Check Out Jeremiah’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeremiah.

Hi Jeremiah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Growing up in an extended Filipino family in Northern CA, my life was always filled with stories. Now, compound that fact with preferring to sit alone in the library reading or watching TFC teleseryes with my grandparents than playing sports outside. In fact, spending that time watching movies with my grandfather and listening to the tall tales he would spin greatly inspired me to become an actor. My parents actually supported me greatly to chase this dream, to the point that they were willing to uproot from our major family dynamic in Northern CA to LA in order to be closer to the film industry.

Starting out my career since I was 10, I have been blessed to say that I have been luckier than most. I began doing background roles for shows such as Modern Family and The Neighbors. After that, I was able to work on a wide range of projects, from student shorts to indie films to a featured role on World War Z with Brad Pitt! I even did online videos for Oh My Disney! and a nationwide cannabis PSA campaign. My biggest accomplishment, however, came in 2018, when I was cast in the Netflix movie Always Be My Maybe with Ali Wong and Randall Park. Not only did I get to travel to Vancouver for the film shoot, but being able to work in close proximity to working actors of Asian descent began to open my awareness to my own cultural heritage within my art.

I believe my true awakening occurred in 2021, when I attended the San Diego Filipino Film Festival. There, I got to watch the Basco family premiere their latest film, as well as meet Dante Basco himself, a famous voice actor of Filipino descent (Prince Zuko of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Rufio of Hook, and the titular role of American Dragon: Jake Long). This event was truly life-changing as I was able to learn that there are artists within the field I want to work in that look like me! More importantly, I learned that I am now responsible for representing and sharing the knowledge of my culture in only the way I can. Since then, I took to social media, using my platform to share the Filipino story! Whether it’s the REACT channel on YouTube (20+ million subs) or my own TikTok (28k+ followers), I have brought this same awareness to every workspace I enter.

Currently, I am gaining experience in the local theatre realm, where I want to expand upon my craft. While I undergo rehearsals for a production of Lin Manuel Miranda’s IN THE HEIGHTS, I am simultaneously writing stories that heavily feature the Filipino culture. I have also began to branch out from TikTok, where my videos have found an audience on Instagram. Overall, I’ve done a lot and I can’t wait to see where my story goes next!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
If I ever claim that this road has been smooth, I am LYING and do not believe a word I say! I am humbled that I have been able to see this amount of success in my career, but it always comes with a cost, especially starting out so young. I had to deal with depression and anxiety in my life, which unfortunately led to attempts to end my own life at certain points. Furthermore, there were instances where I was the darkest skinned in the room and did not fit that certain all-American look, which often surrounded me in audition rooms too often for me to count. While I believe this fueled my deep passion for wanting to share my cultural heritage, I believe these struggles also stemmed from an unhealthy connection of my own self-worth to my career.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an actor and storyteller, currently using social media and the stage as my main platform. In the entertainment industry, I have been featured in projects such as Modern Family, World War Z, Oh My Disney!, Netflix’s Always Be My Maybe, and the REACT Channel on YouTube, to name a few. Throughout my social media accounts (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube), I have garnered 30k+ followers/subscribers. I even got a few shoutouts from actors working in the industry, such as Arielle Jacobs, Mae Ann Jorolan, and Dwayne Johnson! One of my proudest works is a series of stop-motion films retelling the story of the Exodus (LEGO Prince of Egypt: The Exodus), which garnered approximately 110K views and was shared worldwide!

A main inspiration in my work is a type of nerdy aesthetic. More specifically, superhero stories from comics, as well as sci-fi, tokusatsu, mythology, and cinema, inspired me to make “geeky” into “cool”. On the other hand, my art can be hard-hitting, similar to the style of the urban, hip-hop/rap scene that I grew up in. At the core of it all is a powerful pride in my heritage, as I use my art to represent my Filipino roots and educate others on my Asian American background. I enjoy deeply thought-provoking art and hearing about others’ journeys and worldviews. Overall, I hope to create stories with universal themes that invite people on their own journey, whether it is one of education, inspiration, or even nostalgia

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
It’s a common belief that luck plays a heavy role in the success of a career in Hollywood. However, I do not believe in luck. I believe in God. While I believe that luck can be tied to preparation and timing, ultimately, He oversees my successes, what projects I will or will not work on, and what message He wants me to send. Faith is a major component in my life. With it, I have been able to view my work, myself, and my relationship with others through a much healthier lenses. Without it, I can only imagine what my life would have been like. Without God, I probably would not be here today. Therefore, I hope everything I do is a tribute to Jesus.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejeremiahmolina
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejeremiahmolina/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/thejeremiahmolina
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5055323/