Acting Like a Marine
Military training helps rising actor pursue stardom on the silver screen.
By Warren Duffie

Nick “Hollywood” Jones savored his first taste of the spotlight when he was 14 years old. In a high school play called “Bookmark,” the freshman played a boisterous fruit vendor. As the audience laughed and applauded his antics, Jones knew he had found his calling.

“I loved working the crowd and being someone else for a little while,” said the Marine Corps Reservist. “It was a real thrill and I knew I wanted more of it.” 

Chasing the Dream
That dream still burns within Jones, 25, who is working toward stardom. But the corporal leads a double life: By day, as an active Reservist, Jones is an administrative specialist at New Orleans-based Marine Forces Reserve. Then after working hours, Jones is steadily building a solid portfolio of acting roles. He has been in eight movies in the past two years. 

In New Orleans?
Why is he pursuing an acting career in the Crescent City? Isn’t Hollywood the mecca for aspiring thespians? For starters, there’s Jones’ military duty to consider, a job many would consider much better than waiting tables or tending bar to survive. New Orleans also is a popular filming location for movie studios – boasting attractive tax breaks, historic architecture and talented local musicians and actors.

The New Orleans film industry certainly has been good to Jones. His first break was landing a role as a (surprise!) Marine in the box office hit “Battle: Los Angeles.” Jones also earned parts in “The Green Lantern” (unfortunately, his scenes didn’t make the final cut), “The Mechanic,” “A Little Bit of Heaven,” and “Weather Wars” (a SyFy Network movie starring Stacy Keach).

“The Marine Corps taught me the importance of public speaking and being confident,” Jones said. “Whether you’re giving orders, addressing an officer or auditioning for a director, you have to know what you’re saying and project your voice with self-assurance. The military also instilled in me the dedication to stay the course and not complain when things get tough.” 

In Uniform
In 2005, Jones was a criminal justice major at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He wanted to pursue a career as an FBI agent and decided having military experience would help him reach that goal. Jones left school and enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve. He completed basic training at Parris Island and infantry and administrative training at Camp Johnson, N.C.

Jones’ first duty station was at Camp Pendleton in San Diego. Basking in the warm Southern California weather, within easy reach of Hollywood’s bright lights, Jones renewed his love of acting. In his spare time, he traveled to Los Angeles, securing roles as an extra on movie sets and auditioning for parts.

“It was really tough out there,” Jones said. “I heard a lot of ‘no’s.’ So much focus is on reality TV.

I didn’t want to do reality shows – I wanted to act.”

After he was stationed in New Orleans in 2009, his acting career gained steam when he auditioned for “Battle: Los Angeles.”

“I auditioned for one of the Marine roles,” he said. “I told them they should consider me because I was a real Marine. The part was natural for me. It worked, because I got the role.”

Jones finds roles through his agent, who contacts the Marine about casting calls that might interest him. The agent gets in touch with casting directors and arranges for Jones to audition. Jones’ military service ends in August 2012. He plans to use his Post-9/11 GI Bill to attend the New York Film Academy’s Universal Studios campus in Los Angeles. 

Jones’ Advice
Stay motivated. “Don’t let the ‘no’s’ frustrate you and make you quit.”

Never give up on yourself. “If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will.”

Take acting classes. “Get any experience you can. Work as an extra, for example. Get comfortable around cameras and movie sets.”

How’d You Get That Job?
• “It was really tough out there,” Jones said. “I heard a lot of ‘no’s.’ So much focus is on reality TV. I didn’t want to do reality shows – I wanted to act.”

• After he was stationed in New Orleans in 2009, his acting career gained steam when he auditioned for “Battle: Los Angeles.”

• “I auditioned for one of the Marine roles,” he said. “I told them they should consider me because I was a real Marine. The part was natural for me. It worked, because I got the role.”