Actress Alexis Jewell chatted with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos about being a part of the vertical drama space.
How does it feel to be a part of the vertical space?
The vertical space feels like summer camp. We are only working for about one week at a time with many different groups of people. It feels like a tight community. You have either worked with someone, you have a friend who has worked with them, or you have connected over social media and know each other’s faces.
I have made so many friendships that I am so lucky to have now from this space. Verticals are amazing in helping people start living their dreams. There is nothing quite like getting to watch the people around you get to live the dream we have all been hungry for. It’s beautiful, it’s fun, it keeps you on your toes, and I show up to set and say “I am just happy to be here,” because that’s how I truly feel.
What is your personal favorite vertical of yours and why?
This is such a hard question for me because I love my projects for different reasons. The vertical that means the most to me is “Miss President At Your Service” for DramaWave. That vertical was a core memory for me. I worked with the best team of people I have gotten to work with and alongside two people who have become two amazing friends: Luke Dodge and Bre Augsburg.
The story also was the perfect mix of funny moments and big dramatic acting moments that I found so much joy in playing. I also have moments in different verticals where I step back, and I really enjoy my acting performance in them, such as “Cure Me, Consume Me, My Dominant Nurse” for GoodShort.
Tina as a role was very challenging mentally and physically. I was doing some of the hardest stunt work of my career, all while having to do some very dark scenes. I am very proud of my performance for that one.
What motivates you each day as an actress?
My goal in life is to experience as much as possible. My life is meant to be lived. And that is why I chose to be an actress. I want to step into new shoes every day and get to experience as many different lives as I possibly can. Storytelling makes us so human. I want to be a part of as many stories as possible. Trying to ‘make it’ in this job isn’t easy.
Each day, I remind myself that none of this is life or death; in fact, it’s just different opportunities for joy. I get to play pretend for a living, and people like watching me do it; that is such a privilege. I am not saving lives; I don’t need to stress like it is. And I think that shows in my acting and my auditions.
I show up with joy, and I show up to play. What is acting if not play? And I remember not to take myself too seriously. That mindset keeps me happy and motivated.
What do you love most about the vertical space?
The community. I love the friends I have made along the way as well as the fans I have gotten to interact with too! People are what make things great. I love getting to experience such wild moments on set as we act out these crazy scenes. I equally love seeing people write reviews for the projects and talk about our characters and the stories.
I also would say I love the absurdity of the content as well. Getting to be wild and dramatic and play characters that you would usually never get to play is so much fun. Like how often would I play a nurse who is secretly a drug dealer and then takes out her problems on everyone else? Or a werewolf witch who has magic that comes from her mouth? These are the types of characters I get to play in Vertical Land.
What do your plans for the future include?
My future is so broad but I have a few ideas. I hope to expand outside of the vertical space as an actor. My goals have always included Hallmark Movies and Horror Movies, so hopefully some of that. But in reality I feel like I’m at a uniquely transformative time of my life. I am 24, and I have no idea what the future holds for me.
Of course, I have my goals but really I just can’t wait to see where the road takes me. I just want to experience as much as life has to offer, and I hope to be acting all while getting to adventure, and what I really hope is I love a lot of people along the way. I navigate that by just trying as many things as possible. I never know until I have tried. So I am just going to keep on trying new things and see what doors open for me.
What is your advice for young and aspiring actors?
The things that will make you the best actor is knowing who you are, trusting yourself, and kindness. If you don’t know who you are at the end of the day, how are you supposed to play anyone else? Or even more so, you have to be yourself when you go home at the end of the day, and knowing who you are, what you love, who is around you, are all fundamental things for an actor, or any human for that matter.
You aren’t always an actor, you have to remember to be a person too. You have to be able to trust yourself, and specifically your abilities. The greatest skill you can have is performing without looking too hard at yourself and letting it go, which comes from self trust. You want to be an actor, then act, stop thinking about every little thing. And kindness. No one wants to work with a mean human, or someone who is drama, or brings everyone around them down.
Look to lift people up, look to know the people around you. No one is better or more important in these jobs, so look at everyone like a peer and treat them kindly. Also, be kind to yourself. You live and die with you, why not treat them nicely along the way. I get rehired multiple times because I bring kindness first. If you stay true to those inner steps, you will do great things.
What does the word success mean to you?
Success means peace and getting to breathe. I feel like everyday I wake up and I am running a marathon. Constantly working and fighting and pushing. When things fall into place that’s when I feel success.
I have made it to the end of the finish line and I can take a breath and stand in the spotlight. All before I start running again. And the thing about running a marathon is that you are surrounded by people cheering for you. Because what is success if you have no one there to share it with? I am so lucky that the area of life I find most successful is with the people I hold the most dear to me.
I am who I am because of the people I get to love. As I run the marathon of this career, of this thing we call life, I have so many amazing people who cheer loud and proud for me. My parents, my best friends, all the people who look at me and go, “I see you, and I believe in you, good job,” are what real success is. I will cross the finish lines a million more times, and I will fall down even more than I finish, but no matter what my people keep cheering, and thus I am succeeding.
What would you like to say to your fans?
Thank you for seeing me. For enjoying what I put out. For being someone I can hear cheering for me. Thank you for watching what I do, engaging with what I put out. I am a fan girl by nature, we make the world go around, without fans we wouldn’t be what we are. I am always shocked when I find out that people actually know me and are fans of me.
I have had a few instances where I run into people and they recognize me and it never fails to shock me. Because I have been a fan! I am the one who is usually on the other side. I am just Alexis, and people enjoy that, and that makes me feel really special, so thank you.
To learn more about Alexis Jewell, follow her on Instagram.
