Meet Jerah Milligan | Actor, Director, Writer, King of Random Facts

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jerah Milligan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jerah, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. As I get older and time keeps moving, I’ve found myself reflecting on the dreams I’ve carried since I was a kid. I’ve wanted to act my whole life. Becoming an actor, and eventually a director, was something that after a certain point seemed almost impossible.

I didn’t always have support around that dream, so I had to build a lot of self-determination early on. That drive pushed me to create my own work instead of waiting for permission. Because I had to. Times would get tough comparing other people’s upbringing and support and the opportunities that I don’t have. All I knew is… I know how to do is keep pushing forward. Luckily, I have friends who hold me up when I struggle. They are the gift I was blessed with.

There have been moments where I thought, “This is it. This is the one that changes everything.” And then something unexpected would knock it off course. Someone got fired, a merger would happen, a network goes out of business! Insanity! But I’ve learned that setbacks aren’t signs to stop. They’re tests of how badly you want it. A hard test that I wish everyday was easier. If there was a cheat sheet, I’d take it!

I don’t think people should give up. Dreams are worth chasing. When it gets harder, you don’t loosen your grip. You dig your toes deeper into the sand and keep going.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art sits in that space between comedy and drama. I love making people smile, cry, laugh, and just feel excited. Movies and tv should be an escape that entertains. I’m most interested in what’s underneath the surface. The awkwardness. The ambition. The insecurity. The humanity. A lot of my work explores people who are trying to level up while quietly wondering if they’re already behind. I like to find the hope in life. Not saying everything I write, direct, and star in has to be “happy” but I believe life has highs and lows, moments so bad it makes you laugh. I will say this, my work will always feature Black leads in various genres. I want us to star in work that isn’t driven by our skin color. My work will center us as people. Don’t get me wrong being a lovely melanated person is fantastic but we’re that and so much more.

What sets me apart is that I’ve never really waited for permission. I act, I write, I direct, I produce. Not because it’s trendy to be a multi-hyphenate, but because I didn’t always have another option. If the opportunities weren’t coming, I made something with my friends. That DIY muscle shaped my voice.

It definitely hasn’t been easy. I’ve had near-misses that felt like they were going to change my life. And nothing happened with nothing industry wise to show for years of work. But we press on. I’ve heard no. I’ve been overlooked. I’ve questioned whether I started too late or if the industry had already decided who I was. But every setback forced me to sharpen my work and get clearer about my perspective.

The biggest lesson? Longevity matters. You have to stay. You have to keep getting better. And you have to build community, because none of this is sustainable alone.

What I want people to know about me is that I care deeply about craft and collaboration. I’m just a dude trying his best.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love driving down Sunset Boulevard at night. Something about the lights and the energy makes me feel like I’m in an episode of Entourage, like anything could happen and the night is just getting started.

What I really appreciate about LA, though, is how much of it lives outdoors. You can hike up to Griffith Observatory and see the whole city laid out in front of you. You can spend an afternoon at the Getty or wander through the Huntington Botanical Gardens and forget you’re in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world.

There’s this balance here: ambition and nature, grind and beauty. That’s what keeps me inspired.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This shoutout is for my friends. The ones closest to me.

They’ve seen me at my lowest, my most uncertain, my most stubborn, and they never flinched. They didn’t just cheer from the sidelines. They showed up. Sometimes that meant tough love. Sometimes that meant reminding me who I am when I forgot. And sometimes it literally meant holding me up when I didn’t have the strength or courage to stand on my own.

This career can be unpredictable and humbling. Having people who believe in you on the days you don’t believe in yourself is everything.

If I’ve accomplished anything, it’s because I didn’t do it alone. I dedicate it all to them.

Website: https://www.jerahamilligan.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jerahmilligan/

Image Credits
@laurentakespix
@picsby.jaypeg