When Jack Johnstone talks about acting, there’s no pretense—just passion, persistence, and gratitude for the work.
He recalled growing up in Manchester, England, as “an extremely anxious and angry young boy” until a teacher encouraged him to audition for a school play. “After that, I became desperate to continue performing and chasing that high.”
It took years—and a move across the Atlantic—for that spark to turn into a career. “I never felt it was possible to pursue acting as a career until I moved to NYC,” he said. “I can confidently say that acting is the one thing in life that keeps me going.”
Chasing stories that keep him running
New York City has become Johnstone’s creative home—he calls it “the world’s hub of independent cinema,” a place that fuels “indie cinema for people like us, starting our careers.”
Since joining Backstage two years ago, he’s applied for roles daily and booked three films—Fingering Jane, Stairwell, and the short Soy Boy, which he calls a standout experience.
“I’ll never forget filming the final scene for Soy Boy,” he recalled. “It was 5 a.m., and my only costume was a pair of bright red underwear. I had to sprint through the streets of NYC while a car rig tracked me. Though cold and a little embarrassing, there were so many laughs and highs during that time.”
Moments like that remind him why he’s in it—the laughter, the community, and the shared sense of purpose. “All the actors I know use Backstage,” he said, describing it as the common thread that keeps early-career performers connected to new opportunities.
The work that keeps the work coming
One of the biggest lessons Johnstone has learned so far is that “work breeds work.”
“I receive 20% of my job offers and auditions through jobs I’ve already worked on—whether it’s directly through the same director, one of the producers, the casting director, or even the crew,” he said.
“The lesson here is to be respectful, collaborative, and friendly with absolutely everyone on set. You truly never know who could be offering you your next role.”
That attitude extends to every part of his process. “No one project is the same, so why prepare the same way?” he said. “The best part of constantly pursuing acting is that you’re always adding things to your toolbox.”
He’s learned to stay loose and bold.
“Don’t take it too seriously—that usually kills an audition for me,” he said. “Make informed, strong, bold choices, and stop after a few takes. The more I do, the worse it gets.”
Staying grounded between the highs
Johnstone’s energy is steady but self-aware. “Consistency is key,” he said, “but you also have to accept that the industry is a monolith—it will dictate what it pleases. I had to learn that work and success come in waves.”
“There will be weeks where you have an audition every day, three meetings, and a shoot over the weekend. Then there will be weeks where literally nothing happens,” he said. “What I had to realize is that during those lulls, I need to remain positive and carry on seeking out work—on Backstage, for example—because it’s only through the work that you do in those slow points that you get to reap the rewards of those crazy weeks.”
His advice for new talent
For actors new to Backstage, Johnstone’s advises:
- Fill out your profile completely—casting directors want the full picture.
- Invest in good media—it’s what makes you stand out.
- Apply, apply, apply.
“It’s a numbers game,” he said. “Backstage has so many amazing projects on offer, so apply to all of them.”
And for anyone chasing a dream across continents, his message is the same: keep showing up—stay open, keep creating, and trust that everything else follows.
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