Meet Gerren Ard

We recently connected with Gerren Ard and have shared our conversation below.

Gerren, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

My confidence and self-esteem, huh?

Well, there’s a saying:
“A MAN will stand up for himself. A HERO will stand up for others.”

I usually pictured myself as the “hero” in my personal story.

The earliest memories in my life were spent watching 70s and 80s television shows and these were some of the most positive, morally and ethically driven shows around. They handled difficult topics on a weekly basis and you always learned something new through humor!

Topics of race, protest, charity and generosity were common and this is how I grew my desire for justice.

I can tell you, as a child watching Norman Lear-programming, I was indoctrinated with learning how to treat others respectfully, demanding proper treatment in return, and using critical thinking – along with compassion – to solve complex problems. With shows like: “Good Times,” “Diff’rent Strokes,” “The Jeffersons,” “Webster…” there was always a race, class, gender, age or ethical issue brought to the forefront. Usually, within these 30-minute shows, a solution was offered and the offender was defeated (or had a change of heart). HOPE always prevailed… which was crucial for a child of dark skin.

We were told:

– Say “NO” to drugs!
– “Stay in School!”
– “Reading is Fundamental!”

The youth today would probably laugh at these catchphrases, but this was a way of life for me as a young child and it continued through to my adulthood.

To this day:

– I have never once been drunk
– I have never smoked a cigarette
– I have never taken an illegal substance
– I have never joined a gang
– I have never shoplifted or stolen anything
– I have never been arrested (knock on wood)

I continue to be a law-abiding citizen… even when the law is not always in my favor.

I continue to be a God-fearing man… even when bad things happen.

I say this as a Black man that grew up in the hood and as a professional wrestler with every vice passed in front of his face. It takes courage and strength to lead a positive life… one contradictory or uncommon to the struggles you were raised in. Many of the boys that went to elementary school with me ended up on drugs, in prison or dead. Meanwhile, I’m signing autographs, producing feature films and buying vowels on national television.

How does this happen?

We all sat in the same classrooms, read from the same books, rode the same bus, wore the same clothes… but our lives turned out drastically different.

It’s amazing what happens in your life when you’re around good-natured people with positive perspectives and a desire for growth! We had love and discipline in our household. We upheld progressive positions that moved us forward with plenty of room for opportunity and support.

WE put GOD first.

I have an inner joy that is abundant because I put God in control of my life. HE strengthens me to be confident. HE gives me direction and wisdom. HE even gives me the power to forgive. That’s what grace can do for you. Not every day is perfect… but you learn to appreciate what you’re given. There’s ALWAYS someone suffering worse than you. Some people didn’t even wake up this morning… but YOU did! Be gracious for it.

For those who live in a constant state of misery, look within yourself and push forward. You need a breakthrough in your life; A CHANGE needs to occur! MISERY is optional… it’s a choice. YOUR best life ahead is waiting… but it starts with YOU.

There is a self-destructive type of mindset common in today’s society.

We seek out people’s flaws and shortcomings. We wait for people to fail and exploit their humiliation. We aim our cameras in the direction of foolishness to garner “likes” and boost our egos one click at a time.

This kind of behavior never did anything for me, in fact, I found it to be very juvenile. I was always more mature-minded than most of my peers, which made my journey exemplary.

I feel that the world needs a “look-out…” someone who has your best interest in mind. I consider that kind of person to be of tremendous character.

See, we were taught as children that we could accomplish anything we wanted to if we put our minds to it. I truly believed it, but more importantly, I LIVED it!

I still draw my confidence in knowing that I WILL BE a top-tier player in ANY arena I choose to enter.

WHY..?

Because, confident people stand comfortably in their own shoes. They aren’t jealous or hateful because THEY exemplify “greatness!”

I’ve ALWAYS considered myself, “greatness.”

The way I carry myself dictates it… and the work I’ve produced proves it.

————–

“TWICE for HALF.”

This philosophy is ingrained within American Black culture. It means that we, as Black people, must work TWICE as hard to receive HALF as much.

My personal court story is a prime example…

I can tell you that one of the most difficult things I have ever done in recent years was having to legally fight for my pay as an artist.

I took an individual to trial in a district court with absolutely NO lawyer representation… and WON!

To represent yourself in a federal district court against the head of a law firm – AT TRIAL – takes moxie. I’m one of the few men in AMERICAN HISTORY to ever do this.

To give you an idea, there have been more people sent into outer space than accomplish this feat! The odds were stacked against me, and theoretically, my victory should never have happened! This was the equivalent of a child fighting Mike Tyson ALL 12 rounds to a victory by unanimous decision. Now, imagine if Mike Tyson was using dirty tricks and underhanded tactics the whole time! This is what I had to encounter, yet, I prevailed.

It took confidence, my writing and storytelling skills, the truth, and God almighty to pull me through.

NEVER mess with a child of God.

I don’t have to tell you how much court fees are or how much a lawyer will cost you, but it’s expensive, to say the least.

SO, what did I receive for my trouble over three long years of court appearances and filings..?

ONE DOLLAR.

Some may say, this could be a good reason to LOSE your self-esteem and confidence… but no, on the contrary, it only boosted my self-esteem and confidence. I won, fair and square. I played THEIR game and beat them at it! While these attorneys were cheating and tipping the scales in their favor, the only thing I used was THE TRUTH. WHO is the real bad-a$$ in that scenario? I’m even MORE confident because I EARNED my victory!

To be considered such a threat that you’ll find a way to CHEAT me..? That’s the story of Black America, folks: “TWICE for HALF.” BUT, my spirit will never be broken because I KNOW what’s owed to me. God is good… and He’s got my back. I’m unstoppable!

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m a man of many hats…
Being JUST one thing always bothered me.

I’m an artist.

I’m a professional wrestler.
I’m a ring-announcer.
I’m a filmmaker.
I’m a graphic designer.
I’m a storyteller.
I’m a writer.

It’s funny…

A college I attended used to tell me, “Pick a specialty and be REALLY good at that ONE specialty, alone! You’ll find better success in the job market!”

That couldn’t have been any further from the truth.

This was an art school. We were modeling body parts, environments and vehicles in 3D, only to be replaced by realistic laser scanning a few years later. A lot of students weren’t able to find work because they weren’t well-rounded enough to hop into another field.

Fortunately, I didn’t suffer this fate.

Looking back, it was a gift that I was able to have the talent and “big picture” vision that I did.

I was able to produce the whole of a project… from conceptualization, storyboarding, modeling, character development, story-threading, writing scripts, branding (logos, websites, etc.), voice-overs, animating, filming, editing, etc., and I was used to doing the work of several people from start to finish. My projects often looked better than those who had teams working together!

Unfortunately, I graduated when the economy was going through a recession. Game companies were not looking for new employees and it was VERY difficult to find work. When no one hired me, I tried developing my own video game until my hard-drive broke and I lost all of my files.

I soon transitioned into film and made a reputation for myself, becoming recognized for documentaries which I would film, direct and edit nearly on my own.

In 2023, I became the #1 Short Filmmaker in Tucson, AZ after winning the grand prize of a film competition! This became a sign that I was doing something right. I was finally being praised for something I enjoyed doing!

Since then, I have created several feature-length documentaries, including my journey to Sony Studios as one of 70 former contestants invited to the historic 8000th episode of “Wheel of Fortune!”

We were also featured in the special “Wheel of Fortune” edition of TV Guide commemorating Pat Sajak’s retirement.

My “Wheel of Fortune” experience has also been published in the 2024 book titled, “I’d Like To Buy a Vowel: Spinning 50 Years of Wheel of Fortune” by Wesley Hyatt.

My documentary was used as a resource for the aforementioned book and garnered an award plaque by the “Wheel of Fortune Alumni Commitee” which reads:

“Your creativity, passion and vision has been the catalyst for creating magic and memories for the entire Wheel of Fortune alumni community.”

In addition:
“To know him is to cherish him… a true artist, creative visionary, and gifted storyteller who has captured our journey as an alumni community with passion, grace and wit.”

To have been recognized for my work, and awarded with such an honor in front of a prestigious group of “Wheel of Fortune” peers was an amazing experience! It’s one of the greatest days of my life. The outpouring of love that comes from this group is unbelievable and it only helps to create a tighter bond within our Alumni community.

THIS is what I do!
THIS brings me joy!

I create memories for people who wouldn’t have them otherwise… an experience that they can re-live over and over again! It’s done with professionalism, quality and emotion! I put everyone’s best image forward. I’m not interested in making my subjects look bad or embarrassing them… I paint them in their best light! I produce film projects BY MYSELF that can rival any team’s efforts.

My talents have opened a lot of doors for me, and I’ve been uniquely blessed!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1.) BE RESOURCEFUL

One of the things that often puzzle me when people see my projects is when they ask, “What camera did you use,” or “What editing program did you use?”

I hate to tell people the quality is NOT always in the hardware or the software… The quality comes from the person behind it.

When you have imagination and skill, it SHOWS!

There’s nothing worse than hearing about a crew of people with professional equipment and a sizeable budget producing a poor project.

You can take a cell phone and produce an award-winning film. I know, because I’ve done it.

You can make a beautiful, world-renowned website using your computer’s “notepad.” I know, because I’ve done it.

You can become a fashion statement without buying expensive gear or name brand apparel. I know, because I’ve done it.

Let me give you some insight…

I used to drive my instructors crazy whenever they questioned the thought processes behind my artwork. They would ask, “What made you do that in your piece?” I would often reply, “Because it felt good.”

My answer, although truthful, was generally unacceptable by their standards.

The truth was, I allowed my art to be what IT wanted to be. I was only a vessel through which the art spoke. I’m a great artist on my own… but to have access to another level of thinking is paramount to my success. This is why I’m graciously able to thank God for my inspirations. Many ideas are not my own… I’m merely in the right place with the right tools and an ear to receive direction and guidance. You must be spiritually resourceful and available to find these gifts.

If you notice… there are people in this world that function on higher levels than the common man. People that, when they enter the room, the molecules change. There’s something unexplainable and unforgettable about them… and you know it when you see it or experience it. You simply can’t teach this.

What I will say is…

You can influence the next generation of artists and thinkers by simply performing at your very best. You never know who is watching you and you never know how your presence can impact somebody. You may never receive credit or a “thank you” for your contributions… but that’s ok. You’ve made your mark, and you served a purpose that you were meant to serve. Be gracious and appreciative for your blessings.

I’ve come across MANY people who did not want my talents or abilities, or even value my being. Of course, I was mad at the time… who wouldn’t be upset over rejection? However, I took solace in knowing that the blessings I would’ve been able to provide weren’t meant FOR THEM. Go elsewhere and find your purpose.

Notice, I did NOT say “Go find someone else who will appreciate you.”

You cannot expect humans to provide you with happiness; YOU have to be in control of your own happiness. Don’t ever place your worth or your value in the hands of another human being. People will disappoint you more times than not.

Be resourceful in finding anything what makes you happy, peaceful and productive. If you can find joy in the small victories, the larger victories will soon follow.

2.) LEARN AND RESPECT HISTORY

You’d be surprised how many ideas/songs/stories that you think are original have already been created or inspired from older works of art!

For example, if you believe Bruno Mars is an excellent dancer, check out Michael Jackson. If you think MJ is excellent, check out James Brown. If you think James Brown is excellent, check out The Nicholas Brothers! If you think they’re awesome, check out Cab Calloway! Each artist was influential during their time, yet, was inspired by their predecessors!

There’s nothing wrong with finding your own way studying the steps of the masters and pioneers before you.

Let me tell you a story…

I went to Chicago recently with a group of youth leaders and found myself disappointed at their lack of interest in culture and history. It seemed almost non-existent.

Here I am, indulging in an Italian beef sandwich sitting in a speakeasy once occupied by Al Capone, located on a street immortalized in film for having one of the greatest cop chases of all time (The Blues Brothers).

I’m embraced with all of this culture… and some of these youngsters had no interest in it. They would rather eat McDonalds in a hotel room playing video games online.

I was heartbroken.

How can you be oblivious to all of this greatness surrounding you?

The past is slowly disappearing.

There are movements to stop children from learning cursive, reading certain books or understanding their rights as citizens and us older people are not investing in their development like we should. Our institutions have let them down and WE have let them down. They’re losing trust in our guidance and direction as a society, and it shows.

This is our fault.

We have allowed the world around them to be seen as a joke not worth taking seriously.

I would encourage them to start learning about their heroes and develop a healthy respect for the past. Discuss documentaries and look at old television shows and movies. Make history relatable to you.

For instance, IF you were gay and had aspirations to become the first gay President of the United States… what if I told you, we already had one?

“What!? WHO!?”
“Look it up. When you think you’ve found him, come back! Let’s discuss it.”

The typical person is not going to care about history unless they can relate to it. Only then are they made to understand its significance, and when they do, they’ll never forget it.

Take them to sites and let them experience history first-hand! Take them to the Woolworth’s counter where Blacks were refused service and listen to the derogatory insults directed at them through headphones. Take them to the holocaust museum and see the boxcars that human beings were piled into and taken to concentration camps to have their belongings stripped from them and their gold teeth ripped out of their mouths before being executed.

That way, when you encounter people with the audacity to tell you that these events never happened, you can say WITH CONFIDENCE you saw the evidence for yourself… it wasn’t just a book you read.

This can be a VERY valuable learning tool, and it builds better leaders. Understanding history is a must.

History also helps you determine when’s a good time to be offended or to let something pass.

I’m finding more people that are unable to process and separate news, stories, opinions, facts, lies or jokes. Today’s culture would sooner “cancel” someone over a viewpoint or a statement that, while socially raw and unfiltered, may not have been intended to be malicious. We are censoring words that need to be heard to fully understand the gravity of its impact in history. George Carlin has one of the best comedy acts about euphemisms and how words are being sanitized to a point of ineffectiveness. Call something what it is!

The sooner we can get back on the same page with our terminologies, the sooner we can start telling the truth for what it is.

3.) GET OFF THE FENCE AND MAKE A CHOICE

Few things make me angry like hearing someone say, “… on BOTH sides!”

Go kiss a rock in motion, will ya?

I kid, but THIS is such a lazy, uneducated reply to a question. You MUST do your homework and pick a side!

There’s something called “Cause and Effect.” One thing generally leads to the other… it’s called “conflict.” If you live long enough in the company of others, you will eventually encounter CONFLICT. It’s inevitable. You can’t play the “Both Sides” argument when it comes to bullies, breakups and war!

There is NOBODY famous, influential or intelligent who “sat on a fence!”

Leaders and heroes take stances and make decisions “for” or “against.” If you choose to sit on a fence, you relinquish your right to an opinion or vote. You became a “nonfactor.” Why should I hear your opinion when you have no stance?

We are in a world where neutral-minded people want to be heard and in control.

Sorry, but you don’t get a voice.

If “choice” doesn’t matter in YOUR own mind, it certainly won’t matter in someone else’s.

Without a voice or a stance, you simply cannot lead.

What I find now are people trying so hard NOT to offend anyone, that they THEMSELVES, become ineffective.

These people change the flow of energy in a room. They can become buzz-killers, self-saboteurs and even manipulators. Whatever momentum you try to build, they can steal it from you ON PURPOSE and give it to THEMSELVES just to empower their egos by crippling your cause.

It happens in friendships, relationships, workplaces… even politics.

“Lukewarm people” WILL destroy you and I refuse to hear them out.

If someone has no position, they’re a waste of space on the battlefield. The best thing you can do, as a non-factor, is not take up our energy, waste our time, or stand in our way. We fight battles everyday… the last thing we need is another obstacle in our path.

To quote Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
“There comes a time when silence is betrayal.”
“In the end, what we remember is not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
“He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”
“The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.”

Use your voice and fight for the greater good!

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

The number one challenge I am currently facing?

TIME.

I wish I had enough time to put the detail and commitment into everything I do. Unfortunately, I’m only one man and can only dedicate my energy to a single task at a time.

I hope I’m speaking to somebody who needs to hear this…

Being a renaissance man and an over-achiever is a blessing, but sometimes it can feel like a curse.

When you have a high standard of excellence, a lot of people want a piece of your time. Your lover, your family, your employer are all vying for your attention.

IF you’re an exceptional person, EVERYONE wants you to commit to their needs and requests.
24 hours is all you get to satisfy those obligations. It can be a very draining task.

I have fallen short of this numerous times. It’s highly difficult to please everyone. In fact, I’ve often found myself neglecting to set aside time for the most important person I know… ME.

I try to assure people, “When I am with you, FOR THAT MOMENT, you are the most important use of my time.”
(Thank you “Mr. Rogers.”)

Unfortunately, the world is not perfect.

All too often, the time you try to dedicate to a cause is taken up by some other x-factor in life.

I’ve found it difficult to be the most attentive Boyfriend, Son, Grandson or Friend… especially when it comes to the projects or obligations in my own world that require attention. In many cases, I’m the ONLY one that can handle those affairs. That’s the journey I chose and my burden to bear.

To the girlfriends or wives of entertainers, celebrities or athletes… there is no easy way to get the time you require from your spouse or partner before, during, and even after showtime. We understand the issues of our absence and the lack of our attention. We KNOW it’s unfair.

The best thing you can do for us, is continue being supportive in our journey and recognize that WE chose YOU to be by our sides during that journey. All we ask in return is for YOUR support. Be OUR cheerleader! Give us the space to schmooze or take the pictures we need to… we only belong to the public for a short amount of time… but we belong to YOU always. Nobody wants to spend their energy alongside a negative person making us feel guilty over circumstances outside of our control. There’s nothing more attractive than having the love of your life cheering you on and giving you peace of mind when you need it most!

If you intend on loving an entertainer, celebrity or athlete… you must recognize the need for SPACE to keep your relationship alive.

Should the burden of emotional support be on you? No. However, there’s no need to create a situation consisting of drama or ultimatums to have your voice heard or your feelings matter. There’s no room for sabotage in a relationship.

Please, don’t ever make a man choose between his career and his woman, or vice versa. It’s difficult enough to build a strong relationship… even harder to keep it.

We should never lose trust and confidence in our best friend. Don’t push us away. Let’s find TIME.

I thank YOU, dear readers, for investing the TIME to hear my stories and views.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.blackvenom.net
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/g-brandon-ard/

Image Credits

Colleen Loomis, James Connery, Travis Thaxton