Now a busy actor in many Vancouver-lensed projects like Supernatural, Travelers, and Chesapeake Shores, Jerry Trimble spoke to us about his unique career and inspirational journey.

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Can you start by telling us about what you’re working on these days?  

First off, I want to thank you for the interview. Much obliged. It’s always nice to get to share my story and experience with others. Hope your audience gets something out of it.

2017 was a fantastic year for me.  Hope it was for you as well. I am so blessed to be able to do what I do.

Last month I wrapped a film called Rabbit directed by Jesse James Miller, coordinated by Ernest Jackson and starring Derek Hamilton. What a blast it was.  I got to do acting and fighting.  My two favorite things to do on film.

I recently guest starred on a Matt Damon Netflix project, The Green Beret’s Guide to Surviving the Apocalypse, created by military veterans: Shawn Vance, a former U.S. Special Forces Green Beret, and Daril Fannin, an ex-combat medic in the U.S. Army. These guys were so awesome to work with, they are the real deal. I was in the season finale, and it was fun times kicking the crap out of zombies and saving the world. This is a unique and entertaining series to watch, coming out this year, and directed by Adam Newacheck. I also got to do acting and fighting on this one, too.  Fun times, living the dream.

I did a supporting role on Travelers playing a pedophile football coach – a real creepy character – directed by the amazingly talented Amanda Tapping.

I’ve got a recurring role on the Hallmark series, Chesapeake Shores, playing the role of Mark Hall, a Nashville music producer to the star of the show, Jesse Metcalfe. It’s a fabulous role. The character was only supposed to be in one episode, but the producer Dan Paulson said they liked what I did with the character so much that they had to bring me back. I’m feeling pretty blessed to be a part of such a fantastic show.

I did a guest appearance on Supernatural, playing Ramiel, Prince of Hell. Season 12 episode 12 – “Stuck in the Middle with You”. Directed by Richard Speight, Jr.  Loved this character.  Got to do acting and fighting on this one, too.

I’m also doing some writing with my father-in-law, Micky Dolenz (The Monkees). We’ve got a couple of projects we’re working on together; We’re hoping to get one of them off the ground this year – a live action/animation screenplay, Socrates. It’s a strong, entertaining story with a powerful message. Very excited about this one. Fingers crossed.

Lately, I’ve been traveling around the US and Canada speaking to teens as well as adults in prison and detention centers on overcoming struggles, discovering your gifts, and using them to create your reality. I’m writing a book on growing into your best you. I’ve also been training private clients in Vancouver, teaching, martial arts, kickboxing, boxing, for film and self-defense. I love teaching and empowering others.

Lots of good stuff in the works for this year.

How did you first get involved in the industry?

My background in the entertainment industry started out in the ring as a professional fighter. I fought under the name “Golden Boy” and went on to win numerous titles that included the Kentucky, Georgia, Southeast, U.S. and two World Championships. In 1990, I retired as a two-time World Kickboxing Champion. I sold everything I owned and moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue a career as an actor. Within the first few months, I got an agent and booked my first two auditions as the lead villain; my first role was playing Jet Li’s nemesis in The Master directed by Tsui Hark. I’ve been blessed enough to be working ever since. It’s been a great ride, and it’s getting better every year.

Based on your successful background in kickboxing, you can speak from a unique perspective about fight scenes in film and television. What are the keys to creating an effective fight scene on camera?

Besides the obvious, having a great team and a clear collaboration with the cast and crew, stunt coordinator, stuntmen, and stuntwomen, you’ve got to know your craft inside and out.

A fight scene is like a story; you have to be fully engaged in it from start to finish. Instead of just going through the movements, the choreography, you have to be aware every moment of the action. When you’re not throwing punches, kicks, or being hit, you have to be aware of everything – your reactions, breathing, timing, movements, intention, continuity of action, acting, your character, being safe, self-control, etc. It can be dangerous if you aren’t fully in the moment. You’re not just talking as an actor – you’re throwing down and it has to look real or else it looks bad.

For me, doing dialogue and fighting are my favorites to do. I get to do the best of both worlds.

What’s the biggest misconception about fight scenes?  

That they’re easy and anyone can do them. A lot is going on in a fight scene. The performance has to be spot on at all times. There’s a specific flow of action you’ll have when doing a beautiful fight scene. It’s like poetry in motion. Action acting is an art.

Recommended Reading You Can Act On Camera Click a cover for more details The Art of Voice Acting Secrets of Screen Acting Recommended Reading You Can Act On Camera Click a cover for more details The Art of Voice Acting Secrets of Screen Acting

What’s the worst injury that you’ve ever had as an actor and stunt performer?  

Besides the normal bumps and bruises, aches and pains that are part of it all, in 2009 I was working on a reality TV series called The Colony. I did four episodes, playing a Marauder. During a big action scene, I got stabbed with the edge of a broken pipe and gashed my forearm. We didn’t stop the action and kept going; blood was squirting out. It looked great cause it was real, but the director saw it and yelled, “Cut!”

I went to the hospital and got 15 stitches. It was all good. It happens. It’s the nature of the beast.

You’ve worked out of Los Angeles and Vancouver. How would you compare these two cities as far as their respective film and television industries?  

Vancouver seems to me a more of a tight-knit community.  Obviously, it’s not as big as Los Angeles, so you know a lot of the same cast and crew on set which makes it more like one big family.  Everyone knows everyone and gets along.  The synergy works wonders when doing long hours. Vancouver has such a cool vibe and energy about it.  The people are amazing.  I love Vancouver.

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“The entertainment business is one of the toughest careers to do; it’s not all glamour and glory. You have to keep working on yourself, your body, mind, and spirit. Stay away from negative people.”
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What’s the biggest professional challenge you’ve experienced and how did you overcome it?    

Getting out of my way. I started doing the work and learned to not give a shit what others think about me. If you do the work and prepare, everything will be fine. You don’t get ready; you stay ready. What you put out, you get back.

The entertainment business is one of the toughest careers to do; it’s not all glamour and glory. You have to keep working on yourself, your body, mind, and spirit. Stay away from negative people.

Practice “The Four Agreements” – a fantastic book by Don Miguel Ruiz.

1. Do your best.
2. Don’t take anything personally.  (This is a big one in this business.)
3. Don’t assume anything.  (Another big one.)
4. Have an impeccable word.

Skies the limit if you put the work in it. The comfort zone’s a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there. DO THE WORK!

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned in your career?

Stay busy. Temptations come about and if you’re not careful, they will steer you away from your goals and dreams in your career and life. The idle mind is the playground of the Devil. Keep learning. Keep growing. Try new things. Help others. Be kind. Enjoy the ride. Be positive. Share your experiences to help others. Work on you every day. The more you know who you are, the better every character will come out on screen, and your performances will shine through.

What acting-related books and authors have been influential in your career so far?  

Some are The Real Life Actor by Jeff Seymour, Dreams into Action by Milton Katselas, Respect for Acting by Uta Hagen, The Art of Acting by Stella Adler. There are so many out there that are good. You have to find what works for you.

Where can we find out more about you online?

My website is JerryTrimble.com. My speaking website, TrimbleTalks.com is being remodeled and hopefully will be up soon. You can always Google me to find out more about my history in the martial arts, work in films, speaking, etc.

Thanks again, Create an awesome 2018.

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Thanks to Jerry Trimble for speaking with us!

The post The Biz Interview: Jerry Trimble appeared first on Biz Books.

Here’s a recap of some of our best Biz moments in 2015.

MOVIES

Among the films we supported this year were The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, Project Almanac, Hot Tub Time Machine 2, Miss Julie, The Riot Club, Mr. Holmes, Terminator: Genisys, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension, Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, Daddy’s Home, and The Big Short.

Thank you to our loyal customers for dutifully entering contests and attending advance screenings.

INTERVIEWS

2015 brought us more interviews than we’ve ever had before!

We spoke to Nimisha Mukerji, Brendan Taylor, Jonny Weston, Tom Kenny, Crazy8s 2015 filmmakers Caitlyn Byrnes, Jem Garrard, and Mo Soliman, S. Siobhan McCarthy, Evan Frayne, Christina Wells Campbell, Pamela Wise, Jay Brazeau, Rachel Peake, Jeff Seymour, Lochlyn Munro, Michelle Muldoon, Lori Triolo, Peter Skagen, Lisa London, Rebecca Coleman, Peter New, Esther Cohen, Tyler Labine, Julie Casselman, Brandon Bate and Joel R. Butler of Eurydice, Morgan Churla, Riley Qualtieri and Mark Vandenberg of Hunger Games: The Musical, Emilio Salituro, Shauna Johannesen, Katherine Monk, Angie Burns, Kim Larson and Matthew Simmons of Smoke on the Mountain, Christopher Chacon, Rebecca Lee, Sara Bynoe, Martha Ross, Tiarra Sulyk, Jessica McLeod and Athena Russell of Bitchpop Productions, Chris Lam, Anita Adams, Sam Mitchell, Byron Abando, and Jamieson McCormack of Love Musically, Robyn Wiener, David C. Jones, and Christine Quintana.

EVENTS

We were also out and about supporting industry events such as the Crazy8s 2015 Gala, our own May Play Sale and Pop-Up Store and Where There’s Smoke: An Encounter with William B. Davis, the launch of Crazy8s 2016, and theatre productions like Laburnum Grove, Glengarry Glen Ross, The North Plan, and Heathers: The Musical.

All in all, we had a blast sharing all of this with you and we can’t wait to see what 2016 brings!

Happy New Year from all of us at BizBooks.net!

The post The Biz Books 2015 Year in Review appeared first on Biz Books.

In the middle of his busy international book tour, Jeff Seymour spoke with us about The Real Life Actor, his history in the entertainment business, and his advice for new actors.

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Can you start by telling us a bit more about you and the projects that you are involved with at the moment?

Currently I’m on a book / seminar tour. I was at Second City in Chicago on June 16th. I’ll be at The Triad Theatre in NYC on June 30th. Then I’m off to the UK, Austria and France. I’m looking forward to seeing how they respond to my book and approach across the pond.

How did you first become interested in acting and what steps did you take to get there?

I was a latch key kid so I was always alone in front of a TV.  I loved television. I’m sure it was something I always wanted but I didn’t say it out loud till I was 18 years old. I left Virginia, where I grew up and headed to a theatre school in L.A.

Who were your greatest influences when you were starting out?

Believe it or not, Al Pacino and Dick Van Dyke.

What have been some of the most memorable moments in your career thus far?

Running my own theatre for 10 years in LA. Working on The Eleventh Hour in Canada. Creating my own TV series, JeffLtd and getting to do whatever I wanted for 2 seasons. Winning a Gemini and receiving multiple nominations is always lovely. Going to Morocco to shoot an episode of Homeland and work opposite Claire Danes. Doing Speed the Plow by David Mamet in a small theatre in LA and having Quentin Tarantino show up.

Let’s talk about your book, “The Real Life Actor”. What inspired you to write this?

35 years of teaching and in that time developing an approach to acting that I feel is as unique as it is highly effective. It was something I wanted to do after 15 years of teaching. It took me another 20 years before I finally got around to doing it. When I finished the last words of the final chapter and knew that my 20 quest was complete, I started blubbering like a baby. I was so relieved I had finally finished it.

What can actors expect to gain from reading the book?

Hopefully the clearest explanation of what great acting is and the most straightforward, effective way to attain it. It also outlines and shares the winning professional attitude needed to persevere and succeed in the business. The book is also meant to inspire.

From your standpoint, is it easier or more difficult for new actors to “break out” in the industry today than it used to be?

It’s probably a wash. Whereas it might be harder to get to agents and be seen because of the overwhelming amount of actors vying for a chance, there is now electronic media. Nowadays with a good idea and some initiative, actors can leap frog ahead and make some serious noise on their own.

Overall, what is the most rewarding aspect of your work?

All of it. Any of it. In the thirty six years since my first professional job, I’ve never had to make a living doing anything else.  It never feels like work. Like the saying goes, “Find something you love doing and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

As an actor, you’ve had a number of roles on television and film. Do you prefer one over the other and how does your creative process change if it’s a film or television role?

The only difference I see between the two is that they take a little more time when they make a film. My process is the same, I just have more time in between takes.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career in acting?

Take the time to acquire ability before you market yourself. Agents and casting directors have long memories. A bad first impression may be the only impression you are ever afforded. Make it count.

What books have been influential in your creative journey so far?

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. I can not recommend his book enough. It is life changing!

Where can people find out more about you and keep up with your latest projects?

You could go to my website at RealLifeActor.com or the Real Life Actor Facebook Page.

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Our thanks to Jeff Seymour for speaking with us! You can check out his book right here!

The post The Biz Interview: Jeff Seymour appeared first on Biz Books.