Meet Gloria John

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gloria John.

Gloria, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started acting in 2009 when I was cast in a sketch comedy show at the infamous Second City Chicago. It was the third year that I opened up my own dental practice. I started taking classes and I was really getting into acting. I auditioned for a show my teacher recommended for fun and I thought it was a mistake that they cast me. But it was the real deal. Boy, was I nervous.

I was the only Asian in the show and I felt a tremendous amount of pressure going on stage for the first time. I think I threw up a couple of times before going on stage the first couple of time. The show was about how in life we all look for answers else where but the true answers always lies within ourselves. One of the lines I remember I had to say were “Where ever you go, there you are”. I didn’t know what it truly meant until later. I thought it was just a funny saying. This show and the artistic director Michael Pieper at Second City became my mentor, a father I never had and a true inspiration to become an artist. He is still this day my wonderful friend and mentor. I started acting thinking that it would be a great hobby but it truly take over my life.

Has it been a smooth road?
Oh no.. You know in life, anything worth pursuing is never a smooth road. We all know that right? So, then after that, my hunger for learning and training in my craft was veracious. One of the Meisner Conservatory I was in was in the dead winter, imagine 40 below at a dormitory with no hot water and no time to eat and we weren’t even allowed to leave the place for more than 30 minutes because of the tremendous workload. Mind you, I did that and drove 2 hours to do another show I was in. Honestly, you have to have an insane amount of passion to be an actor. No one can pay me to do this. I took every acting class, read and studied acting and also did many dramatic shows and films. It was an honor to do first dramatic play at Second City Chicago as well. It was something that was never done in Second City Chicago. I had personal struggles with my health, grew tremendously as a human being which takes a lot of pain and suffering. Then, finally I decided to sell my practice of 8 years, sell my beautiful place and move to Los Angeles to pursue my dreams in film and T.V. Now, all that was probably a terrible financial decision but to come to that conclusion, there was a lot of punching in the face from the universe. The universe just kept coming at me with different difficult circumstances pointing me to move here and I finally said “fine! I get it! I’ll move!”.

Tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My most recent work is, “Vegas Kid and the Drifter” directed by Bruce Schwartz who is a film professor at Marymount University. He comes from a father who was a writer for Gilligan’s Island and a brother who was the producer of Bay Watch. I play a woman who runs away with the money at the end after trying to hustle in Vegas with the card trick man and a pimp. It was so much fun to play this character. We shot this in the grueling 105-degree heat in Vegas last year. It will be airing on direct T.V. soon and was selected for Los Angeles Film Festival. There were two other films that I was a part of that got selected for Los Angeles Film Festival last year as well. So, that was like a total wow. Not only one but three films on the same year.

I am most proud of the fact that I also produced a short called “Dear Tony” that was accepted into Los Angeles Film Festival. This year, I am making three other films and I just finished writing a Screenplay in remembrance of a dear friend who passed away way before his time. It deals with Mental Health issue. I am finding it to be very fulfilling to be a producer and a writer. I also work as a casting associate and I was able to see how much work goes into casting process. “Miracle on East Texas” starring Kevin Sorbo was the film I was honored to be a casting associate last year.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Oh.. there is so many things about this city I love. First and foremost, the open-mindedness of the people. How much we value humanity and freedom. How we accept and intermingle with all cultures. And of course the weather and the ocean. I grew up in Hawaii when I was a little girl so the ocean! Just the fact that we can see and smell the ocean and surf and go outside without winter coat is a blessing. We are surrounded by nature that is so grand and beautiful and we are all very lucky to live in this city. oh and the food… You can get the best food from any country out here. I tell you… The Korean food out here is better than my mom’s cooking. Don’t tell my mom that though..

Hmm.. what do I not like? I think the fact that everyone is so busy and while that gives the city it’s vibrancy and glamour, sometimes I think I miss the slower pace to be able to experience life more. Maybe that’s just me. Everyone in this town is very busy.

Contact Info:

• Address: imdb.me/gloriajohn
• Website: gloriajohn.com
• Email: actorgloriajohn@gmail.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gjlovely/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Actorgloriajohn

Image Credit:
Image credited to Catherine Kang photography

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