We were lucky to catch up with KEVIN JACK recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi KEVIN, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Over the last twenty years, I’ve been blessed to have some amazing teachers and mentors guiding me along this amazing and yet crazy path. I haven’t been taught a particular style but rather to allow the natural process come across the screen. One particular teacher asked me to envision a rather traumatic image. She said, “ Imagine you are on an airplane in mid flight thousands of feet above the earth and totally vulnerable to anything. Now imagine that the airplane splits apart in mid flight. Such a horrendous and horrific thought but in that moment are you going to be the person who immediately grabs for the seatbelt or are you the person who will let go and be free allowing your experience to be determined by fate.” What she was getting at is am I going to be the kind of person who’s going to restrict myself and hold myself back or can I be brave enough to just let go and see where fate takes me. Such a powerful and amazing thought.
Of course I wish that things would have happened sooner but they haven’t and that’s so far my fate. I of course could have been more assertive rather than be a procrastinator but I’m still hanging on and realize that this moment in time for me is my chance so I’m aware of taking whatever advantage I can with this independent film that I have been so graced to be a part of.
The one great skill that I have taken from learning the craft of acting is giving every moment on screen or on a stage total 100% commitment. I’m willing to take chances, I’m very respectful in taking the notes given to me and making the most out of everything that I’m doing. I love acting and being able to fully commit to the process is really essential.

KEVIN, 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?

Hi, I’m Kevin Jack, star of the feature film ‘CUISINE DE LA’POCALYPSE.’ I’ve been an actor for the last 16 years and have been striving to be a working actor in the film/ television industry. I must admit that I have accumulated a few credits from working on some limited budget productions and some online productions but that has never discouraged me from continuing to achieve my dream. I’ve been a member of an amazing creative acting studio for over a decade and have continued to strengthen my abilities in the field of acting. A chance encounter over five years ago has resulted in some projects associated with ‘CUISINE’ and I’m blessed that it has resulted in this current feature length film. I am hoping to parlay my performance in this film to creating more opportunities that can help me in achieving my dream. The beauty of this moment is that I’m an example of someone who is not going to stop trying in every possible way to succeed and knows the benefit of seizing this precious moment I am in and this experience here with Hidden Gem Interviews is an amazing example of that.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The goal or mission that is driving my creative journey is the fundamental desire to be a working actor. It’s not to be a star, a big time celebrity, make oodles of money, and enjoy all the amazing perks of being famous. While those things are wonderful and welcome, that doesn’t drive me. What drives me is the desire to constantly be working, always practicing my craft, working with fellow creatives who share my goals and learning from them which will only make me a better actor. I believe that I have a place in this industry, an outlet to perform and entertain others, and an opportunity to give back and make a difference.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My current film ‘ CUISINE DE LA’POCALYPSE’ is a journey layered with resilience. It was a chance encounter to meet the director who’s wife was working at the same restaurant as I was. He asked if I was interested in this project which was barely anything and of course I said ‘yes.’ We made a 20 minute short and posted it on YouTube and then on a shoestring budget filmed for a few days in Montana and put out a two minute long trailer on TikTok hoping that it might generate some buzz and wouldn’t you know it it did. The crazy thing for me is that on the final day of shooting my director told me that a lot of the crew at first glance of me didn’t think I was the right fit for this main character, the central figure in this story. But once we started filming and everyone saw where we were going that sentiment went to the opposite to where they couldn’t imagine anyone else playing this role. A silent resistance, yes, but I needed to maintain my resilience when we were able to secure funding for this project because of that TikTok trailer and again I had to bring it in a full feature length film where I’m the central figure working alongside some famous names and doing everything in my power to commit to the role. Now that this film is done and we are trying to sell it there is still resilience in my path because I’m not a big enough name BUT I’m proud of this project and I believe that we can surge through this round of resiliency and give this film the audience it needs.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: kevinjackishere
• Twitter: kevinjackishere

Image Credits

Image one courtesy of Kyle Weingart
Image two courtesy of [email protected]