“You need to stare these things in the face, know what you're getting yourself into and then embark as the hero of your own adventure, prepared for struggle.”
— Jassa Ahluwalia, Actor, Writer, Filmmaker, Activist and Broadcaster
ABOUT
So what do you actually do?
I act in film, TV and theatre productions. I also write scripts, articles and I'm working on a book. I make films. I'm an activist. I'm sometimes a broadcaster.
Everything!
What has your career path been?
I discovered that film and TV was an ‘industry’ as a fifteen-year-old work experience student at a talent agency and began looking for a way to break into the business.
I sought out student films and shorts before getting my first lead role at sixteen through open auditions in a film that was never released.
The process was an education, both in filmmaking and the harsh realities of the industry. I persisted and worked as a runner on TV productions, distributing my CV and headshot as I went.
That's how I was introduced to my first agent, which led to professional auditions and my breakthrough role as Rocky in BBC Three's Some Girls.
What is the best part of your job?
The variety and the experiences. Always learning. Every project offers a new insight into myself and the world.
Why do you do your job?
To better understand life and death. To share and connect with the innumerable ways in which we experience reality. To reveal universal stories through specific narratives.
Though initially it was because I loved the attention as a kid!
One piece of advice for someone starting in your role?
Learn the business.
Being great at acting, writing or filmmaking is very different to being a great actor, writer or filmmaker.
It is hard.
Horribly hard.
The constant rejection. The scarcity and inconsistency of work. The fierce competition. The inequity of the industry. The uncertainty and stress that comes with not having a clearly defined career path.
You need to stare these things in the face, know what you're getting yourself into and then embark as the hero of your own adventure, prepared for struggle.
Check out Jassa’s socials below!
You can also view Jassa’s IMDb page and website at:
DAY IN THE LIFE
It's an ever changing puzzle.
Days on set are very structured (pick up at 6am, in makeup 7am, on set 8am, wrapped by 7pm) but the majority of my time is between projects, creating my own schedule.
I might be doing a 9-5 freelance job to maintain my income. Or it might be a day dedicated to my own projects.
The latter is probably most instructive as an insight.
I try to get up at 7.30am and head out for a bike ride and / or meditate so I'm starting the day energised and with a clear head. I hack through any life admin that needs doing and might get to work around 10am, learning an audition script for a self tape that I need to shoot later in the week. Or I might be shooting a self tape that day, so I'll be doing that.
I'll then make sure I take a proper lunch break and get a walk in if I didn't manage to get out in the morning. I'll return to my desk and continue researching a writing project or attend a Zoom meeting.
And then an email from my agent might pop up and I'll have to reschedule my week and possibly my weekend to fit in another self tape (I'm campaigning through my union Equity to create a code of practice to reduce the problems caused by self tapes).
I may then be hosting or contributing to a podcast in the evening, going to the theatre or attending an event. It can be quite overwhelming and chaotic when there's a lot on and various deadlines to meet.
Days on set often feel like a holiday! But the rewards of the work, touching and sometimes even changing people's lives, are worth every moment.