Rising Star Percy T Brown On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Entertainment Industry

An Interview With Eden Gold

Don’t forget to learn the BUSINESS! This is Show Business, so learn about what doesn’t take place in front of the camera. Learn about the different roles and jobs of people in the casting process, the SAG-AFTRA union, residuals, contracts and other important information that comes with being in the business!

As a part of our series about pop culture’s rising stars, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Percy T Brown.

Imagine the talent and magnetic charisma of Percy, who is an American Actor, Podcast Host and Entertainer whose roots can be traced back to the fast-paced New York City. Known as the man behind ThePrinceofFreshAir Podcast, Percy has carved out his own path in the industry with over 35 Professional Credits spanning TV, Film, Theatre and Commercial work, creating a brand and identity that makes him stand out as he continues his journey in the Entertainment Industry.

He embarked on his career at the young age of 13 when he began studying Theatre and Dance at the esteemed Urban Assembly School for the Performing Arts in Harlem, NY. During this period, he trained, studied and performed in many Shakespeare plays with the award-winning, Non-For-Profit Theatre company, Epic Theatre Ensemble, and won scholarships to take summer acting courses at the New York Film Academy and Columbia University. Percy continued his training and education by attending St. Bonaventure University, where he was nominated to compete in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival’s Irene Ryan Competition due to his portrayal as Horatio in the St. Bonaventure’s SBU Theatre production of Shakespeare’s “A Winter’s Tale”. Upon graduating, he was awarded “The Most Ideal Bonaventure Man” award and won numerous theatre achievement awards for his work in Theatre, which he graduated with his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 2018.

Aside from acting, he is also a talented content creator. Percy is recognized for his numerous appearances on the very popular YouTube channel Jubilee Media, starring in episodes such as “Spectrum: Do All Black Men Think The Same?” and “Middle Ground: Online Dating vs Traditional Dating”. His videos have garnered over 15 million views across various media platforms. Percy’s multifaceted career includes over 40 credits spanning FIlm, Theatre, Commercials and New Media work.

Expanding his reach further, he created “ThePrinceofFreshAir’’ Podcast in 2020, provided by Spotify For Podcasters, which has since achieved global recognition in over 6 countries and is available on more than 25 major platforms, such as Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify, IHeartRadio, and Apple Music. He is also active on Instagram, where creates fitness content on his page with his own uniqueness and flair while he continues to build his own foot print in Entertainment! You can check out his website (here)

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

I grew up in Manhattan, NYC before moving to The Bronx in my early teenage years. I actually come from a huge family: 12 Brothers and 4 Sisters. People are shocked to hear this, but I was adopted at 10 years old. At the age of 6 years old, I was put in the Foster Care system and was fortunate enough to be adopted by the same parent who took in me and my three younger brothers.

I was an interesting kid; I was shy, introverted, quiet and struggled to find my identity, but I found my way through reading, writing poetry, and competing in chess in various local tournaments. I eventually discovered my love for dance by listening to music artists like Chris Brown, Michael Jackson and Missy Elliot. As a kid, my love for the Horror Genre never changed though; I enjoyed watching the Friday the 13th, Child’s Play, The Halloween Franchises and always envisioned being in a scene with one of those iconic figures, battling it out. The library was my comfort zone; I loved reading the Goosebumps books by R.L Stine and ended up collecting over 40 books in the series.

High School was the turning point for me, though. Even though I wasn’t an extroverted person, going to a performance school helped me grow out of that phase by learning different types of performing arts, being on stage, and getting involved with Club Basketball and Volleyball. I learned about Instruments and how to play the Tuba, I minored in Dance and performed with my school’s Dance Crew, and got to train with the award winning company, Epic Theatre. So I turned an unfortunate circumstance into something positive!

Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?

My first time performing was not something I planned on doing at all. I was about 9 years old; At my local community center, I was seen dancing one day afterschool in the playground and the dance teacher saw me and asked if I wanted to perform for a talent show she was doing. I don’t remember all the small details, but I remember that dance; I danced to “Lose Control” by Missy Elliot and remember seeing all the kids and parents clapping and cheering me on. Seeing that reaction and the applause after made me want to continue being on stage and performing.

In Middle School, I began watching a lot of Disney Channel shows and I remember being intrigued about being a star on two of my favorite shows; Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Hannah Montana. I would mimic the actors as I was watching and immediately knew this was something I wanted to do, I needed to do, and that I was meant to do. After performing in one of my middle school plays, my social studies teacher encouraged me to really go for acting as she felt I was natural with it. After words of encouragement from the facility and being accepted into Urban Assembly School for the Performing Arts Theatre program, I knew it was the right call. Ever since then, my goals and aspirations may have changed, but the mission has always stayed the same: Being an Professional Actor.

Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

I have a lot of memorable stories from being involved in theatre to being on set for major projects, but this is one story that I remember like it was last night. I remember right after graduating college in 2018, I did some Background work in NYC for TV shows because while I loved Theatre and it was a major part of my identity, I wanted to transition over to TV and FIlm and doing background work was a great way to get on-set experience and learn the business. Over that summer, I was working my 2nd background gig for a hugely popular HBO show and it was a scene involving veteran actor Jon Voight. Now, extras/background actors are not usually allowed to bother the “real” talent for numerous reasons. I knew I shouldn’t talk to him because not only could I get kicked off set, but he was an A-List Actor and I was nobody. Being the fan and risk taker I was, I respectfully approached him and introduced myself when we had a break. To my surprise, he actually chatted me up for a few minutes and asked about my journey. Right before I left, he looked at me and said “If you want to be an actor, this is the place to learn. Pay your dues and keep doing what you’re doing. You can make it happen if you put in the work. Don’t give up.” A few months later, I was cast in my first Feature Film, The Incoherents, starring Amy Carlson, Smallville actress Annette O’Toole and some other big industry names. So sometimes taking a risk can lead to a pay off, whether it’s in the audition room or on set!

It has been said that mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

This is the part where I can give you funny bloopers of messing up my lines or bombing an audition. However, this is something that is a very common mistake and problem in the industry but not talked about much. One of my most memorable mistakes was almost signing with a “reputable” talent agency who I thought could give me my big break. Being 16 years old with only 3 years of theater experience and being promised by an agent that with my looks they could make me a Hollywood Star was music to my ears. The catch? $5000 for a headshot package and a meeting with a top casting director of a Network TV Show! Fortunately, right before I signed, my longtime high school friend Odiseas Georgiadis, who was working in the industry and had more common sense than I did, stopped me from making that choice and spared me from that unfortunate scam. I almost learned the hard way, but I did learn that legitimate talent agencies don’t accept money to represent you. I also learned they don’t represent anyone with no real experience, no polished acting materials, and if it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is! So watch what you sign and learn the business of this industry!

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

I have some things in the works potentially and got to audition for some incredible blockbuster projects recently (No Spoilers!) but I will say my latest film, Third Week, directed by award-winning director Jordi Torrent and co-produced with the highly respected Dick Wolf’s production company, Wolf Entertainment, is one of my favorite projects I got to work on. Shot around NYC including Staten Island and Manhattan, this film is about a young black man recently released from prison looking for redemption and a second chance while at a crossroads when his past and present clash. My character is best friends with the lead character and even though it’s a Social Drama, my character gets to be the guy who adds some laughs, lifts up the energy and injects life into several scenes of the film, which seemed to be a hit with the audience at the official screening! It’s currently being shown at Spanish Screening in Rome, MIPCOM Cannes, and Americana Film Festival in Barcelona with a debut in the US aimed in the 2nd half of 2024! My podcast, ThePrinceofFreshAir, will also see some top professionals and notable names in Sports, Entertainment and other popular industries in the coming weeks and months. Stay tuned because it’s ShowTime!

As a rising star, you’ve likely faced challenges along the way. How do you stay motivated and overcome obstacles in your career?

With over 14 years of experience in this industry, I have seen my fair share of success and failure. I’ve had many moments of feeling defeated, fearing the unknown and feeling that I should quit and give up. What keeps me motivated though is having a good support system and remembering not to compare my journey to others, which can be hard to do in this industry. I began to realize that this is a business and the highs come with the lows and we all have bad days at the office, no matter who you are and how successful you become. I learned to take the sacrifices and mistakes I have made to improve myself, on and off camera, so it will lead me to victory. I began to not take rejection and failure personally; Instead of giving up, I used it as fuel to make a stronger, better version of myself so whether I came up short or I got a win, I gave it my best shot. Nothing in life worth having comes easy and nothing easy is worth having.

We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?

Diversity is not only vastly important, but it’s powerful in the entertainment industry. Even though there is still more work that needs to be done, we have seen a steady rise and increased visibility with diversity. We are seeing much more BIPOC and diverse actors get lead roles in beloved classics, starring in popular TV shows and blockbuster films and getting top billing in projects. Every Movie, TV Show and production has a story; Each character in that story has their own journey and story to tell. It’s important to have representation in this industry because it allows different audiences to connect with the actors and characters they are watching. Inclusivity is another big component to it; People want to see different types of people that may or may not look like them, have the platform to share their own perspective, vision and voice. It also promotes acceptance not only to the industry, but to the viewers as well. The more we see people of different cultures, races and backgrounds, the more it encourages others to learn something new, and broaden their perspective on various issues in society. In another decade, the culture of the entertainment business will have shifted to more of a balanced and equal industry for ALL.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?

1 . Don’t forget to learn the BUSINESS! This is Show Business, so learn about what doesn’t take place in front of the camera. Learn about the different roles and jobs of people in the casting process, the SAG-AFTRA union, residuals, contracts and other important information that comes with being in the business!

2 . Don’t compare yourself to others! This is a competitive industry and it’s very easy to try to measure your success and failures to others careers. Everyone’s journey and experience will be different, so stay the course and work hard to make sure you’re ready when your opportunities come!

3 . Invest in your brand! Constantly improve and update your 3 major Actors Checklist: Headshot, Resume and Demo Reel. These are vital to your success as an actor and making sure these are polished and clean will make you look organized, professional and ready to be taken seriously.

4 . Be Yourself!! Don’t try to act like someone else. Industry professionals want to see who you are not only as an actor, but as a person. Being authentic will make you stand out and give your peers a sense of who you are.

5 . Use Auditions to create connections! One thing I’ve learned from a former agent is this quote she used to say to clients: “Audition not just to book the role, but to impress casting so they remember you and keep calling you back.” Creating meaningful connections with the people who work on projects will not only increase your viability as an actor, but you will make impactful relationships that can open doors for you!

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?

This took me years to learn and understand, but it’s something that allowed me to reach heights I once struggled with. One of the most important things I can say is treat this and yourself as a business! This Is Show Business; Many actors learn about the entertainment side of the Industry, but they neglect to learn the Business side of it. The truth is, it’s a hard and unpredictable industry, but you can use certain things to your advantage to get ahead. In a world with social media dominating, the industry is changing. Use social media to market yourself and create a brand! Create your own content, make a website, build your online presence and learn other skills! Don’t be afraid to explore and try new things because you never know who’s watching. Also, don’t be afraid to take a vacation!

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

The movement I would start is based on a quote I created and share at the end of every podcast episode: “A Helping Hand is a Better Hand”. Although it’s a catchy quote, it’s not just about sounding good; the purpose is to inspire others, guide each other and to help one another. We live in a society where we are taught to be selfish and look out for ourselves. While it’s great to have a healthy dose of selfishness, we can also in that same breathe help someone else. At some point we will all need help in our journey, whether it’s small or big, and we would do much better as a community than instead of swatting that hand away, to give them a hand and help them up. Because one day, you just may be that hand reaching out hoping someone will help you!

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

I would absolutely be lying if I said I got to where I am by myself. Many people have come along and whether it was a phone call, giving me an opportunity, taking a chance on me or even helping me out with a last minute audition, has played a role in getting me to where I am. While there are a bunch of people from family to close friends who deserve and have earned credit for playing a big contribution in my journey so far, one person I would like to give credit to is my manager Kacie. I met Kacie when I was at a place in my life where I was searching to take my acting career to the next level, struggling to advance my situation. I was at a place mentally where I felt like I was stuck and was tired of feeling underwhelmed where I was in my journey. While I was grateful for my agents, I knew I needed to stop being complacent and stop waiting around for opportunities. I had reached out to Kacie, who has had a long successful career behind the scenes in this industry, in hopes of potentially being a client on her roster. She not only gave me a chance to prove myself, but she saw me for more than just an actor, but as a person who was passionate for this business. She listened to my goals, ambitions and vision and gave me the opportunity to finally go chase them. For that, I am hugely grateful to have her in my corner!

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

This quote means alot to me because this is what I needed to hear at this point in my life. Right after college, I was staying with a very close friend. I was taking acting classes and doing small projects, but I got lazy and started losing sight of my potential. My friend’s dad told me this quote one night before I moved to Los Angeles in 2019. He said “Netflix isn’t going to come knocking at the door looking for you. You have to go knock down Netflix’s door and let them know who you are.” I immediately understood what he meant; I can’t just sit around, not put in the hard work and expect someone to just hand me an opportunity. I have to go out there and take it. Nothing easy is worth having, and nothing worth having comes easy!

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)

I’m going to bend the rules here a little bit and pick two people. If i could have a private meal with someone, it would be either Denzel Washington or Jon “Bones” Jones, two all-time greats in their respective fields. I choose Denzel Washington because not only is he my favorite actor of all time, I have admired his work since I was a teenager (who doesn’t love Training Day) and his acting style and camera presence is unmatched. Since I started this journey, I have envisioned working with him on a movie project one day and would love to learn his approach to the craft. I would also have to pick the former UFC Light Heavyweight and current Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones because he’s the martial artist who got me invested in MMA and learning martial arts. Also, he is my MMA GOAT and I would love to learn how he developed his unparalleled Fight IQ and unique, game changing Fighting Style.

How can our readers follow you online?

Before we yell CUT, I really want to give Eden and everyone reading my appreciation. Thank you for having me on this incredible platform and for allowing me to share my journey in hopes of inspiring others! I’m really active on Instagram, so you can find me on Instagram at Mr.Nodaysoffpercy, check out my website or simply google ThePrinceofFreshAir Podcast to catch episodes on any streaming platforms you watch podcasts! I am always looking for new guests for the podcast as well, so if you have a story to tell, shoot me a DM!

This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!

I appreciate you all for taking the time to have me on. ThePrinceofFreshAir is OUT!

About The Interviewer: Eden Gold, is a youth speaker, keynote speaker, founder of the online program Life After High School, and host of the Real Life Adulting Podcast. Being America’s rising force for positive change, Eden is a catalyst for change in shaping the future of education. With a lifelong mission of impacting the lives of 1 billion young adults, Eden serves as a practical guide, aiding young adults in honing their self-confidence, challenging societal conventions, and crafting a strategic roadmap towards the fulfilling lives they envision.

Do you need a dynamic speaker, or want to learn more about Eden’s programs? Click here: https://bit.ly/EdenGold