Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Freeman.
Sean, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
First, I’d like to say THANK YOU to the VoyageATL team. I’ve been looking forward to this conversation for a while.
I believe that I’ve always been a creative, an artist and a bit of a soul rebel, too. Growing up, I was a Boys & Girls Club kid. My mom had me and siblings (Rodney, Demias, Deara and Kayla) there faithfully. It was there where I discovered my niche for the performing arts. Mr. Tim Freeman and Ms. Lindsey McVay Moore were the first to help nurture that spirit. Fast forward, as college graduation neared, I had a full-time job offer on the table, but I knew the traditional route wasn’t one that I wanted at the time. I wanted to chase the “vision” that I’d had since childhood. So, in 2014, I made the decision to move to New York City to study acting! It was a brief stint at the New York Conservatory Of Dramatic Arts but it totally changed my life. I’ve pursued acting professionally ever since and I plan to do this on a major level until I’m old and grey. And even then after. Today, I find consistent work in film and on stage, I’m SAG-eligible and I’ve even appeared off-Broadway in 2018. And that leads me back to your question, how did I get to where I am today….beyond studying the craft and learning the business, I think it’s important to develop genuine relationships with those you work with. Every relationship has opened a door. However, it is God’s grace and a really BIG bag of grit that precedes everything.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Smooth? Ha. That’s a good one. No, not at all. Quite the contrary actually. While I am thankful for the many great moments that at some point or another have enabled me to forget whatever present struggle I faced, the road (process) has not been a smooth one. But I’ll spare yall the novel lol. At the 2017 NAACP Image Awards, Mr. Washington stated, “Ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship.” And I couldn’t agree more. It hasn’t been “easy”. I think the biggest challenge that I’ve now overcome was dealing with the frustration that came with pursuing a vision/goal that only I was given and yet expecting others to believe so strongly in it as well. Many of the sacrifices that I’ve made have resulted in a number of other challenges such as nomadic stints (AKA couch surfing) and getting use to the sporadic income. But with maturity comes wisdom and it has allowed me to see the process through a much different lens honestly. It’s brought so much clarity into my life. So, in actuality, the unsmoothness of it all has really been both necessary and beneficial.
That qupte from Mr. Washington is something we’ll have to frame and post somewhere. Couldn’t agree more with message. Alright, so let’s talk a bit more about your work and what you’re currently focused on.
Well, it took a lot to get here but I have discovered that who I truly am at my core is someone who genuinely enjoys working with, developing and aiding people- with a special focus on our young people. The young ones, the babies. That is my mission, that is who Sean Freeman is- an artist/creative/soul rebel who is making conscious efforts to not only help self but to contribute to helping the world around me by using my artistry and influence. I believe that I am known for being an individual. A sometimes strong-willed, hard-headed, unyielding individual, if I’m being completely honest lol. And that’s a heavy concept if you think about it. It has never been my thing to blend and/or to conform. And that hasn’t always made me the most popular among my peers but it’s something I cannot deny. I believe that I’m also known for being multifaceted and multidimensional, personally and creatively. I’m not just an Actor and Youth Empowerment Advocate but I am visual artist, I sing and I’m a dancer. I’m developing a growing interest in social affairs, politics and the study of the African/African American history and culture. As much as I take pride in all that, what I am most proud of is my heart. And that’s not me being “fake deep” either. I really mean that. Me and my heart have come a very long way. I could talk about that for hours. Hey, thank God for growth right? I’m really proud of how its grown and how open it’s becoming. I’ve been doing a bunch of inner work because I don’t want to just win professionally, I intend to win from within, too. The lens that I now choose to see life through is much different than before. Maybe it’s because I’m 30 now, I’m not sure lol. But it’s different. At the end of the day, no accolade, no award, no amount of money could bring freedom and fulfillment into our lives like that of a clean heart and good works. And I believe that revelation is what sets me apart from many others. It’s not profound but it’s real.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Hmm. I believe that I would have chosen to be a bit more courageous growing up. Courageous enough to ask questions, to address issues head-on, courageous enough to be more of myself and to look for opportunities to better things that were within my control. Yup.
Contact Info:
- Email: seanfreemaninfo@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanfreeman___/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/actorseanfreeman
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.
