Art Imitates Life: The Truth You Can't BeTray
By Odell Ruffin
Prince George’s own Tray Chaney, who won national attention for his role on HBO’s The Wire as “Poot,” a low-level drug dealer in Baltimore, recently sat down with Prince George’s Suite contributor Odell B. Ruffin to talk about life since The Wire's five-season run ended last year. Since then, the Forestville native’s been promoting his book, The Truths You Can't BeTray (BookSurge LLC), and continues to make guest appearances in films.
Tray Chaney / Photo: flixter.com
Ruffin: What inspired you to write the book? And what do you hope people will gain from it?
Chaney: I wanted people to know about my life and what it took for me to be where I am today. It was not easy, and I could have ended up on the wrong path in life if I didn’t use my head right. I hope folks, especially young ones, can see some of the wrong things I did in the book, and change their lives for the better if they are heading down the wrong road.
Editor’s note: The violent and chaotic street hustle embodied by his character often mirrored the circumstances of Chaney’s own life.
Ruffin: Were you ever in character as Poot and recalled a similar scenario that happened to you in real life when you were dealing drugs?
Chaney: I can remember one time when I was on the set doing a drug transaction and getting caught by the cops jacking me up on the car and arresting me. Well, (in real life) I called myself trying to deal drugs at a young age and left it in the car under the seat accidentally, and my dad decided to drive the car the next morning. Well, he reached under the seat to adjust it, and he grabbed the drugs. All I can remember is when he came back in the house he went ballistic. He knew it was me because I was the last one to drive that car. He instantly threw me out of the house. I have never been locked up in prison before, but being thrown out of your house by your dad and mom felt like I was in a dark cold cell. I will never forget that experience and will never try that again.
Ruffin: Describe the moment you learned about getting the part for The Wire. How has it changed your life?
Chaney: When I got that call, I was so excited because things were just going wrong for me. My life has changed tremendously; I am no longer hanging out with the wrong crowd wasting my life away. I am now striving for my dreams and working very hard to be as successful as I can.
Ruffin: You started performing as a child, even at the Apollo, what pushed you to a career in entertainment?
Chaney: I was told by a management company that my dancing was great, but I should pursue acting. And I tried it and fell in love, so here I am today involved in music, acting, being an author. I am actually in the studio right now finishing up my album entitled Jack of all Trays.
Ruffin: What is your future goal for the book?
Chaney: I would like to turn this book into a movie, because all of the things I wrote about is real life stuff, and people can get a better appreciation of it in theaters. I will also continue to write other books. I have been doing lots of independent movies with different people like (the rapper) Freeway in What We Do, (www.myspace.com/whatwedothemovie) and the Black and Married With Kids documentary, (blackandmarriedwithkids.com) produced and directed by Lamar and Ronnie Tyler. And, I want to continue to get acting roles to show folks a different side of my acting besides me playing gangster parts.
For more information on Tray Chaney see www.traychaneyblog.tumblr.com.
|
