Amia Edwards is an actress who has appeared in Mississippi-made films such as The Card Counter and Every Time a Bell Rings. She is the founder of Amiable Arts Foundation, a Jackson-area nonprofit whose mission is “to empower youth through the arts, fostering creativity, confidence, and a diverse set of skills that prepare them for a bright future.”
What’s your background and the path that led you to film?
I grew up in Bolton and went to school in Clinton. At junior high there, I participated in Arrow Vision, which was kind of like our own Channel One—a student-produced news show. It was run by Anthony Thaxton, who now heads the Center for Southern Storytelling at Mississippi College.
I was the news anchor in my seventh and eighth grade years. By the time I got to Clinton High School, I was a member of the cooperative education program and utilized that opportunity to start an internship at WLBT. By the time I graduated from Jackson State in 2004, I was a full-time news producer at channel three and then did the news circuit across the country for a while before coming back home.
Back home, I think I was still running from my dream of acting because I was always told that it was something you didn’t do when you were from a rural area. So, I started a few other careers, like real estate. But one day I had an audition opportunity and just went for it. I started following Matthew Morgan and Morgan Casting, I sent him some self-tapes, and it just started taking off from there.
I’ve done work here in Jackson, Natchez, some New Orleans gigs, and now I have an agent. Now I also have this short film piece and extended monologue that I wrote for my church called Got a Light. It’s about a lady dealing with substance abuse issues, and I put it on YouTube and I started getting all these accolades for the film.
My now-agent just hit me up and said, “I want to sign you.” And that’s how it started. Later through a connection at Jackson Public Schools, I learned I could possibly be a mentor for some students here in Jackson. And that’s when I started the Amiable Arts Foundation.
What’s the mission of the foundation?
It addresses what I did not have: a place where I could truly explore what it is to be a part of the film industry, whether that’s in front of the camera or behind it.
Our high school students focus on their own short films while taking masterclasses. I utilize the relationships that I’ve had in the film industry, such as with Morgan Casting, my agent, several of my mentors, people I’ve met on set who do lights, makeup, etc., and they’ll host a masterclass via zoom for my kids in high school.
And while they’re learning all the different things and learning the history of film, they’re working on their own short film. At the end of the school year, we have our own film festival. After that, we have our own version of the Academy Awards, and the students are always super excited about that. It’s black tie, red carpet, all the bells and whistles. Best actor, Best actress, best set design, best film, best director, best screenplay, all of those things. Everything grew from there.
I had a big demand to offer classes for middle schoolers, but for them diving right into film can be a bit much. We started addressing literacy issues by doing stage plays and exposing them to careers that are also behind the curtain.
I’m very proud of how we’ve grown at the Amiable Arts Foundation, to be a place of enrichment for kids that may not have access to, or whose family may not be able to afford, after school or summer curriculums.
We started doing piano lessons and people ask me, “Why are you doing piano lessons?” Because some children want to write a score. We learn about the history of music and how impactful a score is to a film. The children get excited to make their own score for their own short film. It’s something that just keeps growing. We also teach dance, and the dance started turning into music videos.
We’ve just grown to include the Hinds County School District, where I am proud to say I took it back to my hometown of Bolton. Those children just did a phenomenal version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. We just had our first star camp, a four-week program. They had acting class, dance class, piano class, set design makeup and other things for film. Then they’re labeled a well-rounded performer. And we just got done with that, so I’m catching my breath from Star Camp.
One of my favorite stories to tell—we provide transportation to families who may not be able to afford it. And one of the young men, who is 16 and from the Rebel Woods community, he missed the bus one day. I was leaving, going to a meeting, and I saw him walking and asked, “Where are you going?” He said, “I’m coming to class. I missed the bus, so I just walked.” That was the day that they had to write their own music and lyrics. He said, “I want to finish my song.” That’s the kind of story that makes it all worthwhile.
And then the amount of growth we see every year—last summer we had 14 students, this summer we had 60. That’s how I know that it’s something that my community needs.
I think that’s one thing that educators may be neglecting, as technology keeps growing: creativity. We test and test and test, but do we really enrich the lives of all students, not just those who are strong in science and math?
I always say our mission is “no star left behind.” What I want to make sure we always do is be accessible to those who may not have any other option, but have talent and don’t know how to realize it and really explore their full potential. Amiable Arts Foundation is a harbor for a child that knows they’re creative and trying to find their creative voice, and how to find a career that will sustain a life that means a lot to them.
I’m ashamed to say I was well into my 30s until I understood what a screenplay was. So, I think it’s important that we expose our young artists to the basics and make them accessible and attainable. If I had not had the opportunity to do Arrow Vision, for example, I would not have had the ambition to go to WLBT and be a news producer and would not have had the path that led me to where I am today.
How have you collaborated with Matthew Morgan at the foundation?
Matthew Morgan has been a great mentor to the children. Every time we have a class or a new session, he comes in to talk to them because I want them to understand what a casting director is and what they do, and how preparation is key to being an actor. I always tell the kids, you don’t have to get ready if you stay ready. His involvement is one example of how we expose kids to all the various careers in the film industry and kind of broaden the lens.
What was your first on-set experience, and what are some of your current and recent projects?
My first on-set experience with a SAG credit was thanks to Matthew Morgan. It was The Card Counter, which filmed on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I was in the same trailer as Tiffany Haddish for makeup, and I was like, oh, this is legit! (laughs) Matthew later told me that I got the gig because my audition made the director laugh. That was good to hear.
I was last on the set of The People We Meet on Vacation that was filmed in New Orleans. I think that’s still out there on Amazon. If anybody wants to watch it, my residuals will thank you. That experience led me to have peace with getting cut. I had a lot of dialog, but by the time the film was edited, all you see me doing is saying, “Oh!” I’m learning to be at peace with that. As they say in Disney’s Finding Nemo, just keep swimming.
Other than Anthony Thaxton and Matthew Morgan, has there been anyone in your career you consider a mentor?
That’s definitely Mr. Lance Nichols, an actor in New Orleans. He’s helped me be at peace with where I am and to also just keep my head down and do the work as an actor. As Lance says, God is going to put you where you’re supposed to be no matter what.
Why do you think Mississippi is a good place for making movies?
Mississippi is the source of America’s talent. And there’s the greenery, the buildings, the architecture, the southern drawl that can’t be impersonated. There’s so much that’s unique in our state. I really appreciate our film incentive that encourages hiring Mississippi talent for productions’ cast and crew. I think that’s beautiful. All the greats come from right here.
What advice would you give to someone of any age looking to start in the industry?
Number one, don’t be afraid. It’s a waste of emotion. Go after it. Don’t let it stop you from listening to yourself and your gifts. There’s only one you!
Number two, start following Film Mississippi, and start following casting directors like Matthew Morgan on social media. And with today’s cell phones, you’ve got the technology to make a short film. So just go do it, just get started. That’s the beauty of creativity. Once you start, you’re just going to get stronger and stronger. That’s the beauty of being an artist.
What are your hopes for the future for the film industry in Mississippi?
I would love for it to continue to grow to the level some other places in the South like New Orleans have become. Of course, New Orleans has its own very specific backdrop, but so does Mississippi. I want to see more amazing films where you couldn’t believe they were filmed right here in Mississippi.
How can someone connect with you or follow you on social media?
My website is amiaedwards.com, my socials can be found there. You can also learn more about the Amiable Arts Foundation at amiableartsfoundation.org.
