We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maurice Whitfield a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Maurice, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
What a timely question! This year, my resilience was truly put to the test. Actors and writers showed the value of self-preservation and the power of unity and intention. Most of all, we all saw the importance of not quitting. One day at a time. For as long as it takes. Never give up. This example of resilience compounded with the dual strike’s success gives me hope for a lucrative career, which gives me the sturdiness to remain, and the motivation to adapt.
I’ve devoted so much of my life to this dream that I owe it to myself to press on no matter what. My mother has given me so much support that I owe it to her to press on no matter what. She has listened to me for hours on the phone whether I was beaming with excitement or pouring out all of my industry heartaches. She has cheered me on and cheered me up year after year and always encourages me to keep going and to always remember how far I’ve come. My wife has given so much to accommodate my journey, supporting me so that I can be available for any industry auditions and networking opportunities. I owe it to her to press on, no matter what. My son, who believes in me sometimes more than I believe in myself, reminds me that he’s watching me closely, and cheering me on. I owe it to him to press on, no matter what. To all of my family and friends who have continued to support me with kind words and encouragement during hard times, offering help in any way I may need it, I promise to press on, no matter what. I’ve come too far to turn back now. This keeps me going.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am an Actor/Producer with a unique perspective, who produces high-quality content. I do this by focusing on commonalities and differences, big and small, between my experiences and the experiences of everyone around me. Using a full range of emotions, remarkable comedic timing, the specificity of the Chubbuck Technique, and the listening and “in-the-moment” nature of the Meisner technique, I paint a detailed, compelling picture of any circumstance or scenario, using my personal experiences to drive the scene.
I am also a product developer and the creator of the Whitfield Shield Bulletproof Backpack for kids and young adults. When worn as a backpack, it provides bulletproof protection for the back of the torso as well as the back of the head and neck. It also provides bulletproof protection to the child’s heart, upper chest, and middle front torso using widened straps with bulletproof panels that are secured with a connector. While maintaining complete functionality of transporting books, lunch, laptops, gym shorts, etc., this unique, patented design provides maximum protection from any violence, especially gun violence. Nothing means more to me than saving the lives of innocent children and young adults on school campuses.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three qualities that have been helpful in my journey are remaining teachable, understanding the “numbers game” nature of the entertainment industry, and remaining malleable and open to new and different paths to success. If you’re new to the industry, you can develop these qualities by attending acting classes, casting director workshops, and any opportunity to perform your craft in person for producers, directors, casting directors, and industry professionals with access to clients currently producing paid projects. By observing other actors at these events, you’ll quickly learn what works and what doesn’t regarding auditioning, overall appearance, casting preferences, and pet peeves. These are also great places to network and connect your next paying gigs. Get good at talking to strangers and finding commonalities quickly and seamlessly that can create new opportunities.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always looking to partner up and collaborate with producers, directors, writers, agents, managers, and other actors who have a common goal of showcasing a new perspective and highlighting black experiences. My favorite genres to work in are action/comedy, romantic comedy, situational comedy (sitcom), dramatic comedy (dramedy), and suspense. If you are an industry professional or creative and these are your specialty, you can find me on IG: @only_1_maurice or you can email me directly at maurice.whitfield@gmail.com. I look forward to meeting you.
I am also in the process of connecting a backpack brand to the Whitfield Shield. I am partnering with Bank On IP to find the right fit and get this backpack in stores and online as soon as possible. Save our children and protect our future with the Whitfield Shield Bulletproof Backpack. “Ultimately, you cannot control or predict what will happen when a gunman chooses a school, but you can be prepared and that will give you an advantage during a gun violence crisis.” -MLW
Contact Info:
- Website: www.whitfieldshield.com
- Instagram: @only_1_maurice
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/maurice-whitfield-42984b220
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Only1Maurice
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@smoovmo9
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/captain-maurice-whitfield?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
