Today we’d like to introduce you to Manuel Campos.
Hi Manuel , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in a very small town in Woodstock Vermont. Grew up with a single mother raising two boys while also holding down 2 to 3 jobs just so there was food on the table. My mom was always someone I wanted to make proud not just cuz she is my mom, but because she made many sacrifices just to bring us here from Lima, Peru. She gave us a better life.
In 2010 my mother decided to move us down to Texas to help take care of my aunt who had cancer at the time. My brother stayed behind to finish college in Vermont. Coming to Texas was a huge change in scenery, lifestyle, and overall view on life. When I was about four years old, I knew I wanted to pursue some type of entertainment whether it was putting on funny shows in front of my friends at the playground or simply just making people smile .
That burning passion followed me all the way up until high school when I was finally given the chance to entertain by my Theatre teacher Kendal Fries. From then on I was in an improv troope. I would try to do as many performances. I could whether it’s in class or plays , making videos with friends and post them anywhere I could. I was known as the kid who made content in school .she gave me the confidence to put myself out there.
fast-forward after high school. The world had slowed down due to the pandemic. I had just dropped out of my online college class and decided to take on the real world while also trying to pursue my acting and entertainment “dream”.
I used to log back in high school, but I was very shy and would never really have a captivating video back in 2021. I decided I should probably get back to logging and I created the YouTube channel TallManVlogs. I use this channel to help me get more out of my comfort zone to record moments with friends that I would look back on and cherish and honestly kind of like a personal diary where you would see my day-to-day life, but I can also look back on the first video and see how far I’ve come.
Currently, I’m not vlogging as much, but I’m still creating content. You can find me every week on the Out of Focus Podcast hosted by me and my friend Devontay along with the help of our producer Jaden.. basically if you wanna laugh every week and act like you’re hanging out with your friends we got you.
Years later in 2023. I began taking a summer intensive course with the late scream queen herself, Lar Park Lincoln. I was not at all where I needed to be level wise to be working with her, but she gave me such grace. She helped me gain more confidence with acting on camera. She was not just a lovely teacher. She was a lovely person and friend miss you, Lar..
Throughout the years I was gaining more and more knowledge and experience on how to be some type of entertainer and now actor.
Fast-forward a year later, a buddy of mine introduced me to On Set Acting Studio where I got to meet Pierce Bailey , another actor/teacher/friend. Taking his class has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. Pierce was like a brother almost instantly. We have spoken about the industry, life, and religious views. He is someone I can always count on.
After less than a year of being at OSAS and many attempts on Agent auditions, I was signed by The Clutts Agency in Dallas where I have the amazing support of Joe, Eddie and Christopher. (thank you Pierce)
It’s funny how a kid from a small town with a small family can find himself turning a dream into a reality.
I wanna thank my mother for all of the sacrifices. She has made, all of her support even when my ideas aren’t the best and for always being in my corner, my brother for raising a kid while being a kid and always having my back. To everyone I mentioned I love you all. I cant imagine where I’d be without you guys and just thank you for always having my best interest at heart..
Lastly,
Thank you God for these incredible opportunities and blessing you keep on bringing.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
None of this has come easy at all. It is taken years of patience, hard work, sacrifices, and a lot of talks to God. A lot of times you have a passion for something but then reality set it and you have to go to work. You have to take jobs. You don’t want you have to stay in instead of going out. You need to put your family first to put yourself first you have to put everything first, but your passion.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Currently, I’m a server, but that’s not very interesting so I will say I am a content creator/actor. I like to make TikTok’s and reels here and there but right now my main focus is the podcast my buddy Devontay and Jaden work on. This was an idea DJ and I have had for about four years and we finally made it a reality back in July. We’re not like most podcast. We really have a specific topic each episode, but it’s more of a hang out. Laugh it up and just enjoy these stories type of podcast. Basically we’re just here to invite you to our zaniness. I’ve done content in the past where it wasn’t really me and I feel like this podcast is 100% authentic we don’t really try to look cool or anything. It’s literally just we sit down press record and we talking to mics and I think that’s what sets us apart from all the other people. What you see is what you get..
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I love my family so much and the people that I mentioned in this interview some of the most special people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tall_man_manny?igsh=MTl4eW9qbTFlbTVueg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@outoffocuspod?si=gc-JHHn5JyU6G1WV
- Other: https://youtube.com/@tallmanvlogs?si=aIvtHdSkMFF1GS1R
Image Credits
Headshots – Tanner Mobley
