Welcome to ZEM Interviews! We hope you enjoy our interviews and gain new insight into your favorite people in the entertainment industry! :)
ZEM Interviews was first founded in March 2014 and interviewer Zachary, having conducted 32 interviews previously for various fansites, was eager to find someone new to interview to kick off the new blog. One of the first people to come to mind was Neil Jackson. Multi-talented, friendly and always willing to talk to the fans, Neil was happy to answer a few questions for the blog.
As the blog has been largely inactive over the summer, I've decided to repost this interview to kick the blog of afresh. New readers, enjoy the interview and old readers, enjoy the interview, newly updated with photos and a music video. Stay tuned to the blog for new interviews with Kristin Booth and Cara Gee, later in the week.
A huge thank you to Neil Jackson for his interview, the first for this blog. He's extremely talented and well established as an actor/musician/writer. You've probably seen him in something, as he's scored quite a few acting roles; a quick glance at his IMDb page reveals 42 acting credits!
Without further ado, the interview:
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| A great photo of Neil, credit to SnootyFoxImages. |
I'm a jolly decent fellow.
Which did you realize you wanted to be first: Actor, Musician or Writer?
They have always been facets of me. I have written and played music since I can remember, and loved acting from my first school plays. They're all just mediums for my storytelling.
What do you like best about Acting?
I love to create a fully formed character and have him live completely in the scenes, shows and films. It's fascinating to explore those elements within yourself.
As an actor, do you have any favorite characters that you have played?
Marcus Van Sciver is my favourite. I never saw him as a bad guy, just a businessman with little toleration for fools. So much fun to play.
Do you have any particular method for preparing for your roles?
It's all about the script. I read it over and over and over, like peeling an onion. Each read finds a new layer until I eventually feel I have an understanding of who I am portraying.
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| Another pic of Neil from SnootyFoxImages. |
In life there really are no such thing. A good character has good and bad in them. No one is a villain from their own perspective. I like playing rounded characters.
Describe your dream role (can be an existing part or an original one):
Daredevil & The Scarlet Pimpernel.
Have you ever played in a theatre production?
I was trained in theatre and my first three jobs as a professional actor were on stage. I just love the mediums of film and TV more.
Have you ever considered doing any work as a director?
Absolutely. One day.
What do you enjoy most about Music?
The pure freedom of expression. I love writing a song and not really knowing where it's going to go or what it's going to become. It's an amazing journey.
Do you have a favorite song that you have written?
Rocket To Mars. I sat down one day and just started playing that chord progression. By the third time round I started singing and what came out was basically the complete first verse. I don't know where it came from, but it felt like a song someone else had written, it felt timeless.
What do you like the most about Writing?
Creating a complete and visceral world from absolutely nothing. It's a fascinating jigsaw puzzle.
Do you have a particular environment that you like to be in when you write?
Not really. So long as it's quiet and comfortable. Oh, and there needs to be tea. Lots of tea.
Have you ever had any trouble with writer's block and, if so, how do you beat it?
I learnt a trick very early on and that is to never fully complete a thought before you stop writing. For me, writing is all about momentum. I research and make notes and explore to build up that momentum, then need to keep it going through the writing process. There's nothing worse than sitting down each day and not knowing where you're going to go next. Picking up in an incomplete thought gives me that momentum.
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| A photo of Neil that I grabbed from Google. |
A dear friend of mine, PA Blundel, died several years ago from a spinal injury. The charity serves to raise funding and awareness of spinal injury research.
Are there any other causes/charities you support?
No.
Tell us about a few people you feel privileged to have worked with, and why?
To be honest, it sounds a bit blah, but I feel privileged to work with everyone I work with. I love my job so much, that I cannot believe I get to do what I love every single day of my life. Though to sit and chat with Woody Allen on the film set was pretty cool.
Is there anything else you'd like to say to your fans?
Never wear flip flops in a public bathroom.
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Words of wisdom regarding the flip flops, Neil. Words of wisdom.
Wish I'd have taken your advice this summer.
Once again, thank you to Neil for taking the time to answer my questions.
Also, be sure to check out the Trust PA website for more on the work they're doing!
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this interview belong solely to the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ZEM Interviews/Zachary Evan Medley, or employers/collaborators of the interviewee; past, present or future.
