Today we’d like to introduce you to Kadeem B.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m a professional Actor, Filmmaker, Model, and Film Editor.
My journey as a creative began when I was young. I grew up in a town by the name of Riceboro, GA. It’s a small country town with a black community rooted in Black American & Gullah culture. Nearest to that was the City of Hinesville and in that area is where I went to school. Liberty County became my foundation.
My love for acting began at a church. I attended First African Baptist Church in Riceboro. It’s known for being the oldest black church in Liberty County. I was volunteered very often to perform in various youth biblical plays and skits for the church. Where most kids weren’t happy to spend an afternoon in church rehearsing and performing, I secretly loved every second of it. Today, my main profession is in acting. However, after realizing my love for a creative field, I had an urge to delve into many other fields as well.
I took up playing the piano. Two of my cousins were gifted in playing piano. I used to watch them playing in church and thought to myself, “Damn, I gotta learn how to do that too!” I took a class at Liberty County High School for a semester and within that short time and through dedicated work, I found myself attuned with the instrument. Though it’s not my main profession, becoming skillful in another field planted the thought that I really could achieve anything as long as I truly invested myself to it. After that, I started playing guitar, painting, skateboarding, and etc.
When I graduated, I went to Armstrong State University (Now Georgia Southern) to pursue a degree in Theatre Performance. The main campus was in Savannah and I went to the perimeter school that is located in Hinesville, so I was at home during my first year of college. By the time I finished my first year there, I came to the decision that I didn’t want to build in Hinesville/Savannah. There was number of reasons I didn’t want to stay. Due to the field, I was pursuing there simply wasn’t enough connections to be made there. Plus, I became infatuated with the idea of telling and portraying black stories/characters through my craft. I wanted to understand different narratives and different perspectives of the world so I wouldn’t become boxed in by own limited understanding by only being home. I just wasn’t going to get that by staying in my town. During a performance in Hinesville a friend of mine from Georgia State University gave me a rundown of Atlanta. I liked what he was saying, so that summer I transferred to Georgia State University and began building in Downtown Atlanta.
The move was definitely a culture shock, but I didn’t regret it at all. I immediately made new connections where back home it would take forever to do. I was experiencing exactly what I needed to experience. I met beautiful art minds and lifelong friends. And it was my experience of being here that set me on a whole new path of understanding of what being a creative meant to me. I began modeling, acting for film and finally began creating a brand for myself.
Around the 2020 year of college, I took up filmmaking. On that summer, we were all sent home early due to COVID. I had no choice but to go back home. Due to that, I was paused. I found myself in a creative stump. I was four hours away from my connections. I couldn’t go to Atlanta to perform any gigs or work on anyone else’s projects. Everyone was creating, excelling, and I felt stuck. I knew we’d be going back eventually, but in that time of isolation something in me sparked to life. I remember one of my professors telling me, “You always want to be working on something. Always want to be working on a project so you can keep progressing.” So in my mind, instead of pausing for two months and waiting to be in someone else’s project, I’ll just make my own.
I always wanted to produce my own films when I got more successful in my acting career. Then I realized, why wait? So I started a three parts YouTube series of my hair routine. Through those videos, I practiced cinematography with my phone camera. Those videos became very popular on my page. I left my creative stump feeling reborn. Ever since then, I started taking more and more leaps of faith.
When I got back to Georgia State: I didn’t stop making videos, my drive was set, I’ve made it onto to major film sets to act on, and I started seeing more results from the dedication towards my work. Today, I’m a senior at Georgia State University. I’ll be graduating in Spring 2022 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Performance.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. There were a few reoccurring struggles I had to prevail through to get to where I am today.
I had to deal with many doubters in the early stages of my path. Where I’m from, a career in any art field that wasn’t getting you masses of money was a waste of time or nothing to invest in. The area dedicated its time to sports and academics because that’s just what brought in money. And if you weren’t going to college to be an athlete, lawyer, or teacher, then you gotta go work at the chemical plant or get yourself recruited at Fort Stewart.
I had to deal with people projecting their insecurities onto me. I even had this one person who told me I should just stay small and stay in my lane when I told them about me transferring from Hinesville to Atlanta. I had family members glare at me when I told them I was pursuing an acting career.
Overall, I just didn’t have any true support. It was hard. It was difficult to find a footing in what I wanted to do when there were very few elements available to me that could help me nurture that pathway. So if no one is there support me, what should I do? Well, I had to become that inspiration for myself. When there’s no one around to support you, then you gotta be your #1 supporter. You can’t wait for anyone else to invest in you. You gotta be the first to invest in you. So, I became that.
After my accomplishments began showing through my brand that’s when I started receiving more support, but no matter what I’ll always make sure I’m rooting for myself too.
One other major challenge I experienced was self-comparison. That trait will become the death of an artist’s mind. Making the move to Atlanta was one thing. Finding solitude and confidence around so many creatives that have “better” cards than you is another. Here I am, this guy who basically comes from farmland and now I’m around actors/creatives that went to performing art schools. I was honestly intimidated. The first year here all I did was self compare. Yes, I made connections and formed bonds, but I was so afraid to be comfortable in what I was doing whereas in my hometown, I thought I was the shit. Not only that, comparing myself to others only strained my relationship with them. I almost became deluded in how I thought of others all, losing myself to envy.
Self comparing created doubt within myself. It kept me from “dying a little.” During that summer of COVID isolation, I became so entrapped in my head, then I started having long deep conversations with a creative friend of mine, Deanna Griffin. From that conversation and time of deep thinking, I came to a revelation. Every creative is literally in the same boat. It doesn’t matter what cards we’re dealt with or what way of life we come from, we’re all trying to get to the same exact place which is a place of success. I came to the conclusion that self-comparison is almost stemmed from a sort of competition towards others. Many creative fields have an atmosphere that can feel like they’re competitive, but that’s only true if you make that your mindset. Truth is, there is no competition. There is no need to compare yourself. There are no levels amongst each other. What everyone should be doing is working together. When one creative excels the other does as well. When one person is given a critique of their work by another creative that helps the other creative. The only person I should be comparing myself to is myself from a year ago, never another person. We all support each other and by doing so we all make it to where we’re going.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize and I’m known for my passion in acting. I’m also known for filmmaking which have now become my dual specialties. In 2020-2021, this combo has created some very highlighted moments in my career. My first accomplishment was a video of mine titled “Don’t Forget your Mask”. It was posted on Georgia State University’s page where I created an ad that showcased wearing your mask during the COVID school year. That video massed a lot of views and it’s what got me a lot of attention and was reached by local black-owned companies to help advertise their products, one of them being Wax Queen Candle Co LLC.
After that, I did a three-series campaign with Texture My Way where I created my best creative videos and even made my first mini short film revolved around a love story that was fully filmed in my hometown. I manage to not only incorporate but inspire local creatives in my hometown to invest in the project.
I was an acting coach and actor for Altar Production’s short film FALSE DAWN that premiered at Landmark Theater.
Me and another filmmaker teamed up and won $2,500 in a film competition.
I was casted in my first professional musical theatre show with Out Front Theatre Company in their production of “XANADU”.
I believe what sets me apart from others are my values and how I carry myself.
I value the investment a person has towards their craft. I admire people that allow themselves to “die a little” and by that, I mean release at a piece of themselves out into the world despite the fear of embarrassment, algorithms, or judgment — to then emerge a better version of themselves for doing so.
I live by this.
It’s like delayed gratification. I’m always going to put my all into a project or at least as much as I can so that it can truly be great. I cannot stand the bare minimum. If I’m not going out of my way to make something that really means something to me and make it unique then I’d just be doing the same thing everyone else is doing. I don’t want to do the same thing everyone else is doing just cause it’s easier or gets you fast money/results. That’s lazy or just too “safe”. You can’t hope to be successful in what you do if you’re giving the bare minimum. Invest, make those creative decisions, don’t skip the hardwork, and strive to “die a little.” Cause if you feel the same after releasing your work then you did it wrong.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
When it comes to advice for acting, filmmaking, modeling, or whatever– my universal advice is to remember to allow yourself to work and build with others. Don’t downplay yourself, there’s no need for it. And don’t allow yourself to become succumbed by excuses/blame on things that are outside of yourself. If your passion is to create then do it with whatever you got and do it the BEST you can.
Take the time to reflect on your progress from now to a year ago.
Support your friends just as much as you would want someone to support you! We’re all here to excel each other and make it together. Competition does not exist.
Contact Info:
- Email: TheKadeemB@outlook.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kadeemster
- Youtube: youtube.com/channel/UCAGaiGxcTwF9vWoq38n61Vw
Image Credits:
Deanna Griffin Josh Gaffney Out Front Theatre Company Altar Productions Tiffany Roberson Eaphen Pace Kendra Gibeaut
