Meet Rollin Jewett | Actor, Writer, Singer-Songwriter, Model, Poet.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rollin Jewett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rollin, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
It was the only thing I was good at! No, really I had always been creative, even at a young age. I started drawing at around six years old and thought maybe I’d be an artist or painter someday. I took art and creative writing classes whenever they were offered and always enjoyed them. Then in high school I took a drama class on a lark and I was hooked. I had always been good at impressions and creating characters and used to amuse my friends and family with my antics. But when I realized that one could actually create characters and get on stage and act them out with other people, that was it! And the thought of actually making a living at it was the icing on the cake. I knew I had found something I could really love…and hopefully make a career out of. My initial goal was to write and act in my own material – plays and screenplays for movies. I was able to do both. As an actor I had roles in “Miami Vice”, “Unsolved Mysteries”, “The Bodyguard”, “Summer Job” and many commercials and industrial films. As a screenwriter I wrote Carmen Electra’s first film, the cult classic “American Vampire” also starring Adam West, the original Batman. I also wrote a thriller entitled “Laws of Deception” with several name actors. I feel I’ve been very lucky in that I’ve been able to live out my creative dreams in many mediums.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets me apart from others is the sheer diversity of what I create. I have been a model, an actor on stage and in film, a screenwriter, an off-Broadway playwright, an award winning multi-genre singer-songwriter, a poet and an author, And I am blessed to have achieved some measure of success in each of those disciplines. It has never been a question of “Can I do this?”…it was always “Let’s find out if I can do this”. The road I have taken has been circuitous because I never settled on being “one thing”. I wanted to do many things and live many lives as an artist. It was always the challenge of starting something new and seeing if I could “pull it off” that excited me. Some things turned out better than others but the wonderful thing to me was in the attempt and then the satisfaction when the expression actually came to fruition. There were many challenges, as in any artistic endeavor, not the least is deciding what to express and what form it should take. I feel lucky in that whatever idea I choose to express, whether it be a script, a play, a story or a song…I have the tools to bring that idea to life through my imagination and writing. If I were to do it over or to give advice to someone starting out I would simply say “choose your own path and stick with it”. It’s okay to be influenced by someone you admire but you must find your own voice and style. It also helps to have a steady job! The main thing I’ve discovered about my own creative journey is that it’s limitless! I’m still working and creating new material all the time. That’s also the beauty of being an artist – you never have to stop! For example, I’ve recently won songwriting awards from the International Singer Songwriter Association (ISSA), The Indie Songwriting Awards, The Akademia Music Awards, The Homegrown Music Awards and The Rampage Music Awards. I’ve also been nominated for a Hollywood Music in Media Award (HMMA) and have also gone to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville the last two years having been nominated for a Josie Music Award (JMA). I’ve just recently released an album of crooner standards called “Croonin’ and Swoonin'” which features songs made famous by the likes of Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra and other great vocalists. And I’m currently in pre-production on a film I co-wrote, a vampire western called “Daylight to Dark”. So there’s lots of exciting things happening!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Here in Raleigh, NC there’s lots to do and it’s centrally located. There’s plenty to see in our beautiful state. In two hours one can be in the mountains or the sea. I’ve taken many trips up to Blowing Rock and there’s a great little restaurant up there called Bistro Roca that’s a favorite. The Chetola Inn is a wonderful place to visit up there for a Bloody Mary by the fire pit in front of the lake. I also love Little Switzerland, which is not too far up there and has a great relaxing atmosphere. If I were to go to the beach I would likely head to Topsail Beach because it’s less crowded with a vey nice beach. They also have some great seafood down there. In downtown Raleigh there are also some wonderful eclectic choices to dine and several venues to catch a show or concert. Suffice it to say, we would not run out of fun and exciting things to do that’s for sure!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Definitely my high school drama teacher, Julia Ledford and my creative writing teacher James Hatley. Both encouraged me at my high school – Fort Lauderdale High School. They each saw something in me that I was aware of but hadn’t really developed yet. Through their tutelage, mentorship and encouragement I found the confidence to consider that maybe I actually did have some talent worth developing. With their guidance and influence, I acted in many plays in high school and was responsible for writing much of the school’s creative writing magazine. After high school, I decided I would continue these studies in college where I was a Theatre Major at Florida State University, minoring in English and Creative Writing.

Website: rollinjewett.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rollinjewett/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rollin-jewett-aka-rollin-jarrett-ab7953143/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RollinJewett

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3777968989189729/user/677081773

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5HZNh8W3nSQDfgQm35oH0Q