A NEW ROLE

As many of you may know by now, I model as well as train to become an actor. Modeling is  a lot like acting in the sense that you have to become a character and portray that character to the best of your ability. So a few days ago I got a call to do a magazine cover. Lord knows I need the money so I begin to ask more details about the project. The more I inquire about the project the more that I begin to realize what I am getting myself into. After a full description of the project, concept, and the team that would be shooting, I asked the million dollar question. What kind of magazine is this?

The man takes a pause and says its a LGBT Magazine directed towards African Americans. If you're not aware that acronym is for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transexual. Within seconds, a million thoughts ran through my mind. I finished the conversation and as I always do I asked if i could give a call back in about an hour with a decision. 

I hung up the phone and thought about the kind of image my face on the magazine would bring and what it could do to my career. Then I thought about my family and their reaction and the friends that I have with the amount of jokes that i would have to endure. Then i thought about what was most important, my career.

I thought about the cast of RENT, Will Smith in Six Degrees of Separation, and the overall ability to be comfortable with a role that is given. I know that being on this cover doesn't make me gay. I also know that people have a hard time separating what they see in the entertainment world from reality. Most importantly, I know that being on the cover of a nationwide magazine and the possibility of gaining over a million new eyes is an amazing opportunity. 

I called my mother and talked to her about the situation. This wasn't to ask for her permission but to let her know that I was considering the job and know that she will still have grandkids the natural way from me some day LOL. 

I called back the publisher of the magazine and let him know that I would be honored to be the face on his seasonal magazine. We sat on the phone and booked my ticket to travel to Washington, DC. 

I know the possibility of flack that I can catch from this. I know that this may be a hinder to some other projects. But I am confident that if i don't begin to take some risks in this world of entertainment, I may not move further than a lot of other actors that do not take risks.

-- J. Rashod