Today we’d like to introduce you to C.J. Riggs.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Of course! My passion for acting started when I was a kid. My childhood consisted of me imitating my favorite cartoon or sitcom characters on TV. The jokes I would tell would include references from television shows that impacted my generation like Martin, Fresh Prince, Billy & Mandy, Mulan, the list goes on. My mom always encouraged me to at least try acting because of my personality. I was too in love with basketball at the time to even go another route. My basketball days ended when I was in high school. Many of my friends already picked what they were going to major as early as sophomore year. My high school theatre teachers, Ms. Anita Smelley and Mrs. Jody Evans pushed me to audition for collegiate theatre programs. My mom being as determined as ever, drove me to several different colleges to audition for their performing arts program. I received talent scholarships from most of the schools I auditioned for during that time. Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi seemed like the best fit. I earned my degree from their Bachelor of Fine Arts Program with acting being the concentration. From there, I toured twice with the National Players in Olney, MD across at least twenty-three different states. Unfortunately due to COVID-19, the second tour was canceled and I had to move back to my hometown, Tuscaloosa, AL. I was cast in a web series months later and eventually worked up the courage to move to Atlanta. Here, I met an incredible amount of talented content creators and cinematographers alike. I was signed by Mathea Webb from Mattie Management, Barbara Garvey from East Coast Talent Agency, and Carol Lynn from CESD Talent. Whenever I’m not auditioning, I write as many stories as I can to try to connect with different filmmakers in the industry.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s definitely been a challenge acclimating to COVID-19. This industry is persistent however and our job is to be as creative as we can no matter what challenges we may face. Self-tapes have become the norm for auditioning which for me personally has been a great experience. I can always call an industry friend for audition coaching or help with script analysis before I press “record”. As far as writing, it just gave me inspiration. With everything happening in the world since 2020, there’s a lot of stories to tell and people to impact. I’ve been fortunate enough to connect with some really good people to create films. Hopefully, I’m inspiring others to do the same.
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?
Thank you I really appreciate that. I am a writer, producer, and actor. I have an incredibly diligent representation team that sends me auditions for various projects such as network television, streaming service originals, commercials, voice-over work, and beyond. I spend most of my free time writing as much as I can. Sometimes it’s poetry, short films, short stories, vivid dreams that I’ve had, and really anything that’s left a huge impact on my life. One of those stories I named “Jade” and decided to release it as a short film. “Jade” is a short film about a paranoid young man who confronts his best friend about an affair which ultimately leads to his demise. It was received very well by my family, friends, film festivals, and a few industry professionals. A few months down the line I was motivated by several people to create a sequel. I’m probably the most proud when my writing leaves an impact on people. I try my best to create art that sparks conversation.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Absolutely, an artist’s education doesn’t end after a college degree. There’s always more to learn whether it be a special skill or another method of acting, writing, directing, and even producing. Always look online for industry professionals taught workshops, classes, and even groups on social media. The more an artist knows the more versatile they can be. Also, it’s another way to network. Networking contributes a lot to an artist’s career. I’m doing my best now that I know this to hone in on my skills so that I can grow and create better impactful art.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.cjriggs.org/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/205_prince
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cjriggsjr14
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAEyhRl88oylenUVfAguUrw
- IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/name/
nm11957570/
Image Credits
Any photo with the blue letterman jacket & white t-shirt combo is credited to “Alix Oliver CEO of Midnight Coffee Productions”.
