Today we’d like to introduce you to Kameron J. Brown.
Hi Kameron, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story begins in Baton Rouge, LA where I was born. Most of my family is from the south, but I always tell people that I’m from the east coast since my mother and I moved to DC when I was very young, and I grew up in Montgomery County, MD from the age of 4 to 18. Maryland will always be where I call home.
During that time, my mom recognized a love for performing in me when I was small. I would always come home from church, stand in front of the mirror and imitate my pastor, or I would imitate the hosts that I would see on TV. Sometimes, I would come home from school, and rush to my closet and put on some crazy outfit and completely turn myself into some outrageous character. But at that time, I didn’t know that I wanted to be an actor. I think I may have just wanted to entertain my mom and make her laugh.
As I got a little bit older, I started to fall in love with action movies. I wanted to be that guy on the screen who was jumping across rooftops and doing these crazy stunts, not knowing that it was all camera tricks and stunt doubles. My only question was: “How do I get to do ‘that’?” My mom saw that curiosity grow and got me involved in community theatre. She prepared me for my very first audition in 2010, I booked it, and from that point on I started taking acting very seriously.
I became super dedicated to the craft, to the point where I couldn’t just sit and watch TV anymore. I would stand in front of the TV while watching my favorite shows and pretend like I was one of the characters in the show. I would recite the same lines but add my own take to them and try my best to act like I was actually in the scene. I’m 22 now, and I still do this religiously. Over the course of the next decade, my mom became my de facto manager, agent, stylist, publicist and did everything she could to get me where I am today. From every stage and film set we’ve been on, we both were learning about the business of acting at the same time. She’s always had my back, she’s always been my biggest critic, and she has continued to believe in me even when sometimes I find it hard to believe in myself.
Now, as an official USC graduate, ready to enter this industry, there’s nobody else that I trust more.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey to where I am now hasn’t been impeded or derailed by any major setbacks or obstacles that some actors have faced, but I’ve certainly dealt with disappointment and the realities that come with not booking jobs.
In the beginning when I was younger, having that first audition be a success and then booking another job shortly after that was a huge deal for me. As more opportunities started to come my way, it felt routine for me to always book, and I became more confident in myself and naively thought that this career path would be easy for me. But there have been plenty of moments in my life where I feel good about an audition and weeks start to go by and I don’t hear anything back from a casting director. You can only imagine what that feels like for a young teenager, especially a sensitive teenager like myself who struggled with self-esteem and personal insecurities throughout middle school and high school.
I became even more frustrated when I would see other actors my age on TV and in movies, who I felt I was just as talented as, but they seemed to be making longer strides in their careers. Sometimes it was worse when I knew I auditioned for a certain role, and I’d see the actor who got the part on TV; completely devastating. At that time knowing that I had this special, God-given talent and love for performing but feeling unseen or undervalued was tough to deal with mentally. My mom and I didn’t really have many connections to the business or already established relationships with casting directors, and I wasn’t growing up in a hub like New York, LA, or Atlanta. So I did feel slightly disadvantaged and, though it was unhealthy, I started to question myself. With each rejection or no response, I felt like my window of opportunity was closing. I know, looking back on it now, I was being super dramatic.
Even today, I still have moments where my faith is challenged in regards to the reality that there is no clear roadmap for actors, and there’s also no promise of notoriety. But there is a promise of success, as long as you define what success looks like to you, and you consistently work towards that. As I’ve matured, I realize how unhealthy it is to compare myself to others and I’ve become better at sharpening the vision that I have for myself. I’ve also become comfortable with the feeling of being unseen and going unnoticed because there’s opportunity in obscurity. I can work on my craft without distraction, I can discover new talents to perfect, and I can even fail at something gracefully, knowing that when my time comes (and it will), I’m going to be prepared for the light.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m an actor and most people who know me know me because of my acting talent, but my goals and aspirations transcend just acting. As I grow in my career, I plan on becoming a well-rounded storyteller capable of wearing many hats. I’m currently learning how to write, direct and produce content that appeals to various audiences. I understand how essential it is, especially in entertainment, to figure out what I specialize in that makes me unique. While I will always be an actor at my core, the journey that I’m setting on requires me to become multi-faceted in this industry. It is my hope that I will continue to evolve as an artist, be trusted by others to do the work that I do, and reach as many people as I can as a creative vessel.
I’m most proud of the success that I and my fellow class of 2021 graduates achieved this year. Not only did we graduate from USC, but many of us in the School of Dramatic Arts were able to grow creatively and challenge ourselves during the pandemic. In many ways, being in quarantine showed us the value of collaboration when it comes to artistic projects. I was fortunate enough to be in a newly created ensemble of eight USC acting majors called The Gradu8tes, and we were able to develop a short film that we all starred in. What came to be known as FINAL CALL progressed in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. We met weekly on Zoom, raised over $12,000 for the production, hired an insanely talented crew, and worked through over 30 drafts of a script. Our work can be found on our website, www.thegradu8tes.com.
I believe my versatility is what sets me apart from others, not only in my acting but also with any role that I have as part of a team. I have the ability to lead, the humility to follow, and I know how to do both and when to do which. I think that just comes from me remaining curious and observant, being detail-oriented, and having so much joy when it comes to being a part of a team or an ensemble. I have the most respect for every role that’s needed for a project because I see the value and the impact it has on the overall product. I think that’s the main reason why I’m able to slip into any role, no matter how big or small.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Two of the apps that I’ve actually started using more this past year and have become incredibly useful for me are LinkedIn and TikTok. Both apps help me optimize my professional and creative endeavors, respectively. Through my connections and increase in engagement on LinkedIn, I was able to secure an internship at Lionsgate this summer. I’m developing more relationships in the industry and learning about the multi-step process of film production by being a part of their Inclusive Content team. TikTok has also helped unlock a hobby of mine, where I’m able to share my thoughts and reviews about new movies that have come out in under 60 seconds. I love being able to speak passionately about the movies with my friends, and TikTok allows me to do that and reach a larger audience in the process.
I always want to stay aware about what’s happening in the entertainment industry, so I’ll read Variety or Deadline articles frequently. The trades are invaluable resources because not only do they keep me informed about what new shows are coming out or who’s being cast in certain projects, but every now and then there are articles that provide info on companies’ new content strategies and policies that are game-changers. I want to remain current on how the industry is evolving and who’s leading that change.
I’m also a huge fan of Devon Franklin, and I’ve read three of his books in the past year. The wisdom that he shares in Produced by Faith, The Success Commandments, and The Truth About Men has been extremely influential in shaping me as an artist and as an individual.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.thegradu8tes.com/kameron-brown
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kameronjbrown
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kamjbrown
Image Credits:
Holland Reid Ryan Miller Dylan J. Locke
