About acting coach Jen (JJ) Jarackas

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JENNIFER JARACKAS of JenJarackas Coaching

JJ has been a Mentor & Acting Coach in the acting community for over a decade. Ricci Mann planted initial seeds with acting technique & improv in 1994-95; Her extensive training & assistantships since 1998 with the late Yvonne Suhor (Art's Sake Studio) & Master NYC Teacher & Mentor, the late Jim Bonney (Jim Bonney Acting Studio), since 2000, laid a strong foundation for her leading edge training approach for actors & performers in the Entertainment Industry in Florida and the larger markets -- Hollywood, Atlanta, NYC.

Since 2013, Jen has been incorporating her continuing college studies in psychology, mental and behavioral health, as well as her ongoing experiences as a working actor in film, television, and commercials -- further coloring her approach with even more specificity and added depth to that foundation.

Jen is also a trained dancer (since the age of 5) & singer (Mary Rogers, Broadway voice coach) - writes, produces, and directs. 

She believes if you are "pulled to" acting, performing, or any "public" speaking, you are being called to honor the service of being a conduit for those who yearn and need to "feel" thru you in mediums such as stage, tv, and film. 

On Acting:

"This path is not for the faint of heart. For those who are wanting to go the distance in this business, there are a lot of variables involved. It's not just about showing up and 'looking pretty' and 'memorizing some lines'. A parrot could memorize lines if you taught it. Scripts are not academic assignments or material to 'memorize'.  Intellectually 'knowing' and being in the "Reality of Doing" are two different things. Acting isn't an English Literature course. Acting isn't math class". 

Essentially it's about "Learning the Story and Living the Lines".

JJ has adopted what her late mentor, Mr. Bonney, would repeatedly say, "If you want to work on your acting, work on yourself".  She adds, "If you want to change your acting and go deeper into the craft, change what needs to be changed in your life" -- what's happening with you in your life WILL translate into your work. Where you are Blocked in your Inner Life will inevitably be Blocked in TRUTHFUL & AUTHENTIC eXpression in your work

The concept being that if you are blocked in any specific area of your life, on a personal level, it will be blocked in your work. An example she gives is, "No one is going to go to set and hit an authentic, genuine 10 of anger (like Jack in the infamous "..you can't handle the truth!" scene) if they have problems expressing that emotion in their own life". 

We are all inadvertently taught to shut off our feelings from our most formative years, "It's no one's fault, it's  just how everyone has been conditioned to deal with feelings -- no one teaches us that....unless you were blessed to have a mentor and acting coach like Jim Bonney". 

So, if you want to open yourself up to your life and your acting in a way that will exceed your highest expectations and wildest dreams, check out JJ's CRAFT TOOLS Approach to Acting Training and Creative Development.

There is no one in town that does it quite the way she does. Especially if your goal/dream is to "go the distance" in the biz. 

"The reality is, while vitally important, technique will only take you so far...but more vitally, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THE TRUTH OF YOU! The "TRUTH of your TRUTH, not your (conditioned) MASK TRUTH".  

And that involves VULNERABILITY and doing the inner work.

Her goal is to help you become or discover the most authentic and unique version of YOU. 

No matter your line of work or role in life, "YOU are what they are looking for"! (Jim Bonney). The most truthful, present, & connected version of you.