We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jack Atkins. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jack below.
Alright, Jack thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
I’m very happy in my current state as an actor and casting producer, but I’d be lying if I said other career paths haven’t crossed my mind. I’m only 24, so I feel like I’m currently in a position where I’m still building my career. I’m constantly trying to gain and maintain positive momentum, and in industries that fluctuate as much as acting and casting, that means I’m pretty much in a constant state of flux, always trying to figure out what’s next. It’s definitely stressful and can be financially challenging, but I also feel like I’m at the exact age where it makes sense to embrace the fluctuation and take a shot at what I want to do most! I have the mindset that, as long as things are moving in the right direction (no matter how fast or how slow), eventually I’ll reach my desired destination. That’s why I’m constantly focused on taking whatever baby steps I can control, and hope that in the grand scheme those baby steps will gain more and more distance.
I also remind myself that, even though it’s difficult at times, I really love what I do and some sacrifice now could result in lifelong career satisfaction. I actually studied Economics and Astrophysics in college, and so many of my friends now work corporate jobs that don’t satisfy them. They tell me how proud and supportive they are of my pursuits and that helps ground me and motivate me. I feel like the grass is often greener on the other side when it comes to ones career, and I know if I wasn’t doing something creative I’d be itching to, so I’m appreciative of the fact that I’m able to.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’ve always been a massive fan of reality tv (Survivor, Big Brother, etc) and after watching season 1 and applying, I was fortunate enough to be on season 2 of Netflix’s “The Circle”. It was a pretty wild experience for a then 20-year-old college junior, and gave me some really awesome opportunities. A big benefit was that it helped me grow my social media (which I had barely used prior) which allowed me to afford spending time in LA during my time off from school and figuring out exactly what I wanted to do in the long term. I had always been interested in entertainment but had curiosities about both the performance and business sides. I figured some time in LA while I was still in school would help me make a more informed decision about where I wanted to put my efforts. I started taking some acting classes (I had never really acted much but had always enjoyed doing improv, stand-up comedy, and watching film) and something about acting really clicked for me. It was both surprisingly intellectual but also raw, emotional, and creative. I’ve since stuck with it and am still building my career, but I’ve been fortunate enough to have appeared in multiple indie projects – namely starring in a dark comedy short film “Lil Brick Answers the Web’s Most Searched Questions” in 2024, which made a nice festival run (and is available to watch at the link in my Instagram bio) and a new TV comedy pilot “Chet Bond: License to Chill”. It’s a satire/mockumentary – think James Bond meets The Office. It’s currently in post-production but should be available to watch as we pitch and do the festival circuit!
In addition to acting, I also began working in casting in 2023 – both in film and reality television. I primarily work with Jubilee & sister channel Nectar, a new media company that puts out popular short form unscripted content in all sorts of genres. I also worked on a new Hulu dating show releasing this year. As a lifelong reality fan and former contestant, casting has been such an awesome way to work in an industry I love and have a hand in shaping the shows of the future.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
I think a good amount about my personal philosophy. I’m a believer in optimistic nihilism and stoicism and think perspective and framing is absolutely everything in feeling good in your day to day life. I feel like as long as I’m taking steps in the right direction, I’ll eventually reach my destination and the journey will have been fulfilling. I also try to control what I can control and if I can’t control it, there’s no point worrying about it. I think specifically in creative, independent ventures (especially acting, where you get 99 no’s for every 1 yes), it’s important to be content in the other parts of your life and not rely on those “yesses” to bring you joy or allow those “no’s” to strip you of it. Finding satisfaction in your personal relationships and situation outside of your creative journey allows for any benefits of that journey to be an added bonus. A book I read recently that really helped me contemplate and shape my perspective is Matthew McConaughey’s memoir “Greenlights”. I recently got back into reading so I’m definitely on the hunt for more books in that realm.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
While the constant ups and downs of being an actor can be difficult, they also keep life exciting, fresh, and spontaneous. While there’s certainly some trepidation in not knowing where I might be or what I might be doing a month from now, there’s also an optimism and excitement that comes with it that makes life extremely fresh and hopeful.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackatkins21/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-atkins-3413b3186
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=lkiut_FdP6MlB2sq&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZiQ8zHRL9msqY0Q2Iecj7Hxm9mvC5gM-aocdPMp-sjTFnug5AWqb6IilE_aem_iOtDv5DeGth4YF9nXtqbQQ&v=mvrXuIipcZc&feature=youtu.be
- Other: My Survivor Podcast – Survivor News (hosted by myself, Brice Izyah, and Wendell Holland): https://www.youtube.com/@BriceIzyah215
