We recently connected with Marcus Hamm and have shared our conversation below.

Marcus, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I began my filmmaking career officially in 2020 during the pandemic. I’ve been in the entertainment industry since 1999 starting as a professional wrestler where I signed my first TV contract as one half of the Urban Wrestling Alliance tag team champions, The Black Legion. After the series ended, I began producing in 2003 having worked on developing several professional wrestling themed shows. I transitioned to Acting officially in 2007 and have written a number of treatments over the years, but didn’t complete my first full script until I developed The Black League of Superheroes, my first fan-fiction short film. It won 27 awards, and my goal following was to continue my journey of making fan films leading into original features and/or series.

In 2017 I met a man named Steven James Tingus, who was a talented actor and producer who happened to have a rare form of muscular distrophy. He confided in me that his dream was to be a lead in a superhero themed film, and he was originally cast in The Black League of Superheroes, but his doctors advised against filming during the pandemic. He was there rooting us on while the film was on the festival circuit and he would often express his regret for not being a part of it. I assured him that he would be in my next film. I then went on to develop Triggered, a Cinemantic Superhero Fan Film which he co-executive produced. We develo[ped his character, James aka The Director, a meglomaniac with the desire to stop superpowered beings from existing with the intent of saving humanity.

We managed to complete filming in record time, and even with advanced medical issues, Steven pressed on to ensure that his dream was fulfilled. Filming wrapped in August of 2022, and we went on to have our debut screening in Los Angeles on December 3rd, 2022 at the TCL Chinese Theaters. This would be Steven’s final night with us, he lived to see himself starring in a superhero film and received rousing applause following. His final act, and my most meaningful project. It remains with me to this very day as I’ve recently completed writing part 3 of the 3 part series while part 2 has received multiple awards as well as a 5 star review from Short Films Matter, listing it in their handpicked showcase of must see short films.

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

I got into the film and television industry originally as a professional wrestler. I was captain of my wrestling team in high school, but when I entered college, there wasn’t a wrestling team. After my first year of college, I was in a serious rollover accident that ejected me from the vehicle causing serious injuries to my hip and shoulders. This ended any opportunity for me to compete in collegiate sports. I later learned that professional wrestling schools were a thing, and I decided to train in 1999 at Bonebrakers Academy in Baltimore Maryland. After about a year of training, I auditioned for an opportunity for my first TV contract with Urban Wrestling Alliance which aired on UPN from 2000-2002. During that experience, we were offered acting training, and following the end of our contracts, I returned to college at the University of Maryland, College Park. There, I continued my acting training in theatre where I was encouraged by my acting instructor to further pursue a career in that field. I got my first acting agent, and was booked in a featured recurring role in season 5 of HBO’s, The Wire. This got me into SAG/AFTRA and launched my career, later leading me to relocate from Maryland to Los Angeles in 2008. My first major Acting role was Co-starring with Josh Gad in the award winning comedy series Gigi, Almost American.

After arriving to LA, I returned to professional wrestling with Knox Pro which was owned by WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi along with Count Black Pearl, Reno Anoa’i both of the Samoan Dynasty. I connected with some local producers and pitched an idea that evolved into a reality series that would have followed the life of the late Afa Anoa’i and his family. The show unfortunately didn’t get greenlit, but my aspirations for producing continued to evolve. My first production was a TV pilot that I filmed in 2003 for a wrestling series called Urban Empire Wrestling.

In 2020 I founded Urban Renaissance Entertainment, LLC, and produced my first short and feature film collaboration. My short film was The Black League of Superheroes where I performed as 5 different superheroes in an original story that won 27 film festival awards. I also co-produced Heaven’s Revenge, I Love You to Death which is available on Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, and other streaming services. I’m proud to say that every project that I have produced or had a role in producing has been an award-winning work. I’m most proud of the success of Heaven’s Revenge, which was my first lead role in a feature film that led to several Best Actor awards along with the success of Triggered part 1 and 2, which continue to receive incredible accolades. You can find all of my work on our official website at www.urbanrenaissanceentertainment.com.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In 2011 I became a first-time father which was during the height of my Acting career. I had strong representation and received several auditions for major projects. I chose to step away from it to be available for the daily journey of caring for a newborn son which led me into the career field of property management. This temporarily left me without much acting work, but I slowly returned to opportunities that fit my schedule such as short films and commercial projects along with occasional wrestling shows. If it wasn’t for this transition, the opportunity to begin producing my projects would not have happened.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission is to continue to promote diversity and disability inclusion in my works ans to encourage others to do the same.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.urbanrenaissanceentertainment.com
• Instagram: @marcusneljamalhamm
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/marcushammactor
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcushamm
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-VsEIaB6fGUrTlnU8JDiPQ
• Other: https://www.imdb.me/marcusneljamalhamm

Image Credits

Araya Doheny, Masashi Ishizuka