EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BROTHA ASH PRODUCTIONS: ACTOR/PRODUCER CARL CLEMONS

By Staff Writer Ashley G. Woodson
For Brotha Ash Productions
I had the pleasure of interviewing one of Pittsburgh's most talented actors, Carl Clemons. I started this interview back in January of 2007 and because Carl is always involving and getting new projects, we waited until now to publish it.

1) How did you become interested in acting?
To me I became interested by God instilling the talent in me as well as it being a craft I enjoy doing that makes me happy.

2) What was your acting job?
On "The Wire" my job was to guard the drug shipment coming in from The Greeks that was to supply the CO-OP with their re-up

3) How did get a part on "The Wire"?
A blessing a major one at that I had been trying to get on "The Wire" since season 2 & 3. I was constantly sending in my headshot and resume but got no calls I finally did a major no no in the acting world "I CALLED THE CASTING OFFICE".I was fortunate enough to speak to a lovely lady named Sareva Racher she is a Casting Associate for Pat Moran & Associates they do the casting out of Baltimore for "The Wire". When we spoke I told her about my many attempts and she simply explained that to be considered you have to have a strong acting resume.I assured her that i did as i had been seccuring significant roles like my character Daryl on "The His Place Show" which was a national christian show based out of Pittsburgh Pa. She took a chance on me and told me to send my info to her address and she will evaluate my Headshot and Resume and if impressed will give it to head of casting. I sent my info off the very next day with a print out of the His Place Show website with me on it. To my surprise after 2 weeks i received a call for an audition i was so excited you would of thought i hit the lottery. I drove down to Baltimore they wanted me to audition for the role of the crackhead that beats up Bubs.Most auditions are a two step process so after the audition i thanked everyone and drove back and a few days later i received a call back. Now i was really happy one more audition to conquer I drove back to Maryland for my call back audition. I met with the directors and the writers it was me and one other guy there I did my thing and came back home I later found they didnt feel that part for me. Two months went by and they called me for another audition as a dice player back and forth still no fit the season was nearing its end so i felt desperation kicking in.I got another call a month and a halh later for the role of the drug guard she told me this was a big scen i'd be in so I had my game face on as i was fully prepped i drove down knocked out my audition and got a call back a few day later. Here we go i thought to myself all or nothing litle ol me with the casting director her casting associate,and the directors i did my thing looked them in the eyes thanked them for the opportunity and left. they called me a half hour later i was on the road driving back home i rejoiced almost the whole way home it was one of the happiest moments of my life.

4)Are you going to have a reoccurring role?
If you watch 'The Wire" and saw my scene you will figure it would be only right but they are very secretive which is good so you never know we will see though i'll know by the middle of February.

5) Are you looking to get into movies or music?
I can do music but I much rather stick to acting it takes up enough of my time which is good I like to stay busy

6) What would you suggest to others from Pittsburgh, who are interested
in acting on how to get started?
Stay determined and make sure its something you want to do because you will get tested there is a ton of rejection that is involved along with alot of competition.If you are serious about it just believe in yourself never think that your not good enough my motto is "Success comes from within as long as you believe" anything is possible no matter where you are from just keep your faith in the lord and yourself you can't go wrong and if you doubt this go back up and read my motto again.

7) Are you in this for the long run or do you have other interested?
Definitely yhe long run i've been thru to many things to stop when the blessings come pouring in i want to conquer acting for as long as i can by all means.
8) Your name is getting out there, how are you handling all of the attention?
I'm use to it being that i received notarity from The His Place Show I will use my fame to shine light on those in need being that people seem to bond with celeberties.For some reason they give them a honest chance to sit downa And talk to them on a real level.I can also use the income I'll be getting to help bless those in need and to help them to find their calling in life.
9) What do you want us to know about Carl, that we don't already know?
That what you see is what you get with me i'm a real dude i'm not in to that i'm better than you cause i'm on T.v stuff that's not cool.To me thats actually one of the things taht bugs me about Hollywood alot of people forget where they come from well not me and big up to those in Hollywood,NFL,MLB,Hockey and every other celeb out there who does still keep it real. That seperates you from the rest more than you know and you will always prosper and ecel higher and higher. Pittsburgh we about to chancge the game on them Hollywood beware the Burgh is in the building ACTION!!

Independent-Feature Film "Lost Money" Stars Hassan Johnson from "The Wire" Danny Simmons Russell Simmons
older brother Tyrell Baker aka Little Kevin also from "The Wire" my boy Max Starks from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jake
Andolina, Andrew Roth and of course me. Anybody you don't know look them up at www.imdb.com type there name in the search
engine. Playing Tek (Carl Clemons)

Super Doughnut Commercial with Franco Harris: I was the voice over talent on this commercial it just started airing
regionally.

Silverstein Rock group Music Video: Played a memeber of the Swat Team that arrest the group durring a bank robbery. The
Music video will air on MTV AND THE FUSE NETWORK

I also have 2 films in the works that I just closed a deal on one called "Encoded" that has a 25,000,000 budget and the
other "The Rogue"

4. AMERICAS MOST WANTED 20TH CENTURY FOX- Will be doing an reenactment of a guy named Benjamin who was apart of the
largest heist in U.S history. The episode is called "The Lyde & Benjamin Story"

Broke mile stones 1st based Pittsburgh actor to be on HBO'S "The Wire" and also 1st for "Americas Most Wanted

YA MOMZ HOUSE RECEIVES 2007 MID-ATLANTIC EMMY NOMINATION

Emmai Alaquiva from Ya Momz House, a full-service recording studio located in Pittsburgh ’s East Liberty section, received a Mid-Atlantic Emmy Nomination. The nomination is for music composition and arrangement for the production of several soundtracks including “In Country: A Vietnam Story”, “Jim Crow Pennsylvania”, and “From Pennsylvania’s Dutch Kitchens”.
The nomination comes as great recognition for a long road of hard work and commitment. Alaquiva, Owner and Director of Creative Services, opened the doors to Ya Momz House, then a 300 sq. ft. studio, in 2001 after being homeless for two years while working as a doorman at the Shadow Lounge and as a board operator at the now closed WURP 1550am.
The original thought for the studio was that it would be a safe and comfortable place for local music artists to come work on their music at an affordable price. The business has since expanded to a 1200 sq ft studio consisting of a Lounge Area, Control Room, and Live Room that performs a wide variety of services for clients both locally and nationally.
"My heart is filled with the deepest appreciation from every corner of my soul to be recognized amongst other talent in the country. I could not even think of accomplishing anything of this level without the people of Pittsburgh supporting me to keep my dreams alive while I try to inspire the people around me to keep theirs alive as well,” Alaquiva said.
Most recently, Ya Momz House has launched the Hip Hop on Lock Project as a way to give back to the community that has supported Ya Momz House. The project is designed to teach inner city youth tangible, life- long skills such as leadership, teamwork, and cooperative economics through the creation of a CD under a mock record label. The students learn how to write, record, and produce several songs in addition to learning how to copyright their work. At the end of the program, each student has a completed CD that they had a hand in creating.
Ya Momz House has also received two Telly Awards for soundtrack work that was completed for some other of WQED’s past documentaries.
Ya Momz House, LLC is located in East Liberty at 124 S. Highland Ave., Suite 206 , Pittsburgh , PA 15206 . Some of Ya Momz House current clients include PBS, WQED, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, The August Wilson African American Cultural Center, Dr. Goddess, GetGO, Giant Eagle, Malik Yoba, Michael Blackson, Raheem Devaugn, Slum Village, HutchSimon Project, Nathan James, Vanessa German and more.
Some of the services provided at Ya Momz House are audio/live recording; mixing; mastering; music production; mix tape production; Radio and TV commercials; VoiceOvers/Aircheck demos; Sound design for theater; performance soundtracks; step-show contracts; retail store mix CD's; Film Scoring; Artist development; visual design (CD covers, posters, business cards); CD Duplication; ASCAP/ BMI registration; and listening sessions/release parties.

HARRY BELAFONTE ON PITTSBURGH AND MINISTER JASIRI X AND PARADISE GRAY SPEAK

Minister Jasiri X:

As I was preparing for the press conference I thought about the type of statement I could make that not only would let my point across succinctly but that the media would highlight।I knew if I said definitively that two Pittsburgh's exist; one wealthy, white, and most livable and one poor, black, and disadvantaged the press would jump all over it। I was right। But I can't take the credit for it. The University of Pittsburgh study says that in Pittsburgh blacks live largely in segregated communities where they are disadvantaged by poor transportation and waning public safety and where 75 percent of the families are headed by black females. Even though many of us did not need a study to know this is our reality, why are so many of us afraid to state the obvious in plan language? Why are we so careful not to offend when a blind man can see that race matters? Ask the Duquesne High School students why West Mifflin and East Allegheny doesn't want them. They use code words like overcrowding, crime and security but we know the real reason is because they are Black. Sadly the reason that Pittsburgh's black leadership is so quiet is because activism has now become an occupation. You can make big bucks being a community activist nowadays. You can get a radio show, start a non-profit, or someday even run for office. So don't go messing up your chance to get money by doing something crazy like telling the truth! No matter how many children lack opportunities, become poorly educated, or are murdered on the street. Keep blaming rap music and protesting TV shows, but whatever you do, don't bring up race! Just keep cashing those checks.
Ezekiel 34
Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe yourselves with the wool, ye kill the ones that are fed; but ye feed not the flock.Thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require My flock at their hand and cause them to cease from feeding the flock, neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more. For I will deliver My flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. - Minister Jasiri X

Paradise Gray:As the NAACP "symbolically" buried the "N" word in Detroit, in Pittsburgh, PA we were burying the bodies of 18 year old Jehru Donaldson and the body of 18 year old Trevor Greer।I quietly stood in the back of 2 different Churches in 2 weeks and listened as the lives of these young men were eloquently eulogized। As I wiped at the tears in my eyes, I took in the whole scene confused and amazed at how many people were stuffed into these churches to show love for Pittsburgh's slain sons। I couldn't help but think to myself "where are all of these people as we scream for help at the tops of our lungs that someone needs to step up and stand up, to help keep these same young people that we claim to love so much in death, alive"? In fact every Church in every "Hood" is always filled to capacity as we eulogize and pray for our dead young all across "Clipsburgh Pistolvania"। The question that continues to bang inside my head is when are we finally going to have enough of this carnage? Haven't we seen enough of our children in fresh new caskets as our leaders languish in symbolism?When are we going to get to the root causes of violence in our communities? Haven't we customized enough R।I।P. T-Shirts? Haven't we tattooed enough images and names of dead homies and loved one's on our bodies? Haven't we seen enough families torn with pain? Have we heard the cries of enough mothers yet? What of the ones who are still living? Do we care enough and love them enough to finally come outside of our homes, churches, synagogues and mosques to begin to formulate and implement a plan of action that would educate and employ a generation of young men and women who have no hope for the future? It is overtime for us to get off of our asses and ensure a future for our children and release our elders from the prisons that their homes have become. According to the New Pittsburgh Courier one of our Elders and true leaders who risked his life so that black Pittsburgh residents could receive gainful employment and inclusion in the labor unions (in the construction industry) Nate Smith was viciously attacked on July 13th in the Homewood section of Pittsburgh. Nate Smith is a civil rights legend who would lay down in front of bull dozer's to get jobs for our people. That he would be mugged not far from his home, in his own neighborhood is disgusting. Who have we become that we would harm our own elders who championed our causes? Who are we to watch in silence as our children murder our children? Do not wait for your child to be murdered or arrested for someone else's murder to get involved, do not wait until you mourn your loved ones. Consider this a personal invitation to join us at "The Pittsburgh Gathering" where we will gather as a community and come away with ACTION! What are WE going to do to effect change for our children, our elders and our families? We are the ones that we have been waiting for.Please join with us to organize and implement real answers and solutions to insure our future NOW!

Click Here to see video footage of the previous Gatherings! http://www.youtube.com/gathering4justice

Please feel free to contact us for more information or log on to our websites:

National - http://www.thegatheringforjustice.org/

Local - www.myspace.com/pghgathering
All events are FREE however due to space limitations we just ask that you Pre-Register.

Email pittsburghgathering@gmail.com or call 412-853-2199. Friday, August 3, 2007 - 7:00pm -12:00amThe Pittsburgh Regional Gathering Kick Off ConcertFeaturing Wise Intelligent of Poor Righteous Teachers, Minister Jasiri X, Cynik Lethal,Ya Lioness, Classic 1824, M-Team, Blessed music. Hosted by Paradise Gray (X-Clan)and Luqman Abdus-Salam.Shadow Lounge5972 Baum Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15206Saturday, August 4, 2007 - 9:00am - 3:00pm"The Pittsburgh Gathering" Take Action to Save Our Youth ConferenceKeynote Speaker Fred Hampton JrPanels on Education, Economics, Politics, the Role of the Church, the Role of Media, and Criminal Justice Hosted By The Metro Urban InstitutePittsburgh Theological Seminary616 North Highland AvenuePittsburgh, Pa 15206Saturday August 4th, 2007 - 9:00 pmTribute to the life and times of the X-Clan's Lumumba "Professor X" Carson (August 4th 1959 - March 17th 2006) . Hosted by Paradise "The Arkitech" Gray featuring a special performance by NYOil and special guest Black Dot author of "De-coding The Hip-hop Matrix". The Undaground Lounge 607 East Ohio StreetPittsburgh, PA। 15212Sunday, August 5, 2007 - 3:00pm-5:00pm Service in the StreetsThe Pittsburgh Regional Gathering Encourages all Churches, Mosques, and Synagogues to have Service Outside in the Community। Interfaith Service and Community WalkBethesda Presbyterian Church7220 Bennett Street Pittsburgh, PA 15208--

Paradise GrayOne Hood

Http://www.myspace.com/onehoodorg
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