Rollin Jewett of Greater Raleigh area on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Rollin Jewett. Check out our conversation below.

Rollin, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Any time I’m working on something, creating, whether it be a new play, script, story, or song, I get so totally focused and involved in it that hours seem like minutes and I may work deep into the night, not eating, not drinking, hardly even going to the bathroom! That’s when I know I’m in the zone — the creative place I want to be. And it’s truly bliss because at those times I’m doing what I love — making a new thing. No matter what happens outside of those moments or how much stress or distractions there are in my life, creating something new is the medicine to get me back on track to who I am — the place where I find myself through imagination again. Other than that, going to the beach, swimming in the ocean and walking on the shore is another way for me to get centered.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Let’s see, where do I begin. I grew up in Miami, in South Florida, which was a wonderful place to come of age. In high school, I got involved in drama and creative writing classes and had wonderful mentors. I started out as a model and actor because I enjoyed being on stage and using my imagination to create characters and to live inside someone else for a while. I also enjoyed being around creative people that were chasing the same dream I was. Being on stage or in a film acting alongside committed talented people was like being part of a family, which for me, was something I never felt I had growing up. In my 20’s I was getting roles in TV shows (Miami Vice, Unsolved Mysteries) and films (The Bodyguard, Summer Job). When I hit 30, I moved to LA and tried screenwriting. When I started writing, it was much like an extension of being an actor — I was still creating characters and learning their psychology and motivations. But I was also the one creating the stories and the plots so I could do whatever my imagination dictated. The same process can be used for all of the media that I write in: film, stories, plays…even my songwriting can come from a place of complete imagination that has no real basis in my personal experiences. They can be whatever I imagine them to be. To me, that’s complete freedom — because with writing, you’re only limited by your own imagination. I had some success selling a few scripts (American Vampire, Laws of Deception) and have just continued to build a writing career from there.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
Several relationships were instrumental in me finding out who I was and what I wanted or dreamed I could be. There were a couple of teachers in high school that encouraged me and gave me opportunities to challenge myself. They seemed to think that I was capable of doing things I didn’t think I could do — but I was determined to try. My high school drama teacher, for instance, challenged me to read Shakespeare, Moliere, Tennessee Williams, and cast me in roles they had created. I wasn’t sure I could do it, but she was. And her belief in me gave me the courage to try. And through attempting to do it, I found out I could play those roles and fill out those characters and make them come to life. From then on, I never doubted whether I could act, no matter what the script might be. And because of theater, I had become well versed with the music of language and influenced by some of the great classic writers — not only playwrights but novelists and poets as well.

Hence, another important mentor in my life was my creative writing teacher who also challenged me and gave me assignments in different genres: poetry, short fiction, playwriting. It was always the same pattern — the more I was challenged, the more I was able to rise to the challenge and go outside my comfort zone to succeed. It was pure stubborn creative will. And the unflagging belief that I would at least try and prove myself, even if I failed. That stubborn resolve is what allowed me to continue to try and prove myself beyond mentors and assignments — to where I became disciplined and ambitious enough to try and create these events on my own, without any outside impetus. As a result, I auditioned for anything and everything and I wrote many screenplays and stories on sheer speculation — for the practice, the discipline, and the belief that something might happen. Because in show business, as everyone knows, there are no guarantees.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes. Several times. After having some initial success as an actor and model in Miami, when I moved to LA I thought I would have an easier time finding an agent and getting auditions as an actor. After all, I had some good credits and lots of experience and I was ready to go. However, I hit a brick wall where getting an acting agent was concerned. No matter how I tried or what I did I just did not seem to be able to break through. I think part of it was because I didn’t know anyone and part of it was because I was now in my 30’s. It was then that I decided I would take a break from acting as it seemed to be going nowhere, and focus on presenting myself as a screenwriter. I had already written two or three spec scripts that I felt were very good and I set about getting them into the hands of everyone I met that might be able to do something with them. After about two years and a few close calls I finally sold two scripts back to back within months of each other — and without an agent. I did the negotiations on my own just to ensure the films got made and didn’t wind up in turnaround purgatory or some negotiation hell. After that, again I thought things were going to open up for me. But they didn’t. I sold another script that never got made and then there was a bit of a drought. At the same time, I got married and my wife and I decided to move to Arizona and buy a house and start a family there since LA was way too expensive. And not the greatest environment to raise a child. So… although I never actually “gave up”, I did take a long break to enjoy being a husband and a father. And then, after about ten years when my son was a little older, I got back into the business.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
To a degree. Although the public version of me is much more confident and outgoing. In reality, I tend to actually be a bit of a loner — something of an introvert that shies away from the limelight. Although I like my work to get attention and accolades, I personally have a very difficult time accepting compliments and praise. I want the work to just speak for itself and if I have to give interviews I sometimes get very nervous and shy, especially when I’m expected to talk about myself or my process because it’s very personal and hard to articulate. When I was an actor and given lines to speak and a character to portray it was easier because it wasn’t me — it was a mask, a facade, an entity I could embody through my imagination. But when it was actually me being put out there in the spotlight it was a very different story. But like anything else, and this is really true about everything in life — the more you do it the more comfortable and natural it becomes. So now, after having done myriad interviews and guest speaker gigs and panels and such, I’m able to be more comfortable in that environment and be more like who and what I really am.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
That I never stuck to one thing — that I’m spread out all over the creative spectrum. I think most successful artists (and I don’t refer to myself as such) specialize in one or two mediums and focus on those because that’s their true wheelhouse, that’s what people expect from them, or that’s what they’re making the most money doing. I’ve never been in this for the money. I’m truly in it for the love of the process and the end results that come from it. For me, creation is a divine enterprise and I can’t simply do it for the money. Almost every thing I’ve ever written or created has emanated from some unknowable place in the air or the ether or whatever you want to call it. And not only do I not know how or where it comes from, I don’t even know what form it will take until I receive it. At that point it’s just an embryonic idea, an unformed concept that needs molding before it can fully be brought to life. That’s the moment when I have to decide what the best mode of expression is for that particular idea. And that’s the reason why I have spread myself around in so many different disciplines and genres — because certain idea are better suited to certain modes of expression. Some are best suited as a short play. Others can’t be told in an abbreviated format and must be fleshed out or might have a more visual component. That might become a screenplay. Another might just be a snippet of an idea that might be best suited for a poem or song. Also, the fact that I have been an actor, a show host, a model, a singer and songwriter tends to confuse people. Hell, it even confuses me. I think to myself — what am I? and if I’m asking that question I know others are. To summarize, my legacy if indeed one could call it that, is that of an artist attempting to stretch his creative wings and be an engine of entertainment in various forms. If I have succeeded in bringing my own personal brand of entertainment to people through my films, songs, stories, acting, and poetry, then I will consider myself to have lived a life of some value.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
Life, Lessons, & Legacies

Shari Mocheit Put God first and trust the process. See God in everyone and everything.

Highlighter Series
Highlighting Local Gems

Sabina Bower I’m actually at that point right now. I wake up genuinely excited to

Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Del Kary Definitely what I was born to do. Since I can remember, movies have