James Immekus Education/Degree: BFA Acting 2003 The Theatre School at DePaul University

How do you use your training from The Theatre School professionally, or in life? What I find to be the most valuable asset I received from my training at the Theatre School was the work ethic it instilled in me. There are a lot of talented people out there in the ever-expanding casting pool who lack the skills to channel that talent in an efficient and affective way that brings results. You can't teach talent. You can only harness that talent, discipline and encourage it. There is an art to auditioning and with the many years of auditioning in the school for the faculty/industry working professionals along with the work in scene study and improvisation, I feel I have a leg up on the competition.

Was there a specific class or project that stands out in your mind from your time at The Theatre School that you feel impacted your training, craft, or artistry in a unique or powerful way? 1st year Improvisation with Ric Murphy (now Professor Emeritus) has been my foundation as an actor. Improv brings out a strong connection to partner and the essence of simply telling the story. You can't begin to develop a scene without getting to what's driving the story. I never understood that before. I use to just take a script, make some choices, sprinkle a few goodies on the lines, maybe a few empty tears here and there and that was acting (half kidding). My first year in Improv reshaped every notion of storytelling for me, and freed me to discover a direct experience with partner and has become my road map for when I get lost.

How do you feel about the fact that Chicago was the backdrop to your professional training in the theatre? Chicago's deep knowledge of intense and real theatre is for me the center of the theatre world. From Steppenwolf to the Goodman, to TimeLine and Second City, from the hilarity of the Neofuturists to Red Moon's beautiful puppetry work, as well as many others, the range of expression is versatile and vibrant. Seeing numerous productions around town while in school had a major impact on who I wanted to be as an actor and artist. I always felt that if you are a person who's always pictured themselves going to N.Y. or Los Angeles to pursue your career, that Chicago is the place where you go to find yourself as an artist first. Chicago gave me that unique experience that I can't image being found anywhere else.

What advice would you give to young professionals training to enter your field? Make your environment a positive one and don't let the business dictate the emotional frame of your life. You've got to be able to come home and leave that stuff at the door. So establish yourself first and then focus on the work. And when it comes to the work do what you know. You’re theatre actors. Do some THEATRE! Be seen. Invite people to see your work. Get agents to come. Managers. Ask favors from people to see if they can get people to come see you. Let them see you in a realm where you are at your best. I had an agent for a year and a half that didn't know I could act. Not kidding. I did a play. They came. Now I get triple the auditions I did before. When you get people to represent you make sure they believe in you. Often the two don't meet.

You were trained in theatre. Have you applied your training to another field (TV, film, business, etc), and if so – how did your training help? How did you do it? Acting on film isn't all that much different. You still have about 20 - 30 people watching you. You often get to do full scenes which are called your master shots, and then they do individual close-ups of lines and moments. But you still get to act, and tell a story in front of people who are watching and who can be affected by what you do. The strange thing can be the lack of linear story-telling in film. Scenes are broken up and not done in order because of locations and schedules. But in theatre we are taught to focus on the moment before the scene to inform us and infuse a real emotional response. Not any different on film. Just know where you were coming from the moment before and let the scene take you. Oh... and don't talk as loud.

Is there another connection or experience from your time at The Theatre School that you would like to share? Rather than sharing another moment I would just like to say I think it's important to keep in contact with the school after graduation. Seeing alumni reach out to the school not only financially but informatively while I was in school always meant so much to my growth as an actor. Hearing the stories of how people adjusted from TTS life to the professional world and how they used the knowledge and experience from the school in their work is important to hear. Just remember where you came from and how much you appreciated those moments. Continue this tradition of support and encouragement that is much needed in an industry that is often lacking true artistic expression.