#sparkchamber 033020 — Jacob Kraemer

Another week, another lovely human shares some thoughts on the creative process at #sparkchamber. Today, we welcome actor Jacob Kraemer. Jacob got his start at the age of 12 in the role of Andrew Smart in the CBS TV movie The Elizabeth Smart Story — for which he earned a Young Artist Award nomination for best supporting performance in a TV movie or mini-series. He followed that up with a regular role on the Family/Disney series Naturally Sadie — garnering another Young Artist Award nomination for best performance in a TV series. The work — and acclaim — continued as he moved from role to role in TV series and movies. [Full credits here.]

Where does he find inspiration? “I like to try and draw from any and every source I can find. Actors, musicians, writers, architects, engineers, doesn’t matter. If you love what you do and share it in any capacity, that inspires me.”

He inspires others as well, teaching four acting classes a week, and offering private audition training at the LB Acting Studio, a professional on-camera acting studio located in downtown Toronto, Canada. The studio’s mandate is to bring joy and authenticity to the process of preparing for and delivering a role. They believe the craft of acting exists to serve the truth and not the other way around — that expressing yourself through the work is more important than figuring out what “they” want. New students can audit a class for free!

The bottom line? “Sometimes I pretend to be other people and sometimes I help people pretend to be other people.” LOL! Get more at Instagram.

1.] Where do ideas come from?

Anywhere and everywhere. Interactions with people/animals on the street, dreams, having a cup of coffee with a loved one. The brain has a strange way of affecting you whenever it wants.

2.] What is the itch you are scratching?

The joy and excitement of doing something that I love.

3.] Early bird or night owl? Tortoise or hare?

The beauty of the 21st century. Whenever and wherever. Journal next to my bed, note app on my phone on the subway. Knowing that I can stop and start at my convenience allows for less pressure to have a flow and when there's less pressure, the brain is freer to work and wander.

Making sure I’m still loving what I’m doing helps me get into it.

4.] How do you know when you are done?

I’m dead