Jason, an actor?

Yes, it’s true. I recently did a bit of acting for a few Hewlett Packard training videos. Those who know me understand how I am far more comfortable behind a camera than in front of one. However, once I loosened up and got into my roles I realized that this wasn’t only something I could do, but something I really enjoyed!

It began with my background as a journalist. I met an HP project manager who thought I could play an interviewer on-camera. He was right. Immediately following my first screen test I was given a job. (If you want a good laugh, you can see that test here: http://hpbroadband.com/program.aspx?key=hprenewprogram2.)

I was so nervous during that first shoot I couldn’t feel my face, except for my right eye which seemed to twitch uncontrollably every time I tried to force a smile! But after doing a few skits I started to really get into it. In addition to an interviewer I got to play a lost hiker, a reverse-pickpocket victim (a la the Burger King commercial), and the Village People Indian. (Yuck! Nothing against Native Americans, but I had to sing and dance to YMCA – far from cool.) Maybe one of these days I will locate those links to show you.

Or maybe not.