We caught up with the brilliant and insightful John Charles Dickson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi John Charles , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

When I was a pre teen I went to a small mall in Shreveport Louisiana for the first time in my life. As I walked threw Macys that was the first time I ever saw a picture of a model. I said to my mother. I want to do that. She said ok. I’ll buy you a pair of the Calvin Klein underwear. I said no. I want to be the guy in the picture. She bent down to me an softly said. John we live on a farm in Arkansas. You have to set realistic goals in life. I believed that for well over a decade. However one day started the journey I put in the work. An I became the guy in the picture.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As for as the industry goes I was a late bloomer. My first photo shoots an acting classes wasn’t till I was twenty eight. Honestly I was told by more than one agent I was to old to start in the modeling an acting industry. Image that. Twenty eight being to old for something. As an actor model producer ive had to wear many hats over the years. Not just working in front of the camera but also behind it. Not just working on set. But constantly building up for the day the product comes alive. From casting models and actors to location scouting to hiring crew finding wardrobe vehicles booking make up artist an more. Some of my proudest moments include producing images for Vasaelini bag company published in Italian Vogue. Our having speaking lines on HBO with A list talent Stephen Dorff in True Detective season 3 ep 1. Booked by acting agent Yancey Prosser. An I’ll definitely never forget riding horses in the Dragon Mountains of Arizona making western movies for ITN distribution with director Travis Mills & John Marrs that sold on Walmart shelves.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

As strange as it may sound to those not in the industry. Social media has been the best source of finding new clients for me. It takes constant work to connect an link your self with directors photographers actors models business owners designers an more. Everyone has social media. An everyone loves making new online friends and supporting each others work. Some are more friendly than others that is true. But honestly ever single booking our job I’ve ever had could be traced back to a friends request that I received sent out my self our was recommended from a friend in the industry. Everyone every designer ever agent everyone how’s anyone in the industry has social media.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I’ll never forget being a part of Hollywood blockbuster My All American. Even though I didn’t get to have speaking lines in the film I was cast as a featured extra an was able to have a featured shot with A list talent Aaron Eckhart. I traveled all over the state of Texas for 14 days in August. Sleeping in my car every night outside some of the greatest football stadiums of all time like the Cotton Bowl. At the time my A\C in my car had just went out an I was sleeping with the windows down fighting mosquitoes. It was miserable an many would have quit. On the last night of shooting in the Memorial Stadium I stood in the end zone dressed in a 1960s Texas Longhorn uniform. I was the very last player standing there. All the other actors had gone to the locker room to start there showers and change. A crew member came up to me an asked if I was ok. I looked at him an said I’m more than ok. I’m just soaking it all in. These young men don’t realize. They will never stand here again. All these years later. As crazy as it seems. I can still see the field..

Contact Info:

• Instagram: john_charles_dickson
• Facebook: John Charles Dickson
• Twitter: @JohnCharlesDick
• Youtube: John Charles Dickson
• Other: IMDb – John Charles Dickson [email protected]

Image Credits
Casey Crane