The year 2000. Six years old. J and his cousin would go to his house after school every day and film with his Betamax VHS Recorder. Their primary project was what they called, “The Forrest Show”. The show included anything from Star Wars Lightsaber fights to interviews with made-up characters such as, “Bonici Alfredo”, a blind Italian, who was the very first “character” J ever created. It was cinematic gold to him at the time. Since then, J has been hungry for the silver screen. As the CEO of 4est Films LLC, J has decided to take the company a step further to provide more to the world, and will be opening up a Cinema Cocktail Rooftop Lounge with Farm-to-Table Fine Dining in Arizona this Fall. J Vasko-Bezenek is represented by Carrie Macy Talent Agency
indieactivity: How did you become an actor?
Joseph: I became an actor through my burning desire to make my life “Best Picture” worthy. In anything and everything I do, I try to make it as truly spectacular and cinematic as possible. Boring characters, and predictable endings make for a terrible movie. However, complexity, challenge, perseverance, love, pain, and a constant ebb and flow between comfort and discomfort in what the future holds makes for something interesting.
Acting is just being human. I realized I was an actor when I decided every choice I make is crafting the movie of my life. I became a good actor when I decided to dedicate and craft my every thought into something magical. That way, when J. Vasko-Bezenek dies, the movie of my life ends, and I watch my life back again, I will be shedding eternal tears of ecstasy for every credit that rolls. Without the credits, I would have had no movie, and without my character, I would have no credits. All of heaven & hell will be in attendance.
ON SET The Lumber Baron – Daniel Rimsdale Jr.
indieactivity: What acting technique do you use?
Joseph: Through my studies at Millikin University and beyond, I have learned many different techniques, but the primary source has been Stanislavski. However, I tell stories because I want to feel what it’s like to BE the character. Growing up I could never figure out what I wanted to be, and acting allows me to taste what it’s like to be anybody I want to be. What is most commonly referred to as, “Method Acting”, which was a 25-page study I created in my first year of college, and it was this exploration that made me fall in love with allowing my life to shift with every character I dove into. Many say this is dangerous – and it is. My paper asked the question: “Can Method Acting be Explored and Practiced Healthily?. I may publish the paper sometime.
indieactivity: What wrong impressions do actors hold about acting?
Joseph: The only wrong impression actors hold about acting is whatever is keeping them from believing in themselves. If you don’t believe in what is in you, then you will never believe what comes out of you. If you don’t believe in what comes out of you, how will anyone else?
There are many different opinions on what acting is – but it’s intangible. It’s not for me to tell you how to smile, but I do feel called to tell you to believe with all of your soul that your smile is beautiful, unique, and holds the power to emit every facet of your being into another soul – into the world, and this tiny action, this tiny moment, is only as powerful as your belief in yourself.
Today, my smile moves mountains, but some days, when I don’t believe in myself, my smile doesn’t even move my mouth.
J. Vasko-Bezenek in Satellite Drop
indieactivity: What acting books do you read?
Joseph: “BODYMIND” – Ken Dychtwald
“STORY” – Robert McKee
“RESPECT FOR ACTING” – Uta Hagen
“ACTING IN FILM” – Michael Caine
“ART & FEAR” – David Bayles and Ted Orland
indieactivity: How do you keep fit as an actor?
Joseph: Self control. Constant strife for betterment of every aspect of the mind, body, and soul.
A few key necessities:
6-8 hours of sleep – no more – no less. (I find 7 to be prime).
Proper nutrition (No fast food – EVER, Primarily veggies, and lots of water)
Weight Training
Yoga
Honestly, this aspect of being an actor: “Keeping Fit” – is the key to success. If I were to answer this question honestly and completely it would go on forever. If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to reach out for anything from diet/fitness plan, to overall wellness plan – I would love to be a coach – a friend.
Lumber Baron Promo
indieactivity: How do you prepare for a role?
Joseph: Honestly, this process is very special to me, and I think it’s important – especially in today’s world – it’s important to keep something up your sleeve at all times.
In short, it’s a little different for every role, but my key objective lies in finding the multifarious complexities of the brain I wouldn’t be able to access without truly exploring said “new role”.
indieactivity: How do you create a character from a script into a person?
Joseph: Get to know the character better than the author. It is your job as an artist to create that of which is not yet created. The script only gives you 42% of who your character is, 57% of it is created by you, and the other 1% is eternally changing – even after the final cut. That 1% is a mystery, and is only effective when your 57% is filled with complete honesty.
indieactivity: How do you stay fresh on a production set?
Joseph: Again, it all comes down to self-control. Sure, we all want to have fun on set, but I don’t find fun to be possible if I am not truly giving ever facet of my being to my craft. That’s the real fun. That’s what I live for. The trick is reminding yourself in the moment that you are in the perfect position to create history. That’s what you are doing – you are documenting history in the most vivid medium known to mankind – cinema. It’s not a document written in 1853, or a photograph taken in 1432 – it’s a moving, breathing, bleeding, laughing piece of cinema forever recorded and captured in it’s tiny capsule of time. Be the reason it is saved in the history books, and watched over and over again as a timeless piece of art that makes the audience feel something – anything – so that they keep coming back to watch it – study it – steal it for the betterment of their own life – generation after generation.
In an Instant-Jim Stolpa
indieactivity: Describe a memorable character you played?
Joseph: I just finished as Daniel Rimsdale Jr. in the 1910 movie, “The Lumber Baron”. It is currently in post production being scored by an entire orchestra, and is set to be released this year
Souls from all different walks of my life are involved in the creation of this beautiful story, and I think it will be my proudest cinematic work to date. Not only because the story is beautiful, but because the story of my life that is unfolding in the creation of this story has been filled with nothing but love – new and old. I could go through and name every person involved, but in short, my very first acting professor, Alex Miller, plays my father, my best friend from High School, Alex C. Shields, is the lead “Behind the Scenes” photographer (All pictures on the website are his work), one of my dearest friends from college, Jake Wagner III is a co-star, a new dear friend, Scout Taylor-Compton, plays one of my sisters, one of my very first friends in the film industry post-college, Barry Andersson, is the director, and I have had the unfathomable pleasure of working with the lovely people that make up Scene and Hurd Productions. They will be seen and heard by more and more each and every day forward.
indieactivity: What do you want most from a director?
Joseph: Communication, and trust. Communicate what it is you want from my character, and trust not only that I can deliver that, but exceed your expectations. Most importantly, though, trust that if I don’t give you what you are looking for right away, that I am absolutely willing to take critical direction – it’s vital that you are honest with me. I don’t need my feelings spared. This is art. It’s supposed to hurt sometimes.
indieactivity: What actors do you long to work with?
Joseph: Matthew Mcconaughey
indieactivity: Why?
Joseph: Whether it’s the way I look, move, or when I let a little southern drawl come out, it happens frequently that I am compared to Mr. Mcconaughey. And I think it would be an absolute pleasure to create with such a similar presence.
Most of the time when people say stuff like this, I don’t agree, but with Matthew – which happens to be my father’s name – I have to agree.
But beyond similar appearance, movement, and sound, I resonate with his journey. He was the one who showed me “The Greatest Salesmen in the World”, and today I am a new man with a new life.
I very much look forward to making movies with him.
indieactivity: What advice would you give to actors?
Joseph: Fail. Fail. And fail again. Do what scares you the most. I dare you to leap and never stop falling farther away from normality.
indieactivity: Briefly write about your career?
Joseph: Jim Stolpa in ABC’s Season 3 Premiere of “In an Instant”. Had over 2 Million viewers when it aired. This role was a reminder that I truly do have stories for millions to see. Joseph is represented by is represented by Carrie Macy Talent Agency
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