#maldonadoiseverywhere; truer hashtags were never spoken. But, of course, coming up with a way to further his brand and spread his empire seems like it’s almost a walk in the park for Allen Maldonado. As an actor on multiple hit shows, a writer on one of them, an entrepreneur that has his hands in producing with both music and film with companies for both ventures, a philanthropist, and someone who is about to take on both the film and tech world by storm, Maldonado earns his hashtag with every letter and then some.
Having starred in two of the most critically acclaimed films of 2015; Dope and Straight Outta Compton, Maldonado was already associated with one of the biggest hashtags of 2016 as the world pointed out the painful neglect of these films by the academy with #oscarssowhite. On television, Maldonado can be seen starring in not just one hit show- but at least three more, as well as having many more highly anticipated films in the works! On the big screen, he will soon be seen in Where’s The Money? Before coming to conquer the TV Movie format with Ringside, along with his several fan-favorite shows like Black-ish on ABC, You’re The Worst on FX, and Survivor’s Remorse on Starz- which he also writes for!
Outside of being an extremely charming actor with one of the best smiles in the business, Maldonado is about to take the film industry by storm. A writer, director, and producer, Maldonado not only has his own production company, Only Son Productions, but he also is launching an app that might very well change the film industry as we know it. With Everybody Digital, viewers will be able to stream short films that don’t seem to have a home after the festival circuit. This could be nothing short of revolutionary for film as not only is there a desperate call for this kind of prestigious platform, but audiences have shown through YouTube, Vine and Periscope that their attention spans are shorter- and in order to keep the quality in films and continue to hold the attention of audiences, short films might finally be getting the love they deserve.
And when he is not revolutionizing film, in front of the camera and behind, Maldonado is revolutionizing the lives of children as he lends himself toward mentoring acting and film camps for kids with a charity called Demo Nerds. Beyond devoted to the cause, the actor/entrepreneur has even started a T-shirt company called Vineyards Phinest to raise funds for the charity!
Below, Maldonado somehow manages to not sleep and find time to answer questions about all that he manages to accomplish, Demo Nerds, his new app Everybody Digital, and what fans can expect on Black-ish, Suvivor’s Remorse, and You’re The Worst!
You are easily one of the hardest working men in the business right now and have the hashtag- #maldonadoiseverywhere. You act on several hit shows, as well as movies, and write and produce. You have your own production company, you have your own record label... where do you find the time? What do you do to relax?
Driving is my peaceful place. I get in my car and just go. I think it stems from when I first started in my career and I was struggling as a waiter and in a clothing store, and my car radio got stolen- and it was either pay for a new radio, or get used to a lot of time being with myself- and it really became a peaceful place for me. And I get that question all the time- but I literally love everything that I do, and I feel blessed and fortunate to do all these things; writing, directing, producing, etc- I feel very fortunate to do these things 24 hours. I’ve had a regular job and been in the position where I wasn’t happy, and now I’m in the position where I can make my own work, and create and see things grow- and that has been very peaceful for me, and that’s why I continue to do it every second of the day.
Let’s take your achievements step by step- let’s talk about Survivor’s Remorse, which you not only star on, but you also just started writing on as well. Talk about the show and what it’s been like joining the writing team.
Oh, this was a great learning lesson, and I felt like I really got to add a lot. I really felt like I was a great part of the team- just bringing in a different flavor, and a different style. And it was just such a great experience to watch Mike O’Malley, and sit back and study him as a showrunner and be his wingman and learn everything I could from him. And also, working with Starz was a Godsend, and I definitely thank everybody- Lebron James, Mike O’Malley, Hilton Smith, Tom Werner, Maverick Carter, and Paul Wachter for bringing me on. This season is really great and I think fans are really going to enjoy it.
Then, of course, there’s Black-ish. Talk about the importance of that show and how it’s taken off.
That show is definitely important. It’s an interesting scope on how black people view themselves, and how people view black people- and just the culture. It really starts some great conversations. It shows you wide ranges of the spectrum of what is the black culture- and how it is all one. And I think that’s what the show really represents. There’s no real position- it’s not trying to say that one is wrong, or one is right, it just opens up a window for audiences to see into this life in order for them to gage their own opinions and beliefs. Such as episodes like the one where we dealt with the N word- and that’s what is great about Black-ish; it doesn’t really take a stance, or position on anything, it just brings the discussion to the table. We start the conversation.
And talk a little bit about You’re The Worst. What can fans expect from the new season?
Oh, it’s amazing. Stephen Falk is a genius, man- that’s my guy. Aya Cash is just phenomenal- she is a phenomenal actress! I think it’s, of course, going to be the raunchy rom-com with a twist of drama that audiences expect from last season, and this season we will continue to move forward with that type of mold. We will constantly be blending in the drama, and the humor, and always be keeping it raunchy in the way we do while exploring that world. And we’re so lucky we’re on FX, because they really let us get away with a lot of stuff! [Laughs.]
You also have a slew of new films coming out, including the TV movie Ringside and Where’s The Money- talk about each of those a bit.
Ringside comes out September 4th, and I’m super excited about that. I play boxing champion Spencer Collier- a character that is rich, cocky, and confident- so when you mix those characteristics together, it’s nothing but fun. Think of my character as a Floyd Mayweather type- he has a loud mouth and the skills to back it up, and I have a new challenger coming to try and take my belt and it’s certainly a fun movie. As is Where’s The Money- that one is definitely special. It’s going to be a fantastically funny film. It stars Andrew Bachelor, Mike Epps, Terry Crews, Kat Graham- we have a phenomenal cast. It’s the story about a young man whose father left him money in an old trap house, and that trap house turns into a frat house! [Immediately laughs at the premise], so we have this plan to join the fraternity to try and get the money...and it is hilarious! I am so excited for people to see that film!
In a year where one of the biggest hashtags was #oscarssowhite, you once again proved that #maldonadoiseverywhere as you were in two of the biggest films featuring important black stories that got unfortunately ignored by the academy- Dope and Straight Outta Compton. Would you want to touch on this controversy, considering that months later it still seems very relevant? How do you think the Emmys did as far as diversity?
I think the Emmys did a lot better, I think we’re moving forward- and that’s all that we can ask for. Sometimes we just have to speak out when they are as prominent as they were with the Oscars concerning their lack of diversity. And it just goes to show that if you speak up, and speak the truth, people will listen. And the Emmys are pure proof of that as they clearly really took that message to heart and really listened. There’s a lot of diverse talent out there that needs to be acknowledged, and I think that’s just going to make a greater Hollywood and a greater entertainment business if we try and create worlds that actually look like the world we live in- and I think that’s the goal. Not just the goal of telling certain stories, because everyone has a story, but the overall goal of showing a real world. Right now I’m in New York, and New York has all walks of life- and the media should reflect that.
You are also very big into short films, and not only are you involved with many, you created a new mobile app called Everybody Digital- which will be the hottest place for streaming short films. Talk about that and some shorts you have in the works. What draws you to shorts?
I had a friend who had a short film that went on to win over twenty awards in the film festival circuit, and then it had no outlet to gain any recognition afterward. Where do these films get seen after these festivals and after those circuits are done? It’s a travesty- not just to my friend as a filmmaker, but to the world not to be able to see his, and other great filmmaker’s works because of such limited distribution. So, I created this app for short filmmakers that has work that deserves to be seen by the world on a very prestigious platform. And that’s why we created Everybody Digital. I urge filmmakers out there if they think they have work that would be suitable for this exclusive app to please send them in, and we would love to put them on the app and add it to the platform as it is for the filmmakers. We also have original content- we have a show called Who The Heck Is Uncle Joe? coming out, and a slew of short films, nothing over twenty minutes- and I think this is something people will really gravitate toward as it is designed for your smart phones. Audiences today are more accustomed to holding their phones for ten to fifteen minutes, rather than sitting through an entire feature length film. I think we have a big shot of making it big in the app world.
Talk about your production company, Only Son Productions. What kind of stories would you love to tell, what kind of roles would you love to play and who would you love to work with?
Only Son Productions was named such because I’m the only son in my family, so it stems from that. I have some things in the works that I can’t really divulge too much on quite yet. But, it’s great to just be out there creating quality work with my colleagues. Great humor, great stories, great dramatic twists; that’s our motto. And I would love to work with Leonardo DiCaprio- he’s my favorite actor. I also love Will Smith. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Denzel Washington a few years back, but he is amazing and anytime that opportunity comes up again, that would be great. And of course, Meryl Streep- I have the hugest crush on Meryl Streep. I think she’s just phenomenal and beautiful and talented. Those are my big four.
And let’s talk a little about your other business ventures and philanthropy. Talk about your record label, Get It Done Records and your T-shirt company; Vineyards Phinest- where a portion of the proceeds goes toward providing free classes for youth. You are also the founder of Demo Nerds- a foundation you created providing free acting classes for at risk youths and foster children. Talk about all this, and again, where do you find time?
The music has been great- we’ve got a lot of different music placed on different television shows; Ray Donovan, House Of Lies, and we’ve been in campaigns. It’s a whole different avenue for music. People think the only way to make a profit in music is by being Drake- and that’s not true. You can do very well by getting songs placed in film and television. Then, the T-shirt company, Vineyards Phinest, was established as a way to make money as a way to gain funds for my Demo Nerds; Acting & Film Camp where I teach foster kids about acting. We have a two week program where the first week we teach them acting exorcises, and then the second week they get to produce and star in their own short film. And the last day of our camps we have this big red carpet gala where we invite press to come out and the kids come dressed up, hitting the red carpet for that whole Hollywood experience! And for a lot of these kids, this is the first thing they ever truly completed on their own, and then get applauded for their accomplishments. I’ve been doing it five years, and we’re coming on our sixth year anniversary this year and I’m just super excited. So, the T-shirt company was really created to help raise funds for that, and it’s based on the neighborhood I grew up in called the Vinyards. The neighborhood has changed a lot, but it was a rough place when I grew up, and I wanted to use it as a symbol of hope to show that even though you might come from a rough neighborhood that it doesn’t define you and you can make positive moves with your life and grow to be a success no matter what obstacles are in your life.
And if there is anyone for these kids to look up to and try and emulate, it would certainly be the man who has his hands in everything from acting, to producing, to writing, to music, to charity, to technology. It would only make sense for him to add mentor to that list. Worried about how he might find the time to squeeze it in? Don’t worry- #maldonadoiseverywhere.
Survivor’s Remorse airs Sunday nights at 10PM on Starz.
Black-ish comes back Wednesday, September 21st on ABC.
You’re The Worst returns to FX on Wednesday, August 31st.
Ringside will be on September 4th on TVOne...
In case it still isn’t clear? #MALDONADOISEVERYWHERE