Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jonathan Ward. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jonathan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

100%. I wish I had started my creative career sooner. So, when I was in grammar school to jr. high school, I was in JR. Players. It was a program my school offered where we would put on Disney-inspired plays. I liked it, but I didn’t love it until I played Scar from the Lion thing. I absolutely love that role. Like, I could perform “Be Prepared” to this day. I should’ve known from that moment that I would want to do this for the rest of my life. I was young, I was in love with Basketball. When I got to high school, a lot of things changed for me. My priorities changed, and my concerns were hanging out, partying, making music, and basketball. I knew there was an audition, and I was encouraged to audition, but at the time, I felt like I would be starting over. I was a top actor in JR players who had the role before any auditions took place, and I got comfortable with that. I had to learn how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, and that was all a part of growing. Around my sophomore year, I began to start battling with basketball-related injuries, which really halted the rest of my high school career and any chance I had of having a collegiate career. Around my junior year, the fact that my basketball career was over began to set in. It was tough to deal with. I was like Well, now what and my outlet was making music. Even though I was making music, the now what was always there. Am I going to make it in the music industry? You have to remember this was before the explosion of social media. In college, I had 0 direction, nor did I know what I wanted to do. I barely graduated and bounced around from job to job, just unhappy. I quit a job one day. I don’t remember the year, but it was in April. I had just quit another dead-end job, and I was scrolling on Facebook when I saw an ad for BG work on Empire. I applied, thinking, what do I have to lose. I got an email back within 24 hours, and I was off to Chicago. I arrived on set and instantly knew this was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I just wish I had known sooner. I believe I started earlier. I’d be on the cusp of or where I want to be in the career.

Jonathan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve been writing since the first grade. I made my first comic book, the AJT BOYZ, in the first grade. My first song I made I believe in the 8th grade. I love writing, and what sets me apart from other writers is I don’t write a lot of happy endings, and I have a lot of plot twists. There’s a few more things but I don’t want to give all my secrets away. I will say I think outside of the box and live my life like I’m the main character in my own story. I get amazing storylines from things my everyday life, and what my friends and family go through. I also believe in originality and trying to find different characters or stories or heros or monsters that have never been created before.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creator is the final product. I love seeing the film or book come together, and seeing the final product is like the reward for the hard work you’ve done. When people like your project, it’s like the icing on the cake. It’s so gratifying and makes you think, “I am good at this”. However, all that being said, I love the process from idea to finished product. It’s a bonding journey with like-minded creatives, or it’s a rollercoaster of emotions depending on what you’re doing.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is simple. Well, I have a few goals and I’ll explain. The first goal is the simple goal, and it’s to be able to make creating, writing, or acting my full-time job. My second goal is to work for the WWE as a writer or creative. The last goal is to get my comic universe finished, published, and filmed.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://moonlinemedia.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan_j_ward/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jay.ward.712
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-ward-22572872
• Twitter: https://x.com/J_ward317
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@moonlinemedia2443
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/j-ward-1

Image Credits

Jonathan Ward on the set of Empire