Jon Rudeseal

I was lucky enough to attend a school In Jacksonville, FL that had a great program for the arts. Unfortunately, I was so busy working towards college I almost missed out on the Arts programs. After school I was bored so I looked into the after-school activities and the Thespians program hit me right between the eyes. In my senior year, I found myself involved in every project the local troupe had. I earned a record of more Thespian points that year than any other person had in a single year. To say it had lit a fire in my soul was an understatement. However, life has a way of forcing you to put away your dreams in order to support a family. Every now and then on a vacation trip, my wife and I would see a stage play, stirring the still smoldering embers. Then after the Kids grew up and moved out on their own and I felt like we could survive on a retirement check, I got an opportunity to apply for a movie that was shooting just a few miles from our house and they were looking for Background Extras. I emailed the information requested and in less than half an hour I was working on "In Dubious Battle" as an old apple picker. Well In just over four years I had a tally of over 40 movies and TV shows that I had worked on in the Atlanta Area, as a background actor. Then it dawned on me I wanted to do more than just be an extra. I wanted to be a working Actor. I started training at several schools in the Atlanta area and finally felt comfortable at Miss Kelly Young Silva's, continuing workshop for adults (Words in Motion). Soon after I found Mr. P. David Miller at the Atlanta Actorhood in Newnan, I liked his methods of teaching. I worked hard in his class and knew that no matter how bad I messed up, P. David may have rolled his eyes at me but would calmly work me through the areas he felt I needed improvement. I guess the best term to categorize me is that I am persistent because I would be waiting at P. David's studio doors just about every day a class was available. It took time but I started getting more confident in my abilities doing cold reads, Audition preparation, and Advanced Scene Study. P David Miller strengthened, my resolve that If I made the right choices for characters, I would soon be landing jobs. But he also said give back to your craft. This inspired me to apply for local College Films from Georgia State University (GSU) and Savannah College of Arts and Design (SCAD). Along with my weekly Actorhood training. I finally landed my first paid acting job on May 20th, 2018, my 65th birthday. I spent a week in Knoxville, TN on a crime reenactment show. The show Murder by Numbers ep.#208 "Bound by Blood" recently aired and I am working feverishly to make this a part of my reel along with the College films I've worked in. P. David moved back to Los Angeles, so I have returned to Kelly Young Silva, to keep sharp and continue to learn a little more every week. I also attend workshops and other acting training by Mr. Rob Pralgo of Marietta, and Ms. Sheril Rogers when time allows. Finally, under training, I enjoy reading about the different methods, techniques and the great coaches of the last millennium such as Utah Hagen, Stella Adler, Sanford Meisner, Michael Chekhov, Konstantin Stanislavski and others yet to be discovered. Now at 66, I may not have a whole lot of good years ahead of me, BUT I know who I am, and I know I have to go for the brass ring while I can. I would also like to thank Mr. William Tokarsky, my friend, and acting partner plus all the talented Artists I've met along this journey of discovery and self-fulfillment.