The Actor from Louisiana
A note for Kaleb: Kaleb, you are such a talented king! You most definitely are going places sir. I have pretty much watched every reel that you've posted and you truly bring light to the screen and I can tell that you were made for what you do. It's very evident and there is a fire in your eyes that lets the world know you did not come to play! Not to mention you're a poet as well so you just out here mastering the arts left and right! Thank you for agreeing to be apart of this segment. Thank you for reading my poetry and giving me feedback. Thank you for being supportive in a world where support for the up and coming is a bit slim. You have a supporter in me for life! Now, let's allow my readers to get to know you better.
Where are you from and where did you grow up?
I’m from Franklin, Louisiana. I grew up in a little community called St. Joseph just outside the city limits.
How old were you when you first took an interest into the arts?
I started dancing at 6 or 7. I saw my brother dancing and I wanted to emulate him. He showed me the movie Breakin and I never turned back.
What is your favorite childhood memory that involves art? It could be in the sense of film or one of the other forms of art.
There was a day I was learning to do windmills. I was practicing the different body positions required for the move and something just clicked for me and I was able to do it.
What inspired you to become an actor? Think back to that very first time you decided to get into character and be someone other than yourself. What inspired this very moment?
I took a drama class my sophomore year of high school and I didn’t take it serious at all until we did scene work. Then I felt like it was something I would like to keep doing. Fast forward to my senior year and I got cast in The Little Shop of Horrors and played like 5 characters it was amazing. That’s when I knew for sure I wanted to be an actor.
Once the cameras are rolling, what is going through your mind during this time?
Be in the moment as much as possible. What do I want my scene partner to understand about me in this moment.
What keeps you focused and in character even when you’re dealing with personal struggles in your personal life?
The great thing about character is that I don’t ever bring my own problems into any space that I am playing a character in.
What does your creative process look like when you’re getting into character/getting to know the character you will be playing? What are somethings that you do that help you bring your best self?
My process is to find the quickest way that I relate to the character's point of view. Using the given circumstances of the scene. I am able to discern which tactics to use to bring the most understanding to the character Im playing.
What inspires you to continue to pursue your passion even when you feel like giving up?
It's a marathon. I have to be diligent and patient and trust that in due time I will be where I said I will.
What are some struggles/adversities that you’ve dealt with during your career and how did you overcome them?
Plenty of self doubt creeps in ever so often. Not feeling like I'm good enough or that I'm doing things right, but my wife always reminds me that it is a marathon and we have to just keep going.
What is your absolute favorite thing about acting? The thing that gets your adrenaline pumping and gives you that anxious feeling in your stomach but it’s really butterflies, you know what feeling I’m talking about :D
My favorite thing is the feeling I get doing live theatre. Getting to hear the audience live and breathe and feel with you in the moment. There is nothing like feeling like everyone in the room is connected.
What is your favorite type of role to play? I’ve seen pretty much all of your reels on Instagram and I have to say I love your serious/bad boy roles. You are killing the game in that. I promise I could’ve sworn you were a Hollywood actor if I didn’t know any better.
I definitely enjoy the "villain" role. It's where I'm most comfortable. I definitely want to play more complex characters and I do want to play a romantic love interest.
Your poem “An Open Letter to My Skin” is an absolute masterpiece. I mean, not only were the words powerful and beautiful, but the video that you released with it was so visually pleasing in so many ways. What inspired this poem?
Thank you. That poem actually came from something I was commissioned to do by the local Atlanta Theatre called True Colors. The poem itself derived from my struggle of self acceptance particularly with my skin tone. I struggled a lot to like myself when I was younger because of my dark skin. That was the way I chose to express that trauma and decided to move past it.
I see you are the Co-Founder of Brayvhouse and you serve as the cinematographer, editor, and colorist of the team! You definitely have your hands full, in a good way. Tell us a little bit about Brayvhouse, how did it all come about?
Brayvhouse is a company created by my wife an I. We're both actors and during the pandemic we decided to start a business to create reel footage for ourselves. That's when brayvhouse was born.
What message are you sending to viewers through your creative efforts and cinematic masterpieces?
My attempt is to bring individualism to black cinema. How can you be your complete self and tell the story of who we are without falling victim to trope of what being black is.
Are you currently working on any big projects that we should be looking forward to in the near future?
None that I'm able to speak about but stay tuned!
If you had to choose, who would be your favorite actor and actress dead or alive and why?
Currently someone I really admire is Jonathan Majors. He has been playing an array of characters and he has so much range. I really enjoy watching him work.
Is there someone on the big screen currently or even a retired actor that you feel connected to?
Not directly. I try to not get caught up too much in relating to which actors I am like. But Don Cheadle is a person I don't mind saying I'd like to emulate career wise.
What are you most thankful for in your life right now?
I'm thankful for the ability to provide for my household through creating.
Do you have any other passions/hobbies? If so what are they?
I dance, I am also a 3D artist and I do stunts as well!
What is the end all goal for your life personally and professionally? What will be the catalyst in your life that will make you say, damn, I have finally made it?
I want brayvhouse to be a large production house like a24. Producing large budget films and helping more people that look like us tell their stories.
Are there any special people you’d like to recognize or give thanks to?
Thanks to all of my friends and my family who have done nothing but support me as I am on this journey!
I’m from Franklin, Louisiana. I grew up in a little community called St. Joseph just outside the city limits.
How old were you when you first took an interest into the arts?
I started dancing at 6 or 7. I saw my brother dancing and I wanted to emulate him. He showed me the movie Breakin and I never turned back.
What is your favorite childhood memory that involves art? It could be in the sense of film or one of the other forms of art.
There was a day I was learning to do windmills. I was practicing the different body positions required for the move and something just clicked for me and I was able to do it.
What inspired you to become an actor? Think back to that very first time you decided to get into character and be someone other than yourself. What inspired this very moment?
I took a drama class my sophomore year of high school and I didn’t take it serious at all until we did scene work. Then I felt like it was something I would like to keep doing. Fast forward to my senior year and I got cast in The Little Shop of Horrors and played like 5 characters it was amazing. That’s when I knew for sure I wanted to be an actor.
Once the cameras are rolling, what is going through your mind during this time?
Be in the moment as much as possible. What do I want my scene partner to understand about me in this moment.
What keeps you focused and in character even when you’re dealing with personal struggles in your personal life?
The great thing about character is that I don’t ever bring my own problems into any space that I am playing a character in.
What does your creative process look like when you’re getting into character/getting to know the character you will be playing? What are somethings that you do that help you bring your best self?
My process is to find the quickest way that I relate to the character's point of view. Using the given circumstances of the scene. I am able to discern which tactics to use to bring the most understanding to the character Im playing.
What inspires you to continue to pursue your passion even when you feel like giving up?
It's a marathon. I have to be diligent and patient and trust that in due time I will be where I said I will.
What are some struggles/adversities that you’ve dealt with during your career and how did you overcome them?
Plenty of self doubt creeps in ever so often. Not feeling like I'm good enough or that I'm doing things right, but my wife always reminds me that it is a marathon and we have to just keep going.
What is your absolute favorite thing about acting? The thing that gets your adrenaline pumping and gives you that anxious feeling in your stomach but it’s really butterflies, you know what feeling I’m talking about :D
My favorite thing is the feeling I get doing live theatre. Getting to hear the audience live and breathe and feel with you in the moment. There is nothing like feeling like everyone in the room is connected.
What is your favorite type of role to play? I’ve seen pretty much all of your reels on Instagram and I have to say I love your serious/bad boy roles. You are killing the game in that. I promise I could’ve sworn you were a Hollywood actor if I didn’t know any better.
I definitely enjoy the "villain" role. It's where I'm most comfortable. I definitely want to play more complex characters and I do want to play a romantic love interest.
Your poem “An Open Letter to My Skin” is an absolute masterpiece. I mean, not only were the words powerful and beautiful, but the video that you released with it was so visually pleasing in so many ways. What inspired this poem?
Thank you. That poem actually came from something I was commissioned to do by the local Atlanta Theatre called True Colors. The poem itself derived from my struggle of self acceptance particularly with my skin tone. I struggled a lot to like myself when I was younger because of my dark skin. That was the way I chose to express that trauma and decided to move past it.
I see you are the Co-Founder of Brayvhouse and you serve as the cinematographer, editor, and colorist of the team! You definitely have your hands full, in a good way. Tell us a little bit about Brayvhouse, how did it all come about?
Brayvhouse is a company created by my wife an I. We're both actors and during the pandemic we decided to start a business to create reel footage for ourselves. That's when brayvhouse was born.
What message are you sending to viewers through your creative efforts and cinematic masterpieces?
My attempt is to bring individualism to black cinema. How can you be your complete self and tell the story of who we are without falling victim to trope of what being black is.
Are you currently working on any big projects that we should be looking forward to in the near future?
None that I'm able to speak about but stay tuned!
If you had to choose, who would be your favorite actor and actress dead or alive and why?
Currently someone I really admire is Jonathan Majors. He has been playing an array of characters and he has so much range. I really enjoy watching him work.
Is there someone on the big screen currently or even a retired actor that you feel connected to?
Not directly. I try to not get caught up too much in relating to which actors I am like. But Don Cheadle is a person I don't mind saying I'd like to emulate career wise.
What are you most thankful for in your life right now?
I'm thankful for the ability to provide for my household through creating.
Do you have any other passions/hobbies? If so what are they?
I dance, I am also a 3D artist and I do stunts as well!
What is the end all goal for your life personally and professionally? What will be the catalyst in your life that will make you say, damn, I have finally made it?
I want brayvhouse to be a large production house like a24. Producing large budget films and helping more people that look like us tell their stories.
Are there any special people you’d like to recognize or give thanks to?
Thanks to all of my friends and my family who have done nothing but support me as I am on this journey!
