Today we’d like to introduce you to Matondo Kiantandu.
Hi Matondo, 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 off as a writer, winning awards in school as early as the age of 10. I won a statewide essay in Connecticut for a paper on law enforcement. My mom still has the awards. Then we moved to Atlanta and I started rapping and taking theater classes in my last year of high school. My best friend who passed away 2 years ago was my rapping partner. We did some local stuff with our group in Atlanta and won some contests. The plan was for us to go into acting later. We lost touch for years and I went into acting and writing my own films.
I moved to LA and was back and forth between Atlanta and LA for years even living in my car and getting hotel rooms when I could afford them. I had enough so 7 years ago I cut the Atlanta cord completely and that’s when I began to have some success. I started booking some gigs and some of my films turned a profit. The safety net was gone. I was all in, succeed or fail but no going back home. I haven’t even visited home yet because I have more things I would like to accomplish. I was also back in touch with my best friend from high school and my last 3 films are dedicated to him. It was great to connect with him one last time. I miss him dearly. I have been hard at work without the latest film Hell in Allendale: No Escape. We control the rights and want to give them straight to the audience.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It was pure hell. Pardon my french. Sleeping in the car. Even in the park one night. A girl, a so-called actress let me crash on her couch. I was one day late with the rent and she gave me the boot. I slept in the park in the winter. LA is warm year-round but not at night. It gets cold. It was awful. I took a bus cross-country back to Atlanta. That was absolutely miserable. I must be a glutton for punishment because I came back.
I had this terrible Manager who was really an Agent without a license. You had to pay her $100 to sign up which is a total scam. However, I did book a huge job so I more than made it back. I eventually moved on from her. My current representation is amazing. Also on the filmmaking side, we have hit a real stride with our last three films. The films were a mess in the beginning because I didn’t know what I was doing and didn’t understand who you work with is as important as what you’re working on. We had all these scam distributors now we have taken our power back.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Acting, Directing, and Writing. I am most proud that the last feature film that I wrote, directed, and acted in led to me getting representation. I think it’s a testament to controlling your own destiny. What sets me apart is I self-finance, write and direct my films, also act in them.
I also get hired to act. I handle editing and have even done the majority of the posters. I will sleep in the park again or in my car if that’s what it takes. I won’t be denied and I don’t believe in the rejection thing. You’re actually being ignored, so make your presence felt until they can’t ignore you anymore. I have a feature film I booked and shot the week of my birthday in May. It’s called A Miracle Before Christmas with Letoya Luckett, Romeo Miller and Keith David and drops in December. What’s really is amazing I booked another film this week, I can’t say too much about but it films the same week the other movie drops. It has two A-List actors in the leads who happen to amongst my favorite performers. I am fortunate enought to have a significant role. I’m super excited about it! I got pinned (put on hold for a part but you don’t have it yet) so many times last year and just recently and didn’t get any of them, so it’s wonderful to book! All of the hard work and patience is paying off.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My close friend Fabian Jaime. He runs MGFame Entertainment with me. He works a lot as an actor and we work on films together. Great actor and an even better person. I can talk to him about personal stuff as well. Also Dean Testerman he’s been in almost all my films. A strong working actor with a strong moral sense. He also helps behind the scenes.
I also have to mention Kacie at Bam Management and Matt at RTA, my amazing reps. I have never had reps who keep me busy like that and also are always available to talk. It’s amazing. They work so hard to get me opportunities but still make time to talk. I’m truly blessed. There’s a friendship there and great business. That’s extremely rare. I wouldn’t have any of my reps if not for a wonderful actress named Brynne Erskine. It’s so important to create content when things aren’t working. I met her through an agent for my film which led to me signing with the agent who knew Lisette. Lisette was a business partner of my current Manager who led me to my Commercial Agent Matt. Also Jataun Gilbert. He is amazing behind the camera with a strong ability to appear in front of it. We work on films together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mgfameentertainment.com/
