New Orleans Actor Frankie Smith is Making His Mark On Hollywood In "Sacrifice"

Photo Credit: Photographer Ryan West

YVM: Describe yourself in 3 words

The 3 words I'd use to describe myself would have to be Honest. Motivational. Confident. I'll pick motivational and elaborate on that. I say that I'm motivational because I love to hear people's dreams and aspirations and encourage them to go after them. I love that after motivating a loved one or stranger, seeing them prosper in the dreams they shared. Many of my closest friends are actors so they understand the ups and downs of this industry and I'm grateful that I have people who can motivate me when I need that extra push. Sometimes people share their dreams and people start telling them about all the ways their dream isn't going to come to pass, it happened to me or how hard it's going to be, sowing seeds of negativity, so I like to encourage them to believe in themselves and go after what they want as long as they're not harming or misleading anyone. We could all use constant motivation 24/7.

YVM: We understand that you have a passion for influencing the younger generation in your hometown, New Orleans. Tell us about some things you are involved with.

Before the pandemic, a friend of mine worked as a High School drama teacher and I'd go and visit her class and speak to her students about acting, share my experiences in filming and act alongside them for fun. I like to show them that someone in their hometown is growing in their career here and that if it's possible for me, then it's possible for them. I want to get more involved in inspiring the youth at a larger level. There's a young man by the name of King Randall who has an all-boys school in Georgia that I'd like to contribute to at some point and try to have something similar to that set in New Orleans.

YVM: Why do you think it is important to have these conversations with the youth?

It's important to have these conversations with the youth because the saying is true, they are the future. I want to make sure that the future leaders of this world have the proper guidance to be able to lead and that starts by planting seeds of greatness and confidence in them at a young age.

YVM: Tell us about your hobbies, how did you get into photography, swimming, and bass guitar?

I honestly got into photography because I kept seeing an ad for a professional camera so I felt compelled to buy it lol. I took my camera everywhere with me and I loved being able to capture a moment in time.

I have a little cousin who's a swimmer and I'd go to his swim meets so watching him swim got me interested in it. I took swimming lessons a while ago but I plan on taking some more to reteach myself and learn new things. It'll also look good on my resume but besides that, it's great exercise.

I got into the bass guitar around the time Rock Band came out. I took that game VERY SERIOUSLY with my family and friends and if there was a weak link in my virtual band, I would yell at them and kick them out of the band lol. But playing Rock Band gave me a new appreciation for music and how if you take one instrument out of a song, it just doesn't feel right. I loved listening to the intricate basslines of some of the rock songs and fell in love with the low tone of the bass. One day my father surprised me with a bass guitar and I've been teaching myself ever since and sometimes I make music with my friend Albert who's a saxophone player, flute player, and music producer.

YVM: What is your favorite Nina Simone song and why?