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Jason
Burks
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From
life on the farm to professional athlete to life in the big
city to the Days Of Our Lives. This is the road traveled by
September's actor of the month Jason Burks. I recently caught
up with the Kansas City native for a quick Q&A.
Jay:
When
did you know you wanted to be an actor?
JB:
The creative arts have always intrigued me. According to my
mother I started freehand drawing at age three and I was the
lead in my 6th grade musical play. I participated in the
creative arts throughout high school and college but sports
never allowed me to commit to acting fulltime. The big day
came after I had returned to Kansas City, Missouri from
playing semi-pro football in Australia. I was working for the
Boy Scouts of America professionally and had a radio
internship in the evenings. I had just been chewed out
over the phone by a volunteer for no reason. I looked at
my cubicle wall and realized I would never be happy or
successful in the corporate environment. I enrolled in a cold
reading/commerical course and got agency representation
after completing the course. I quickly realized the only
thing that interested me and kept me motivated was acting.
I knew when the feeling was right I would move to LA.
Jay:
How did you get started in the biz?
JB:
Two years in Kansas City auditioning for regional commercials,
voice-overs, and commercial print. My first biz job was
working background in a Sam's Wholesale commercial. The
Sam's is gone but the building still stands and reminds me
where it all started. I moved to LA and was referred to
a commercial agent who took me to three agencies before I
decided to stay with my current commercial agency Equinox. I
was on a print shoot and discussing theatrical representation
with a fellow actor. He said the head of Equinox's print
division's mom was a theatrical manager?! That
conversation lead to my theatrical representation and my
current status in the biz.
Jay: Who
are your influences?
JB:
My
parents both came from very humble backgrounds. They worked
very hard to provide my two younger brothers and I with a
middle-class upbringing. Their love and support has
enabled me to weather all the rejection actors face in this
business. They seem to understand how rough it can be
out here and they are always there for me. I routinely
visit home and reflect and refocus on my career. Home to
me is like a spiritual place of peace and calmness.
Jay: How
much of yourself goes into the characters you play?
JB:
I use as much as possible of myself in my characters. I
believe drawing from my life experiences creates authenticity
and realism in my characters. I am proud to have a very
diverse background from growing up on farms, college, working
bridge construction, living abroad-playing semi-pro football,
corporate business, and now currently working on "Days of
Our Lives." I just seem to go where the river takes
me.
Jay:
What
is your proudest moment professionally/personally?
JB:
Personally, to leave a comfortable income, my family &
friends, and put what I could in my car knowing only one
person in LA and make the leap of faith.
Professionally, any comments from people that state I affected
them in some emotional way with my work. To me that
means I have accomplished my creative goals and there is great
satisfaction in that.
Jay: Television,
film, stage or modeling which would you choose?
JB:
Film is my first choice by far. I like the film-making
process and the new challenges each film presents. Creative
changes in each story, character, location, crew, etc....gets
my motor running.
Jay:
What
type of roles will you refuse to play?
JB:
I do not have a role that I will refuse to play but if for any
reason I feel uncomfortable about playing a role or I feel
that I'm being taken advantage of by playing a role; I will
make a subjective decision whether its right for my career
short and long term.
Jay: How
have you managed to keep working over the years?
JB:
I approach acting as a business and I am the product. I
try to do at least one task if not more to further
my career every day. Also maintaining positive
relationships with my friends and co-workers over the years
has definitely lead to continued work in this industry.
It basically comes down to being professional and treating
people with respect.
Jay:
What's
on the horizon?
JB:
More hustling! I am in a dark indie film coming out
this fall called "FireCracker" starring Karen Black
& Mike Patton. The film website is: www.dikenga.com.
I recently was casted by Carol Shreder, producer of
"Burning Bed," in her Director's Women's Workshop-AFI
directorial debut "Laying Down Arms." I have two
films that will be showcased in the Kansas International Film
Fest this coming September. I'm the cat that ate the canary
right now!
Jay:
Any
words of advice?
JB:
First a story: I was hung-over, lost, and late for a print
audition. Missed the call-back and booked a very lucrative
international print ad! With that said, there is no
rhyme or reason to this biz. So keep faith in God.
Stay true to yourself and your beliefs. Pursue this biz
on your own terms because there is no set way. Create a
support group of family and friends to confide in. Leave no
questions unanswered and make your dreams reality.
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