Meet Jerry G. Angelo of Fire Born Studios in Toluca Lake

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jerry G. Angelo.

Jerry, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh my! Gosh, my nutshell would be, All-American Underdog Footballer and Class Clown, and Dancer in a Gay Bar. Dad was quite the character, a Grey Hound bus driver, my mom from Switzerland could speak seven languages and a waitress. They split when I was six. I was the only kid, grew up with my imagination and under their influences of movies and music, spanning from John Wayne Westerns, Abbott & Costello, and Edward G. Robinson, Ertha Kitt, Louis Armstrong, and the Rat Pack, they had me much later in life than all my friends. Well, one of my greatest moments was holding my father when he took his last breath and died in my arms. I went through school with my mindset on the FBI, I got pulled into politics and that is when I realized I was meant to follow my heart and create stories.

I didn’t start talking until I was like four, but from the beginning, I was writing creative stories and replaying all the movies I watched with my G.I. Joe’s. And I had a lot of G.I. Joe’s, each had their own voice, personality, and my theme was always sacrificed for the ones you loved so they can carry on. I didn’t know it at the time, but this is where I got my schooling in acting and writing. I actually “got caught” playing with G.I. Joe’s in high school, that’s when I realized it was time to hang them up.

My 1st career was Politics and Politics was a perfect lead way into Entertainment, it was right after my first whim extra job in Santa Fe, New Mexico on the set of ALL THE PRETTY HORSES, I knew instinctively after watching Matt Damon perform and Billy Bob Thorton Direct that I was meant for something entirely different and in many ways entirely the same. I just didn’t want, I needed to create my own worthwhile stories with characters that had depth, instead of going after roles like Cop #1 and #2, or inmate. So right out the gate I used my Politics to produce my first short film that I wrote, directed, and starred in HIGHWAY TO SANTA FE, about a grieving father picking up a hitchhiker who is actually a Guardian Angel (Kokopelli) to help him forgive himself.

Where I am today, been in Los Angeles eight years steady this 2nd time round, I’m still merrily climbing the ladder but have become an expert in marketing and branding, successful in distribution, and have managed a body of work having produced 11 feature films, written over 20 screenplays, SAG actor both Film and Television, multiple awards globally as Actor and Producer of Artik, current film American Warfighter which is my directing debut is on NetFlix.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest struggle that I’ve had to overcome was placing too much importance on other people when I was the driving force. Being an only child I’m just always just so happy being part of a team. So much to the point that I would build teams, whether for school projects, sports teams, or in production. As I’ve matured, I continue to keep that child-like spark but I’m much more in alignment with who I am therefore I am more clear with what I want and whom I want to work with. This is where I am now. I can get into some of the horror stories, but honestly, the greatest lesson is simply moving on and focusing on the now.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Actor/filmmaker and I work with and in unison with many companies. My personal company is Fire Born Studios which is expanding into a greater entity which will be named soon.

I specialize in many of the creative aspects of production from the initial concept of product or script, through all phases of production, to fruition, including strategic marketing and branding and distribution. I’m most known for acting, though I’m quite involved in writing and directing. I’m so proud of the multiple highlights and accolades for Best Picture and Best Actor my current film ARTIK is garnering. What sets me apart… is the integrity by which things are done, with the vast set of skills included that ensure the fastest results, most powerful product, and the body of work to show it.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
The absolute best and most important qualities to me is the inspiration, compassion, and creativity. With that, Self-propelled drive, unwillingness to let obstacles impede success, and doing it with other incredible people is what makes everything worthwhile!

Contact Info:

• Phone: 3233337322
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: jerrygangelo
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jerry.g.angelo
• Twitter: jerrygangelo

Image Credit:
Just Another Shot Photography by Courtney Gail (Main Cover Merlin Fingers, Suit Sitting, Step&Repeat, Morning Coffee) , Ryan Davis – (Boxing), Chris Barnes, (Artik poster) , Joey Mercado – (American Warfighter in Jungle Directing Shot), Scott Brown (American Warfighter Image) Tom Botchi, (Train)

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