October 6, 2020 • 28 mins
My next guest Jahi Winston currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia. Jahi enjoys playing baseball, singing and working on building, his non-profit organization called "You Can Too," which encourages kids to pursue their dreams the arts and education. His career started on Broadway as Young Simba in Disney's Production The Lion King. He has shared the screen with Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, starred in Netflix series Everybody Sucks, played a young Ralph Tresvant in the New Edition Story, and is now starring in the Charm City Kings, with Meek Mill, which will be streaming on HBOMAX. Please welcome to Money Making Conversations, Jahi Winston.
https://www.moneymakingconversations.com
https://www.youtube.com/MoneyMakingConversations
https://www.facebook.com/MoneyMakingConversations/
https://twitter.com/moneymakingconv
https://www.instagram.com/moneymakingconversations/
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
https://www.moneymakingconversations.com
https://www.youtube.com/MoneyMakingConversations
https://www.facebook.com/MoneyMakingConversations/
https://twitter.com/moneymakingconv
https://www.instagram.com/moneymakingconversations/
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to Money Making Conversation. I am your host with
Sean McDonald. I recognized that we all have different definitions
of success. For some, it's a sizeable paycheck. Mine is
helping people wake up and inspiring them to accomplish their
goals and live their very best life. These are my passions,
and that's what I'm going to do for you. I
want you to stop tripping over small challenges and prepare
(00:23):
to rise above the bigger obstacles that life will present
to you. My next guest is a young man who's
rising above those bigger obstacles and living his dream And
his dreams are big and he's accomplished a lot of
big things. My next guest is joh Hee Winston. He
currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia. John he enjoyed playing baseball, singing,
and working on building his nonprofit organization called You Can Too,
(00:46):
which encourages kids to pursue their dreams and the arts
and education. His career started on on Broadway, New York Broadway,
The Broadway Broadway as Young Simba, and Disney production The
Line King. He has shared the screen with Kevin Hart
Roger P. Hinson, starting the Netflix series Everybody Sucks played
a young Ralph Trust band in a new edition story
(01:06):
and it's now starting in Charm City Kings with Meek Mill,
which will be streaming on HBO Max. I have seen
the movie. It's fantastic. Please welcome to Money Making Conversations.
Johhy Winston. Hello, Hello, thank you for having me. Well,
thank you, Johnny. Can I ask you how old you
are right now? Fifteen years old and you have a
(01:29):
foundation a nonprofit organization called You Can't to Hollow? Is
that nonprofit? Um, it's sixteen years old. We started it
I think maybe eighteen right around closer? Yeah, yeah, Okay,
tell us what it is because this is really interesting
(01:50):
that you know, you're fifteen. Most people are concerned about
I'm not saying that their selfish, but concerned about their
own personal games. And here you are trying to get
back and help on individuals. Because we all know that
arts and education is a tough field to get into
and to pursue most of success. So you decided to
start something. Tell us about what exactly it is and
(02:12):
how can students participate? Well, You Can't Do is a
nonprofit organization and basically we um mostly operating marginalized communities,
whether it be the in the cities of Atlanta, the sea,
or anywhere UM in the country. UM and the organization
(02:33):
that allows and helps young kids in those modernized communities
specifically to achieve their dreams and go after whatever they want.
Because often times the environments where the resources are in
the last UM here than maybe the middle class suburbs
of Georgia or anywhere else. You don't have the resources,
(02:54):
then you don't have the the visibility to actually see
and be able to accomplish your your goals. And so
UM we have tools and we go into schools and talk.
Obviously I can't do that now because of the pandemic,
but uh, that's primarily the work that we do in
marginal Do you do anything now because of the pandemic
(03:16):
or you know via zoom or via any virtual platforms. Well,
we're trying to brainstorm and try to come up ways
and innovative ways that we can still be productive during
this time. That's sort of been what we've been doing
during quarantine, is just trying to brainstorm and come up
with different ways that we can expand and still be
(03:37):
productive during the pandemic. You know, I have I have
the honor of and this is just listening to you
talk and watching your career, and I have a something
that honor black men. It's called the Cafe Moka Swag
Award CASTO because it's a female centric syndicate show for
women of color, like One Point Forward me and women
(03:59):
listen to the show weekly on syndications. The weekend show
and the Cafe Mocha Swagger was a celebration of black
men who are making a difference in our community by
empowering others to reach their life goals, from civic leaders, businessmen, activists,
celebrities and everyday dads. I'm gonna tell you something, joh
he I've never given that award to a teenager until now.
(04:23):
Oh um, you know, because because see, you know, and
I'm not trying to saying the thing that just you know,
you know, when I do research for I do an interview,
and so I get a pretty good grasp of what
a person I'm talking to. That's why some of the
interviews they sent come to the question they sent to me.
I go all page and people go nobody has ever
(04:45):
asked that question. Because I'm actually I kind of gotta
sense I'm a former entertainer. I managed some of the
biggest stars in this country and currently managed one of
the biggest stars in this country. And I produced a
lot of TV shows. And when I when I hear
a young man who's fifteen years old, who, like I said,
who's making a difference in our community by empowering others
(05:05):
to reach their life goals, that's you. Uh So, why
is that important to you to help people? And they're okay,
young people to reach their life goals? Oh man. I
think just everything that I do from a place of
(05:26):
wanting to to help first and foremost my people, um,
black people, not only my people, but primarily my people,
because um, you know, just the way that our societal
structure is in the hierarchical nature of it. Oftentimes, if
you are black and you are marginalized, you are born
(05:47):
with more strikes on you than um our Caucasian brothers
and sisters. So I think knowing that and being aware
of that, it makes you responsible because once you're at
catering on and once you're aware of it, you now
have a responsibility. You have the tools and you have
the resources, and so now it's your responsibility to do
(06:08):
something about that. And to make sure that UM. Just
because someone is UM maybe less fortunate when it comes
to privilege and power, it doesn't mean that they can't
have the same access to UM, their dreams and their
goals as anyone else who does have that privilege. Is
born with that privilege and that power. And so that's
(06:31):
where all of my works comes from, whether it be
the roles that I take, whether it be the work
that I do off screen and the stories that I
write and create and curate. I always want to come
from a place of Okay, how is my community going
to feel about this? And how can I service my community?
But by doing this, I want to I wanna go
to the movie that's currently out that's be out HBO
(06:54):
Max and October October eight, that be in fact called
Chom City Kings, and I want to at that wrapped
this conversation up with you be in great detail. I
want to go back to the young Simber days and
all these other opportunities you have. But I watched tomp sayons,
I couldn't take my eyes off young man. You have
the ability to wait for the moment. You have an
(07:17):
uncanny skill where you're dynamic enough to understand that sometimes
you don't have to say something to be effective. M
that's a I'm telling you when I right now, I'm
visually going through different scenes. One of my favorite scenes was, Uh,
(07:39):
I've seen the movie twice. Usually when I'm engaged in something,
I gotta gonna see this again, you know, because you
know when you see something. I'm saying Johnny, when you
see something two or three times, actually you really enjoy
it more because you start really because you are you
already know it's coming up, so you kind of see
it a little bit different. Oh, I didn't see that.
And one of my favorite scenes when Black shows up
at the summer run and then you just staring at him, man,
(08:02):
and that that's the moment I'm talking to you. Didn't
have to say anything, but you knew your acting ability
showed me how important he was in your life. Tell
me about that skill set, Tell me about that a bill.
Thank you. UM. I think that's just um, I don't know,
(08:25):
thank you. UM. I think that's just I skill something
that I picked up. I am. I gotta really great
compliment from a producer. Um, when I was working on
film that I did a few years ago. Uh, and
he said that the reason that I got the job
was basically what she said my ability. It wasn't what
(08:46):
I said is what I didn't say that really um
allowed me to get that job. And so I think
just focusing on that and naturally, when you're in the
moment as an actor, you know, if you're doing your right.
I think every shore that stack of ability to still
load and still be in the moment even when they're
not anything. So it really is, you know. And I'm
(09:09):
not telling I'm not telling you going all. This is
not saying anything, not y'all here. I'm just not telling. Okay,
now you gotta speak, Now you gotta speak. But you
have the ability to trust yourself. And I want to
go back because I saw Lion King. First time I
saw Lyon King was in Los Angeles, Okay, And then
I saw it in Las Vegas and Lord had mercy.
I went and saw it in New York City. That
(09:31):
New York City show is the real deal, you know
it is. That's where first team first team, the first
team first team. You know, you better have your act
together in New York City at the Lion King New
York City. Tell us about how that opportunity happened. To
(09:51):
you happened for you to be young Simba. In New
York City, everybody live out this at the stage because
everybody think all Lion Kings are like, no, they're they're good,
They're good, right, Yeah, all of the productions are great.
All I can say that all the productions I think
are great. UM, but you're right, and you I mean,
(10:14):
it's the flash your production, So it definitely it's different. UM.
But I will say the modified version, the modified story
of how I became a part of the Lion King. UM.
A friend of my brothers UM sent over the audition
for an open casting call for young symbers and young
knowledge to be in the Broadway production and the National
(10:36):
tool production of The Lion King. UM to that audition
and that that first audition there was about UM five
hundred kids there. And for those who aren't familiar with
the UM an open casting call, it's basically it's not
just for professional actors for everyone. It's for everybody. You know,
they call Pooking and them everybody to come down an
(10:58):
audition for it. So I went to that audition, I
ended up getting a callback. I got another call back
after that audition, and then I went to New York
City to audition in front of the executives or the
the yes, the executives for the to the Lion King
on Broadway, and I ended up getting the role two
days later, and I moved to New York with my
(11:20):
mom and we lived in a shoebox apartment for about
fifteen months. And after that I got um the new
audition story, and everything just sort of started having to
that production. Now, let's let's let's get back to Chomp City.
Come on, I'm a bounce around because you you you,
(11:40):
You're just so talented that every story gonna take me
in a different direction, but it all leads back to
Chomp City Kings. How did that happen for you? My friend?
That movie opportunity? Okay, um, just like any other I was,
actually I was. There was a challenging year. I went
in a movie that didn't do as well as that
(12:00):
I was gonna do, and a TV show that got
canceled out the one season. And in the midst of
trying to figure out where I want, what I wanted
to do next, and just trying to figure out what
was the next stage in my career, the my agent
sent over trying to the script for Trum City kings
Um and I put off reading it for a while
because I was like, no, this is I don't think
this is the right project, even though I hadn't read
(12:20):
the script, but I auditioned for it anyway. I put
myself on tape and Uh, I got a call back
and they I read again, and then eventually I went
to Los Angeles and I screen tested forward with Danielle
Hansley litt D and UH because I Curtis, who are
also in the movie that played they played Lamont and
(12:41):
Swear to God, I screen tested with them and I
am screen testing in front of on Health Mineral Soto,
our director, and UH. I think leaving that room, the
three of us knew that mostly knew obviously that until
we've gotten the job yet. But I think we could
steal the energy that that we that we had done
something specially, so maybe a week later. I think we
(13:03):
got maybe a week later, which is which is unusual
because sometimes it takes months. Yea a week later, you
know what I'm saying exactly for real, it was dhing.
But like I said, I think we knew from the
(13:24):
energy in the room, just the chemistry between the three
of us that we that we had done something specially
if we knew nothing else, we knew that we had
sort of killed the audition and that we had a
special chemistry and bond on screen. Um. And so a
week later they said that they wanted me, and we
worked out the deal, and I was still sort of uncertain,
but I was like, all right, I'm gonna trust my gun.
(13:45):
I'm sure of God, and I went fusting head and
it was it was really cool. And I think I'll
say this about Trump City Kings. It was my first
time being at the center of a story, I'll say, um.
And I definitely think that it sharpened my work ethic.
I worked very hard on an off screen you know.
(14:06):
I would do maybe nine and a half hour days,
and I worked every single day, every single day of
production I was there. Um, I think I had maybe
a day and a half off and I worked every
single day. And I would come home to the hotel
at night and still work on the script and work
on the accident work of a dialect. Like I really
worked hard on this. And so this is a labor
(14:29):
of love from all of us who are part of
the film, And yeah, we're just really excited and proud
of it for for sure. Now when I when I
hear you talk like this about it, I I do.
I do I see a young director? I would be
born here. Uh, sir Johnny, do I hear uh? Uh
(14:49):
you you right listen speak it? How would see it? Yeah?
For sure? For sure, absolutely because of the fact that
that uh when I when I you have first of all,
you have a passion for you have a God give.
God is giving you a brilliant talent that you're exercising
and maximizing with hard work and focus. That's how you
win long term. You don't win long term, you know, uh,
(15:13):
just doing it when you feel like it. You know,
you know you can't just because you can doctor basketball.
I mean you can shoot shoot a basketball. We've learned
that in life. And so Meek mills his role in
the movie um mentor let's talk about his role off
screen with you and because if it felt very genuine
(15:34):
on screen, yeah, um, Meek and I it was interesting
because Meek released his last on that he released Championships.
He was working on that while we were shooting the movie.
And uh, he has an incredible work out that he
was he was going back and forth. I mean, you
(15:56):
can't you one of the things you can't say about
me because that he doesn't work hard. He works extremely hard. Um,
and he was doing championships while he was going coming
back and forth doing shows, working on the album, and
doing the movie full time. So um, he has incredible
work ethic and also, uh, one of the things that
people don't know about him is that he's actually kind
(16:17):
of shy and reserved until himself. I would say, I
think people have a preconceived notion of the rappers in general,
just because of the field that they're in, Um, in
the braggadocious nature that is sort of required to do that. Um,
But he's been He's he's a really nice and simple guy,
really shy and um. He he came prepared, and you know,
(16:40):
we all sort of it was a team effort to
sort of make him feel comfortable because this is the
first time, his first time doing like a movie of
this magnitude and mine as well. So I think we
sort of help each other out in that sense. Um.
He would ask me questions and I would ask him questions.
And the cool thing about it is we were both
equal inquisitive when it came to how each of us worked,
(17:03):
and I was watch him from a distance and sort
of see how he worked and how he got into it.
And it wasn't It was really cool to get to
work with him and see him become more and more
emerging to the process at production went on. Now, when
you say the production, now, when we were talking about
its three friends, young teeners friends in this movie, and
(17:24):
and uh, it likens me to another one of my
favorite movies on a series on Showtime, The Shot. There's
three young men in that series that I really really
are emotionally have tied to, and I worry about doing
the series and and I think that's what happens when
you have good chemistry in that television series and Shot.
(17:44):
And so now when I go to Chomp City Kings,
I found myself worrying about you three little bad suckers. Okay,
warning about what y'all gonna get into that's not gonna
lead to anything that's positive in your life. That's the
chemistry you was talking about, creating relatable care chactors that
people can like be motivated to root for and be
(18:04):
sad if they don't achieve the success that they're planning
or shooting to get in life that how did that?
How did that play itself out? When we talked about
Meek meo. But that chemistry that you three had on screen,
I have on screen because the movie is coming out
on HBO Max in October. Talk about that. Well, Like
I said before, I think because I uh V Danielle
(18:29):
n Um, we knew leaving the chemistry read that if
even if we didn't get the jar, we knew that
we had done something special in the room and we
did the screen test, and uh, it was really amazing
to see our bond development growth throughout the filming of
the movie and for us to trust trust each other
(18:52):
this um throughout the process of filming and um just
get closer off screening on screen. It was that whole
All of that, you know, goes into how well the
chemistry is on screen, And I think we all knew that,
and on hell, our director and our producer Kyle Pinkett
knew that, Um, if the chemistry between us doesn't work,
(19:14):
then the movie doesn't work. We are center in the
heart of the movie and there is the friendship between
Miles Lamont and Sweare to God. So I think knowing
that and knowing the responsibility that allowed us to trust
each other more in to give an authentic performance in
(19:34):
the trail on the screen, very authentic. I'm talking to
John hey Winston to start pars shines as it leads
to highly acclaimed Sundance Award winning feature film Charm City Kings,
which is an executive abuse by Will and Jada Smith,
also starring my man. We just talked about it rapper
Meek Mill and We're coming out and were released October
eight on HBO. Max Um, Karen Hart on your resume, Okay,
(19:58):
now we're gonna we're gonna start talking to us now
to your John he Uh, to Roger be Hinton on
your resume, okay, uh you know uh Will and Jason
Smith on your resume. Uhm m. How am I talking
to you John here? I don't I don't know if
I'm I don't know if I'm flying in that that
level of air right now? How am I talking to you?
(20:18):
John heat? Because you're you're you're up. That boy you
got your food change is pretty powerful right now? Talk
to me about it. Working with these people and what
have they brought to you as far as because you're
very mature, let's don't just get that out mature. You're
very focused. You want of these kids who who get
it early on. You always tell people, you know, President
Obama didn't didn't think about being the president when he
(20:41):
decided to run for president. He prepared to be your
president when I when I, when I did my homework
on you and listening to this interview, this is something
you wanted to do, man, and you you were preparing
every day to be successful at it. And I saw
it in Chomp City King more than anything, because, like
you said, that was your first leading role. There's the
first time putting yourself out there where if you suck,
(21:02):
then the movie sucks. Of course it didn't happen because
it was an award when you Feature Film at sun Dance.
And so talk about working with these incredibly iconic talents
that are recognizable on social media, that are recognizable and
needy magazine that they appear on the they create engagement
when they appear on TV and in the movies. Talk
(21:24):
about those relationships started with my man Kevin hard Well. Uh,
all of those um relationships and the dynamics and working
with all those people have been great. But I'll say
about Kevin, Kevin is more than anything, he's just a
genuinely nice, high human being. I think. I think that's
(21:47):
the general consensus from everyone who has worked with him,
is that his his heart and his spirit and energy.
On set, he exudes such positivity, like that's not just
his brand for no reason, the whole positive silty thing
in a positive vibe like he exudes that on and
off screen, when the cameras are on and when they're off. Um.
And uh, she's just a naturally giving person. And like
(22:10):
I said, he's just really kind and that's just who
we used. By nature. He doesn't know he can't be
anything else. And that's when you know that he's genuine
and authentic when you know you really can't be you
don't know how any other way to be, but who
you are, which is giving and generous person. Uh. I'll say, uh,
taragi Um was an incredible experience just because I literally
(22:33):
grew up watching and I grew up watching all of
those people that you name, but well everybody. Yeah, but uh,
Aggie was pretty special just because you know, she's sort
of a hometown girl. My family is from DC and
she's from the same area. Here's my mom and my
(22:56):
my oun and where my mom grew up. So that
was pretty special to do that. It was a full
circle moment. Uh. And my mom and Taraji used to
go to the same hair style is back in the day,
but they didn't know each other. And my mom this
is crazy. My mom was in the salon the day
(23:17):
before Taragi left for Hollywood. Tarajia come in and said,
the story is Tarja coming in and like, hey, y'all,
you know, make sure y'all tell me, you know, goodbye
and wish me luck because I used to go to
l A tomorrow. Um, and my mom was the day that,
the day before Taraggi left to go down. That's how
(23:40):
twenty fis years later. You know, I got to work
with her and we got to sort of my mom
Taragic got to sort of talked about that. But yeah,
that was incredible, and you know, it's just all of
these experiences have been really really beautiful in full circle.
The fact that I'm still pinching myself, the fact that
I get to work with them and bond with them
(24:01):
and throughout these sort of like mind industry, very godmother, right,
you check in every now and then. I wish the
happy birthday. So yeah, I'm really grateful for all of
those relationships and experiences. Now when you when you look
at the life in general. Um, I live in Atlanta,
(24:22):
h you know, not trail, not trying to get into
your life anything, but I do like your lot. If you,
if you could, you tell me you're like, you know
your outdoors you kind of a guy. Um. The movie
is about bikes, watching these skills sets out there. I
just want to bounce back because I got to talk
about that because Lord knows, I couldn't do none of
(24:43):
the things those young men were doing skill set wise
out there. With just talk about that experience in general,
watching that and watching it being taped and realizing that
that's a whole different level skill set level out there,
that that's that's that's that's special. Oh my gosh. That
was one of my favorite parts of Like any time
(25:05):
my scene wasn't though, I would always we would because
I d D and out. We would always want to
to stay and watch the riders do their stunts because
that was like the best part. Chino Braxton, Chino, shout
out Chino who's in the film. Uh he played his
Jamal in the film and uh he is known across
the world and I was about to say the country,
but across the world. That's one of the greatest dirt
(25:28):
bike riders. Like in the game, like he's crazy he
can cap dance. I'm this is a non exaggeration. He
could cap dance on the bike. Wow, with one wheel
in the air, Like it's really crazy. That's not an exaggeration.
Google it. Like he's a beat. And so to watch
that now, I they wouldn't let any of us near
(25:50):
the bike. They were like they were like absolutely no,
not no, you can't. They were like labor laws all
that stuff. So we didn't really get to ride. Sorry
if that room like the affect for anybody, but we
didn't really get to ride. However, the highlight was we
didn't need to, I feel, because we got to watch
and experience that like just dope environment of them and queens.
(26:13):
Shout out Queen to she was a dope writer too,
she was a female writer on the sand. That was
incredible watching watching them do this thing. Yeah, I had
to definitely had to get that shout out. And I
definitely don't not trying to tell the story, but that
is definitely watching them do their thing in the movie.
Is that of charm. Cindy King's an interviewing Johnny Winston,
(26:34):
the incredible lead players first league, a major lead in
a movie where he is to start. He's the guy
who cares to start pod cars this movie. Um, I
was going to say, man, about to wrap this up.
If you like fishing, man, I love to invite you
by my house man when you just want to relax
and talk. And I do a little a little backyard fishing, man.
(26:54):
I got a little uh little lake, got some some
some fishing there that catchable when I catch my thrown back.
But uh, you're You're definitely special with John he and
I wish you great luck in your career and definitely
we're gonna talk again because of the fact that you're
you're gonna be successful man. And when you and when
you're throwing out ideas about what to do with your
foundation from a virtual standpoint, reach out to me. That's
(27:16):
what I do for a living man. I make things happen, brother,
I really really do. And I also want to congratulate you,
and I hope you realize the importance of me selecting
you as a Caffee Moka Swag Award honor rate because
it's really important to me that you understand that because
you're making a difference at fifteen years old, you're making
a difference in younger young people's lives and younger people's lives,
(27:38):
and don't change. Okay, thank you so much. So I
really do appreciate it. Thank you. All Right, man, we
keep talking about the brother. We're gonna we're gonna hype
it on my social media. We're gonna blow you up.
You're already blown up, but we're gonna blow you up anymore. Joy,
Tell your mom, Hi, tell everybody around your God is
what you as long as you remember who he is. Okay,
thank you so much. Than If you want to hear
(28:01):
more money Making Conversation interviews, please go to money Making
Conversation dot com. I'm with Sean McDonald. I'm your host.
Welcome to Money Making Conversation. I am your host with
Sean McDonald. I recognized that we all have different definitions
of success. For some, it's a sizeable paycheck. Mine is
helping people wake up and inspiring them to accomplish their
goals and live their very best life. These are my passions,
and that's what I'm going to do for you. I
want you to stop tripping over small challenges and prepare
(00:23):
to rise above the bigger obstacles that life will present
to you. My next guest is a young man who's
rising above those bigger obstacles and living his dream And
his dreams are big and he's accomplished a lot of
big things. My next guest is joh Hee Winston. He
currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia. John he enjoyed playing baseball, singing,
and working on building his nonprofit organization called You Can Too,
(00:46):
which encourages kids to pursue their dreams and the arts
and education. His career started on on Broadway, New York Broadway,
The Broadway Broadway as Young Simba, and Disney production The
Line King. He has shared the screen with Kevin Hart
Roger P. Hinson, starting the Netflix series Everybody Sucks played
a young Ralph Trust band in a new edition story
(01:06):
and it's now starting in Charm City Kings with Meek Mill,
which will be streaming on HBO Max. I have seen
the movie. It's fantastic. Please welcome to Money Making Conversations.
Johhy Winston. Hello, Hello, thank you for having me. Well,
thank you, Johnny. Can I ask you how old you
are right now? Fifteen years old and you have a
(01:29):
foundation a nonprofit organization called You Can't to Hollow? Is
that nonprofit? Um, it's sixteen years old. We started it
I think maybe eighteen right around closer? Yeah, yeah, Okay,
tell us what it is because this is really interesting
(01:50):
that you know, you're fifteen. Most people are concerned about
I'm not saying that their selfish, but concerned about their
own personal games. And here you are trying to get
back and help on individuals. Because we all know that
arts and education is a tough field to get into
and to pursue most of success. So you decided to
start something. Tell us about what exactly it is and
(02:12):
how can students participate? Well, You Can't Do is a
nonprofit organization and basically we um mostly operating marginalized communities,
whether it be the in the cities of Atlanta, the sea,
or anywhere UM in the country. UM and the organization
(02:33):
that allows and helps young kids in those modernized communities
specifically to achieve their dreams and go after whatever they want.
Because often times the environments where the resources are in
the last UM here than maybe the middle class suburbs
of Georgia or anywhere else. You don't have the resources,
(02:54):
then you don't have the the visibility to actually see
and be able to accomplish your your goals. And so
UM we have tools and we go into schools and talk.
Obviously I can't do that now because of the pandemic,
but uh, that's primarily the work that we do in
marginal Do you do anything now because of the pandemic
(03:16):
or you know via zoom or via any virtual platforms. Well,
we're trying to brainstorm and try to come up ways
and innovative ways that we can still be productive during
this time. That's sort of been what we've been doing
during quarantine, is just trying to brainstorm and come up
with different ways that we can expand and still be
(03:37):
productive during the pandemic. You know, I have I have
the honor of and this is just listening to you
talk and watching your career, and I have a something
that honor black men. It's called the Cafe Moka Swag
Award CASTO because it's a female centric syndicate show for
women of color, like One Point Forward me and women
(03:59):
listen to the show weekly on syndications. The weekend show
and the Cafe Mocha Swagger was a celebration of black
men who are making a difference in our community by
empowering others to reach their life goals, from civic leaders, businessmen, activists,
celebrities and everyday dads. I'm gonna tell you something, joh
he I've never given that award to a teenager until now.
(04:23):
Oh um, you know, because because see, you know, and
I'm not trying to saying the thing that just you know,
you know, when I do research for I do an interview,
and so I get a pretty good grasp of what
a person I'm talking to. That's why some of the
interviews they sent come to the question they sent to me.
I go all page and people go nobody has ever
(04:45):
asked that question. Because I'm actually I kind of gotta
sense I'm a former entertainer. I managed some of the
biggest stars in this country and currently managed one of
the biggest stars in this country. And I produced a
lot of TV shows. And when I when I hear
a young man who's fifteen years old, who, like I said,
who's making a difference in our community by empowering others
(05:05):
to reach their life goals, that's you. Uh So, why
is that important to you to help people? And they're okay,
young people to reach their life goals? Oh man. I
think just everything that I do from a place of
(05:26):
wanting to to help first and foremost my people, um,
black people, not only my people, but primarily my people,
because um, you know, just the way that our societal
structure is in the hierarchical nature of it. Oftentimes, if
you are black and you are marginalized, you are born
(05:47):
with more strikes on you than um our Caucasian brothers
and sisters. So I think knowing that and being aware
of that, it makes you responsible because once you're at
catering on and once you're aware of it, you now
have a responsibility. You have the tools and you have
the resources, and so now it's your responsibility to do
(06:08):
something about that. And to make sure that UM. Just
because someone is UM maybe less fortunate when it comes
to privilege and power, it doesn't mean that they can't
have the same access to UM, their dreams and their
goals as anyone else who does have that privilege. Is
born with that privilege and that power. And so that's
(06:31):
where all of my works comes from, whether it be
the roles that I take, whether it be the work
that I do off screen and the stories that I
write and create and curate. I always want to come
from a place of Okay, how is my community going
to feel about this? And how can I service my community?
But by doing this, I want to I wanna go
to the movie that's currently out that's be out HBO
(06:54):
Max and October October eight, that be in fact called
Chom City Kings, and I want to at that wrapped
this conversation up with you be in great detail. I
want to go back to the young Simber days and
all these other opportunities you have. But I watched tomp sayons,
I couldn't take my eyes off young man. You have
the ability to wait for the moment. You have an
(07:17):
uncanny skill where you're dynamic enough to understand that sometimes
you don't have to say something to be effective. M
that's a I'm telling you when I right now, I'm
visually going through different scenes. One of my favorite scenes was, Uh,
(07:39):
I've seen the movie twice. Usually when I'm engaged in something,
I gotta gonna see this again, you know, because you
know when you see something. I'm saying Johnny, when you
see something two or three times, actually you really enjoy
it more because you start really because you are you
already know it's coming up, so you kind of see
it a little bit different. Oh, I didn't see that.
And one of my favorite scenes when Black shows up
at the summer run and then you just staring at him, man,
(08:02):
and that that's the moment I'm talking to you. Didn't
have to say anything, but you knew your acting ability
showed me how important he was in your life. Tell
me about that skill set, Tell me about that a bill.
Thank you. UM. I think that's just um, I don't know,
(08:25):
thank you. UM. I think that's just I skill something
that I picked up. I am. I gotta really great
compliment from a producer. Um, when I was working on
film that I did a few years ago. Uh, and
he said that the reason that I got the job
was basically what she said my ability. It wasn't what
(08:46):
I said is what I didn't say that really um
allowed me to get that job. And so I think
just focusing on that and naturally, when you're in the
moment as an actor, you know, if you're doing your right.
I think every shore that stack of ability to still
load and still be in the moment even when they're
not anything. So it really is, you know. And I'm
(09:09):
not telling I'm not telling you going all. This is
not saying anything, not y'all here. I'm just not telling. Okay,
now you gotta speak, Now you gotta speak. But you
have the ability to trust yourself. And I want to
go back because I saw Lion King. First time I
saw Lyon King was in Los Angeles, Okay, And then
I saw it in Las Vegas and Lord had mercy.
I went and saw it in New York City. That
(09:31):
New York City show is the real deal, you know
it is. That's where first team first team, the first
team first team. You know, you better have your act
together in New York City at the Lion King New
York City. Tell us about how that opportunity happened. To
(09:51):
you happened for you to be young Simba. In New
York City, everybody live out this at the stage because
everybody think all Lion Kings are like, no, they're they're good,
They're good, right, Yeah, all of the productions are great.
All I can say that all the productions I think
are great. UM, but you're right, and you I mean,
(10:14):
it's the flash your production, So it definitely it's different. UM.
But I will say the modified version, the modified story
of how I became a part of the Lion King. UM.
A friend of my brothers UM sent over the audition
for an open casting call for young symbers and young
knowledge to be in the Broadway production and the National
(10:36):
tool production of The Lion King. UM to that audition
and that that first audition there was about UM five
hundred kids there. And for those who aren't familiar with
the UM an open casting call, it's basically it's not
just for professional actors for everyone. It's for everybody. You know,
they call Pooking and them everybody to come down an
(10:58):
audition for it. So I went to that audition, I
ended up getting a callback. I got another call back
after that audition, and then I went to New York
City to audition in front of the executives or the
the yes, the executives for the to the Lion King
on Broadway, and I ended up getting the role two
days later, and I moved to New York with my
(11:20):
mom and we lived in a shoebox apartment for about
fifteen months. And after that I got um the new
audition story, and everything just sort of started having to
that production. Now, let's let's let's get back to Chomp City.
Come on, I'm a bounce around because you you you,
(11:40):
You're just so talented that every story gonna take me
in a different direction, but it all leads back to
Chomp City Kings. How did that happen for you? My friend?
That movie opportunity? Okay, um, just like any other I was,
actually I was. There was a challenging year. I went
in a movie that didn't do as well as that
(12:00):
I was gonna do, and a TV show that got
canceled out the one season. And in the midst of
trying to figure out where I want, what I wanted
to do next, and just trying to figure out what
was the next stage in my career, the my agent
sent over trying to the script for Trum City kings
Um and I put off reading it for a while
because I was like, no, this is I don't think
this is the right project, even though I hadn't read
(12:20):
the script, but I auditioned for it anyway. I put
myself on tape and Uh, I got a call back
and they I read again, and then eventually I went
to Los Angeles and I screen tested forward with Danielle
Hansley litt D and UH because I Curtis, who are
also in the movie that played they played Lamont and
(12:41):
Swear to God, I screen tested with them and I
am screen testing in front of on Health Mineral Soto,
our director, and UH. I think leaving that room, the
three of us knew that mostly knew obviously that until
we've gotten the job yet. But I think we could
steal the energy that that we that we had done
something specially, so maybe a week later. I think we
(13:03):
got maybe a week later, which is which is unusual
because sometimes it takes months. Yea a week later, you
know what I'm saying exactly for real, it was dhing.
But like I said, I think we knew from the
(13:24):
energy in the room, just the chemistry between the three
of us that we that we had done something specially
if we knew nothing else, we knew that we had
sort of killed the audition and that we had a
special chemistry and bond on screen. Um. And so a
week later they said that they wanted me, and we
worked out the deal, and I was still sort of uncertain,
but I was like, all right, I'm gonna trust my gun.
(13:45):
I'm sure of God, and I went fusting head and
it was it was really cool. And I think I'll
say this about Trump City Kings. It was my first
time being at the center of a story, I'll say, um.
And I definitely think that it sharpened my work ethic.
I worked very hard on an off screen you know.
(14:06):
I would do maybe nine and a half hour days,
and I worked every single day, every single day of
production I was there. Um, I think I had maybe
a day and a half off and I worked every
single day. And I would come home to the hotel
at night and still work on the script and work
on the accident work of a dialect. Like I really
worked hard on this. And so this is a labor
(14:29):
of love from all of us who are part of
the film, And yeah, we're just really excited and proud
of it for for sure. Now when I when I
hear you talk like this about it, I I do.
I do I see a young director? I would be
born here. Uh, sir Johnny, do I hear uh? Uh
(14:49):
you you right listen speak it? How would see it? Yeah?
For sure? For sure, absolutely because of the fact that
that uh when I when I you have first of all,
you have a passion for you have a God give.
God is giving you a brilliant talent that you're exercising
and maximizing with hard work and focus. That's how you
win long term. You don't win long term, you know, uh,
(15:13):
just doing it when you feel like it. You know,
you know you can't just because you can doctor basketball.
I mean you can shoot shoot a basketball. We've learned
that in life. And so Meek mills his role in
the movie um mentor let's talk about his role off
screen with you and because if it felt very genuine
(15:34):
on screen, yeah, um, Meek and I it was interesting
because Meek released his last on that he released Championships.
He was working on that while we were shooting the movie.
And uh, he has an incredible work out that he
was he was going back and forth. I mean, you
(15:56):
can't you one of the things you can't say about
me because that he doesn't work hard. He works extremely hard. Um,
and he was doing championships while he was going coming
back and forth doing shows, working on the album, and
doing the movie full time. So um, he has incredible
work ethic and also, uh, one of the things that
people don't know about him is that he's actually kind
(16:17):
of shy and reserved until himself. I would say, I
think people have a preconceived notion of the rappers in general,
just because of the field that they're in, Um, in
the braggadocious nature that is sort of required to do that. Um,
But he's been He's he's a really nice and simple guy,
really shy and um. He he came prepared, and you know,
(16:40):
we all sort of it was a team effort to
sort of make him feel comfortable because this is the
first time, his first time doing like a movie of
this magnitude and mine as well. So I think we
sort of help each other out in that sense. Um.
He would ask me questions and I would ask him questions.
And the cool thing about it is we were both
equal inquisitive when it came to how each of us worked,
(17:03):
and I was watch him from a distance and sort
of see how he worked and how he got into it.
And it wasn't It was really cool to get to
work with him and see him become more and more
emerging to the process at production went on. Now, when
you say the production, now, when we were talking about
its three friends, young teeners friends in this movie, and
(17:24):
and uh, it likens me to another one of my
favorite movies on a series on Showtime, The Shot. There's
three young men in that series that I really really
are emotionally have tied to, and I worry about doing
the series and and I think that's what happens when
you have good chemistry in that television series and Shot.
(17:44):
And so now when I go to Chomp City Kings,
I found myself worrying about you three little bad suckers. Okay,
warning about what y'all gonna get into that's not gonna
lead to anything that's positive in your life. That's the
chemistry you was talking about, creating relatable care chactors that
people can like be motivated to root for and be
(18:04):
sad if they don't achieve the success that they're planning
or shooting to get in life that how did that?
How did that play itself out? When we talked about
Meek meo. But that chemistry that you three had on screen,
I have on screen because the movie is coming out
on HBO Max in October. Talk about that. Well, Like
I said before, I think because I uh V Danielle
(18:29):
n Um, we knew leaving the chemistry read that if
even if we didn't get the jar, we knew that
we had done something special in the room and we
did the screen test, and uh, it was really amazing
to see our bond development growth throughout the filming of
the movie and for us to trust trust each other
(18:52):
this um throughout the process of filming and um just
get closer off screening on screen. It was that whole
All of that, you know, goes into how well the
chemistry is on screen, And I think we all knew that,
and on hell, our director and our producer Kyle Pinkett
knew that, Um, if the chemistry between us doesn't work,
(19:14):
then the movie doesn't work. We are center in the
heart of the movie and there is the friendship between
Miles Lamont and Sweare to God. So I think knowing
that and knowing the responsibility that allowed us to trust
each other more in to give an authentic performance in
(19:34):
the trail on the screen, very authentic. I'm talking to
John hey Winston to start pars shines as it leads
to highly acclaimed Sundance Award winning feature film Charm City Kings,
which is an executive abuse by Will and Jada Smith,
also starring my man. We just talked about it rapper
Meek Mill and We're coming out and were released October
eight on HBO. Max Um, Karen Hart on your resume, Okay,
(19:58):
now we're gonna we're gonna start talking to us now
to your John he Uh, to Roger be Hinton on
your resume, okay, uh you know uh Will and Jason
Smith on your resume. Uhm m. How am I talking
to you John here? I don't I don't know if
I'm I don't know if I'm flying in that that
level of air right now? How am I talking to you?
(20:18):
John heat? Because you're you're you're up. That boy you
got your food change is pretty powerful right now? Talk
to me about it. Working with these people and what
have they brought to you as far as because you're
very mature, let's don't just get that out mature. You're
very focused. You want of these kids who who get
it early on. You always tell people, you know, President
Obama didn't didn't think about being the president when he
(20:41):
decided to run for president. He prepared to be your
president when I when I, when I did my homework
on you and listening to this interview, this is something
you wanted to do, man, and you you were preparing
every day to be successful at it. And I saw
it in Chomp City King more than anything, because, like
you said, that was your first leading role. There's the
first time putting yourself out there where if you suck,
(21:02):
then the movie sucks. Of course it didn't happen because
it was an award when you Feature Film at sun Dance.
And so talk about working with these incredibly iconic talents
that are recognizable on social media, that are recognizable and
needy magazine that they appear on the they create engagement
when they appear on TV and in the movies. Talk
(21:24):
about those relationships started with my man Kevin hard Well. Uh,
all of those um relationships and the dynamics and working
with all those people have been great. But I'll say
about Kevin, Kevin is more than anything, he's just a
genuinely nice, high human being. I think. I think that's
(21:47):
the general consensus from everyone who has worked with him,
is that his his heart and his spirit and energy.
On set, he exudes such positivity, like that's not just
his brand for no reason, the whole positive silty thing
in a positive vibe like he exudes that on and
off screen, when the cameras are on and when they're off. Um.
And uh, she's just a naturally giving person. And like
(22:10):
I said, he's just really kind and that's just who
we used. By nature. He doesn't know he can't be
anything else. And that's when you know that he's genuine
and authentic when you know you really can't be you
don't know how any other way to be, but who
you are, which is giving and generous person. Uh. I'll say, uh,
taragi Um was an incredible experience just because I literally
(22:33):
grew up watching and I grew up watching all of
those people that you name, but well everybody. Yeah, but uh,
Aggie was pretty special just because you know, she's sort
of a hometown girl. My family is from DC and
she's from the same area. Here's my mom and my
(22:56):
my oun and where my mom grew up. So that
was pretty special to do that. It was a full
circle moment. Uh. And my mom and Taraji used to
go to the same hair style is back in the day,
but they didn't know each other. And my mom this
is crazy. My mom was in the salon the day
(23:17):
before Taragi left for Hollywood. Tarajia come in and said,
the story is Tarja coming in and like, hey, y'all,
you know, make sure y'all tell me, you know, goodbye
and wish me luck because I used to go to
l A tomorrow. Um, and my mom was the day that,
the day before Taraggi left to go down. That's how
(23:40):
twenty fis years later. You know, I got to work
with her and we got to sort of my mom
Taragic got to sort of talked about that. But yeah,
that was incredible, and you know, it's just all of
these experiences have been really really beautiful in full circle.
The fact that I'm still pinching myself, the fact that
I get to work with them and bond with them
(24:01):
and throughout these sort of like mind industry, very godmother, right,
you check in every now and then. I wish the
happy birthday. So yeah, I'm really grateful for all of
those relationships and experiences. Now when you when you look
at the life in general. Um, I live in Atlanta,
(24:22):
h you know, not trail, not trying to get into
your life anything, but I do like your lot. If you,
if you could, you tell me you're like, you know
your outdoors you kind of a guy. Um. The movie
is about bikes, watching these skills sets out there. I
just want to bounce back because I got to talk
about that because Lord knows, I couldn't do none of
(24:43):
the things those young men were doing skill set wise
out there. With just talk about that experience in general,
watching that and watching it being taped and realizing that
that's a whole different level skill set level out there,
that that's that's that's that's special. Oh my gosh. That
was one of my favorite parts of Like any time
(25:05):
my scene wasn't though, I would always we would because
I d D and out. We would always want to
to stay and watch the riders do their stunts because
that was like the best part. Chino Braxton, Chino, shout
out Chino who's in the film. Uh he played his
Jamal in the film and uh he is known across
the world and I was about to say the country,
but across the world. That's one of the greatest dirt
(25:28):
bike riders. Like in the game, like he's crazy he
can cap dance. I'm this is a non exaggeration. He
could cap dance on the bike. Wow, with one wheel
in the air, Like it's really crazy. That's not an exaggeration.
Google it. Like he's a beat. And so to watch
that now, I they wouldn't let any of us near
(25:50):
the bike. They were like they were like absolutely no,
not no, you can't. They were like labor laws all
that stuff. So we didn't really get to ride. Sorry
if that room like the affect for anybody, but we
didn't really get to ride. However, the highlight was we
didn't need to, I feel, because we got to watch
and experience that like just dope environment of them and queens.
(26:13):
Shout out Queen to she was a dope writer too,
she was a female writer on the sand. That was
incredible watching watching them do this thing. Yeah, I had
to definitely had to get that shout out. And I
definitely don't not trying to tell the story, but that
is definitely watching them do their thing in the movie.
Is that of charm. Cindy King's an interviewing Johnny Winston,
(26:34):
the incredible lead players first league, a major lead in
a movie where he is to start. He's the guy
who cares to start pod cars this movie. Um, I
was going to say, man, about to wrap this up.
If you like fishing, man, I love to invite you
by my house man when you just want to relax
and talk. And I do a little a little backyard fishing, man.
(26:54):
I got a little uh little lake, got some some
some fishing there that catchable when I catch my thrown back.
But uh, you're You're definitely special with John he and
I wish you great luck in your career and definitely
we're gonna talk again because of the fact that you're
you're gonna be successful man. And when you and when
you're throwing out ideas about what to do with your
foundation from a virtual standpoint, reach out to me. That's
(27:16):
what I do for a living man. I make things happen, brother,
I really really do. And I also want to congratulate you,
and I hope you realize the importance of me selecting
you as a Caffee Moka Swag Award honor rate because
it's really important to me that you understand that because
you're making a difference at fifteen years old, you're making
a difference in younger young people's lives and younger people's lives,
(27:38):
and don't change. Okay, thank you so much. So I
really do appreciate it. Thank you. All Right, man, we
keep talking about the brother. We're gonna we're gonna hype
it on my social media. We're gonna blow you up.
You're already blown up, but we're gonna blow you up anymore. Joy,
Tell your mom, Hi, tell everybody around your God is
what you as long as you remember who he is. Okay,
thank you so much. Than If you want to hear
(28:01):
more money Making Conversation interviews, please go to money Making
Conversation dot com. I'm with Sean McDonald. I'm your host.
Host
Rushion McDonald
Popular Podcasts
United States of Kennedy
United States of Kennedy is a podcast about our cultural fascination with the Kennedy dynasty. Every week, hosts Lyra Smith and George Civeris go into one aspect of the Kennedy story.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com