August 24, 2024 • 27 mins
Actor Jamie Hector and four of the current participants in Moving Mountains, a nonprofit theater-based youth organization that Jamie founded in 2007, talk passionately about how the organization provides access and opportunity for youth to learn the creative and business sides of the Arts. Jamie is best known for his prominent roles on The Wire and Bosch.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome back to What's at Risk. I'm Mike Christian. Jamie
Hector is far more than a noted actor and director.
His keen focus on family, community, and youth is foundational
to both his career and the work he does with
(00:24):
the young people of New York. Throughout his life, he
strived to be a mentor to underserved youth and give
back to his community in a variety of meaningful ways.
In two thousand and seven, Jamie founded Moving Mountains in
his hometown of Brooklyn. Its mission is to develop skills, talents,
and abilities in youth while building character. Jamie and his
(00:46):
team at Moving Mountains believe that the arts are an
effective medium to educate and empower young people to make
wise choices and overcome adversity. Research has shown that youth
who study the arts and music are four times more
likely to be recognized for academic achievement. Brain research also
shows that music not only improves skills in math and reading,
(01:10):
but it promotes creativity, social adjustment, and self worth. We
are honored to have a full slate of guests here
on the show tonight, all from Moving Mountains in Brooklyn.
We have Nasirra, Augustine Justice, Galara, Chloe Hector, Denim Robison,
(01:31):
and last but not least, Jamie Hector. How y'all doing.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Yourself.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
I'm doing great, and so it's so great to have
you guys on the show today. We want to talk
about Moving Mountains, but not both from Jamie's perspective who's
the founder of Moving Mountains, but also from all your
guys perspective, because you're the ones that have experienced the
program over the years and you have got your own
perspectives on it. If we could go through each of
(01:57):
you and you can tell us our listeners a little
bit about yourself. So maybe we'll start with you in
a Sarah.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
My name is not Sarah Gustin. I am seventeen years old.
I'm currently well. I will be attending high school as
a senior this coming school year.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
And I am a boxer.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
You're a boxer. Yes, Oh that's awesome. And how about you, dNaM.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
My name is Dennam Roberson. I am nineteen as of.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Today, Happy birthday.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
I'm an alumni and a professional SAG actor from Moving On.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Congratulations, thanks right, And how about you Chloe.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
My name is Chloe.
Speaker 5 (02:37):
I am the actress and I play the sports, and
I'm fifteen years old and I'm going into high school
as a sophomore.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Great and Justice, how about you?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
My name is Justice, I'm fourteen years old.
Speaker 6 (02:55):
I'm going to high school as a sophomore currently, and
I play football and I'll like to flight football.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Right.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
And then we have Jamie Hector. Jamie, how are you
doing today? You're the founder of Moving Mountains and you've
also done a couple other things.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
In your life.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Maybe it can just give our listeners a little bit
about your background.
Speaker 7 (03:15):
Oh, okay, how you doing with Michael? What's going on
our listeners? So my name is Jamie Hector. I'm an
actor as well and founder of Move, a Mountain state
of organization where we develop skills, talents and abilities through
the arts while building character and also been fortunate to
(03:35):
you know, be are part of a lot of different productions.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
One that your audience might be aware of.
Speaker 7 (03:41):
It's called Hawhire twenty years ago HBO and as of
recent it's been Bosh on Amazon Prime. So just having
fun in the industry and having fun sharing the gifts
also that we have with the younger generation.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
And Jamie, maybe just a couple of minutes on your
sort of journey in life and how you got to
be such a well known actor and get those opportunities.
Speaker 7 (04:07):
Sure, sure, absolutely started with a theater company at part
of a data company at sixteen or tomorrow's future data company,
cutting my teeth on stage.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Transitioned from there.
Speaker 7 (04:19):
And started studying at the least Rosburg Data Institute for
four years, so we had a chance to work on
different characters, develop different characters, and then started working on set.
But my first love has always been theater because, like
Patino said, you get a chance to actually walk a
thin line, but on a tight rope, and if you
(04:42):
fall off, you can't afford to make any mistakes. So
I appreciated that, which also shoped me for screen and television.
Then I journeyed on into working on different shows really
small parts.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
But you know what I'm saying, right, there's no such
thing as.
Speaker 7 (04:58):
A small part, just small actors. So I took those
small parts seriously, which allowed me to grow in the industry,
which allowed me to grow in the world and really
love and just become even more passionate as to what
I do. Audition for roles, book rolls, and then it
became more consistent. So that's what it's been for me,
(05:20):
and also surrounded myself with young talent, like the young
fresh talent that you see on the screen and that
you're going to hear from pretty soon. That also keeps
me sharp because you see, based on their skill set
and what they're capable of, you learn from them as
well as much as they learn from you.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
What do you guys think about being able to work
with Jamie Hector. He's a pretty well known guy. You
can say whatever you think, now this is your opportunity.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
It's amazing, you know, even though I met him centuries ago,
I feel through a great bond over time really helped
me ongo my career and start my career fresh as
an actor and now I am what i'm today because
of him and move the mountains.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Of course, sometimes it just surprises me because, oh, you
see some people walk up to him, they might ask
him for an autograph, and I forget, Oh, he's an actor,
But this is also my business partner, this is my
this is somebody who's helped me become even better in
my acting and performance ground.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Oly, how about you?
Speaker 5 (06:20):
It's it's a good feeling because we need help when
it comes to working on a roll.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
And trying to get a role.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
You really have a professional that you can call up
or talk to right there to help you.
Speaker 6 (06:35):
Yes, and it's very helpful when it comes to like
auditions and stuff. We're not like confuse stuff because he
knows the business.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Yeah, that's that's a really unique opportunity that you guys
have to be able to work so closely with somebody
like Jamie. Jamie, what inspired you to start Moving Mountains?
And maybe just talk a little bit about Moving Mountains itself?
And I'll ask all the rest of you guys, but
you're our two.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Well, it was a couple of things that inspired me. Mike.
Speaker 7 (07:02):
One, I was on my way back from Baltimore and
I used to work with young artists even before Moving
Mountains started, right, and a young artist at the time.
He's as an adult now very successful at what he does.
His name was Dominic and he saw me and he
was like, oh, so this is what you do. You
(07:24):
become successful and you leave so and he was really
being sincere about it. It was like, is that the
formula you achieved become successful? Exit stage left, you don't
look back. And right there that sparked something to me
where it was just like, nah, that's not the formula.
A lot of people do that, but it hasn't worked
(07:44):
for the community at large. So because I knew him
beforehand before, because I knew so many young artists before that,
I reached out to Ali Roberson, my business partner also
co founder of Moving Mountains, and I said, listen, let's
navigate all the resources that we have and start an
(08:05):
organization where we can open the doors free and charge
for young artists to come and create and develop that
and the talent that they have, develop their skills, you know,
apply what they already have, and then discover things that
they don't have inside of them. So then Moveing Mountains
(08:25):
was born seventeen years ago. Based on those principles, we
create a space that artists can just come enjoy have fun.
One of the NUCLEARSS movements also is to have fun
and enjoy yourself while in the process you're learning, you're growing,
you're evolving, you're developing your skills, your talents and abilities
(08:48):
in that space.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
So we've been really good at doing that.
Speaker 7 (08:53):
And another thing that we're really good at doing is
really highlighting specific talents in each individual. It's like if
some he's stronger in one area, we like the flame
under that area, while we also manage the other areas.
For example, Denham is multi talented. You'll speak to him, right,
I mean, the kid is really nice and bold. He's
(09:14):
extremely talented on stage, and he'll also speak to all
of the shows that he's already worked on on network TV.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
But we saw where he was strong.
Speaker 7 (09:28):
He's charismatic, so we pushed him in that space and
allowed him to highlight that space.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Right.
Speaker 7 (09:33):
We just created a space where people can come have fun,
enjoy themselves and develop what they have and tapping the
things that they don't have.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
And Denham, what do you think about that? What do
you think about what Jamie just said?
Speaker 4 (09:45):
I think he just explained my life story to a
t Honestly, Moving mountains it helped me, It really did.
From waking up and probably just playing basketballs on Saturdays
or in the summer, just go into the park and
not really doing too much too one day, jumping into
a camp and going to move mountains, working on a
(10:07):
craft every Saturday. Whether it's acting my strong suit or
whether it's Dan's vocal. Not really my strong suit anymore,
but still there, you know.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
And how about you?
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Justice?
Speaker 1 (10:20):
What was appealing to you about moving mountains and where
do you where do you feel like you fit in,
and what's what's it done for you so far?
Speaker 6 (10:28):
Well, so far, it's really helped me improve with dancing
and acting because I came to Moving mount to its
like not really good at acting because I was so young,
But it really built me up over the years and
I could really see my improvement more and more every
day throughout the different classes and courses that.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
We have done.
Speaker 5 (10:49):
I really focused more on it was more of acting
due to the fact I grew up my dad was
in the industry, so helping him that his lines in
his character and people tend to say I could be
a bit dramatic, but I feel like I just like
(11:09):
really enjoy it, and like you.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Think you have more potential than your dad.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
I see it.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Yeah, I saw that coming. It was so obvious. How
about you to take a cheap take a cheap shot
of Jamie while he's on the ground.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
I see myself taking this a little bit further because
growing up, well, I'll watched all the Bruce Lee series
with my father growing up, and uh, that's just really I'm.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Seeing im seeing Bruce ly do all these moves.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
I'm like, yo, he's he's really doing this, and he
and you know, I've seen it on like you two after,
he really knows how to do this. I was like,
I could do this too. My dad was in Moving
Mountains and he actually got me in to the program.
And so now now I just do it, and I
honestly really enjoy the aspect of just doing a little
bit of every thing.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Did Moving Mountains open your eyes to what's possible in
the world? I mean, did you come and just say, oh,
my gosh, I never knew any of this existed. How
are you struck by Moving Mountains once you've been there
for a while.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
Most definitely. I wasn't acting before Moveing Mouains. I started
off with Camp Talent, a summer camp under Moving Mountains.
From there, I'm learning about the arts, the singing, the dancing.
I'm focusing on acting. I'm learning how to get better
at it.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
I'm learning how to.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
Take it further. I'm learning, I'm learning range. I'm learning
how to adapt in any aspect I can. Now I
can just you can just throw me in any scene
and I'll know what to sewer, know what to say,
or just know what to do right not. I don't
think my young self thought I would be nineteen TV
or outside and random people will ask me for pictures
(12:51):
or autographs. I just my mind didn't take it that far.
But moving mountains really helped me see that that's possible.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Yeah, about anybody else in on that.
Speaker 6 (13:02):
Moving out since really showed be growth because like growing up,
I would see like kids that I I was younger,
accomplished so much in their schools and stuff with performing arts,
and it shows that you could really, like work hard
to get somewhere.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
It's not just your talent.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
I was gonna say that if you really want it,
you can do it, because when you come here to
make sure that they would help you take that two
times two times more steps that you would want to
actually look forward, and it would make sure they connect
you with the right people. They would make sure that
you work on the right lines, or you're doing you're
(13:40):
taking the right steps on stage, or look in the
right direction or whatever whatever you need to do to
make sure that you are excelling as an actor.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
I know, Danim you're already in the industry and you
see that as your career going forward.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Most definitely how about the rest of you do you?
Speaker 1 (13:58):
I mean you're at different stages now, different ages, but
how do you see a career in the performing arts?
Speaker 6 (14:05):
Well, I feel like if I work harder with my
auditions and like put a lot of effort, I could
probably get really high in the industry because I like musical,
theater and film, and I don't have as much experience
with film I did. Like I've been on a film
like maybe once or twice, but I feel like I
(14:28):
can go further with that and get.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Used to it.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Like I do agree, you've all been in a lot
of theater productions together as a collective, but I feel
like we can all take that step forward and start
to work harder so we can get the spots on TV.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
You know, Michael.
Speaker 7 (14:46):
One thing that we do at move A Mountains, which
is somewhat of a secret sauce as well, for the
first elementary school years before you enter into high school,
we primarily primarily focused on real person We don't want
to take because kids automatically coming with their imagination and
(15:06):
they explore in that space. So we allow them to
participate in different exercises which focus on really listening and
really responding so they don't lose that. They focus on improvisation, paraphrasing,
really listening, really responding, and just the ability to be
their natural self on stage in front of an audience,
(15:29):
conversing with people and other actors. And then when they
transition into high school now they start to tackle that
other area of character which they're exploring also how to
tap deeper into your emotions, how to allow yourself to
feel and allow others to feel as well.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
So this is the place that they're flirting with right now.
Speaker 7 (15:49):
Right they're getting into this space where they're exploring like
how to fully develop a character with technique.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
For all four of you. Based on what Jamie just said,
I could see the performing arts side giving you more
confidence in your life outside of when you're on the stage.
Do you think it helps make you a better leader? Also,
how do you think about your leadership skills after going
through the Moving Mountains program?
Speaker 3 (16:22):
I feel like my leadership skills have gotten way better
because a lot of people have actually come up to me,
or rather the younger kids that are moving on as
they've come up to me and look to me for
advice on how they could get better, how they could
go over their lines and or what they should be
doing on stage to be better?
Speaker 1 (16:41):
What about you doing.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
Them leadership wise? Honestly, I don't think I've ever really
lacked in that. Moving moutains most definitely helped me take
it a step further though. I think I'm able to
go into a room and have a conversation with any
person right. I can understand how to talk to someone,
and I understand that people younger than me and moving
(17:02):
lids are looking up to me and my fellow players
such as not Seer, Chloe and Juju coming up now
because they're a little younger.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
How about Justice and Chloe? How about you?
Speaker 2 (17:13):
How about you too?
Speaker 5 (17:14):
I feel it helps a person when it comes to
relationship because you have to already put yourself out there
while you're on stage, and especially like when you're on
staging in front of everybody, it gives you, who's like
what you said, confidence because you're already up in front
of everybody, and so being in front of other people,
(17:36):
not only are you do have confidence, but people feel
comfortable going to you for something or any.
Speaker 6 (17:42):
Yeah, like what Chloe said, Because being on a stage
and performing, once you get used to it, you're pretty
much not scared. So since I'm already used to being
on the stage, I don't think I really care about
anybody else's opinion that I'm confident in what I'm about
to do.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Those are skills says we're going to help you, not
just in the performing arts. They're going to help you
in every.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Aspect of life.
Speaker 7 (18:04):
From my perspective, their schools highlight them in leadership positions.
The high school that Dn't went to, the high school
that Chloe went to, Juju as.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Well and not see it.
Speaker 7 (18:14):
They highlight their leadership ability, whether it's through certificate or
given them responsibilities that they probably didn't expect.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Jamie, I think you have this on your website a lot.
I've seen it in a lot of different places that
you know, studying the arts and being involved in the arts.
It improves not only the arts side of it, but
skills and math and reading and promotes creativity and social
adjustment and self worth. And we've been talking about a
lot of that here already with confidence. But what are
(18:45):
your thoughts around that, Jamie.
Speaker 7 (18:47):
A truly believe in multi sensory learning and just the
ability to utilize all of your senses to improve on
what you're doing, and being able to tap into the imagination,
being able to create a love of reading based on
material that you have. I was never a passionate reader
(19:08):
when I was a child, but when I fast forward,
I was watching my sister read. But then when I
got to Strasburg, I found a love for Young and
Freud and books on mapping the mind, and I wanted
to read it. I pushed myself to read it because
I enjoyed it, and also because it was going to
strengthen me in my craft.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
And because of that, I realized that this.
Speaker 7 (19:32):
Art form, disability to dance, this ability to be creative,
disability to play the piano, and associate that with mathematics,
it just creates a stronger academic approach.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
You guys have talked about all the things that you've
gained at Moving Mountains, and Jamie certainly talks about it,
you know, in such glowing terms all the time. What
do you think the one magic aspect of the Moving
Ountains program that has struck you the most.
Speaker 6 (20:04):
I would say the sense of community we have because
everybody could come together if anybody has a problem. How
the younger kids look up to the older kids. We
can always ask them the older who's done other stuff?
So like sets of community, it's kind of like family and.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
Denim and the saya. What do you guys think that
a little bit of magic?
Speaker 2 (20:25):
I agree.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Usually when we get to when we just get together
and do shows like the very last show that we did.
You no see a show before that, Well, we had
everybody get together. It was the younger kids and the
older kids, and it just felt it felt great to
just have everyone there. Everybody was involved. It was called
(20:47):
we did Sister Act. It look it was just so lively.
I felt the energy that a lot of people was
crying after a lot of people was giving hugs.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
It was it was that it was I felt, I
felt the feeling of family there.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
To add on to what nas so, I don't to
what serious said in justice, I feel like the level
of comfortability we all have as a team, not even
a program, as a as one, it's just it's unmatched,
unlike any other I don't believe that we can get
(21:21):
up there and we can get up on stage and
do what we do best, acting, singing and dancing if
we're not all comfortable with each other, if we're not
all looking out for one another if we're not helping
each other become better. And I'm pretty sure Jamie spoken
on an earlier it's called listening and responding. When you
(21:42):
listen and respond to each other, at first, it kind
of seems like it's pointless until you really fall into
the exercise and really understand the exercise and you're really
understanding that iron sharpens iron. I can just talk to
you and I'm not listening. That doesn't really make sense
because whatever we're talking about. So I feel like, as one,
we're just growing together and that's the best part of
(22:03):
the past.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
The magic.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Yeah, that's great if I were to sum up with
all four of you, because it was very similar. Is
that the magic's in the community and you being able
to support each other while you're being creative in the arts.
I think probably the best best thing and moving mountains
is in New York almost exclusively. Now, Jamie, do you
do you ever see a day when it can can
(22:27):
be expanded into other parts of the country and other cities.
Speaker 7 (22:30):
We're talking to you right now, Michael, Yeah, Boston, plant
the flag in Watson as well.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
There you go.
Speaker 7 (22:38):
Something specially we have well with thirty six to thirty
eight SAG members, professional SAG screen actors go, professional actors
working on film television, and you turn it on, you'll
see them.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
I was on CBS, I was on our resumes getting there.
Speaker 8 (22:54):
Yeah, yeah, So I was eager to push Jamie right
out of the limelight, keep going. That's what we hope
for them to stand on our shoulders, right and so
because we understand, we spot the talent.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
We see what they're capable of.
Speaker 7 (23:12):
We also can line them up with the right talent,
agents and managers so that they can pursue this career.
That's what other organizations probably don't have and don't do,
along with community, along with relationship, along with authenticity, because
we also realize that an organization is as strong as
(23:34):
it's alumni and its board, which is what we have.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
We have a strong staff, which.
Speaker 7 (23:43):
Was part of moving Mountains, as well as a strong
board and a strong junior board. All of these things
that work together that actually continue that a lot of
organizations to grow.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
You also have a strong group of participants, as I
can see from the conversation we had here today. I
can't thank you all enough. Does anybody have any last
comments or observations they want to make before we sign.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Off, Mike, I felt like this was It was really
nice meeting you, but I thank you for giving us
as a collective movie on this opportunity.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
Oh well, thank you.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Well, that's all for this week. I'm Mike Christian inviting
you to join us again next week on What's at Risk.
Also check out our podcast at Wbznewsradio dot iHeart dot
com what's on your mind? Send us your thoughts, comments
(24:57):
and questions to What's at Risk at gmail dot com.
That's one word, What's at Risk at gmail dot com.
Speaker 6 (25:07):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
A big thank you to our producer, Ken Carberry of Chart.
Speaker 9 (25:16):
Productions as in including Difficult Lament
Welcome back to What's at Risk. I'm Mike Christian. Jamie
Hector is far more than a noted actor and director.
His keen focus on family, community, and youth is foundational
to both his career and the work he does with
(00:24):
the young people of New York. Throughout his life, he
strived to be a mentor to underserved youth and give
back to his community in a variety of meaningful ways.
In two thousand and seven, Jamie founded Moving Mountains in
his hometown of Brooklyn. Its mission is to develop skills, talents,
and abilities in youth while building character. Jamie and his
(00:46):
team at Moving Mountains believe that the arts are an
effective medium to educate and empower young people to make
wise choices and overcome adversity. Research has shown that youth
who study the arts and music are four times more
likely to be recognized for academic achievement. Brain research also
shows that music not only improves skills in math and reading,
(01:10):
but it promotes creativity, social adjustment, and self worth. We
are honored to have a full slate of guests here
on the show tonight, all from Moving Mountains in Brooklyn.
We have Nasirra, Augustine Justice, Galara, Chloe Hector, Denim Robison,
(01:31):
and last but not least, Jamie Hector. How y'all doing.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Yourself.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
I'm doing great, and so it's so great to have
you guys on the show today. We want to talk
about Moving Mountains, but not both from Jamie's perspective who's
the founder of Moving Mountains, but also from all your
guys perspective, because you're the ones that have experienced the
program over the years and you have got your own
perspectives on it. If we could go through each of
(01:57):
you and you can tell us our listeners a little
bit about yourself. So maybe we'll start with you in
a Sarah.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
My name is not Sarah Gustin. I am seventeen years old.
I'm currently well. I will be attending high school as
a senior this coming school year.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
And I am a boxer.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
You're a boxer. Yes, Oh that's awesome. And how about you, dNaM.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
My name is Dennam Roberson. I am nineteen as of.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Today, Happy birthday.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
I'm an alumni and a professional SAG actor from Moving On.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Congratulations, thanks right, And how about you Chloe.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
My name is Chloe.
Speaker 5 (02:37):
I am the actress and I play the sports, and
I'm fifteen years old and I'm going into high school
as a sophomore.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Great and Justice, how about you?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
My name is Justice, I'm fourteen years old.
Speaker 6 (02:55):
I'm going to high school as a sophomore currently, and
I play football and I'll like to flight football.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Right.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
And then we have Jamie Hector. Jamie, how are you
doing today? You're the founder of Moving Mountains and you've
also done a couple other things.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
In your life.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Maybe it can just give our listeners a little bit
about your background.
Speaker 7 (03:15):
Oh, okay, how you doing with Michael? What's going on
our listeners? So my name is Jamie Hector. I'm an
actor as well and founder of Move, a Mountain state
of organization where we develop skills, talents and abilities through
the arts while building character and also been fortunate to
(03:35):
you know, be are part of a lot of different productions.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
One that your audience might be aware of.
Speaker 7 (03:41):
It's called Hawhire twenty years ago HBO and as of
recent it's been Bosh on Amazon Prime. So just having
fun in the industry and having fun sharing the gifts
also that we have with the younger generation.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
And Jamie, maybe just a couple of minutes on your
sort of journey in life and how you got to
be such a well known actor and get those opportunities.
Speaker 7 (04:07):
Sure, sure, absolutely started with a theater company at part
of a data company at sixteen or tomorrow's future data company,
cutting my teeth on stage.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Transitioned from there.
Speaker 7 (04:19):
And started studying at the least Rosburg Data Institute for
four years, so we had a chance to work on
different characters, develop different characters, and then started working on set.
But my first love has always been theater because, like
Patino said, you get a chance to actually walk a
thin line, but on a tight rope, and if you
(04:42):
fall off, you can't afford to make any mistakes. So
I appreciated that, which also shoped me for screen and television.
Then I journeyed on into working on different shows really
small parts.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
But you know what I'm saying, right, there's no such
thing as.
Speaker 7 (04:58):
A small part, just small actors. So I took those
small parts seriously, which allowed me to grow in the industry,
which allowed me to grow in the world and really
love and just become even more passionate as to what
I do. Audition for roles, book rolls, and then it
became more consistent. So that's what it's been for me,
(05:20):
and also surrounded myself with young talent, like the young
fresh talent that you see on the screen and that
you're going to hear from pretty soon. That also keeps
me sharp because you see, based on their skill set
and what they're capable of, you learn from them as
well as much as they learn from you.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
What do you guys think about being able to work
with Jamie Hector. He's a pretty well known guy. You
can say whatever you think, now this is your opportunity.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
It's amazing, you know, even though I met him centuries ago,
I feel through a great bond over time really helped
me ongo my career and start my career fresh as
an actor and now I am what i'm today because
of him and move the mountains.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Of course, sometimes it just surprises me because, oh, you
see some people walk up to him, they might ask
him for an autograph, and I forget, Oh, he's an actor,
But this is also my business partner, this is my
this is somebody who's helped me become even better in
my acting and performance ground.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Oly, how about you?
Speaker 5 (06:20):
It's it's a good feeling because we need help when
it comes to working on a roll.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
And trying to get a role.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
You really have a professional that you can call up
or talk to right there to help you.
Speaker 6 (06:35):
Yes, and it's very helpful when it comes to like
auditions and stuff. We're not like confuse stuff because he
knows the business.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Yeah, that's that's a really unique opportunity that you guys
have to be able to work so closely with somebody
like Jamie. Jamie, what inspired you to start Moving Mountains?
And maybe just talk a little bit about Moving Mountains itself?
And I'll ask all the rest of you guys, but
you're our two.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Well, it was a couple of things that inspired me. Mike.
Speaker 7 (07:02):
One, I was on my way back from Baltimore and
I used to work with young artists even before Moving
Mountains started, right, and a young artist at the time.
He's as an adult now very successful at what he does.
His name was Dominic and he saw me and he
was like, oh, so this is what you do. You
(07:24):
become successful and you leave so and he was really
being sincere about it. It was like, is that the
formula you achieved become successful? Exit stage left, you don't
look back. And right there that sparked something to me
where it was just like, nah, that's not the formula.
A lot of people do that, but it hasn't worked
(07:44):
for the community at large. So because I knew him
beforehand before, because I knew so many young artists before that,
I reached out to Ali Roberson, my business partner also
co founder of Moving Mountains, and I said, listen, let's
navigate all the resources that we have and start an
(08:05):
organization where we can open the doors free and charge
for young artists to come and create and develop that
and the talent that they have, develop their skills, you know,
apply what they already have, and then discover things that
they don't have inside of them. So then Moveing Mountains
(08:25):
was born seventeen years ago. Based on those principles, we
create a space that artists can just come enjoy have fun.
One of the NUCLEARSS movements also is to have fun
and enjoy yourself while in the process you're learning, you're growing,
you're evolving, you're developing your skills, your talents and abilities
(08:48):
in that space.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
So we've been really good at doing that.
Speaker 7 (08:53):
And another thing that we're really good at doing is
really highlighting specific talents in each individual. It's like if
some he's stronger in one area, we like the flame
under that area, while we also manage the other areas.
For example, Denham is multi talented. You'll speak to him, right,
I mean, the kid is really nice and bold. He's
(09:14):
extremely talented on stage, and he'll also speak to all
of the shows that he's already worked on on network TV.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
But we saw where he was strong.
Speaker 7 (09:28):
He's charismatic, so we pushed him in that space and
allowed him to highlight that space.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Right.
Speaker 7 (09:33):
We just created a space where people can come have fun,
enjoy themselves and develop what they have and tapping the
things that they don't have.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
And Denham, what do you think about that? What do
you think about what Jamie just said?
Speaker 4 (09:45):
I think he just explained my life story to a
t Honestly, Moving mountains it helped me, It really did.
From waking up and probably just playing basketballs on Saturdays
or in the summer, just go into the park and
not really doing too much too one day, jumping into
a camp and going to move mountains, working on a
(10:07):
craft every Saturday. Whether it's acting my strong suit or
whether it's Dan's vocal. Not really my strong suit anymore,
but still there, you know.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
And how about you?
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Justice?
Speaker 1 (10:20):
What was appealing to you about moving mountains and where
do you where do you feel like you fit in,
and what's what's it done for you so far?
Speaker 6 (10:28):
Well, so far, it's really helped me improve with dancing
and acting because I came to Moving mount to its
like not really good at acting because I was so young,
But it really built me up over the years and
I could really see my improvement more and more every
day throughout the different classes and courses that.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
We have done.
Speaker 5 (10:49):
I really focused more on it was more of acting
due to the fact I grew up my dad was
in the industry, so helping him that his lines in
his character and people tend to say I could be
a bit dramatic, but I feel like I just like
(11:09):
really enjoy it, and like you.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Think you have more potential than your dad.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
I see it.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Yeah, I saw that coming. It was so obvious. How
about you to take a cheap take a cheap shot
of Jamie while he's on the ground.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
I see myself taking this a little bit further because
growing up, well, I'll watched all the Bruce Lee series
with my father growing up, and uh, that's just really I'm.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Seeing im seeing Bruce ly do all these moves.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
I'm like, yo, he's he's really doing this, and he
and you know, I've seen it on like you two after,
he really knows how to do this. I was like,
I could do this too. My dad was in Moving
Mountains and he actually got me in to the program.
And so now now I just do it, and I
honestly really enjoy the aspect of just doing a little
bit of every thing.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Did Moving Mountains open your eyes to what's possible in
the world? I mean, did you come and just say, oh,
my gosh, I never knew any of this existed. How
are you struck by Moving Mountains once you've been there
for a while.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
Most definitely. I wasn't acting before Moveing Mouains. I started
off with Camp Talent, a summer camp under Moving Mountains.
From there, I'm learning about the arts, the singing, the dancing.
I'm focusing on acting. I'm learning how to get better
at it.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
I'm learning how to.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
Take it further. I'm learning, I'm learning range. I'm learning
how to adapt in any aspect I can. Now I
can just you can just throw me in any scene
and I'll know what to sewer, know what to say,
or just know what to do right not. I don't
think my young self thought I would be nineteen TV
or outside and random people will ask me for pictures
(12:51):
or autographs. I just my mind didn't take it that far.
But moving mountains really helped me see that that's possible.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Yeah, about anybody else in on that.
Speaker 6 (13:02):
Moving out since really showed be growth because like growing up,
I would see like kids that I I was younger,
accomplished so much in their schools and stuff with performing arts,
and it shows that you could really, like work hard
to get somewhere.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
It's not just your talent.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
I was gonna say that if you really want it,
you can do it, because when you come here to
make sure that they would help you take that two
times two times more steps that you would want to
actually look forward, and it would make sure they connect
you with the right people. They would make sure that
you work on the right lines, or you're doing you're
(13:40):
taking the right steps on stage, or look in the
right direction or whatever whatever you need to do to
make sure that you are excelling as an actor.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
I know, Danim you're already in the industry and you
see that as your career going forward.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Most definitely how about the rest of you do you?
Speaker 1 (13:58):
I mean you're at different stages now, different ages, but
how do you see a career in the performing arts?
Speaker 6 (14:05):
Well, I feel like if I work harder with my
auditions and like put a lot of effort, I could
probably get really high in the industry because I like musical,
theater and film, and I don't have as much experience
with film I did. Like I've been on a film
like maybe once or twice, but I feel like I
(14:28):
can go further with that and get.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Used to it.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Like I do agree, you've all been in a lot
of theater productions together as a collective, but I feel
like we can all take that step forward and start
to work harder so we can get the spots on TV.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
You know, Michael.
Speaker 7 (14:46):
One thing that we do at move A Mountains, which
is somewhat of a secret sauce as well, for the
first elementary school years before you enter into high school,
we primarily primarily focused on real person We don't want
to take because kids automatically coming with their imagination and
(15:06):
they explore in that space. So we allow them to
participate in different exercises which focus on really listening and
really responding so they don't lose that. They focus on improvisation, paraphrasing,
really listening, really responding, and just the ability to be
their natural self on stage in front of an audience,
(15:29):
conversing with people and other actors. And then when they
transition into high school now they start to tackle that
other area of character which they're exploring also how to
tap deeper into your emotions, how to allow yourself to
feel and allow others to feel as well.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
So this is the place that they're flirting with right now.
Speaker 7 (15:49):
Right they're getting into this space where they're exploring like
how to fully develop a character with technique.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
For all four of you. Based on what Jamie just said,
I could see the performing arts side giving you more
confidence in your life outside of when you're on the stage.
Do you think it helps make you a better leader? Also,
how do you think about your leadership skills after going
through the Moving Mountains program?
Speaker 3 (16:22):
I feel like my leadership skills have gotten way better
because a lot of people have actually come up to me,
or rather the younger kids that are moving on as
they've come up to me and look to me for
advice on how they could get better, how they could
go over their lines and or what they should be
doing on stage to be better?
Speaker 1 (16:41):
What about you doing.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
Them leadership wise? Honestly, I don't think I've ever really
lacked in that. Moving moutains most definitely helped me take
it a step further though. I think I'm able to
go into a room and have a conversation with any
person right. I can understand how to talk to someone,
and I understand that people younger than me and moving
(17:02):
lids are looking up to me and my fellow players
such as not Seer, Chloe and Juju coming up now
because they're a little younger.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
How about Justice and Chloe? How about you?
Speaker 2 (17:13):
How about you too?
Speaker 5 (17:14):
I feel it helps a person when it comes to
relationship because you have to already put yourself out there
while you're on stage, and especially like when you're on
staging in front of everybody, it gives you, who's like
what you said, confidence because you're already up in front
of everybody, and so being in front of other people,
(17:36):
not only are you do have confidence, but people feel
comfortable going to you for something or any.
Speaker 6 (17:42):
Yeah, like what Chloe said, Because being on a stage
and performing, once you get used to it, you're pretty
much not scared. So since I'm already used to being
on the stage, I don't think I really care about
anybody else's opinion that I'm confident in what I'm about
to do.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Those are skills says we're going to help you, not
just in the performing arts. They're going to help you
in every.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Aspect of life.
Speaker 7 (18:04):
From my perspective, their schools highlight them in leadership positions.
The high school that Dn't went to, the high school
that Chloe went to, Juju as.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Well and not see it.
Speaker 7 (18:14):
They highlight their leadership ability, whether it's through certificate or
given them responsibilities that they probably didn't expect.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Jamie, I think you have this on your website a lot.
I've seen it in a lot of different places that
you know, studying the arts and being involved in the arts.
It improves not only the arts side of it, but
skills and math and reading and promotes creativity and social
adjustment and self worth. And we've been talking about a
lot of that here already with confidence. But what are
(18:45):
your thoughts around that, Jamie.
Speaker 7 (18:47):
A truly believe in multi sensory learning and just the
ability to utilize all of your senses to improve on
what you're doing, and being able to tap into the imagination,
being able to create a love of reading based on
material that you have. I was never a passionate reader
(19:08):
when I was a child, but when I fast forward,
I was watching my sister read. But then when I
got to Strasburg, I found a love for Young and
Freud and books on mapping the mind, and I wanted
to read it. I pushed myself to read it because
I enjoyed it, and also because it was going to
strengthen me in my craft.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
And because of that, I realized that this.
Speaker 7 (19:32):
Art form, disability to dance, this ability to be creative,
disability to play the piano, and associate that with mathematics,
it just creates a stronger academic approach.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
You guys have talked about all the things that you've
gained at Moving Mountains, and Jamie certainly talks about it,
you know, in such glowing terms all the time. What
do you think the one magic aspect of the Moving
Ountains program that has struck you the most.
Speaker 6 (20:04):
I would say the sense of community we have because
everybody could come together if anybody has a problem. How
the younger kids look up to the older kids. We
can always ask them the older who's done other stuff?
So like sets of community, it's kind of like family and.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
Denim and the saya. What do you guys think that
a little bit of magic?
Speaker 2 (20:25):
I agree.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Usually when we get to when we just get together
and do shows like the very last show that we did.
You no see a show before that, Well, we had
everybody get together. It was the younger kids and the
older kids, and it just felt it felt great to
just have everyone there. Everybody was involved. It was called
(20:47):
we did Sister Act. It look it was just so lively.
I felt the energy that a lot of people was
crying after a lot of people was giving hugs.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
It was it was that it was I felt, I
felt the feeling of family there.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
To add on to what nas so, I don't to
what serious said in justice, I feel like the level
of comfortability we all have as a team, not even
a program, as a as one, it's just it's unmatched,
unlike any other I don't believe that we can get
(21:21):
up there and we can get up on stage and
do what we do best, acting, singing and dancing if
we're not all comfortable with each other, if we're not
all looking out for one another if we're not helping
each other become better. And I'm pretty sure Jamie spoken
on an earlier it's called listening and responding. When you
(21:42):
listen and respond to each other, at first, it kind
of seems like it's pointless until you really fall into
the exercise and really understand the exercise and you're really
understanding that iron sharpens iron. I can just talk to
you and I'm not listening. That doesn't really make sense
because whatever we're talking about. So I feel like, as one,
we're just growing together and that's the best part of
(22:03):
the past.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
The magic.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Yeah, that's great if I were to sum up with
all four of you, because it was very similar. Is
that the magic's in the community and you being able
to support each other while you're being creative in the arts.
I think probably the best best thing and moving mountains
is in New York almost exclusively. Now, Jamie, do you
do you ever see a day when it can can
(22:27):
be expanded into other parts of the country and other cities.
Speaker 7 (22:30):
We're talking to you right now, Michael, Yeah, Boston, plant
the flag in Watson as well.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
There you go.
Speaker 7 (22:38):
Something specially we have well with thirty six to thirty
eight SAG members, professional SAG screen actors go, professional actors
working on film television, and you turn it on, you'll
see them.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
I was on CBS, I was on our resumes getting there.
Speaker 8 (22:54):
Yeah, yeah, So I was eager to push Jamie right
out of the limelight, keep going. That's what we hope
for them to stand on our shoulders, right and so
because we understand, we spot the talent.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
We see what they're capable of.
Speaker 7 (23:12):
We also can line them up with the right talent,
agents and managers so that they can pursue this career.
That's what other organizations probably don't have and don't do,
along with community, along with relationship, along with authenticity, because
we also realize that an organization is as strong as
(23:34):
it's alumni and its board, which is what we have.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
We have a strong staff, which.
Speaker 7 (23:43):
Was part of moving Mountains, as well as a strong
board and a strong junior board. All of these things
that work together that actually continue that a lot of
organizations to grow.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
You also have a strong group of participants, as I
can see from the conversation we had here today. I
can't thank you all enough. Does anybody have any last
comments or observations they want to make before we sign.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Off, Mike, I felt like this was It was really
nice meeting you, but I thank you for giving us
as a collective movie on this opportunity.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
Oh well, thank you.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Well, that's all for this week. I'm Mike Christian inviting
you to join us again next week on What's at Risk.
Also check out our podcast at Wbznewsradio dot iHeart dot
com what's on your mind? Send us your thoughts, comments
(24:57):
and questions to What's at Risk at gmail dot com.
That's one word, What's at Risk at gmail dot com.
Speaker 6 (25:07):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
A big thank you to our producer, Ken Carberry of Chart.
Speaker 9 (25:16):
Productions as in including Difficult Lament
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