Meet Abel Zerai of South Central, Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Abel Zerai.

Hi Abel, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Yea fa sho, I got you. I am a Poet, classically trained Actor with a BA and a lover of films who is currently working as a Camera Assistant on Non-Union Feature Films, Narrative Shorts, Music Videos, and Social Media Content.

I don’t open up often unless I spend time with people but it strangely feels serendipitous to have received this invitation to work with your publication at a time when I’m transitioning within my career and life.

I love writing so bear with me as I make this succinct yet flowery.

My family migrated to the United States from Eritrea in the 1980s and my parents met in Los Angeles during that time. So I was literally a child of immigrants born into one of the largest cultural hubs in the world and potentially of our modern world. Storytelling in books, television, movies, stage and music literally bring me joy. The only thing that brings me more joy is sharing quality time with people, from those that I love and care for to the stranger who befriends me at my local grocery store. To be present with others is a gift and one I will always cherish.

My love for films came from my first big screen movie experience, 1994’s, The Lion King. From that point on I loved the movie going experience and was fortunate to have many more memorable moments such as sneaking into a morning matinee of Transformers after playing video games all night with oldest friends in Mesa, Arizona (shoutout NOL and Boydado Recs), to more professional settings of hearing Ang Lee speak about the technology used in Gemini Man at the Director’s Guild Theater in Los Angeles, California, with my college friends and community (Dojo, GamGams, and Lady Lounge miss y’all!).

I didn’t always know I wanted to be a filmmaker yet my appreciation for storytelling and writing has always been present. At a young age I would write and draw out a comic book “Evil Man” who was actually a good guy in disguise and I’d like to think I’m the reason why anti-hero’s are so popular today. Writing didn’t stop there as I wanted to be a napster rapper and I would rhyme all day long scribbling in my notebook. It wasn’t until my Senior year in High School where I was challenged by my Language Arts Teacher to write that I began to learn structure and story. I had spent my last two semester in High School writing the same paper over and over until I was satisfied with my grade and I submitted a paper every month until I received an A+.

Fast forward two years into a Marketing degree and I was at my lowest point in my life. I genuinely think I was saved by Kid Cudi’s, A Kid Named Cudi’s mixtape. That level of vulnerability and honesty from his music saved me from a dark decision and I began to take writing courses. I had a teacher who loved poetry and encouraged me to perform my poems at a school open mic in College. Performing my words was powerful and instilled in me a confidence I didn’t realize I was lacking. A friend encouraged me to take acting courses to help with my writing and then it started to click. I took every course from writing, to acting, filmmaking on 8mm and 16mm, editing, stage design, lighting design, to any and everything in both theater and film. I stretched my Pell Grants as far and wide as I could in Community College and competed in the Kennedy Center Acting Competitions, had a play of mine Published in a collegiate national book, and performed a One Man Show of Malcolm X during a black history month theater festival.

I had a goal set out during my time at Arizona State University. I didn’t only want to graduate (Forks Up!) I wanted to train and work with peers who pushed me towards my best self. That competitive spirit was a transformative part in my life because although I succeeded in so many ways by making friends, being cast in shows, and being recognized for my work. It wasn’t until my senior thesis that I had a profound and loving moment. It was when a random student walked up to me and said, your play moved me and truly helped me out during a very dark time in my life. To be on the opposite end of that kind of praise struck a chord with me because I was just in the same dark place years prior. I graduated that school year, celebrated my accomplishments, booked my first co-lead acting job and shortly after with some of the most wonderful friends and people in my life decided to move to California.

Where I have lived for the last 8 years.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been smooth yet that’s what I appreciate most about this journey.

I can name various struggles but one that I am currently facing is my new path of freelancing. I as well as my coworkers were let go by a camera rental house in the industry. It was disheartening to see all of my hard work be met with such an end. Yet a blessing in disguise for I am truly thankful for the people I met during my time there who continue to lift me up and I am beyond thankful and blessed for the work that comes my way.

Every challenge in life is a new opportunity to show up for yourself as well as your community in the ways you can.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
In this lifetime I am a poet first and I am currently working on a personal ode to love, with two pieces of art. One a poetry book, the other a feature film.

I have put together poems scanning over a decade all around the theme of love. I know that by putting my heart out there, it will be reflected in the work that I do. The poems are all real to me and ways I’ve felt about the loves that have come and gone in my life.

My poetry has begun to influence my style of filmmaking as I look to grow and collaborate with my friends and our community to build a story of finding forgiveness and love.

I’m most proud of my approach to my creativity and it can be summed up by this Nipsey Hussle quote, “It sounds simple telling people to work hard and never quit, but to really execute and demonstrate those principles takes discipline and faith. Those are the two factors that I believe separate the good from the great; the successes from the failures.”

What makes you happy?
Care and people who show up for you when you least expect it. Now I don’t want someone to feel burdened by this but I love to make others happy so when someone else goes out of their way for me, I feel truly blessed.

Pricing:

• $40 for poetry book

Contact Info:

• Website: https://abelzerai.com
• Instagram: @_justabe

Image Credit:
Main photo is taken by Domo Jones @buddy_israel.