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Careers in the entertainment industry can be unpredictable, uncertain, and unsteady. This is especially true for acting careers in film and TV. It sometimes requires a great deal of fortitude to maintain one’s positivity and optimism in the face of a highly competitive and exclusive industry, but according to rising actor and producer Jason Abrams, it’s essential. He believes that survival, success, and happiness in the industry are a matter of adaptation. “You have to go with the flow,” he explains. “Stay flexible, keep your head up, and never get discouraged. Always be looking for opportunities to improve yourself, expand your skills, and get your name out there.”
The Path to the Top is Not Always a Straight Line
Abrams emerged from humble beginnings. After creating and running a DJ company for 15 years, Abrams decided to take a leap of faith and pursue his dream career as an actor and producer for film and TV. He started his career as many young actors do: starring in short films and taking small roles in big-name productions, (including Mad Men, The Sopranos, and Steven Spielberg’s The War of the Worlds). He even appeared on Law and Order: SVU, an early acting memory he recalls fondly.
With a producer credit and a larger role in a feature-length film (2019’s Night Sweats) under his belt, Abrams is looking to take the next step in his growing career. Now, he wants to share a few lessons he’s learned along the way.
Building an Image and Establishing a Reputation
When you’re starting out as an actor, you can’t always be picky about the jobs that you do. As Abrams explains, “Sometimes it’s more important just to get your name out there and attached to something. You need footage for your acting reel, connections in the industry, and experience for your résumé.”
However, that’s not to say you should throw judgment to the wind. In the early stages of your career, it can be important to establish how you want to be seen as an actor, as it definitely has an effect on the rules you will receive going forward. This is not to say that you can’t branch out and explore new styles, moods, and genres, but if you start off as a comedy actor, an action star, or a horror villain, you may find yourself getting more opportunities in similar roles than others. Put simply: if you allow yourself to be typecast, that can help those who want a certain kind of role, but your options beyond that will be limited.
Abrams also points out that if you are only ever associated with low-quality films, that can be detrimental to your image and reputation as well. “Whether or not you should take a certain role, of a certain caliber in a certain film depends entirely upon your goals, needs, and situation. The best general advice I could give for this situation would be to always keep your career goals in mind when evaluating the roles you might want to pursue,” he says.
Unleashing Creative Energy
Though Abrams is fully committed to his career in film and TV, he doesn’t restrict his creative energies to the big or small screen. This is another lesson he hopes to share with aspiring creatives and entertainers: if your career in one field isn’t moving fast enough, he recommends trying other outlets for your creativity. He enjoys posting comedic videos on Instagram and YouTube, where he has amassed a respectable following of 26.9K. These free platforms allow Abrams to entertain audiences all over the world with more creative freedom than other mediums allow. Still, Abrams can’t wait to breathe new life into his next great role for film or TV.
Learn more about Jason Abrams on IMDb. Visit Abrams’ official website at https://thejasonabrams.com/. Follow him on Instagram (@jasonabramsnyc) and YouTube.
