Evan Ellison and Jahi Di’Allo Winston Interview

Evan Ellison and Jahi Di’Allo Winston

Apple TV+ continues its winning streak of exciting original programming with the David Oweloyo lead show Government Cheese. Which follows Hampton Chambers, an ex-fraudster released from jail trying his best to re-assemble his family unit in space age 60s America. What follows is a collection of funny and surreal escapades that both the audience and the unconventional family unit experience.

The New Black Film Collective were able to speak to actors Evan Ellison (Einstein Chambers) and Jahi Di’Allo (Harrison Chambers) about their experience working with Simone and David, capturing the 60s and what traits they share with their characters. 

TNBFC: Congratulations on a fantastic show and both of your fantastic performances. What was it like being on set where everything around you couldn't feel more different from the reality you grew up in? 

Jahi Di’Allo Winston: Hmm. Well, I think when I first read the script, I saw so many elements of my own family within the Chambers. Every family has their own eccentricities and quirks. I guess others would define them as being weird or zany. I just loved that, it was a different outlook and a different perspective on what a family that looks like us can be on screen.

Evan Ellison: I think once we got on set, it was literally like we teleported back to the sixties with the set design, the wardrobe etc. Paul would be playing 60s music always in the background. When we were actually doing the scenes and everything, you're seeing the dynamic of this family, it's so modern in some ways, it could be today's time. I think it's very, multi-generational. So I think that doesn't change, but I think moving. Day to day it was a really cool treat to step into that world. 

TNBFC: Did it ever feel jarring, stepping off set and being back in the modern world?

JDW: No. I think, the time period, it didn't feel like a daunting thing to sort of lean into. It was like Evan Ellison said, these characters to me, all  feel very timeless in a sense. Like they can exist right now, even though our show doesn’t take place in modern day times, you know, not in 2025, but, it does have a sort of classic element to it. Where you know, the ideas , the drive that Hampton has, is very similar to what a lot of people now are aspiring to. To make a future for themselves,  redefine their identities and to not let their mistakes define them. 

TNBFC: So I want to ask, what was it like working with David and Simone, and how did you all sort of create that family dynamic together? 

EE: It was a real treat to work with them. I think of Simone, like that's mom right there, right off the gate. I don't know, just the energy that she gave to everyone was  amazing. I think it was super easy to step into that family dynamic, for me personally. 'Cause everyone knew their character so well and the way it's written, they just kind of bounce off each other in such a comical way. I feel like we had chemistry right off the gate and David puts so much  attention to detail, and is such a master at his craft. I think being in scenes with him, you really want to elevate yourself. You really want to be at his level. And I think bouncing off of that, just really felt like I could give my best performance. When I was in scenes with these guys. 

TNBFC: Jahi, your character is someone often at odds with the world around him. He chooses to interact with the world through a very spiritual lens. Could you speak about how that manifested in your performance? 

JDW:  With Harrison I think if you look at what you were saying earlier about the period, and you look at a lot of the movements that were happening around that time. With these young people and the rise of radical thinking in the country at the time. Harrison is sort of that personified in the show. He is the physical embodiment of all of those things. And one of the things I really loved about him is how defiant in how finite he is with his beliefs. When we first meet him, he has a tough exterior and is sort of jaded. But the nuances of that is the fact that he's looking for a sense of belonging. He’s wanting to be understood and wants to understand himself more, which is why he latches on to things like the native american culture and why he's sort of trying to fit himself into a world that he doesn't necessarily fit into.

I think a lot of young people now really can identify with that struggle as well, which is why I hope that people around our age really tap into the show. I think it really speaks to where we are now, as a generation and trying to figure out our place in the world.

TNBFC: And Evan on the inverse, your character is someone that interacts with the world through a very logical, scientific and  mathematical outlook.What was it like playing that and how did you try and make sure that sort of manifested in your performance? 

EE: I think the tricky thing with Einstein is since he's so matter of fact  there's not anything attached to what he's saying. He's just off the cuff. So I think trying to figure out the nuances in that and not trying to be just this flat one note for the entirety of the show was something I was trying to hone in and focus on. But I mean, Harrison and Einstein are loosely based off of Paul and his brother, so I think it was just lots of chats with Paul himself. You know, seeing how he moved on set and walked and talked with people. It kind of gave me a little insight and, yeah, I think, I'm not smart at all in any way, like Einstein. So there was definitely, you know, a little research here and there, figuring out what we're talking about here and what is this about. It was mostly just chats with Paul trying to go directly to the source. 

TNBFC: For both of you what was it like, working together so closely and building a brotherhood together over the course of the filming experience? 

JDW: It all happened very organically, and really seamlessly.  Spending time with Evan on set and getting to know each other, one of my favorite things was when all four of us got to kind of sit around and talk about whatever, you know, whatever the anecdote of the day was. It just really helped us flesh out that bond that you see on screen. It was just spending that time together and getting to know each other as actors, but also as people. It really lends itself to the process. 

EE: I agree with that, we weren't even in our trailers half the time, we'd just be right outside of the stage or the set that we were on, just kicking it and talking. It was just good vibes all around. So I think it made shooting the scene so much easier and more organic. 

TNBFC: Wonderful, and do you feel there are any sort of traits that you share with your characters for both of you? 

JDW: Sure. I think possibly the biggest or most prominent trait that I share with Harrison is just his passion and curiosity about other cultures outside of his own.  I've always been a dreamer and I've always been one that wants to learn as much as I can and have a sense of belonging with other people and other experiences. So with the native american culture, and how he goes about learning and inserting himself into that. I was like, okay, you know, it has some elements that you could say are a little absurd. But to me, the real core of that is just his empathy for other people. Even though it doesn't necessarily come out in the way that most people would expect, just 'cause he has such a hard sort of exterior.  It’s that other layer, under him that I really find the most, I guess, commonality with.

EE: For me, I think Einstein shows his dad a lot of grace. Maybe more than he should. I'd like to think that you know, I feel like myself speaking, when you're looking at your parents and things like that it's their first life too. And they're new to everything as well. I think Einstein kind of sees that in his dad and his mom, and I think, I'd like to think that I kind of relate to that and understand that in a way. 

TNBFC: Amazing! Thank you both so much for taking your time to speak with me and congratulations again on fantastic work and a fantastic show. 

Government Cheese is streaming now on Apple TV+