everyone to see The Available Wife. It actually got picked up by Amazon Prime, and is now available to watch on that platform. In this film directed by Jamal Hill, I play an Executive of a multi-million dollar record company. I got to work alongside KJ Smith (Sistas) and Teryale Hill (House of Payne). I developed a great relationship with them both that surpassed our time on set. Jamal Hill was a director I’ve always wanted to work with for years, and through this movie, that finally came to pass!

You’ve recently partnered with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine to bring awareness to prostate and breast cancer. Why are these issues important to you?
When the opportunity to partner with PCRM came my way, I didn’t hesitate at all. I knew this partnership would fulfill my mission of leaving a legacy for my career; that it’s not just about entertainment, but about the impact that I can make in this world, especially my community. I also saw this as an opportunity to honor my grandmother, Laura McKinnon, who died of breast cancer when I was younger.

What are you hoping to achieve via your teamwork with PCRM?
Partnering with PCRM was an opportunity to educate my community and my followers about the importance of health and practical steps to take to improve our health.

Could you talk about your involvement in PCRM’s campaign Let’s Beat Breast Cancer? What does this initiative entail?
This campaign was all about encouraging people to take steps to prevent their risk of getting Breast Cancer. The four steps include:

Choose plant-based foods
Exercise regularly
Limit alcohol
Maintain a healthy weight.

How are you staying positive during shelter in place?
I have been staying positive by taking the time to realize what I’ve been able to accomplish since the start of the pandemic, and not focus too much on the things I’ve lost. During the pandemic I was able to cast two movies for BET Her, I booked a lead role in a movie, and I was cast in the ABC Discovers showcase. I also have been staying positive by putting a lot of focus on my body and managing my weight.

What is your life motto?
My life motto is “your passion supplements your purpose”. Your passion is the thing/skill you love to do. Your purpose is all about how you are helping someone else. So, I believe you should use your passion to help others. For me, my passion and journey of being an actor have supplemented my purpose of helping actors through my studio, McKinnon Acting Studio.

You can keep up with Mark McKinnon via the following platforms:
Instagram: @themarkmckinnon
Website: www.TheMarkMcKinnon.com

Mark McKinnon - Hope Through Strength