Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Smith.
Christopher, before we jump into specific questions about the company, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
It all started when I was a child at my grandmother’s house, listening to 98.7 kiss FM and all of the classic tunes that were played. I vividly remember hearing Tom Joyner’s voice on the radio thinking to myself, “This guy sounds cool.” I also watched the evening news and imitated the anchors as they reported the news break. Entertainment and art have always caught my attention. As the years passed and social media became more prevalent, I’d record myself talking about random topics and share my videos on Myspace and YouTube ( Yes, Myspace.. I’m getting old lol). When I applied for college, I naturally chose communications as my major, not realizing that I subconsciously have been preparing myself for this field of study for years.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Not! My drive and ambition are inspired by my childhood. As a kid, I was the overweight bookworm/band member who attended a school that resembled the hit movie, ” Lean on Me.” There were so many moments when I was bullied because I took my academics seriously and didn’t have to live the same life as some of my peers who had to quickly mature due to their personal lives at home. Even though I’m not the aggressive type of guy, I fought back on many occasions. The thing about being bullied is, no matter how much you fight back, ignore the bullies, or walk away, the lion will always view the hyena as prey. Things got worse when I started high school. I remember asking myself, ” Why am I always the target?” The show “Everybody Hates Chris” felt like my actual life lol. Suddenly, my mother wanted a better situation for me academically and environment wise, so she hit me with a culture shock by withdrawing me from high school to enroll me in homeschooling. This was a rough transition since I went from being in a class of 40 children to just me and my mother playing the role of a teacher.
It was also during this time when I dealt with the aftermath of being bullied for so many years. I wouldn’t say I had PTSD, but depression and anxiety hit me harder than ever since I had enough time to sit and reflect. I remember looking in the mirror saying to myself, ” Damn, I am fat and trash.” I was broken. I felt alone. I didn’t wanna be here. It was also at this time (Age 14) when my voice got significantly deeper. My parents were shocked and asked me, “What in the world happened to your squeaky voice?!” I sounded like Barry White with a driver’s permit. After graduation, I received a full ride scholarship to Marion Military Institute where I trained to become a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army.
However, that dream was cut short when I was diagnosed with a blood clot in my leg and lung (Medical term: Deep Veinous Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism) and was admitted to the hospital on Christmas Eve. When I reported the situation to MMI, I returned to campus only to find out that I was put on a leave of absence and a revoked scholarship. It was at that moment when I was thankful for applying to more than one college. So I packed up my bags and transferred to Jacksonville State University where I pursued my communications major. Things started rolling uphill as I joined a fraternity ( Phi Beta Sigma), joined media related groups, and graduated from the university with a 3.52 GPA.
Tell us about your company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
I have an independent media brand titled “L.E.O. TV”, which is an acronym that stands for Loyalty Equals Opportunity. I am a proud Leo who believes in the power of loyalty, so I decided to pick up a camera and interview other talents and entrepreneurs who are loyal to their craft. The purpose of the interviews is to inspire the world to believe in their dreams, regardless of the obstacles that one faces through life. If you’re loyal to your job and duties, then that loyalty will create opportunities for you, such as promotions, pay raises, etc.. We all have something that we’re passionate about. I’m the guy who wants you to show it!
What I am most proud of about my company is that I’ve had the opportunity to interview famous artists such as Carl Thomas and 95 South Boyz. I recently interviewed an upcoming ATL artist named Derty Rackz. What sets me apart from others is that I’m like a southern, black VladTv when I say interviews minus the interrogator vibes lol. It’s important to document the positive side of the entertainment industry, especially when the modern vibe of the industry tends to shy away from it. I am also a radio personality for 98.7 Kiss FM (Dreams do come true). I go by the name, “Voice of the South”. Eventually, I will be the voice of the world!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I wouldn’t say luck played a role in my life/business. I believe that my work ethic and ambition to chase every dream that I was told I couldn’t chase plays a part. Maybe my voice is good luck, but I’d prefer to say that it’s a blessing.
I believe that hard work plays a role in my life as well because I feel like anyone can have a voice/talent if they are blessed with it, but your drive and work ethic has to match it in order to make things happen.
Pricing:
- Interview Session: $50
- Commercial Voice Overs: $30
- Voice Drops: $10/Drop
Contact Info:
- Email: leoproductions93@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/q_blu_/ - Other: youtube.com/channel/
UCfbEY64gOBfy9Tje_5_Qd5Q
Image Credit:
Play Pendergrass, Jarrod Cuthrell
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