We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jack Berner. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jack below.

Jack, appreciate you joining us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

Sooner.

My parents and I immigrated to the United States as refugees from Ukraine (then part of the former Soviet Union) in the late 1970s to escape communist oppression and religious persecution. Drama/acting was a first love and passion for me in this country, including in college at the University of Washington. Perhaps this was because my mom likened her appearance to her idol, Sofia Loren, and had ambitions of being an actress herself one day, that my father equally prided himself on resembling Al Pacino (we were a very Italian culture-focused family, apparently–and still are), and that movies were highly emphasized in our family. It was a big gamble to take, however. Everyone knows about the stereotypical busser/waiter endlessly hoping/waiting for their big break in Hollywood, which never happens for all but a lucky few–even to this day. Plus, I had deep-seated, childhood insecurities about failure in this endeavor. brought about by my father (who I like to think didn’t know any better). Accordingly, I pursued the legal profession with vigor (which I had started working in at the age of 15 as a clerk while a sophomore in high school) hoping to establish a name for myself that way as a first generation immigrant with all the responsibility that comes with that. I flew through college and law school at the University of Washington with no breaks and started a successful legal career that would span a quarter century as a prominent trial attorney in the Pacific Northwest. I was still performing–but to a different audience (commissioners, judges and juries). I was the producer, the director, the writer and at least a co-star. Being an effective trial attorney is definitely akin to performance art.

My mom never achieved her dream as an actress herself, not even able to get such a career off the ground as she battled cancer half her life which she ultimately succumbed to around Thanksgiving 2022–her favorite American holiday. She was taken too soon and with lots of unfinished business. This was a turning point for me as I had never more clearly understood the adage that life is too short until right then and there. I told my mom on her deathbed in the presence of the rest of my family that I would attempt to achieve her acting dream for her–and me–and have been doing my best to make good on it. Since early 2023, I have been in 16 feature films–half in a leading role–and this is just the beginning. With the feedback I’ve received to date, I’m confident I could have been a success in this field had I started sooner. I even finally got a blessing from dear old dad. I have learned that this is very much a relationship business where, if you work hard, take the craft seriously, and are liked/valued, people want to work with you again and again. I could have forged many such strong relationships which could have substantially propelled my acting career forward. I am trying to make up for that lost ground now at breakneck speed. The life I’ve lived to date has certainly has given me the experience and emotional intelligence to be that much better of an actor. Who says you can’t have it all? I don’t subscribe to that way of thinking any more. Life is too short for that. My youngest daughter, Olivia, age 8, appears to have inherited the performance bug and is showing quite a bit of promise, and I look forward to nurturing her creative spirit and passion.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

There’s a big difference in my goals/role in my two chosen professions–trial attorney and film actor. As a trial attorney, my firm, Berner Law Group, PLLC’s, brand is that of highly-skilled, tenacious, and results-driven advocates for our clients–most of whom are going through the worst period of their entire lives. As a film actor, I simply want to deliver the most authentic, memorable, and unique performances I possibly can. I’m a big fan of Al Pacino–for many reasons–and would love to be able to deliver the kinds of performances he has. I’m not interested in camera time solely for its own sake though I understand about the need to be tested by producers/creatives who’ve never worked with me before. If the film has a positive message or can change society in a positive way, even better. However, I believe that entertainment, in general, serves the greater good in providing important distraction from the seriousness of day-to-day life which I know all too well as a trial attorney. People need a laugh, a break, a chance to reflect, and maybe some inspiration.

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

It’s of trying to live life to the fullest–as many lives as possible, in fact. As an actor, one gets to experience many lives through the characters they’re playing. This is both thrilling (particularly when new skills are learned as a result,traveling to places you wouldn’t have otherwise traveled to, and meeting interesting people all around the world as a result of said travels) while also promoting even greater empathy and understanding of one’s fellow man. It makes you even more well-rounded–and who wouldn’t want that?

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn that you can’t have it all. Yes, you very much can with a lot of sacrifice, hard work, and determination.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bernerlawgroup.com
• Instagram: @thejackberner
• Facebook: Jack Berner (Yevgeny Jack Berner)
• Other: Yevgeny Jack Berner on IMDB

Image Credits

Jack Berner