Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Tobias.
Hi Jason, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Thinking about working in the entertainment industry came with hurdles that weren’t exactly ‘clear’ when my aspirations to do so began to materialize. There wasn’t a ton of opportunities in the area I was at, and the only way to make good on the promise I made to myself was to pack it up all up and head out west.
Once I got to Los Angeles and started to understand a bit about the city and how to move within it, I started to really focus on the steps I needed to put myself in the best position for success. I had no training. I had not headshots. I had no footage. This was going to be an uphill battle, but I was willing to accept that and trudged along.
Fast forward to around 2015 and the journey had been one of ups and downs. Projects that never came to fruition. Hearing the word ‘no’ more times than I’d ever heard it in my life – or merely silence in general, was something that you need to become accustomed to in this pursuit. And let me be clear; I’m not saying that you need to accept the word ‘no’. In fact, exactly the opposite – ‘no’ only meant: “Not now” to me. That type of tenacity was crucial in continuing to build and push myself forward.
Once I began to understand more of how the business functions I wanted to delve into other areas. Writing. Producing and eventually Directing. Since then, I’ve established a production company (Action Figure Entertainment) with some incredible partners. This journey is constantly evolving, and the days AND YEARS start to blend together… but I’m forever grateful for all the belief everyone has shown in me thus far.
Alright, 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?
There’s not sure thing or defined path in this business. At least not one that I’ve been able to witness or emulate. There’s incredible highs and abysmal lows. One minute, you can be so excited that you booked a project that you’ve always wanted to work on, and in the next, you may find out that they went with someone else… you really need to manage emotions in this business to a ‘monk-like’ degree. I am still trying my best to do so…
One of the hardest things to discern in the beginning is the ‘real’ from the ‘fake.’ There is a lot of talk in town, and there may be some good intentions behind it, but at the end of the day, there are either results or there aren’t. Once you can start to be more selective in the way that you listen, collaborate, and even ‘move’, you can start to see how much time and energy you can invest into things.
People will show you who they are. Look beyond what they’re saying and watch their actions. This is the strongest indicator of character and follow-through. This is what I tell everyone that asks me about this business. Watch people’s actions. Words are cheap at the end of the day. Action isn’t.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I started working as a concept artist when I dove full-on into the business. I had some incredible opportunities to see how projects were brought into a production company, how they were sold, and even more behind-the-scenes antics. There are so many hands that go into making a film that we quickly forget when we sit down for those ninety or one hundred and twenty minutes.
As that chapter came to an end, I began to realize how much my energy and focus needed to be spent on building out a larger body of work so that I could increase my odds of success. I wanted to work with talented filmmakers and collaborate with them so that we could both climb.
My acting had started to find its legs. I was getting more and more comfortable in front of the camera, and now I wanted to expand my list of abilities. Oh, and let me add: I am still a student of acting – anyone that practices the craft will tell you: You NEVER stop learning.
This ultimately led to my first leap into the world of writing. Shorts. Proof of concepts. Trailers. All of it was something where we had to ‘do it ourselves’, and there wasn’t a budget to apply to any of it. Fortunately, the network that I’d been building over the years was filled with a ton of exceptionally creative and talented individuals. Next, I tried my hands at producing.
Over the years, I’ve been able to step in and out of those positions. Writing. Producing and what led me to Directing was the culmination of all those projects we were working on.
If someone were to ask me, ‘What do you do?’. I believe the best answer I could give them is: I can do a lot things well. But where my energies can be maximized is as a Creative.
What are your plans for the future?
I am excited about the irons we have in the fire. There is a lot that goes into making projects a reality. Developing. Conceptualizing ideas. Financing. Production. Distribution… the last is the toughest part of the industry that, in my opinion, is still a very murky area that needs more clarity.
We are taking steps at Action Figure Ent. to make more headway with our productions and in conjunction with others in the distribution world so that we can start to see a clearer path ahead.
Still a LOT of work to go in this aspect.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.actionfigureent.com
- Instagram: @thejasontobias
- Twitter: @thejasontobias
- Youtube: jasontobiasactor
