Meet Stew Jetson in Arcadia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stew Jetson.

Stew, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have had a passion for performing and being in front of crowds for most of my life. It started at a young age when I lived in Seattle, WA and would perform in school sketches. When I moved to AZ, I went to a high school at Brophy College Prep to play baseball, but halfway through high school, I found my way back to the arts. Junior year I auditioned for the school play with hopes of just getting cast as a background character as it had been a while since performing. I also wanted to meet girls haha. Low and behold I was cast as the lead male role in the show and had to step my game up. The following spring, I also got cast as a lead in the school musical, where I was cast opposite my now wife! Crazy how that worked out. I quickly got involved in the local community theatre scene in the valley which has become bigger and bigger each year.

A few years later, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue the dream and found myself working at all the major studios on the production side of things, learning how the professionals do it. It was quite the adventure. After getting married, my wife and I moved back to Phoenix where our families are. I put acting aside for a bit to focus on other things but soon was right back in it being signed by the top agency in the valley and having multiple commercial and film projects on my resume. I am currently pursuing acting full-time. I also launched my own podcast, “The Rundown with Stew Jetson” in early 2017 and recently completed what I like to call season 1. We are on hiatus right now but are coming back strong with a fresh take on things for season 2 soon. The show focuses on the top stories in Entertainment, Television, Movies, Sports and then we focus primarily on what’s happening in Phoenix with a calendar of events, local guests and how you can make the most of this booming city. It has been quite a journey and I am far from finished.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being a self-employed actor/performer is no easy task. You don’t know where your next gig may be, your next paycheck or your next audition. It is a constant grind but worth it at the same time. If you don’t have thick skin, a short memory, and the drive, then you will not make it. Have I “made it”? Far from it, but I am much further along now than I was two years ago when I got back into it. Seeing my face on the television screen screams “YOU ARE DOING IT!” That is motivation enough, but no it has not and I imagine will not be a smooth road for quite some time.

We’d love to hear more about your work
My podcast is something that is unique to AZ. I don’t want to give too much away about our upcoming relaunch but let’s just say it will be more Phoenix centric. I plan on having more guests from local businesses, charitable causes, sports affiliations and theatres to promote what is so awesome about this town. When I left Phoenix to go to LA and came back, it was like a new city. I love it here and the podcast shows that. I want to focus on the people and companies that make this city move.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I can’t settle for mediocracy. If I do work and look at it knowing it is not the best it can be, I will redo it. That is the goal with each and every episode of the podcast and each role I go out for. When some people who want to act/perform watch a professional on screen, they get envious. They say, “why can’t that be me?”. I have never done that. I watch someone who has made it and say, “I’m. Next, I will be up there too”. I have the drive to never give up and I pride myself on the confidence and motivation to keep going even when the odds are stacked heavily against you. So many people have questioned what I do or why I bother, especially here in Phoenix and not LA, but I keep going on. Secondly, my wife, Anny, is my absolute rock and keeps me going everyday. If not for her love, compassion and urge to see my success I may have given up a long time ago. Props to her.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8799799/?ref_=nv_sr_1
• Email: stewjetson@gmail.com
• Instagram: @stewjetson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stew.jetson
• Twitter: @stewjetson

Image Credit:
Stew Jetson

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