Leveling Up: First Lead Role | Conversations | SAG-AFTRA Foundation

It's really exciting to be on a panel with you guys. You guys are in such an a incredible moment in your careers. I'm sure you guys are very excited because you've had such a long journey. Um, someone said the other day the uh the difference between like achieving your dream is hard work. you know, like what's in between you achieving your dream. So, I'm curious to know, can you like tell us a little bit about your journey to getting to where you are right now? - Yeah, - we'll start with Jessica. - Okay, sure. Um, hi, I'm Jessica. I started acting when I was 5 years old, so you know, it's been 20 years of my life. Um, I started super young. I I did commercials. I got my SAG after card when I did my first AFLAC commercial. And since then, I kind of just, you know, I went through background work. Eventually, I I did principal work and did a little little roles here and there. People might recognize me from some things, but uh this is actually the first role where I'm introduced to larger audiences in a really fun way. Um, and yeah, it took it took a lot of time. It took a lot of my parents just supporting me blindly like a 5-year-old child that was like, I want to be an actress. Um, but I'm really grateful and yeah, I'm here now. - Hey everyone, I'm Taylor. Um, I started acting or auditioning for television and film when I was 11. So, it's going on 20 years. Um, but much like Jessica, I was a kid with a dream and I'm very fortunate to have parents who supported me. Um, I am from Houston, Texas. So, you know, I'm not from a place where this was the norm of an industry. Um, and after working as a kid doing commercials, different things that just came into the area, taking advantage of some of the productions that were going on in Louisiana because of tax credits. I decided to go to college in Atlanta, and Atlanta had a growing television and film industry when I was in college. and I just kind of dove right into the independent Atlanta scene while also building my credits with some co-star roles and really like building my resume. And then when I moved to Los Angeles in 2018, I kind of already had a situation going on and found an agent and worked the audition circuits up until um I guess this was 2023. I auditioned for Beauty and Black and I would say that this is the first role that I have been the lead of the series. So it was it was quite the journey. Um and I got my side card when I was 13. Wow. - Uh, hey guys. I'm Jack. Um, I started a lot later. Uh, I'm from Chicago and I had no idea what I wanted to do, uh, up until college and I had been working a million survival jobs and I hate every single thing that I ever did so much. And I remember like walking around campus, I was like a psych major or something. I'm like, I hate this. I don't want to do this. Um, I was like, "What do I what do I love?" You work at, you know, do what you love, you never work a day in your life. And I was like, "The only thing I really love is film and television." And, uh, it had always like secretly been a dream like maybe I could act. I think I could do it. And so I took uh, acting 101, which was definitely like a senior blowoff class, but I was like, "Oh man, no, this is it." And uh, yeah. So then I just uh I completely made my life about that. Started going to Second City in Chicago. Um and uh you know just cold called agencies. Someone picked me up for um modeling and I was like okay I can act. And they're like how do you have you have any have any experience? I was like no but I can do it. Trust me. Uh and uh they I I think I booked like one line on Empire and I was like I told you. So, uh, and then, you know, things just kind of went from there. I, you know, made some good connections, got a great manager, and he got me, um, some better reps, and, um, yeah, made the move out to LA. And, um, I've been really grateful and and lucky to get to be a part of some really incredible projects in smaller roles. Um, but get to see how, you know, some really incredible people do what they do. And um all of those lessons I think really paid off, you know, when I got to, you know, finally have the part that I'm doing now on Ransom um Ransom Canyon. And um yeah, it's just been uh it's been a very cool journey. - So that's also for that was also about so it seems like the journey it's about 20 years whether you're five or you know deciding to join. Don't get discouraged. - Well, I'm not that old. Yeah, my my my journey is my journey is like 15 years. I'm not that old. - Well, I mean, all all to say is that you guys have had a long road, you know, and it's really exciting to to hear about all the roles you've had in in your journey. But tell me about, you know, today I was I was on your Instagram and you have a post about like pinch me I'm in Baywatch, you know, like can you talk to us about that audition and that that experience that you had going from, you know, all the roles that you had you've had to landing that lead role or one of the - Yeah. Well, I played a lot of psychopaths as a child and was constantly killing people or running in front of a truck. Um, I one of my, you know, bigger roles as a child was on American Horror Story. And if you told me that I was going to be doing Baywatch right now, you know, I would never have believed it, but also like kind of makes sense. Um, so yeah, I mean, I I was in New York working on a on a project out there and my team was trying to find the next job. They sent me like 10 tapes. I was like, I'm really overwhelmed. Um, and they were like, but this one right here we really think you'll be good for. her name was Baywatch. And I may have misjudged it at first cuz it took me a while to get to it. I was just going down the line and eventually uh they called me and they were like, "You should really tape for this. Take a look at it." And and I read it and I I saw the sides were about a fatherdaughter story which immediately resonated with me and made me want to do it. It wasn't just hot people running on the beach, although that is fun and really attractive. Um, but yeah, I went ahead and I did the tape. It was it was like an it was like a five minute scene. Um, eight pages and with a southern accent. And then I did it um I didn't I didn't hear anything for three months. I sent it out into the ether and then eventually um heard like you know and it was like next day 10:00 a.m. with MC G uh who's an incredible director of Charlie's Angels and so many more. Um, and then they chemistry read me in person and they were like, "Can you swim?" I'm like, "Yep." And that was that, you know, I got the job and 8 a.m. lifeguard duty at Venice Beach the next day. It was It was insane. But yeah, definitely a pinch me moment. And I'm really grateful that this is like the one for me. I had a lot of fun shooting it. We just wrapped a week ago. Um, just did the most insane, adventurous stuff. And I'm really excited for everyone to see it. January, by the way. January. - Amazing. Tell her, talk to us about what it was for you and your reps in in the process. - Yeah. Um, so I'm going back in my brain. Uh, we had just gotten off strike. Um, if you can imagine the state that we all were in and I had this audition, which actually makes it even crazier what I did. The audition came through and I was like, "No, no, I'm terrified of this. A sex trafficked stripper. I don't know. I don't know about that one. I don't know if that's what I want to do next. Um, I was on a show on FX, Snowfall, for three seasons, and I played a stripper, but she also was an assassin, and it really didn't have as much to do with the actually never stripped. So, I was like, I don't know if I want to do that again. Um, because all I had were the sides. And um my manager at the time called me and was like, "You were requested from the the creator from Tyler Perry. I had done a movie with him before the strike, like right before the strike." And so I was like, "Well, out of respect to him and Kim Coleman, the casting director, I'll take the It was a Zoom audition, not a tape." Um, and I did the Zoom audition and I was like, "Okay, I fulfilled my obligation - onto - but I got a call back and I was like, I'm gonna get this role that I'm not sure about. I'm not sure if I want to do it." And I remember I walked into the room and everyone, as you could imagine, was dressed like a stripper. I had on baggy jeans and a t-shirt. My hair was in a bun. I was like, "I don't want to be a stripper." Lo and behold, the character also didn't want to be a stripper, and I didn't know that. Okay. - And so I remember I went into the call back and Mr. P, he he we had already worked with each other and he was like, "Come sit down. Come talk to me. What do you need to know to play this role?" And I had never, mind you, I never experienced that before. That's not like a normal thing for me. And I was like, well, you know, I really want to play characters like this. And I'm outside of myself thinking, why are you talking to this man who could potentially change your life about why you don't want to do this? And he was like, let me tell you what the character arc is going to be and where this character is going to go and I'll send you the scripts. And I was like, okay. Again, never experienced that before, but I read it and I was like, "Oh, this is fun. She's killing people. She becomes a a CEO. This is crazy. I think I can do it." And I'm very glad that I continued to see it forward in the process. - Yeah, that was going to be my next question. Were you happy with your decision? Yes. - Well, you were you were amazing. I am happy. Congratulations. - So, Jack, take take us through your story. And - uh mine was like I mean it still stresses me out to think about. Um yeah, I this was June. The strike started in like late July or something I think in 2022 23. Um so I get the audition like early June audition couple callbacks director session chemre and I'm and I've have a pretty good radar when I'm like oh I nailed it. And I was like I nailed this chem dude like I got this part. I know it. Strike happens the next day. - And so I'm like oh my god. And I'm also dead broke at this point. I had like moved back to Chicago. I was living at my mom's. I was like really not in a great place. And I was like, "This was my ticket out." And so I'm like, "Okay, I guess I'll like I'll chill uh for the strike to end." And uh so months and months go by and I like keepounding my reps. I'm like, "Yo, do we know anything about this?" Um and the answer is just still kind of no. Finally the strike ends and I guess they had told me they're like, "Hey, they're working on some of the other roles. They're going to get to you." And I'm like, "Okay, well, I don't I don't know what to do." So, I wrote a letter to the showrunner, um, which I've never done before. And it was just like, "Hey, I wanted you to know that like I'm still super invested in this. I've never had time like in an audition to have like six months to think about a character." I was like, "I read all the books. Uh, like I I really do like this project. So, I just wanted to like, you know, let you know I'm I'm still very, you know, very excited about it." And, uh, she was great. and she called me back and like she got my uh letter and then she called me and she was like, "Hey, just so you know, you got like screwed over here a little bit." And I was like, "Okay, what happened?" And uh she's like, "Well, you had been approved by Netflix, so like you had gotten the part. The girl dropped out." Uh so we have to do Chems again, which is great. And I was like, "That's not great. That's that's the worst news ever." Uh and so then we did like another few rounds of chem reads and she like kept calling me and she's like, "Congrats." I'm like, "Was I approved?" And she's like, "No, no, no." But she's like, "We're not going to read any more of your character." I was like, "Okay, but I I'm not approved." So, like, don't tell me congrats yet, man. I was like, "My life is going to change, please." Uh, and uh then finally finally she called me and she was like, "You can breathe. You got approved." And yeah, it was it was like truly a magical like magical moment. Um, and like a day I'll never forget. and it's just been incredible, you know, ever since. So, yeah. - Well, speaking to that, - can you what what was the time between the audition and the book? - Six months. - Oh my god. - Yeah. Six months. Yeah. It sucked. - And for you you two, how from the time that you did the audition to the time you actually booked the role? - Three months. - Okay. - Yeah, it was a couple months. - Yeah. That's pretty long wait. - How do you guys deal with the the waiting period and the waiting time? Were you just out there doing more more auditions? I feel like it was a little bit unorthodox for me because it was right like it it happened right after the strike and I kind of knew fairly quickly like it was the audition and then maybe like a week or two the call back and then at the call back I knew like on for a better lack of words if I wanted it it was mine which is that that that's you know that doesn't really happen all the time. - Yeah. - Nothing else has been like that yet. You're like noted. - I try to forget about it. I send it out into the ether. - Yeah. - And then it just like creeps like a looming shadow of like, you know, when is this going to come back around? And actually at the time, like I was up for a couple of series rags and each one just, you know, fell through and I was pretty damn bad. And so it was like it's like a shining light in a dark tunnel. - Well, I'm happy this worked out for sure. - Yeah. I mean, and I I kind of do the same thing where I'm like I I forget about it for like a week, but if I feel like I did really good, then I'm kind of like, what the hell's going on? Yeah. I was like I was like, "I should have this part." Um, but then, you know, I'm sure you guys all know, yeah, most of the time it does not go your way. Still the still the case now. Just the other day to my manager, I was like, "Hey, what about that one tape?" I was like, I was really proud of that. He's like, "No, the only I was like, "Okay, cool." Um, but like in terms of just staying busy, I mean it it's easier significantly easier since I have like you know this job that I'm on in the in between periods when I have been like the whole thing of like oh you're like don't be desperate like to get the part and then it makes it that's a lot easier said when you don't have to go wait tables at a job you like hate with people you hate and you're just like and then so you're like, "Yeah, okay, cool. But this would change my life and I wouldn't have to go wait these tables and like and I just, you know, I I did that for so long. So, like it it it does that does wear on you a little bit." Um, but it is significantly easier when I'm like, I'll just go for a hike, you know? Yeah. - Go for a hike. Okay. So, what is different from when you're prepping for a role that you're just not just, but you're, you know, part of the cast and how you prep for when you're leading the story as a lead? Like, what's what did you find that's been different in your preparations? Um, for me, I don't necessarily think my preparation was different, but I think I actually have found that I have more information when, you know, playing a character that is like the main character or or one of the leads, there's a lot more collaboration and um I guess life that is on the page versus when I've been a guest or even a co-star, I'm kind of creating these things. So, I have this fully actualized human being that I'm playing versus now if I just keep reading scripts or, you know, you're discovering things as it's being written, there's just a lot more to work with. Um, but the actual preparation of, you know, learning your lines, building the world, um, asking questions, answering them, all those things are still the same. I think it might just be a little bit a little bit, it's more to do, but it's more information given to you as well. - Yeah. I mean, I absolutely second that. Um, I think it's significantly easier in terms of the access that you have to your, you know, your story's arc and, you know, your background and who this character is. And I think, and I've talked with tons of actors about this, that a co-star or guest star significantly more difficult because like not only just when you're showing up on set and you're in the new kid, everyone knows each other's names like you know, and they're all like in a groove and you're just there. you don't have this established relationship with like the writer, so you can't like you can go up and like ask questions and I've done that on guest stars since and you know I've I've gotten a lot more confident to do that. But you don't have this rapport with everyone and um you know I I think that the way that I prep is still the same every for every job that I book. I still break it down with my coach. I go through everything. Um and you know I I feel super anxious if I'm not like overprepared. Um, so that's always still the the main thing I go for. - Yeah, I echo all of that. I think it's definitely a different feeling, you know, coming in as a lead. Um, but besides what they said, I think also just preparing myself in the sense of you're leading a show, you're almost, you know, basically leading a set with your co-stars, and it's really important to have a positive attitude and make sure that everybody gets through the long hours and days together. So just yeah keeping a positive attitude and showing up prepared. - I mean speaking of that I'm assuming that you are more of a leader on set like do you feel that your leadership ex you know experiences are being developed or you already had it like how does how do you show up on set and how does that impact the set? Yeah, I mean I I I echo what you say too that I I think that there's definitely a trickle down sort of like vibe that can come if your lead is like being an ass on set and you're just like they're like being grumpy and mean and it's just it's it it can infect a set and and vice versa. When you have someone who's, you know, continually positive and encouraging and like building people up, I think that really does um you know, make a huge impact. And so, yeah, it's something I'm I'm super aware of and I I have felt myself grow, you know, from season 1 for sure to se like when we were shooting season two. Um, in terms of like taking, you know, more of a leadership role and just being like that having a leadership sort of energy and being a good example of someone who's prepared and ready to work and, you know, doing it with a good attitude. - Yeah. I mean, the same as what they said, I think it was the first time actually having the opportunity to call cast members and being like, "Hey, you want to get together and rehearse?" or setting that tone on set with um the wonderful crew and being able to be gracious and be kind to everyone. And like you said, it trickles down like I mean, I would do that. I feel like even as a co-star with one line, just don't be a But it does being able to see in real time being, you know, in a position of leadership, I guess you could say, and having that same attitude and seeing it um take someone's day from being bad to good. Even if I'm like, "Oh, this is what I would do normally, it does affect people differently or um when guests do come on the show and looking at them and saying good morning." completely changing someone's confidence that that day to where they do feel like they're not alone. Like, you know, you have that um I guess you could say power and you should use it for good. - So, let's talk agents and managers um and even publicists because I know you guys have probably all three. Um, can you just tell us, we'll talk start with you, how you got your agent and manager and what that process was like and what is your how do you work with your team in general? - Um, yeah. I mean, it's funny because I started when I was five, so it's kind of a blur for me. I just know that my mom did her due diligence. What's the word? Due diligence. And I'm an actor. Um, and she did her research. She sent my headsh shot in Manila envelopes all around town, cold called um, cold emailed and eventually I got I got signed. I don't really know how it happened, but I I will say that I've had different teams at different stages in my life and all of them made sense for me for where I was at. Um, but now, you know, as I've gotten older, I think I've gotten way more intentional about the people I want to have around me. I don't want to just like continue working. I want to have a longl lasting career and someone to, you know, build that uh alongside me. So, my team consists of all women. They're incredible. Um yeah, woo women. Um and some, you know, when I actually, you know, tied the knot with them was when I was 16 and and I'm 24 now and um I've been with them for a while. It feels really special when you have people that you can be close with and call and text. I mean, I wasn't doing that when I was 16, but you know, now we're like girlfriends and it feels nice. So, yeah, it's important. - Do you want to tell us how you do? - Sure, - please. - Um much much like Jessica, I feel like, you know, you have a different team at different stages of your career and I think it's a very um individual process of when it's time to make a shift. like it's never an easy thing. Um, but you have to listen to your gut and continue seeking the people that you're in alignment with. I think anyone who I've ever worked with, they were wonderful people, but you know, there comes a time where it's just not in alignment with where you're trying to go or with you. And I feel like um where I am right now, I'm I'm very very fortunate to have a group of people around for for me who I think understand um the nuance of being a black woman. Um and it was very and it's not all that I have all black women. It's just people who understand and who are willing to learn and um hear me and not also just hear me but advocate on on my behalf as a black woman because I mean we live in a complicated time. We live in a complicated world. We all know that. And I think for me it makes a lot more sense to not negate that. Let's name it and let's continue to fight through some of the hardships that that could bring. And that was something that had to evolve in time um for me. And some of it is a little trial and error, some of it is you try something, it's like, oh, I don't know that that works. Um I have agents and I do have publicists, um attorneys as well. And I think it's just about kind of assessing ever so often, what do I need? Is this fitting? And also being very communicative about what you need before like just writing something off. I'm a person where I'm like, it's all my fault. It's something I'm not doing. But sometimes it really just isn't sometimes just not a good fit right then. So, something I've grown to do is have, and this happened in this era, is having check-ins with my team and making sure we're all on the same page. Um, and kind of sitting in the driver's seat more. I think a lot of times I used to feel like, um, my reps are the ones who kind of guide me. And to an extent, yes. But we actually are all guiding each other. We're all working with each other. And you might have ideas that maybe they're like, "That's great." Okay. So, you know, just taking that ownership of your career and being a team player and kind of being the quarterback of the team. - Yeah. Um I think I had said it. Um I I initially when I was in Chicago, I had just started like, you know, going to some open calls and whatnot. Um, I had no idea how to get an agent. That was like the best I could come up with. And uh, yeah, and it and it worked. And then what ended up happening actually was um, I had done a tape for um, David Rapapore and Lindsay Balisari who um, you know, I've I love them dearly and they casted me in Ransom. Lindsay had uh, come out Chicago and her and I had a meeting and I was like, I've arrived. I'm going to get this movie. Um, I was going to get to play a merman. Um, and uh, she was like, "Yeah, no, you're not getting it." Um, but, uh, through her I met my manager and, uh, yeah, I mean, he's been my my ride or die, um, for, you know, the entire time. And I've had different agents, but uh, I always, you know, I lucked out with that where pretty much everything I'm like, you know, he'll be like, "Hey, we got to get a publicist." I'm like, "Okay, I don't know what that means, man. You tell me." Like, "Okay." And then he'll just kind of, you know, he'll explain it to me, give me the options, and and he's really been, you know, the person I credit with shaping, you know, where my career has gone. Um, you know, and I've screwed it up a lot of the time. But, uh, I'm, you know, I I think that if you have, you know, an amazing manager, that can really make a huge difference. - Okay. Just waiting. - I heard the snaps. Um, what is something that changed significantly about your life when you got your the lead role that you could share that you notice? You know, - good question. - Um, I think for me the the biggest thing because it is a show on Netflix, uh, the global recognition is nuts to me. Um the show is very well watched. I'm very appreciative that um a lot of people watch the show, but it it was kind of like a cognitive dissonance like going on. I went to Paris for a wedding and vacation and people are like, "Give me give me I'm like in Paris? That's crazy." And I mean, you can see these things on social media. That's been a big like difference. You go from oh my friends and family follow me to hundreds of thousands of strangers. Um, so you see like people in different countries, but it's very different to be in a different country and experience that. Um, - do you feel that you're you have a higher like your responsibility has changed because now you're on a global platform as an actor or actress? - Um, I do. - Yeah. I think, you know, you spend so much time like going through like, oh, I'm going to take this role. I'm just trying to work. I'm, you know, just kind of in my little insular bubble living my life. But when you realize that it, you know, you're kind of on a stage to the world, I do feel a s or a growing sense of responsibility of, well, let me give him something to watch, like something to look at and, you know, be proud of or, you know, to grow with me. So, yeah. - I mean, I'm excited for that. The show isn't out yet, so I haven't experienced the the response of it yet, but I think behind the scenes, this has kind of given me a little push for casting directors and producers. I mean, I think people are interested in in what I can do and whatnot and let let's see what happens, you know? But I I don't know quite yet if anything has changed for me besides my self-confidence as an actor. - What about when you got L? - What was that? when you did L, I feel like that also shifted might have shifted something about your career. - I mean, that was also like a stepping stone. It was um it was a recurring guest star um but a memorable character and I and I love that, you know, lately I was just at the Palisades Village reopening the other day and two little girls came up to me and were like, "We love you on L." Well, and it was so sweet cuz I I guess I haven't been recognized since I was a vampire on American Horror Story at 13 uh at Disneyland, the most random place ever. But uh so that was interesting, you know. - Um question is like how how has my life changed? - Well, yeah. What's what is something significant that changed about your life? - Oh, dude, everything. I mean, it's it's way better. My life is way better. Um, like I hate to say it, I mean, but like I waited a lot of tables. I feel like I earned I earned being able to say it's a lot better, man. Uh, yeah. I mean, I I'm I also agree with you that like my confidence in terms of like my acting career. Um, you know, and and when I walk into a room or when I send an audition, that um is significantly better. Um, and you know, financial security is great. Although I, you know, spent all my money season one, I forgot I had to pay taxes - because uh because I I'd never had more than like $3,000 to my name. So, I was like, "Oh, I probably only have to pay like a couple hundred bucks." It was not the case. So, that was - Do you get double tax for like shooting in a different location, too? - I don't know, man. The account The account just tells me what to do. - We got to call your manager again. I'm an actor and so I'm like this is where the you guys I pay you to tell me and then they told me and I was like oh Okay. So I've been a lot better with that season two but uh yeah. No, there's Yeah, it's but it's been a lot better. Yeah. - You hear that guys? Don't forget to pay your taxes. - Taxes. Remember that. - Okay. Well, let's let's let's rewind a little bit back to the beginning of your careers. Um, knowing what you know now, is there anything you would adjust in your approach to the industry or even in your career? - Um, yeah. I mean, I I'm a great example of someone who did a lot of really dumb, stupid things. I think that like held me back for a long time. Um, one of which I think is just kind of being in a healthy place as a person. um you know and and for me what that was was I'm 5 years sober now. Um and thank you. Thank you. - Um so I spent a all day every day like in an attempt to numb myself from feelings which you know is a little bit counterproductive to what we need to do as an actor which is feel things. Um, so that was that was a big thing. But then also I was through that I also recognized that I was very petrified and and I was kind of run by fear and and fear of failure. And so part of that to me was if I feel like I don't if I don't really commit and I fail at this dream, then I at least can be like, well, I didn't really try. And so that was me avoiding going to class, avoiding, you know, really putting serious work in. And you know once I got sober and once I got really dedicated and serious with class I noticed a huge shift and you know it was a lot of work and you know it was a couple years of you know class and you know a lot of really dark times you know in sobriety still but through that then um you know things really did start to click. Um so yeah - congratulations that's incredible. - Thank you. - What was the question? It was the question is if you would knowing what you know now, knowing what you know now, um how would you is there anything you would adjust in your approach to the entertainment industry or even in your career or how you approached your career? - Um the only thing like so I've wanted to do this since I was 9 years old. I was a kid that would ask my parents if they could please put me on VHS tapes because I was trying to audition for all that. Like I was like very very I was crazy. My mom actually has like written things that she recently sent me. I was like I'm going to Los Angeles. I'm going to find an agent. How did I know these things? - I don't know. But um so I I would I would tell myself to trust myself faster. Um, I had a lot of confidence as a younger kid and then the world can kind of strip that away from you and you start to wonder, oh well maybe I'm dreaming too big or maybe this isn't going to happen because it's taking too long. Like I had like elsat books. Like I was like maybe I should go to law school. Maybe I should do something else. And I would pray and like it would always be like okay I'm going to start studying for this thing. Oh but you have a call back for this series regular role that could change your life. I was like, "Well, maybe that's one. Give it one more try. You just stay with it." But I always knew that. I knew that at 9 years old. Like, you knew what you wanted to do. So, I would tell myself to trust myself faster and be unapologetic about what you want to do, the artist that you want to be. Like, go balls to the wall, for lack of a better term. Like, go for it. And stop being so afraid of what other people might be saying or thinking. I was a substitute teacher. I waited at many tables, but I think that was the most freeing I felt because I was in LA. I was auditioning by day if I could or working this thing and building this thing with friends and that was oddly I like I think Coleman Domingo said it, I never felt like I was struggling because I was in pursuit. So, I would have just done that faster. - Yeah. Go for it. Trust yourself. You know what you want to be. You know who you are. - That's beautiful. I don't even know what to say after that. I think I was discouraged by the amount of nos as a kid that I would just tell myself that it doesn't make you less of an actor and you never know when that 11th audition is the one that the casting director is like, "Hey, I saw her do this, this, and this. She wasn't right for it, but she can act, so she can do this one." Um, so I would just tell myself, you know, keep going. It's okay. Breathe. and breathe. Um, well, you know, the industry has changed a lot in the last 10 to 15 years. Like, how are you guys navigating it today? Or are you I mean, I know you you you're both or you're all three in lead roles, but what do you hope for your future as actors and actresses? Like, what are some roles that you are would be excited about? By the way, do you guys want inerson auditions to come back or are you happy with the self tape life? - I've gotten so used to self tapes that like it really has become sort of a new norm. Um that I'm I don't know about you, but the times where I have gone in the room, it is like jarring again and I'm like I'm like, "Oh god, yeah, I forgot." - The waiting room for me that was like - Yeah. just the the whole process where you're like, "Oh man, okay." Yeah. Like I forgot. Um, but there is a huge thing that I think that you miss out on when you're not in the room and it's like a person's energy and um and and so and I know that casting definitely wants, you know, to have people in the room too because they can, you know, see a huge difference there. So, yeah. I mean, I I'm I miss it. I mean, but for that question, I just any any kind of acting. I mean, like that's it's easy to sort of like turns one turn one's nose at like, you know, if like, oh, like this guest star came in and you know, I'm like, oh, is this beneath me or something? But like, I'm like, no, dude. I'm getting paid to act is crazy. It's crazy. Like how lucky to get to go somewhere and like be on set and do this thing and then you get money for it. That's crazy. And so like any any opportunity that I get it's really exciting and really fun and I think there's always something that you can take from it. Yeah. Do I want to be like in Star Wars? Of course. Yeah. And so like you know there's always those things where I'm like yeah. You know and then like I want to win awards. Sure. But like, you know, in the dayto-day, like I'm I'm getting to do the thing that I love, you know, at at whatever level. And and that's, you know, that's a dream come true. - I mean, off of my question, I guess I'm saying I would hope for actors in the future that, you know, real life auditions or inerson auditions would come back around because it was such an experience as a kid. And um I do miss it and I miss the car rides with my dad where you know he would drive me an hour there, sit there for like 15 seconds so I could go do my Petco commercial audition and then come out like immediately. He's like that's it, that's it. And we drive an hour home. Um but you know it was like the preparation, the excitement. I feel like I I have gotten so used to the self tape state. Uh what did I say? self tape - state - life. That's what I said. Yeah. - State of life. - So yeah. - Yeah. I don't know. I kind of feel like like Yeah. Like any opportunity to act, I'm with it. I had to grapple with that. You know, the world is constantly changing. This business is constantly changing. And it always has. It's always evolved. If you look at like the golden age of Hollywood to the 70s to the 80s to the 90s, like we have to change. We have to adapt with the world. That is part of our job. So, as much as I do love being in person because I like people like I like to connect. I think it's a complete different experience. um because we are doing self tapes, I've been seen for stuff that I never would have thought I'd get seen for or, you know, maybe casting is a little bit more open to open their doors up a little bit more. So, you know, I can't say I, oh, I hate it because I can't like that's not the mentality that I need to have going into a self tape audition. I think certain things come across in your eyes. I took a a wonderful seminar with um Robin Dale Meyers at Margie Haber during the pandemic because I was like I got to figure this thing out. Zoom auditions like what? I didn't know what to do. And there is a way to bring as much presence as possible into the self tapes into the Zoom auditions things that you can give yourself to, you know, we've we've become cinematographers and directors and all these things. And like I could complain about it or I just got to do it cuz I want to get to set and I want to do my job and that's like the means to the end for everything. I just want to do my job. Um, and I see it as another opportunity to do it. So, you know, it is what it is. But to answer the question about what I want, I hope I can continue doing what I love to just do my job. I just want to act. And it's like so many other things get in our way. But that's literally all I've wanted to do since I was nine and I still want to just do my job. So, any stories that resonate with me and that I hopefully am doing with people that I really respect and value and who really respect and value me and telling a cool story that we can bring to the world. is still the thing. - Yeah, - it's beautiful. - Let's do a quick survey with some actors in here. Do you guys prefer self tapes or at home auditions? I'm sorry, self tapes or in-person auditions. - In person. Okay, you hear that guys? Um, okay. So, you know, I have a question from the audience. This is from Cheeks Kindle. Yeah, Cheeks Kindle. raise your hand present. - Yeah. - Okay. - Um, this is a question that people talk about a lot. It's about self-sabotaging, right? What do you do to fight the self-sabotaging nature of the impostor syndrome or do you have it? I know I I someone said the other day they never had it, but I don't know if you guys have it and how do you fight against it? - I feel like I'm one of those people. Not quite yet, but I feel like it's creeping. It's coming. - Yeah. - You You feel like imposttor syndrome's creeping up on you. - Yeah. Like I don't feel it quite yet, but I'm maybe - I hope it might hit, girl. - I mean, I I feel like I I'm I'm getting over it. Um I mean, I Yeah, I I had like crippling imposttor syndrome for a very long time. Um you know, I I I was in Top Gun Maverick. That was the first movie that I ever did. you have to pause it to see me. Um, but I I got to be there for a really long time and I learned a ton of cool stuff, but the whole time I'm like, who made the mistake? Why am I here? Like, I'm like I'm like looking around at like these like incredible actors and I'm like, dude, I have a co-star and a guest star. I'm like, I don't belong here. And so, like I I really really kind of like, you know, went inward with that. um and and and kind of I feel like withdrew um and you know and that's it's a really hard thing to get over and I think unfortunately part of it is a fake it till you make it sort of a thing and you know I I still remember day one of Ransom season 1 and like walking onto that set and I was like oh my god they're going to find out I can't act like like it's over man. Um, and like and that didn't go away for like the first, you know, month or two. And you know, and then now I'm kind of like, okay, no, like I belong. Like I've I've put in the work. And I think for me the thing when the imposttor imposttor syndrome started to go away was when I was doing enough work in my personal life in class and otherwise, you know, on myself that I'm like, no, I've earned my seat at the table. Um, it doesn't matter how many credits I have. I know I'm a good actor. I can be here. And that was the big difference because the times where I had, you know, lucked out and on and gotten something and I really wasn't, you know, working hard on my craft, - I would go onto that set and I'm like, "Oh man, I'm like, I really don't know why I'm here." And like, I'm going to screw this up and they all know it. They can see. Um, and uh, yeah. So, I think if you're doing the things you need to do off of set, then that translates to how you feel on set. - Yeah. Do you want to? - That was great. No. - Um, that's a good tool. - I feel like for the past two years, I've been disassociating. - You're like, I am still disassociating. - So, it's like imposttor syndrome could sneak in a little bit, but luckily I I'm very blessed. I have um I'm married. I got married in the two years, so I have the love of my life. Thank you. - Congratulations. - Um I have my family. I have friends and I think it's really important you know when it does happen for you guys when you when you do have that jump in your career that you really are grounded in who is around you in your real life like this the business is one thing and having those relationships and stuff is necessary but the people who really know you and you really knowing yourself because it really can be it's been a constant disassociation like I go do this thing and go do whatever on live TV and then I go home and walk my dog and feed my dog. It's like what is this life you know like it's very it can be very weird at times and it's like who am I to experience this or you know maybe you think you'll have a step further in your career but somebody's like oh not yet so it's like a constant tugofwar somewhat at times and really just being really grounded and rooted and when you have those constants in your life the people in your life your your daily routine means going back to the training of it all, going back to, you know, the core of who you are is really helpful. Um, when that imposttor syndrome starts to kick in and it's like, no, you're very deserving of every opportunity that is afforded to you. You're very deserving of this. And I really think you should just you can't treat the highs or the lows too um you can't put too much importance either way. Uh you have to just stay in the middle. And sometimes it is harder as you climb to stay in the middle, but it's like a constant recalibration of self when when it happens, too. - Yeah. - And also, I don't think anyone doesn't have suffer from it to some degree. Every like really successful actor I've ever worked with or had a conversation with, they're like, "Man, I don't know what I'm doing." And like I I I I truly believe that like deep down inside of everyone. So like yeah, that's a thing that I remember too where I'm like they're probably just as insecure as me right now. So like you know and if they're walking around with all this bravado, they're probably faking it. So like I'll fake it too. Yeah. - I'm going to take all this advice into the next chapter of my life. - Well, I mean Jessica was it was unique for you too because I mean you've been an actress in Hollywood since you were a child. you've probably had to deal with changing your image or like what did you have to shift from like a 10-year-old to a 16-year-old to in your 20s like how did you totally I mean Baywatch is such a like you know feminine show um well not entirely but you know it's it does center around um women and I don't know I mean I got my braces off as a kid I grew up. Nothing really changed. Like I never dyed my hair. I stopped cutting my bangs. Um but overall I just was like focused on work and and did my auditions and took them seriously. Um I What was the question one more time? - No, no. I was saying that uh you're you have unique um an a unique experience because you've been acting in LA or in Hollywood since you were a child, right? So, how did you and your team have to shift your image when you changed from being a 10-year-old actor to like a hot 20-year-old, you know, like how what was that journey like? - Um, honestly, it happened within a lot of indies. I I had to develop a a new skill set basically. I wasn't I wasn't auditioning for 12 year olds or 13-year-olds of like annoying bratty children or whatnot. It was like way more um substantial depth roles. Um, and I I spend a lot of my time working in indies to kind of um finalize that for myself. Not really too much though. I think it I don't really focus on it too much. It just kind of happens. It's like I blink my eyes and I grew up and I'm here and - I'm sitting here now. - Naturally, - this is so - naturally. - Um, I want to talk a little bit, you touched upon it a little bit, um, about your inner circle. Um, tell us a little bit about the the family or the friends or the inner circles that you surround yourself with in in your career and how's how that impacted your journey. You talked a little bit about it already, Taylor, but maybe um would you want to speak to that or Jack? - My inner circle consists of my cat, my mom, my dad, and I have, you know, a handful of friends. Um, I definitely feel like through my career, I I've kind of uh cleansed myself, I guess, of any energies that I felt were uh, you know, dismissive towards my feelings or um, or my work. I feel like especially having people around you that are in the industry, you do have to be kind of careful and make sure that people have the best intentions. I think there's room for all of us and I really appreciate when, you know, we can all support each other. Um, but I have my family and I'm really grateful. - Yeah. I mean, I go to AA a lot, so there's a lot of support there. Um, I mean, funny but totally true. Uh, and so that has been incredibly helpful. Uh but uh yeah, I mean I you know I met my girlfriend on my show and uh you know so obviously I spent a lot of time with her and um I mean you know as I've gotten older like again dude I'm sober. I don't go out a ton like I like to stay home and watch movies and stuff. You know that's like my perfect night. So yeah I'm very happy. I mean, my circle has gotten smaller and I'm I'm very close with the cast of the show. And then, you know, I think it's pretty normal for, you know, a 33year-old guy who's not like partying all the time to kind of have like, hey, like these are my close friends. And then, yeah, and then other than that, you know, I'm I'm focused on my work and that's about it. And uh yeah, - also I just thought about it because I did a panel here uh last year and one of my good friends, Gail Bean, was in the audience. She's an actress. her trailer for her show just came out today, The Drop. It's the spin-off of Snowfall. But it made me think about like, of course, I have like my friends and my family and people that are not in the industry, which I think is important to have that perspective, too. But I do have really great friends who also are actors. And I think it's a beautiful thing like to keep the community of actor friends that you've, you know, you've met on set or you meet in class or at programming like this because those are the people who help you tape or you know they're down to read with you at a whim. There's so many friends that I have that like a can you read with me? So I think you know what I'm trying to say is sometimes people will think of things in terms of like competition and I think it is very important to assess if people's um intentions to be around you is is genuine of course but sometimes it can be a really beautiful thing to have friends that are also artists. Um, one of my best friends, one of my maid of honors in my wedding, she was the star of All-American Homecoming, but we've been friends since we were 18 in college. And I was fortunate to be on two seasons of that show. And then, like I said, Gail, we met on Snowfall. Now she's having her own show about to drop. And, you know, you can support each other in different seasons because it's kind of like iron sharpens iron. These people who you're reading with and you're growing with, you'll get a day, they'll get a day. And it really isn't. It's very fulfilling to be able to stand there and support each other in those moments. Um, so keep your actor friends. We all can shine. - Yeah. Well, and I and I I I really like the thing that you mentioned too kind of about like well and and I'm sure that you guys if you're in an acting class or you've been in an acting class in LA, you're very aware that like some weirdos, man. Um, and like there's a lot of like toxic stuff that goes on too and that can be very discouraging and I've, you know, at certain times been like, dude, like this, I don't like these people. And so, like, I'll kind of keep to myself and then like other times I'm like, this is an amazing group of people. and you can really feel the love and support and um you know and so I I mean I just I really am like passionate because it changed me so much really being involved in in class you know I go I've been in Avana Chubbik studio for a long time and um yeah I I just I think it's like the most important thing you know and in what changed me but and I know that it can be difficult too and finding the right class for you can you know sometimes take a minute um but I it's a game changer manager. - Okay. Um, thank you. We have one question from the audience. Scott Ash. - Hi, Scott. Um, Scott's question is, "What was a challenge you expected to face but was made easier to handle due to the cast and crew?" - One more time. What was a challenge you expected to face maybe on set or on a project, but was made easier to handle because you had an awesome casting crew or someone on the casting crew made it better. - Anytime I have to either cry or be naked, um, luckily it hasn't been both at the same time. But like the uh yeah, if it's like a super emotional scene, like there's a scene in season one where I I find like my grandfather's body and I was so anxious going into that day. Um, and I remember just the crew was amazing and the other cast, you know, members in the scene with me and everyone was kind of like respecting, you know, my process and I think they could tell they're like, "Okay, like leave them alone for like 5 minutes before we go and just kind of and and I think learning too that like you have the ability to communicate with a director where I'm like, "Hey, I'm like, can we start in a close-up here?" I was like, and then let's just pull out. But I was like, "I really I want to like I I feel it. So like can we just start there and you know that's been a great learning thing and then yeah also doing intimate scene sucks but like you know usually it's a closed set things like that and so like those those things are have in my experience while not fun have been I'm like okay like I feel comfortable and like the people around here are comfortable. I feel bad for the camera guys but like you know that's uh especially if they're like tight on like my butt. But yeah, you know, that's it. - Anybody want to touch on that? - No. What he said the the the crying scenes and the intimate scenes, but I think everything the casting crew, particularly the crew, they they make everything a bit a bit easier. There wouldn't be a show without them. So it but anytime when it's a difficult day or a difficult moment um I know in um season one of of Beauty and Black my character went through a lot. There was a lot of physical things going on, intimate things going on and um the way my fellow castmates but also the crew would immediately like are you okay? Are you okay? I'm like oh yeah I'm fine. I'm great. next scene. But they were all very sensitive and aware of that and it's beautiful to work in a space where everyone understands that we're all going through things, you know. So, yeah, every day on set is a good time for the casting crew. - Yeah. - Well, we have a couple of minutes. Um, I want to know is if there has been an actor or actress from like today that you are inspired by or or excited to work with maybe in the future you'd like to share. There's a lot, but it just came to mind. I'm about to be on um Reasonable Doubt on Hulu and thank you. Um, I'm in the new season and that was a beautiful experience and Carrie Washington is one of the executive producers and she is one of my biggest inspirations. I would read her memoir all the time. I was a substitute teacher because she was a substitute teacher. Um, so I did not get a chance to meet her yet, but she did give me a rap gift. - So I look forward to one day meeting her. And I mean I worked with her by proxy but hopefully like sharing the screen with her one day. - That's awesome. Any other screen shares or people that you are inspired by? - Um I mean inspired by like my three actors I probably look up to or enjoy their body of work the most would be like you know Brad Pitt Gosling and Tom Hardy. Um, but I I would really love to work with uh, you know, the cast of Top Gun again cuz now knowing what I know and like having worked a little bit more, I'm like cool, I would show up to set in a very different state of mind. Um, and also I'm I'm I learned something from every single person on that cast. And like I'm I'm I'm so grateful for that experience. And it took me a long time to sort of put those things that I learned into action, but I mean I just It was such a great group and so I would love to work with any of them again. - It's such a hard question because there's so many actresses that I look up to, but my all-time favorite is Michelle Williams and um I would just I would die to work with her um in any capacity. That's my shout out. - Yeah. - Amazing. Well, is there any advice you would like to impart on our audience before we wrap up or just anything that - uh Yeah. when the the number one thing I always go back to is um I was doing a session with Avana one time breaking down a script. It was like my first time working with her and she stopped me and she was like I'm so bored. And I was like oh god okay. Uh and she was like I am bored because you are not having fun. She's like I'm not going to have fun if you're not having fun. Audiences don't have fun if the actor isn't having fun. Even if you're crying if you're doing but acting should be fun. And so, of course, there are hard days on set. Of course, there are auditions and things where you're like, "Dude, this feels like work." But it should be fun. I mean, it's we're playing pretend, man. Like, it like don't be that serious about it and and just have a good time. And then I think that translates to camera um you know, and to the audience. - I love that. I would I think mine would just be like I auditioned for literally everything and I would not pass. I don't know, you know, I don't know if that's common or not, but I think for me it was just an opportunity to deepen my work every time and to have fun and play. Um, so I would just recommend, you know, get in get in front of all the casting directors and and have more experience um working. Yeah. Um definitely what he said about fun and just getting the reps in and you know taking taking every opportunity as a moment to do what you love to do. And I think that actually became the challenge for me when when I took that class in 2020 and um learned how to set up a Zoom audition and doing things like that. It was about infusing the fun into it. I was like, "Oh, I have to find the fun in everything that I'm doing. I have to figure out a way to enjoy everything." And the very next audition I had after I took that class was for Snowfall. And like I went all out. I the character her hair was a particular way. I had my hair done that way. Like I just like went all out because it was fun to me. We're in a pandemic. I was like I want to act. So just fully wholeheartedly committing each opportunity. And I know it's like we give a little bit of our heart away each time we do that. But our hearts are very resilient and we love what we do. And that is our service to the work that we do. And when you continue to show up as your full self with each opportunity and take it that seriously, it will meet you back. Like it the industry is rough, but it also is very loving. And it I mean, we've all been done pretty good by it. So, you know, it can happen for you, too. Just continue to commit through the nos. There will be yeses. So, find the fun, commit fully, and keep going. - Well said. Well, Jessica, Taylor, Jack, we on behalf of the SAG After Foundation, thank you so much for joining us today and it's so exciting to be or to meet you guys at this point in your journey. So, make sure to watch all their shows, follow their journey, and hopefully you are going to walk away with some inspiring messages to to help you with your career. - And thank you. - Thank you guys. - Thank you.