Today we’d like to introduce you to Ulato Sam.
Hi Ulato, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I come from a talented and resourceful caribbean family. My mother’s side being Jamaican and British, my father’s Guyanese. My mother encouraged me to express myself artistically while focusing on my studies and track & field, all while both my grandmother’s emphasized the importance of a quality education. From Ardenne High School in Jamaica I made my way to Morehouse College where three scholarships sustained me – the Track & Field Scholarship, The John Rockefeller Scholarship & the Oprah Winfrey Scholarship. It was at Morehouse that I discovered my love for the Theater after participating in a production of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s In The Red and Brown Water. This experience would inspire me to produce and star in ListenMi News on CVM TV Jamaica, and then pursue a Master of Fine Arts at the UCLA School of Theatre, Film & Television. Thanks to Mariska Hargitay, The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and two additional scholarships, I would complete my studies by attending the Grotowski Institute & BADA at Oxford University. My career has led to me performing at The Royal Academy for Dramatic Arts in England, collaborations on Netflix and Max, touring with Oprah Winfrey and Tony Robbins, all while hosting Caribbean Carnivals for the Central Alabama Caribbean American Association (CACAO) and the Atlanta Caribbean Bandleaders Association. I’ve been guided by culture and inspired by a dream to impact real change through the arts.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Growing up in Jamaica, I didn’t always know what was possible. There weren’t many examples of international actors outside of my hero Harry Belafonte or maybe Sidney Poitier who went from being a little boy on an island to the silver screen. My path was decorated with hurdles to sail over, finances to accumulate, cultural differences to navigate and personal doubt to morph into sound judgment and confidence. Tackling an american market taught me about the realities of being a caribbean man in these spaces and one of African decent added other subtle nuances. What these struggles gave me was what Sidney Poitier described as “The Measure of a Man”, to be aware that I must approach every opportunity with zeal and as much refinement as I can, while treating the smallest opportunity with the respect and refinement I would the most grand. Being an actor and studying films and playsI noticed that if a character/hero wasn’t encountering enemies or challenges they weren’t going in the right direction, so the bumpy road only gave me the skills to handle craziest of terrains. Right now Jamaica is in the process of rebuilding after the catastrophic hurricane Melissa, and there are people who don’t have the luxury of dreaming because they are rebuilding and surviving. If I know anything Jamaica is the land of resilience, and with help we can all create space or lift up someone who, like me, didn’t/doesn’t know what’s possible.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an Actor with a diverse skill set that’s lent itself to suspense thrillers, dramas, rom-coms and the supernatural. The theatrical works that I’m most known for are Birdy, Kill Move Paradise, Oprah’s 2020 Vision Tour, and Tony Robbin’s Virtual Tour. My two most popular films are The Game, and Beautiful Monster. Thus far the production that I’m most proud of is my current performance in the Bob Marley Hope Road residency at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas. This show allows me to use the expanse of my talent in a culturally relevant manner, to honour a personal hero and international icon, Bob Marley, all while giving a new generation a tangible experience of his catalogue. What sets me apart is an incomprehensibly unique approach to urbane artistic refinement through culturally relevant performance and genuine commitment to storytelling regardless of the medium. My work brings together the honesty of my perspective and the insights of a student of the craft, plus I know how to have a good time even it means basking in the bliss of sadness. I’m here to share my character’s experience with you not hide it.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
In transparency it’s not a memory I have in my mind but one that was documented through photographs. The day my mom and dad brought my brother back from the hospital was the day my life forever changed. I’m still learning how to be the best brother I can be, but when I see any of the photographs I realize how genuine my smile was, how proud I was even though I had yet to truly grasp the responsibility, and how happy I was to have something even more special than a friend. Those photos also highlight a day where my family was not only complete but also ecstatic and undeniably happy. For these and many other reasons that’s my favourite childhood memory.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youlatoe/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Youlatoe/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Youlatoe/
Image Credits
@mikekphotos - Mike Kirschbaum @bmhrcast<br>
