Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathanael Rogers.
Hi Nathanael, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It all started for me when I was about 17 years old and I had auditioned for a role in the school play. I had always wanted to be involved in drama in high school but I was also in JROTC at my former school and never had the time. All that changed once my mom moved us to a new area and school. I was in chorus and helped out in about 2 or 3 of the drama productions, one of them being Shrek the Musical. Even though I had a passion for acting and music, I still was unsure of what to do with my life, and the military seemed like the best option for me. My dad is a Marine, My grandpa (on my mom’s side) is a Marine, so I decided I’d be one too. It was a very different and new experience altogether, even though I knew what to expect. I spent the majority of my time in Quantico, VA, where I met some of the craziest people of my life. It was while I was in my second year of being in the military, I knew for sure I wanted to be in the film industry, and to be an actor. I was honorably discharged in July of 2018, and by September I had driven by myself to San Francisco from ATL with all the stuff that I could fit inside my 2001 Jeep Cherokee. I was attending Academy of Art University for a BFA in acting, and I loved the classes. But it was also the furthest away I had been from home. I really enjoyed how untethered I was there, but I lost sight of some goals. I later found out after my first full year there that I was in a 5-year degree program, which wasn’t great for me since I was relying on the GI Bill to pay for school. I ended up finishing my first year and basically had to take a break from school. I had started working as a tour guide for a Segway Company and it was honestly one of the best jobs I’ve ever had. I finally moved back to Georgia at the end of 2019, and by January I was working in HVAC for Pinnacle Heating & Air. I enjoyed the work but I knew I couldn’t stay there forever. I started looking at different film schools, and I had planned on applying to New York Film Academy, but then I heard about Full Sail and decided to see what they were about. Now that I’m here, I honestly can’t imagine where else I would have gone. I’ve been able to act in about 4 or 5 student films and have also helped out as a PA on 2 other student films. I am very grateful to be in a place where I can do what I love and work with like-minded creatives. It’s been extremely eye-opening and has challenged me to perfect my skills. I can’t wait for what’s in store.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been everything but smooth. I’ve messed up a lot. I was almost homeless in the summer of 2019 while in San Francisco, and I was also arrested for a DUI in 2020. I got my car towed and kept in the impound since I couldn’t pay the ridiculous fines they wanted me to pay. I have definitely had to accept some hard truths and really reflect on what I wanted, but since coming to Full Sail, I feel like I’m back on track and going for what I want in life. A lot of my struggles were self-inflected, but they were necessary lessons for me and have helped mold me into the person I am today. Now I know to take my time cause like they used to say when I was in the Corps: Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a full-time student currently at Full Sail University in the Film Bachelor’s program, but I have a passion for acting. Since coming to Full Sail alone, I’ve worked on and acted in 5 separate student films, and with plans to work in 2 more later this month. I am always willing to help out whenever, I always keep things professional, and I’m really proud of my attention to detail. I feel like the USMC pounded that into my brain so I always try to catch the little things that some people miss. I have a unique perspective and viewpoint that I want to express to others through film.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Life is chaotic; find what’s important to you and stick with that.
Also, our lives can be so easily disrupted. Never take for granted all of the simple joys of life.
Contact Info:
- Email: naterogers96@yahoo.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathan.rogers.3975012
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClz8_hk1UCF_kjsznAHFFuQ
