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

Dave, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I started learning the craft of acting by taking some classes in college and reading some acting books. Two of my all-time favorite books are “Respect for Acting” by Uta Hagen and “The Power of the Actor” by Ivana Chubbuck, who I was lucky enough to study with directly in L.A. At one point, I also trained at The Groundlings, which was super fun and helped me develop my comedic chops.

But honestly, most of my acting skills came from getting hands-on experience working on professional film sets. There’s nothing quite like putting what you’ve learned into practice in a real-world setting. Looking back, I wish I could have started sooner, but I also know that everyone’s journey is different, and sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error to find your path.

As far as essential skills go, I think being adaptable and able to take direction well are crucial. You also need to be able to work well with others and be open to constructive feedback. Of course, there were obstacles along the way, like audition rejections or just feeling like I wasn’t progressing as fast as I wanted to. But I tried to stay positive and keep pushing forward, and eventually, things fell into place.

Dave, 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 always had a passion for creative arts, and growing up, I enjoyed acting, music, and filmmaking. In college, I started exploring my interests more seriously and took acting classes, wrote screenplays, and even DJ’ed for my school’s radio station. But, the more I acted, the more I realized it was the most enjoyable and fulfilling creative outlet for me. Getting into character, collaborating with others, and bringing a story to life was just too much fun!

As I gained more experience working professional film sets, I knew that acting was the career path I wanted to pursue. So, after graduation, I packed up my bags and headed to L.A. to work as a professional actor. That moment when I realized that acting was my true passion was a huge turning point in my life and still feels super exciting to think about.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

For me, the biggest driving force behind my creative journey is a love for storytelling. I think it’s a powerful tool for sharing different perspectives and getting people to see things in a new light. I’m always trying to create content that can not only entertain, but also inspire people. I’m also passionate about using my creative work to make a positive impact on the world. If I can create something that helps people better themselves or re-think their own lives, that’s a huge win for me. And of course, if I can make people happy and give them a break from the stresses of everyday life, that’s a great feeling too. At the end of the day, I just want to use my creativity to connect with people and make a difference.

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

One of the things I love most about acting and filmmaking is the collaborative nature of the work. When you’re part of a production, whether it’s a movie or a TV show, you’re part of a team that’s all working towards the same goal: bringing a story to life. Working in this kind of environment creates a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect that’s hard to replicate in other professions. You’re all in it together, pushing each other to be your best and cheering each other on when things go well. There’s a sense of shared purpose and passion that’s really special, and it’s what keeps me coming back to work time and time again.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6232234/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsdavejia/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsdavejia