Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathon Pawlowski.
Hi Jonathon, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Ever since I was a young boy, I knew I wanted to entertain people. Maybe it was the joy I felt from making people laugh or knowing I could escape getting grounded by making my parents laugh. Comedy has always been my way of connecting with people, even if it’s just for a moment.
One of my first comedic roles was when I played baseball as a kid. I was on a traveling baseball team throughout middle school. Getting a hit was nice, but getting my teammates to laugh was the real endorphin kick. I loved travel baseball because it meant more time in the car and hotel rooms with a captive audience where I would do impressions of the entertainers we would watch on WWF and MTV. Luckily, my dad got a lot of this on tape with his camcorder. In high school, during a grueling hot summer practice, the coach was overrunning us. It got to the point of being dangerous, so I pretended to ‘faint’ to end it. It worked. My acting abilities were persuasive.
Inspired by the TV character Louis Stevens from Disney’s Even Stevens and equipped with my dad’s camcorder, I spent hours filming myself making dumb faces in the camera practicing my craft. I filmed my band practices, ‘Jackass’ inspired stunts, made up wrestling matches and short films. Even for school projects, I was able to convince my teachers to make videos instead of giving presentations.
During college, I focused more on playing music and hanging out. I declared “General Business” as a major, with the intent of changing it once I figured out what I wanted to pursue. After my first two years, an epiphany hit me and reminded me of how ALL I wanted to do was make movies with my friends (i.e., the Broken Lizard guys who made Super Troopers).
Once I went down that path again, I made friends who had the same goals. After we graduated, we made a ton of comedy sketches under the name Wonderpony (YouTube.com/wonderpony). Figuring it out as we went, I was able to cut my teeth with editing and acting and reignited my spark for telling stories. During this time, I was also working as a production assistant on movies and commercials. Some of my friends and collaborators moved out to Los Angeles to pursue careers in film, and I thought “why the hell not?”. I had saved up enough money to move out there, and in 10 short months, I blew it all. But not without making more fun sketches and having a great time.
Back in Atlanta, I secured a talent agent, began sketch writing classes, and dove into improv and live sketch comedy. In 2015, my sketch group, Church Socks, was accepted to perform at NYC Sketchfest. In our first sketch, we used a gallon-sized ziplock bag full of flour as a prop for cocaine, and I accidentally exploded it all over the stage. We improvised through it, and the audience loved it. It was a true lesson in connection through spontaneity.
All of this playing around over the years has helped me develop my voice as an artist. I lean toward stories and characters seeking community and learning to trust their own instincts. One of my favorite projects we’ve made was a short film called “Sheep” (co-written with DW Medoff and Justin Miles, starring Paul Walter Hauser), about a guy who accidentally survives the mass suicide of the cult he belongs to but is not really welcome in. Sheep played at the Atlanta Film Festival in 2019.
As a filmmaker, I tell stories through comedic characters built on a foundation of truth and vulnerability. As an actor and editor, I help tell the stories of others with that same honesty. In each of these roles, I have been fortunate to collaborate with many talented artists. With so many stories left to tell, I am always eager to make new connections, hear new perspectives, and build new worlds together.
I have been fortunate enough to work with so many talented artists who help me play out my childhood dreams of making movies with friends.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
From 2014 to 2015, I worked a full-time video editing job. It exhausted me to the point of dreading auditions, so I left the job to be a full-time freelancer. I was fortunate to pick up gigs as an editor and PA with a few acting gigs in between, but I was living paycheck to paycheck for a while not knowing where the next paycheck was coming from. I picked up shifts bussing tables and ate a lot of peanut butter and jellies.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I like to think of myself as a creative, although I believe everyone is a creative. Primarily, I act, direct, edit and write.
I think I’m known for being a comedic actor.
I’m most proud of being able to create with people for a living.
I think what sets me apart from others is a comedic style that is cringey or uncomfortable at times, but it comes from a place of earnestness.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My parents who showed me how to love instilled a strong work ethic in me and have supported me in every endeavor, personal or professional.
CJ Stewart and Danny Pralgo, baseball coaches who taught me discipline and allowed me to be goofy.
Professor Biddle who taught me how to edit and execute ideas.
Ruckus and Lane Skye gave me my first production assistant job and still encouraged me.
Michael Sokol encouraged me to pursue performing.
Justin Miles, DW Medoff, Madison Hatfield, Bryce Colquitt and all the other creative collaborators I’ve had over the years who helped shaped my style.
My partner Susanna for supporting pretty much every dumb idea I’ve ever had.
My dog Buckley (RIP) who gave me comfort for 14 years.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jonathonpawlowski.com
- Instagram: @junglejape5
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_vK-uOJkFI8QmBqb7D1myg
Image Credits:
The Personal Profile picture was shot by Lola Scott
