Check Out JR Rodriguez’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to JR Rodriguez.

Hi JR, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started in entertainment at 9, and I’ve been an actor for nearly 50 years. I have lived in Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale, San Diego, and a little stint in New York. When I was released from an artistic director’s job, I was doing in Michigan. I had a lot of friends of mine wanting me to move out to LA or back to NY and bring my scripts. In hindsight, I was younger, and it probably would have been the better idea. However, being stubborn and knowing the film industry in North Carolina was booming(And I set my script in my hometown of Wilmington), I came back here. I couldn’t get anyone to listen, so I made my movies. I met Jonathan Landau (The Devil’s Stomping Ground), and we decided to film a rom-com I had written. I got myself an LLC, and I thought of a company in LA that wanted to help(They didn’t, they just wanted my money). When that fell through, I went out, found a few small investors, did some crowdfunding, and raised a little money. We ran out of money, and I grew more and did that 4 more times until we finally finished. They say they don’t use your money to make a movie; I had to. As a result, we finished the movie, debuted it at cinemas all over North Carolina (Although Raleigh didn’t want us), and now we’re on streaming services. I did it the wrong way, but I did it. I’m also developing a couple of other scripts, all North Carolina stories. I believe in my home state. I’m very proud of what my company, Tobbot Films, has done, and I’m looking forward to the future!

Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The two biggest struggles have been finding support and raising money. See, I was a huge drinker in my younger days. And folks who know me still don’t trust I won’t fall back to it. And that’s been 10 years now. It’s fine. I can’t control what people think. I have to get up daily, look at myself in the mirror and say, “What can I do today to move my projects forward?” It’s what I love, I love North Carolina as well, and I want to tell stories with my home state as the backdrop.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
First and foremost, I’m an actor. I’m a good writer and stage director (I’ll probably never direct a movie again. Far better people out there than me). As an actor, you learn early on; there’s a lot of competition. That’s what sets me apart. I understand the struggle. See, living in NY and Chicago, when I went to an audition, 30 other guys looked just like me and were just as good as me. You have to find something that sets you apart, and that’s with each project. Coming out of law school and interviewing with a firm is the same thing. The one thing that I have that I’m very proud of is my ability to understand language. When you’re reading a script, you can’t look at it from just your character’s point of view. Get the gig, and you can then, but going into an audition, understand the situation. That I can handle, and frankly, in many cases, sets me apart. And if it’s a “Father” role, there is no need for anyone else to show up. I’m truly kidding. Since the age of 30, father roles have come easily to me. Prospero, Capulat, Banquo, Fagin(Yes, I see it that way), and of course, the role I’ve played in 12 productions and would certainly do it again tomorrow, Oliver Warbucks. I don’t have kids of my own. But I get to imagine what kind of dad I would have been.

We love to hear about any fond memories you have from growing up.
My father and I would go to movies on Saturdays when he was in the Army. We had been stationed all over the country, and he was the last post as a drill instructor at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. It was 1972, and pop was off on a Saturday. We were headed over to see Disney’s Cinderella playing at the post-cinema. We pay, go in and sit down. There is a distinctive sound to the music of the opening credits to The Godfather; yep, to this day, he claims we went in by accident. I believe he knew my mother was against him seeing it because of the violence, so I was an excuse. He got to see The Godfather, and I saw my first Rated R movie. I also fell in love with movies.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rememberyesterdaymovie.com
• Instagram: @rememberyesterdaymovie
• Facebook: @rememberyesterdaymovie
• Twitter: @remembermovienc

Image Credits
Erika Edwards, Ken Oots