Junior Aria Brooks is among the many rising stars at North Atlanta High School. With more than ten credits, Brooks has acted in the comedy sketch show “All That,” “High School Musical: The Series,” and most recently debuted in her own short film “Not Your Average Rom-com.” Actor, writer, and director are just some of her impressive titles.
Most actors know it can be hard to break into the industry, and it may take years to book a gig, not to mention that many fake auditions are filling the internet. Brooks has found the secret to making it big through her current talent agency. “I met my last agent through a mutual friend, and the one I have now watched me perform on set,” she said. “It’s all about connections.”
Brooks is currently with Paradigm Talent, based in California. Recently, Paradigm partnered with 14 new agents, establishing the largest leadership group the company has had in years. There is no doubt that Brooks will be able to secure auditions in the near future. While it is true that the entertainment industry has taken a hit recently with the writer strikes, Brooks’s passion for the arts has remained strong. “Auditions slowed down for me, but I’m dealing with it,” she said. “I’m happy to be doing theater and film in school.”
As we all know, North Atlanta has an impressive arts program. Classes such as theater, IB film, dance, and visual arts are just a few of the pathways offered to students. Brooks has made many friends here so far and enjoys having the freedom to be creative in school. Not to mention that North Atlanta has a long list of creative alumni, such as Travis Payne, Matt Hullum, and Erika Jayne. These famous alumni have all worked in the TV/film industry, so North Atlanta students may want to start asking their peers for autographs now. “I love the arts program here, I’ve never had a program like this in school,” said Brooks. “It’s nice being surrounded by people who love the arts as much as I do.”
On her own time, Brooks writes and produces projects including her short film “Not Your Average Rom-com.” “Growing up as a person of color in this industry, I wasn’t getting a lot of opportunities,” she said. “So I started to make my own, and the rest is history.”
From fun on-set memories to acting professionally, Brooks has done it all and continues to love each new experience. She hopes to continue her education by majoring in Film in college. “Experience is the best teacher,” she said. “I’ve learned a lot about acting and would love to do the same for Film.”
Aspiring actors and film directors alike should keep an eye out for Aria Brooks in the coming years, as she may show up both in front of and behind the camera.
