Kat Harlton
The highly anticipated third season of hit children’s mystery television series Ghostwriter is set to make its premiere on Apple TV+ on October 21st. The series is about a group of friends who team up to solve an exciting mystery surrounding a ghost’s unfinished business, when a ghost haunts a neighbourhood and starts releasing fictional characters into the world.
I had the opportunity to chat with Tony Ofori who is set to recur as Malcolm Turner in the series.
Kat: You portray Malcolm in the highly anticipated third season of the hit children’s mystery television series Ghostwriter set to make its premiere on Apple TV+ on October 21st. How did you prepare for your role?
Tony: Well I made a check list of all the things about Malcolm that I knew, and basically isolated all the things I had no idea about. Malcolm is a Barista at Village books. I ain’t got no idea of how to make a cup of coffee. I have never had a cup of Joe in my life! I traveled to a local coffee shop and had them walk me through using the machines, how to make a cup of Joe and most importantly the cleaning process. So when I got on set the first thing I did was look at the machine, play with it and figure out where all the things were. The things I didn’t have handy, I requested in order to do the job authentically.
Kat: Did you find any commonalities between yourself and Malcom?
Tony: We do indeed! We both love music, love to travel, are playful, lighthearted, and love to help not only people we care about, but also people in our community that could use our guidance and support.
Kat: Was there anything about your role that was particularly challenging?
Tony: There are a lot of special effects in the show. This is the first time I have ever had to act into blank space or sometimes with a tennis ball. The team and the director Luke Mathney did a phenomenal job to ensure I knew exactly what was going on and never felt uncertain. This is important because I then have the permission to play and make offers.
Kat: What have been some of your favorite scenes to shoot and why?
Tony: Any and Every scene I got to shoot with Daire McLeod, Nour Jude and Princess Mapp. These kids are so amazingly skilled, fun and have an imagination that carries the story to new heights. I’m so very excited to see them work. This is by no means an easy show to work on. But each and everyone of these pro’s showed up to work everyday, prepared and ready to take everyone on an adventure.
Kat: What do you hope fans take away from your character and/or this season of the show?
Tony: I really hope fan’s can escape into the magic of this world, watching all the characters in their favourite stories come to life. It’s a story about courageous kids, brave people, people coming together to help others that are different from us who really need us. If we can continue to adopt these behaviours in our everyday life, love can continue to blossom rather than be crippled and be destructive because of fear.
Kat: Is there a type of character that you’d like to portray, that you haven’t had the chance to yet?
Tony: I haven’t had the chance to play a villain yet. I think that would be so fun. I find their back stories are so interesting. Also it would be so exciting to completely let go and get crazy. To constantly cause a shift in the story. To exist with the purpose of wreaking havoc! The good guys ain’t no fun…but they are good ha.
Kat: What’s next?
Tony: You can catch me on Murdoch Mysteries. I get to play Canada’s first black Olympic 100 metre track and field sprinter. John Armstrong Howard is a Winnipeg native, who despite his race was still able to make a name for himself. Murdoch Mysteries is on its 16th season on CBC and I’m so humbled and honoured to have played a part in telling a very important story and historical figure!
Connect with Tony on Instagram: @tony_ofori