In 1969, he packed up his Volkswagen Beetle, he called "Shortie" and headed to Upstate NY for the first "Woodstock Festival", where he met and learned a great deal about the art of acting from other artists that he met.
His first theatrical appearance of note, was in a stage production of "High Fever Follies; an ensemble role. As the "acting bug" ignited in him, he began to write short plays and stories and poetry (some of which have been published).
In 1977, he appeared briefly in "The Lemon Sisters" and from that point forward, he was "hooked". He is currently a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Recording Artists. Some of his credits include On - Camera talent, Voice Over Artist, Model, live and corporate theatre.
He is not your ordinary actor - type. He is in many ways has an Absurdist /quirky bent. He tends to see and feel things in their true light and not so pretty-ed up. Yes, he is quite sane... for the most part; but is always up for a challenge -- especially for the roles he plays.
J. Emerson is known for his teaching of English as a Second Language and Computer Literacy as well. His students love to hear the interesting things that come out of his mouth; for they are not the normal rhetoric. J. Emerson is a very enthusiastic man, and there is not a person who loves to do what he does more than he does. J. Emerson's focus is on the acquisition of knowledge, in the Arts and all things of positive import to the human experience.
He has also traveled to the Yucatan Peninsula, Canada, many of the lower 48 and been to the northern edges of the Sahara Desert and was mistaken for a southern Morrocan... hairy story!
J. is also continuing to develop his digital photography artist skills. J. Emerson also holds a BA in Contemporary Anthropology and a Masters in Organizational Dynamics, which he fully utilizes in his work as an Actor and a Teacher; as well as, a life visionary.
Oh, and he prefers to be called Emerson. Why? Just because.
Click this image above to see the interview
Some actor quotes J. Emerson lives by:
" Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."
Will Rogers
Act without acting (wei wu wei). Work without effort. Relish plain food.*
Lao Tzu
*literally, do-don't-do; i.e., "Go with the flow, ya'll"
“ Acting is a powerful medium for reflecting authenticity in the human experience” Eric Stone
"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." - Albert Einstein (1875-1955)
Some Acting Books currently on his shelf:
A Primer for Actors
Louis E. Catron
An Actor PreparesConstantin Stanislavski
Victory Secrets of Attila the Hun Wess Roberts
MIND-STORMS: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas
Seymour Papert
Body Language
Julius First
Working Actors: The Craft of Television, Film and Stage Performance
Richard A. Blum
Death of A Salesman
Arthur Miller
You can't fight city hall, but you can pee on their steps and run like hell!
Anon
Headshot and Resume can be found HERE .... let the Casting begin!!
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