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Recapping the series, if you’re just joining us…

This is a feature I first ran in 2012, and it proved to be quite successful, because I received a healthy number of responses, most of which I shared right here on S&A, and all of which were well-received by readers.

So I thought I’d reboot the series, and continue it, 2 years later.

In short, I know that a significant chunk of S&A’s audience comprises of actors, actresses, directors, DPs, editors, composers, etc, etc, etc. Some are able to earn a paycheck utilizing their artistic and/or technical skills; others – and I’d say the majority – are what we’ve labeled the proverbial *starving artists*, working diligently, relentlessly, struggling to climb this incredibly steep hill, trying to reach some self-defined pinnacle of success – whether personal or professional. And still others exist somewhere between the former and the latter.

Where do you fall? And, as the title of this post states, what’s YOUR story, and would you like to share it with the rest of the world?

I’m looking for your individual stories of struggle and/or success, regardless of what rung on the ladder you are currently on.

It takes a certain amount of courage to be able to be vulnerable and share one’s plight, but I suppose that’s exactly what I’m asking for; After all, not only is S&A just a source for news, its goal is also to become a community of cinema lovers where we can all share/debate/discuss/learn/teach/commiserate/etc.

Here’s your chance. You might learn something; you might teach someone something.

So what’s YOUR story? You can email me at obensont@gmail.com, with "What’s your story?" in the subject line. You can submit your story in any format – written, or even documented on video. It could be a story about a current situation you find yourself in; or it could cover several days, weeks, months, or years. It could be that you just want to vent your frustrations; aspects of, or people in this business that enrage you; aspects of, or people in the industry that encourage you. It doesn’t have to be all negative, nor all positive. We’re complex people, and so I assume our stories are as well.

If you’re uncertain of how to present your story, check out past submissions here.

In the first of many to come, Atlanta-based working actor Dwayne Boyd, shares his story:

My name is Dwayne Boyd. If you haven’t heard of me, I’m a working actor based in Atlanta but I’ve been in this industry for over 15 years. My film debut was in Rob Hardy’s The Gospel alongside Idris Elba and Boris Kodjoe. I played Oscar, China Anne McClain dad, which was her first film as well. Since then I’ve gone on to have roles and appear in The Hunger Games, The Walking Dead, Sleepy Hollow, Army Wives, Let’s Stay Together, Under the Dome, Parental Guidance, Meet the Browns and many other projects. But I’m not here to talk about about me. I’m here to talk about a new television pilot I created called Castle Ridge.

I really took time to observe the content that is presented in the current day television scope. Though we have made strides, there is still a lack of diverse material for black actors. I follow your blog and I know you speak candidly and often on this. Also, as a working black actor in this industry I have first hand experience of it. So I paired up with my cousin Chrystal Ellzy who also writes for Tyler Perry and the Rickey Smiley Show and set out to produce, direct and fund the Castle Ridge pilot. Its unlike anything we currently have on television.

Castle Ridge is a one hour scripted drama following the lives of seven teenagers as they navigate though the perils and growing pains of life. And how they’re all connected and exist within the walls of Castle Ridge High School. It stars Grammy Award winner Sleepy Brown in his debut performance and Persia White of Girlfriends and Vampire Diaries. We also have a lot of newcomers on this project. Some you may or not recognize. But hopefully you will soon. It also stars Elizabeth Ludlow (Max Steel, Vampire Diaries), Demetrius Bridges (Steel Magnolias, Let It Shine), Jahnee’ Wallace (Sleepy Hollow, The Game), Cj Sykes (HBO’s upcoming Bessie), Cory Chapman (Reed Between the Lines, Diggy Simmons’ MOW) and Ivy Do.

We currently have a deal with the investors of the Lizzie McQuire Movie and many other Disney projects to fund 13 episodes for the , which we will shoot and offer to networks which I can’t talk much on, but we are in talks with a couple of cable and primetime networks. So now we are trying to create buzz for this project, so when it hits we will have a following and really offer a great outlet for our younger audience. TV really has nothing like this on at the moment and we are here to serve great, fresh and performance driven material

Below is the Castle Ridge trailer, Twitter page, Imdb (myself as well). So without further a due, Castle Ridge

Castle Ridge Twitter:

https://twitter.com/CastleRidgeATL

Castle Ridge IMDb:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3700410/

Dwayne Boyd IMDb:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1884645/

Castle Ridge Trailer:

Dwayne Boyd

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