It’s always a treat to catch up with an artist who’s genuinely making moves, and today on the Scoop B Radio Podcast, Melvin Taylor II showed me exactly why his star is on the rise. I’m talking about a talent who’s gone from sharing the set with folks like Meagan Good and Teyana Taylor and screen time with Aaron Rodgers in a commercial.
You can watch the full interview with Melvin Taylor II on the Scoop B Radio Podcast.
Melvin recounted that shoot for Amberjack shoes, admitting when his manager sent the description, he thought, “There’s no way that I’m going to get this… it’s not gonna happen!” But it did happen, and he found Rodgers to be a “really cool solid dude,”even comparing the NFL legend’s relaxed set demeanor to a moment I witnessed years ago when meeting LeBron James, noting both stars share a certain “calm” that instantly puts everyone at ease. Now, however, the conversation has pivoted from Hollywood and pro sports royalty to a new, deeply personal project that’s proving to be his most defining work yet: the short film, BALDY.
Melvin’s decision to shift from full-time actor to filmmaker was cemented by the reality that, as a Black actor, you have to wait for others to create the narrative, admitting “the role of being an actor is all on how people see you.” It was during the strike that he said to himself, “We’re gonna make it this year!” The result is BALDY, a brilliant dramedy that tackles premature hair loss—the story, he told me, “that I wish I had when I was 19… 23, 24, 25 and STILL trying to figure it out.” He put a team together, successfully crowdfunded nearly $25,000, and pushed the production forward with a manic urgency. He laughed as he recalled people telling him he was “insane for raising this money” and then going into production, but his conviction was sound: “If it’s not done now I’m not gonna have that same community around me to help pull it off in a way that I want to.” That risk is paying off. BALDY is currently blazing through the festival circuit with over 20 selections and multiple awards, proving that this story resonates. Melvin’s vision for the film is simple but powerful:
“Everybody is going through something,” and for people dealing with baldness, “it’s okay to make fun of yourself but, also know that it’s something that you have a community of people that are going through it.”
Having already appeared at the American Black Film Festival, his goals are now targeted to Tribeca. “Those are two of my big ones,” he said.
As we wrapped up the interview, it was clear that Melvin Taylor II is operating with a renewed sense of purpose. This next phase isn’t just about his career; it’s about paying it forward. He stressed that he wants everyone who was a part of BALDY to not just “feel that they were a part of it,” but to “also want them to be able have things to share… for years to come and being to use it as a stepping stone.”
The collaborative success of BALDY, from the crowdfunding to the festival awards, is a testament to the power of a filmmaker who is willing to put his most personal struggle on screen and invite others into the journey. I’m personally excited about the possibility of his proposed double feature with James Tirado’s film Flushing, an opportunity he says he’s trying to make happen for the summer or fall. Melvin Taylor II is a compelling talent, and in his own words, he’s “just really looking forward to the next phase of my career and what God has in store for me.” If BALDY is any indication, the next phase is going to be huge.
