Today we’d like to introduce you to Isaiah Seward.
Hi Isaiah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up in Richmond, Virginia and opportunities in music eventually took me to New York. At one of the concerts a fellow musician suggested I take a shot at acting, which I didn’t initially think was for me. But after doing a couple of theater productions and working as a background actor on a few TV shows I loved it. There was an unexpected upgrade on set that lead to me getting a line on a show called The Knick and from there I took classes, signed up for workshops, and tried to learn as much as I could about acting. There’s a lot more to the story but so far it has taken me on a great journey.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Every road has a lot of ups and downs and the entertaining industry is a rollercoaster sometimes. There was consistent rejection and droughts where I didn’t book work for a long time and I thought that was the end of my acting career. Getting re-acclimated to being social after the isolation of the pandemic was also tough. But being one of the victims of a scandal with a former agency where funds were embezzled before it closed abruptly was one of the toughest to overcome. The damaged trust and the impact of having that money stolen affected me a lot at the time. It sounds cliché but all of the bad has been significantly outweighed by the good experiences and has made me better in the long run.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m an actor that has done stage, TV, and film work and a musician that mainly produces hip hop and pop music but I just finished producing a country song for a TV series called Horsepower and have also scored a few films. Recently I teamed with up a friend to start Blue 82 Productions and we’re working on producing a couple of films and a series. A couple of those are already in the festival circuit and I’m proud of what we did as a team. I think what sets me apart is the people I’ve learned from and my dedication to not giving up. Persistence helps a lot.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Luckily a lot of the people that have acted as mentors to me came into my life organically. But almost all were people I met in places where people were actively working on their craft. At UCB, Magnet Theater, The Pit, and on set is we’re I met most of my mentors, colleagues, and friends. I think the key is to be open to advice, not to be afraid to admit what you don’t know or need help with, and to keep your ego in check while focusing on gratitude.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.isaiahseward.com
- Instagram: @Isaiahseward4
- Twitter: @Isaiahseward4
- Youtube: https://www.YouTube.com/Isaiahseward4
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@isaiah.seward
