Meet Jason Johnson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Johnson.

Hi Jason, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Before I started acting, I competed as a professional motocross racer from 2010 to 2019. After retiring from professional motocross racing, I had to decide what my next career was going to be. I needed to choose something that would motivate and inspire me to get up in the mornings. I wanted and needed a sense of purpose. Something that I would truly love and give all of my effort to in the same way I did with racing.

I kept feeling an urge to take an acting class. Which was strange because in school I hated talking in front of the class and I am generally a little shy in large groups of people I don’t know. I had never taken theater or studied acting of any sort. I ignored it for a few months but the urge kept getting stronger and stronger. I decided to take a step of faith and join an acting class. I figured I’d try it out and if I disliked it or was no good at it then I would just chalk it up to something I got to try and experience. I researched what seemed to be the best acting school in my area and signed up. After my very first class, the acting coach pulled me aside after class was over. He said I did a great job in the scenes he gave me and then asked me how long I had been acting for.

To his surprise, I told him of my zero experience in the industry. He was shocked and said he can see a lot of natural talent and with work he thought I would have a real shot of doing it for a living. From that point on I knew I was doing what I was supposed to be doing and I was right where I needed to be. I had found my new passion. I was super dedicated and diligent in working to become better at my new craft. I applied for, auditioned for and was cast in my first acting job in July of 2020 (yes the height of the pandemic when the industry seemed to be shut down). I was blessed to be steadily working throughout all the uncertainty of the pandemic. Fast forward to today and I have worked on over 24 productions (not including commercials) in roles such as lead, supporting, co-star, principal, day player and featured background. I am thankful for my God-given talent and my work ethic because without either, I wouldn’t be here today. I have loved every minute of my work.

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?
Some aspects of it have been smooth and some aspects have been really tough. I spent the first year and a half working as an actor without telling anyone what I was doing. I kept it all a secret. Anytime anyone would ask what I was now doing for a living I would deflect and change the subject. It’s not that I was embarrassed by the fact that I was acting. It was more because sometimes your path is only easily understood by you. People on the outside don’t always understand your dreams, passions and goals. I didn’t want any of the negativity that could come along with it. I had already thought to myself that the dream I was chasing could be seen as a little far-fetched so I definitely didn’t need the ones closest to me adding to that little bit of doubt. Once I felt that I had a more steady stream of jobs I started telling people around me what I had been doing all along. Most were supportive and the ones that weren’t as supportive are entitled to their opinion. I had gone through this kind of thing before… As a kid when my dream was to become a professional motocross racer, I always heard people tell me why I couldn’t and why it was a pipe dream. I proved every one of them wrong and earned my AMA Professional License in 2010 and traveled to races across the country and competed at the highest level. I was by no means a superstar of the sport.

In fact, I occupied the back of the pack at most of the big events but that was ok for me because I was giving it my all and I was living my dream. I proved the doubters wrong once, and I am doing it again. I think the biggest struggle for me was to learn how to hear no 100 times and keep moving forward. Acting is a profession of rejection and sometimes you have to hear a bunch of no’s before you get a yes. There have been several auditions that I was so super thrilled about that I never heard back from. I had to learn very quickly to develop a thick skin and to not let the rejection discourage me. I started to think of it this way… every job I didn’t get just wasn’t meant for me. If I work hard on bettering myself as a person and as an actor then I have faith a yes will come along and it will be the right job at the right time for my career.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a full time professional actor. I have appeared in over 24 tv or film productions since I started acting in July 2020. I am most known for a Recurring Co-Star role as Derek in The Secret Life of Amy Bensen streaming on Passionflix (Tosca Musk’s Company). I am proud of all of my work so far but I would have to say that I am very excited for some productions that are in the works. Some of them I can’t talk about yet but one that I can talk about and am very excited for is the feature film Remember When which is slated for production late fall of 2023. What sets me apart is my drive and determination. I am 100% reliable and completely dedicated to acting. It is my true passion and I believe I have the talent and work ethic to make it at the highest level. Unlike a lot of actors in LA, I don’t have a day job which makes me more available and reliable than most. Acting is my day job and is my #1 focus. As I reach my goals of being a successful working actor, it will undoubtedly come with a lot of perks. However, that is not what drives me. Fame and fortune is not the end goal. Sure, that level of success will be great and all but it is truly in my heart to use those perks to bless others. I want to be in a position to give back. I want to be able to bless my family, friends and strangers. I see some amazing celebrities use their wealth and influence to help other people in remarkable ways and it is very inspiring and motivating. I can’t wait to be able to do the same for people. I believe that is my purpose… to continue to bless others using the blessings that I receive from a successful acting career.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I was born and raised in the small town of Dripping Springs, TX. So the busy city life is completely different from where I grew up. I have been blessed to have traveled quite a bit and still to this day I am drawn to California. The vibe in LA as well as many other parts of California have always excited me while motivating me to work towards my goals. It is a place that makes me feel that my dreams of being successful as an actor are for a reason and that the opportunities I have here are endless. Like any other city, there are good and bad parts. It’s sad to see so many people suffering from homelessness, as well as addiction. My hope is that someday some common sense solutions are found to help these people live a better life. On the other hand, you are constantly reminded of the immense wealth that resides in the LA area. It can be very motivating to see all the glitz and glamor which can remind you what’s possible and make you want to work harder towards your dreams. I absolutely love all the gorgeous scenery along with the mostly outstanding weather. I enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors as well as frequenting the amazing beaches that Southern California has to offer.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @iamjasonjohnson
• Other: imdb.me/jasonjohnson

Image Credits
Kristine Canterbury Simon Cudby