Conversations with Jean Nasser

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jean Nasser.

Hi Jean, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
For as long as I can remember, acting, writing, and film has always been a passion of mine! When I was a kid, I would always dress up as different characters I’d see on TV (even when it wasn’t Halloween) and interpret them. Every time I went to the park, instead of playing with other kids, I would pretend to be Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean.

I even remember one Halloween at eight years old when I was dressed up as Edward Cullen from Twilight, and when my mom got some food for me, I said; “Mom, I’m not hungry.” (I was, but my character was a vampire, so I couldn’t eat anything.) So yeah, basically, I was staying in character without even realizing it! That’s how I knew I wanted to be an actor. A that same age, I started training and learning the basics of on-camera acting. Eventually, after a few years of auditioning, I had the opportunity to participate in the IMTA (International Modeling and Talent Association) in New York, where I won eight medals and first place for Best Drama Actor. The next year, after many months worth of struggle and sacrifice, I finally made the big move to make my dreams come true!

Through the years of acting in LA, I’ve been more than blessed to work with many talented actors and creative minds behind the camera! My most recent work as an actor was in the NBC show Perfect Harmony, where I got to perform alongside Anna Camp and Bradley Whitford. As of now, I’m excited to be working on my debut co-authored novel; Ill Shadows, which will be the first in a trilogy of YA gothic dystopian books! It’s a story about four teenagers forced to see the girl they thought they had killed alive and breathing while being incarcerated in a coastal desert where technology is prohibited.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’m gonna be completely honest; No. It has not been a smooth road at all. It took a LOT of sacrifices and hard work to even get to move to the states. I come from Puerto Rico and I’m very proud of my roots. I couldn’t ask my mom, who is a single parent, to give me all her life savings in order to move to California. And it’s not like I could get a job. I was only ten years old. So one day, I saw a box of assorted candy bars at a grocery store. That’s when I had the idea of selling candy bars in order to earn the money to move to LA. Thankfully, I was homeschooled, so that gave me the advantage of messing with my schedule. I would get up super early to get all my schoolwork done, and then I was out the door! So there I was at ten years old, running from door to door, mall to mall, gas station and store, selling chocolates and candy bars. I spent the next six months carrying around those heavy boxes for twelve hours straight, from 10 am to 10 pm, every single day, nonstop. With the money I made each day, I would buy three more boxes and I wouldn’t go home until those three boxes were gone.

So if you had been in Puerto Rico in late 2012, there is a good chance I might’ve sold you a candy bar while you were eating at a fast-food joint. It wasn’t easy. I faced rejection. A lot of it! I had people laugh, cringe, ignore, and judge me as they walked past me, and I got kicked out of almost every mall I set foot in. Until, and I will always remember this, a man at a Panda Express gave me a 100 dollar bill. He was one of the few people who were touched by what I was doing, and he believed in me. I wish he told me his name, so I can forever thank him and especially God for giving me hope and strength to keep going. After that, my sales went up, and I fought even harder to keep it that way. And I couldn’t believe I actually made it! I earned all of the money I needed to make the big move! Like I said, it wasn’t easy, and I learned that with any dream you have, there will always be some sort of struggle. I will always thank my ten years old self for teaching me the meaning of it and to always fight for what I want!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love acting, writing, and filmmaking! Writing scripts and filming gives me the chance to see my vision come to life. Acting, which is my passion, gives me the opportunity to put myself in someone else’s shoes and try and reach the hearts of people who watch me perform. I always want to share a message and try to make a change in the world with what I do, and I feel like as an author, writing is another great way for me to do that. I wouldn’t have been able to find the passion for filmmaking if it wasn’t for the amazing people I’ve worked with as an actor. I’m thankful to have had the chance to work with insanely talented filmmakers like George Clooney and Deborah Pratt. Just seeing their creativity and determination reignited that love I always had for storytelling. They are the ones who inspired me to pick up my tripod and smartphone and shoot my first film. I started at 14 years old and the journey has been a blast!

Having my work screened in many film festivals worldwide, including the TCL Chinese Theater, Peekskill New York, and Roma Prisma in Rome, has been more than a blessing. Right now, my most recent short film, Linger has over 13 laurels, including an award for Best Director. With my other short Monster, I also won an award for Best Actor. What sets me apart from others? I don’t know if I should answer this question as something that sets me apart from so many talented and creatives out there who like me, fight their own battles and make things happen without waiting for the opportunity to knock. What I know is that every time I put my mind into something I want to do, I always look back and remember my younger self. A kid who with only ten years old fought against all odds and never quit until he made it happen. I want to be like him. I don’t ever want to disappoint him.

How do you think about happiness?
I LOVE art! It’s what makes me happy. Whenever I’m not acting or filmmaking, you’ll see me writing, watching movies, listening to music, or reading a book. It’s all about art, and I’m fascinated by it! I could sit for hours and talk about why I love it so much, but what I think is important about art is how it’s the best catharsis there is. We all go through lows in our lives, and whenever I face them myself, art has always helped me. No matter what it is. Whether it’s creating stories, getting in a character’s shoes, or just being inspired by someone else’s story. Anyone can pour their soul into something, and I think art is the best way to do it. That’s another reason why I created the #ChooseArtNotVice hashtag! Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity to share a little bit about me and my journey! I loved these questions! Feel free to follow my social media! Stay tuned for my book which will be released soon this year!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.starvingwords.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jean_nasser_
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/jean_nasser_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/estrofilms
• Other: Link to my upcoming novel: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55354499-ill-shadows

Image Credits
All photos were either taken by me, my mother or someone from my team with my phone. The only photo that was taken by a photographer is the last one with the Red carpet/TCL. That photo was taken by Steve Escarcega.