Like many other talented actors, Jed Bernard has a dream of one day making it big in the movies. Unlike most other actors, however, Bernard might very well be on his way there. After honing his acting skills in independent movies, he has made the move to Los Angeles, where he has already had supporting roles in episodes of Nip/Tuck and 24, as well as upcoming Michelle Pfeiffer flick I Could Never Be Your Woman. We spoke through e-mail about his goals, what it's like to be a young actor in such a competitive place as Hollywood.
Q: What was it that inspired you to pursue an acting career?
A: As funny as this sounds, after watching Return of the Jedi and the Indiana Jones movies as a child, I was fascinated by the fact that you could pretend and dream about being other people, living in other times. Having that freedom to daydream as a kid and be able to act out those dreams, I knew acting was something I wanted from then on.
Q: I believe you also had the choice to do modeling, but you chose for acting?
A: Even though some actors like Ashton Kutcher, Djimon Hounsou, and Kevin Costner started out in modeling, I knew that I wanted to go full steam ahead with acting. I felt that studying my craft completely without distractions was the most important thing to do after University. Also, I heard from friends who did runway work in Europe about the drug use and shady acts. For me, hearing about the fast life like that was very off-putting.
Q: And was acting something you already wanted to do when you were younger?
A: Yes. I can remember doing soliloquies at age 12 about losing a girlfriend to an older guy and also performing dramatic StarWars dying scenes in front of my little brother and our dogs. My best award winning performance was recreating Darth Vader’s death scene in Return of the Jedi- (Laugh)-
Q: After you made the decision to start acting, was it easy for you to find your first roles?
A: No. When I came to Los Angeles after being in two Indie-Short Films up in San Francisco, I knew no one within the industry. I had as much connections here in L.A. as a homeless man- It was tough. For the very small part on 24, I was picked out of the bunch of guys just by pure chance- I can remember one minute drinking coffee on set in the corner, and then the next minute being rushed upstairs to do the scene with Elisha Cuthbert. I realized then and there that I better not mess up the scene, and I had to play it cool. One guy told me while doing my first film: “You gotta fake it, until you make it”. I haven’t forgot that saying yet!
Balancing Act
Q: You have been balancing roles in TV-shows and independent movies with bigger movies and theater. Which of these do you enjoy the most?
A: Well, in all honesty my goal is to stay on the Big Screen. I want Clive Owen’s career! However, TV is very, very important, and once you do your work on a show, your episode is on TV within a month. By doing a film, you have to wait a year, two, or it might be shelved indefinitely, all depending on the Marketing, Distribution, & legal battles, etc.
Q: And in which of these disciplines do you see your future? Or do you want to keep doing them all?
A: The future is crazy, you never really know. I’d love to get a feature, but also would love a TV Pilot. As an actor in such a competitive industry, I’ll take what I can get!
Q: Do you think all the work you have done in independent movies, and all the theatre and studying you have done, gives you an advantage when you are in the process of getting a big role?
A: Yes and No. Most of the time, a big role is handed to a Name-Actor. Someone who’s already a household name. But, if the Film has a Star-Studded cast already, they can bring on new people for the other roles- With all of my training and experience, I must say it has helped my confidence to prepare me to take on anything!
Leading Man
Q: How do you let directors and producers know that it's time for a new leading man, and that this leading man is you?
A: Great question! It takes time and some powerful people to get in your corner. One needs to spread the word that you are the Next Big thing and create a Buzz. You also have to prove yourself in your craft and let people know that you got what it takes! Also, people like you are helping me, shining some light on yours truly. Thank you.
Q: Judging from your list of special abilities, you are very versatile. Do you think this is necessary to be able to make it in movies, and does it help you in getting the roles you want?
A: It can, although you never know what the producers or network people want for each role. Sometimes you may be a better skilled actor, but you lose out a role to the Producer’s son or cousin. That blows.
Q: When I look at the fact that you speak several languages fluently, and that you were interested in a career in international marketing, do you maybe see yourself in several years to also do international movies? Say, if a big European director offers you a role, would you be interested in doing a movie abroad? Or is it important for an up and coming actor to continuously make his presence known in American movies?
A: I love movies, and it would be absolutely brilliant to be part of the international film industry- Look at Rutger Hauer, Jeroen Krabbé, Jean Reno... I would love to do both American and international movies. Look at Karakter and Antonia’s Line-
The Future
Q: In the future, do you see yourself maybe taking on things like directing, or producing?
A: Yes, but first I gotta kick ass in the acting department!
Q: (Being Dutch myself) I was interested to read that you spent a year in Amsterdam to, amongst other things, study Dutch. May I ask you why you made this decision?
A: In 1998, the year after I graduated High School, I won a scholarship to be a foreign exchange student to Holland. I knew I wanted to go to Europe after high school because I knew being half-way across the world could change me into a stronger person. And it did.
Q: Did you enjoy Amsterdam?
A: I loved it. In fact, I think my bike is still locked up in the Jordaan by an Antique shop.
To read more about Jed Bernard, you can visit his website right here.
If you are a gamer, and you're wondering: I've seen that guy before, then you're probably right. You see, Jed was the cover model for one of the Call of Duty games, as well as one of the Medal of Honor games!
Thank you for posting such a supportive article for Jed. He is a great actor and a hard worker. -- Jonathan Artemis Pierce, Executive Producer, Pierced Angels Productions, LLC.
Posted by: Jonathan Artemis Pierce | February 17, 2007 at 06:40 PM
Hey Scribble King, I have been following your site for a while and though I liked it, i thought it was a bit biased towards printing too many pics of women, and hardly of men! But you more than made up for it with this interview! Thanks for showing a great actor i had not heard of yet.
Posted by: Linda Luu | February 18, 2007 at 12:17 PM
Do u know what ep of 24 jed is in? We have all seasons on dvd and i would love to see him in action!!! :-D
Posted by: KittyKat21 | February 18, 2007 at 01:59 PM
Yes i agree! Less women and more real men like Jed Bernard! He's hot. By the way great interview Scribble King, like all the other ones over the past few weeks. I like the new direction for the site!
Posted by: MissJay | February 18, 2007 at 11:55 PM
Good stuff! I'm shoked to read that good actors cannot get jobs because they go to producer's sons! And since it looks like every movie has at least 10 producers, it seems impossible for anybody that is not related to somebody in the movie industry to get a job!!! I wish you luck Mr. Bernard, and hope to see you in some big movie someday!
Posted by: LostInTime | February 19, 2007 at 02:31 PM
It's great to see you all support Jed like this, I also hope he will have a rich and varied career in the future, and I'm confident it's going to work out for him!
Concerning 24, I e-mailed him to ask about the episodes and this is his reply:
"I was on Season 3, Ep. 23 & 24, but the scene that I'm in the most is on ep. 24 --- It's a short scene, but nevertheless, I play "Barry"-"
So there you have it, get those DVD's spinning!
Posted by: ScribbleKing | February 20, 2007 at 11:01 PM
For the record Jed Bernard was a extra in the movie I COULD NEVER BE YOR WOMAN.
Producer
Posted by: Producer of I Could Never Be Your Woman | April 14, 2007 at 09:35 PM
No doubt, the biggest industry in the world, almost a religion the hollywood life is, fine people, great people, ugly people, better people, you can find ANYTHING in that ''world'', a world that lives with the help of ''normal'' people, an average ones, without the simple guys, that industry would be nothing...
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I think that it is a really interesting interview ,I am agree with some of the points that Jed Bernard said,This makes them less provincial, and broadens their minds to the type of critical and lateral thinking needed !!22dd
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This actor did a scene in a supermarket (about cantalopes) in the TV show The Event. He is the only thing I remember about that episode. He's real, he moves well, his voice is great -- he's got "it" in my opinion, and given a break, he seems to be the kind of actor who will wear long and well. I truly hope we see more and more of him.
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