Actor and Musician Aaron Dalla Villa Tells All
By Annel Then
New York City is filled with creative people from various walks of life, cultures, and languages. You will find talented photographers, musicians, actors, and artists in each borough. The diversity present in New York is the foundation of Lehman College. Our own student body is unique and stands out among other CUNYs when it comes to population, major, and background.
Before the pandemic, I had the pleasure of meeting my friend and actor, Aaron Dalla Villa. Multitalented is how most would describe Aaron since he is not only an actor, but a rapper, dancer, and entrepreneur. We connected online through Instagram, after he mentioned needing people for a shoot he was doing for one of his comedic characters known as, “Tucci Badaducci.”
It wasn’t until I watched his portrayal of Max in “Pledge,” a 2018 horror/thriller about a group of college freshmen getting more than they bargained for after joining a fraternity, that I understood the extent of his skills.
I became familiar with who he was and listened to some of his music, as well. Like other Lehman students, I enjoy learning about others and what drives their journey toward success. Dalla Villa was looking for extras for a music video shoot, and I volunteered to record some behind-the-scenes footage for him. With a background in photography and prior experience working behind the scenes at my art-specialized high school, I knew I could do it. I felt a mixture of emotions but one thing was for sure- I was excited to help out. It’s crazy to think that this all happened in 2019, before the pandemic fell upon us.
The Meridian: How did you get into acting?
Aaron: “Ah, the age-old question! I started off as a musician and dancer and kind of fell into acting... literally! I sprained my ankle while hopping over a turnstile in Chicago, and after being unable to accept an immediate contract from a dance company, I said ‘f*ck it! I'll act!’ And proceeded to hop on to Craigslist to seek only the finest acting work available. Eventually in NYC and before I knew it, I was really acting! In fact, it wasn’t something I considered pursuing at all, but the fact that I’m a naturally loud person helped a lot.”
TM: How do you hope to inspire others?
Aaron: “I want people to look at my career and say ‘Wow, that Aaron worked tirelessly to get where he’s at. His grind is on another level.’ I hope I inspire people with my hustle.”
TM: How was life during the pandemic after the shoot in 2019 when we met? Could you tell us how life changed for you as an actor and entrepreneur?
Aaron: “Life during the pandemic was fight or flight. Was I going to let a global pandemic get me down, or was I going to pull myself up by my bootstraps and get to work? I chose the latter. I jumped head-on into music production and voiceover work. I was able to stay busy and further diversify my talents that have recently resulted in musical collaborations and additional voiceover work. You have to continue to put your work out there because you never know when an opportunity will arise. When the world gives you a pandemic, get busy.”
TM: What is some advice you would give Lehman College students just starting out?
Aaron: “Learn the craft of acting. Study it. Read plays. Go to shows. Watch tv and film. Research. In other words... do the work. So much of this business is total fluff, so it’s important you know how to give producers and directors quality work. It’s the only thing that matters at the end of the day.”
I resonated with Dalla Villa when he said that "when one is in crisis, being able to bounce back and continue what you love is truly important. An entrepreneur can either choose to do nothing while others advance or get busy and work hard while the world is sleeping.”
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Since meeting back in 2019, Aaron Dalla Villa has kept busy doing voiceover work as well as working on the film “Alpha Rift,” acting in the musical “Camelot” by Bay Street Theater, and will be featured in “Gossip Girl” Season 2 Episode 9.
Currently, he is working on his “Tucci Badaducci” album, which will contain many enjoyable and entertaining songs. Dalla Villa’s story is not only about success during a difficult time, but also about working hard and believing in yourself no matter how difficult life gets.
With a plethora of creative majors offered at Lehman including dance, theater, journalism, media communications, and art, Dalla Villa’s story is an inspiration to our student body. He demonstrates how to persevere and do the best you can to get where you want to be. Sometimes situations do not go our way and we encounter obstacles. Being able to discover different talents and go for new opportunities are important no matter what life throws at us.
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A Heartbreaking Portrayal of ‘The Tragedy of Fred Hampton’
(Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)
By Veronica Longo
"Judas and The Black Messiah" recounts the rise and fall of legendary civil rights figure Fred Hampton. Based on a true story, the film follows Hampton who was the chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party during the late-1960s. As the title suggests, the “Judas” in this story is undercover FBI informant William O'Neal (Lakeith Stanfield). This film evokes deep emotions, as many of the scenes are reminiscent of current events. The story begins with footage of the Black Panther Party performing their community activities such as feeding children, and teaching members of the community. It then pans to the FBI headquarters, where Director J Edgar Hoover, instead of praising their efforts, states, “The Black Panthers are the single greatest threat to our national security.”
Director Shaka King based these scenes on the real COINTELPRO program that took place from the years 1956-1971. According to PBS.org, “one of the purposes of the COINTELPRO program was to "expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit, or otherwise neutralize the activities of the Black nationalists.” King portrays how fearful the U.S. government was of the Black Panther Party in these scenes throughout the film.
Historically, the FBI treated the BPP as a hostile internal threat to the United States. The film actually toned down J Edgar Hoover, head of the FBI at the time, in response to the Breakfast for Children Program. FBI.gov, shows how Hoover used COINTELPRO to investigate groups like the BPP. The FBI website states, “In some cases, FBI agents had infiltrated groups, sowed discord among their members, and attempted to discredit their efforts—even when there was little or no evidence of unlawful activities.” It is a stark reminder that while this film had taken liberties with real-life events, it showed the reality of what the FBI did to the BPP.
17-year-old William O’Neal or Bill, becomes an FBI informant after being faced with an ultimatum: serve a long prison sentence or infiltrate the Black Panther party. Bill is the “Judas” in the film, but he is also just a kid. Lakeith exceptionally portrays Bill as a self-serving but truly pitiable person in this role. In juxtaposition to Bill’s narrative, Fred’s begins with a powerful, inspirational speech. Daniel Kaluuya’s booming voice and considerable presence adds gravitas to the scene. The crowd is visibly inspired by Fred’s words. Fred is a larger than life figure, charismatic and bold in his role as chairman. However, the film takes pains to humanize him to the audience, much in the way it does with Bill.
When Fred meets his future wife Deborah (Dominique Fishback), she is able to see him as a man and have a real conversation with him. Kaluuya’s performance of Fred as a leader and more importantly, as a human, elevates the film. The man behind the legend can be best seen in his interactions with Deborah.
The score, composed by Mark Isham (“Crash,” “Once Upon a Time”) and Craig Harris (“Black Bones,” “Shelter”), highlights the high stakes and difficulties of choices made in the film. The last score, “The Inflated Tear,” especially does a phenomenal job showcasing the absolute despair of the events. Many situations are tense for Bill in particular. At certain points of the musical score, one can sense the internal struggle Bill feels as he no longer is willing to betray Fred.
The film is successful in garnering interest in Fred Hampton’s story. For many this film is the first time they are hearing of his name and the legacy he left behind. One of our own Lehmanites, Sha’Miera, a political science major, explained their reaction, “This film was amazing. I am so glad the story of Fred Hampton was told. I hope there are more movies made about The Black Panther Party.”
Audience members cannot help but be moved by this tragic story, the echoes of which are still relevant today. This is a deeply important film and should be seen by all.
We are left with food for thought as the Jewel Cook, BPP member, during Fred’s funeral, exclaims, "If Fred could be murdered while he slept, remember what can happen to you, while you're on your knees facing that bed!" While the film takes certain liberties it does incorporate real archive footage to ground it in realism. This film represents a part of the U.S. that is very rarely spoken about. Furthermore, it should invigorate our current generation as Fred was only 21-years-old when his life ended. The feature is available now on HBOMax and select theaters.