My Casting Story: Telvin Griffin on ‘Babylon’

February 23, 2023 | Cat Elliott
Photo by Stephanie Girard Photography, courtesy of Telvin Griffin.

The credits of Telvin Griffin range from Fox’s Deputy to The CW’s Dynasty to ABC’s Black-ish. But when the actor virtually sat down with Casting Networks, it was his role in Damien Chazelle’s Oscar-nominated Babylon that was on the table. Keep reading for a window into the casting story behind his breakthrough booking, as well as the role that Griffin’s personal values and work/life balance played in it all. And you can also check out the video highlights from our interview below.

Telvin, thanks so much for being with us. Before we dive into your casting story, I’d love to hear how you’d sum up your character of Reggie in Babylon.

Thank you for having me. My character in Babylon, Reginald, is just a straight-shooting guy. You know, he’s someone that’s trying to find his opportunity in the land of opportunity.

Now, what can you tell us about the process of booking the role?

That was such a fun and dope process. I went home — it was during that time when Texas had that big winter storm in 2021. And I just decided to stay home with the family a little longer because they hadn’t seen me in about two years, in the flesh. Then the pandemic happened, and we were all shut down so I unplugged from LA. You know what I mean? I’m like a family guy. For me, it’s faith, family and it used to [also] be football when I played college football. But now I put acting in there, like my career. All of those things work in harmony, but they don’t work out of order. So, if my faith isn’t right then my time with family won’t be spent well because I’m not spending it with them from a good heart or from a place of gratefulness/gratitude. And if my spirituality’s not right, then my career is liable to take a hit. Or you know, sometimes you go through a spell where you don’t really get work, and that can be rough on actors. So, I just kind of unplugged from LA and got a chance to spend time with family. And lo and behold, this audition comes in, and it is from Paramount. But there wasn’t a title on it. So, I [self tape] audition, and I forget about it. And about a week and a half passed by, and I got an email that said, “Hey, Telvin was Damien’s favorite choice. He would love to do a chemistry read with him with one of the leads of the film.” And so I remember the excitement [of hearing that news], and I realized that I knew my character had to play the saxophone. And I played the saxophone in middle school band. So, I was like, “OK, let me find some place that has a saxophone.” I called every pawn shop and every local school until one pawn shop was like, “Yeah we got one — it’s 180 bucks.” So, I went that day and bought it. And I took a day to practice — learn, reacquaint myself with it. The next day I had the callback.

I love that piece of how it was a good investment, that $180 saxophone. Because, as an actor, you don’t know the outcome. You’re like, “OK, I’m going to invest this in faith that this is what I need to do for the role.” It sounds like it just wowed them. And it was an in-person callback?

It was Zoom.

So, you could bring the saxophone up into frame [as a big reveal]?

I did. So, at my parents’ house, at their kitchen table, I set my tripod up on that. I set it up there, and they [writer/director Damien Chazelle and co-star Jovan Adepo] couldn’t see the saxophone there in front of me. I just pulled it out real nice and smooth and played it. And the rest is history.

Read about how actor Telvin Griffin got cast in the movie ‘Babylon.’ Photo by Stephanie Girard Photography, courtesy of Telvin Griffin.

I love that the whole casting process for you was back home in Texas and how you framed that part of the story, as far as reconnecting with and the value you hold for family.

Sometimes, you’ve got to go and refill your cup. I mean, I’m a guy that loves to pour into people. I think that is part of my purpose and calling, on top of being an entertainer. I love to move people and impact people in a way that makes them feel good and makes them say, “I can do this.” You know what I mean? And Hollywood is always going to be here. Family’s not always going to be there. You know? So, you just kind of have that fine line of understanding what’s more important than the other. It’s not that your career is not important, but what’s more important than material [things]? You feel me? And I think [that mindset] makes life easier for you and you stop putting so much pressure on yourself. You’re going to be successful because you’re doing what you were born to do, [in] whatever that field is. I literally wake up and say, “I’m happy to be an actor, and I get a chance to go out here and tell stories and impact people.”

Thank you for sharing that — amazing. I love what came out of that question. And here’s the “martini shot” question, if you will. How has landing this role on an Oscar-nominated film impacted your career so far?

It has kind of given me that boost that every person needs in life. It’s that boost that kind of propels you into another realm of the career you’re in. You know what I mean? So, it opened the door for me to get a new agent. I just signed with them a couple of days ago [at time of interview], and I’m really excited about that. It just really gave me that renewed passion and that renewed fire to remember that everything doesn’t always happen at once. It’s a marathon — it’s never a sprint.

Those interested in keeping up with Griffin’s career journey can find him on Instagram, where he frequently shares about his work.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

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