Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesse Ridenour.
Hi Jesse, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Prior to moving to Los Angeles in 2022, I lived on the island of O‘ahu in Hawai’i for nearly five years, working as an Architect. I’m a Washington state native and received my BS in Architecture from Washington State University in 2016, and spent nearly six years working as an architectural designer. But I had always been drawn to the world of acting, and in 2019, I decided to take my first acting class through a local theatre in Honolulu.
I quickly fell in love with the craft and began acting on the side, participating in film festivals, producing my own short films, and acting in student films. I studied a variety of techniques, including the Method, Meisner, Chekhov, and Improv, learning to develop and hone my skills. It was extremely rewarding and fulfilling for me, and I realized I needed to take the next step to delve further into my passion by moving to LA.
Once here, I studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute (LSTFI) with a focus on developing my craft for acting on camera. It was extremely transformative for me, and I finished my program confident that I had a strong foundation of skills to enter the industry.
Since then, I have worked on a variety of projects, performing on stage as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival, and on camera in multiple independent short films. I’ve had the privilege to collaborate with brilliant and creative people and am proud to have received multiple film festival award nominations for my work. Every project teaches me something new, and I am excited to continue to develop as an artist while pursuing my goal to create a better, more connected and empathetic world through innovative storytelling.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Finishing my acting program at LSTFI in the fall of 2022, I didn’t really begin working in the industry until spring of 2023, and things have been continuously evolving since then. While it has been challenging to navigate, I believe this is an extremely transformative time in the industry and that we are headed towards a better future. I’ve learned that there is no set path, and if I remain flexible, focused on my goals and priorities, and open to new approaches and opportunities, things will continue to move forward in a positive direction. Also, finding sources of support and stability outside of acting, through my family/friends in my personal life as well as my work as an architect, has in turn allowed me to be more flexible, fluid, and creative within the industry.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Throughout moments of adversity in my life, I’ve learned that no person is inherently good or bad; that everyone has the power to change. I’ve also learned that understanding and empathizing with someone can alter your perspective and perception of that person. This has fueled my passion for acting and drives the goal of my work as an artist: to portray complex characters and stories through film; to give insight and understanding through representation.
I am often cast in dramatic roles and gravitate towards projects that explore emotional challenges, ethical and moral questions, and focus on relationships. My approach to my craft is always very personal and involves intensive preparation, research, and investment of myself into the character development, which I believe makes my characters more relatable and allows me to connect with the audience in an authentic way.
I am always proud of my work when the message of the film and journey of the character connects with the audience. This is when I feel most successful as an actress and artist and encourages me to continue to pursue my goals and influence mine and other’s understanding of one another through creative storytelling.
How do you think about luck?
I believe that a certain amount of luck, specifically good luck, always comes into play in life, but that the opportunity for luck is created by our choices and timing. For example, if I am continually working towards bettering my craft, submitting for roles, auditioning and self-taping, etc, I am actively making choices that better set me up to get “lucky” and book an amazing role/project! But my portrayal of the character has to align with the casting director’s, the director’s vision (and other players depending on how large the project), and in turn the entire project and team’s larger cast, schedule, etc. All of these different aspects need to fall in place in order for a project to move forward, and I consider myself very lucky every time this happens. But it all comes from hard work and effort.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jesseridenour.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesse.ridenour/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JSRidenour92
- Twitter: https://x.com/jesse_ridenour
- Other: https://imdb.me/jesseridenour
Image Credits
Kanani Rogers
