Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg Lockett.
Greg, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
“Everything I have done up to this point has prepared me for this point.” My name is Greg Lockett and I have lived a full life. I’ve had many different jobs across a myriad of industries. I’ve worked in warehouses and I’ve sold everything from men’s clothing to women’s shoes, from Volkswagen’s to Avon. I was an account manager with Xerox Corporation and a radio DJ for more than 25 years at 91.9 FM WCLK. I play bass guitar and I’ve recorded professionally and at 56 years old in 2012, I started my life all over.
I took an early retirement package from my job at Xerox. I enjoyed the company and even more so the people I worked with but I knew in my heart that it was time for me to leave. A change was in the air, although I wasn’t quite sure what that change was. I was still relatively young and I wasn’t sitting on a bucket of money, but I knew that it was time to leave. So, with no real plans, with my eyes closed shut and my faith wide open, I took the plunge into the unknown territory, trusting God to lead me.
In my first year of being retired, I took a much-needed break from working. I had, after all, worked pretty much my entire life. I deserved a break. That break was, however, short-lived because it soon turned into a daily “Honey-Do” list. I soon realized that they were perpetual and were never going away. That was not a part of my master plan but I, of course, didn’t have a plan just yet. I just knew that this was not it!
I soon discovered the number of movies and TV shows that were being filmed in Metro Atlanta. I heard on a local sports-talk radio show that many of the casting calls were posted on Facebook. I simply had to “Like” those pages and set my notifications to receive the casting calls. That seemed easy enough! I wasn’t really an actor, just a couple of plays early at church. When it came to theater, I was usually in the band. So, this was not to be a career move, just something to get me out of the house. So, I thought.
I submitted to an extra’s casting call that was looking for someone close to my age, ethnicity and size. It was for a TV show called The Originals which I never heard of before. It was a show about the supernatural (witches, werewolf’s and vampires). Anybody that knows me knows that I hate all of those! It turns out they filmed The Originals about 10 minutes from where I lived so I didn’t have far to go. I worked that first day and they asked if I was available to work the next couple of days…of course, I said “Yes!” What started out as a means of escape, soon turned into something I enjoyed. After working those three days, I left thinking, “maybe I can do this.”
I worked several other movies and TV shows as a Background actor over the next couple of months and really enjoyed what I was doing. I even started to look outside metro Atlanta to see what other cities and states nearby also had an active film community. Although there were some, none of the places were quite as active as Georgia. I figured if I could drive to a job in 4 hours and make a little money and more importantly, network and make contacts, it would be worth it. The problem was, I hit a snag. There were still plenty of casting calls posted daily, just not any that fit me. At 57, I was in a senior category and a great deal of the calls were going to those much younger than me.
In my quest to continue working in my new-found industry, I noticed something else. I saw casting calls that were looking for a Caucasian male, Caucasian Female or Hispanic male or Hispanic female and even Asian male or female. It’s not that they did not post casting calls for African Americans; they did. I just had to sort through all of the others to find the calls that looked like me. That was when I had my “Aha” moment. If I am getting frustrated trying to find casting calls that looked like me, other people that look like me were equally frustrated because they are experiencing the very same thing as I. I thought, “Why not create a One-Stop shop where African Americans who are serious about advancing their career in Film and TV can go to find casting calls.”
I created a niche group on Facebook that catered to the needs of the African American actor. I was already searching and sourcing for information that would help me find jobs, why not share what I found so that others could benefit from it? I named the group Colorful Backgrounders. My vision was for this to be an actor’s empowerment group that provided not only casting calls but also actor information (training resources, workshops and classes) and general encouragement to work hard, represent well and never give up. In essence, Colorful backgrounder’s mission is to “Employ, Inform and Inspire!”
What started out with three people, including myself has grown to more than 1300 people. Although the name is Colorful Backgrounders (CB), we are more than background actors. There are people that work in various areas of the TV/Film industry. We are made up of actors, directors, crew members, PAs, caterers, casting directors, DP’s AD’s, Hair and Makeup, Costumes and more. Most of all, we are a community and we support one another’s development and growth. We have learning classes called “Reel Talk,” where I invite an industry content expert to call into a conference call and provide knowledge and insight in their specific area.
In June, I hosted a video conference titled “The New Normal.” While understanding that Covid-19 will bring changes to our industry, I wanted to bring in people to tell us what that new normal would look like. I invited Extra’s Casting Director, Andrea Craven of Marinella Casting and January Curry of Destination Casting to provide us with the latest information on what to expect when we return to work. I even brought in Davina Savage Law, a certified Life Coach to provide us personal steps we could practice to accept the new changes that were coming. I opened that event up to everybody in the Atlanta film community and not just African Americans. I felt that this was the information that we all needed.
During my tenure, I worked briefly as a casting assistant and I leveraged that experience to be a casting director for a couple of independent projects. Working as an actor myself and having knowledge of the casting process, I was asked to work with Independent filmmaker MeMe Omegia Keys Harden on the movie Domestic Seduction. When she asked me back to cast for her next two projects, I decided to start a companion casting company and called it, Colorful Castings. I want to take the stress of casting away from Indie Filmmakers, who already wear multiple hats and provide them with this service.
Our signature event each year is the Colorful Backgrounders Family & Friends Cookout. For the past five years, we have hosted this event as a day for Family, Food and Fellowship and Fun. We have a vast array of cookout foods for every taste, whether you eat meat, or you’re strictly vegan or vegetarian. CB members can bring their family (and kids) and invite their friends. We have a Bake-off competition, horseshoes, sack-races and all types of activities for the entire family. It is something we look forward to each year. Unfortunately, because of Covid-19, we won’t be able to enjoy these festivities this year. Hopefully, we will be able to resume this event in 2021.
People have suggested that I should charge a fee to be a part of Colorful Backgrounders. They suggest that the service provided to members of this group has real tangible value beyond just the casting calls. For me, I just enjoy helping people fulfill their dreams. My dad (who passed away in 2017 at 95) was known as somebody who always helped people find jobs. I look at what I do as a way to honor him and his life. I have used my life experiences and things I’ve learned from all of my previous jobs to help myself and others realize their dreams. “Everything I have done up to this point has prepared me for this point.”
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?
Early on I was accused of being a racist and Colorful Backgrounders was labeled a racist group because I respectfully declined entry to some that were not African Americans. I did not think they would benefit from membership because all of the information that was posted (including the casting calls) was designed specifically for the African American actor. Subsequently, I had to make the group status private from the public.
Colorful Backgrounders and Castings – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Colorful Backgrounders is an empowerment group for the African American actor. We provide information that employs, informs and inspires. I try to portray professionalism and integrity in everything I do. I am consistent and I believe people who know me would say that about me.
Colorful Castings is a casting company designed to assist the independent filmmaker with both principle and extras casting. Independent filmmakers have great stories to tell, just not large budgets to tell them. While it is an arm of the original CB brand, it is a stand-alone company. We work directly with the producer and director to bring their vision to life with a diverse group of people.
On another note, I love to dress and this industry affords me with the opportunity to do just that! Like my dad was, I am what you would call a well-dressed, classic man. I am known as #TheSuitGuy.
I try to honor my dad with all that I do. When I run into somebody on set and they say to me, “Man Greg, thank you for Colorful Backgrounders. You keep me working because you post things that I don’t see other places.” Knowing that I am helping others find work and fulfill their dreams is pay enough for me. That brings a huge smile to my face and I can look up and know that my dad is proud of me.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Covid-19 has changed the game and the industry for now is still trying to figure things out. I see myself transitioning what I am currently doing, helping actors with their dreams and take classes and work as an apprentice and learn all I can about the Agent role. I believe that would be the natural progression to continue doing what I am doing.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 4044924894
- Email: glockett56@gmail.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/greglock56
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greg.lockett1
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
