Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelton Jolivette.
Shelton, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
If I had to give a map of how I got here today… it would be filled with some rough roads, some U-turns, some high mountains, some low valleys. You would see some places where there are a lot of people on the road along with me and then you would see some places where there were only two of us… GOD and I. Those were the times when I thought that I was all alone but GOD was there with me. It’s not an easy journey but it’s my journey and I want all that God has for me. If you ask my mom (Granda J. Jolivette), she would tell you that I started my journey while I was still in her womb. I have always been different… active… searching… I have always been me. I have always wanted to be an asset and not a liability. I have always wanted to make my parents proud and be all that I could be. My grandfather (David B. Hamilton aka “Bubba”) and my Dad (Peter F. Jolivette Sr.) taught me very early in life that my name meant something but I had to decide what that something was.
Being labeled “Mr. Renaissance Man” is an honor. I am the 5th child out of 10 and I guess you can say I was always in the middle of something. I stay busy as I possibly can with family, Ministry, being a Mortgage Professional, a working Actor, a professional Drag Racing, official Photographer, published Author, and a licensed counselor. Drag Racing has taken a back burner to everything else because I no longer have the time to dedicate myself to it that I use to have but that is another story.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, the path has not been easy at all but there have been some amazingly smooth moments that were scary at times because of how smooth they were. Trying to juggle life means that sometimes something will go undone or unattended to or simply put… you can’t be everywhere at the same time. In ministry, I was released as the youth pastor because I had so much going on. That really did hurt me because I felt that I had failed until I realized that I was no longer a peanut but had become peanut butter. I went from preaching every Sunday at our home church to traveling more teaching the word locally and worldwide. I am still active there today and I serve as the Youth Sunday School Instructor. My marriage went through a necessary rough patch. I am a firm believer that anything not tried has not been proven true. If its’ worth having, it is worth fighting for. We have been married now for 22.5 years and we have six beautiful and amazing kids together. My acting career just went to another dimension. I landed the co-star role in SyFy’s new hit movie, Zombie Tidal Wave and just wrapped season 2 of UMC’s 5thWard. It has been a journey, to say the least. It’s amazing what happens when you know your worth and you stay hungry enough to stay healthy. There have been more No’s than Yes’s and more closed doors than opened doors but I will say this… every yes has blinded me to the No’s and every opened door has caused the closed doors to make sense.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
I am a Loving Husband, A supportive and active Father, an Ordained Minister, A working Actor, A professional Photographer, A Published Author, A Brother, an Uncle, a friend. I am Jolivette. I am who I am no matter where I am. I do a lot of things but what I specialize in is being me. It’s funny…I am known as “Jolivette” in the acting world, I am that guy; at church, I am Rev; at the office, I am the sharpest dressed, well-spoken professional who is “Johnny on the Spot” I am the go-to when it comes to Mortgage locally and globally
What sets me apart from others is my passion. I don’t try to outdo anyone or be something or someone I am not. I simply give you my all every chance I get because right now is all we have. A director from Los Angeles recently said to me “Jolivette, I watched you. I watched how you were active in every scene; in every take even when the camera was not on you. You gave every scene that you were in the energy it needed” I am known to be dependable. As a photographer, my shots tell a story, as an author, my stories take you on a journey. They captivate your senses and emotions so that when you finish reading them, you feel as though you were there.
All that being said, the thing that I am most proud of right now is that I am able to do what I love to do… be me. The husband who is an actor father that goes to work every day and gets to teach, act, take pictures and write amazing stories that everyone can enjoy.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
As an actor, I have 3. First, it would be working with Ya’Ke Smith of Exodus Films in the movie Wolf. The cast is still like a family still today. The second was starring in ABC’s American Crime Season one with Regina King. She was simply amazing and I can’t wait to work with her again soon. Lastly being able to travel to Thailand for a month to shoot a SyFy film with Ian Ziering and then to read the Press Release and see my name was life and career-changing. I will never forget August 17, 2019 9/8c. I have been a part of some amazing productions and I have made a name for myself. My name means something… and I know what it means.
In Ministry… seeing those faces every Sunday is life-changing and it keeps me focused. I cannot let them down. I can’t fail. As a published author, BURNED is my favorite so far but “Ridin’ Shotgun” is a close second. Both of those stories have been converted into a screenplays and will be one of those films that will never go away. Burned was self-published and is available for order via my website in paperback or you can order the e-book on Amazon. I have not released “Ridin’ Shotgun” just yet. As a photographer, taking professional shots of my record-setting kids is priceless. I have a press pass. I am on the field, I am on the track, I am backstage, and I am a dad. So, that moment in my career that I look back most fondly on is every chance that I get to do what I am gifted to do and be who I am called to be… Jolivette.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Sjolivette
- Facebook: Shelton Jolivette
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Website: www.
jolivetteonline.com or www. sheltonjolivette.com · IMDB: https://www.
imdb.com/name/nm3164751/ · LA Agent: [email protected]
· TX Agent: [email protected]
- Twitter: @sjolivette
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