J.J. Totah As "Lil Dictator"

What to make of this news? I mean, congratulations, of course! But it's so utterly surprising that I'm left completely flummoxed. I would have expected other news first, like it's raining wombats in the Himalayas, or giraffes are swimming to America, or something.

Remember, half the population of Los Angeles is made up of unemployed actors, many of whom are kids, and everyone is completely, completely available. So, who do the producers favor?

God chooses whom he favors.

And J.J. gets the last laugh!:

Turns out the road from the Davis Musical Theatre Company to Hollywood success is shorter than you might think.

Just ask J.J. Totah, who got his start at DMTC before he was even in kindergarten and five years later is making a name for himself in television, film and stand-up comedy. He’s gone from ensemble parts in “Aladdin,” “Mulan” and “The Jungle Book” on the DMTC stage to a starring role in the “Lil’ Dictator,” a spoof of the Sasha Baron Cohen film made by the web-only channel Awesomeness TV earlier this year.

He has four stand-up comedy routines at the Hollywood Improv under his belt, supporting roles in a television pilot and upcoming film, a manager and agent that sought him out as a client and, oh yes, Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce tweeting about him.

And he’s all of 10 years old.

The third child of South Davis residents Christine and Suheil Totah, J.J. says he was drawn to the stage after watching big sister Camille performing at DMTC. But television and film quickly became the goal, and his parents began taking turns driving him to Southern California for auditions.

A year ago, during spring break, he landed a leading role in a pilot, “Sunny Time.” Though the pilot hasn’t been picked up yet, the whole experience, J.J. says, “was really fun and exciting.”

It prompted him to start taking acting lessons and he eventually ended up meeting a Disney casting director who encouraged him to give stand-up comedy a try.

Watching him on YouTube, it’s not hard to see why. This pint-size kid, all 4 1/2 feet and 50 pounds of him, shows some comedic chops in the three stand-up Hollywood Improv routines available on YouTube (search J.J. Totah).

...But in Hollywood he’s not only found his calling, J.J. says, he’s found kindred spirits as well.

In North Hollywood, he enrolled in a school full of fellow child actors. It was a far cry from his experiences at schools in Davis and Sacramento, he says, “where I never fit in.”

Now he has many close friends who share his passion and drive, he says. One even landed a role alongside him in the “Lil’ Dictator,” the role that undoubtedly has drawn the most attention.

...For her part, Christine Totah says, “We are doing what any parents would do to support their children and help them reach their dreams.”

It’s been challenging at times, she says with the family being split up.

“But we feel blessed as a family to share in this unique opportunity.”
J.J., meanwhile, is enjoying this life he’s living. He’d very much like to land a television pilot by the end of the year.

But whether he does or not, he says, “I’ve found the place where I belong.”

Not bad for a fifth-grader.

I like the second video better than the first....