Rising Stars: Meet Jack Goldwait of Studio City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jack Goldwait.

Hi Jack, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Like a lot of actors I started in that all critical way of stumbling into a school play. My pivotal role was as the titular Grinch in the schools winter show. Which was more of a class photo with singing than play and myself wrapped in green felt sprinting across the auditorium/cafeteria combo. I made attempts to chase that feeling of performance and audience impact, however while attempting to source more green felt i realized it would probably be easier to just join the Middle School Drama club. People often under value the impact middle school theatre can have or just how much it can teach you as a performer but I feel that every level of education left a profound impact on me. As a young man with ADHD so fearsome I may as well have been made of rubber, theatre was a great outlet and lens for focusing that energy. I thank Middle School for a lot of what laid my foundation as a performer. Mrs. Minor if you are reading this i do feel as though i should have gotten the lead in that one show (we know what I’m talking abut here) but then again who’s counting. Moving on to High School, after a brief freshman year identity crisis where i was determined to pick up golf, which i swiftly put down, i was back to the theatre program. This return was actually heavily fueled by my teacher Ms. Winner who believed in my acting ability, and encouraged me to come back to it after performing a scene for my theatre class. If there is anything that anyone might gain from my “story” as an actor however brief it is right now its that people and their encouragement really can make impacts and you should encourage young people around you to pursue their passions. High school is filled with the typical swirling riptide of confusion and crisis that serves as such a pivotal time for development. For various reasons we had a new theatre department head every year, and i learned something substantial and unique from each of them. But it was Mr. Mundy who stuck and whose guidance helped me get into college for this bizarre craft and a college i actually wanted to go to at that. I feel its important to mention their names here, you dont get the next generation of performers without these people working tirelessly to make sure the arts dont go extinct in our schools and amongst out youth. The job is thankless tiresome and crosses that all too twisted line of teaching and babysitting but its importance is immense. When people collect awards they thank their agent and their managers, which is all fine and well but never forget the people who tilled the soil on your love for the craft back when you were doing something as silly as seriously considering golf. CALarts for me was what college is hopefully like for all performers where i seriously refined my craft. Looking back at high school from college i am shocked to have even been calling what i was doing acting but that is the nature of progress. There are too many people to thank at CALarts that made it the worthwhile experience that it was but i will drop a few standouts among the standouts. Mirjana Jokovic whos acting advice helped make it all make sense, Lars Jan who taught me to let it loose, Daniel Passer who taught me to expect more from myself, Julanne Hill who taught us artists dont grow without kindness, Rafael Lopez-Barrantes who taught me play is the fuel for creation, and Frank Caeti who taught me sometimes you’ve gotta put the funny first and all of the other fantastic faculty and staff that make that place the insane mountain building I’m proud to call my alma mater. Standing on the other side of college is a surreal experience and the huge wall of unknowns in a career in acting is ever-looming but far less ominous than you’d think. After doing new work in Tom Jacbosons the Bauhuas and short film projects the footing starts to feel like its there. I of course would be remiss to go this entire ramble without mentioning my ever supportive parents who believe in me every day even on those days when i don’t believe in myself, love you Mom and Dad.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think compared to those around me it actually has been a smooth road. I count my blessings every night. I have parents who believe in me. Mentors who encourage me and friends who are there for me all along the way. Maybe its the nostalgia of looking back but the things that seemed like immovable mountains then really seem like mole-hills now, which is something every actor should remember. What really feels challenging is the now, getting started, making your own work getting the momentum that will hopefully propel you out of the obscurity you find yourself in as a new actor on the scene. But I hope that with time and effort even those struggles may begin to chip away.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As an actor I think I can start to separate myself with my comedy chops. Even though calling yourself funny always feels like grandma saying you are in fact the most handsome young man on the planet, it can be true, however unlikely. I have spent a lot of time honing my craft and trying to generate a unique comedic voice and sensibility that’s personal to me and equally as important is welcoming to others. I also take my acting work extremely seriously, the opportunity to perform is never one i take lightly and I pour every ounce of myself into the work. At some point i realized i became a pretentious little acting snob about my own performing hemming and hawing about the craft to myself while i memorize my lines but it does push me to keep digging deeper. I think i am the most proud of my versatility its an honor to be performing at all and i want to take in all of that, every role no matter the size, kind or theme. As someone who grew up idolizing Robin Williams, sometimes you can really do it all, comedy, drama and have crazy good style (still working on that last bit)…(and the first two bits as well actually).

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
As an actor the entire career is a series of micro-risks. You are perpetually putting yourself out there to be the subject of scrutiny and that in and of itself is a risk. I would call myself a risk taker, i am always inclined to jump head first into something new and unknown and learn on the way down. You never know what lesson you may take from something you assumed would have nothing to offer you and in that is a lot of chances for growth. I like to think people grow by taking risks. When you stare down your fears, challenges and opportunities facing them head on you really will start to blossom.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jackgoldwait.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jack.goldwait?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SlappedJack/videos