Today we’d like to introduce you to Marika Williams.
Hi Marika, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I always wanted to be on television since I was a little girl in elementary school. I started watching Tyler Perry’s Plays, and I literally remember every line every song, and I have a collection of them. I started doing theater in high school, and I actually won the best actress award in theater class. That’s when I knew that was it. After I graduated high school, I never knew where to start, so I researched and researched until I came across extra work in 2021. I started being an extra on multiple shows, and I fell deeply in love with being on set. Everytime I got an opportunity I was on set I drove 2 hours from Augusta Ga to Atlanta almost everyday. I moved to Atlanta in 2022 and started living out my dream of being on set every day. Now I have the most amazing opportunity of working as an Extra Casting Production Assistant and a Talent Production Assistant on multiple projects. I continue to perfect my craft because one day, I will be in front of the camera and not just behind!
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?
Something that’s worth fighting for is never a smooth ride. When I first started this, I didn’t have much support. I’m from a very small town where if you don’t go to college it’s no other way to be successful. It’s many nights I have cried myself to sleep thinking about how I was going to make my dream happen. One thing I always had was faith in myself that I was picked to be on this journey for a reason. It never crossed my mind to give up or give in, so the only option I had was to keep going.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I mainly work as an Extra Casting PA for one of the top extra companies in Atlanta. I cast extra for multiple projects. I also work as a Talent PA. Which means I look over talent when they are on set. I welcome them and let them know I’m there to assist them with anything they need. I give them the time frame that they are needed on set, and I walk them to set. I have the opportunity to meet amazing people every day. I am most proud of not giving up even when everything around me was telling me to. Even when things didn’t look bright, I always found a light to shine on it. I feel like nothing sets me apart from anybody. Anybody can do everything I have done; people have done it. The only difference is some people give up before the storm is over, but if you work through the storm, the outcome is always greater.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I like best about Atlanta is it’s so many great opportunities for you to win. I always say you can either win or lose here. But if you surround yourself with the best people and be in the right rooms, even if you in the hallways you can succeed. It’s no limit to what you can do here. The least of course the traffic, but that’s something I can deal with.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @marikaaaaj
- Youtube: @marikajanee5156
- Other: @marikajanee_
