Meet JP Valenti

Today we’d like to introduce you to JP Valenti.

JP, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have been a working actor for a little over six years now. Which is kind of mindboggling for me to even say, since it feels like just yesterday that I made the leap. A leap which admittedly didn’t come quickly nor conventionally. I grew up in Connecticut in a traditional blue-collar Italian American family. My grandfather owned a construction company, that he started from the ground up and where many of my family worked. So, rolling up your sleeves and working hard to achieve your goals was something that was engrained in us from very early on. Which thankfully, has been one of the characteristics that has stuck with me my whole life. Growing up, I was always one of those kids whose imagination would run wild constantly. I’m an only child, so that is just something you just learn to develop in order to entertain yourself. Partner that with the fact that I had a very creative mother and grandmother who would encourage me to imagine and think outside of the box, and that is probably where my love of acting was born. I would play pretend and act real world scenarios with them, write comedy skits and even made my own talk show. By doing this, it allowed me to believe that I could be anyone and do anything. That no dream was too big.

When I was five years old my parents divorced, and my mother raised me primarily as a single mother. At the time, I didn’t understand the gravity of this event, but looking back I am in awe at how she was able to do it all. She would wake up extra early to get me dressed and ready for school, go to work for a full shift, pick me up at school or at my grandmother’s, cook dinner, work with me on my schoolwork, read me stories, get me ready for bed and repeat. Every day. Without fail. I think seeing her go through that pushed me grow up faster. Which in hindsight I think is good, because it prevented me from falling into the “spoiled only child” trap.

When I was eleven; we moved to a new town since, at the time, Hartford was becoming riddled with gang violence and was no longer the safest place to grow up. Being the new kid in town was a little tough at first. I had to deal with a brief stint of ruthless bullying but overcame it by using comedy as a method of deflection. This earned me the coveted superlative of Class Clown and taught me how to be thick skinned and adaptive. Two skills, which I know now, are crucial to have as an actor. When I got to High School, I focused primarily on academics and sports. Taking AP classes and playing baseball, running indoor and outdoor track, cross country and playing soccer in the summers.

I then went to UConn, where I double majored in Sociology and Communication Sciences. In college, I took some film studies and theater classes. I really enjoyed learning about the science behind acting. It made me appreciate the art form that much more. Although it sparked my interest, I eventually veered away from it to pursue a career path more “realistic”. While going to school fulltime, I took a job with the school’s Athletics Department as a camera operator and editor. I thought this would inevitably be the direction I would pursue after graduation. After months of trying, and trying, to land a job with a broadcast company I was coming up empty. With my student loans coming due and breathing down my neck, I decided to take the first part-time job that came my way. It was doing data entry in the Purchasing Department of a Steel Manufacturing Company. Which lead to getting promoted to Market Research Analyst there.

I left that job, and I got hired on with the Connecticut State Police in the Special Licensing and Firearms Unit where I would run background investigations for firearms permits and sales. Eventually, I was tasked with tracking stolen firearms cases and logging files on individuals on the Terrorist Watch List. One of our investigations actually helped the FBI track down the suspect of the failed Times Square Bombing in 2010. I then went to work for an IT Recruiting firm. It was good money, but I was depressed, uninspired and unfulfilled. I somehow blinked my eyes and was 30 years old and not happy. At the time, a friend of mine from town, who was a movie producer, was helping cast a show on the Syfy Network and recommended me for a featured background role. It was my first time on a set before and it was just such an awesome experience. I was hooked. I started taking acting classes locally and networking with directors and producers. All the while picking up tips and tricks along the way. I got cast in a couple local commercials, some print ads and several independent films.

I left the IT Firm and moved to Boston, where I took advanced acting classes at Boston University and with several conservatories. I signed with an agency there and began expanding my resume. Working on national commercials, major broadcast pilots and a show on PBS. In 2017, I was all set to make the move to Los Angeles. I had just signed with an agency there and was looking at apartments and places to study. I read an article on Backstage about the booming market here in Atlanta and it sparked my curiosity. I booked a flight and an Airbnb for a week, just to explore a little and see what the city was about. I had a meeting with Houghton Talent Agency and things just clicked. They offered to sign me but wanted me to be living in Atlanta. So, I packed up my car from Boston and came down for what I thought was going to be a 3-month trial period. I was fortunate enough to hit the ground running fairly quickly down here and started booking projects. Fast forward three years and I am still calling the A my home!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Far from it. I think anyone who is an actor and says it has been a smooth road is either lying or delusional. This business can be grueling and impossible at times, but then again equally rewarding. You literally are in a profession that requires you to prove yourself worthy every single time you want to work. Imagine being in the job you are in, but every time you wanted a paycheck, they make you interview all over again but for different people and against thousands of other applicants who want the same job. You have to be able to take rejection and be told “no” over and over again without taking it personal. When I first started, this was definitely something I struggled with. I am somewhat of a perfectionist so I would internalize it. But you learn to get over that fairly quickly or you won’t survive.

On top of that, it is a huge commitment. You cannot just kind of want it. You have to go all in for it. Which makes it an extremely selfish profession at times. You are working long hours, away from family and friends. You often have to sacrifice birthday parties, special outings and trips, and sadly enough even relationships. Over the last six years, I have put an average of 20,000 miles a year on my car driving up and down the East Coast for opportunities. I have wrapped on some sets at 6am only to be on another one at 7am and then a third at 8pm. Then there is the hurdle of having to contend with infrequent streams of income. For us, it’s not like, “Hey it’s Friday, payday!”. It’s more like, “Hey I booked that one thing, now I might have to wait three months to get paid!”.

But having said all of that, I truly love it and wouldn’t trade what I do for anything. You can be beaten down for months on end and book that one little thing that reignites your passion again and makes you realize why you do this. That’s why you have to be dedicated and focused. Constantly evolving and hungry for the next thing. Striving to be the best version of yourself. Which is the thing that oddly enough drives me the most. I love trying to push myself to continually get better and outdo myself. When I first got to Atlanta, it was kind of like being that scared 11-year old boy all over again, not knowing anyone in a new place. But this city has been so welcoming, and I have made some of the best and most meaningful connections down here.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am primarily a Commercial and TV/Film actor. I have been in commercials for Wayfair, DISH TV, Home Depot, Hooters, Thumbtack, Dunkin’ Donuts and The Lottery. I have been fortunate enough to have roles in the Haunting of Hill House, the Cobblestone Corridor on PBS, Rock Band 4 and several feature films. I am honestly proud of everything that I book. When you know how much time and effort goes into preparing for each audition and the sheer number of people vying for each job it is very humbling when you book even the smallest of roles. I recently won the award for Best Actor at the Universal Film Festival. That was definitely a shocking and proud moment for me. As far as what sets me apart, I think it would have to be my work ethic and willingness to go above and beyond to research and teach myself about the business side of things. Also, I have a pretty quick wit which is very beneficial when there are any roles that require improv.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
First, I think it is important to thank God for all the blessings that I have been given up to this current point in my life and career. Then definitely my family, especially my mother who has stood by my crazy decision to become an actor from the very moment I decided to do it. My family and friends have all been so great, sharing posts about my successes and tuning in to see things that I have been a part of. As far as mentors go, I will always go back to two acting coaches who I first started out with and who helped me develop the foundations that I have used along the way: Reno Venturi and Jock MacDonald. They really lit the fire in me and showed me the magical side of acting.

They are two people I can always go to for advice and guidance when I am second guessing my acting. I also owe Nicole Casssarino-Conlon a huge debt of gratitude as well. She was one of the first people to hire me when I started out acting. She owned a company called DFX Entertainment who I would do live event hosting for. That led to a contract gig at Foxwoods Resort and Casino where I emceed for Jennifer Lopez, Smokey Robinson, Criss Angel, and an event where I gave away $1 Million. Those skills helped me overcome being in front of live audiences and gave me the self-confidence I use to this day in my profession. And lastly, there are the countless Casting Directors and Producers who took a chance on me and gave me opportunities to bring art to life. I really have been lucky to be surrounded by such a great group of people who constantly cheer me on and wish the best of me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.imdb.me/jpvalenti
• Phone: Houghton Talent ~ 404-603-9454
• Email: jpvalentiactor@gmail.com
• Instagram: jpvalenti
• Facebook: jpvalentiactor
• Twitter: jpvalenti21

Image Credit:
Anna Ritch Photography, NewTV, Two Loops Productions

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