When I think about the words “actor” or “actress,” Meryl Streep and Brad Pitt immediately come to mind. But the truth is, the majority of actors in the industry are not household names. They are the true working actors; some with hundreds of credits to their name but you may not recognize them in the grocery store aisle. Even Judy Greer, who’s been in countless films and series wrote a book titled: “I Don’t Know What You Know Me From: Confessions of a Co-Star.” You may not know her name or be able to name the last movie she was in, but you know her from somewhere.
In the City of Angels, the working actor is always amongst us; the one who understands the daily grind. Konstantin Stanislavski, who is often called the father of modern acting, said “there are no small parts, only small actors.” I agree with this. The committed actor is versatile and will take any chance they get to simply… act; whether it’s a leading role or a 1-liner. Jordan Bielsky is one of those actors.
“We all begin our exposure to the industry by seeing huge stars making millions of dollars and on red carpets. But the reality is that most people are working class, grinding away day after day, year after year, to make their dreams come true,” said Bielsky.
Born in Rockaway Beach, New York City, Bielsky was raised on Tennessee Williams and John Patrick Shanley plays. From portraying a Krav Maga Instructor in “Get Shorty” on EPIX to an ex-con in the film “Moving Violation,” he is consistently working.
Even if you don’t see him, you might hear his voice as a dub actor on “Fauda” and “Money Heist.” Bielsky fell into a unique niche of doing English dubbing for foreign language shows and movies for Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Disney.
“For me, it was never about blowing up or becoming famous. I discovered what I love to do and wanted to spend the rest of my life doing it. When I graduated from Bard College with a degree in philosophy, I took the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) like all of my friends did, and was considering going to law school,” Bielsky said. As many working actors do, Bielsky has found other ways to make a living in the midst of auditioning, including tutoring for the LSAT.
Since the pandemic and the historical SAG strike, the industry has changed drastically.
“The biggest transformation I’ve witnessed is how common the “working actor” truly is. I’ve always told myself that if I can make a comparable salary as an actor and writer to what I would have made as a lawyer, then I would truly be living the dream. Knowing that so many others in my position are right there with me was huge to witness during the SAG strikes as we heard so many stories from across the union,” he added.
Bielsky has adapted to the new ways in which actor’s audition. Gone are the days of everyday in-person auditions and casting rooms as most auditions are self-tape.
“I’ve got a whole setup at home, even dedicating a full wall as my backdrop. I actually painted a giant canvas so that it would just serve as a standalone piece of art when I’m not taping. I appreciate the convenience of taping at home, and the fact that you can do your tapes until you get it right. But the truth is, I miss the in-person interactions of going in for an audition. Nothing can ever replace the human connection of saying hello, bringing your energy into a room, and truly showing people who you are,” Bielsky said.
Although auditions have been “pretty slow lately,” the versatile actor has built up an impressive number of credits across stage, TV and film over the past few years. With 250 titles under his belt for dubbing with major studios, to acting opposite Colin Farrel in “Sugar” on Apple+, Bielsky’s latest venture is in the video game circuit with “Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.”
With video game production, an actor trades in the hair and makeup chair for a leotard with white reflective balls placed at every joint (so the camera can capture your movements).
“First, they bring you in for a face scan. You have to show up clean shaven so they can paint little green dots all over your face. Then they put you into a 360 degree sphere surrounded by lights and cameras to capture all of your facial movements. Months later, after they’ve created your face digitally, you go back in for the full body motion capture. The set is a giant soundstage with infrared cameras set up everywhere,” Bielsky described.
He describes video game acting as similar to anything you would do in film or theater. You rehearse the blocking, do your lines, and live truthfully under imaginary circumstances. Then, once the scene has been built, you go back in for voice-over.
“One of the greatest jobs I’ve ever had,” he added.
If he had the chance, Bielsky would jump from voice-over to stage to set every week. Whether Colin Farrel is telling him “Go ahead, kid, hit me” in a fight scene or he’s in an air conditioned studio dubbing a romantic scene, the multifaceted actor is arms-wide-open when it comes to acting. Some would say that’s how you come to master a craft; by knowing and excelling in every aspect of it.
These days, the New York native is diving into writing; completing a sci-fi/fantasy action thriller and working on a dark comedy about grief that takes place over the course of a week of Shiva, the Jewish mourning ritual.
Most days, you can catch Jordan Bielsky walking around Los Feliz with his dog, Moxie.
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