Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Torrence.
Justin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I always wanted to be an actor. Since I was 8 or so. Watching Jean Claude Van Dam and the likes. I had a proclivity toward martial arts. I trained in my youth and teens and wrestled in high school. I thought it would be cool to be a film actor but didn’t think much of it until I was almost 30. I was going through a career change and had a few miraculous things happen that led me to begin training as an actor. My first acting class was on my 30th birthday.
Has it been a smooth road?
Smooth– maybe. Curved– for sure. I started my training as an actor but soon found myself in film development. Working behind-the-scenes with a Hollywood director and learning the ropes of ‘the Biz.’ During my first few years as an actor, I spent most of my time behind the camera in Marketing/PR for film. But, I was fortunate to get connected with some stunt performers that showed me the ropes. Specifically, one world-class stunt guy named Adrian Hein. He stunt-doubled Ryan Reynolds in ‘Deadpool.’ This kept the fire for on-screen alive for me. I never let it go. I was just in a place of learning more than most actors get to learn– the ‘other stuff’ — the stuff that makes the movies that we want to act in actually happen.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Beyond acting, I’m growing into my producer pants with Creative Guru. Still learning a lot. I kind of skipped some steps in this area– started out working with the big guys, now learning to make the small things happen too. It’s a fun adventure. My favorite thing is collaborating with talented people, seeing their potential and helping their project be more than they thought possible.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Atlanta is currently one of the top cities in the world for filmmakers to live and work! I came here very intentionally as an actor. Lots of work and a smaller pool of actors to compete with. It’s a great place to get started and, more and more, it’s becoming a great place to be even as a veteran. We continue to get casting calls for larger and larger roles here. And it’s a great place to collaborate. It’s kind of the wild west out here right now in the indie scene. Lots of talented people that carry that can-do attitude. So many people out here love creating and are willing to jump in with friends, pull resources and make things happen. I believe that we’ll be seeing some great, local projects popping up more and more — things that will get recognition beyond our hometown audience.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jtorrence.com
- Email: justin@jtorrence.com
- Instagram: @jtothetorrence
- Other: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm6767346/?ref_=nv_sr_2
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