We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jamie Nelson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jamie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

It became clear to me very early in my pursuit of a career in the arts that, at first glance, I was “nothing special.” Coaches, teachers, and classes reinforced that perception. Coming out of school for Musical Theatre performance, I believed there were enough roles for anyone willing to put in the time, effort, and dedication. I quickly learned otherwise.

What I expected to be a journey defined by rejection at auditions turned into something more complicated: I wasn’t even getting in the room. While launching my career during a global pandemic certainly played a role, I was also confronted with a reality I hadn’t prepared for—the challenge of not being seen at all.

I struggled with this for years before realizing I had a choice: give up, or create my own opportunities and define what made me distinct.

At the time, I felt unequipped. I had invested so much into training skills I didn’t yet know how to apply in creating my own work. Still, I started anyway.

I began seeking collaborators however I could, developing and writing narrative projects that would eventually allow me to use my performance background. I hadn’t anticipated how difficult it would be to find the right people, or how much time, energy, and money I would need to invest in producing and pre-production. I often felt like I was faking confidence, waiting for someone to realize I didn’t know what I was doing.

But in putting myself out there, I learned far more than my formal training had ever taught me—how to problem-solve, adapt, and bring ideas to life within real constraints. I came to understand that my desire to tell stories wasn’t rooted in vanity or a need to be seen, but in empathy and a genuine drive to challenge and move audiences.

That realization made the work worth it.

As my creative goals evolved, I became committed to understanding every aspect of production across both theatre and film. Along the way, I discovered a deep passion for producing and casting—areas I hadn’t originally envisioned for myself.

While auditioning remained slow, I began intentionally pursuing opportunities in these fields and found a new sense of fulfillment. I came to see that contributing to storytelling behind the scenes could be just as meaningful to me as performing onstage or in front of the camera.

Jamie, 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’m originally from Mississauga, Ontario, where I began my journey in the performing arts at a young age. After gaining experience working out of casting offices in Toronto, I now serve as the Associate Casting Director at Vancouver Casting, where we specialize in finding the right talent to bring commercials, video games, and narrative projects to life.

My background spans performance, talent agencies, producing, and casting, giving me a well-rounded understanding of the industry and a strong instinct for identifying the right people for each project.

While casting is my full-time job, I also actively produce my own films with my creative team in Toronto and continue to audition as an actor in Vancouver. Most recently, I appeared in the series Fire Country and the MOW Monster in the Family alongside Elisha Cuthbert.

As an artist, I collaborate with a wide range of creatives, both in front of and behind the camera, to help bring compelling commercial and narrative work to life.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I had just turned 18 when I finally saved enough money to take my first on-camera class. It was expensive, but it came highly recommended—my first step toward gaining experience beyond theatre.

I remember the instructor moving around the room, framing each actor in close-up and talking about their “type”—how they naturally read on camera. There were conversations about the kinds of roles people might book, the projects they’d fit into. Then the camera landed on me.

The instructor looked at me and said to the class, “Some people just aren’t meant for the camera… maybe you’ll be someone’s sister, or some smaller role.”

I was stunned. Embarrassed. Speechless. I hadn’t even had the chance to act yet, and already I felt dismissed—like I’d been punched in the gut. It took everything in me to keep showing up to that class, but I did.

I won’t pretend it didn’t affect me—it stayed with me for years. I know so many artists have faces similar moments.

What it ultimately clarified for me was this: I’m not here for vanity, or for how I look sitting in a classroom on camera. I’m here to tell stories. Real ones. The kind only I have the ability to tell.

Now, in my work with creative collaborators, I’m drawn to stories rooted in our Italian heritage and lived experiences—stories that feel deeply personal, yet universal. Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how you “read” in a classroom. What matters is whether you can bring truth, authenticity, and heart to what you do.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Growing up, I was constantly told how harsh and unforgiving this industry is, and I was often discouraged from pursuing it as a career. The idea of the “starving artist” has never made sense to me. Why shouldn’t we strive to be creatively fulfilled and live happy, stable lives? I’ve never believed it has to be that way. To be the best artist you can be, you need to live a full life—one rich with experiences you can draw from.

Whenever an actor or collaborator asks me for advice, I always say the same thing: be patient, but be active. Don’t sit around waiting for someone to give you an opportunity—create your own. Seek out what inspires you, what excites you, and fully engage with your life outside of the work.

We truly don’t know how much time we have, so don’t spend it waiting for your moment. Your moment is now.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamien.nelson/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-n-50782b91/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@1JamieNelson

Image Credits

John Bregar, Jacob Ambrose, Kamal El Douaihy, Veronica Bonderud