Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jahlil Hall. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jahlil, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

My parents did not come from money nor did they ever find a way to make much of it apart from trading their time for income. As an adult I realize how much they struggled and sacrificed for my siblings and I but in my youth I was taught that real currency lies in how you carry yourself and treat others. Anyone that met my family outside of your humble home would assume we were a successful family and because I was training to be polite and articulate those things have stuck with me. I never felt that because I didn’t have something that makes those that do have it better than me and the same goes for the things I do have. My parents celebrated all my success big or small as a child and that instilled confidence in me and I do not believe that I will be a failure. Failing I’m okay with but quitting or never trying I can not accept. So I thank you parents for raising me to believe in myself and others.

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?

Since I was a child I always enjoyed making people laugh and entertaining people so as I got older I knew that acting was what I wanted to do. I moved to New York City in my early twenties and went to an Acting College and learned the craft and began applying myself and submitting myself to everything I could find and one of the first projects I submitted for cast me in my first film and full length feature. It felt like a sign from above.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Acting is not what most people think it is. Rather, film making is not what most people would expect. If you are an Actor and you only want to act and perform I would highly recommend doing local theatre. I say that because, the film making process is long and daunting. You may make a project that you don’t ever see the final product or it can take more than a year to see a project, that isn’t unlikely. They is a lot of waiting around and repetition and a lot of things that someone who is interested in instant fame and gratification would be turned off by. So I would say that if you don’t love this craft and what goes into it from top to bottom the pursuit itself is designed to weed out those who are truly committed. I hope that answers the question.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I think we have become the people from the movie “Wall-E” we are so disconnected and searching for the easiest life possible that we take for granted the beauty of everyday life. If you got off the couch more and went to live shows more often I think that would do wonders for the creative community. As they say, Support your friends the way you support that artist that doesn’t even know you exist. Because to someone, you’re friend could be the stranger that moves them the way one moved you.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @JahlilTHall
• Facebook: Jahlil T Hall
• Linkedin: Jahlil T Hall
• Twitter: @thereeljahlil

Image Credits
@jahlilthall