While Denuem Holiday hails from New Jersey, a major highlight growing up was visiting family in Birmingham every summer. When you meet Denuem (pronounced “Denim”), it doesn’t take long to pick up on his humble demeanor, and it’s no surprise that he strives to treat people with the same respect that he expects to receive. Denuem is readily recognizable to our members as one of our friendly early-morning faces behind the Welcome Desk and a steady presence on the Fitness Floor. We caught up with him recently to ask a few questions…
LJCC: You wear a few different hats here at The J. What does a typical day look like for you?
It usually starts with me waking up around 3:30 in the morning. While I didn’t consider myself a morning person before I began my position at The J, I’ve grown accustomed to being an early bird. And doing this every day has instilled some discipline. Once I enter the building at 4:20, it’s all about doing the work. Whether swapping out towels or wiping down the workout machines, I take great pride in the work that I do as I put my best foot forward.
LJCC: So you’re often the first face people see.
DH: Whether it’s a guest coming for the first time or a decades-long member, they’ll hear a cheerful “good morning” from me. That first interaction has been the start of some great connections during my years here.
What drew you to study at LA Film School?
As I got older and began to envision my future, I thought being an attorney was just the thing since my mother was a paralegal. My plan was to study criminal justice at Alabama A&M University.
Then some life events derailed my plans and I had to figure things out when I realized that law maybe wasn’t my passion. Then I started seeing ads for the Los Angeles Film School.
I had no idea that film school was even an option. I’ve loved cinema since I was a kid, and I’ve always loved to write. Then I realized that people actually write screenplays and turn them into films — that blew me away. My favorite class right now is Screenwriting and Directing. The school has taught me so much about the film industry… and about myself.
What kind of stories are you most interested in telling?
Most of my stories have something to do with sports or family. I love writing dramas about how a family might have overcome an adverse situation. And sports stories are wonderful because they can be so relatable. I’ve been an athlete most of my life, playing a number of different sports, and because I understand the competitive and emotional aspects of athletics, I don’t necessarily have to be familiar with any particular sport to write about it.
What films or filmmakers have influenced the way you think about storytelling?
The TV series Power is what gave me the film bug. I would watch episodes over and over — first as a fan and then after falling in love with the soundtracks and background music. Finally I noticed how talented the cast was. It all opened up a new door for me and provided so much inspiration for my storytelling.
A few filmmakers that I consider to be royalty are John Singleton, Spike Lee, and Ryan Coogler. These Black screenwriters and directors are who I strive to be. I want to have a positive impact — even if I reach only one person.
If your life right now were a movie, what would the title be?
Aspire, because this is the exact season I’m in right now. I have a vision for what my future can be and I aspire to be one of the greats in my field. But right now it’s about hard work and dedication.