character in Rent Check is a younger, more naive, and lost version of myself. The series is a magical realism drama- comedy story of how I became comfortable in my own skin.” The differentiation Evans intentionally makes between his own experiences and beliefs and those of his character allows for the story to tell a broader experience. “At times, I don’t share the same beliefs as my character,” Evans explains. “As much as I relate to my past self, I want this character to serve as a reflection of all human beings struggling to find their life’s meaning. Many of the stories aren’t things that I’ve directly experienced, but rather perspectives I want to illustrate through my character.” One of the very unique aspects of Rent Check is the way in which it is told—in three distinct parts. The first is a Rent Check Preview. Evan’s goal for the Preview was to create a short segment of the overall series to showcase his abilities as a filmmaker in order to aid his fundraising campaign and promote the project. He also wanted to test-run his idea with audiences, which has resulted positively. The second component is the actual Rent Check Series, which Evans plans to release once he reaches his fundraising goal. You can still contribute to his GoFundMe (https://www.gofundme. com/f/get-rent-check-series- filmed) to help Evans and his team reach their goal. The third and final component is a live comedy show, Rent Check : A Comedy Special by Mike Evans Jr, which “will be
a half-hour comedy special featuring the up and coming music artists and comedians featured in the series.” The reason for releasing it in three parts? Evans answered, “The overall theme of Rent Check is me going through a quarter-life crisis. In Preview: my brother and I have a hard discussion that sends me into crisis. In Series: I navigate through that identity crisis and find my purpose. And in the comedy special, I explain that purpose to a live audience.” You can currently watch the Rent Check Preview (https:// youtu.be/8zOO8fQHsic) on the Youtube Channel of Old Soul Kollective, a collective of young artists which Evans helped co-create in 2015. Old Soul Kollective promotes emerging artists, their art, and their expression. In line with supporting upcoming artists, Rent Check promotes many up-and- coming Bay Area artists. Evans explains, “I set Rent Check in San Francisco because I was born and raised here and there’s so much undiscovered talent here.” Among the artists featured are Jimmie Fails IV, Amani Jadé, StunnaMan02, Kaly Jay, Ozer, Equipto, Cyph4, Xiomara, Professa Gabel, Adeyemi, Smooveez, BagHead, Dregs One, Frak, Jada Imani, Larry Dorsey, and others. Rent Check exists not only as an important story to hear but also as a representation of emerging talent in the Bay Area. It’s a San Francisco story that tells a universal truth, and it is no doubt only one of many impacts that Evans will make in his comedy career.
Shortly after, Evans began to establish himself as a comedian. His work eventually led him to reconnect with some friends from high school: actor, Jimmie Fails, and director, Joe Talbot, who have both since become renowned filmmakers. Evans explains, “For five years I worked with Jimmie Fails and Joe Talbot as a creative consultant for the films American Paradise and The Last Black Man in San Francisco. Watching Joe and Jimmie do what it takes to bring their film to life, inspired me to write stories of my own.” Cut to Rent Check . Evans explains that his inspiration to write Rent Check came from “the identity struggles I faced growing up...I grew up around so many different types of Black people, but [I] was only seeing stereotypes represented in the media. I wrote this show because whether it be in politics, commercials, or in movies, the assumption is that all Black people think and act the same. This assumption has hurt me and many others like me, so I wrote something that I wish [I] could’ve seen growing up.” Evans summarizes the story as “ Rent Check is about a young Black man struggling to find his purpose in life in a country that constantly tries to define it for him. The show follows my character’s hilarious but political journey as he’s guided by his friends, family, and guardian angels played by up and coming Bay Area artists and comedians.” Although the story draws from Evans’ personal experiences, the writer (Mike Evans Jr.) and the protagonist (Mike the Comedian) are not the same. Evans commented, “My
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