(Final Up to date On: November 21, 2022)

I AM KP Smith ~~ iamkpsmith@yahoo.com

Washington D.C. native, born and bred, Anthony Anderson, has a narrative price sharing. He began out as a younger boy fighting stuttering, going to mattress each night time listening to sirens and gunshots outdoors his bed room window, and is at the moment a multi-award-winning Creator, Author, Producer, and Actor.

By no means Give Up

Life not often, if ever, works out like we plan or in the way in which we wish it to. One of many keys to residing this factor referred to as life efficiently is to stay open and have a willingness to maneuver in coordination with the ever-fluctuating ebbs and flows of life. Spoiler alert, nobody’s path to their future is linear or problem-free and stress-free. But when you will discover the desire to stay steadfast, constantly, and purposely transferring towards your future, by no means shedding focus whereas concurrently doing every thing required within the now to get there, you’ll be able to stay your goals. Straightforward? No, however most undoubtedly doable. Anderson resides proof. What’s his secret? The reply is succinctly and astutely spoken by the person himself, “Not one time did I ever say, ‘I quit on me.”’

Anderson grew up loving to carry out, specifically, dancing. He had goals of changing into an expert dancer, however these goals had been dashed after struggling an damage to his knee on the set of a DMX music video. Devastated however decided that this might solely be a short lived setback, Anderson chartered a brand new course. If he couldn’t dance, then he’d dream a brand new dream. He did, and when that dream didn’t work out…Anderson created his personal.

 “I used to be heartbroken once I injured my knee. The company I used to be signed with on the time beneficial I give performing a strive. I used to be capable of ebook some work however was by no means capable of actually get a foothold within the business. Truthfully, I grew more and more pissed off with the complete course of and made the choice to create my very own work. My first script was my first film, The Ties That Bind”. It did fairly good on the movie competition circuit. I began engaged on my subsequent script proper across the time internet collection had been changing into common and I believed why not make it an internet collection? That script became the collection Anacostia.” 

Anacostia

Anacostia, created by Anderson who additionally serves as Author, Actor, and Government Producer, is an edgy on-line cleaning soap opera set within the Nation’s Capital the place advanced relationships are examined by romance, household, careers, dependancy, religion, and pressure majeure. The residents of D.C.’s most storied neighborhoods, battle to thrive, some at instances even survive however the folks of Anacostia stay hopeful, drawing energy from their difficult, but resilient friendships. The history-making collection has been nominated for Finest Actor a record-setting seven instances on the Indie Sequence Award (gained 2010). Anacostia has been awarded a Mayors Proclamation for Excellence, the celebrated D.C. Mayors Arts Award for Excellent Innovation within the Arts, earned six Daytime Emmy Nominations (gained in 2015), earned a Primetime Emmy Nomination, and has been seen in over 105 international locations.

Dwelling and Evolving the Dream

From a busted knee and busted dream to the Daytime and Primetime Emmys! Wow! Throughout our pleasant chat with Anderson, he unabashedly and eagerly opened up about his journey as he needs to be a residing respiratory beacon of hope for others to see and consider, if he’s residing his dream, I can too.

“Life as an indie artist is a battle general. My struggles at the moment are completely different from once I began, however a brand new degree simply brings a brand new degree of battle. The method of bringing an indie undertaking to fruition with restricted sources is extraordinarily difficult however every thing I’m going by way of makes the rewards that a lot sweeter. I do know nothing was given to us. We’ve earned every thing. Alongside the way in which, there have been many issues I’ve needed to face and overcome. An enormous situation for me was that I used to take every thing so personally. If somebody mentioned one thing adverse in regards to the present, I took it as in the event that they had been saying one thing adverse about me. I needed to have an extended dialog with myself. I informed myself, primary these folks don’t know you or what it takes so that you can produce this present. Quantity two, you’re truly doing the present, that means you’re producing one thing for them to speak about. And quantity three was the toughest. I had to have a look at the present and think about if what folks had been saying had any validity to it. You’ll be able to at all times enhance, proper? So, I began asking what can I do higher? What isn’t working that I could make higher? What’s good that I could make nice?” Once I requested and answered a lot of these questions, the present stored getting higher.”

Keep In It

It’s important to love and admire the truth that Anderson is simply an “abnormal” man doing extraordinary issues. He has created a blueprint that we are able to all glean from, be taught from, and comply with. Anderson’s story is our story.

“I’m an indie creator and although we’re all on our personal journeys we expertise comparable issues, good and dangerous. At instances, the dangerous can get so exhausting it appears like a kick within the abdomen, that knocks us down and we really feel like we’re going to be down for the rely. In these moments, you have to keep in mind God or no matter greater energy you consider in has you right here for a purpose. You’ll want to stand up, hold transferring ahead, and hold following your path. The trail that I’m on has me doing and experiencing issues I may have by no means imagined. I used to be on the Primetime Emmys sitting within the room with so many individuals I’ve watched and admired. Bear in mind I mentioned everybody experiences good and dangerous. Maintain going till you see the nice. It’s coming. Take a look at me, I grew up going to sleep to the sounds of gunshots. Put your head down and do the work, good work. Even if you happen to aren’t certain what your future or goal is, hold strolling as a result of as you do issues turn into clearer and clearer. It doesn’t occur in a single day. I’ve labored in retail, the restaurant business, and have been a garden technician. I’m working exhausting on my goals, and I’m additionally a authorities contractor. Maintain working at it and keep in it.”

Leaving Nothing on the Artistic Desk

Certainly, Anderson is difficult at work. He has an upcoming actuality present, Metropolis Boys, anticipated to be launched within the spring of 2023, a brand new season of Anacostia is on the horizon and he’s growing a six-part quick movie collection that’s set to start out filming early subsequent yr.

Anderson is keenly centered on his mission to create “transcending, entertaining and inspirational” work that audiences can really feel and can be moved by; movie, tv, documentaries, comedy, dramas, every thing is honest recreation. He additionally desires to swing the doorways of alternative vast open for different folks to stroll by way of and envisions making a community and legacy of dreamers who attain again and assist others to satisfy their goals. Anderson is leaving nothing on his artistic desk.

Our Unique

Drum roll, please…Anderson Blessed us with an unique. His subsequent function movie is titled, Hustler! The film’s story is about to take audiences on a strong and emotional voyage the place they’ll stroll away in awe and say, “I didn’t know he (Anderson) may do this!”

Anderson’s Best Pleasure

Dwelling the dream is extra, far more than exterior and materials successes. Crucial a part of life is the folks we share all of it with. “I’m a dad, and my son is a highschool senior and is experiencing all of the fantastic issues that occur at his age. Out of all my many accomplishments, my son, and being his father, is head and shoulders above something I’ve ever executed. He’s my biggest Blessing and my biggest pleasure is seeing the younger man he’s turning out to be.”

Comply with Anthony!

IG: @anacostiatheseries

Twitter: @ANACOSTIASERIES

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Love, Peace & Blessings!

I AM KP Smith