Meet Kelvin O’Bryant

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelvin O’Bryant.

Kelvin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My journey began in a 7th grade science class at Campus I middle school in Irmo, South Carolina. A local talent representative’s daughter mentioned me to her mom, and a couple of weeks later she called my house early one morning to ask my parents if she could take me to an audition for a video for the local news network. I always knew I had the ability to make people feel. My mom told me very early in my life that, for whatever reason, my mood changed the temperature of rooms. Looking back, it wasn’t until leaving that first audition room that I understood how true that was. I booked that job and the next 6 or 7 local auditions I went on. It never felt like “acting” to me. I was really just being myself. The next year, 8th grade, I got into the Advanced Drama class and got my first taste of theater. My teacher, Mrs. Wofford, recommended that I audition for the TRI-District Arts Consortium, the state’s summer program for students gifted in the arts. I went, I got in, I shined. Charlie Peterson at Harvest Talent in Columbia, South Carolina told my dad that he really didn’t like representing child actors, but I was a very big exception. We got a call from Charlie my freshman year in high school saying a film starring Martin Sheen, Julia Stiles, Mekhi Phifer, and Josh Harnett was shooting in Charleston, and they would like me to come read for a small part. I walked out of that audition with the exact same confidence I had walked out of every other audition with.

Charlie called on the ride home to tell us that Tim Blake Nelson, the director, wanted me to come back the next day to read with him. I did and the next week I was on set of my first multi-million dollar budget movie. Two years later I was going back and forth to Wilmington, North Carolina auditioning for a huge part in Jodie Foster’s independent film “The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys”. I overheard a few people in the waiting room mention they were auditioning my part in L.A., New York, and Chicago. That was the first time I ever got nervous in an audition setting. To that point, I had booked every single job I had auditioned for. This was the first time I honestly thought I wasn’t going to be good enough. I was wrong. I booked it. I spent five weeks working with Emile Hirsch and Jodie Foster. Even with all of the successes I experienced, I never thought of pursuing a career in the business. It was just something fun to do. It wasn’t until I walked out of a screening of Altar Boys that I began to realize I wanted to be an actor. I was devastated to find out I was completed edited out of the film. It hurt me in ways can’t explain, but it also forced me to look in the mirror and accept the fact that I was out of my league. The people on that project were actors. I was, very clearly, not.

Around the same time, a close friend and high school teammate of mine dropped dead on a basketball court. Not long after that, my aunt, who was like my second mom, passed away. I was lost. My world was upside down. A lot of things began to happen that made me decide to change my major to theater. Once I did that, I was off to the races. I got cast as, basically, an extra in a production of Trojan Women. Something told me to swallow my pride and take the part. I did, and it was the best career decision I’ve ever made. The production was guest directed by the artistic director at The Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey, Bonnie Monte. Bonnie took me to lunch one day during rehearsals to tell me that she thought I was an exceptional actor. She offered me a scholarship to apprentice at her theater that summer. Before I left for Jersey I got a call from their office saying they would like to offer me a role in their main stage production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. After that run, while a part of the apprentice program, I got offered a bigger role in another main stage production. My performance in Richard II got mentioned in the New York Times, and I never looked back. My experience in Madison, New Jersey verified what, deep down, I always knew; I am an actor. I went back to South Carolina, finished my last year of college, packed two bags, and flew across the country to live the life I was born to live.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been anything but smooth. Firstly, I grew up in a small town in South Carolina. I went to college 15 minutes from my hometown at The University of South Carolina, and I spent one summer in the small town of Madison New Jersey. Moving to one of the biggest cities in the country, by myself, was an extreme culture shock. My first year in Los Angeles was the loneliest year of my life. Not only did I not know anybody, I quickly realized nobody cared about anything I had done in South Carolina. I was no longer a big fish in a small pond. I was a very small fish in an ocean.

I found my way to Sharon Chatten’s acting class where I thought I would, at least, be able to feel good doing what I was so naturally good at. Nope. Sharon very quickly reminded me that I had an immense amount of work to do. I had natural ability, but I had no idea how to work. I had no idea what it really meant to roll up your sleeves and do the work necessary to do deep, truthful work. Those years with her, while rewarding, were incredibly humbling.

The ups and downs in the life of an actor are well documented, but living them are hard to describe. One year I feel like I am getting callbacks and booking every month. The next year I am, maybe, getting one audition every six months. One week I’ll be doing great work in class and auditions. The next I’ll be total trash. Finding peace in this volatile journey is the everyday struggle.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am an actor. I work in film, television, theater, and commercials. I’ve worked on films such as “O”, “The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys”, and “The Midnight Meat Train”. I’ve had turns on Network television shows such as “The Unit” and “You’re the Worst”. I’ve also filmed close to 2o national commercial campaigns for global brands including Coca Cola, Best Buy, & McDonald’s.

I am most proud of my resiliency. I will never stop growing as an actor.

The only thing that sets me apart for the thousands of other actors in this town is my awareness that I will bring my truth to whatever role I’m lucky enough to read for or play. There isn’t another person on this planet who can do that.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
One day in fourth grade the principle called on the loudspeaker in our room to have me come to the office for an early dismissal. I had no idea why, but when I got there I saw my dad and younger brother there waiting for me. We got in the car and went to 7 Oaks park. We played basketball for a couple of hours then went to Fuddruckers for dinner. My dad had the day off and just wanted to spend the day with his boys. I remember going to bed feeling so loved.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kelvinobryant.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelvinobryant/

Image Credit:
Kat Touhy

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