We were lucky to catch up with Londi Brooks recently and have shared our conversation below.
Londi , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I knew from the age of about 13 that I wanted to be an actress. I had taken an acting class and the first time I began practicing my monologue on stage in front of the class, I was not afraid at all In fact, I could not wait to get on stage to do it again. Fast forward about 20 years and my very first gig was as Background on the Feature Film, Patriots Day with Mark Wahlberg. I was upgraded on set with a line, did a scene with him that was ultimately cut but it was literally one of the best experiences of my life. I never imagined working 15 hour days could be so amazing. That was when I knew Acting is definitely the career for me!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I always dreamed of being an actress. I graduated from Brooklyn College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Performing Arts. However, I went a little off course and my big dream at the time was to be a mom. So I got a “real job” in property management where I worked for about 15 years. During that time my joy was raising my son Jaylen. In the deep part of my heart though Acting was still my first love. So once he was able to be more independent, being home alone I began thinking about pursuing my dream again of being an Actress. I actually was let go from my job due to a change in management and that was the green light for me to go after my dream. I got my first professional gig in the movie Patriots Day which gave me a Taft Hartley and I became eligible to join the Union. I took a leap of faith in my mid 40’s and I have never looked back. Starting as a background actor was a great way to learn the business and language of being on set. I worked on student films. short films, anything that allowed me the opportunity to learn and get footage to build an acting reel. From that I was able to get an agent and started auditioning for principal roles. From there it was always about reaching the next level so I began writing and wanted to start producing my own work. I wrote and produced my first short film, Everybody Knows which has had some success in Film Festivals. My motto is Dare to Dream and Believe they will
come true.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Being an aspiring Actress is not easy. 95% of auditioning results in rejection. You have to have a very tough interior because the constant rejection can be almost deafening at times.
I auditioned for the tv series Bull 5 times, the tv series POWER, 3 times and did not book the job.
IYou have to be able to get back up every time you get knocked down and say let’s go again! You have to BELIEVE you will make it. With that being said I also believe you have to have some control over your own destiny not depending solely on someone else giving you a role. Create your own work! It is so uplifting.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is when I created my first short film Everybody Knows and seeing it get accepted into multiple film festivals and winning its first award for best international short and me winning best actress in the Golden Lion International Film Festival and also recently winning best drama in the San Diego International Film Awards. Having this happen was special because it let me know that others appreciated and understood the story I wanted to tell and they connected with me and appreciated the message. I also love meeting new people and coming together to create entertainment for others.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @londi_brooks
Image Credits
Annie Pisapia