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

Hi Lamont, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Being an artist takes alot of risks. I moved to LA from virginia with $3500 in my account. I didnt have a job or a permanent place to stay. My money left me within the first month. I pretended like everything was good for a long time with my family but really i was jobless wondering how i would pay my rent. The only thing that kept me going was that i believed and had faith in myself. Especially for what i want to do with my life, i have to take risk but its worth it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always known since I was like 6 or 7 that I wanted to be an actor. From that point I tried to do everything I could to be just that. I auditioned for just about every play I could in school. I joined drama club and all that. I fell in love with watching movies and different tv shows. Madtv is what made me fall in love with acting. I was mostly watching to study the actors mannerisms and how they delivered their lines. Even at a young age it wasn’t easy. Being raised in a black household and telling your parents you want to pursue acting is draining. When you’re constantly being told that isn’t a real job or to have a “backup plan”. It wasn’t until I booked the Dreamgirls musical that I felt my family really saw me. My family drove 8 hours to come see me in the show and my dad saw the show like 5 times! From that point I felt I really had their support 100%. I later had the courage and drive to leave everything I knew and everybody I loved and moved to Los Angeles. Its been a challenging journey for sure but I’m still here making progress and breakthroughs.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned so far is that you have to be your biggest cheerleader. If you don’t believe in yourself no one will. We have one life. If there is anything you want to do in life. DO IT! I know its super scary and uneasy but if there’s something you really want to do in your heart go for it! Don’t worry about what people might think or say. The last thing you want to do is have a lifetime of regrets and having a bunch of “what ifs” floating in your head.

I want the world to know that I genuinely care about people and their well being. Sometimes I care too much but I want to see people succeed. It makes me feel good inside when I can help someone with something they’re struggling with. I want the world to rememeber me as someone who did every and anything that he aspired to be with no regrets.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shoutout my family and friends back home in virginia for the constant support! Also my acting coach Choice Skinner for showing me how capable i am and the power i have as an actor.

Website: imdb.me/lamontjackson

Instagram: instagram.com/_GZA_

Linkedin: linkedin.com/lamontjackson

Youtube: youtube.com/lamontjackson

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1mk7EiJGyAb0UcNHSNvvhY?si=oOYnee8bQS-nG1YSN4GoIw&dl_branch=1 https://music.apple.com/us/album/you-single/1530134333

Image Credits
Photographers: Tsola Akuya & Quinton Lover

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.