We were lucky to catch up with Jared Palmer recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jared, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
Firstly. Am I Happy.? Is any artist truly happy? Isnt the reason we make art because there is something inside of us that needs to come out? As I grow older, happiness and tranquility seem almost like a rumor I heard once and believed at one time but has since faded, and is now unrecognizable. I find things in lofe to make myself smile. If you dont have a clear plan of what you want. And you do not know absolutely every single step that it is going to take to get you there. Then you are planning a life of mysery. There is already so much to be unhappy and uncertain about. Dont make your career one of those things. If art is a career path youre choosing you need to understand first, before anything , that the odds are already stacked so high against you that “success” isnt even an actual possibility in some cases. And you, dear reader are saying to yourself “well that depends on your definition of success” and I agree. However, Would you not also agree, that your definition of success does and should change as you grow? One might argue that success doesn’t automatically equal happiness and I would agree, to a point. I.e. it isn’t as if continuously being unsuccessful won’t put a damper on your attitude and emotions. So what is the solution? You try and find other things that make you happy while you turn your passion of Art into a monetized job.? Isn’t that against your original Point as an artist to begin with? Didnt you choose this career path because you wanted to make a living doing what you love? At times this career path seems like a curse. Being an actor. Being an artist. Creating something artistic is the most challenging thing one can do. In my opinion. Builders build Bankers Bank roofers roof there is a fine and clear and distinct way of doing those things. But when it comes to creating, it isn’t as if there is a packet of blueprints laid out for how to make something that you will be happy with that you think others will be happy with. We are all human third party perspective, sometimes, is all we have to go on to gauge our growth. Any artist will tell you, the reason we have so many ongoing projects, and the reason that we redo so many projects, is because we always feel like we can do better. So with that third-party perspective, and you constantly telling yourself that you can do better, it may create some weird emotions within yourself towards others and towards yourself i.e. “is this person lying to me because I know this isn’t the best that I can do” unfortunately, that is art. Am I happy? The reason I became an actor is because I enjoyed making people feel things that they may not recognize inside of themselves, The Good parts, the Bad parts, the Ugly parts, the stuff you want to forget, the stuff you can’t remember,. At this point in my life, and my career, I believe I am only truly happy when I feel as if I have done that.
Jared, 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?
My name is Jared Palmer. Aka Uncle Opey. I am an actor, model, comedian, musician, voice actor, rapper, influncer, community builder, humanitarian and philanthropist. :) I own and operate #BlackShirt. #BlackShirt. Firstly. We pride ourselves on Humanitarianism. We donate a portion of all proceeds we make, to various charities. i.e. Holiday Benefit shows/ Food Drives/ Cash Donations to shelters and Local Community Programs. Etc. We have a somewhat successful Online “Talk Show/ Podcast” where we not only have artists/ bands and singers perform. We usually film events that we coordinate and stream the interviews and performances on Every social media site. As well as a few streaming device channels. We provide a platform for artists to get their names out there whom may not have had an opportunity to do so otherwise you can find all of our previous “episodes” on youtube and facebook! Just search “#BlackShirt Brutal Broadcast” while raising money for various charities, we also offer artists management and booking services.
Along with my associate, I also own and operate a small filming company called Ape Gravvy Media. We provide Stellar top of the line customer service, and we also film a little bit. LOL. We provide camera and audio and editing services at probably the lowest prices you’ve ever heard of while maintaining world class quality.
I am non-denominational ordained minister. I have officiated over 30 weddings. I love joining couples together in Forever.
I started acting and modeling when I was 9 years old. I was associated with ‘Razor and Tie’ who started Kids Bop.
My first big, on-screen roles were in ‘The SandLot’ and ‘This Boys Life’ which starred Leonardo Dicaprio and Robert Dinero. I began traveling the country with a professional sales group directly out of high school due to having too little money for college. This company was an in-the-road “trial by fire” sales and seminar training program which I quickly advanced in, with the help of ‘member achievements’ I had earned from Toastmasters in the meanwhile. I’ve lived in and worked in every state in the continental United States. Obviously minus Alaska and Hawaii.
Simultaneously, I began creating hip hop music around the age of 14 under the stage name Opey Tailor in an ode to Ron Howard’s character Opie Taylor, from the Andy Griffith Show due to our striking resemblance (It was either that or Howdy Doody, or maybe Alfred. E Newman. Lol.) and quickly became a local household name, starting my own amateur philanthropy/ humanitarian group (with the knowledge I gained from my experience traveling the country leading training and sales seminars) at the age of 25 called #BlackShirt, EVERYTHING we made from our music or other entertainment endeavors went directly to local charities and charitable causes in our respective communities.
While also providing management, agency, and booking services for a large portion of local artists. While still advancing in my acting career I am currently working on writing and directing my own – 2nd Short Film titled “Blade With The Pink Handle”, a sequel to my first film “Did You Shoot Me”. My most notable recent acting roles/ positions would be the work I’ve done with the filmmakers at BYU, Stand in for chord Overstreet, and featured roles With fox/ Disney on Mystery at blind frog ranch and As an officer for the pilot series “The Last Policeman”.
Also the work I was able to perform with UCLA in a short recreation where I portrayed Humphrey Bogart. Directed by the Amazing Accredited Preston Robert Moss. I am also currently working on my fifth studio Album!
We are also beginning our 6th season of #BlackShirt Brutal Broadcast! Our ‘Talk Show’
Links to past events can be found here – http://surl.li/hrock
Flyers from past events can be found here – http://surl.li/hrodq
Our interview channels- https://youtube.com/@BlackShirtBrutalBroadcast
https://youtube.com/@blackshirtbrutalbroadcast7036
Our social links :
https://www.facebook.com/blackshirtbrutalbroadcast?mibextid=ZbWKwL
https://www.facebook.com/UncleOpey?mibextid=ZbWKwL
https://www.facebook.com/TheOrderOfTheOctopus?mibextid=ZbWKwL
And here are some links to my music and films. :)
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
. About the time I was 25 years old my grandfather who was everything to me passed away, my grandmother died the next year on my birthday. Those were the people that raised me, I thought I would never recover. When covid hit it put a stop to our Event Services, and I thought that was the end of the world. Until.. about 6 months into the Coronavirus. About 6 members of our immediate core group at #BlackShirt passed away. Unrelated to the virus. Which, admittedly hurt me. Bad. Those were the people who made me who I was, who I am. They saved me when I was at my worst and I didn’t think my life was worth anything. But I wasn’t able to save them.
It took way longer to recover from that episode than I am willing to admit.
Then, when I finally felt like I was getting past the depression from all of that my little sister was killed. The police mistook her for a homeless person, so they didn’t charge the person who killed her. As Twisted as that is in itself.
I do everything i do because if i ever stop then ive failed every person who died so that i could succeed.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Around the time I was about 22 years old I contracted a lung disease that was suspected to kill me. I lost my voice for about a year and a half. At that time I was going full steam with my rap career. Every doctor I met with told me that I would never speak again let alone rap. To this day my voice is deeper than it was ever supposed to be. Which coincidentally actually helped me develop a new love for voice acting and narration work. What i thought was going to be my biggest downfall ended up pushing me further in my career.
Contact Info:
- Website: Linktr.ee/UncleOpey801
- Instagram: @JaredGlenPalmerActor @UncleOpey801
- Facebook: Facebook.com/JaredGlenPalmer facebook.com/UncleOpey facebook.com/TheOrderOfTheOctopus
- Youtube: Youtube.com/OpeyTailor https://youtube.com/@blackshirtbrutalbroadcast7036