Dijon Talton is a multitalented artist known for his acting, singing and dancing on the FOX series “Glee.” He has also had roles in “How to Get Away with Murder,” “American Crime Story,” and the Ava Duvernay film I Will Follow.
In 2020, Talton launched The Talton Company, a multimedia studio and production company that aims to amplify the voices of marginalized communities.
Currently, Talton works alongside his cousin Meagan Good as co-executive producers of the TV series “Á La Carte” on AMC’s streaming platform allblk.
What was it like working alongside your cousin Meagan Good on “Á La Carte”?
The key word is you’re working with family, so you have your own little language and you can look at them and be like, “Stop, you’re doing too much.” We’re also best friends, so there’s a vulnerability between the two of us we don’t see with anybody else. The fact that we work together quite frequently is a blessing because it feels like having your best friend and your biggest cheerleader there to protect you and cheer you on.
From “Glee“ until now, how have you grown as an actor, director and producer?
It’s been a journey, I’ll tell you that, but it’s been a blessing. I was in school to be an entertainment lawyer, when I got the “Glee” role, so I wanted to be a judge, a congressman, and run for president. Then life had a different path. Same thing with directing the show, I was acting and focusing on being in front of the camera, and God had a different course for me. So just being obedient and pivoting allows me to take in each experience as it comes.
How has being an actor made you a better director?
How I view it is completely different. That’s what makes me the best director, is how I can talk to somebody the way they need to be talked to. I don’t know if my actors love this, but I treat everyone the same. Even walking in here knowing all three of those people [on the wall], personally, it’s different because of the world that I come from with being an actor first, I know that everyone puts their shoes on one leg at a time. I require my actors to treat the PAs and everyone the same because we’re all just humans. I can see on the other side, that Hollywood has set up this idea where actors or artists or talent is the precious prize. I’m like, “No, we’re all the precious prize, God made us all perfect.” It requires all of us to do this. Without them, you wouldn’t be here. I think that’s the biggest component, is wanting the sets that I run to be humble where everyone feels like the star and not just the actual stars.
