Today we’d like to introduce you to Trent Walker.
Trent, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. From an early age, I wrote music and acted in neighborhood productions that I’d produce in my garage. I also started a pop group called “The Bubble Gums”. We sang Elvis songs and made up dances mostly for the school talent show.
I didn’t like the prejudice towards black people that was going on in my community so I got my friend Doug, another white kid, and two black girls in my class to form “The Bubble Gums”. This really stirred things up in my school and hopefully opened up the eyes and hearts of people a little more. I’ve always felt very strongly about people’s rights and everyone belonging.
I did plays in high school and local theatres and was a theater major in college at the University of Tennessee with a minor in voice. I ended up dropping out in my second year when I was discovered by a talent scout and ended up moving to Texas to sing at Six Flags Over Texas and began a modeling career. I was a model for about five years, moved to Nashville and became a talent agent, and then moved to New York to study acting. That was one of the smartest things I’ve ever done. I ended up doing a recurring role on a soap opera and then moved to Los Angeles and started working in film and television.
As time went on I started writing and producing my own content. I have produced a couple of short films, one brought me a Cannes Film Festival Best Actor Award. I also wrote and produced an award-winning TV/Web Series called “Gaybors” and my new Web Series “Twisted Brothers” just started.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has not always been a smooth road. Not at all. There have been many bumps along the way. I think that is how show business works. You get some breaks here and there and then you may have some slow times. There is no guarantee that you will always be working. There is actually no guarantee that you will ever get a single job. So, when you do, count your lucky stars.
I may audition over and over again and for whatever reason, I may not get those jobs. If I create my own stuff I can always be creating and writing and acting. I’m not one to sit around complaining that there is no work. There is plenty of work if you really want to do it. Sometimes, I’ll get booked on a major film or tv show and that can bring in very good money.
And sometimes I’m making my own sets and creating characters and shooting scenes and not making a dime. I think you really have to love doing it whether you are paid or walk the red carpet or not. And there is nothing else I enjoy more than acting and writing music. Well, spending time with my friends and sweetheart is up there too.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’d say I’m known for a couple of the first film roles I did when I moved to L.A. I was the “Mellow Greetings, what seems to be your boggle?” guard in “Demolition Man”. and was the “I”m fightin’ for my rats” rebel prisoner in the movie “Gettysburg”. I’ve done many other roles in theatre, film, and TV, but those are the lines people say to me the most. I never get tired of hearing them quote my lines back to me. I get a kick out of it. I also did the film “Gods and Generals.” Warner Brothers has been very good to me.
I specialize in character roles. I geek out on diving into a character and seeing what makes them tick. It’s fun to play a wide range of characters. I may play a murdering husband or a drag queen. I play upper class and lower class. Put me in a suit and tie or in rags on the street I don’t care. It’s all fun to me. I guess I’ve always been a kid at heart and I am lucky I get to play make-believe as a grown man.
I am proud of most of the content I’ve created. When the pandemic started I created a TV/Webs Series called “Gaybors.” It is about a gay couple who become obsessed with their new neighbor Emma. I shot two seasons, 16 episodes, in my apartment with my iPhone. I was both cast and crew and the series ended up winning 10 Best TV/ Web Series awards and it just got picked up for distribution on a new streaming site called Flix.Film. I sure never saw that coming and I’m super proud of it.
My new series is called “Twisted Brothers” and I play all the characters in it also. It is a comedy, horror, suspense show and the characters are very different than those in “Gaybors.” It just started with a new episode coming out each week and both shows can be seen on my YouTube channel.
I’d say what sets me apart is my unique look at life and humor. I will take something very serious and turn it on its head and see what I can shake out. There is humor in almost everything and I like exploring it with the characters I write.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I have so many childhood memories. I write about them all the time. I loved Christmas and Halloween and all the holidays. We didn’t have a lot, but my mom and grandmother would make it very special for us. I liked playing outside as a kid. Making forts, riding bikes, making up plays, going to the 7-11 for a Slurpee.
As I grew older most of the little boys in my neighborhood were into cars, smoking pot, heavy metal, sports that kind of stuff. I was a theater kid. I felt a bit like an outsider a lot of the time. So I’d escape into country music. I’m a huge Dolly Parton fan. I of course had a Farrah Fawcett poster on my wall, but I had a Dolly poster too. I enjoyed collecting old stuff, drawing, making up shows, singing, acting and playing air hockey.
I had a tent and collected teddy bears and I slept in that tent in my room for years. They ended up taking the bed out of my room and I’d escape into the tent with my teddy friends, some flashlights, and a big bag of candy.
Contact Info:
- Email: trentwalkerfilms@gmail.com
- Website: www.trentwalker.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trentwalker_actor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gaybors
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TrentWalker
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/trent-walker-music
- Other: https://www.patreon.com/trentwalker?fan_landing=true
Image Credits
Andy Rooney, Toshiya Shibusawa, Trent Walker Entertainment, and Kate Calvert
