Manu Intiraymi “For The Love of Jessee”

Products You May Like

Manu Intiraymi is an actor and producer starring in the new, soulful film “For The Love of Jessee”, written and directed by David McAbee and produced by Curta and Dennis Schlarbaum. The film is set for Digital release on May 1, 2020. Manu portrays Allen, the ex-boyfriend who is often abrasive to Sage played by Mandalha Rose. “Allen” brings his own drama into the film which eventually ends harmoniously after the main characters learn to let go.

Manu Intiraymi is best known for his role as Borg Icheb in the series “Star Trek: Voyager” and as Billy on “One Tree Hill.” As a producer he has created the independent films “Benjamin Troubles”, “5th Passenger”, and “The Circuit.”

How did you become involved with “For the Love of Jessee?”

Blake Heron was a good friend of mine. He was originally the one who was going to play the lead role that Randy Wayne wound up playing. Randy also wound up becoming a good friend after this and we wound up doing another movie together called “Hell on the Boarder” that I produced with Ron Perlman and Company. Basically, I was going to play the part that Tony Denman played at one point then somewhere within the first couple of years it was up in the air as to whether they were going to make it or not or whether I was in or out. Then unfortunately Blake passed and that was just a true story. It was actually sort of a beautiful thing in the end. I went to his wake and spoke at his wake and then ended up meeting the director David. I had never met any of the team in development of the show. It was always just through Blake, as he asked if I wanted to do this this little movie I’m doing with these people? I told him I would look at the script. I asked David what he had planned to do with the movie and he said that he thought Blake would have wanted us to do it. I said “Absolutely.” I felt like my close friend had passed and I really need to be a part of this thing that his friends were doing now. I felt that I needed to be a part of it now more than when he was alive if that makes any sense. So I told him if I could be any part of the movie, a small part or just show up as the crew….. I just want to be a part of it. Then David was cool enough to find this despicable character that I play in the film.

He was horrible.

Yeah, he was just a really crappy guy. It’s very strange in my career, I either play the really good friendly guy, the best friend, or I play the rotten villain. This role just had this rotten essence about it that I’m pretty good at doing. It was just such a great group of people, and they welcomed me with open arms. It was cool to work with some of Blake’s extended family that I didn’t know. When I met Randy, I told him I was a good friend of Blake’s and he said “I’m not here to replace anybody, I’m just here to try and make this movie.” I said, “no I’m not saying that I’m just saying thanks for being here.” it was a real sort of spirit that we were making a movie for a number of reasons but the fact that Blake had passed was one of the things I think that was part of the energy of the movie even though he wasn’t a part of it.

That spirit seems to have affected everyone in the movie who I’ve spoken to. I usually ask at this point how similar your character was to the one you played, but in your case I hesitate because your character is just so mean. I hated Allen….which meant you’ve done your job well…

He was a terrible person, an awful person. He was the ultimate creep. How similar am I to him, I’m going to answer it just because…. well I would never leave a woman in a predicament with a child and just bounce like that. Especially he’s gray-haired and in his 40s trying to have a rock n roll life. The only thing that makes me similar is a couple of times in my life I played in punk bands, but I was much younger then. I was 19 and 27. I spent some time being a road musician, otherwise I have nothing else in common with him.

What bands were you in?

I was in a band called Gladly Blamed. We came up during Sublime, and we opened for them, and all those punk bands in the 90s like No Doubt…. but my bandmates when I was that young were not willing to go to LA, so I moved to LA. I ended up doing the acting thing instead. Then when I was like 27, I got a little fed up with acting and I went back to playing punk rock for a couple of years in San Francisco. That was with a band called The Kegales. Then I was with my bandmates and I was laying in the back of a crappy VW van and I was looking up at the sky. The van smelled like beer and my bandmates sweat. I looked up and saw a jet flying over and I realized that 10 to 12 times a year I used to get on one of those things and go to different countries, and different parts of America and sign autographs for Star Trek and I decided that this band life sucks. And I was out of there. Beyond that I don’t think I have any of Allen’s qualities…..oh yeah… tequila makes me want to punch people. I can’t drink tequila if I do I can angry.

So how was it being in Star Trek?

I was on Voyager and I played a character called Icheb on the last 2 seasons. It was a dream. Looking back on it I just totally enjoyed it. It was two years going to work at Paramount and it was beautiful. It had three sound stages, and beautiful sets, and great people to work with. It was just awesome. I was 20 and just getting started with my career and it felt like 2 years went by very quick. But then it’s 20 years later and I still get love for doing that work.

Watch the “For The Love Of Jessee” Trailer here: