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Meet King James Chavez

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Today we’d like to introduce you to King James Chavez.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My story begins as a Nine-year-old Kid in Phoenix, Az. My Initial Dream growing up was to be an NBA Star for the LA Lakers. But one day the Art of Theatre and the Craft of Acting was introduced to me. I was in Elementary School, and word spread around that we would be participating in an upcoming School Play. I had no prior knowledge of Theatre, and as far as I knew, it was nowhere to be found within my Family lineage. I can remember jumping on stage for the first time for our first rehearsal, and most of my Peers struggled to channel the emotions that were required for the particular scene that we were. But channeling those emotions became so effortless for me to do. It was right there and then that I was “bit with the acting big” as it is often said in Theatre and Film. I would continue on with my academic years through Grade School, Junior High and High School with my Dream to be in the NBA, but also carrying a passion for the Arts. More specifically, the art of Theatre and Acting. In most Schools, you would have to choose Sports or the Arts because their schedules would often clash. But I was fortunate to attend a School where I could participate in both, and the timing of both required practice and rehearsal schedules would always fall in line with one another. I would continue to perform in both Platforms until I graduated High School in my Junior year.

Being that I graduated a year early, I took a semester off from enrolling in College and applied for my first Job at a Shoe store. Ironically it was a Business that marketed themselves as being the top establishment to sell Sports clothing and equipment. With a strong emphasis on Basketball gear. It was the perfect place for me to be employed because of my Love for Sneakers, and discounts on the gear that I would need in training for College Ball. I got the Job and worked full time, and at night I would play a lot of Park ball to train and prepare for my next level of competition. At this point in my Life, it meant that I no longer had the time to audition, attend rehearsals and perform in Theatrical Plays. Or so I thought. It was something that I was passionate about, but I knew moving forward that eventually, the time would come for me to put it aside to put all my energy into training for College Ball. Aspiring to become a College Basketball phenom meant that training would have to be my top priority, Being that I was still of High School age, I enrolled myself in the Boys & Girls Club’s (Ladmo Branch) Basketball program. I had a long history of playing Ball at both the Tempe and Mesa locations, throughout the years, so naturally, I fit right in. I eventually quit my Job at the shoe store to focus on Basketball and continuing my Education as a Freshman at South Mountain Community College.

My first Semester or College and Final run at the Boys & Girls Club would come to their conclusion around the same time. I would no longer of “High School age” to be eligible to continue playing in the Club Leagues. I began College in a Spring Semester, which meant I would have to wait until the next Academic school year to get the opportunity to try out for College Ball. When I began my first semester, I went in with a plan of learning Computer Science to have as my plan B in case the NBA didn’t work out for me. The funny thing is, when people would ask me if I had a “Plan B” in case I didn’t make the League, I would tell them about studying Computer Science. But every single time that I would answer the questions, I didn’t feel confident while talking about it. But I still proceeded to get the education and tell the World of my alternate career plans. During my first Summer off from College, a Life altering situation occurred that would change the course of my Life forever. I took on a part-time Job as a Work Study in the SMCC Computer Lab. While I was at work, I took the biggest slip and fall of my Life as I slipped over a small pool of Water on the ground. Needless to say, my hopes and Dreams of being an LA Laker also took the Fall with me. The slip and fall caused major injury to my Mid and Lower Back, ultimately meaning that I could not Physically perform at a high enough level to College Ball. Or to pursue a run at being Drafted into the League.

After my injury occurred, I would take a Semester and Summer off from College to try to heal Physically, Mentally and Emotionally. After about a year from the time of my injury, I would finally come to grips with the fact that my Basketball Dreams had ended. I had so much Love for the game that I eventually stepped back on the Court and continued to play for years to come. During my season of Healing and Recuperating, I began a deep reflection on my Life. What I had gone through, and where I was headed in the Future, deep down inside of me, I knew that Computer Science was just not the path that I was meant to take. That is definitely not a knock on the Profession. It’s something that is needed now more than ever, in this technological World that we live in today. I just knew in my Heart that God had placed me to do other things in Life. During this season of my Life being sidelined and bedridden, I rediscovered the Joy and Passion that I had for Acting. One day I realized that it was a gift that God had blessed me with. It was something that I naturally knew how to do without training. I then imagined where I could take that Passion, with the proper Training and the Experience that I would gain from it. From that point on all I could think about is my Craft and my Future with it, and reminisced about all of the memories that it created from years past. One day I went to see my College advisor to enroll in my Final semester at SMCC. I shared with him the idea of leaving behind Computer Science and beginning the Journey toward becoming a Professional and Full time working Actor. He could feel the passion in my voice as I talked about it and said that I answered my own question.

My plan was always to move on from SMCC to the next academic level at Arizona State University. Initial it was to play Ball for the Sun Devils. The same plan was still in place, but this time on a different path. My advisor begins showing me what my entire academic Journey at ASU would look like in pursuit of achieving a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre and Fine Arts. I vividly still remember how I felt looking through each course and the entire landscape of what it would take to achieve something of this magnitude. It was as though my inner “Eye of the Tiger” came out. And the goosebumps and that followed was all of the confirmation that I needed. Right there and then I officially made the decision to take on my Greatest challenge and begin the Journey to achieve my Dream and Passion. My advisor would warn me of the trials that I might experience along the way. But he had all of the confidence in the World that I would rise to the challenge and complete it. Sooner after that day and time, I would apply to, and be accepted into the ASU Theatre program. After finishing my requirements owed to SMCC and eventually Graduating from there, I immediately begin the Journey toward achieving my Dream. Three years, countless Trials and Tribulations, and several courses later; I would become the very first person in my Family to achieve a Bachelor’s Degree from a Major University. A degree in Theatre and Fine Arts. It was the day of my Graduation that King James Chavez was born. Which also was a new beginning and task in my Journey to achieve Greatness.

Fast forward ten years and countless Life and career experiences, I am still on that very same Journey. Closer than ever to seeing it all come to fruition. I am currently an eligible member of the Actors Union SAG (Screen Actors Guild), and months away from having my very first Feature Film “Girl, Wired” released to the World. And here we are today…

Has it been a smooth road?
Not at all. I don’t believe I’ve ever heard a story of anyone who’s achieved Greatness and Conquered the Road to their Dream, have it all go smoothly for them. I experienced struggles in every area of my Life and Career. From having “Family” and “Friends” turn against me, to dealing with Instructors at ASU who told me to my face that I would fail and purposely made my time there extremely difficult to be successful; to deal with all the Trials that come with any Journey toward achieving your Dreams. One day very soon they will all be detailed in my Book.

We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I am a working Actor/Voice Actor with an accomplished Resume in Theater, Film, TV and Web series’ under my Belt. I am widely known as a Hard working Actor, who’s Passion for his Craft and propelled him from his humble beginnings; to building and achieving the reputation that I have today. I put my Heart and Soul into all of the work that I do, And always try to not only put my best foot forward but also to help make the people around me, be their very best. I’m a big believer in the Bible scripture in Proverbs 27:17 which talks about Iron sharpening Iron. I believe we can all do that for one another if we all have the purest intentions behind it. I am most proud of my Craft and the Creations that have come from it. Taking roles that were created to only be minor parts in the grand scheme of the story, and making them my own and bring new Life to them. Ultimately making the characters larger than life, or larger than originally intended.

I’m also proud of the King James Chavez Brand and the lives that it’s touched. I try to encourage, uplift and inspire as many people as I can; through the Success in my Career and also the life that God has blessed me to Live. I often cross paths with people around town or at Special engagements, who’ve approached me to tell me that they follow my Social Media and have been inspired by my work ethic, or something that I’ve done. It’s an extremely humbling experience. I never set out to inspire the world, but it’s a role that I’ve adjusted to and gradually accepted over the years. My work ethic, appearance, voice, and swagger set me apart from the rest. All of these attributes that God has given me have organically helped me create my own lane. I believe that I am not in competition with no one and constantly compete with myself and my works of the past.

Aside from Acting, I also work with Fashion Designers to edit their Music and create their official Show Mixes that are played during their actual Runway shows. Most of my work has been featured during Phoenix Fashion Week. In both the actual Fashion Week in the Fall, the annual Spring show (Spring Into Style), and the Summer runway show (Shop Garment District). I also work part-time with Phoenix Fashion Week as their personal Security for all of their annual events. Songwriting is also something that I do on the side. Music is another passion of mine, so Songwriting has always come Natural to me.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I plans are to continually grow and evolve in my Craft and Industry. I’m looking to relocate to the Mecca of Film and TV, Los Angeles, in the next few years. Although I work on projects here in Phoenix, doors have been opening for me in LA, and also some potential International roles. So the plan is to Ultimately be based in LA, but open to travel wherever the Craft takes me.

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Image Credit:
QVision

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