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.

With popular series TV projects like Supergirl, The 100, Supernatural, Bates Motel and the 2018 Netflix series Altered Carbon among her career highlights, we talked with Lisa Chandler to find out more about the stunt world and her current evolution from stunt performer to actor.

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Can you start by telling us a little bit about you and how your career in stunt work and acting got started?

I first started off acting here and there in plays when I was a kid and in high school not really knowing at the time what ‘stunts’ were. It wasn’t until I was in college playing hockey that a local film was being shot and they needed a stunt double (goaltender).  Years later when I moved from Toronto to Vancouver and I was working every job I could to get into film, I was standing-in on a feature for the lead actress and noticed the stunt department and started asking them questions. That year, I got asked to perform a small stunt for the same actress and was ecstatic! I whipped up a resume constructed of every athletic certificate, ability and class I have ever taken and dove headfirst into the field. I knew in a moment that that was what I truly wanted to do and I haven’t looked back since.

What would be your advice for anyone who wants to pursue a stunt career?

Do your research! Look up other stunt women/men professionals and see what their background is and see if you can see yourself in their shoes. It may look ‘badass’ and ‘awesome’ and ‘glamorous’ but behind every stage there’s a curtain full of hard rehearsals and a ton of training. Use the internet as well! There are a ton of sites now that offer loads of information for people (young and older) who are interested to head in that direction.

What’s the biggest misconception about stunt work?

That we get to keep the clothes after a stunt. Seriously, people ask me that.

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 are the keys to an effective movie or television stunt sequence?

Taking your time working out the kinks with your scene partner beforehand – or if solo, rehearsing it over and over and over again. When performing the stunt slowly at first and building up speed, you and your partner are gaining confidence in your moves as well as working with the cameramen in knowing your angles and speed factor. ‘Taking my time’ is a huge tool for me that has helped me out in so many ways!

What is the most impressive stunt that you’ve seen and what’s the most impressive one that you’ve participated in?

There are so many impressive ones out there. A good friend of mine, Janene Carleton, is a badass stunt veteran. She performed a jump onto a moving truck at a high speed rate that was insanely impressive! There are so many stunt women and men out there that are so talented in physically setting the bar higher and higher with time that just blows my mind. For example, American Ninja Warrior Jessie Graff (whom I had the pleasure working with on Supergirl) is just crushing it in the obstacle course scene! Some stunts that I’ve performed may not seem ‘crazy’ to the eye, but sometimes we perform stunts that are calculated to a tee that can either go smoothly, or have the stunt fail. For example, I had to perform a freefall stunt dropping over 15 feet into a very tight space landing on my back on a pad with wood boards measured beside me(think dropping high up into a tight coffin). If I moved my arms out of my range an inch while dropping I could have broken both elbows or smashed both forearms. It went smoothly thank God, but the specifics the stunt coordinators and stunt riggers help design are very important and impressive to say the least when having it done right and safe.

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“I want to be known as ‘Lisa Chandler’, the ‘action woman’ who acts and performs her own stunts.”

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You’ve done more acting recently to go along with stunt work. What has this transition been like and do you want to be known primarily as an actor moving forward?

I’m still in the ‘transition stage’ and it’s interesting. There are certain casting directors out there that know me strictly from my stunt work and being able to perform stunt actor roles and there are others out there that I’m sure don’t even know I do stunts as they have only seen me for my acting abilities. It’s no secret that I do both and l love both sides, but it’s finding the balance out there in terms of casting directors, my relationships with them and reading roles that are right for my ‘brand’. I want to be known as ‘Lisa Chandler’, the ‘action woman’ who acts and performs her own stunts. That’s mainly my goal at this moment and focusing on me and my ‘brand’.

Are there any books that have helped you as an actor?

Reading full feature scripts (even if I’m not acting in them) to understand more about story structure and characters has really helped me as an actor. I was doing a challenge reading two plays a month which was great on my time off. Loved it!  AMAW founder Anthony Meindl has a book called, Book The F**King Job and Ingrid Torrance has a great book called ACT which is fantastic for anyone new into the business or ‘kind of in’ and you want to explore more of the business.

One of your upcoming acting projects is Altered Carbon on Netflix. What can you share about this project?

Where do I begin with this show… well, it’s insane for starters! I’ve never been on such a high production value show like this before. My character is pretty unique and it was so interesting to film it. As it’s still in post production for Netflix, I have to be hush hush but if you have read the book (read it by the way, it’ll blow your mind!) you’ll know the world that Richard Morgan has created. Then add a ton of money in developing the show as well as having multiple creative geniuses in the making of it and you get a mind-blowing show! Whenever I would go to set, I would walk through the studios and see the sets, costumes and props and was thinking ‘soak this in girl cause this is gonna be huge and you’re in the making of it!’.

Where can people find out more about you online?

Instagram: @Lisa_Chandler_

Twitter: @Lisa__Chandler

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Thanks to Lisa Chandler for speaking with us!

Watch for more news on Altered Carbon from Netflix in the months ahead.

The post The Biz Interview: Lisa Chandler appeared first on Biz Books.