Meet Tyler Citizen | Film Director & Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tyler Citizen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tyler, do you have a budget? How do you make lifestyle and spending decisions?
Funny thing is I don’t actually. Not yet at least. I know that it is important to do so but I honestly have been what most deem a “gambling man”. I’ve made what I call “investments” that will lead me to come into enough cashflow to eventually be able make a budget. My personal finances currently are impoverished. To tell you I have a budget and to tell you I live the successful lifestyle that I envision in my mind would be a lie. I make all my spending decisions w/ the building & attaining success through Bake Your Noodle Productions in mind. I feel like I’ve made poor decisions financially in the past that will lead to a life of enRICHment in the future because I know where my heart was @ during those decisions.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a director/actor/editor/director of photography/etc. What I believe sets me apart from others is that I’ve taken an unconventional route only fueled by “faith”. It was faith that allowed me to enter through the door. The door closed to those who lack faith, as I do at times; I fall short. What sets me apart and what I believe what will continue to set me apart is my PERSISTENCE. I’m most proud of and excited about the projects that I participated in last year (2021). Was it easy? Not by a long shot. Quite the opposite; and some! All i’ve ever had to fuel me through it all was/is my ever growing faith in the most high. For example. I got cast as an extra in Robert Rodriguez’s upcoming film (Hypnotic) releasing in 2023. It stars Ben Affleck and Robert Fichtner and was filmed in Austin due to Covid-19. The company that hired me for the role never followed up with me to tell me the shoot location and time. All the emails I sent after being cast went unanswered. The only context clue that I had was that it was a “heist scene” in downtown Austin in the initial email they sent. Also, I was so broke I didn’t have a phone nor could I afford one. So, I had to make a decision; & decided to take a leap of faith. W/ no money and the faith of just a mustard seed, I emailed my mom and asked her to help me get a bus ticket to Austin. Though frustrated she helped me get the ticket to Austin via greyhound. Not just that but I needed a vaccine for covid-19 in order to work on set and I was against the vaccine. But, I swallowed my pride and knew that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity; so I got the vaccine the day before my bus departed. Long story short, I was fatigued and dog tired & in physical pain due to the symptoms of getting the vaccine. To top it off I had no money for food. So here I am, walking on a dream, weak via the vaccine, no cash in hand carrying a duffle bag w/ a Canon C300 & equipment inside in one hand & a skateboard in the other because I intended to record some skateboard footage in the meantime (3 days in Austin). This was all upon arriving in Austin. Once there around 2 A.M, I seeked the casting company but the location that I wrote down (no phone) was on the other side of town. Luckily Austin has a late night bus service, so I caught the bus across town. Upon getting off the bus I felt like giving up. I was starving and feeling the effects of the vaccine. I realized I had to walk the feeder road in order to get there. I walked at least 3-4 miles just to find out that what they had listed was vacated! In that moment (4AM or so) I broke down and cried. Upon crying I saw a mural w/ the hellenistic Jesus & an inspiring verse from the Bible that kept me encouraged. I fell asleep and woke up on a mission; to find the set by going downtown and looking for a Hollywood type set. So I caught the bus w/ the morning sun shining down on me keeping me motivated. Long story short, I walked up and down the heart of Downtown Austin and had no luck until I looked down a street where the cities main Courthouse is located. I decided to walk closer and closer until I see…BRIGHT LIGHTS and dollies galore! For the first time in my life I see PANAVISION cameras and just as I’m reaching nirvana, actor William Fichtner (the banker w/ the shotgun in the opening scene of Dark Knight) and a production assistant walks right by me rehearsing a scene. I had made it! I introduced myself to one of the production assistants “Hello my name is Tyler Citizen & I was cast as an extra” and asked if he could help me find the casting company who hired me for the role. Surprisingly he grabs his walkie talkie and relays the information and before you know it a shuttle bus pulls up to drive me over to the wardrobe and covid testing site & the rest is history! The lesson I learned then was to PERSIST and keep the faith! Remain stoic. The brand Bake Your Noodle is based on the notion of using your mind. The noodle is your brain. Don’t fry it. Bake it. Think deep. Push your limits. Medicate it and meditate it. Keep God 1st.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Some of my favorite spots in the city would have to be Gulfton Skatepark. I picked up skateboarding a few years ago and find peace and solace there. Theres a new skatepark opening in Alief as well that I’m looking forward to. When you get hungry and need a bite to eat I recommend Frenchys chicken; down the street from U of H and TSU. Chicken southern fried & seasoned to perfection will be sure to satisfy anyone craving that southern hospitality. Another food spot would be Whataburger. All I can say is…What a Burger! Downtown houston is experiencing an uprising in design and architecture. The city is cosmetically improving and diversifying. The city of Houston becomes a favorite for many who visit for good reason. Another place to visit while here would be Rooftop Cinema.

Watch your favorite nostalgic films on a roof in uptown, Houston in the galleria area. The shopping mall “The Galleria” is a staple as well. If you get hungry there (you will), you got the likes of “The Cheesecake Factory” & “Shake Shack”. Theres plenty of art in the city as well. Pottery classes and free museum days are just a couple examples of a few more things to do. Some of the best street art ever painted can be seen throughout downtown as well if you keep your eyes peeled.

Not to mention the fact that Houston is becoming one of the biggest Brewery cities in the states. So finding the perfect beer to remedy the Houston heat is an easy feat. I’d recommend 8th Wonder brewery to get things started. Welcome to Houston.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to all the ACTORS & DIRECTORS who have inspired me to take the road less traveled. Inspirational movies like “Forrest Gump” & “Remember The Titans” come to mind that have inspired me to take on a career in film. Shoutout to Jim Carrey & him telling his story about the struggle during his upbringing in Canada by using comedy to remedy the impoverished lifestyle he and his family faced. Shoutout to Disney for producing “Remember The Titans” because its movies like that that help mold the minds of men to do positive things and has the power to also move men to tears. “What you did with those boys…you were the man for the job!” – Coach Yoast (Remember The Titans quote). Shoutout to all the “tear jerkers” because you pushed me to open up my heart and have the courage to inspire others through the film medium. Shoutout to my brother who wrote my letter of recommendation for film school that allowed me to open up the pandoras box that is cinema. Shoutout to my girlfriend for continuing to water the plant that is my mind and being the light that encourages me to continue to push through the bleak days and times where darkness falls. Shoutout to my son Malik for inspiring me by showing and proving to me that great things DO come from me through not just his personality but his academic and athletic performances as well. Shoutout to 50 cent & Robert Greene’s “50th Law” book. That book has some gems in it that encouraged me to face a lot of the fears that attempted to assassinate my belief of success in the industry. Shoutout to actor Kris D. Lofton for following me on instagram & giving me the divine spark to believe that it’s possible to become an black actor/blacktor/director. Shoutout to producer/writer John Wayne III for believing in his vision and producing “Ebony Hustle”…the 1st movie I ever appeared in and also credited. Shoutout to all the filmmakers in the world who pushed through. Kept digging. Kept the faith.

Shouts to Seth Rogen for writing “YearBook”. That book is so revealing and encouraging to anyone wanting insight on the industry & it’s coming from who I believe to be one of the most down to earth and funny men on tv. Shoutout to my mom for being a woman of strong integrity and true grit. It’s the tough love that has helped mold me to be stoic through the hard times. Shoutout to Adam Sandler for writing and providing what seems to be an unlimited amount of laughs and smiles through jokes only I thought were funny (slapstick). Shoutout to Shia LaBeouf for writing the screenplay for “Honey Boy”; watch that movie if you have a son. Lastly, shouts out to Spike Lee ya dig? The man who inspired me to be not just work behind the camera but in front of it as well. Need I say more?

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Image Credits
Jared Michaels Mustafa Ali