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Louisiana Press Association's Newspaper of the Year | September 14, 2005
September 14. 2005 10:02AM
Aspiring actor hopes to make persistence pay
By JAIME LUGIBIHL DISHMAN
The Courier
The Courier
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When people told aspiring actor Jared Day to go for it, he
really did.
The Dularge native picked up his belongings and moved to
Los Angeles, trying to make his name in the film industry.
Almost two years later, he’s still there.
"If you want to be successful as an actor, you need to be in
L.A.," he explains. "It is the hub of the industry."
He hasn’t had that "big break" yet or gained national fame,
but the actor is making it. Each day brings him a little closer
to his goal of establishing himself as an actor.
Recently, he starred in his first major role in a feature-length
film titled "Go For Broke 2," now available at movie-rental
places throughout the country.
The over-the-top comedy had Day playing the role of
Darnell/Darnella, a down-and-out guy who dresses up like a
woman in an effort to steal a diamond.
To date, the role has been his biggest in a feature-length film.
His name has also been added to www.imdb.com, the
International Movie Database Web site that compiles
information about actors, movies and just about anything in
the film industry.
really did.
The Dularge native picked up his belongings and moved to
Los Angeles, trying to make his name in the film industry.
Almost two years later, he’s still there.
"If you want to be successful as an actor, you need to be in
L.A.," he explains. "It is the hub of the industry."
He hasn’t had that "big break" yet or gained national fame,
but the actor is making it. Each day brings him a little closer
to his goal of establishing himself as an actor.
Recently, he starred in his first major role in a feature-length
film titled "Go For Broke 2," now available at movie-rental
places throughout the country.
The over-the-top comedy had Day playing the role of
Darnell/Darnella, a down-and-out guy who dresses up like a
woman in an effort to steal a diamond.
To date, the role has been his biggest in a feature-length film.
His name has also been added to www.imdb.com, the
International Movie Database Web site that compiles
information about actors, movies and just about anything in
the film industry.
Dularge native Jared Day has been living in Los Angeles for two years, trying
to make it as an actor. He recently landed his first starring role in a
feature-length film, "Go For Broke 2," now in movie-rental stores across the
country.
to make it as an actor. He recently landed his first starring role in a
feature-length film, "Go For Broke 2," now in movie-rental stores across the
country.
News Articles / Coverage
Typing his name into the Web site’s search engine pulls up Day’s biography and every role he has played in a movie,
no matter how minor. His roles in movies such as Mike in "Because of Winn-Dixie," a security guard in "After the
Sunset" and Deputy Conover in the 2004 film "Strange Fruit" are all recorded under Day’s file on the site.
The listing puts Day in a new category for actors.
When prospective producers or directors meet him, they can look up his authenticity on the site.
"Getting onto the site is kind of your rite of passage as an actor," he said. "When you say you’ve done such and
such, they will look you up on IMDB, to make sure you’re legitimate."
Acting has been an important part of Day’s life. It helped him find his place in a constantly changing world.
As a young kid, he moved from south Louisiana to Florida. Finding new friends proved difficult. Even when he
moved back to south Louisiana and attended Terrebonne High School in the 10th grade, he no longer felt close to his
old friends.
"Acting was the first time I perceived I was good at something," he said. "As a kid, you think you suck at everything."
Day continued performing in plays with the Terrebonne Footlighters in high school. After graduating in 1994, he
served six years with the Houma National Guard unit, after which he moved to Baton Rouge.
There, he continued performing in community theater, where one of his last roles before moving was Bernardo in
"West Side Story."
Like most other aspiring actors in Los Angeles, Day earns money by waiting tables. He describes the balance between
work that pays and work he wants to do as "delicate."
His agent can call him at any minute, expecting him to be at an audition in a matter of hours.
"He might have worked for three weeks to get me that spot," he said. "Then you have to figure out how to deal with
work."
Since he has been in Los Angeles, he has performed in five feature films and seven short films.
He’s learned lots in his time there -- especially just how hard acting can be.
"It is amazing how much more goes into a performance than you can ever imagine," he said. "The really good actors
make it look so easy."
He is enrolled in the Living the Art Institute with instructor Kimberly Jentzen, an acting teacher for more than 20
years. When Day auditioned for her school a few months ago, he was put into her advanced class, where he
continues to hone his skills.
He describes marketing himself as an actor as a business.
"You are starting a new business, and you have to invest in yourself and invest in things like head shots, marking
materials and printing costs," he said. "It all costs money."
Many people quit after less than a year of trying to make it, he says.
"The hardest thing is just lasting," he said.
He receives lots of support from his mother, Lavina Liner, and father, Terry Day, who still live in Houma. Without
the encouragement of family members, he would probably be just another person who couldn’t make it in the world
of acting, he said.
Day regularly hears stories of people who stuck it out and reaped the benefits. Recently, he heard of one actor who
didn’t receive a role for four years and then landed a starring role in a new television series.
"Most people aren’t willing to persist in the face of adversity," he said.
When he gets rejected for parts, he moves on instead of getting down on himself.
Day isn’t allowing himself to be put in a box.
His previous experience in sales, defense training and cheerleading all help him add "something extra" to every role he
plays.
While in Baton Rouge, he received instruction from an Israeli Special Forces agent named Doron Benbenisty, who
trained him in survival and self-defense. Now an instructor of counter-terrorism, defensive tactics and evasive
driving, Day uses that training to coach other people in the Los Angeles area. He uses the stamina and discipline from
his National Guard days and intense self-defense training to motivate him in acting.
"I’ve learned nothing is just handed to you on a silver platter," he said. "Whether it is completing basic training or
going through instructor training, … there is a goal, and you have to overcome whatever obstacles are in your path."
For information about Day, visit his Web site at www.jaredday.com.
Courier staff writer Jaime Dishman can be reached at 985-857-2205 or jaime.dishman@houmatoday.com.
no matter how minor. His roles in movies such as Mike in "Because of Winn-Dixie," a security guard in "After the
Sunset" and Deputy Conover in the 2004 film "Strange Fruit" are all recorded under Day’s file on the site.
The listing puts Day in a new category for actors.
When prospective producers or directors meet him, they can look up his authenticity on the site.
"Getting onto the site is kind of your rite of passage as an actor," he said. "When you say you’ve done such and
such, they will look you up on IMDB, to make sure you’re legitimate."
Acting has been an important part of Day’s life. It helped him find his place in a constantly changing world.
As a young kid, he moved from south Louisiana to Florida. Finding new friends proved difficult. Even when he
moved back to south Louisiana and attended Terrebonne High School in the 10th grade, he no longer felt close to his
old friends.
"Acting was the first time I perceived I was good at something," he said. "As a kid, you think you suck at everything."
Day continued performing in plays with the Terrebonne Footlighters in high school. After graduating in 1994, he
served six years with the Houma National Guard unit, after which he moved to Baton Rouge.
There, he continued performing in community theater, where one of his last roles before moving was Bernardo in
"West Side Story."
Like most other aspiring actors in Los Angeles, Day earns money by waiting tables. He describes the balance between
work that pays and work he wants to do as "delicate."
His agent can call him at any minute, expecting him to be at an audition in a matter of hours.
"He might have worked for three weeks to get me that spot," he said. "Then you have to figure out how to deal with
work."
Since he has been in Los Angeles, he has performed in five feature films and seven short films.
He’s learned lots in his time there -- especially just how hard acting can be.
"It is amazing how much more goes into a performance than you can ever imagine," he said. "The really good actors
make it look so easy."
He is enrolled in the Living the Art Institute with instructor Kimberly Jentzen, an acting teacher for more than 20
years. When Day auditioned for her school a few months ago, he was put into her advanced class, where he
continues to hone his skills.
He describes marketing himself as an actor as a business.
"You are starting a new business, and you have to invest in yourself and invest in things like head shots, marking
materials and printing costs," he said. "It all costs money."
Many people quit after less than a year of trying to make it, he says.
"The hardest thing is just lasting," he said.
He receives lots of support from his mother, Lavina Liner, and father, Terry Day, who still live in Houma. Without
the encouragement of family members, he would probably be just another person who couldn’t make it in the world
of acting, he said.
Day regularly hears stories of people who stuck it out and reaped the benefits. Recently, he heard of one actor who
didn’t receive a role for four years and then landed a starring role in a new television series.
"Most people aren’t willing to persist in the face of adversity," he said.
When he gets rejected for parts, he moves on instead of getting down on himself.
Day isn’t allowing himself to be put in a box.
His previous experience in sales, defense training and cheerleading all help him add "something extra" to every role he
plays.
While in Baton Rouge, he received instruction from an Israeli Special Forces agent named Doron Benbenisty, who
trained him in survival and self-defense. Now an instructor of counter-terrorism, defensive tactics and evasive
driving, Day uses that training to coach other people in the Los Angeles area. He uses the stamina and discipline from
his National Guard days and intense self-defense training to motivate him in acting.
"I’ve learned nothing is just handed to you on a silver platter," he said. "Whether it is completing basic training or
going through instructor training, … there is a goal, and you have to overcome whatever obstacles are in your path."
For information about Day, visit his Web site at www.jaredday.com.
Courier staff writer Jaime Dishman can be reached at 985-857-2205 or jaime.dishman@houmatoday.com.
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