Meet Jeremy Burnett | Actor

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

Hi Jeremy, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
II believe when it comes to risk, you have to take them, especially after assessing the risk that you are taking. You can’t let fear be the reason stopping you from taking risks. There’s always a risk to reward ratio. Sometimes the reward is fulfillment, sometimes its peace, sometimes its happiness, sometimes its just one step closer to your dreams, sometimes its just as simple as okay I took that risk and it didn’t work out but now I know that path isn’t for me right now or just in this moment. “If I fail today, I’m going to learn something from that failure. I’m going to try again.’ `Kobe Bryant. A lot of the times risk is part of the journey, part of the process and it can be a gift. For me one of the biggest risks I took was deciding to become an actor, to be a creative to step into a world where there are no guarantees, no promise of being able to support yourself to “make it .” After college and working full time for a little while I started to realize that what I was doing was not going to fulfill me. It was emotionally draining and I would come home everyday depressed and just wanting to go to sleep. Acting was the biggest risk I have taken and I have grown so much on my journey. I had to learn to keep going and that the storm will eventually pass. There will be moments of pain, struggle , despair and we can let those moments consume us or we can rise above them. Take those risks! but always make sure to do your due diligence enough that you know what you are getting into but not so much that it causes you to become frozen. The journey is worth it though. ALWAYS!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Today I believe I have gotten to where I am professionally 1) because of my support system, 2) my work ethic and my mindset. My mindset has been… yes its been somewhat result oriented like okay I need to book my first speaking role, need to get an agent, a manager etc throughout the years, but after achieving those things,I realized that I need to live life and I also need to enjoy the journey. I think its more of the process of getting to those results. The people you meet, the things you learn, the people who understand, who are there for you, not just the people who celebrate with you the people who are there when things aren’t going so well . so its not easy but I think things like having  perspective was a major key for me to learn. a lot of times we take things personal or make it about us when its not, for example there could be a million reasons why you didn’t get an acting job, but did you do good work?  did you win the room?  did you have fun?did you put your best foot forward.. those things matter more to me in my opinion. Having a self care routine , that’s a major key! for me mediation and living my life has helped me immensely because now I’m not that actor who needs this job, people can feel that needy energy and it can be a turn off. I think being in a good place mentally is just as important as being sharp in your craft. balance. Balance life and work. I  had to learn that the hard way. when I first started I was obsessed with class, acting, working, I became so obsessive that I wasn’t spending time with friends or family. Ironically it wasn’t until I started living my life and loving myself , my energy , my soul , that energy made me a better actor. I think one of the things that I’m most proud of is That I took a risk with my life, had a dream and pursued it . I made it through a pandemic , a strike, booking droughts, getting dropped by reps, repeatedly told no, heartbreaks, getting close to big jobs, etc and I’m still able to do what I love and make a living at it . Im a student of the game and a student of life.

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?
A cacao ceremony and sound healing . I want to take a bunch of my friends. Ive been going consistently and the one I go to is such a beautiful experience. the music that these two humans are able to make my goodness just amazing. I love to go there drink ceremonial blessed cacao, meditate go on a journey and get that heart open. So if it was a week long trip maybe some place spiritual , a special retreat. Lots of meditation, love, peace, journaling, just a holistic experience. I never did that growing up I want to make it a thing in our community. I want sound healing, cacao, reiki, sit around the circle with a. fire in the middle sharing our experiences as humans.. some good ol soul to soul bonding and some good books. The untethered soul by Michael singer , the altar within by Juliet Diaz, our souls path Erik Alonzo Fladager  , rise of the reader Nick Hutchison , the 200% percent life Adam Hergenrother..just to name a few impactful books.  

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

My tribe and a few people in my tribe. My success has a lot to do with the things that they have instilled in me and the lessons they have taught me. My mother Allison Rodriguez, I honestly think part of the reason acting choose me is because my mother while she was pregnant with me and when she was young, all she would do as a latch key kid in the 70’s would be to watch movies from the 30’s and the silent era, read biographies of clark gable, greta garbo, William Powell ,Jean Harlow, Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, James Cagney, Errol Flynn etc.. They didn’t have these movies in Trinidad so when she came to America she was fascinated by those movies. She would also go to the library and just read about them.

my good friend and workout buddy Jean JP Pierre. Ive been working out with him for years now and we go hard hah.. But through him, watching and working out with him I learned and gained a work ethic that has helped me in life. and that translates to my career, classes, how I approach acting, I learned things through working out with him that can only be taught by putting in the work. My work ethic and how I view putting in work has been learned from him , I watch him at times in the “dungeon” and he’s always pushing no matter how tired he is, how exhausted he is, no matter how much pain he might be in, he keeps on pushing. It’s admirable , so I strive to be the same way in my craft , career and life .I have to thank him.

Wendy Mckenzie She has taught me so much about the business side of acting. Auditioning, headshots, how to carry myself amongst people in the business, things about networking, she was my first acting teacher, she’s also family.

And just so many people in my family and extended family, from Aunts who have helped me with issues that have come up in the business, financial help , emotional support, I have a great support system of family, friends, artists in this journey.

Website: https://linktr.ee/jeremyburnett

Instagram: jeremyburnett1

Image Credits
@artofjabbar Jabbar