Talking with Walt Simpson III

I'm taking a little break from Empire Building, again,  to do an interview with another famous friend of mine.His name - Walter Simpson III. I went to Prep School with this brother, for a semester, then he went on to greener pastures...and girls.We were in an all boys school , after all! (insert laugh track here)

He was a basketball star at school.They called him "Mike" and he had Michael Jordan moves, to boot!He was a Freshman who STARRED in the Varsity League! That's an accomplishment, "for your ass"!

He also had the ability to study and memorize the words in whatever book he had to study from.Word for word. It only makes since, as far as memorizing lines, that he made the transition.

I caught up with "Mike" recently for an interview. This is what he had to say:

Walter "Mike" Simpson III

INQ:  Knowing you in school, you were an athlete. What got you into acting?

Walt: Basketball was and still is my first love. however, it was around my 3rd year in college that i realized my passion for acting during an impromptu play where some group on campus needed me to play Frederick Douglas. From there the interest grew & lead me to a local theatre in Baltimore called arena players...and then eventually i found myself in nyc.

INQ: How’d you get into acting? What was your first big break? 

Walt: I was at an event in nyc and i met this guy who said he did casting. he eventually got me into a few movies as an extra. i begin learning about & going out on more auditions and gradually started booking more roles. one of my first widely seen projects was actually a music video. sittin home by Bad Boy Entertainment's girl group, Total.

(Note from INQ: click the link above to see the video..he comes in at 1:58. He steals the MVP trophy!)

INQ:  How’d you end up in the movie, The Cookout?

Walt: i learned about the cookout from an email blast i received from a fellow actor. i submitted my head shot / resume not really expecting a response...but got one after all. it's been a great experience man. while i definitely got a good ways to go still, i've been fortunate enough to play lead in a host of independent films, tv shows, commercials, & stage plays.

INQ: What are your acting projects? (past, present, future)

Walt: i've been cast to play the role of jacob be in a film shoot in LA that's coming out next year called 'never the bride'.

  INQ:   I noticed you've worked with notable actors/actresses, anyone you loved working with? Anyone you'd like to work with?

Walt: i really enjoyed working with an actor vincent d'onofrio and kathryn erbe on law & order. they were both cool! i look forward to working with you brotha! i think we could do a cool remake of bad boys& replace will smith & martin lawrence!!

INQ: I'd MOST DEFINITELY DOWN! I'll be Martin Lawrence..YOU look like a Mike Lowrey!  What drives you?

Walt: realizing my purpose. i don't want to leave here (this life) feeling like i didn't realize ALL of what i was put here to do, change, challenge, overcome, leave behind & become. think about it...what if the hammer never ever met the nail, michael jordan never touched a basketball, steve jobs...a computer, JESUS...a cross. that would suck!

INQ:     Have you won any awards/accolades?

Walt: i've been acknowledged for something here or there...but it honestly feels rather weird to now list things i "won" after my previous answer. so instead of doing that, i will say that one of my most gratifying moments ("accolades") was just recently experienced. a close friend of my told me that he was going to now pursue his own longtime dream because he was inspired to see that i was still pursuing mine. i thinks that's just the coolest!

INQ:    Can I have your autograph?

Walt: man go ahead with that...you still owe me for that lunch money i lent you back at prep - Lol!

INQ:    As clichéd as this may be, do you have any advice for aspiring actors/actresses ?

Walt: yes! start writing. start telling your OWN stories. Not only to you need to tell them. THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT HERE WAITING TO HEAR THEM....and nobody can tell your story better than you! doing this will also set you apart from every other "walking headshot" and give you a platform to discovered for being nothing more than....YOU!

INQ:    What are other endeavors are you into?

Walt: i enjoy writing, creating & "telling" relate able stories...options trading, web marketing, & can't NOBODY see me on the michael jackson wii video game!

INQ:      Married? Family?

Walt: yes, 10yrs this oct 25th...man, i got lucky! she's an amazing women! no she's not perfect, hell neither am i...but she's without question perfect for me. we have 4 beautiful children....

INQ:     What is a typical day for you?

Walt: mr. mom! hey man, just being honest...this husband/father role IS WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

INQ:     Any last words?

Walt: DECIDE what you REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want. "SEE" it. SEIZE IT!

Walter, it's been a pleasure!Another friend of mine who has to hustle to make a living.As you can see with him, like Mike McGlone, he's multifaceted. He uses his talents to earn a good living.

Hustling your ass off is the name of this game.That builds Empires!

See you next week, my people!

Talking with My Man Mike McGlone (Again)

Earlier in this blog (click to see) , I've put spotlight on famous friends of mine.One being a friend of mine who I went to Prep School with.His name is Michael McGlone. You may remember him in the GEICO commercials, among other things.

My Man, Mike McGlone

Michael McGlone  has an impressive resume(click his name to see), always has.It continues to get bigger!I caught up with Mike recently to get an update on him.

Always a humble guy.Always answers my emails, Facebook posts, even watches MY videos. A man worth admiring.

INQ: In our last interview you had two Records, HERO and To Be Down, respectively, that have been released and are available across the web. You were completing work on your third Album, SPEED, and was recording another song, as a single. A song that you were looking to promote in conjunction, and support of the release of the Third Record. This was around 2009. What’s new?

MIkeM: Speed is finished and my fourth as yet untitled album is near complete…the response to the single Move and Remember was very good and I look forward to exploiting the new work(s) through unique digital distribution and placements in Film and TV…

INQ:  Who have you worked with since then?

MIkeM: The most notable news since last we spoke are the production of a few Films, including my Third Feature Film with Eddie Burns, The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, and a recurring role on CBS’s Person of Interest starring Taraji Henson, Jim Caviezel and Michael Emerson…I played Detective Bill Szymanksi of the Organized Crime Task Force in seasons 1 and 2…

INQ:  What are your current projects?

MIkeM: There is a Film I made in Sarasota, staring Danielle White, Armand Assante and Ed Lauter called Blind Pass on its way and in early October I will be traveling to Brazil to work with Sam Neil on the Feature F2014… In addition to this, my Boxing training and fitness, generally are taking a much larger role in my life and I’m thrilled with that aspect. Intense workouts everyday…

INQ:    What does your future look like?

MIkeM: Continuing the training, making the new Film and more Films…landing the next gigs, whatever they may be in Film TV and/or Stage…and my writing, my novels and that for the screen… There are a few projects I am excited about in these areas but am not speaking very freely of as I don’t talk about works-in-progress, but I assure you you can look forward to powerful and exciting Michael McGlone exposure…

INQ:      If someone wanted you to be a part of their project, how would they go about reaching you?

MIkeM: Offers and interests go through the LA or NY office of Don Buchwald and Associates…or through my manager/partner Rob Findlay, at Rob@MichaelMcGlone.com...

INQ:      You have many credits in various forms of Entertainment: Singer, Actor, Comedian, Musician, and Writer. Are you still doing all of this?

MIkeM: I am, very Happily…

INQ:     How do you manage your time?

MIkeM: By determining what is most important and pressing and working on that until responsibilities are met…and only if it is possible without interfering with the highest priority’s Success, do I engage in other projects/work simultaneously…

INQ:      What’s a typical day like?

MIkeM: I wake and get my tea started, take my vitamins, do my push-ups (210 average a day)…gulp my tea when it’s ready: 4 cups (17 ounces each), with raw honey and almond milk…get online to get email out of the way and then work on whatever is calling if there is time and there are no appointments, but whatever happens into the late afternoon, I will be leaving Home anywhere between 4 and 5, generally, everyday to train…most days, running to Central or Riverside Park to jump rope at some length, sometimes do stairs, shadow box and engage in other boxing relevant cardio training, and then, many days over the Summer, end it with a Soul Cycle Class. Over the Summer I have taken a great number of these, and they have been a wonderful part of my routine. When that’s done, if I don’t have plans, it is to get something smaller to eat and/or drink to refuel and then Home again to settle in, have dinner, and watch a program or movie, then read and to bed…(sometimes before bed though I answer interview questions at a little before midnight ;)

Mike McGlone getting his "Boxing on"

Prepared to kick ass!

INQ: Any last words?

MIkeM: Yes: Thank you and I Wish you and yours and all your readers Happiness and Success…

I thank you, Michael,  for taking the time to let me interview you, again.Always a pleasure!

I chose to do this because it's inspiring.Mike has to hustle to get roles, get paid - he's multifaceted.With all his talents, he's built an Empire for himself. He uses his talent to make money. That's what I'm doing. That's what I'm showing you.

I use my resources to get me further...Do YOU do that?

As Mike says, thank YOU, Readers, I wish YOU happiness and success!