Life & Work with Rasheed Stephens of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rasheed Stephens

Hi Rasheed, 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?
I started doing open mics my junior year of college. Shortly after I dropped out of college and started taking acting class; acting classes because it helped me to develop confidence for the stage, but I ended up catching “the acting bug”. I didn’t like the roles I was going out for so I self taught myself how to write, produce, and direct films. I would sneak into Los Angeles Film School and read scripts to use them as a templates to teach me to write scripts. I befriended a few film students and convinced them to rent out film equipment to shoot film and to teach myself to produce and direct film.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been some struggle but I’ve enjoyed the journey and process. I was homeless my first year in half in Los Angeles., but that never deterred me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a stand up comedian, writer, actor, producer, and director. I have a few feature films available on several different platforms such as Amazon Prime, Peacock, TubiTV, AppleTV. ( Induced Effect, Between Forever, Coffee & Cabbage…are a few of my films streaming.) I currently have a feature film titled “ All I’ve Got & Then Some” which premiered at Slamdance Film Festival and won the grand jury prize at Florida Film Festival which now makes it Oscar eligible. We won the audience choice award at Mammoth Lakes Film festival for “ All I’ve Got & Then Some”, the film which I co-directed, co-wrote, produced and also starred in . I never quit and use all my resources to keep elevating.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
You have to be a risk taker to be inside this industry. I took a risk by moving way across the country with no family and no money and going after my dreams. I drove to Los Angeles from Atlanta, purely off adrenaline of dreams. I’m the type that’s never afraid to jump in the fire .

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Stephensrasheed_
• Facebook: Rasheed Stephens