Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan Calhoun.
Hi Morgan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have been working in front of the camera since I was eight years old. When I started, I was so shy and stiff- every pose looked like I was holding my breath and asking, “am I doing this right?” Over time I loosened up and started having fun in front of the camera. I worked on a commercial with Demi Lovato when I was 12 and she was doing the voiceover for the spot. I remember being in awe of that and thinking I wanted to have lines one day, but I doubted I ever would. I took acting for film classes starting in middle school, but all the while my self-doubt lingered. My senior year of high school I booked my first speaking role in a feature film.
And with this success, I quieted my self doubt-just for a moment. I graduated and went on to study Radio Television & Film at the University of Texas at Austin. I learned screenwriting, producing and literally got to watch and write about films for class. It was a dream. On top of that, being in Austin (the third coast) I had so many opportunities to work in front of the camera and continue to grow in my craft. I really flourished there, but as graduation approached the reality of having to pay bills and support myself caved in. I found myself with a choice: continue to follow my dream or take a more traditional path in the corporate world. At first, I made the safer choice and worked in corporate for five years. In 2016, I knew something was missing. My love for telling meaningful stories was not being fulfilled. At that point, I stopped waiting on auditions to come and I started collaborating with young, wildly talented creators like Ciara Boniface, who were making real statements with their work. I have been fortunate to work on big-budget films and national campaigns, but indie projects will always have my heart. The magic that is made on those sets is unparalleled. And they gave me the space to take risks, find my own voice and break free from my own self-doubt.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Honestly, the biggest struggle I’ve had in my career has been getting out of my own way. I have missed out on so many opportunities because of self-sabotage. When you’re creating and telling a story on screen, there is very little room for judging yourself. In order to be present and in the moment, it’s so important to put all of your attention on the other person in the scene. This can be a daunting challenge when you’re in a room full of people staring at you while you work! But once you find that connection and everyone else in the room fades away, it is such a beautiful and freeing experience! A big part of finding this beauty is getting comfortable with failure and leaving room for imperfections. Something that I- a perfectionist, fought tirelessly against. Ironically, some of my biggest wins have come from allowing myself to get messy and fail. Even with all of the success I’ve had, there are a hundred more L’s I took along the way. It takes an insane amount of resilience to keep going when no after no can crush your spirit. But that feeling I get when I see the cinematography, set design, story, directing and my work come together keeps me inspired and hopeful. It makes every ‘no’ worth it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an actress, writer and producer with a focus on film & television, but I have recently branched out into theater as well! I have been fortunate to work on over 40 film, television & commercial projects, as well as countless print ads. You may have seen me in ‘So Undercover’ alongside Miley Cyrus or, more recently, on the CW’s ‘Walker’ as Ada. As someone who is typically risk-averse, I am most proud of the risks I have taken in my career. I left a very successful corporate career and moved to New York City to pursue my acting dreams back in 2018. Within the first six months, I was signed with a top New York agency across the board (theatrical & commercial). And even with this early success, the struggles of life as an artist in New York were just beginning. I got fired after two days on my first survival job, did temp work and even had a hostess job. Every one of those experiences humbled me and made me even more resilient for the road ahead. These experiences really deepened my appreciation for the opportunities I’ve had and makes me work that much harder for every new shot I get.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m looking forward to creating in multiple mediums. I recently started my own web design and content creation business called Elevate Digital Studio. I have also started learning a new craft with interior design and had the opportunity to apply some of my learnings into a set design I worked on for a photoshoot I was producing. Amplifying Black voices and stories is at the core of what I do. Last year my friends and I started Let’s Buy Black the Block, a visual discovery engine for Black owned brands. Our platform inspires people to support Black owned businesses in a range of categories including beauty, fashion, home, pets and more! I am looking forward to this new space I’m in where I don’t limit my creativity. Whether I am acting in a film, creating digital content, or designing the set- storytelling is at the core and I feel like I’m right where I need to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.morganscalhoun.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgancalhoun/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt1UrUjFNGw&list=PL338oatRAe-V2T4Z3j2G-Ep_rpUkgg9Vq
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3601725/
- Elevate Digital Studio: https://www.elevatedigitalstudio.com
- Let’s Buy Black the Block: https://www.letsbuyblacktheblock.com/home
Image Credits
Dirty Money directed by Ciara Boniface, Skintight directed by Ciara Boniface, Shift directed by Efe Kabba, So Undercover directed by Tom Vaughan, First Commercial for Mrs. Baird’s Bread, Hasbro Hit Clips commercial with Demi Lovato
