WILMINGTON — North Carolina native and former first tenor of the 60s-era doo wop group “The Platters,” Milton Bullock, will be making a cameo appearance in the Wilmington-based sitcom “Vaughan” later this month.
While his role is a cameo, Bullock said it’s part of the greater cause he now advocates.
The show, which stars “One Tree Hill’s” Vaughan Wilson, recently received three awards for its pilot episode at the “Up All Night Film Festival.” It’s currently halfway through the filming of its first season.
“Vaughan” is about an aspiring actor who is down on his luck. After running out of work and facing financial ruin, the main character decides he needs reinvent himself, starting over from scratch to clean up his image and to get back into the acting game.
That message of reinventing oneself spoke to Bullock, a man who had earlier created a charity organization with legendary boxer Muhammad Ali to help underprivileged children. Bullock is currently a commissioner in the town of Princeville, N.C., which he notes is the oldest African settlement in the United States.
He said he’s working to change the way young African Americans perceive themselves and “empowering them to make a better tomorrow.”
“We’re blessed to live in a country where we have the freedom and liberties to change our image,” Bullock said. “To prepare ourselves mentally, and academically, to make for a better world.”
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After seeing the trailer for the show, Bullock became interested in the possibility of working with the director/co-creator Mike Roberts on the program.
“When I saw the trailer, I just thought, ‘this is awesome, this is really good,'” Bullock said.
Bullock said he believes he serves a larger purpose in the community, one of a role model to African American youth. He said he is concerned with the images on display for today’s youth, and wants to do what he can to help improve their perspectives.
By being on the show, he hopes to share the wisdom he’s gained over the years with stars Vaughan Wilson and Ryan Williams, encouraging them to be role models for today’s African American youth.
“My people have a tendency to bash the system,” Bullock said. “But they need to understand when they go for a job interview, that their image, their (lack of) decorum and their attitude will get them fired before they even get out of the car.”
Creating change in the community
Roberts said Bullock is the first to admit that he’s the man standing on the corner, yelling at kids to “pull up your pants!”
Bullock said he had people like the Tuskegee Airman to admire growing up. Today’s youth, he said, lack that sort of guidance. He believes that if he can help spread a bit of his knowledge through the show, he’ll be doing right by the community down the road.
Roberts said when the team heard Milton was interested in joining up, they were thrilled to bring him on board.
“We’re shooting this classy club scene, and it’s the sort of place where all the actors hang out,” Roberts said. “We’re going to have a cool cameo with Milton actually singing on stage, it’s going to be really nice.”
Bullock, who still sings live at the Rocky Mount Train Station as “The Golden Platter,” says he’ll be polished and ready when it’s time to perform.
For more information on the show, visit its Facebook page.
Get in touch with Reporter Cory Mannion: follow him on Facebook, Twitter, or send an email at cory@localvoicemedia.com.
