For 20-year-old Atlanta native Elijah Stokes, stepping into the world of acting was not on his list of goals while in undergrad, but it was something that just “kind of happened.” Stokes stars as James Richardson in “In the Château,” a student-written, produced, and directed HBCU-based film that highlights campus life as ambition and reality collide.
“This film has been a long time in the making,” he said. My friend tells me it feels like they were supposed to see it ten years ago, but the hard work has definitely paid off.”
The third-year bio-premed student worked hard to balance his textbooks and the lights, camera, and action. He was introduced to the film when he came across director Dacari Taylor, who thought he would be the perfect fit for his character, James.
“I wouldn’t say I was inspired to audition for this role,” Stokes explained. It kind of happened because I had a previous run-in with Dacari, and he felt I’d be a good fit for the film. I went to see what it was about, and we both agreed it made sense, so we started working.”
Playing James marks Stokes’ first time acting, pushing himself out of his comfort zone and making him open up in ways he did not expect.
“It made me open up more as a person,” he said. “It feels good to be in a film that shows a more accurate depiction of what HBCU life is like.”
“This film taught me to be more coachable in all aspects of life, without an ego in times when I couldn’t get a scene right. I had to adjust fast so we could get through each shot.”
To him, one of the highlights of the whole process was being around the cast and crew who kept him grounded during long production days.
“The best part was just being around the whole team. It was always great vibes, jokes, laughter, the kind of stuff I’m sure will show up in the bloopers,” Stokes explained. “It was always a welcoming, loving vibe on set.”
As the “In the Château” premiere is on the horizon for Saturday evening, Stokes is grateful for the journey it took to get here. While his goal is to attend medical school to become a physiatrist, this unexpected chapter in his life has left a mark.
“I feel like once the premiere is over, I’ll look back on this era of my life as very nostalgic and memorable because of all the memories. I was lucky enough to catch some of them in a movie.”
