ACTOR/PRODUCER
Dajour Ashwood Wastes No Words By Tierra Jones
Ashwood is a true artist who loves filmmaking and being in front of and behind the camera. He has an impressive resume with many acting credits on hit TV series and films, such as Atlanta , Valor , and Watchmen , and has starred in film Harlem Diaries , directed by Johna- than Stockman. The film aired on the Discovery Channel and won the Golden Eagle and Cable Ace film awards. A writer, director and pro- ducer of several short films that have won festival awards around the country (as well as 2022’s 48 Hour Film Project where he took Best Director, Best Actor and Best Line awards), Ashwood loves teaching the craft of acting and conducts weekly acting classes in Atlanta and online. Another venture Ashwood runs is a successful self-taping studio, Aweditions Inc., an actor demo reel production company called 48 Hour Reels and a filmmaking competition called MAFI8H where both aspir- ing and seasoned filmmakers create short films in just eight hours. Outside of acting, Ashwood has a Master’s degree in accounting, is a public speaker, a 5K runner and a novice boxer. Georgia Hollywood Review sat down with Ashwood to learn what’s next on his horizon. GHR: TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY. DA: I started out creating my own content in desperate need to find an agent. I later nailed one, [and] fell in love with creating in the interim of being on set acting. YOU WEAR MANY HATS IN THE
WHAT DREW YOU TO TEACHING AND WHAT TECHNIQUES DO YOU INSTRUCT TO MAKE CHARACTERS BELIEVABLE? I love the look on someone’s face when the lightbulb comes on. Most of my teachings came from the likes of Margie Haber. WHAT HAS INFLUENCED YOUR FILMMAKING STYLE? Honestly, I have been learning as I go. I wanted my style to come organically. I do what makes me happy. WHO HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST MENTOR? God! I rely on him whenever I get lost and he has guided me this far. TELL US ABOUT SOME OF YOUR PAST PROJECTS, AND WHICH ONES ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Short film CASE THIRTY , where it was nominated for best actor, supporting actor and best picture. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR CURRENT AND UPCOMING PROJECTS? I have three projects that just hit the film festival circuit: Bitter , Write my Wrongs and Late Love . My next upcoming project is a series for CASE THIRTY . TELL US ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU EXPERIENCED CHALLENGES AND HOW YOU OVERCAME THEM. I face challenges every day as I push myself to be better. Most of the time, I pray, then put my plan [into action]. I usually prevail. WHAT DO YOU FIND COMPELLING AND SATISFYING ABOUT STORYTELLING? When you can create an emotion out of someone from what was once a thought in your head … WHAT HAVE YOU NOT ACCOMPLISHED YET THAT YOU WISH TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? Becoming a millionaire and starring in a feature film on HBO, Showtime or Netflix. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR WORDS OF WISDOM FOR ASPIRING FILMMAKERS? Create as much as you can and have fun no matter what, there’s an audience out there waiting to see your work.
“ I love [my
roles] in this order: acting, teaching and editing. Teaching allows me to give back. ”
Dajour Ashwood
D ajour Ashwood is a gifted actor and filmmak- er who was born and raised in Harlem, New York. Ashwood attended the renowned High School of Art and Design in Manhattan, New York, which has produced other stars, celebri- ties and fashion notables such as Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs and hip hop duo Mobb Deep.
INDUSTRY, BESIDES BEING AN ACTOR, YOU’RE AN EDITOR, PRODUCER, DIRECTOR AND TEACHER. DO YOU GRAVITATE TO ONE MORE THAN THE OTHERS? Surprisingly, I love them in this order: acting, teach- ing and editing. Teaching allows me to give back.
@dajour.ashwood | @48houreels | @mafi8h
14 | THE GEORGIA HOLLYWOOD REVIEW | FALL 2022
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