We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Malachi Moore a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Malachi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
For as long as I can remember, there has always been an inclination to live out my creative pursuits as an artist. Even now, looking back to my childhood, what came across as a reserved…somewhat eccentric personality was a byproduct of how much I struggled to see and explain myself. I grew up in a lot of separate communities that exposed me to different cultures and values — the good, the bad, and the grey — and it made me very curious. I was anxious to understand myself better; to see how and where I fit in the world. In that right, I’ve always been stubborn with my intentions but lacked the confidence to take on such a self-regarding task. At the same time, self-discovery is far too important to entrust to someone else, or, to be passively hand-fed. There aren’t exactly any economic, political, or social systems that encourage individuality, particularly in Black men — as I see it. A lot of times people seem to assimilate into the environment they were brought up in, and this was a luxury I’ve never been afforded — whether I like it or not. And while this is something I didn’t know at the time/am still coming to terms with, I knew that pursuing my artistry would be the only way I could go through the world having a firm sense of who I am. And so, it was never just “one” moment that I realized what I wanted to do, but a series of accumulated revelations in what I must do. As I’ve grown more mature and confident over the years, the label “professional” has come organically throughout the process.
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?
Hello world! My name is Malachi James Moore. I’m a writer/artist based in Los Angeles, and with that declaration comes a myriad of jobs, titles, and responsibilities. I got to this point knowing very little of what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be; only that I enjoyed the tranquil feeling that came from writing prose, and the joy felt in connecting with others. I was an athlete for most of my adolescence up until my undergrad at Boston College where I studied a majority of creative writing and philosophy. Injuries and the sudden passing of my mother left me secluded for most of my time there, however. It was by no means your typical “college experience”, but what I underwent while there — the existential thoughts and feelings I was confronted with — would inevitably set me on a path of enlightenment and badassery.
I moved to Los Angeles in 2017 after enrolling in the film graduate program at Loyola Marymount University. While there, I was able to truly discover myself through my studies of film and the art of screenwriting. My professors greatly emphasized the significance of portraying authentic characters that required a lot of introspection. I had a safe space where I could discover inspired themes of Black Existentialism — writers like Baldwin, Du Bois, and Ralph Ellison — as I continued to work on my own craft. Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” had released the same year and, at last, it finally felt like the world was ready to experience the intimate perspective of a sensitive Black man. Needless to say, I dove deep into my studies and required no other means of motivation to do so.
Anyone who lives here knows how vital it is to have multiple sources of income or, “side hustles”. Freedom is more costly than you think! Rather than see this as a hindrance, it was a great opportunity to explore myself further through other creative outlets. I wanted more firsthand experience with filmmaking, so I found my way on several sets, learning the ‘ins and outs’ of several positions and discerning as I went. I needed to realign with my body and with nature after the many out-of-body experiences I went through in college, so I began to prioritize stretching and practicing meditation as a daily task. Even after graduating in the midst of the pandemic, somehow still able to find management, there were (and still will be..!) so many opportunities to share and connect with others through intentional networking and nourishing those relationships. Ultimately, I love pushing myself to learn, connect and grow more with my body and craft, which has gotten me to the point of getting to model professionally and offer script consulting to fellow writers.
What did Jay-Z say? “I’m not a businessman, I’m a BUSINESS, man!”
I think what I’m most proud of is that all of these pursuits at one point in time served as trials of great uncertainty and doubt; some, more or less, still being the case. What I’ve found over time and am beginning to discover is that all of my successes in life have come out of striving to be more honest with myself and patient with the timing of things. This is a tricky industry that will have you feel as though you need to rush while also being put on an isolated island, waiting for someone to get back to you, or, for something to happen. It’s best to let things happen organically and to be as disciplined and proactive as one can. Just recently, I had the pleasure of receiving my first publishing with a short story that speaks to a lot of my own personal horrors and anxieties of the past. I nearly broke down at Fantasia Fest when I got to read my words to the auditorium because it was the first time I was hit with the reality of my circumstances after a long, hard-fought battle to get my work out there. It was then that I was assured of the solid foundation of passion and proactive perseverance I had created for myself. I’m right where I belong.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
I can think of a few, certainly, but maybe the majority deriving only from my own personal experiences. There are a lot of people who find themselves being the only creative in their family. There are, perhaps, even more non-creatives who are ~truly~ creatives themselves, but lack the strength/courage/support/etc. to pursue their artistry professionally. For a very long time, I found myself within both perspectives, and I think if I could offer any insight to those who struggle with taking on or supporting one’s journey, it’s that doing so is one of the more selfish acts of communal service one could make. There’s so much stigma surrounding the word that I think we’re hesitant to make decisions for ourselves — to put our own growth and pursuit of interests, people, places, etc. as a higher priority than pleasing others or making them comfortable. There is nothing more beneficial you can do for others than to discover your most authentic self, however, and this is exactly what one’s creative journey does. It exposes you to new perspectives and allows you to better sympathize with other walks of life. It encourages you to explore more and find out things about yourself you may not have ever realized. It forces you to try, to become more comfortable with “failure”, and to be more open to what could be perceived as an intimidating opportunity. One of my favorite stanzas in a poem derives from Marianne Williamson’s “Our Deepest Fear”, the final one stating:
“And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.”
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
I’m ~so~ happy you asked! There are so many resources I’ve come across that have greatly impacted my own philosophies. Earlier I quoted a few writers who have played a very significant role in my understanding and content attitude toward my own circumstances. Black Existentialism and Afro-surrealism are both two philosophies that are not well-known, though, are exemplified everywhere in American culture, history, and media. Artists like James Baldwin, W. E. B. Du Bois, Ralph Ellison, Toni Morrison, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Jean-Michel Basquiat…*takes breath*…Amiri Baraka, Donald Glover, Boots Riley, and Jordan Peele discuss the intersection of problems of existence in Black contexts.
Other philosophers that come to mind are Soren Kierkegaard (‘Fear and Trembling’), Plato (‘Allegory of the Cave’) and anything Joseph Campbell has written (‘The Hero with a Thousand Faces’, ‘The Power of Myth’)
While there are many self-help books that can provide the same clarity, those that have helped me the most along the way are ‘Think and Grow Rich’ by Napoleon Hill, ‘The Untethered Soul’ by Michael Alan Singer, and ‘101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think’ by Brianna Wiest’
Finally, I would be nowhere and absolutely nothing without reference books, particularly ‘The Art of Dramatic Writing’ by Lajos Egri, ‘The Art of Subtext’ by Charles Baxter, and ‘The Writer’s Journey’ by Christopher Vogler.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://malachijmoore21.wordpress.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prophet_1121/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malachi-moore-aa239b126/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/prophet_1121
- Other: Check out my short story, ‘Desire Path’ within Dark Matter’s “HAUNTED REELS” here! : https://darkmattermagazine.shop/products/dark-matter-presents-haunted-reels
Image Credits
Julie Delisle, Normandy Europa, Carly Rene Hough