Today we’d like to introduce you to Javier Villamil.
Hi Javier, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m was born and raised in Chicago, IL. I was a latchkey kid to my mother, who was a single parent for most of my childhood and early adult life. We didn’t have much money but my mother always made away. My grandfather was a tailor at one point in his life and always made us costumes when we were growing up. He was super creative and always held guitars and cameras and I was lucky enough to play with both at an early age.
As I got older, I found music. I lead a band in Chicago named Trainwreck Symphony for nearly 15 years as a vocalist. You can find our work on Itunes, Spotify, and YouTube. When we decided to take the band seriously, we decided the band needed music videos. I took it upon myself to dive into filmmaking and bought a camcorder. I made a music video that never saw the light of day. I did show it to my film producer cousins Eugene Bush and Maggie B of Etre Productions before I tossed it and they told me I should continue filmmaking. They took me under their wings and showed me how to edit and produce my own content. I then proceeded to make a few music videos for my band and other talent like Astonish for his music video “Getaway,” a few short films and comedy pilots, and a plethora of gigs as a videographer and editor.
I have been acting in front of cameras for many years but I went into acting professionally in 2017 after I moved to Santa Monica, CA. I studied acting, writing, and improv at Second City Hollywood and Chicago. In Hollywood, I trained under Jay Sukow, understudy of Steve Carell. After booking a role as an LA convict in an unreleased project (a project that set the actor in me on fire… in a good way).
I decided to fly out to Atlanta. I took a job and quickly found myself on set in a project entitled Mixed Emotions Vol. 1, Written by Maggie B (Vol. 2 is streaming on Amazon Prime Video); on this set, I met my now acting agents Gill Talent Group. Since signing with Gill I have been blessed to work on NBC’s Chicago Fire (Ep. 08015 if you’re feeling googly), a short film “Give us free” that screened at Holly Shorts at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood, CA, a feature “Alex October,” another short film “Chemical Bonds,” then later I am grateful I was able to win best actor for at the 48-hour film festival. And last but certainly not least in Jumanji: The Next Level I was given a speaking role as Switchblade’s Sidekick acting across a long-time idol of mine, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Recently I booked a speaking role in a lifetime film and a speaking role in the upcoming PowerBook IV: Force. CRAZY RIGHT?!
2020 I was blessed to work as a 1st AC, DIT and Video Editor on a feature entitled “Mediator”. On this set, I sent a self-tape audition in for a Christmas film and never heard back. I mention that because it’s what made me decide to produce my own short Christmas film entitled “A Christmas Break Up.” I produced and directed alongside my buddy Marcus Nelson.
I have decided to build a brand around my goals of being in superhero shape and finding the inner superhero in all of us. My fitness endeavors have lead me to the idea of digging deep. The brand’s name is Blood and Bone. “Blood, Sweat and tears.. Sure. We’ve sweat and seen scrapes too. However, we’re here to say It’s deeper than blood, sweat and tears. You gotta DIG DEEP.. BLOOD AND BONE.”
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Getting by was anything but easy. I was a high-school dropout and missed out on a ton of people skills, I was poor so unpopular, had bullies, and I’m a Latino from Chicago. The odds weren’t necessarily stacked in my favor. I did go on to put myself through a GED program and quickly found entrepreneurship through the music and film industries but mostly as a curious artist. It wasn’t until 2017 where all of my curiosities started to bear fruit.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an actor and producer. Video editing music videos that I acted in lead me to my most favorite craft. The freedom to express myself in this art form we call being a thespian is unmatched. I have a long history of playing music with a band Trainwreck Symphony. I studied vocal technique and jazz at the old town school of folk music in Chicago and went on to headline stages like House of Blues Chicago, Metro, Cubby Bear and work with Grammy Award-winning producers.
Music definitely opened other doors for me and lead to things like tap dance, DJing and most importantly, video editing. It wasn’t until I got bit by the acting bug that things started to really take form. I moved out to Santa Monica, California and pursued acting and writing. I studied acting, writing, and improv at Second City Hollywood, all on a motorcycle. 🙂 I moved to Atlanta, GA in 2018 I met my now agents Gill Talent then booked acting gigs.
You can catch me in Jumanji: The Next Level as “Switchblade’s Sidekick” and on Chicago Fire Episode 815 as “Riz.” I recently co-produced, co-directed, and lead in a short film entitled “A Christmas Breakup.”
I’m currently working feature-length film script and a plethora of individual projects set to move forward when the time is right. I’m not rushing it anymore. It’s time to let it run on autopilot and recalibrate while I remember to enjoy the ride as a wishful auteur and professional daydreamer.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I have been incredibly lucky to meet and be able to create with incredible human beings. I have huge bodacious goals and my family and friends lovingly put up with me and acquaintances and the like seem to not mind watching me move along this journey. I say I’m incredibly blessed to have the type of mother I have. She raised me with empathy and taught me it was ok to express yourself. I’m lucky to be alive. I am lucky to have been asked to do this interview. We’re all lucky. Every moment is a gift and I’m just someone who likes doing something with that gift. DIG DEEP.. BOOD AND BONE!
Contact Info:
- Email: javier@javiervillamil.com
- Website: javiervillamil.com
- Instagram: @therealjaviervillamil
- BRAND WEBSITE: HTTPS://BLOODANDBONE.SHOP
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therealjaviervillamil
- Twitter: @J_Villamil
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4676698/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_4
Image Credits
Main plaid headshot by: @iamiracarmichael White T-Shirt photo by: @davemeall Plaid over coat with black negative space photo by: Project Randall Media Back alley photo with graffiti by: Javier Villamil BTS Chicago Fire Trailer photo by: Javier Villamil
