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Tony Lankford knows a thing or two about the entertainment business. Far from his start as an 18-year-old graphic designer at Philadelphia and New Jersey firms, Lankford, 47, is now a television and Internet personality, serving as the man and mind behind "The Actor’s Lounge." The Philly TV7 show explores the lives of Philly performers. Despite his many hats and hectic schedule, Lankford and wife Nanette, who is a producer and Philadelphia native, work hard to promote spirituality and positive thinking in the industry through "Lounge" and Nanette’s "The Real," which also airs on Philly TV7, an independent, low-power station that can’t be found in the cable and satellite world, but rather through antenna TV on Channel 7. Clips from "Lounge" also are available on Web sites like TVGuide, SpikeTV and YouTube.
The duo, who met when Nanette hosted and Tony directed a previous show, "It’s All About You," on the same network, now live together on the 2100 block of Titan Street and strive to get the word out about local talent. Each 30-minute "Lounge" episode has interviews, often shot on location at local theaters or coffeehouses, behind-the-scenes segments on upcoming shows and movie trailers. A spinoff of Lankford’s man-on-the-street interview show "Tony Lankford’s Downtown" on the same network, "Lounge" came about when he realized information about Hollywood and New York actors was readily available, but locals were not highlighted.
"I thought that Philadelphia actors needed exposure as far as what they do, what they go through and how they feel when they perform … why it is that they do what they do and what struggles they go through," Lankford, who is "Lounge’s" creator, host, director and producer, said. "We try to be a bit spiritual with it, in order to get into people’s hearts."
Nanette, who has a background in computer science, real estate and business, said "The Real," which she has hosted for two years, explores "real-life issues facing everyday people" and is a forum for personal struggles. Similar to "Lounge" without the theater bent, "Real" airs the third Thursday of the month and, according to Nanette, hopes to "reach souls and let them know they’re not alone, and there are other people out there who share what they’re feeling, and are there for support."
In the short time the show has been on, word has spread quickly and people are constantly calling or e-mailing Nanette to be interviewed. "We live in a world where people are hurting, where they have little faith and just give up," she said. "I believe that if I can touch one person, then that person can touch somebody, and so on and so on."
Lankford the Renaissance man began his film and theater career in 2000 working backstage at the Wilma Theater. After honing his behind-the-scenes skills, he did a stint as an ad salesman for Telemundo. "I saw how TV stations operated from the inside," he said of the Spanish-language channel.
Now he describes himself as having a "love for television and a love for the potential of television. TV has the potential to be much more than it is, by influencing people’s lives and keeping them on the right track."
Lankford values his ability to remain positive in an industry rife with negativity and is working to extend his artistic reach. In ’06, he filmed a public service announcement for the ONE campaign, a national organization dedicated to eliminating poverty in the United States. After seeing submission information on the campaign’s Web site, Lankford contacted big-name celebrities like Tom Hanks, Orlando Bloom and George Clooney, who were more than happy to provide photos of themselves for the spot. He paired those famous faces with simple, stark images of poverty in Philadelphia to bring the issue to the forefront. "I think the effort [the campaign is making] is really positive, and anything that George Clooney is behind, I’m behind," he said with a laugh. "We all need to try to help out in some way."
The crux of the Web and TV show that has been on-air for two years is a question-and-answer session where actors open up and talk about subjects they may generally shy away from. Lankford remembers interviewing Larisa Polonsky, who trained at the Rutgers Conservatory at the Globe Theater in London. After basic questions, he asked if she felt she was always acting. She appeared momentarily stunned, then her voice changed from an "interview" tone to a more personal, conversational one and she talked about her constant struggle to overcome that.
"I can tell by the way the interviewee responds to my questions that they’re being asked things they’ve never been asked," he said.
In addition to enlightening interviews, the Web site for "Lounge" is a wellspring of information for actors and fans. It includes Lankford’s blog, where he gives his perspective on movies, TV shows, directors and other issues facing the industry. The site also features trailers and an entertainment news feed. A recent link showed actors discussing their experiences during the writers’ strike.
Because there is an infinite amount of unsubstantiated gossip and other not-so-reliable material online, Lankford applies his positive philosophy to the content. "The site is mainly to promote what ‘The Actor’s Lounge’ is doing on a local front. It’s cool to have fun, but you also want something that’s going to enlighten people," he said. "We do show major studio trailers as long as they are movies that have a positive image or a positive portrayal."
Films that are highly sexual or violent don’t make the cut, as the site strives to be family oriented. At the same time, he doesn’t shy away from issues, as a recent three-minute tribute to Heath Ledger features photos and interviews in appreciation of the actor’s work rather than indulging in rumors about his death.
In the future, Lankford hopes to develop other shows about the behind-the-scenes world of TV and film, all with an inspirational edge. For now, he enjoys being able to soak up the culture in his hometown. Some of his favorite subjects have been theater actors Pete Pryor, and Barrymore Award-winner Mary Martello. Lankford had the opportunity to pursue his career elsewhere, but chose his hometown because "I think that Philadelphia is a great place to live, and that it is extremely underrated when it comes to talented actors, directors, producers. But that is starting to change, and people are starting to recognize Philly as an outlet for entertainment."
The Lankfords believe their success was not just all hard work and determination.
"We feel that without a higher power, there can be no you and me," Tony said.
