L.Alien Presents: Donzell Lewis
**Line of work / Job title(s) (paid or unpaid) :
Actor, Comedian and Educator
I am originally from Richmond, Virginia and I moved here to LA after receiving my MFA in theatre a few years ago. I’ve always wanted to live in LA since I was a young kid dreaming about one day being a performer in “the big city”. Interestingly enough, even though I’ve been a performer since a young age, I never got tired with acting. So when I finished graduate school, the day finally came to make my choice between New York or LA. I chose LA and I haven’t regretted one single day!
Well I’m from Richmond, Virginia and the confederate pride is still very strong there. It wasn’t uncommon to consistently be confronted with symbols of hate that many white Americans interpret as heritage. I still don’t understand how those who take pride in the confederacy can’t genuinely connect the dots of it’s racist and oppressive strong hold on slavery. Bottom line is your confederate heroes fought to maintain their nationhood which valued the use of slavery. To me those who fought for the war, also fought to keep my ancestors in chains. So no, I don’t want to look at your confederate flag and NO I don’t want to walk down Monument avenue and look up to see a giant statue of a man who died to keep slavery alive.
Living in LA…well, I haven’t seen one confederate flag, statue or symbol during my entire time here. And it’s a breath of fresh air…it’s liberating…LA, it’s more of freeing city to me, than Richmond ever was. Here in LA I’m never reminded that not too many generations ago, those of my culture were treated less like dirt.
How has being in L.A. changed your life?LA gave me the permission and space to fully be me! In La everyone is welcome; all kinds of people, all kinds of cultures, all kinds of religions, etc exist here! Moving to this city taught me that: (1) I’m not alone, there’s tons of like minded people like me across the globe (2) Everyone is weird! So just embrace your kind of weird…as long as it’s not offensive and/or insulting (don’t get too cray). And LA is city that gives you back just as much as you give it. And I mean that in all kinds of ways. If you want to party day in and day out, then LA will match you because there’s ALWAYS a party to be found here. But if you are a work-holic (like myself) then, LA will keep the work flowing.
My journey to LA has been super smooth. And I think it’s because I’m truly where the Universe wants me to be. Things fall into place easily for me and that’s because I love what I do and I love living here.
EVERYONE in LA is a big thinker! Of course not everyone but I’m damn sure that about 98% of us living here thrive off of big ideas. So being around this constant energy keeps me motivated to work on my own goals. And just when I get tired or lazy, I meet someone with an inspiring story of how they got the success they earned in this town.
BRUNCH! Brunch needs to be labeled the “Los Angeles City’s Favorite Past-Time”! Brunch is a sport out here and I love it! The other thing I love is the simplicity of the LA evening cool down. OMG, this is my favorite time of the day here: sit down, windows open with music playing and a glass of wine in my hand. Just enjoying the breeze and calm after a crazy day in the rat race.
A lot of the boring business side of my career. I’m Self-employed as well an active performer. So sometimes I have to shut out the world, take to my laptop and become my own secretary. It’s important that people remember that this is Show Biz…that means we have to remember to treat ourselves as a business. We have to value doing the administrative things essential for us to accomplish our dreams.
To be a working actor. I couldn’t wait to break past the point of working free for copy/credit and meals. When you move to LA, you have to do so much free work to build a demo reel, get people to know your work ethic, practice your craft etc. But after awhile you realize that copy,credit and meals don’t pay the bills! Now, I’m a paid working actor supporting myself through my craft and my art of teaching. My entire life is funded by my artistry! And that’s a big deal to me. I’m very thankful to have broken past the survival job dependency. Everyone gets to that point here but you have to work hard and know that it comes…when it comes. So just stay focused.
Becoming the tv/film actor I always dreamed of being. I’ve done a lot of amazing work but I haven’t broken through to the network or big studio level projects…yet. I know my day is coming and when it does, I will be ready!
Watch tv! UGH, watching just 1 hour of tv is a huge luxury for me. I work a lot…like really a lot. Between teaching and acting my days often blend into each other. Sometimes, I will stay up to 2 am, just because I decided to work until 1am to then reward myself by watching an episode of Real Housewives of Atlanta to have a moment of recreation. After working so hard, sometimes I feel like I deserve to zone out on TV but I never have time to sit and watch tv for hours.
I’m all for the classics: theatre, comedy shows, working out, eating out with friends. I think I’m pretty boring and basic in this area!
Clapping at the end of movies in a movie theatre. Look, I’m all for live theatre but when we clap it’s because the actors are actually in the same room with us! I don’t get why LA audiences think it’s cool to clap at the end of really good movies. The movie actors can’t hear your applause through the screen…just go post about it instead!
Polished neurotic! I love structure, clean lines, well coordinated colors etc. But on the inside I’m super neurotic and my brain can be spinning all over the place with ideas and goals like a Tasmanian devil! The outside is well put together because the inside is always fighting to keep from falling apart.
Always follow your happiness! I guess that’s that same as follow your heart. But the reason we follow our heart is because we want to be happy. And sometimes it’s hard to follow our heart because our heart specializes in conflicting emotions mixed together. Then you are stuck feeling like you have to choose between something. Instead, just follow your happy: do what makes you laugh, smile, sigh with relief, walk with joy etc. If you follow that feeling then you’ll be unstoppable.
A wonderful new podcast called Misplaced Life, with my creative partner Ginger Grippe! Follow my insta for more but her and I have dope convos that everyone needs to listen to!
Website / social media links?Instagram: @just_donzell
