We recently connected with Jack Edward and have shared our conversation below.
Jack, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
It was 2020 and I was living in New York City. I had barely started my second semester of college when Covid closed everything down and the two week break from school turned into a summer at my childhood home in Michigan. While I love my parents dearly, I couldn’t bring myself to go from doing whatever I pleased in Manhattan, to living in the rural and republican midwest.
Until recently, I did not realize how much of a rebel I was. Since I was young, I never liked being told what to do, and I naturally question authority. That could just be me or my Aquarius sun.
I vividly remember laying in my bed one day and scouring the internet for low cost living situations in Los Angeles. I needed to get as far as possible and fast. Most people know that LA is expensive and they are right. I looked on Zillow, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and so much more, but everything was way, way, way, out of budget. I had been back working at the same gas station Subway sandwich shop that I did in high school, saved up two grand and was out of there by August of 2020.
Thankfully, I found a company that rented out large apartments and houses to artists. The rent was cheap because of the bunk beds and bathroom you shared with 5 strangers. LETS DO IT! I did have to apply and interview, so they could make sure I was a creative, which made me feel better about moving in with a bunch of people I have never met before.
My house had 10 people living in it- which was actually not much compared to some of the other locations. I quickly made friends and begun roaming around Los Angeles. I would do it again, but communal living is not for the faint of heart.
Soon enough, I moved into a two bedroom apartment with three other people from the house. One a model from Colorado, another a photographer from Columbia, and an actor from Sacramento. Lilly, Diego, Joey, I love you all.
Four years later, I still live in LA but finally I have a bedroom to myself. I am so thankful for the friends I have made along the way and the places that I have stayed, no matter how cramped. Looking back, I am so proud of 19 year old Jack for following his heart and making the move to LA. Three bags and a dream is all I needed to truly start living my life for me.
If you are reading this- I urge you to move out of home town. Even for just a year, you never know who you are going to meet along the way or where you will end up. DREAM BIG BABE.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Growing up, I was a theatre kid through and through. The arts has always been a huge part of my life and creativity is my biggest passion. I love expressing myself with art (visual or performative) and strive to change the world for the better by making space for marginalized creators and breaking out of boxes set up by the industry. Most of my life has been spent on a stage or in front of the camera, but within the last few years, I have started to dive into the production side of entertainment. I am a writer, choreographer, and have an eye for design. I really go with the flow with my creativity and now I am also finding myself being active on TIK TOK as a fashion and lifestyle content creator.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I truly want to make space for all people. Allow people of all backgrounds to come together and tell stories, create art, and inspire the generations to come. My whole life I have felt like I was different and I strive to break boundaries and live authentically outside of the box. What drives my creative journey is to make people feel a little less alone.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
For as long as I can remember, I thought that I would always be the performer; the one on stage, the one acting on camera or the one dancing my heart out. That may still be the case, but as the wheel of life turns, my spark for performing has changed. I have been acting for over a decade now and at this point in my life I want to live my life as me. This year specifically, I have been pursuing different creative outlets to see if there are other places where my passions can thrive and I have formed a new love for the written word. I can write a script with characters that I know to be true and express my life experiences. I don’t have to rely on self tapes and submitting to act, I can create characters that I want to play and tell stories that are close to my heart. Being a writer gives me the creative control and the ability to share MY story.
If you read this far, I thank you and urge you to keep following your dreams and listening to your heart. Your voice matters and we need more people like you in the world. XO
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Xo.jackk
- Other: TIK TOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@justxojack?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
@justxojack
Image Credits
Diego Antorveza