AAG caught up with featured talent JASON PODPLESKY
AAG: What/Whom is your inspiration for acting/theatre?
JASON: I had a great drama teacher in high school named Shirley Custer. She really took me under wing and became like a 2nd mother to me. She ran a successful theater in Pittsburgh and the opportunities this provided to me where extremely influential. I ended up getting an acting scholarship to college, unfortunately, Shirley passed away before I graduated. She is definitely the reason I do what I do.
AAG: What has been your favorite project to date? Why?
JASON: I did an original Off-Broadway play called Emancipation with The Classical Theatre of Harlem while I was living and working in New York City. It was a daring and controversial piece of theatre about the Nate Turner slave uprising. It got some good critical acclaim and was probably the best thing I did in the city. I was also an extra in The Shawshank Redemption which was a long, long, time ago and I had a very small extra part but people still get excited when I mention it.
AAG: What is your dream role? Why?
JASON: I would love to play Titus Andronicus in the play of the same name by Shakespeare. If you read it, you’ll understand the attraction. It’s simply an amazing role.
AAG: Who would you like to perform with in a film/on stage? Why?
JASON: My dream is to be in a Quentin Tarantino film. He is one of my favorite film directors, as his works always seem to become iconic. As Tarantino always plays a small part in his films, I guess my uber-dream would be to be in a scene with Quentin Tarantino in a Quentin Tarantino movie.
AAG: Tell us something about you that no one knows?
JASON: At Christmas time I volunteer to play Santa at Petsmar
t to raise money for the not-for-profit Greyhound Adoption Agency I am involved with called GAGC. I absolutely love to do it unless people bring in their pet snakes and lizards to have their pictures taken with Santa. I know it sounds crazy but it happens more than you’d think.
AAG: Have you ever been starstruck?
JASON: I used to work for Sigourney Weaver’s husband. He is the Artistic Director of The Flea Theatre in New York and he gave me my first big break when I moved to the city. Needless to say, the first time I met “Siggy” I was a bit terrified. However, she is so down to earth and so unassuming that you forget she is “famous” within ten seconds of talking to her. She really is a special person.
AAG: What advice can you offer to a new actor regarding “the audition process”?
JASON: Don’t equate success or failure with whether or not you get the gig. You’ll burn out if you do. I try to use each audition as an opportunity to get better. I look at them as a chance to act and apply my craft. My goal is to feel good about the work and to get better with each audition. I try equating my success or failures in those terms, focusing on the process rather than the product.
AAG: What’s next for Jason Podplesky?
JASON: I’m an adjunct professor at Wittenberg University and am currently overseeing their One-Act Play Festival, which is essentially eight days of plays, directed and acted by the Wittenberg students. I teach directing and therefore am in charge of the festival.
You can check out JASON on the Active Artists Group website -----> AAG Talent JASON
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