Today we’d like to introduce you to Aspen Kennedy.
Aspen, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
To walk through my story is to understand the path in which I’ve been graced to take by the ordering of my steps. I humbly express this with confidence because I know now that my journey has always been guided by something beyond myself. Even before I could comprehend its blueprint. When I was younger, I remember watching the ending scene of “Men in Black” (1997), where Agent K looked up at the stars and admired how beautiful they were. The next chance I had to look up at the stars one night after seeing that scene, I did. At the time, I didn’t know their significance. All I remember is gazing up and feeling that they were indeed something special. What I did know from reading a children’s book is that God created the entire world – the sun, the stars and me.
Through more recent years, I’ve been graced to come into a deeper knowledge of His Hand and Spirit, which has guided me along my journey. What I know for sure now is that it was God. Although my career path in the entertainment industry is somewhat relatively new, I’ve been able to accomplish things that I know has only been possible because of His orchestration. In recent years, I’ve learned (still learning) what it means to be created in His likeness. Anyone who knows me knows that I am driven by faith. There hasn’t been one success that I’ve been able to accomplish or receive without exercising the measure of faith that we all have been given (Romans 12:3).
Having my desires manifested at the level of specificity that they have manifested only confirmed that I have access to the same power within. The same power and authority He used to create the world and call forth its existence. That includes me. 🙂
I have more than one experience where I have needed or wanted something very specific and it happened just as I asked and spoke. I’ll share one. Before booking Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger, I professed that if the show was renewed for a second season that I would be on the show. Keep in mind. This was before there was even talks of a second season. Also, before the first season had ended at the time, it was June of 2018 when I said this. The show was renewed by Freeform for Season 2 on July 20, 2018. Fast forward three months, I received an audition for an “UNTITLED FREEFORM SERIES.”
When I got the email, I researched to see if I could figure out what the auditioning was for. The breakdown included that it was for Episode #202 – which means it was a show that was in its second season and the role would work on the second episode. Through research, I googled the writer and producers. Behold, I was auditioning for Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger! That’s not the best part. It gets better. During that time, I was working as a Leasing Agent for a residential company. It was a very good company with very nice people. A great job overall. However, I was unhappy there. But hey, Denzel Washington said it best, “Do what you gotta do so you can do what you wanna do.” However, I was tired of doing it when I knew I was capable of doing more.
I remember one day in particular when I was overwhelmed by the daily 9-5 work-life I lived. I was occupied with an overload of lease files and new potential resident tours. That day just felt like a big moment that I would have liked to have taken to myself. I would usually take lunch around noon, but due to the busy workload that day, I had to take a later lunch. When lunch came, I wasn’t in the mood to eat, Appetite? Abducted by my feelings. Instead of getting food, I drove to a nearby park. It was about fifteen minutes away.
I had 15 minutes to drive there, 30 minutes to sit in silence (or nap) and 15 minutes to drive back. When I arrived, all I could do is just sit there. “Tired” doesn’t justify the state that I felt that I was in. I was fed up. It’s not that I wasn’t grateful for being able to meet my financial needs. I just felt stuck and tired of the robot routine.
Shortly before shifting my car in reverse to head back to work, I told God that I was tired and that I needed something to uplift me. When I arrived back to work, I went over to my desk and put my keys and phone in my desk drawer before heading to the restroom to make sure my face wasn’t showing signs of me not wanting to be there (from the redness of my eyes from tears of frustration). My emotions appeared to be clear, so I headed back to my desk.
I make it back over to my desk and decided to check my phone (out of habit) to see if anything miraculous happened in the two minutes that I was away from my desk. Guess what. I had a missed called from my film and television agent. I swiftly grabbed my phone and shuffled right back to the restroom to return his call. Anytime, I got an email or called from him. I would get excited. Hoping for an opportunity. He answers, “Hey, Aspen. What’s shaking? How are you?” I lied. “I’m good.” Yeah right. Ha! He then asked how my audition went because Marvel didn’t allow talent reps or anyone besides the talent auditioning to handle the transfer of the audition tape. I told him it was cool. I did what I could do and I felt good about it. He replied, “Okay. Well, congratulations! You booked!”
You can imagine the chills that went through my body. I was grateful to be heard. I felt seen. I was overjoyed by that moment that came and overruled the feelings of frustration prior to getting the call. That night I went home and slept better knowing that with God, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE (Matthew 19:26).
The icing on the cake was that the Season 2 premiere was a two-episode premiere. So not only was I able to use the Power of Faith through my expectations to be on the show, but I was on the show on the very beginning of the second season! Talk about specificity. (Mark 11:24)
Today, I stand grateful for that experience and the many other similar instances I’ve experienced. I have stored them in my heart as hope for my future. Shoutout to Jesus! (1 Corinthians 15:10)
Great, 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?
This process of artistry includes a series of no’s and the right batch of hearing we want to hire you. Therefore, it’s important to take every moment as a learning opportunity. Booking is beyond a day on set. It is the experience that you carry over and cultivates it into the next job. That’s the birth of a career. However, not booking a job allows for fine-tuning.
Sometimes, it’s possible to have done everything in your power, but you just may not fit what casting is looking for. That’s okay, though. As I have evolved, I’ve come to realize that I am always making fans at every given opportunity. I mean this in a way of my work being remembered and noticed. So I find it vital to always give my absolute best. It’s all about climbing and maintaining, then repeating the formula until it becomes second nature.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I think what sets me apart is how I use my faith for me and I also am able to encourage others by the same measure. I’m cool with that, though, because it allows me to inspire others. One of the biggest inspirations to me in high school was Kobe Bryant and his mentality.
“The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.” – Kobe Bryant
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Aside from working on the film itself, working with Keith David as his son in the film “Bewildered,” He’s a legend. It’s a great story about family. I love stories about families.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: aspenkennedy
Image Credit:
Brian Jones Photography
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