Today we’d like to introduce you to Denzel Jenkins.
Hi Denzel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
It all starts with my faith in Christ. All the talents, gifts, recognition and achievements I obtained along the way came from God opening doors and guiding me towards my purpose in this life.
Alright, 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?
Definitely not. Early on, I struggled with depression and PTSD, but thanks to the community I have, I’ve been able to overcome it and live a rich life in the spiritual sense. Also, had struggles in being impatient living out in LA. It seems like I’ve accomplished so much, but in the grand scheme of things, there’s so much more work I have to do to be a force out here.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I think what sets me apart artistically in wanting to tell stories like this comes from my life experience in being a victim of rape/sexual assault and being led by God to heal through writing poems and stories. Because of this, I definitely think I have a certain poetic style which I hope to be known for. And outside of my personal experience, the lack of proper representation and seeing persons of color existing in spaces we have yet to see in the landscape of cinema also inspires me.
So overall, the stories I desire to tell are focused on providing spaces to bring healing, showing persons of color in new ways to be uplifted, broadening how we see ourselves and how the world ought to see us. William D. Foster, one of the first black producers, said this, which inspires me: “Nothing has done so much to awaken the race consciousness of the colored man in the United States as the motion picture. It has made him hungry to see himself as he has come to be”. I want to tell stories that will awaken the consciousness of people to bring healing, new onscreen representations of black/brown experiences with the hopes of people’s spirits either beginning, continuing or being renewed through Christ.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
For me risk-taking is all about growing and obtaining the faith, the belief in the things I prayed on. A major risk, for example, was when I applied to USC Film School. It was the only film school I applied to because I knew I was going to get in beforehand because it was something that I prayed and fasted on when I wanted direction to grow in my career, and God made it clear to me that USC film school was the next step. So, I activated my faith, did my due diligence in applying, submitting all the materials required. I remember I was in Spain interning when I received and email from a professor there asking to set up an interview. So, we did the interview virtual, and it went ok, not good, not great, just ok. And about a week later, I receive an email saying that I’ve been waitlisted. I didn’t get down on that result; I was happy to have received that. A couple of months pass by, and it’s like 3 or 5 days before the semester starts, and I still haven’t heard a thing from them. I’m back home in Arkansas from my Spain trip, and one of my parents were concerned because I didn’t have a plan B and just kept questioning what I’m going to do next if this doesn’t go through. I just continued to double down on this cause I knew this was for me, and I ended up fasting that whole week from technology for a certain time period throughout the day, and I started giving thanks, giving praise to God for what’s about to happen in my life. The one afternoon, I received an email saying that I’ve been accepted to USC School of Cinematic Arts. Truly one of the best days of my life, mainly because I have the faith to believe in this thing that I prepped a full year for, and it come to fruition
