BY: KRIS ANDERSON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: BRIAN JONES & DESIGN BY JK
The test of a man is the fight that he makes, the grit that he daily shows, the way he stands upon his feet, and takes life’s numerous bumps and blows. The difference that separates one person from another person is their internal drive fueled by determination. The determination of creating that which they desire to exist. Distractions meet us at every turn, determined to get us off track. We must stay the course and press forward with passion and vigor. Most importantly, we must not lay aside our dreams for another time but devise plans of action that yield success and personal satisfaction. Furthermore, live in faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you! This unique promise is something that Keon "Rahzeem" Mitchell lives by. Without any further delay, I present to you Keon "Rhazeem" Mitchell The Man, The Professional, and The Actor.
The UpNext: Who is Keon Mitchell?
Keon: "I was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia by a strong single black female I have the honor to call, Mom. She kept me extremely active and on the strait and narrow. Structure and discipline were the foundation of my upbringing. I grew up working as a lifeguard, but I always dreamed of a life that would be bigger and bolder than those around me. I never meet a stranger. My ability to hold the interest of my audiences was developed very early on. By high school, I was know to be a bit of a socialite, the life of the party, you see, I love people and always enjoy a really good time doing almost anything. I attribute my tenacity and confidence to being involved in various school organizations, such as the Southwest DeKalb Marching Panthers (featured in Drumline the movie) as a saxophonist to my years on my award winning high school step team, Gamma Kappa Phi to Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA),all which taught me how to be the best version of me. These affiliation began to open doors of opportunities that would later influence who I would become.
As a man of God and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. by way of the Beta Epsilon Chapter at the illustrious North Carolina A&T State University, I have relied heavily on my faith and affiliation to set the course for career advancement and chasing my dream of acting. Prior to graduating in 2014 with a Bachelor’s of Science, I peeked into the acting world through a course called “Acting for Non-Acting” majors that spawned my pathway into my acting career, stimulating both my corporate and acting career simultaneously. Joining Carolina Talent Agency after moving to Charlotte was the beginning of actively pursuing my dream of becoming an actor. There they groomed and prepared me to be the talent and business I am today."
The UpNext: How important was education for your professional success?
Keon: "Education is one of the biggest keys to my professional success, in IT and acting. I am sure you are wondering how a computer science degree is important to my acting profession. Flexibility is the secret ingredient to making it work for my family and I. I have always been in a great position to have extreme flexibly with the corporate opportunities that I take. In the event that I need to handle business on the KR|M side, the business of Keon Rahzeem Mitchell the actor, I can step away for corporate to address it. I would not put myself in a position that locks me in from chasing my dream, or my heart. My Plan B, corporate, supports my Plan A, the filming industry."
The UpNext: What were the challenges of managing corporate America and your dream of acting?
Keon: "Juggling both careers can have its time constraints, but it’s all about sacrifice. Because of my role in corporate, I have to make sure I am available when I need to be. This can easily pose conflicts to a rising actor when it comes to auditions, filming booked projects, and traveling from location to location. It can simply be draining at times. However, I believe that if you want something, you will create a structure and avenue that allows you to get to where you are trying go, limiting the amount of excuses you can make. Balance, again, is key. On a different note, managing both careers puts you in the executive seat. You have to make the big decisions about which opportunities to take and not to take because your day to day corporate career is always on the line given that you put acting first. When that opportunity comes ringing, decisions have to be made rather quickly in an opportunity based filming industry."
The UpNext: When did you know you wanted to become an actor full time?
Keon: "The moment I set foot on the set of “Almost Christmas” I was completely sold, yet overwhelmed and scared as hell! I didn’t know what I was doing. It was actually when I received some of the best advice I could have ever gotten at that time. That experience truly shaped how I wanted my future to look. Mr. Talbert said, “If you focus on stardom, you will never make it. Focus on the craft.” Ever since then, my focus has been nothing but this. Is it possible to have two full time careers? I guess it is possible. It’s happening right before my eyes. When I have the opportunities to jump in a production, I take them. I still make sure I keep good standing with my corporate lifestyle as well."
The UpNext: What was your first project and how did you land it?
Keon: "My first project was an EPSN High School Football commercial that aired nationally for two years. Until this day, it’s still my favorite project. I didn’t have much training and the producers, crew, and director made me very comfortable. Through my agency, Carolina Talent, I booked it I had only been with them for about 7 weeks prior to landing this inspirational opportunity. Filmed in Charlotte, the commercial impacted many high school students as it served as the introduction to all of their games."
The UpNext: What has been your greatest reward from acting? Who has had the greatest influence in the acting field?
Keon: "The greatest rewards are the phenomenal people I get to meet all the time. It’s never ending. It’s an army of talent, specifically, in the Atlanta market. It’s ridiculous. There is nothing like having a wide range of talent from different aspects of the industry (producers, directors, actors, writers, and crew) that are of different calibers and age ranges because you get to learn from each and every story. We get so locked into our point of view and perspective of how things are should be and lose sight of how things could be. That concept alone constrains an actor’s sense of perspective of truth when living in the moment, limiting the possibilities of creative scope. In a nutshell, being allowed to be affected by so many people is extremely rewarding because you can take it with you.
Denzel Washington has had a major influence on me since I was a kid, long before I even discovered that I wanted to be an actor. The guy was just dope to me. Then, once I jumped into the acting lane, I developed an even greater love for what he does in front of the camera. His intellect off the camera resonates in the decisions he makes on the camera. His history of even leaving NY to go to LA to pursue his dream at the American Conservatory Theatre and create his own lane is still astronomical. Denzel Washington as a man has inspired and influenced me in so many ways."
The UpNext: What advice would you give to inspiring African American males that want to pursue this career path? List 10 reasons why you should chase your dreams.
Keon: "The only advise I have is, “DO IT”. My careers literally started with google searches and phone calls. There is no set way of getting anything. However, there is one thing that can always narrow down the path for you and that’s a mistake. Therefore, when you start, enjoy and keep making them."
You are not happy, unless you heart is. So follow it.
Dream chasing can help define character. It’s hard and rarely comes with a set curriculum to succeed.
The opportunities are limitless once you find “your thing”.
When you begin chasing your dream, you begin to see that it’s really not as bad/hard as it seemed.
Others are always watching you because they really want to see if you are really going to do it. You are going to influence others to do the same.
You develop some sense of dependency on and collaboration with others who are doing what you are doing. In today’s world, people do not want to help you. However, you find those that endure some of the same challenges and you eventually develop and like minded team.
Your faith increases. When you are dream chasing, you never know what’s next, but you see it.
You create your own platform and rules to how you operate. Chasing a dream is like starting a business.
You develop a testimony and story to tell that genuinely centers on what you really believe in and that's yourself.
MOST IMPORTANTLY: “Hind site is 20/20 vision.” What would you tell yourself 5, 10, or 20 years down the road?
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