Ashton Sanders

It's about being true to my artistry, which I've been doing. It's super important to do smart films.

I want to keep doing projects that speak for people within the community and tell different types of meaningful stories.

I like to dress the way I like to dress. I kind of like rebelling against the social norms... I feel uncomfortable wearing just, like, regular stuff.

We all have to wear social masks in our daily lives to get by.

It's my job as an artist and as an actor to use this platform to make people learn and grow, to change their perspectives on how things are in whatever way I can.

It's going to sound cliche, but I started acting as an emotional outlet.

If you noticed, I wear high-water pants and white socks, which is inspired by the mod '60s, like the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Jimi Hendrix, what have you. That style of dress during that time is really, really dope to me.

I didn't know that '12 Years a Slave' was being filmed at the same time we were making 'The Retrieval.'

The sad reality of it is, as black artists in the industry, we still have to work 10 times harder to get our voices out there.

There's so many strict ideas and rules, whether it's from religion or it's just generations and generations.

I'm getting the training I need to progress as an actor. If something comes up and I have to drop, I'll drop.