Jonathan Roumie

Patience, Humility and Voice—Jonathan Roumie

Feburary 16, 2024

Jonathan Roumie gave the BFA in Acting students at APU an expert acting class. I was invited to moderate the class and had a great time sharing about the craft of acting with him. It was a delight to speak with him, and his presence and generosity of spirit were evident.

Here are some key takeaways for the actor that I'll share without speaking for him.

1. Once an artist and actor, always an artist and actor. I noticed that Jonathan mentioned his love of illustration, acting and the greater art of film storytelling and how he used all the art skills to build his career throughout the years.

2. Patience. Take the small steps to do what you love. Build bit by bit. It might just be a tiny little job you book that leads to a big break. Be kind to everyone. Be good to people.

3. Humility. You have to be good to people you work with and people you encounter. Understand your limits. Understand how small you are in a great big world. 

4. Voice is essential in the work. We discussed the nuances of dialect work. You have to be accurate to the region, accent, people you are representing AND you have to be understood. Your voice needs a balance of truth, authenticity, impulsivity and craft.