Alejandro Funes / Roundup
Pierce College celebrated Black History Month Thursday with a performance by Philip Ezekiel Bell, 30, star of “Tha’ Intimate Phil,” a one-man show about love, hope and survival.
The show featured a live band and seven songs from the album “U Phil Me?” on Fresh Records, such as “Twinkling Star” and “Summertime Rain.”
Bell described “Tha’ Intimate Phil” as “An experience filled with unforgettable moments inspired by people I’ve met.”
He performed his show to inform the audience to his experiences with diverse individuals who have encouraged his “faith journey”.
Bell describes this “faith journey” as a constant persecution of his dream, supported by a collection of generous people who have given him food and shelter along the way.
“My show is about love and respect. The actor part of me relates to the people I have met and I choose to portray them through similar characters from different African American works,” said Bell.
Bell is heavily influenced by character actors. Among his favorites are Don Cheadle, Johnny Depp, and Forest Whittaker — who Bell met while playing an extra in the film Powder Blue.
On a musical level, Bell’s melodies are influenced by Motown and Funk music. Some of Bells favorite musical artists include Lenny Kravitz, Smokey Robinson, Earth Wind and Fire, Surface and Prince.
The stories in Bell’s show are of people who have helped him overcome homelessness and personal struggle.
“Early in my career I was homeless for a brief period of time. Latino and Filipino people I hardly knew took me in and gave me a place to stay. I moved from one house to the next, sleeping on floors and couches.”
Bell started performing his show “Tha’ Intimate Phil” in July of 2009 at The Film Actor’s Shop in West Hollywood. Later that same year the show landed in North Hollywood at the Avery Schreiber Theater where it regularly performs Friday nights at 8 p.m..
“You know, people say that when you see the good in everything, you’re looking through ‘rose colored glasses.’ In my case, it’s true. I didn’t make up anything in my show. All those things were true. They actually happened, I have witnesses.”
