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Joseph
MADEFEATURES
MADEXXXX
DAVID
JONES
MADE BY AJ LINTON
J
oseph David-Jones is a name you should get used to
hearing. He exudes nothing but #BlackBoyJoy in the highly-
anticipated Kathryn Bigelow film, Detroit. With a series of
upcoming projects like Inner City, opposite actor, director, and
producer Denzel Washington, Jones is sure to be a Hollywood
favorite. He talked with MADE about LA-living, Denzel Washington
and challenges in the industry. Detroit hit theaters August 4th.
MADE: How did you discover acting and how
did you stand out amongst your peers? transition from a southern city like Florence,
KY to the LA scene?
JDJ: I was in school and I discovered
modeling back home in Kentucky. They
wanted me to do this competition in New
York for modeling and acting. I initially went
there with the mindset to do only modeling.
I went through the modeling portion and
scored a very low percentage and on the
acting portion I ended up getting named
“Male Actor of the Year” in a contest of
about 200-250 people. Upon winning, half of
the agencies there were prompting me to fly
to LA to sign me. That moment alone made
me switch paths. I ended up flying to LA and
signing with an agency starting the audition
process and booking work. JDJ: It was definitely a change. I mean
everything is different from the city to the
people. I guess you could say I’d never really
been around the variety of city people so it was
kind of a culture shock. People in Kentucky and
smaller towns are very, very friendly and they
go out of their way to make you feel welcome.
I’ve always loved the people in the South. I
describe them as the heart and describe the city
as life and hustle. In a city like LA everyone is
laser-focused on how they move and how they
are making it. LA makes you hip to the pace of
the city. There are positives and negatives to
both, but I thoroughly enjoy the fast-pace and
excitement of living in LA.
MADE: We read that growing up you moved
around the country a few times and settled
in Kentucky. Understanding the south isn’t
typically entertainment-based, how did you MADE: You’ve worked alongside some of
Hollywood’s best actors like Denzel Washington and
Colin Farrell. What are some pointers or advice that
they’ve been given or observed on career-building?
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