Q&A: Bodybuilding leads local man to modeling, acting
Date: 08-09-2003
Posted by: Anabolic Info TeamUnited States |
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A local bodybuilder has used the sport as a platform to launch him into numerous modeling and acting opportunities.
Jacob Ward, a Marietta Navy recruiter and personal trainer, has posed for the Abercrombie and Fitch's fall catalog, Men's Health, a spa in Pennsylvania and Muscle and Fitness magazine - all since an agent spotted him in June at a bodybuilding competition.
Question: What were the first opportunities that came to you?
Answer: It all started when someone sent a photo to Muscle and Fitness for a military fitness issue. I got a phone call and they said they wanted to do a test shoot of me. When I went they were looking for a few models for a spa ad. I ended up doing the entire ad. The shoot went great.
Q: What else has come up since that?
A: I flew out to Los Angeles for a weekend. An agent who works for Windstorm Entertainment had seen me at a bodybuilding show. I was a little overwhelmed when I got there. I did a shoot for Men's Health, and they were also doing the fall catalog for Abercrombie. So I did a test shoot, and now they want me back to do the catalog.
Windstorm has since called back and wants to send me to a six-week acting course. They offered to give me a job and to buy out my contract with the Navy. They said small roles in big films are not anywhere out of the question and in the near future. It's all in the eye of the beholder. If they like me, I'll be just about everywhere.
Q: Will you stay with the Navy or quit and go to Los Angeles?
A: I have about a year and a half with the Navy and then 10 more years until retirement. But then again, I'm only going to keep my youth for so long. I'm still thinking a lot about it and trying to make a decision.
I'm trying to work it. We get 30 days paid vacation a year. If I could do one long weekend a month, as far as commercials and acting go, I would have to put that on the back burner.
Q: Did you get to meet anyone interesting while in Los Angeles?
A: I met the studios and several other stars like Tyrese and Hilary Duff. I did a shoot at the same time Hilary Duff was shooting. My daughter loves her. I didn't know who she was, but my wife was like, "You've got to get her autograph."
Q: How did you get involved in bodybuilding?
A: When I joined the Navy, my roommate was a professional bodybuilder, a top-level bodybuilder. He and I spent a lot of time together. I had the drive to be a bodybuilder and he helped me to get started. Bodybuilding for me has been a great way to achieve set short- and long-term goals and be able to accomplish them. It's given me a lot of drive for other things in my life.
Q: Where do you see yourself in five years?
A: It changes all the time because doors are opening up. The stuff that's going on now, I'd never expect to happen before. I just wanted to open my own personal training business. Now the money that's there looks very appealing, and I'm enjoying it a lot.
Justin McIntosh conducted this interview.
