Scholar Spotlight: Quentin Warren
“I decided to pursue law school after 30 because I’m at a point in my life where I’ve done alot of the things I’ve wanted to do and saw an opportunity to do more. I had many conversations with family and friends about pigeon-holing ourselves. Just because you’ve done most of your adult life one way, doesn’t mean you can’t do something else or add on to your identity. We only live once. I’ve always had an interest in studying law, so I figured there is no time like the present… also, a two-year pandemic wreaking havoc on the performance industry may have helped. Haha”
Quentin Warren doesn’t fit in any box. A black man, born in England, reared in Michigan and baptized in black excellence as a fine arts graduate of Howard University, he has held many titles in the past, including singer/actor/songwriter/actor and producer. Soon, he’ll add to that list as an “artist-lawyer”, combining his boundless artistic talent with a desire to lead, serve and advocate for others.
When Q arrived at Howard University to study acting, he met a professor named Henri Edmonds. “Every day she would shout at us in the hallways of the Fine Arts department: “Business Show! it’s called show business, but you must remember to make it BUSINESS SHOW!” That was Mama Edmonds’ famous mantra. It was her way of making the students understand that you must remember to treat your art as a business first.
While true that he most recently released an acclaimed single (with a music video that you can watch below), weeks later he finds himself studying late nights at the law library at Southwestern Law school. That’s 7,000+ miles away from where he recorded the song and spent the last 5 years of his life primarily in acting roles.
After applying to law school in the Winter of 2021, Quentin decided to return to Los Angeles and chose Southwestern Law because of its offerings in entertainment law and because they offer a 2 year accelerated JD program (which is why he began in this summer)
Why Law School?
In 2020, after 10+ years in the entertainment industry, Quentin noticed an uptick in the discourse online and within the artist community about unfairness in the entertainment industry. Perpetually, black artists are marginalized in investment, opportunities, and contract deals, especially when compared to their white counterparts. This national dialogue exposed industry standards that have been in effect for far too long and have benefited only particular players in show business. After researching, he found that of all the current bar-certified lawyers, only 5% of them are black. He couldn't help but connect this fact with the existing discrepancies apparent in the industry. This served as a the final sign Quentin needed to add another feather to his flock - as an entertainment attorney.
Career Goals
Quentin wants to take his “business show” journey to the next level. He wants to be in the room of decision-makers, negotiating better deals for other artists like him and teaching artists how to be “business showmen” for themselves. As an “artist-lawyer,” he envisions hosting regular clinics for artists to attend where they can learn about their rights and voice their concerns related to policy standards of operation in entertainment areas of commerce. He wants to lead the charge to educate artists about navigating the legality of owning and monetizing their art. As an entertainment attorney, Quentin desires to work with entertainment unions like BMI and SAG-AFTRA to modify current standards to better benefit the artists, specifically artists of color. Education and advocacy are the mechanisms he wants to use to shift the paradigm.
“The more informed we are as artists, the less the industry can abuse and take advantage of our contributions to this multi-billion dollar industry.”
Quentin’s music video for “Tell Me”, his debut single.