Ashford J. Thomas, of Howton U. Web Series, Showcases The HBCU Experience
Howton U. is a comedic web series that follows the lives of college students on an HBCU campus. Ashford J. Thomas, the creator of the Howton U. Web Series, tells us about his journey from being an HBCU student to creating this hilarious web series focused on HBCU life.
JAM: What gave you the idea to start your web series?
Ashford: Overall, it is based upon events from my college tenure but it grew out of my utmost love and deep respect for HBCUs. I grew up in the shadow of N.C. A&T SU, in my hometown of Greensboro, N.C., and later attended Howard Univ. in Washington, D.C. for college so I had extensive knowledge of HBCU life and culture. I just wanted to pay tribute to the priceless journey that had given me the necessary tools to perform and create as an actor and artist.
JAM: Why do you think fans have connected so well with your series?
Ashford: I think because Howton U.’s presentation style is very reminiscent of the timeless black comedy television shows I grew up with like Martin, The Jamie Foxx Show, The Wayans Bros., and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. I watched these shows religiously, and even today in 2013, you can still tune into these shows on TV because they never really age. Also, I think it has all of today’s cultural cues from the music to the vernacular of the characters. I always say that Howton U. is not a sitcom about an HBCU but a sitcom set at an HBCU so everyone can relate in some way.
JAM: How do you generate new ideas and creativity when writing new episodes?
Ashford: Oh man, my inspiration comes from a wide range of places. Often I try to interject current social commentary and references into the show to give it the feel that it’s all happening in real time. So as a viewer, you see how Taylor, Alex, and Jay are affected by the same society and culture we all are. For example, I might make a reference to something ridiculous a rapper said in an interview or a reality show star, or sometimes just from my own personal life, like a crazy night I had at the club with the fellas. Basically, I pull my material from all around me. No one is safe lol!
JAM: Web Series are emerging as a leading force of entertainment and education online, why do you think this is happening and what future do you see for web series?
Ashford: I think the web series format is in a lot of ways filling in the wide gorge of a void of entertainment left by the major TV networks. Web Series are giving viewers channels and storylines that have really never existed before and with the high production quality of a major show so I see no stopping it.
In the future, I see the networks either producing their own web content or collaborating with us in the online world which is already happening on some levels.
JAM: The Cast & Crew are essential for any web series to be successful, how did you form your team?
Ashford: Amazingly, I’ve known almost everyone on the show for several years now, either from my time in college at Howard University or from just running across fellow actors in the L.A. area. The two other main male characters, Taylor (Hari Williams) and Alex (Edward Drew), I’ve known since my freshman year at Howard. Madia Hill (Kim Michelle) is the only cast member that auditioned and when she did her first read it was a no brainer. And in the future there will be more characters as we continue to grow the Howton family or H-U student body, I should say.
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