Meet Josiah Collins | Actor/Model/Writer/Producer

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

Hi Josiah, what role has risk played in your life or career?
When it comes to risk I think it’s a necessary part of life that helps you reach your end goal. Obviously you have to weigh the possible costs of whatever risk you’re taking and you try to take “reasonable” risks, but living on the riskier side has worked out in my favor throughout my life. Growing up in Ohio it would’ve been very easy for me to play it safe, find a nice paying job after college and follow the traditional route as a lot of people there do. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if you want more out of your life that means you have to be ok with taking more chances. Working in entertainment comes with inherent risk and that can be seen on both the production and on-camera side of things. There may be times where you work for months on end, and suddenly the well dries up and you have to find other ways to continue building and supporting yourself. Those times where things are a bit slower it can feel like you’ve made a mistake but I’ve learned that’s the time to dig in even more and bet on yourself. If you never take risks then you may never find your passion and I can’t imagine living a life like that.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been acting professionally for the last few years now and I still feel as if I’m just scratching the surface of everything that’s meant for me. Even in the short time since I last spoke with you all I feel like I’m a completely different artist then I was then. I’ve now performed in three runs of the stage play “Ain’t No Family Like the One I Got” which I am eternally grateful for because I was able to learn so much from my cast and directors Carl Gilliard and Carla Earle. I’m excited to continue growing and seeing how I can challenge myself next. There of course have been challenges along the way but a fellow actor once told me “it’s ok to get frustrated, but never get discouraged” and I’ve taken those words to heart and it has really been something that’s held me steady through this creative process. I’m taking more ownership of my craft and starting to create my own projects that I’m very much looking forward to sharing more when the time is right. With any work I share I just want people to be able to connect with the art and share in the fun no matter what medium it’s being shared through.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When a friend of mine comes to LA. I love showing people the Urban Lights and the LA tar pits, of course we’d have to spend another day on Melrose walking down the street and taking pictures along the different backdrops. A beach day would have to be worked in there because how can you come to LA and not visit the beach, but not Santa Monica or Venice those are fine for the more touristy stops, but I like my beach time to be a bit more relaxing and less crowded. Manhattan, Huntington, and Malibu all have gorgeous beaches that I’ve taken friends to. A favorite drinking spot I have is Trader Sam’s in Orange County it’s a bit of a hike but the drinks and overall vibe is nice and it was a good time, I also love the karaoke bar “The Venue” in K-Town it’s a great time to just cut loose and the food is also great. with good drinks. Last I’d probably have to take them on a hike with me and there’s plenty of trails I love to go on recently I loved walking the Paradise falls trail and the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook/Kenneth Hahn State Park.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to take a moment and shoutout my representation. MB Talent Management, Aqua Talent Agency, and Starburst Talent. They have all helped support me in these early phases of my career which can be difficult to navigate without sound mentorship and guidance to lean on. Also, I would like to thank Charlie Yook, Zach Arnstein, Nora Molina, and Terry Edwards for helping me get my foot in the door with my current employment at NFL Network and Total Traffic and Weather Network. Lastly, I would like to thank my parents and my sister for being the greatest support system I could ever ask for. They have allowed me to find my own path and they continue to support me in any way they can along the way without them I’m not doing any of what I’m doing right now.

Instagram: instagram.com/_josiahcollins_

Image Credits
Brown Shirt photo by @byamiramarie and striped shirt photo by @here_is_johny