Meet Jared Rivet | Actor, Screenwriter, Director, Trivia Host

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jared Rivet and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jared, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
That it’s a constant struggle to stay relevant and on people’s radar. That you have to keep hustling and proving yourself over and over again. In both the screenwriting world and the acting world. The industry’s attention span is so short and easily distracted, that if you don’t blow up and become huge, you basically have to keep reminding people that you’re there and good at what you do. And that’s not to say that you should be able to just prove yourself once and have the red carpet rolled out for you, but I definitely believed that success would lead to further opportunities to succeed. Instead, you have to work harder to get those second, third, fourth opportunities. And so far as I can tell, that never stops. Hopefully that doesn’t sound too negative! Just a hard truth I wish I had known when I was starting out.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Right out of the gate, I will say that absolutely none of it has been easy. As a multi-hyphenate who initially made his name as a screenwriter (having written feature films, television shows, and podcast audio dramas), being a working actor and voice actor on top of that has been both challenging and a way to keep things exciting and interesting.

As a screenwriter, I got where I am today by doing two things: writing a lot of screenplays on spec and knowing that there is always room to improve and more to learn, and (most importantly) not giving up. I have written more than 40 screenplays, the first eight or ten were not very good, but I got better at it each time. And letting friends and colleagues read my work to get feedback eventually led to friends and colleagues recommending my work to industry professionals, which led to projects going into development and my getting representation, which led to selling scripts as well as being hired to write projects for studios, production companies, and TV shows.

As an actor, I got where I am today by doing two things: finding aspiring creatives who were willing to cast me in short film projects or audio dramas which were then seen (or heard) by other creatives who then cast me in their short film projects and audio dramas; and by being a professional who people want to work with. And the same mentality applies to acting: knowing that there is always room to improve and more to learn, and not giving up.

The fun part has been using my writing to create roles for myself as an actor. In the podcast audio drama world, I definitely made sure to give myself roles in projects that might stand out. In fact, audio dramas were a great proving ground to hone all of my various skills.

I wrote, directed and acted in multiple podcast dramas for “Earbud Theater” while pursuing my screenwriting career. Of all of the projects I have worked on, I am probably proudest of my “Earbud Theater” productions. And while that audience is a very small one (and there is zero profit in making them), the lack of creative interference from network or studio executives gave me the freedom to tell stories the way I wanted to tell them.

Folks should check out my audio dramas on EarbudTheater.com. They are slick productions, fully dramatized, with music and sound effects. Of my own work, I would probably recommend “The Current,” and “Tales from the Dead of Night 1 & 2” as my personal favorites (though I am honestly proud of all of them).

I always say that the “secret” to making it in Hollywood is not giving up. It’s a dumb secret and it isn’t very helpful (and sometimes life decides that you have no choice but to do something else), but Seth Rogan recently said it best: “If you don’t quit, you might make it. And if you quit, you definitely won’t.”

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As the co-host of Dead Right Horror Trivia, which recently got a featured article in an issue of Fangoria, I would make sure to tell them to come by Blast from the Past on Magnolia Boulevard on the evening of the third Thursday (*sometimes Friday, check our Facebook page) of the month and test their horror knowledge for fun and prizes. Dr. Rebekah McKendry and I put on a crazy, brain-melting event every month and have been for 11 years. Definitely something to experience and Blast from the Past is a great store to visit for toys, comics, and memorabilia.

In that same vein, I would also recommend Dark Delicacies in Burbank. It is, first and foremost, a horror-themed bookstore, but like Blast, they also sell blu-rays, DVD’s, vinyl, apparel, and collectibles. If you can make it to one of their signing events, you will be sure to meet a celebrity or two.

Sticking with the spooky stuff, I’d take them to Gardena to visit the Phantom Carriage Brewery. It’s a horror-themed brewery and restaurant that is unparalleled. And while in that part of town, it would be worth it to hit The 4ht Horseman in Long Beach, yes, a horror-themed bar and pizza place! And a damn good one.

And while it doesn’t really need my promotion (because it is world-renowned already), but I’d be sure to take them to a double feature or movie marathon at the New Beverly Cinema. Quentin Tarantino’s revival movie theater only projects movies on film and their shows are always curated with vintage trailers and cartoons, with the best concession stand in town. The Bev is my home away from home and I love it dearly

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
As much of a struggle as it’s been, I have to say that I have had the love and support of so many people, including my partner of nine years, Rozi Keller, and my best friends Sara Cohen and Tracy Clifton. I honestly have an incredible support system, I feel bad that I can’t rattle off the very long list of folks who have been encouraging through the years because the list would be a mile long. But I wouldn’t have survived (or succeeded) without them.

Mentor-wise, I definitely learned a lot from horror-master Tobe Hooper (director of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Poltergeist, and Salem’s Lot) when we spent two years developing a handful of projects that sadly never came to fruition. He was a seasoned pro who had seen it all by the time I worked with him, and he taught me so much. An absolutely priceless experience.

Website: https://www.JaredRivet.com

Instagram: @scribejr

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-rivet-11273b226/

Twitter: @jaredrivet1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jared.rivet/

Youtube: @Jaredrivet

Other: Dead Right Horror Trivia Instagram: @deadrighthorrortrivia
Dead Right Horror Trivia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deadrighthorrortrivianight
Earbud Theater: www.earbudtheater.com
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1066424/

Image Credits
J.W. Hendricks (WGA picketline photo)