Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicholas Duvernay.
Nicholas, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve known from a very young age that this is what I wanted to do with my life. I started when I was 12, always had big city dreams. That kind of comes with growing up in Gwinnett a small city north of Atlanta. Though I started when I was 12, the workload didn’t pick up for me until I turned 18. Once you turn 18, you can work longer days on set, so studios really look for older to play younger in order to save money and time. I waited my turn and when I turned 18, I had maybe 200 auditions in 2018. I booked a grand total of 2 jobs in 2018, WHICH is a blessing but I still wasn’t really happy with the ratio. I was studying in Atlanta anywhere I could, was working a really good job with a headshot firm. My problem with Atlanta was that they wouldn’t cast my look in the roles that Atlanta gets to cast. The smaller roles, thug 1, thug 2…… Like look at me hahaha.
So seeking more I rolled back on the childhood dream of moving to Hollywood, being that I had absolutely no credits, it would be like finding a needle in a haystack. But trusting and choosing to finally act on what God had put in heart. Fast-forward. I move to LA at the beginning of 2019. I do a little jumping around at studios to get a feel of what is out there, and let me tell you the Classes in LA were next level in comparison to what I was experiencing in Atlanta. I immediately felt this enormous gap that I had to grow into. Finally found my home at Deborah Lemen Acting Studio in Hollywood and Through Deborah’s showcases, I was able to secure my manager Erika Monroe Williams with Moxie Artists and also later in the year Signing with Abrams Artists now formally know as A3 Artists Agency. I booked my first film called “My Dead Dad” taking the role of “Stench”, and I also have a couple of episodes on a new Tyler Perry showing, playing the role of “Lindor” coming to BET on September 2nd. called “Assisted Living” sooooo be on the lookout for that 🙂
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not always been the smoothest but I do think it’s all working in God’s plan for me! Everything we experience could be used to grow us. In the weird times of the business being really challenging, I just fall back on that saying, ” Nothing worth doing come easy” Hahaha and these all sound sooo clique but I personally thing life cliques are the most truthful sayings. Or maybe I’m just crazy. Most of my struggles along the way have been focused around just having enough money for rent. There have been instances where I found myself choosing between buying gas so I can go to acting class that week, or go grocery shopping. As bad as that sounds, I ended up going with the gas haha and figured the food thing out. I was driving for a food delivery service to get my rent which was, as you’d expect, pretty expensive and it was really hard.
Even mentally to just spend your days driving only to come up short at the end of the month. Ended up getting a job at a small bakery washing their dishes for below wage. Honestly was not aware I was below wage because $11 an hour still sounded like a lot, coming from Georgia where minimum wage is like $7.25. I’ve always known that money doesn’t make you happy but hey it wouldn’t hurt to have a little extra laying around, I just kept my faith, stayed prayerful and trusted in the kingdom.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Being an Actor is all about making the audience feel something. We feel everything in everyday life, given this outlet, we have the opportunity to allow people to feel something they want to revisit. It gives them as viewers like a window into an alternate reality as a way of escape from the hustle and bustle of life. I want to make people feel something.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Since Covid-19 jumped onto the scene the film and television industry in terms of auditioning has gone completely virtual. Almost 100% of auditions are now self-tapes, and they are likely going to continue finding new ways to advance the industry in this time of adversity. Even producer sessions and testing days are now looking to rely on zoom and the like, to help simulate the test experience. But I look forward to advancing in the industry despite the changes.
Contact Info:
- Instagram:Â @nicholasduvernay
Image Credit:
Danny Irizarry
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