NEWS
October 22nd, 2022 | Matthew Grimes Stars In Political Drama
I had the opportunity to connect with my roots at Columbia College Chicago when I was cast in The Silent Majority, a Directing III Thesis Film. Directed by Joe Garcia, the film follows Maya (TaZaeya Jenkins), an ambitious congresswoman challenged during her run for re-election by a conservative opponent (Billy Cooper). I play Tristan, the CEO of a major tech company who knows how to utilize his privilege to his advantage. Bobbie Hart, Parker Carbine, and Michael Pitner also star in the drama which is scheduled to premiere in December 2023.
Working on this set film was an absolute blast from beginning to end. I’m lucky that I was chosen to play Tristan, because it opened the door to an on-set experience involving cast and crew that were all as talented as they are good-hearted.
September 3rd, 2022 | Matthew Grimes stars in “Sapar”
It happened so quickly and unexpectedly I barely had the chance to tell anyone about it. I was cast in my first ever TV show! Shot in both Kazakhstan and Chicago, Sapar is directed by Nursultan Kaldybekov and follows Sapar, an immigrant struggling to make his dreams a reality. I had a lot of fun getting to play a type of character I’m not usually cast as. My credit is “Young American”, which of course sounds like most roles I’ve played. You’ll just have to watch it when it comes out in order to see what makes this character stand out.
July 28th, 2021 | “Nice Guy” Out Now!
I recently had the pleasure of collaborating with Lakefront Pictures, a phenomenal company that produces demo content for actors. Working with an amazing script from Sarah Quinn and under the brilliant direction of Jennifer Karum, it was an absolute BLAST to be on this set! Lakefront made me feel comfortable and confident, and while the process was practical and professional at its core, none of us ever sacrificed the opportunity to have fun, laugh, and enjoy ourselves. I worked with two terrific actresses, Kylie and Torri, who were a delight to rehearse and be on set with. If you’d like to see them (as well as myself!) shine, you can watch the clip below!
November 28th, 2020 | “Concrete” Out Now!
“Concrete”, a short film directed by a fellow graduate from Columbia’s Acting Program, is out now! It was so nice to be able to get back on set after nine long months, and to be able to do so knowing every safety precaution necessary to make art during this time was being taken. This project brought on some fun new challenges — including having to act while driving (which I had never done in Chicago until that day; the way we accomplished those shots was so cool to see behind the scenes!). Best of all, I got to help tell a compelling story with some of my favorite people and artists’, as well as getting to meet some new, very talented ones! Go check it out!
May 15th, 2020 | I graduated college!
I officially graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Acting from Columbia College Chicago! My time at Columbia may not have ended quite the way I expected, but that can never take away the experiences I've treasured during my time here. I have grown so much as an artist, and as a person, at Columbia, and despite any moments of fear or doubt, I know I made the right decision. I wouldn't trade the people I've met, the memories I've shared, or the lessons I've learned for anything in the world.
I want to give a special shoutout to my friends, the amazing Resident Assistants, the brilliant Orientation Leaders spent last summer welcoming new students with, the talented creatives I collaborated with on any projects throughout these last few years, and all my professors, especially Brian Shaw, for helping me transform as an actor and artist. And, of course, I'd also like to thank my family for being there for me every step of the way. This would’ve been impossible without you.
May 15th, 2020 | “First Girlfriend” Out Now!
“First Girlfriend”, a film based on a true story experienced by my director, Xiaqiushi Ding, is out now! Working on a project bringing true events to life was one of the most interesting things I’ve done so far as an actor. Beyond the great actors I was working alongside, were the visionary crew. This was an on-set experience unlike any other with watching all parts of the crew work in such an easy flow with one another. They masterfully brought everything they needed to create a perfect shot every time, and I commend them for their hard work and for bringing Ding’s vision and story to life, with energy and care, even until late hours of the night.
April 26th, 2020 | “Good, Bad, Indifferent” Out Now!
My most recent short film, “Good, Bad, Indifferent”, directed by J. Davila, and co-starring Jessica Byers, has finished post-production! This production was so wonderful to work on from the very beginning, and all of us are so pleased with the product. Between the rehearsal process to the actual shoot, the energy was exciting and collaborative, and I feel very lucky to have gotten to be involved in this project!
April 3rd, 2020 | RA Web-Series
Due to COVID-19, we unfortunately have delayed production on “Resident Assistants” and plan to resume in Summer 2020. However, we sincerely appreciate your continued enthusiasm through this exciting process. Whether it’s a donation or sharing our campaign on social media, your support means the world to us.
Please check out our Indiegogo campaign for our promo trailer, our story, and how you can help!