Today we’d like to introduce you to Deonte’ Bolden.
Hi Deonte’, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have always wanted to be in the entertainment industry since I was three years old. I wanted to act and be in front of the camera. I knew that I was destined to be on the stage when I took drama class in middle school and throughout high school. My drama teachers used to beg me to be in their upcoming productions. However, I had a brother with special needs, and at a young age I had to help take care of him along with my mother, who was a single parent. It wasn’t until my brother’s untimely passing where I sinked into a great deal of depression after suffering from an identity crisis. I struggled with discovering who I was? What was my purpose? Why am I here? I wrote a suicide note to my mom, which then turned into a poem that I wrote expressing my feelings. That’s when I discovered my passion for writing because it became so therapeutic for me. I shared it with a few people, and they felt so inspired by it. That’s when I began to discover my purpose for writing. I knew it was time to use my passion to find my purpose. I moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. I started acting in numerous stage productions and films. One day on set, I was discussing with a director some ideas that I had in my head, and he told me that I should write down those ideas and start writing scripts. Next thing I knew, I was writing a whole series, films, stage plays, books, etc. I created Deonte’ Bolden Productions in 2018 and decided to move to Atlanta to focus on telling my own stories.
Deonte’ Bolden Productions (Colossians 3:17) prides ourselves in glorifying God in all that we do while telling stories that will provide insight to prominent issues and healing. We want to expose the wounds while allowing God to provide the healing. Although I am a Christian, my goal is to tell stories that everyone can relate to while learning life lessons. I put on my first stage production in 2019 titled “Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places” (Love doesn’t hurt… but loving the wrong one does.”) which had two sold-out shows and gave me two nominations as “Playwright of The Year.” Recently, The stage production returned to the stage in which we had another sold-out show along with raving reviews. We are currently preparing to take this show on tour soon. Deonte’ Bolden Productions is also gearing up to release a short film this summer titled The Skin I’m In Vol. 1 Melanin Melanie which discusses the issues of colorism in our communities through the eyes of a biracial woman named Melanie, who was teased and bullied for being biracial. She carries that hurt and trauma to her adulthood, and now she is a wife and mother who tries to protect her daughter from experiencing the same hurt that she experienced while teaching her how to be a colorist, however, her daughter experiences racism from another way that she couldn’t have imagined.
I have also released two books, One titled Purpose Pains in 2019 in which I won “Accomplished Literary” award for in 2020 at The PEACH THEATRE awards in Los Angeles created by the incomparable Peachanda Dubose. The book is in introspective autobiography where I discuss how I overcame a multitude of personal challenges by grace and faith in God. The five chapter volume encourages readers to understand every situation, circumstance, and painful experience as an opportunity to grow towards a true spiritual awakening.
Finally, In honor of my late brother who passed away due to complications Muscular Dystrophy, I decided to release an empowering children’s book titled Differently Abled, which highlights four children who have special needs. These four children King (has Muscular Dystrophy), Majesty (has Down Syndrome) Adore (has Dwarfism), and Royal (Stutters) are attending Ordinary Lane Middle School while trying to fit in with their peers but find themselves the center and prank of everyone’s joke and laughter. It’s Christmas Time, and they are fed up and write a letter to Santa begging him to make them normal for a day. They take a magical journey to the North Pole to see life on the other side, but they soon will discover that life isn’t always greener on the other side and that they are different because they make a difference. This book is receiving raving reviews. I was invited on 11 Alive News and Atlanta 57 Live here in Atlanta to discuss this empowering story, along with attending events that highlight Special Needs Children such FOCUS, Differently Abled Conferences, and etc.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road.
One of the struggles along the way was losing someone dear to me, my brother. Writing was my source of healing to allow me to express my emotions while also finding a way to grieve while allowing my brother to live through my art and creativity. His legacy will continue to live on through me.
Another struggle was dealing with disingenuous people. Many will start with you and not finish with you. In the entertainment industry, many are looking for a come up and don’t necessarily connect with me for the right reason. I have to deal with so many different personalities and egos. However, I learn along the way that many are not who they proclaim to be. It has made me so much stronger because I know where I am going, and I accept the fact that it’s the end of their journey. I thank God because I’ve seen them for who they are, and I’ve moved on and left them where they were supposed to be which is right behind me. I’m always going to continue to press forward! God has too much in store for me!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Deonte’ Bolden is an Atlanta based author and playwright. Through his production company, Deonte’ Bolden Productions, the Washington DC native made his directing and playwriting debut with the premiere of the stage play “Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places.” Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places is a stage play drama about a group of successful women in who fall in love with the idea of being in love, which leads to them falling in love with their worst enemy. This story shines light on trusting God’s timing and when we are impatient then we pay the price for it. Love doesn’t hurt, but falling in love with the wrong one…does. The inaugural work was well-received by the Atlanta community and inspired audiences during the two sold-out performances. Deonte’ is currently developing a series of works built around his life experiences that will inspire many generations.
Deonte’ has released two books Purpose Pains, a self-help guide book to help people push from PAIN to PURPOSE and I also have a children’s book that highlights four children with special needs as they travel on a magical journey of seeing life on the other side while developing self-love, confidence, empowerment, and acceptance. It was released May 18th, 2021 titled “Differently Abled.” Deonte’ Bolden was awarded “The Accomplished Literary Award in 2020” at the 9th Annual PEACH Theatre Awards for black excellence. He was also recently seen and interviewed on platforms such as 11Alive News and Atlanta 57 LIVE. He has also been featured in various magazines as Author Of The Month.
After many years of pursuing acting, Deonte’ Bolden created Deonte’ Bolden Productions in January 2018. Deonte’ wanted to create his own opportunities and impact lives through Jesus Christ. Deonte’ Bolden Productions is a Christian production company that provides ministry through the arts. We believe that God can change people’s lives through each one of our productions. We are here to bring the biblical truth, expose the wounds, and allow God to provide the healing. Let everything we do give praise, thanks, and worship to our God. Colossians 3:17
In 2019 Deonte’ Bolden became an award-nominated playwright and is looking forward to what God has in store for him next. He is gearing up to release his first short film this summer titled The Skin I’m In Vol. 1 Melanin Melanie. The story of Melanie Hart, a wife and mother who struggles with accepting, embracing, and loving herself due to her past trauma of being bullied because she’s biracial. She tries to protect her daughter, Bailey, from experiencing the same hatred, abuse, and torment that she endured as she begins to teach her how to become a colorist. However, soon she realizes that racism comes in all forms and that she has been following the same principles as her abusers.
Finally, The Visionary is preparing to launch his own award show, The Bolden Awards. This award ceremony will award and acknowledge artists who are making BIG moves in the industry while also making a huge impact and achieving excellence along with success. We only celebrate, award, and acknowledge THE BEST! The Award show will debut in 2023.
What sets Deonte’ Bolden apart from others is his humility, creativity, determination, zeal, resiliency, and confidence. He doesn’t try to be like anyone else or compete with anyone else but himself. He wants to be better than he was yesterday. He finds creative ways to give people Jesus without making it boring or cliche. Deonte’ knows how to love and work with different people as we have one mission, and that’s to share our stories while inspiring, uplifting, and impacting people’s lives.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is defined by the lives that you impact. It’s not tangible, even though it’s nice to be awarded, paid, and acknowledged for what I do, however, if I am not making a difference and impacting someone’s life then it’s not worth it. Success to me is when people pick up my book or watch my production that they take away a powerful message. I want them to leave better than they came. My success is not defined by how much money I have in the bank or the followers that I have on social media. It’s about making a difference in the world. I want them to leave inspired, healed, impacted, empowered, and CHANGED! That’s what success means to me and if I can do that, then I have accomplished my goal.
Pricing:
- Differently Abled $15
- Purpose Pains $10
Contact Info:
- Email: contact@deonteboldenproductions.com
- Website: www.deonteboldenproductions.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/deonteboldenproductions
- Facebook: facebook.com/deonteboldenproductions
- Twitter: twitter.com/deontebolden
- Youtube: youtube.com/deonteboldenproductions
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@deonteboldenproductions
Image Credits
Hubert Husband Yvette Bolden Anthony Page Kyle Jacko
