William H Bryant, Jr - On Screen and Off

How has the Arts impacted your life?
The arts started becoming a way of life really.  Seeing art as something completely subjective changed my perspective and the way I look at everything.  It’s helped me refrain from judgment and open up in ways I wouldn’t have imagined before; ie. Becoming more vulnerable.  It’s an interesting place because as an actor it allows you to further understand and inhabit many different walks of life.

What inspired you to become an actor?
I am a pretty big comic book nerd. With that being said, one of the very first things that inspired me to become an actor were super heroes.  Having always looked up to the different Marvel and DC superheroes I thought to myself, “I’m going to become one of them.”

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What has been the most difficult aspect of the business for you?
One of the most difficult aspects of being in this business has been not knowing when your next job is going to be and in turn trying to stay positive and in a good head space while in between gigs.  Learning this type of patience has been quite the learning process.

What was it that made you audition for the role of Aaron on Greenleaf? How was the experience?
The Greenleaf audition was actually a same day audition sent by my agent.  They actually called me while I was on my way to another audition and told me to re-route and get to the Greenleaf audition asap while I was in an Uber.  So I had to tell my driver to switch destinations, then cram for this audition while I was in the car.

What type of training and preparation do you engage in to maintain a cutting edge in such a competitive industry?
I usually try to stay sharp by taking different types of classes and lessons as well as making sure my body is taken care of health-wise.  Training in scene-study classes to voice lessons to audition/self tape preparation.  Then the gym and a little yoga or meditation to keep the mind right.

What ritual do you engage before an audition?
Leading up to an audition I just make sure I’m well rested/nourished and that I have the lines locked in and ready to go.  I don’t like over thinking so I try not to make it too significant, while obviously still making sure I feel comfortable enough to give it my best.

What other projects have you embarked upon?
When I first started acting I actually did a couple episodes on re-enactment shows which were pretty fun.  Then upon moving to LA ended up making an appearance on a Soap Opera in between shooting Greenleaf.  I also have a couple other projects that I’m working on creating myself but I really feel like I’m just getting started here so there will be much more to come!

What other character would you like to play and why?
One of my dreams would be to play John Stewart as Green Lantern. Like I said, I love comic books and this character actually happens to be one of my favorite.  I think seeing diverse superheroes is also quite powerful.  Growing up I thought it was so cool to see Black superheroes because it sends the message that one day I can be one too.  He was also the first Black Superhero to appear in DC Comics.

What advice would you give someone who seeks to be an entertainer?
I would say patience is one of the most important things to learn.  Obviously you want to be proactive and keep working hard to be ready for your opportunity but things wont always go at the pace you expect or want them to.  So hanging in there, being patient, and constantly preparing for your opportunity, in my opinion,  can be very rewarding.
 
About William Bryant:
Hailing from San Francisco, California, William comes from an athletic background having played collegiate football.  He decided to make the transition of acting and modeling upon graduating from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada. William has appeared in TV shows such as The Young and the Restless and Greenleaf, as well as different films and several stage plays.

Follow William:
Instagram: @thewilljr
Twitter: @thewilljr100