On celebrating 25 years in the industry, he said, “It feels so long ago. It’s a shift in my career and life to learning to deal with the change in the business. The idea that my sexual orientation has no bearing on how I get cast by many is a dream come true, but the fight is over. I still talk to actors who are afraid to come out or find it a limitation. I say take your power back and learn to compete at this different level of opportunity. I have hope, that I get more mainstream jobs with folks in the same way that I have with the indie world of film and TV.”
He revealed that he has several films coming out in the next year, as well as on television, “On Direct TV, this November I will be seen as Carl, the anti-abortion leader, in The Line from filmmaker Melisa Resch and from producers Emmy Winner Lena Waithe, Oscar winner Common and producer Shelby Stone (The Chi). Next up, the thrillers Immortal with Dylan Baker, Mario Van Peoples, and Samm Levine and my first big action movie Diverted Eden.”
Stuart continued, “The little film Hank has touched me deeply. I get to play the title role that I am very excited about, which is rare. It’s my first gay role in a while and I get to play a sweet man who finds his strength as a man. It was a changeling role and one that was very meaningful for me.”
For aspiring actors and comedians, he said, “Everything you say is funny.” “Your job is to find a way to set up the joke so the audience understands where the joke came from. It’s a craft and you need to think of it that way. Also, to know that you need to work out in front of a live audience three to four times a week. It’s the only way to really make it a part of your DNA. Lastly, you need to love it.”
Digital transformation of the entertainment business
Regarding the impact of technology on the entertainment scene, Stuart said, “It is giving me an opportunity to have a fuller and more artistic career. I have had the ability to act and direct the short film Like Father, the web series Mentor and host a podcast. All sold and available on Amazon, Dekkoo or on my website.”
On his use of technology in his daily routine as an actor and comedian, he said, “I use social media with fans and industry. Also, other artists who are working that I would like to work with are at your fingertips. I just send out my actor demo reel to anyone who will watch. This way they see my body of work and hopefully, they will want to cast me in their projects.”
Stuart elaborated, “This is exactly what happened on Jon Dabach film Immortal. I got to play a private detective who deals in spy equipment. A role I have never played before or auditioned for. All that was said about the character was that he had a low voice and was intimidating. It was a six-page scene in a film. Now that is a lot of time for the camera time to be on a supporting actor. I really committed to the character and it was a real artistic change for me in my work. To step up and risk with my power as an actor that I had not worked on before.”
He listed such filmmakers as Thomas McCarthy, Spike Lee, Nicole Holofcener, Rodrigo Garcia, Boots Riley, Gus Van Sant, and Jenji Kohan, as some of his dream collaboration partners.
To learn more about actor and comedian Jason Stuart, check out his official homepage.
