Check Out Charles Watson’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles Watson.

Hi Charles, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve worked creatively in the entertainment industry for over 20 years. I’ve worn and continue to wear several hats, i.e. actor, singer, VO artist, writer, and recently adding both film and music producer. After finishing college at UC Davis in California, I moved to southern California to pursue film acting, landing an agent, and picking up work quickly in commercials and musicals. Later I fulfilled a lifelong dream when I landed a gig in Hong Kong Disneyland’s Festival of The Lion King show (an adaptation of the hit Broadway Musical), in the role of Scar. After several years, I transferred with the Disney company to Orlando, FL, where I currently reside, and until just recently, performed at Animal Kingdom. All the while I had my own company running in the background. I started, then called Charles In Charge, in 2014 as an entertainment referral company. Early in 2019, I decided to turn it into a film production company and renamed it in 2020 as Charles In Charge Productions.

Alright, 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?
I originally went to school for either medicine or law. I knew it would make my parents proud to achieve something like that. My parents were hard workers who believed passionately in education. After two years, I opted to follow my own dreams and become an actor. That caused a small rift between my father and I but over the years, we repaired it and he’s now my biggest fan. Southern California proved to be difficult. The industry is tough and very fickle. We also know now that POC dealt with huge discriminating factors, so that didn’t make it any less challenging. Many times I felt like giving up. Also, there isn’t a lot of support for people who aren’t aware of what they “should do” when they arrive in Southern California and are pursuing acting. You have to basically learn-as-you-go, which dangerous if you aren’t sure to who to trust. Not to mention, well-paying jobs were not in large supply, rent was always high, income was disproportionate to food costs, gas, and there were no reliable means of transportation.

In addition, in this business, it’s necessary to keep on top of self-care like it was a utility! In other words, I hustled and I was always broke. If not for my best friend, and a few external family members aiding me along, I would’ve never made it. Here in Orlando, while working for Disney, the beast is networking. Everyone has talent and everyone knows someone else who has a trade or wide-range of skills in the areas you need. However, in order to conquer here, one has to survive. And in order to survive, everyone must hustle just to make ends meet. I’m talking low wage income jobs. Because of this, there is never any (free) time to learn about each other or enough time left in the day to work on other things – the things you’re most passionate about. It’s designed that way. So your goals turn into hobbies. Ask someone to help you and they’ll say yes, of course. But don’t count a fast turnaround. Relatively small things or tasks can take an enormous amount of time to complete, especially if there isn’t a lot of capital to move around. You work in favors, discounts, and trades.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Act. Write. Sing. Direct. Produce. Lighting. Design. “Art is life and death. In life, we find reason and purpose. And in death, we find meaning…” Charles In Charge Productions is an outlet designed for other creative entrepreneurs and me to express ourselves as artists and to grow using the artistry of “storytelling” through movies, short films, and music. Together we make videos/music to entertain, inform, and to push the needle forward. CICP explores the world of familiar yet untold stories – the guy who got left at the altar by his fiancé, but then years later randomly sees her walking down the street in a new town.

What does he do? What does he say? Should he pass it off as coincidence, was it always auspicious in nature that he dodged that bullet or should he track her down and give her a piece of his mind? Or what about the girl or guy who gets a text message, an image of their partner in a questionable situation? If you suffer from anxiety, depression or have deep-rooted insecurities, how might you approach that situation? Is the truth worth destroying two lives over an illogical assumption? What if a small bout of road rage caused more than you bargained for? Is proving your point and being right possibly worth your life? Where is the line between standing up for yourself or choosing to fight another battle some other day? What sets us apart from others is that CICP uses the talent of its workers and actors and producers for everything, from inception to distribution. Among our partners, we use all of our trade and networking skills to get the story told.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
This is the tourist capital of the world. The talent pool here is unending. Orlando has a warmth about it that other industry cities lack, such as Hollywood, CA or NYC. Being from literally a colder area, the Bay Area of California, you wear a proverbial protective layer at all times in order to feel safe and ward off anyone who may try to bring you harm. The same goes for NYC. Here, you can let the side down some, take off some of that “daily armor”. People here are not afraid to engage in pleasantries. What I like least about Orlando is mainly I-4. It’s the main interstate/highway through the city, in or out. I feel there should be a few more ways to get in and around the city for the purpose of easing congestion and improving efficiency. At the very least, the freeway should be widened with additional exits on the right and left sides for both directions.

Contact Info:

• Email: charlesinchargellc1@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.charlesinchargeproductions.com
• Instagram: cic_productions
• Facebook: @charlesinchargeproductions
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDCAhhfuo7goy1oPf0lSLyQ?view_as=subscriber
• Other: linktr.ee/CIC_Productions

Image Credits
Blue Suit photo – Photography by Scott Dentinger Movie Trailer Photo – Photography by CICP. Actress/Model – Colecta Johnson Thomas