Today we’d like to introduce you to Damian Jackson.
Damian, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
From the beginning in Dallas, Texas by way of Washington D.C., I knew I had a passion for theatre. I could easily put myself into any scene of a story and create the mold the audience wants to see. As a child, I was singing in front of the mirror but training my voice to perfection. Theatre was much more than a stage for me but it was my way out of a dark past. This smile holds pain, tears, and struggle.
My family was a support system for me throughout my childhood to define strength, perseverance, and truth to hold me through my struggle. Yes, I said my struggle. Upon arriving in Atlanta I had nothing but the clothes on my back to keep me warm, being the fact that I was stuck there due to unfortunate events and I wasn’t prepared for the journey I knew then I would have to make a way out of no way, but my higher power makes no mistakes, so I turned to my talents. My tears would get me through the cold nights of loneliness. How could I have this life with nothing but gas money? I could not imagine getting through the days of sorrow with no family or true friends in Atlanta. I felt like my road would never lead me to destiny. Destiny is defined by the individual but I yearned to see the light of a brighter day. But then my faith increased and the opportunities began to knock at the door. I would like to first thank Central casting and Jupiter Casting for opening my eyes to television and film.
Not only was I an extra on some of your most popular shows and films…I have been carefully selected to be featured and speak. I would also like to thank CAB castings for helping me with my consistency by keeping me booked consecutively month after month and stand in roles. Tammy Smith Casting,Baca casting, Extras Casting, Heather Hylton Casting, Taylor Made Casting, and the list of casting agencies goes on and on but I speak here today to share my truth to hopefully inspire all the aspiring actors and actresses. No, the casting companies never knew what I was going through and the vital part they played in my career and survival, but because of my talent, determination to persevere, set etiquette and personality it always made me a shoo-in to be booked. Don’t let one obstacle or a few interfere with your path to success, don’t quit when the road doesn’t look easy and keep the faith when all else fails and keep striving because what is for you no man can take regardless of the circumstances or timing.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Life has not been a crystal stair but I endured through the pain and the hardships to get where I needed to be. Most people who have been homeless in a different state or their own state know the struggle of starting over by force. I slept four in a car or wherever I could to get by and mastered the true art of survival, especially not knowing where my next meal would come from. While on my journey I met a girl named Ramona who helped me and inspired me in so many ways and pushed me to live out my dreams and keep my faith and helped me break away from what got me stuck in Atlanta in the first place. I Finally broke away from the bounds that held me down and the abuse only but to get caught up with another abusive ex who drained me mentally, physically, financially and any other way they could and wasn’t very supportive of my dreams or goals and in turn became homeless for a second time.
My best friend Ramona introduced me to a friend named Koko (rip) that end up helping me find a rooming home that I could groom myself to land me my first minimum wage job in Atlanta that could help me fund my acting career. The rooming home wasn’t the best shape and there were various trials and tribulations living there since it was an 8-bedroom that houses 12+ people, but I knew that was all I could afford that could keep me running and I would have to use it as a stepping stone. Lost my job due to my abusive ex and started to give up on my goals and life and was down to my last dollars before I knew enough was enough and I had to break away from the drama and pain and regain my focus on my craft. At the beginning of my career as an actor, I only had my selfies and standard cell phone taken pictures to submit for bookings, and my car to get to set, but with a wreck and a few faulty mechanics that slowly turned for the worst.
With little money for over a year I turned to uber/lyft, a few friends and even strangers that could help me get to these casted bookings so I could gain exposure and learn my craft hands on until I could reach my goal or at least get my car back, and I thank them all for seeing my heart and determination to make my acting goals happen. Running low on funds because my set checks were so sporadic and behind on bills risking eviction on February 2018 I landed a contract geo-location engineering job with Google, due to my extensive resume and a dude named Joshua Cook that decided to take a chance on me. Due to my new job, I had to take a break from Acting but I was able to travel the U.S., meet many great people, network, and become a field supervisor for my team within my first three months.
They always say every successful actor has at least a parttime or a side hustle to fund their career and because of that job I was able to fund mine which in turn kept the ball rolling and I was able to move to a better place, get my car back running, and eventually landed my first speaking role on a national television show. Set is my life but I often questioned how I was going to present myself with one suitcase to my name and sometimes no shower, but Not only did I push through the pain and heartache but I did not quit living out my dreams. Many would feel insecure and embarrassed to speak this truth but I am sharing this with you to say that ‘I made a way out of no way’ and with the help of my higher power and keeping that faith I was able to shine and accomplish more goals than I ever expected. I would like to give advice to everyone that is going through their time of struggle, don’t let your circumstances define your future. If I didn’t neither should you. God is a way maker and I entrust in him to lead the way. He never fails, and no matter the route or how long it may take You can do it.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to do it all over again, I would change Nothing because this is my truth and I live it and my strength and faith brought me this far and I believe through God that everything happened for a reason. What is for me will always be for me regardless of the route I take, it might take me longer but I will get there when its right for
me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm10002026/
- Email: jackson.damian@att.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damiantheactor/
Image Credit:
20th century Fox, CW Network, Jabari Hicks @royalevizion, Deandre lemans @slingshots.atl
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