People to Watch in 2013
Indie entertainment's list of people to watch in 2013
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- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Brian Michael Smith was born in Ann Arbor, MI. He is an actor known for roles in 9-1-1 Lone Star, Queen Sugar and The L Word: Generation Q.
After appearances on TV shows such as NBC's Chicago P.D., HBO's Girls, and Showtime's Homeland, Smith rose to prominence for his ground-breaking performances on television and advocacy for better trans representation in media. His role as Toine Wilkins, a transgender police officer, in Ava DuVernay's Queen Sugar (2017) on OWN launched him into a series of high-profile roles including political strategist Pierce Williams in Showtime's The L Word: Generation Q (2019) and, most notably, firefighter Paul Strickland in Ryan Murphy's 9-1-1 Lone Star (2020). With Lone Star, Smith became the first out Black trans man in a series regular role.
Smith studied theatre and film production at Kent State University. Upon graduating, he began teaching and mentoring youth in filmmaking which he continued in New York through Tribeca Film Institute's Tribeca Teaches Program. He discovered the importance of community and visibility while he worked with queer youth at the Manhattan LGBT Center which led him to pursue his passion for acting, moving to Los Angeles.
Since Queen Sugar, Brian Michael has leveraged his visibility and platform to advocate for better trans representation in TV and film, empowering youth to create their own media and storytelling.http://www.thebrianmichael.com- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Jesenia is a NYC-based humorist and eternal comedy student, with several credits as an actress, writer, producer, director, singer and stand-up comedian. Having years of TV, film, theater and comedy credits under her belt, Jesenia appeared in Showtime's "The Affair" and TBS' "The Guestbook" and gained awards as the two-time winner and reigning champion of the NBC Diversity Monologue Slam. She's appearing in Season 2 and 3 of the Starz hit drama series "Power Book III: Raising Kanan", as Olga Figueroa. She's also wrote and produced two web series "Becoming Ricardo" and "The Shlongologues", along with several sketches and musical parodies under her production company, Comedy High Productions. Jesenia is also no stranger to the mic as a stand-up comedian and has co-hosted two podcasts: "The Fixxx" and "Comedy Girls". Latina Magazine once noted her as one of the "Top 10 Comedians who fit the bill for Saturday Night Live".www.jeseniabailey.com- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Tony Clomax is an award-winning writer-director known for the highly acclaimed viral series 12-Steps To Recovery and the Aspire TV documentary series The Graduates NYC, which was produced by Al Roker Entertainment. Clomax also wrote and directed the series DATE.LOVE.REPEAT. Which streamed on Amazon Prime, starring Stephen Hill, Sawandi Wilson, Morocco Omari, Tahiry Jose and Bevy Smith. To date, Clomax has directed over 50 episodes on cable and streaming platforms. His versatility in storytelling and original snappy dialog was noted by comedy legend Paul Mooney. Clomax is the 2021 recipient of the ABFF / Warner Media Access Writer Competition. Clomax teaches Film Production and Screenwriting at the prestigious HBCU Prairie View A&M University and has started his journey into network television directing by shadowing NBC's The Enemy Within and Apple TV's Little America. Tony holds an M.F.A. in Film, and is a member of the Writers Guild of America.http://about.me/tonyclomax- Actress
- Producer
- Producer
- Actress
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Jo-Issa Rae Diop credited professionally as Issa Rae, is an American actress, writer, producer, and comedian. Rae first garnered attention for her work on the YouTube web series Awkward Black Girl. Since 2011, Rae has continued to develop her YouTube channel, which features various short films, web series, and other content created by black people.www.issarae.com- Actor
- Producer
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Mario Corry was born in the small town of Sant Andrea Ionio, Southern Italy, Calabria and grew up in Brooklyn NY. After many years in the Restaurant business he decided to make a change into an acting career. It's been nothing but magical for him. Acting credits, Bridge of Spies, director Steven Spielberg, starring Tom Hanks. The Irishman, director Martin Scorsese starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. The Montana Meth Project, Director Darren Aronofsky. Power Starz. Blacklist NBC. Law and Order Criminal Intent NBC. Madame Secretary NBC, Bull CBS, It's Bruno Netflix. Directing and writing credits. Manipulation short film written by C.C. Corry and Mario Corry, directed by Mario Corry multiple selection film festivals. Something Like Penguins, Off Broadway play Produced and Directed by Mario Corry, nominated for Best Director and winner of Best Short Play Strawberry One Act Festival summer 2010. Walter's Dead a full length play written by Mario Corry, NYC Thespis Theater Festival, nominated four times including best play. The Parking Spot a short Film, written, directed by Mario Corry and starring Cathy Curtin multiple selection film festivals and nominated for best short film, best screenplay and best actor Mario Corry. Reservations for Dinner, nominated 5 times Strawberry One Act Festival summer 2018 winner Best Director.- Actress
- Producer
- Composer
One of the greatest Latin Hip Hop/Freestyle/Pop Divas to come out of the 1980's music scene is the legendary Lisa Velez also known as Lisa Lisa of the 80's super group Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam. Produced by Full Force, Lisa Lisa's break out hits such as "I wonder If I Take You Home", "Can You Feel The Beat" and "All cried out" helped to launch the underground genre of "Freestyle Music" into mainstream.
Later Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam crossed over on to the pop charts with their second album "Spanish Fly" with mega hits like "Head to Toe" and "Lost In Emotion". She was the first Puerto Rican / Latino artist to cross over to the Pop and R&B charts. Both albums shot straight up the charts to platinum status several times over with most of the albums singles going gold at the same time. Just as the 90's rolled in Lisa Lisa's C&C Music Factory produced hit 'Let the beat hit em" took off to the top of the dance charts! Soon after Lisa began an acting career. She played the mother on Nickelodeon's TV series "Taina", then later made appearances on NBC's Law and Order SVU.
Some of her biggest hits have been re-recorded by "Allure & 112, Nina Sky, and The Black Eye Peas. Not only did Lisa Lisa set the music bar high for those to come later but she set fashion trends as well. Born and raised in the "Hell's Kitchen" section of New York City, Lisa's hair flipped over one eye and her unique style caught fire in the urban community. Soon after she hit the airwaves young girls everywhere were dressing and singing like the 80's icon.
Lisa Lisa paved the way for an entire generation of Latino American artist to follow in her footsteps such as Selena, J-Lo, Fat Joe, Big Pun, Cardi B and many more. She is defiantly a pioneer and a trendsetter of an entire generation.
After more than 30 years of being a trailblazer in the music business, gracing the acting world and setting the bar for her Latino community, Lisa's journey is far from over. Lisa and her power house management team "Uncle Snoops Army" (Snoop Dogg), "Bobby Dee Presents" (Bobby Dee) and Menage Works Inc (Toni Menage) are working on bringing some amazing things to her long time supporters, fans and friends.
Lisa Lisa continues to tour the world with her band SoDisrespectful Music along with her incredible dance ensemble. She continues to embark on new adventures with new tours, new music, television, merchandising and much more. Stay tuned!- David Brandyn is a writer and performer, with a new show at UCB Sunset every second Wednesday of the month! He is also writing for the 2019 CBS Diversity Showcase.
David comes from New York where he got his start in the indie improv scene. He soon went on to co-write and star in a popular LGBT comedy series for/by People of Color called No Shade. In 2016, he was awarded the Second City Emerging Voices scholarship and began performing consistently at UCB.