Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlton V. Bell, II.
Hi Carlton, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Well, Starting as a theatre/film performer as a teenager & young adult— I have transitioned into what I feel is the “emerging” stage of my producing & directing career for theatre & film. I hope to continue to take up and make space for southern Black queer creatives in the theatre & film industry ultimately— I just want to tell stories.
Some of my favorite credits include CNN’s “Blind Angels” (CNN.com/blindangels), “Xanadu” at the Appalachian Center of the Arts, and assistant directing “Choir Boy” by Tarell Alvin McCraney with Director Jamil Jude (jamiljude.com) at the Denver Performing Arts Center.
I am also developing & directing new works as resident artist at both Encore Theatre & Gallery as well as Birmingham Children’s Theatre (bct123.com).
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Of course not, being an artist especially if one lives within the margins comes with its own unique set of challenges; navigating the capitalist nature of making art in 2022 America combined with the systematic racism that’s so ingrained in artistic education & professional structures. It hasn’t been easy, but I clearly see a path through & it’s through creation. So that’s what my life is built in, creating beautiful things.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
In addition to my work as an artist my work also consists of liberation-centered justice work in the arts including being a DEI/EDI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) Consultant, & Gender-Justice Movement Worker. I am also deeply influenced in my artistic practice as an Aborisa in the Lukumi tradition.
We all have different ways of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Lateral & tactical networking that elevates the quality of work & also the community. Success cannot be achieved alone, there is too much to do & undo. In measuring mutual success being shared in my community, there’s space for all of us if we work together. I want to be working on meaningful work, I want my community to be doing meaningful work. I want us to have the resources to do it!
Contact Info:
- Website: Carltonvbell.com
- Twitter: Twitter.com/itscjbell
- Other: Thebbrtc.com
- Agent: Genia Nooks gilltalent.com | [email protected]
Image Credits
Aija Penix, Reggie Allen, and CreateBHM
