Meet Jeremy Urann | Actor, Dancer, Model & Creative Juggernaut

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

Hi Jeremy, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Three years ago, I made the switch from Theatre in the Pacific Northwest to move to Los Angeles and pursue brawn modeling, dance, and acting for film and television. At first, there was no balance. I was working full-time at a restaurant and then working over-time doing submissions, auditions, and taking classes. I was burning out and my best energy was spent serving tables instead of realizing my creative dreams or passion projects. Falling in love with my partner, who is a freelance photographer and lighting assistant, completely flipped my paradigm. I witnessed him working on his own terms in the industry he loved. Inspired, I saved money, dropped to part time to reprioritize my energies and eventually, I was able to go full-time freelance.

Now, I balance work and life on my own terms. If I take on a large commercial job, I make sure to use a portion of that rate to fund a short film or photoshoot I’m passionate about. Everything relies on my wellness as a human and artist, so I prioritize health, I prioritize projects that align with my passions. I prioritize collaborations with other queer artists and people who give a shit about the world we live in. As a freelance artists, you create your own office hours. Not everything can happen all at once all the time. So when I work, I work hard and when I play, I lean in fully to the levity. And as I grow as an actor, model, artist, I’m learning to bring more and more of the play back into my work.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art celebrates Queer joy, challenges the status quo and brings levity with a comedic edge to an overwhelmingly heavy world. I’ve been on stage my entire life. While pursuing my BA in Theatre from Western Washington University, it was important for me to gain a holistic understanding of the creative process from conception to final product. I supplemented my degree in Acting and Playwriting with courses in Directing, Stage Management, and Devising. I worked across campus in the film department to understand production, video editing and graphic design. Every opportunity I had to work creatively with other artists, I took. I’m still that way. My heart beats hardest when collaborating! My art is also positive. Rather than sinking into the trauma of life, I mine the silver linings and use those as inspiration for the characters, stories and worlds I create. My creative endeavors have grown progressively in scale as I continue in this career. From my first two minute scene to a fifteen page queer comedy to now a full length, I take the lessons I’ve learned and apply them.

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?
If you’re visiting me in Los Angeles, we’re hitting the beach for sure. I play Sunday volleyball out at Will Rogers- it’s queer, fun, fabulous and there’s always more than a few speedos. No one’s leaving without some Korean BBQ after! I love working out at BRICK in West Hollywood, an inclusive fitness space where community thrives. I’m a big coffee shop connoisseur – I love Bohemia Cafe and Cafe Nido. I’m taking you to dance at Playground LA, especially Dexter Carr’s hip-hop class Thursdays or Frank Soares’ jazz class at Millenium. Eagle is our favorite dirty daddy bar and we can go dancing after at Precinct Downtown. In the morning, we can catch the Silverlake Flea Market and walk around the reservoir.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to give a shoutout to my greatest collaborator and best friend, my sister Sherri Urann Bylenga. Together, we run Fat Gratitude, a production company dedicated to elevating and celebrating artists, do-gooders and community-based organizations in our hometown Spokane, WA. Even now, we’re in the heart of post-production on a mini-documentary, we’re in pre-production for several Artist Mission Statements, and we’re writing our first full-length feature script. No matter how many projects we have stacked, she reminds me to laugh and flow in the creative process. She’s been directing me in plays since I could walk, and I’m fortunate to have in her a sister, a friend, and fellow queer collaborator.

Website: https://www.jeremyurann.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyurann/

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyurann

Image Credits
Photos by William Callan and Kenneth Castro