Meet Calvert David Miles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Calvert David Miles.

Hi Calvert David, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Growing up in the south side of Chicago with my mom Cherise and sister Melissa going to the movies was our thing. Every weekend we would go to the theater to see the next big blockbuster. What really got me hooked to movies and tv was the greatest tv show of all time…POWER RANGERS. I remember getting up early or rushing home from school to catch the newest episode.

That one tv show was a gateway that showed me the beauty of martial arts and cinema which lead into Bruce Lee the greatest martial artist of all time. My mom saw that interest and signed us up for karate lessons at Final Conflict Karate owned by Sensi Keith Flournoy. I still remember him yelling at me to not pose like a Power Ranger during class. Good times. Growing up in Chicago Michael Jordan was everywhere so naturally, I gravitated toward basketball but still kept up my love for film and martial arts. While playing in college, I noticed that you can take an acting classes. I thought this would be an easy A so I signed up not knowing that I will get bit by the acting bug. Playing basketball, martial arts and acting began to merge into things I wanted to do in life. So after college, I got to work. I jumped back into martial arts at Beverly Pagoda under Hanshi Shorty Mills, Shihan Kates, Shihan Thumper Kates and Sensi Marcus Day to get my black belt, training basketball to play overseas and taking acting classes at Second City Chicago. I worked selling Mr. Sticky’s (basically a lint roller) in malls so I could feed my passions.

But tragically, it all stopped when my mom passed away. During that time I had no idea what to do. The only thing that went through my head was our last conversation about her moving out to LA and starting a career as a screenwriter. So I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t give up on my dreams. I dedicated myself to eat, drink, sleep everything that was martial arts and film-related which gave birth to my film production company, 3 STRANDS OF ROPE PRODUCTIONS. I made my first short film called Assassin Origin to become sag eligible because I knew I would need it in the future. But then I thought why stop there so I submitted it to film festivals. I submitted to the film festival called Action On Film. It was accepted. Me and Sensi Marcus journeyed to Los Angeles and had the best trip ever. We met celebrities, networked with other filmmakers and saw the ocean for the first time. But the best part was I won for best actor in an action short film in 2014. Now if that’s not a sign, I don’t know what is.

So flying back, I knew that’s where I belonged. I earned my black belt and moved to sunny LA. I went to every networking event as possible so I can meet people and fully understand the entertainment business. A friend of mine told me that Kim Do a well-known martial artist was teaching a fight class in the park. I took to it like a fish to water because of my martial arts background. He taught me everything about the stunts. From there, I met Mike Chatt a former power ranger and the creator of XMA he taught me to perform for the camera. I began to notice that not a lot of actors know martial arts so I began taking acting classes at Beverly Hills playhouse where I met a lot of incredibly talented people. One day going through my room, I found an old screenplay I wrote when I was living in Chicago. Something said to me to make it stop waiting for others and make your film. It was a hard-fought 13-day shoot that I finished. I felt extremely proud that I completed my first feature film The Woman In The Red Dress that is currently on Amazon Prime. Kim Do who did the stunt coordinating for my film saw my passion for martial arts and cinema. He brought me on to work at 8711 to do previz work for a Scott Adkins movie that legendary stunt coordinator Larnell Stovall coordinated.

Seeing my size and martial art ability, I was invited to train at 8711 Action Design. Walking in there was incredible, seeing all the movie posters on the wall that I saw from years back with my mom and sister was a great feeling, a feeling that I found my purpose. Their legendary martial artist, stunt coordinator and director Chad Stahelski taught me the next level of stunts and fighting for film. Currently, I’m almost done filming my second film Yasuke Descendents. It’s based on the true story of an African slave that was made into a samurai. I’m also teaching martial arts and reopened my first martial arts school Final Conflict Karate. I’ve grown a lot since moving out here to follow my dreams. It’s scary the uncertainty of moving to another city to make your dreams come true but I always had faith in myself that this was the city for me, the city that can make your dreams into reality.

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?
It hasn’t been smooth but that’s life. My struggle is not being patient and thinking that every audition I go on or every submission send, they have to pick me for the part. I have to remind myself that some things are not meant for you and some things are.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a stunt professional, actor, martial artist, director, producer and cinematographer. I also run my own film production company called 3 Strands Of Rope Productions where we make shorts and feature-length films. What sets me apart from the rest is that I can work in front or behind the camera. I’m pretty good at all aspects of film making so I understand production very well. My specialty is definitely stunts and fights for film that’s what I’m mostly known for. The thing that I’m most proud of is my upcoming film Yasuke Descendent. It’s going to be a great film.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is finding your passion and doing what you love.

Pricing:

• Martial art classes $100 monthly
• Both film combat and martial art classes $150 monthly
• Camera $300 for 6 hours

Contact Info:

• Email: cmiles7949@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calvertdavidmiles/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calvert.miles.3
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/cmiles7949
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/3StrandsOfRope

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