Romany Malco has brought Tijuana Jackson to an even bigger audience. From Youtube to major motion picture, Romany’s alter ego has something to say – and so does Romany!

There is no denying that Tijuana Jackson is a character near and dear to Romany Malco’s heart. The actor wrote, edited, directed, and acted in Tijuana Jackson: Purpose Over Prison, which is being released in select theaters on July 24 and on VOD/digital July 31st.

Romany created the Tijuana Jackson character several years ago which became an instant sensation on YouTube. He then thought why not flesh this guy out on the big screen and launched a successful crowdfunding campaign to help make Tijuana Jackson: Purpose Over Prison happen. For Romany, what really pushed him through was the fan support and the devotion of his friends and family. 

The movie follows Tijuana Jackson as he strives to become a world renowned motivational speaker. When he’s asked to be the subject of a 10-minute student film, TJ is all in.  Malco’s good friend and fellow actor Regina Hall also stars as TJ’s parole officer and the chemistry between these long time pals is undeniable.

Romany Malco has been a hard working actor for more than twenty years.  With performances in  The 40-Year-Old Virgin, on Jenji Kohan’s suburban crime dramedy Weeds, giving us laughs opposite Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish in Night School and currently, bringing us the drama on the ABC series  A Million Little Things, Malco says he certainly cannot complain. 

Before Malco started dabbling in his acting career,  in the early 1990s,  he was in the hip-hop quartet ‘College Boyz’. Their debut album Radio Fusion Radio, released by Virgin Records in 1992, featured the song “Victim of the Ghetto,” which hit Number One on the Hot Rap Singles chart. 

Bonnie Laufer had the chance to speak with the multi talented Romany Malco via ZOOM from his home in Redondo Beach, California to discuss his experience making this film as a first time director, his hit TV series A Million Little Things, and his strong feelings and personal experience with race relations in America.

Watch the candid interview below.