Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • SUPERMAN Movie Minute Review
    • Eva Victor on SORRY, BABY: A Personal Journey Through Film
    • Nacho Vigalondo on DANIELA FOREVER: Crafting a Sci-Fi Romance That Sparks Debate
    • Dave Clennon Discusses Horror Film THE SOUND
    • JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH Movie Minute
    • Robert Randolph Signs with Sun Records, Releases New Single “Sinner” from Upcoming Album Preacher Kids
    • The Floaters: A Heartfelt Comedy That Captures the Magic of Summer Camp
    • Levi Fiehler on “Resident Alien” Season 4: Alien Abductions, Directing Debuts, and Finding Joy in Acting
    AMFM Magazine.tv
    • Features
    • Movies
      1. Movies – Indies
      2. Movie Reviews
      3. Movies- Wide Release
      Featured
      June 11, 20250By christine

      FUBAR: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Carrie-Anne Moss Bring Action and Laughs to Netflix’s Hit Series Season 2

      4 Mins Read
      Read More
      Recent
      July 11, 2025

      SUPERMAN Movie Minute Review

      July 10, 2025

      Eva Victor on SORRY, BABY: A Personal Journey Through Film

      July 10, 2025

      Nacho Vigalondo on DANIELA FOREVER: Crafting a Sci-Fi Romance That Sparks Debate

    • Photography
      1. Event Photos
      Featured
      August 23, 20240By christine

      JANE’S ADDICTION At The 713 Music Hall, Houston August 19, 2024

      1 Min Read
      Read More
      Recent
      May 1, 2025

      DISTURBED, DAUGHTRY and NOTHING MORE Photo Collage for 25th Anniversary Tour of “The Sickness”

      November 26, 2024

      ARIZONA Opening For Yellow Card and Third Eye Blind at Dickie’s Arena, Nov. 15, 2024

      November 26, 2024

      CHARLIE CROCKETT At Dickie’s Arena, Nov. 15, 2024

    • ABOUT US
    • Music
      1. Indies
      2. Majors
      3. Reviews
      Featured
      November 25, 20240By christine

      Asia’s #1 Rock Guitarist Tak Matsumoto Talks New Supergroup TMG Release “Crash Down Love” (Interview)

      4 Mins Read
      Read More
      Recent
      July 4, 2025

      Robert Randolph Signs with Sun Records, Releases New Single “Sinner” from Upcoming Album Preacher Kids

      June 23, 2025

      FOREIGNER Honors Latin Fans with Spanish-Language “Quiero Saber Si Es Amor” – I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS

      June 17, 2025

      BLIND MELON Rises Again: Guitarist Christopher Thorn

    • The Wire
    • Literarians
    • Great Conversations Reprised
    • Movie Minute Reviews
    • AMFM Studios LLC
    AMFM Magazine.tv
    You are at:Home»World News»Movies»Majors»JOSEPH DAVID-JONES ON “NASHVILLE,” UPCOMING “ROMAN ISRAEL, ESQ” AND NEW DENZEL WASHINGTON FILM “INNER CITY’

    JOSEPH DAVID-JONES ON “NASHVILLE,” UPCOMING “ROMAN ISRAEL, ESQ” AND NEW DENZEL WASHINGTON FILM “INNER CITY’

    0
    By christine on June 22, 2018 Majors, Movies, Movies - Majors

    We had a great conversation with a very pleasant Joseph David-Jones, who has a co-starring role in the highly anticipated Kathryn Bigelow film “Detroit,” which opens in theaters August 4th. A genuinely modest and self-effacing guy, he told us how he ended up in the acting world portraying a variety of strong and diverse on-screen roles, like up-and-coming musician Clay starring opposite Hayden Panatierre on the CMT series “Nashville,” and Hollis in The Divergent Series: Allegiant opposite Shailene Woodley. He has also made headlines in the comic book world as Connor Hawke on “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.”


    AMFM:I thought it was really interesting that you gave up a full Mechanical Engineering Scholarship to the University of Kentucky to pursue an acting career. Mechanical engineering is such a promising future, what made you come out to Los Angeles?

    JOSEPH DAVID-JONES: That’s crazy how did you find that?

    AMFM:It’s out there on the internet!

    JDJ:Trust me, that’s a crazy thing to have to explain to your parents. I never wanted to be an engineer. But I took a career aptitude test and it said I was best suited for it, so I thought “Oh! That’s what I’m supposed to do!” I was good at math and science, and had the grades. But I hated it. It was awful. I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life learning hours and hours of coding. Or designing car doors and making sure the doors fit the cars as part of a team. I mean don’t get wrong, it’s a perfect job for somebody, but really didn’t know if I wanted to do that for the rest of my life.

    AMFM:The perfect job for somebody else, I guess.

    JDJ:(laughs) I know! So I started modeling in Kentucky and my father took me to a Image Model and Talent Agency. They said “ you should do an acting competition, you have a natural ability and seem to stand out.” So I went to New York to the competition.

    AMFM:What year was that?

    JDJ:2010. I initially went for modeling and acting. So first I tried modeling, and wasn’t that successful, I was in top 20. There were a lot of people , but it wasn’t enough for me to think “Oh! This is what I’m supposed to do.”


    But when they asked him to try acting, he ended up getting the Male Actor of The Year award.


    “Then all the agencies and manager were saying, hey, now you really need to come out to L.A., now you need to come back to New York,” said Jones. “They said we’ll help you get the auditions, we’ll help you get situated to be successful in this industry. All these agencies came calling.

    I went back to Kentucky – I didn’t know what to do. So I flipped a coin. Actually I flipped it three times, and it came up heads each time.  I said this is a sign, I’m supposed to go to L.A. and pursue acting.  I talked to my Mom and my Dad (they were like…I don’t know about this…) and saved up as much money as I could. I sold it as “I’m only going to take a year off from school,” because that’s as long as you can take off then come back and get your scholarship back.”  I thought I’d defer my scholarship for one year, try it out and if I didn’t like it I’d come back, finish up, and become an engineer…but that never happened.

    AMFM:So then you moved to L.A. and started going through all the audition processes?

    JDJ:Yeah, luckily things started moving pretty quickly when I got out here. I ended up signing with a managing agent that I’d met at the competition and started going on auditions the next month. Within a month I’d already had my headshots and a website. In the second month I had booked a couple of commercials and some movies – “America’s Most Wanted” was my first job. (Laughing) Yeah I know, right?

    Then there were a lot of commercials and straight to DVD movies. So clearly this is what I was supposed to be doing. My parents were like ‘ok, this is it,” and they got it – there wasn’t any pressure to go back to school. Luckily, the first year was awesome.

    AMFM:And now you’re co-starring in “Detroit,” which is billed as one of the most terrifying events in American history, and with a great director. Then you’re going to be in Sony’s ““Roman Israel, Esq.”” with Denzel Washington.” It seems like you’re on a fast track now, how do you feel about that?

    JDJ:It feels great, but it’s crazy because I’ve never stopped to take a second and think about how far I’ve come, because I’m so close to what’s happeing right now, and trying to get the next thing, and then the next thing. I haven’t had time to think about how fortunate I am, and how much work is coming.

    I have these moments, like being on set with Kathryn Bigelow, or even the tests for the films, where you are outside of yourself thinking “man! This is crazy that I’m right here right now.” The first day I was meeting Denzel and I was at the table read, I was sitting next to Colin Farrell and Denzel Washington was across from me reading. There was a feeling of “how did I get here? How did I get in this room with these people reading the same script as them?” There’s been so many of those moments like that.

    But when the moment ends, everything is just laser focused, and back to work. Once a job is done, I’m back to being an out-of-work actor, I have to re-focus everything I have, and normally I get back in classes – luckily everything overlaps. I’m in classes right now because I’m in-between Denzel’s “Roman Israel, Esq.” and shooting two more episodes for the Netflix series.

    Right now I’m waiting to hear back from three films and two TV shows. That’s my mentality. I think it keeps me working and it keeps me progressing. I’m never like “ok, this is it, I did it!” It’s like this moment is great, and I’m enjoying this moment in this great film, but now I’m back to work, and I’m hungry to get the next thing…to work on the next project and keep growing.

    AMFM:What kinds of characters are your favorite to play?

    JDJ:I have dream characters, that I would love to play…I want to play the rogue cop who takes the law into his own hands, and goes off on a crazy spiral to solve a crime. That is my ideal role. I have played so many different roles, and I’ve loved all of them for different reasons.

    I’ve played a superhero. That’s really fun, learning fight choreography and stunts. I’ve played a musician on “Nashville” and getting to a:) play with some of the greatest recording producers that they have down there in country music, getting to work with some legends in the game and b: combine the music with acting.

    AMFM:I’ve heard your voice, it sounds fantastic. Did you ever actually consider a career in music? Would you want to pursue music independently or is it just something that you do in addition to acting.

    JDJ:It’s weird, a lot of people have come to me about that. But music has been my breakaway from the industry. It’s one of the things I do to clear my head, to just mess around and play. I think if I made it something that I did for work as well, I would lose the only thing that I have that gets me out of that “I have to do this, I have to do that.” Cause acting is great, and I love it when I’m on set, but I’m very focused when it comes to acting and very very goal oriented in that avenue… and if music became work, I wouldn’t have anything. I love music, and I love playing it, but when they combine it’s great and it’s fun but If I had to get an EP out, meet up with musicians, work with songwriters, get the song right get an EP out, it might drive me crazy. People who can do both…they are amazing.

    AMFM:So we can’t expect a CD out of you anytime soon?

    JDJ:(Laughs) I’m still singing in “Nashville” and “Detroit” so hopefully there will be more roles that have me singing.


    Christine Thompson JOSEPH DAVID-JONES Interview
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleFantasia Review: ANIMALS and the Duplicity of Marriage
    Next Article FANTASIA INTERVIEW: Damien Power’s KILLING GROUND Offers Harrowing Romantic Getaway Interrupted
    christine

    Related Posts

    Majors

    SUPERMAN Movie Minute Review

    Read More
    Movie Reviews

    Eva Victor on SORRY, BABY: A Personal Journey Through Film

    Read More
    Movies

    Nacho Vigalondo on DANIELA FOREVER: Crafting a Sci-Fi Romance That Sparks Debate

    Read More

    Comments are closed.

    SEARCH BY CATEGORY
    • MOVIES
    • Music ICON
    • AUTHORS
    July 11, 2025

    SUPERMAN Movie Minute Review

    July 10, 2025

    Nacho Vigalondo on DANIELA FOREVER: Crafting a Sci-Fi Romance That Sparks Debate

    July 6, 2025

    JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH Movie Minute

    April 9, 2025

    Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup For The Soul) And Children’s Book Author Miriam Laundry On “I CAN Believe In Myself”

    April 8, 2025

    Astrophysicist, Author and Social Entrepreneur Alan Lightman On Achieving Goals And Non-profit Harpswell Work in Southeast Asia

    April 3, 2025

    Wrongfully Imprisoned For 36 Years, Judy Henderson Talks About New Book “WHEN THE LIGHT FINDS US”

    AMFM INSTAGRAM
    Recent Posts
    • SUPERMAN Movie Minute Review
    • Eva Victor on SORRY, BABY: A Personal Journey Through Film
    • Nacho Vigalondo on DANIELA FOREVER: Crafting a Sci-Fi Romance That Sparks Debate
    • Dave Clennon Discusses Horror Film THE SOUND
    • JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH Movie Minute
    Archives
    Majors
    July 11, 20250By christine

    SUPERMAN Movie Minute Review

    2 Mins Read
    Review by Paul Salfen https://www.amfm-magazine.tv/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Superman.m4a This is Paul Salfen with your KLAK Movie Minute. In theaters this weekend is Superman, the highly anticipated reboot of the beloved superhero franchise that has been hit or miss over the years so it's been a nervous anticipation for fans but have no fear - the leaked review was
    Read More
    Movie Reviews
    July 10, 20250By christine

    Eva Victor on SORRY, BABY: A Personal Journey Through Film

    5 Mins Read
    Interview by Paul Salfen In a recent conversation with AMFM Magazine, Eva Victor, the writer, director, and star of the poignant new film Sorry, Baby, shared her experiences bringing this deeply personal project to life. The film, distributed by A24, follows Agnes, a woman grappling with a traumatic event as she navigates the contrast between
    Read More
    Movies
    July 10, 20250By christine

    Nacho Vigalondo on DANIELA FOREVER: Crafting a Sci-Fi Romance That Sparks Debate

    5 Mins Read
    In theaters July 11th Directed by: Nacho Vigalondo Cast: Henry Golding, Beatrice Grannò, Aura Garrido, Rubén Ochandiano, & Nathalie Poza At the heart of Spanish filmmaker Nacho Vigalondo’s latest cinematic venture, Daniela Forever, lies a bold exploration of grief, love, and the blurred lines between reality and dreams. Known for his genre-bending films like Timecrimes
    Read More
    Movie Reviews
    July 6, 20250By christine

    Dave Clennon Discusses Horror Film THE SOUND

    4 Mins Read
    In an engaging conversation with AMFM Magazine, actor Dave Clennon shared insights about his latest project, the horror film The Sound, and reflected on his career, including his iconic role in John Carpenter’s The Thing. Clennon, known for his selective approach to roles, discussed what drew him to The Sound, the film’s intense atmosphere, and
    Read More
    Copyright AMFMSTUDIOS LLC
    • About
    • Privacy
    • Contact
    • Cookie Policy (US)
    Copyright AMFMSTUDIOS LLC
    • About
    • Privacy
    • Contact
    • Cookie Policy (US)

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.