Meet D.L. Skinner | Actor, Producer, Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with D.L. Skinner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi D.L., let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
Something someone once told me is, “People won’t always remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel.”
I have held onto those words while I conduct myself in my personal and professional relationships. This has translated into me doing my best to go above and beyond with all the people I meet. I want them to feel seen, heard, respected, admired, celebrated. I have found that it motivates and spurs people to bring out the best in themselves, and it truly gives me joy to see others be their best selves and excel in what they are doing! So, to answer the question directly, I want my legacy to be that I did my best to bring the best out of others and that I fully supported and loved them in all the ways I could.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I would say my art is a passionate labor of love. Whether I am helping frame someone in the best light with my photography or giving a face and voice to the characters I portray, I put all my creative forces into it. This results in work that is authentic, expressive, and relatable. What sets me apart from others in my field is that I care about people and am not looking to get anything from others, but I always do my best to give to others. This manifests itself in the ways I support and uplift those around me. I got where I am today with the help of others. I am not self-made, and I did not get myself here. I have been supported by my family, friends, and my team. This has not been an easy process, and I’ve overcome challenges by accepting the things I can not change and being proactive about what I can. One of my biggest lessons is to trust the development process and not rush it. There’s nothing in the natural world that does better underdeveloped. I want the world to know that I am constantly adjusting and willingly growing, which sets my story and brand apart. I have so much life experience to bring to the characters I bring to life. My team and I are constantly collaborating and taking advice from one another. I think that for any company or creative to be successful, it must have the ability to pivot.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Alright, so if one of my best friends was visiting, one of the first things he would want to do is hike.
Day One- Runyon Canyon, In-N-Out to replenish, nightcap at The Aster
Day Two- Hike to the top of the Hollywood sign, & Waffles to replenish, to the Grove for shopping and to possibly catch a movie, nightcap at the Aster.
Day Three- Hit my gym, Lift Society, probably cook breakfast at home this time, then head out to Santa Monica Pier for festivities, hang out at the beach, have dinner at my favorite Korean BBQ place, Quarters, and have a nightcap at the Aster.
Day Four- If we could, maybe we would catch a game at Crypto Arena, eat at Fixins Soul Kitchen, and probably have a nightcap at Aster.
Day Five- Gym again because he and I are serious about fitness, breakfast wherever at this point, and then we’d go wherever the day takes us. In my view, some of the most fun places to go in the city are Koreatown, which has a plethora of BBQ and Karaoke restaurants, Hollywood for all the glitz, glam, and most interesting bar spaces, Long Beach for the people and abundance of festivals, and Inglewood for the culture and food.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So, I want to give my biggest shoutout to the Lee Strasberg School of Film and Theatre and my publicist, Brittany Burton!
Lee Strasberg for the excellent instructors and administrators who helped me to discover myself, Dig Wayne, David Salsa, Remi Moses, MJ Karmi, Dylan Mooney, Fabiana Medici, Michael Yurchak, Tuffet Schmelzle, Laura Cromer, Molly Hart, and David Lee Strasberg. During my conservatory year, I discovered how to use the method to prepare and uniquely cultivate my relationship with the characters I portray; I also learned who I was and what kept me from genuinely presenting myself in my work. During this time, I networked and was referred to my publicist, who I clicked with really from the moment we connected. As time passed, we really found our rhythm and the best way to make both our goals a reality. It is because of her you all granted me this interview.

Website: https://skinnerportfolio.com

Instagram: dlskinner

Image Credits
James Pratt
Sheena Belle
A Photo That Fitz