In the middle of a brood of six children, Dui Jarrod was born and raised in White Hall, Arkansas – a difficult place to be when one has a passion for movies and acting. Jarrod always knew he did.
As a child he would convince a sibling to be a character in his “plays,” which he videoed. Although he looks back and now realizes they were “horrible,” he vividly remembers his mother’s reactions.
“When I was younger I would write plays during the summer, and she would sit and watch me and my sister act them out. They were horrible, but she would stand up and clap like I was Shakespeare’s protégé.
“She knew this was my passion, but she just wanted me to be wise in how I chose to approach it. My mother has always been my number one fan. Her and my father’s main concern has been me giving all the credit to the Creator for my gifts, and trust me, I do!”
When he was 13 years old, he wrote, directed and acted in a play called “Noah’s Ark” in a Bible class. His father happened upon him as his son put it together in the family garage. Being impressed with what he saw, his father began helping and later told his son that he “was capable of doing whatever I wanted to do. He told me people respect the quality of a product not the intention.”
That advice inspired Jarrod to rewrite some of the play and take it more seriously, and it was a local success. Jarrod was hooked on entertaining.
Today, he heads Cloud Nine Productions, a film production company based out of New Orleans, La., which produces independent feature films, television shows, and stage plays with the intention of ‘entertaining, empowering, and enlightening.’
Jarrod, who lives in New Orleans with his dog Hollywood, has performed in plays in Louisiana and Arkansas. As a screen actor he has had speaking roles in such films as Welcome to Academia, Chess, Mama, I Want To Sing, and he has starred in his own film Nothing More, Nothing Less.
On Sept. 20, the screenwriter, producer, director, and actor brings his own play Between You and Me to the Pine Bluff Convention Center.
Jarrod’s parents, Melvin and Gloria Smith, still reside in White Hall where he often comes to write his plays.
“Only people who went to school with me know this, but I can tumble. I actually learned from two cheerleaders in junior high school, and it became known all around the school,” Harrod recalled. “Actually I should thank them, that’s how I got a college scholarship.”
After graduating from White Hall High School in 1998, Jarrod attended Louisiana State University to pursue a degree in Speech Communications.
“I was a cheerleader for LSU for three years, Geaux Tigers,” Jarrod said, then added, “But I’m still a Hogs fan at heart.”
During those years, Jarrod’s lifelong passion for films and plays kept surfacing. He said that he had a lot of reservations because “I didn’t truly think that I could compete against Hollywood heavyweights. But I reflected on what one of my favorite teachers, Mrs. Lynda Williams, told me in high school. She said, ‘Dui, you can be whatever you want to be, I promise!’ I guess she was right.
“My first show was truly amazing. I had written the production after Hurricane Katrina and just kind of sat on the script. I just was so conflicted because I didn’t know if this career path was truly for me.”
Redefining how African-Americans (and others) are perceived in the arts is a special mission for Jarrod.
“The thing I love most about writing and producing plays, ironically, is all the wonderful fan e-mails I get after each show. I keep them all! I really get inspired by people’s reactions to my work; it still amazes me to this day,” he said. “Whenever things get really hectic or too overwhelming, I go and read those to keep me encouraged.
“The thing I like least about these productions is the exercising I have to do to get in shape. Touring is really hard on your body, and I have to be physically and mentally fit. Working out is not fun, neither is the diet. At night I dream of carbs!”
And Jarrod dreams of other things. While working on a recent play, the cast was forced to evacuate to Arkansas as Hurricane Gustav loomed off the coast.
“We stayed in the room together, and I woke up in the middle of the night with everyone laughing, except me, of course. Come to find out, they found out about a teeny tiny flaw of mine. I talk in my sleep. They were laughing ‘cause I woke them up to lines from the play.”
Keep dreaming Dui Jarrod – see you on Cloud Nine.
In the middle of a brood of six children, Dui Jarrod was born and raised in White Hall, Arkansas – a difficult place to be when one has a passion for movies and acting. Jarrod always knew he did.
As a child he would convince a sibling to be a character in his “plays,” which he videoed. Although he looks back and now realizes they were “horrible,” he vividly remembers his mother’s reactions.
“When I was younger I would write plays during the summer, and she would sit and watch me and my sister act them out. They were horrible, but she would stand up and clap like I was Shakespeare’s protégé.
“She knew this was my passion, but she just wanted me to be wise in how I chose to approach it. My mother has always been my number one fan. Her and my father’s main concern has been me giving all the credit to the Creator for my gifts, and trust me, I do!”
When he was 13 years old, he wrote, directed and acted in a play called “Noah’s Ark” in a Bible class. His father happened upon him as his son put it together in the family garage. Being impressed with what he saw, his father began helping and later told his son that he “was capable of doing whatever I wanted to do. He told me people respect the quality of a product not the intention.”
That advice inspired Jarrod to rewrite some of the play and take it more seriously, and it was a local success. Jarrod was hooked on entertaining.
Today, he heads Cloud Nine Productions, a film production company based out of New Orleans, La., which produces independent feature films, television shows, and stage plays with the intention of ‘entertaining, empowering, and enlightening.’
Jarrod, who lives in New Orleans with his dog Hollywood, has performed in plays in Louisiana and Arkansas. As a screen actor he has had speaking roles in such films as Welcome to Academia, Chess, Mama, I Want To Sing, and he has starred in his own film Nothing More, Nothing Less.
On Sept. 20, the screenwriter, producer, director, and actor brings his own play Between You and Me to the Pine Bluff Convention Center.
Jarrod’s parents, Melvin and Gloria Smith, still reside in White Hall where he often comes to write his plays.
“Only people who went to school with me know this, but I can tumble. I actually learned from two cheerleaders in junior high school, and it became known all around the school,” Harrod recalled. “Actually I should thank them, that’s how I got a college scholarship.”
After graduating from White Hall High School in 1998, Jarrod attended Louisiana State University to pursue a degree in Speech Communications.
“I was a cheerleader for LSU for three years, Geaux Tigers,” Jarrod said, then added, “But I’m still a Hogs fan at heart.”
During those years, Jarrod’s lifelong passion for films and plays kept surfacing. He said that he had a lot of reservations because “I didn’t truly think that I could compete against Hollywood heavyweights. But I reflected on what one of my favorite teachers, Mrs. Lynda Williams, told me in high school. She said, ‘Dui, you can be whatever you want to be, I promise!’ I guess she was right.
“My first show was truly amazing. I had written the production after Hurricane Katrina and just kind of sat on the script. I just was so conflicted because I didn’t know if this career path was truly for me.”
Redefining how African-Americans (and others) are perceived in the arts is a special mission for Jarrod.
“The thing I love most about writing and producing plays, ironically, is all the wonderful fan e-mails I get after each show. I keep them all! I really get inspired by people’s reactions to my work; it still amazes me to this day,” he said. “Whenever things get really hectic or too overwhelming, I go and read those to keep me encouraged.
“The thing I like least about these productions is the exercising I have to do to get in shape. Touring is really hard on your body, and I have to be physically and mentally fit. Working out is not fun, neither is the diet. At night I dream of carbs!”
And Jarrod dreams of other things. While working on a recent play, the cast was forced to evacuate to Arkansas as Hurricane Gustav loomed off the coast.
“We stayed in the room together, and I woke up in the middle of the night with everyone laughing, except me, of course. Come to find out, they found out about a teeny tiny flaw of mine. I talk in my sleep. They were laughing ‘cause I woke them up to lines from the play.”
Keep dreaming Dui Jarrod – see you on Cloud Nine.
“Between You and Me” show times are 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Pine Bluff Convention Center on Sept. 20. Buy tickets by telephoning 504.256.1418, contacting the Convention Center box office after 10 a.m. on Saturday, or going online at www.betweenyouandmetheplay.com.
On Thurs., Sept. 18, Jarrod will be conducting a theatre seminar and workshop for students at the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, and later that day, the cast and crew will go head to head with local bowlers at Thunder Lanes in Pine Bluff.
On Friday September 19th, the cast and crew of “Between You and Me” will be featured guests on Little Rock’s morning show “Good Morning Arkansas.”
This Thursday for 9 hours, all tickets are on sale for $25, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ¬– one day only!
