Today we’d like to introduce you to Quintin Mims.
Hi Quintin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in the projects of Chicago, the 10th of 11 siblings. When I was around 12 my parent’s moved us to an 80-acre farm in rural Michigan. During my time in Michigan, besides going to school and being the only son left at home to help work the farm (i.e., I bailed hay, milked cows, churned butter, fed the cows/goats/chickens/horses, etc.) I would watch old movies at night. I loved old Hollywood classics with song and dance, with actors like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. While working on the farm in my boots and overalls, I’d come up with songs and dance around the barn.
But one film stirred in me the inspiration and determination to become a storyteller – “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” with Sir Sydney Poitier.
Originally my goal was to be a teacher like my oldest brother but watching Sir Sydney Poitier play the black male lead in that film changed my life. I thought that if I could affect change in people through my storytelling, then I can do what Sydney did for me!
In 1989, I moved to Atlanta to pursue acting and modeling. While there, I worked as a taxi driver to supplement my career. The first acting school I joined was the Alliance Theater, where Kenny Leon was the director. My first acting job was the lead role in a gospel play, “The Test of Time”, for which we toured the southeast for almost a year. After touring, I did TV commercials and worked background for movies and TV in the southeast region.
I gained a lot of experience working background in Atlanta.
I found out that many productions shoot their pilot projects there to save money, with the hope they’d be picked up and produced in “Hollywood”.
I discovered that you could be asked to do a lot more than they’d allow in Los Angeles. While working as a background police officer on a TV pilot project, the director asked me to drive a squad car around a corner and then bump the tire up onto a sidewalk. This likely would’ve been considered a stunt driver job in L.A., which later I realized I could’ve been paid more for and received credit, but being in Atlanta, I was only paid as background without any credit.
I had the opportunity to work on one of Selma Hayek’s first movies, “Fled” (1996), with Laurence Fishburn and Stephen Baldwin. I started out as a background police officer. (Fun side story about Laurence Fishburn, he would walk around in between takes playing himself on a small chess board that he held on his hand!)
Later I was offered to come back for a speaking role in the film but I happened to be in LA competing in aspokes-modeling competition for Bacardi, benefitting a charity organization started in the 1990’s, DISHES (Determined Involved SuperModels Helping to End Suffering), which focused on helping children suffering from AIDS. I was one (1) of ten (10) men in the U.S. competing to be the first spokesperson for Bacardi Limon, a new drink for Bacardi. I won the competition! But missed the opportunity for my speaking role on “Fled”.
The Bacardi Limon competition was my first time in LA, so it was bitter sweet because although I was excited to be in LA and win this competition, I was also disappointed to miss the opportunity for a speaking role in a film.
It took me some time to develop the courage to move to Los Angeles, but finally in 2002, I took the leap and landed in Encino. My first step was to find an agent and start booking. This proved more challenging than anticipated. In part because I allowed marital problems with my first wife to distract from my goal of being a working actor. So I became a flight attendant instead, starting out with Delta and later went to JetBlue.
I had some success when I first moved to LA. While in line to register at Central Casting, one of the bookers came up to me and said I looked like someone who had just canceled on them for a gig. He took my cell number and called me before I got home. He said to show up at the Kodak theater later that afternoon and to wear a jogging suit. I didn’t know what the gig was but I showed up and it turned out to be “The Jimmy Kimmel” show, broadcasting live on the east coast.
During rehearsal, the principal actor was to introduce their fake family to Jimmy. I was playing the older brother, LeRoy, the only fake family member that was given a name. I didn’t have any lines but I decided to take a risk and improv a line, which made Jimmy laugh. So since no one said anything, I said it even louder during the live show.
It was a good lesson about taking a risk on set during rehearsal – sometimes they’ll like it and mic you, or they might not and could escort you off the set. This time it worked out for me!
When my first marriage ended, I took 6 years off from acting. It was a low time in my life. In 2008 I had renewed energy to get back in the game. I got headshots done, then re-connected with a model who was working with LA Models at the time. She pitched me to them and they became my first TV/Commercial/Modeling agency. The first national commercial I auditioned for with them, I booked!
A little later, Jeremy Sole, a friend and DJ, introduced me to his brother who happened to be dating Tami Berens-Armitage, who became my first theatrical manager/agent with Shapiro/West & Associates.
I started going out on castings for TV shows and movies; auditioning for all the major casting directors at different studios.
I’ll never forget auditioning for a guest star role. I had my lines memorized, I went in feeling confident, and then the nerves started kicking in. When my time came, I went in, the casting director was very nice, he started the audition by reading his lines. I got so nervous that I completely blanked. He gave me three opportunities to try again, but I just couldn’t remember. He kindly said to me, “You’re just not ready. Keep studying and taking classes.” I could tell he really wanted me to be good.
The lesson here was study, train and over-prepare for auditions! Because as much as you think you’re ready, sometimes, on some auditions, your nerves will turn on so strong that you must be more than ready!
I learned to appreciate every audition I had and looked at them as an opportunity to tell a new story. When I did not book a job, I looked at it as an opportunity to do better, to be better. Instead of being discouraged, I was determined to keep going, keep growing and not give up. I focused on taking baby steps, working my craft every day while working my part-time job as a flight attendant.
I studied at “The Imagined Life Theater” with Diana Castle, Steve Tietsort and Faline England. What I learned there helped me grow as an artist and as a person.
I took TV Commercial classes with Killian’s Acting Workshop. Killian’s classes are wonderful, but doing one on one private classes with him are truly transformative.
I studied Improv at UCB-LA.
One of my biggest fears was to do stand-up comedy, so I faced that fear in 2018 and did stand-up off and on for a year in different comedy clubs in LA.
Through the years, I’ve been with multiple agencies, making changes as my focus and priorities for my career changed. For example, I left an agency because I didn’t feel I was a priority for them anymore, that they weren’t pitching me as much. Other times I left because I didn’t feel they saw me as I saw myself, that they weren’t open to pitching me in diverse ways – like doing tv commercials AND fashion modeling. Sometimes I left because another agent was courting me and I felt there would be more opportunities.
Navigating these changes was not always easy. I’ve learned how crucial communication is with our agents. Look for agencies that align with your goals, communicate clearly and courageously when those change, giving them an opportunity to evolve with you or decide to move on. Do your best not to burn any bridges, and value the relationships you have!
Besides working on my craft and becoming the best I can be, working on mentality is essential.
What thoughts we have, what our self-talk is, will either help us thrive in this industry or it will force us to quit. Be honest with yourself about where you are, and start there. Once you accept the truth about yourself, you can start to make changes. For me, faith in God, belief in Christ is what help me to have a strong mentality.
In 2021 and 2022, I worked on a set almost every week. I’ve worked with hundreds of other actors, models and artists. One thing I’ve noticed is that most people I’ve worked with did not feel confident in themselves, most just felt lucky to be there. Very few believed in themselves. I don’t know what it takes for you to have confidence in yourself because it’s different for everyone, but to start, I recommend you make a list of the things you’re afraid of, then start moving toward them until you’ve checked them all off the list and become fearless! If we move toward our fears, we can accomplish our dreams.
One of the best quotes that I read on social media this year is: “Don’t worry about people not liking you because most people don’t like themselves.”
Right now I have a great talent manager with Outlaw Artist Management; a very supportive team of agents; and an amazing wife who’s always honest with me and works tirelessly to help me with self-tape auditions, etc.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
My life as a storyteller has not always been smooth.
I’ve struggled to balance relationships and working a regular job while pursuing my artistic career.
It’s been a challenge with finances, to work enough to live and afford acting classes and have enough time to prepare and make it to auditions.
Being in the entertainment industry and an artist, many times I thought that I’d sacrificed enough, that I’ve been patient enough, only to learn that I have to be even more patient and need to sacrifice more.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a professional actor, model and dancer – a storyteller.
I’m known for my positive personality, my dedication to my craft and my professionalism. People know me for my smile.
I’m also known for being a creative dancer.
A few projects and roles I’m known for are: as the Warlock in the video game “Destiny 2”, I was the most played character in the game when it first released, it was played by over 2 million people worldwide; the spring campaign for Banana Republic (2022); Nike’s 50th-anniversary campaign (2022); soon to be known as a senator in a new Netflix original film coming out later this year. This year alone, you can see me in 10 different commercials running in the U.S. and worldwide.
I’ve booked over 100 commercials between Atlanta and LA and I’ve done over 50 campaigns as a model.
What sets me apart from others:
– My personality – inner peace and joy for what I do;
– I don’t take “no” for an answer – to me, “no” is a directional word;
– I don’t compare myself to other men or women – It’s the client’s job to compare me with other talents. I concentrate on being the best that I can be and show up every day.
– I stay interested in people, places and events. I believe it makes us more interesting, which makes people more interested in us.
What are your plans for the future?
One big plan for the future is to start a production company to produce stories that inspire positive change in others.
To become a spokesperson for major brands on national commercials.
To continue modeling in fashion campaigns worldwide.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://quintinmims.com/
- Instagram: @quintinmims
Image Credits
Micaiah Carter Evie Lane Wes Klain Stephanie Girard Warren Jennings
