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

Don, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

My most meaningful project would probably be the 2013 Budweiser Clydesdale Super Bowl commercials. I was 33 and living in LA at the time and to me it just seemed like another audition. In those days I had a motorcycle to get around. As everyone knows the traffic is very thick in LA and since you can split lanes on a bike I found it to be the best way to get to all my auditions on time, especially if I had multiple in a day, sometimes I would have up to 5/6 different auditions in different parts of town. So I drove to the Santa Monica casting station and walked in. The direction was to simple act as if you had to stop a wild horse in the street. I was studying with Ivana Chubbuck at the time so I used “method’ for my preparation. My father was a career cattle rancher and he had a horse named “Doc”. In that moment in the audition room I really felt as if Doc had come back to life and I found him running after found him. I guess it worked because I got a callback.

Usually callbacks are held at the same local but this was different. We were told to meet at a stable in Thousand Oaks, CA. To my surprise when I was called in a lovely British fellow instructed us to take a horse and simply lead him up and down the corridor, which I did. I was told later that the man was Jake Scott son of Ridley Scott and I was cast because I was the only one that stayed on the left side, something I did subconsciously from growing up on a ranch. We where always told to lead, mount and dismount from the left.

Fast forward a few weeks and we where in production. Four things really stuck in my mind from that shoot. First, there were a ton of Budweiser and Ad agency representatives on set. Usually there’s only a few of each. Second, During the scene where I’m loading the horse into the trailer a company rep came up to me and said “This is going to be the best Super Bowl commercial you’ve every seen”. Up until that point I had no idea and my heart jumped to my throat. Not thinking I replied “Oh man, you can’t tell me that in a middle of a scene”, lol, to a company rep. Third, the last day we where shooting in downtown Los Angeles. They had blocked off all the roads and there were 700 extras. Before the scene where Bill runs up to me (The Clydesdale featured in the commercials) I had virtually no preparation. We rehearsed it once and then I was to perform this pivotal scene in this monuments occasion in one take. Thankfully my nerves held up and that is exactly what happened. And finally, the first AD Howell Caldwell and I had made friends and he kindly asked me to come to the wrap party. Of course I was happy to do so but had forgotten where he told me to go. So on the walk back to the trailers I asked the horse trainer where the afterparty was. I was kinda shocked wen he said it was back at a bar in Thousand Oaks as it was an hour from the shoot. But I wanted to be apart of the celebration so I went. Well it turned out that it was the party for the Budweiser Clydesdale trailer crew and the trainer and I had gone to the wrong place. But instead of leaving I had a great time with those guys who are the salt of the earth. I’m still friends with some on social media to this day.

All in all it was an amazing experience, a monuments moment in my career and I am eternally indebted to Budweiser, Jake Scott and everyone who made that wonderful series happen.

Don, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

A description for the readers who don’t know me.. Well I’m an actor from Houston TX. I’m probably most well know for the Budweiser Clydesdale commercials and for playing Neil Armstrong in Transformers: Dark side of the moon but what some people probably wouldn’t know is that I’ve been in over a 100 commercials and do quite a bit of TV. You can see most of my resent commercials on i.Spot.tv.com. It’s a website that tracks airings and use. For TV I have appeared on CSI, Criminal minds the Exes and more. All this info is available on IMDB. As far as current projects I just completed my second Lifetime movie called “Sisster Obsession” to be released in a few months. I’m also working on a wester called “Reina of the West” off which I’m very exited about and “One hand Clapping” is in post production. The role in OHC is very close to my heart as I feel its almost my own story. And for those wanting to do a deeper dive they can always find me on instagram @don_Jeanes.

What do you find most rewarding about being creative?

Entertaining others. That emotional response, the confessions of “I cried when you did…” “I laughed so hard when…” that is my real reward. Of course the money is great but you could do almost anything and make more than a work a day actor. It’s the connection I get with others that really makes the job rewarding because I remember and still know that feeling. I love being transported to a different world when I watch cinema. That catharsis and temporary escape is what I try to provide. If it changes someones perception of the world in a positive way even in the slightest then I have done my job.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I am an avid audio learner. It started in college and I’ve never stopped. The first book about business I read and still the best was “How to win friends and influence people”. It really changed my life. It’s a blueprint not just for sales but how to be in the world and get what you want.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @don_Jeanes
• Facebook: Don Jeanes
• Twitter: @donjeanes

Image Credits
Select Studios