We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Byron Carvil Cecil Napier a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Byron Carvil Cecil thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Biggest Risk I call it Leap Of Faith Street Journey Pokémon Master Quest I decided to pack my things and move to LA and made a decision to live in my car i have gym membership, i rent storage unit for my clothes and make sure to protect myself, dreams and passion its all i need to survive in LA. i finally arrive in LA and i didn’t waste know time i used internet by the library and build profile using Actors Access, LA Casting, Casting Frontier, and Backstage and since there is extras Company i can apply to maybe i can get my sag card credits. I just used my navigation to get from places needed to go. I found an awesome parking space near the beach and gym i just use that parking space to eat and sleep plus & eleven have microwaves and i found another security job to work at production studio. I booked my first job from Central Casting, the show called This IS Us and i meet Sterling K Brown and he gave some advice and while everybody was eating make sure to pack the leftovers in my bag for the rest of the week for food. I was living in my car for 9 months and Covid happen i was still living in my car praying it was airborne i made sure i wore my mask and everything etc i was bike security guy i meet Jaleel White and he game me some advice too i said why stop there. some times every Friday. i want to feel the bed I book a room hotel room for just every other weekend because one my favorite shows the owl house comes on that show help me feel happy and i love the voice cast especially Mela Lee and i was curious i listen to her interviews im interested to do voice overs since IG best place to communicate i sent her message and she replys back she’s very nice and amazing i wrote on my vision board to meet or take a class with her soon. then i message other people on there like Daniel Curtis Lee aka Cookie from Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide and he replies too with amazing motivation and finally i wanted to look more into video games mocap so i message Nick Apostolides from Resident evil 2 remake and told me about The Mocap Vault studio Richard Dorton and thanks to Mekel Kasanova podcast interview with John Eric Bentley I message John Eric Bentley who voice Barret Wallace final fantasy 7 remake and gave me more helpful advice. I just continued listening and reading these amazing people interviews and helpful advice and made me the person of who i am today. i finally took acting class in LA Anthony Meindl’s Actor Workshop and meet so much amazing people along the way. I had few months left until I move to my place I discover other amazing actors live in their car during the times in there early career too so I watch their interviews to feel inspired towards the journey and just to keep my mind from spiraling to negative place while listening and watching actors and actress like Jonathan Majors, Kelly Clarkson, Sam Worthington, Tyler Perry, Hillary Swank, Lil’ Kim, Steve Harvey, and Micheal B Jordan. i finally on may 2020 i moved into my first studio apartment.
Now i have my own place bed and kitchen continued the next step is to get lighting equipment for self tapes and continued to self submit plus send cover letters to agents and managers we are back in business this time i have a place to submit my auditions so excited i order lights and tripod for my phone if i need more space especially for mocap video games auditions pay extra to film in faculty callled STELLA SELF TAPE STUDIO i love to readers and space they have especially for me being tall and everything. that same year i book my first tv show lead on vh1 infamy when fame turns deadly episode 8 i was so excited to work on this project and it help me book other jobs along the way plus now a few video game auditions along the way i found my agent Dream Team Talent and Mgmt Artists i made sure i gave them all they need to submit me for multiply projects i invested in photoshoot to do each year for different characters and i found my favorite photographer molly pan photography. I just kept the focus going everyday make sure i wont live back in my car and make sure i continue towards my dreams to be the best actor in the world.. the michael bay film ambulance help get me to Sag Eligibility and book more lead commercial booking spokesman on wedding ring and superhero Industrial training videos. i continued get auditions from both my agents. managers and myself because we are a team i continued to go to mocap classes at the vaults studio and look though actors access, la casting, casting frontier, and backstage etc. made a IMDB page and starting to take on challenging roles and the ones that push to new level is the roles i get and the roles i dont get i just continued to submit more roles because i just know there be some yes and some no but along as i dont give up there will always be a better role for me out there and its happing im so thankful for my parents, family , and friends i meet and know for a long time to help me here to this amazing mountain top now its time to climb another mountain towards the stratosphere. But Sometimes when I feel not really motivated God Always Send Message Aka A Sign through people I look up too I casually meet them at the Gym, Grocery Store, or On The Streets Walking Like J. August Richards, Lydia Martin,
Now in 2024 I can finally announce I join SAG-Aftra Union I’ve been waiting 14 years towards getting my Vouchers from each project I’ve been cast in through out time since 2010 its like collecting Gym Bages towards the Pokémon League aka SAG-Aftra since I just join time to crank up the sails to embark towards New Journey aka The Odyssey Journey towards the Sea Of Victories, Failures, Learning, and Discoveries. Your Rival Is Here
Why stop there 2024 I realize and from people advice I can be more than actor I can expand towards writing my own films and stage plays. Now Since I got into bodybuilding I want to help and train people from guidance from trainers around gym I passed my Nasm CPT test officially certified and im interested to teach classes and be guidance coach in fitness The Sky Is Limitless
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?
Started working at publix store back in 2010 customer lady customer change my life forever. While I was taking out her groceries we both was talking and she compliment my smile and how i care myself working as bagger. she told me about being interested in acting/modeling and i told her how to get started I think its difficult but she didnt let me finish and gave me the information i need and i felt spark a jolt of inspiration and purpose. I thank her and i ran to restroom to signed up for the websites she told me about to get started Extras casting Atlanta and CL Casting extras all email to submit yourself. I submitted photo and resume with just my name and email plus height and weight. few days later they connected me for extra work on movie set as extra student so excited i hit yess. when i reach home MTV Teen wolf came on and it was amazing and i was surprised they film in Atlanta and i saw him Seth Gilliam the way how he carry the scene every time he appear on the scene he owns it can’t stop watching him and im all in now i want to be actor i want to be the best like Seth Gilliam. I arrived on set and see everyone so happy like they enjoyed being here and i just want to be a part of this world. Then one actress on set Karen Cox told me i can learn how to act or at least learn the basic and my mind triple sparks this is the route and journey for me my purpose I found my purpose. I got fired from Publix for not showing up on the day supposed to work which was same day we filmed and it was worth it and felt freedom i never saw that day lady i dont even remember what she looks like i just know she help me find my purpose i just need a little push. I went got my GED 2013 and I made connected with amazing teachers at Gwinnett tech college Mrs. Keisha Hull the first person I told i wanted to be actor and help me did audition too and mrs Karmen Sunshine math teacher who first person i told about the show i would be on and movie. They both came to my first play on stage and my last stage play show August Wilson Jitney.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The Most Rewarding meeting and learning amazing talented people I look up too in life like Mela Lee, Seth Gilliam, John Eric Bentley, Alana Bridgewater, Delon De Metz, David Del Rio, Lex Lang, Meagan Good, Jonathan Majors, J. August Richards, Colman Domingo, Nick Apostolides, Charles D King, Mellroz Uncut, Gregory Newsome, and Gogo Lomo-David,
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Yess learning my favorite shows and movies motivating quotes like
Look, kid. Everyone wants to believe They’re “chosen” But if we all waited around for a prophecy to make us special we’d die waiting That’s why you need to choose yourself- Eda Clawthorne
The Safety is always going to be there bro, You gotta chase after that damn dream . – Kyler Cobra Kai Season S6 Ep 2
Megamind: “I guess destiny isn’t the path chosen for us, but the path we choose for ourselves”
” Oh yes, the past can hurt, But you can either run from or learn from it.” – Rafiki, The Lion King
” Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.” – Tiana, The Princess and the Frog
Work hard, study well. Eat and sleep plenty. Master the art of peace in addition to the art of war. There will always be difficult moments and obstacles in life.- Master Roshi Dragon Ball Akira Toriyama
Helps me to stick to my goals and always believe The Path On Faith Street.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/1254791-3599697
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lordbyronactnow/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byron.napier.1
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/napierbyronify
- Other: Just Shouts Talented and Harder worker people out there in the WorldAkira Toriyama
Hawaii’s #1 Podcast, The Kasanova Podcast!
Gregory Newsome
Desmond Cosby
Rosetta Braxton
Alexis Celestie
Renee C Deyden
Gogo Lomo-David
Seth Gilliam
Mother Audria Davy
Father Byron Napier Sir
The Real Voice LA
Julia Bianco Schoeffing
The Halp Network
Photographer Molly Pan
Mela Lee
John Eric Bentley
Jonathan Majors
Meagan Good
Richard Dorton
Alana Bridgewater
Delon De Metz
Robert Ri’chard
Tri Action Life Center Family
Matt Huff
Karen Valero
Kimone Hall- Positive Forces Radio
Adriana Frausto
David Del Rio
Nikkeii.Chevelleinthecity – Brand Ambassador Content Creator @nikkeii.chevelleinthecity
Jasmine Nichole aka Sun Flower – Digital Creator @sunflowerfatty92
Cristina Maria Florez
My Family Members
Maxian
Lex Lang
Karmen Sunshine
Lisa Clinkscale
Keisha Hull
Nick Apostolides
Charles D King
German Morales MGMT Artist
Vilma Liaguno Dream Team Talent Agency
Mellroz Barber/Entertainer- Black Hollywood Social Club
Stella Self Tape Studios
The Owl House
Image Credits
Molly Pan Photography – © Byron Carvil Cecil Napier