Building an acting career doesn’t happen overnight. For many actors, the journey begins with small opportunities, local productions, networking and a willingness to keep showing up.
Actor Jeff Kotowicz knows that journey well.
In a conversation on the Support Our #creatives Podcast, Jeff talked with host Alan Greenstein about his experiences working on independent films, landing a role on Paramount+’s Mayor of Kingstown, working with local filmmakers, the value of having a manager, networking, preparing for auditions and sets, and the advice he gives people who are thinking about getting into acting.
Getting Started in Acting
Jeff has been acting for roughly four and a half years, with much of his experience coming through independent productions in the DMV [District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia] area.
His first film opportunity came through a local connection at a Comic-Con. He met filmmakers who were involved with a zombie movie that needed extras.
Jeff’s reaction was simple: he wanted to be a zombie.
That first experience helped open the door to other opportunities and introduced him to people who would continue to send him casting information and projects.
His story illustrates an important part of building a career in the entertainment industry: one opportunity can lead to another, especially when you make genuine connections with people.
The Value of Having a Manager
Jeff also discussed his experience working with his manager, Connie C. Lamothe.
The relationship began after Jeff attended a table read in Falling Waters, West Virginia. Rather than simply attending and leaving, he stayed, introduced himself and spent time talking with the people involved.
He and Connie exchanged information and stayed in contact.
Eventually, she asked whether Jeff had representation. He didn’t have any at the time, so they continued the conversation, and Jeff eventually signed with her.
For Jeff, one of the manager’s roles is helping bring opportunities to an actor’s attention while also helping keep things organized.
That organization can be particularly important in an industry where actors may be juggling auditions, projects, schedules, networking, and other professional responsibilities.
Landing a Role on Mayor of Kingstown
One of the biggest productions Jeff has worked on so far is Mayor of Kingstown, the Paramount+ series starring Jeremy Renner.
The opportunity came through another important professional connection: Matt Burns.
Matt had been sending Jeff casting opportunities, including the opportunity to apply for Mayor of Kingstown.
Jeff applied multiple times as the production was looking for people for different roles, including prisoners, guards, and other types of characters.
Eventually, he was contacted about playing an NTSB [National Transportation Safety Board] agent.
The production was filmed near Pittsburgh, requiring Jeff to make the long trip from his home.
The experience included working on a large-scale disaster scene involving a train wreck. Jeff described the set as involving a large number of performers and personnel portraying agencies and emergency responders.
He also described the importance of the production’s attention to detail and the experience of working with such a large professional production.
From Indie Productions to Major Television
Jeff’s career has primarily involved independent productions, particularly in the DMV area.
His experience on Mayor of Kingstown gave him an opportunity to work within a significantly larger production environment.
But Jeff’s story isn’t one of abandoning independent film for larger productions.
Instead, his career demonstrates how different types of opportunities can exist alongside one another.
He has continued working with independent filmmakers and building relationships throughout the regional film community.
Legacy of Darkness
Jeff is also part of filmmaker June Daguiso’s feature film Legacy of Darkness.
Jeff explained that he learned about the project through his manager.
After communicating with June and discussing the project, Jeff agreed to participate.
Because the filmmakers had not publicly revealed many details about the story, Jeff was careful not to disclose information about the plot.
He did, however, talk about the experience of working with the other actors.
He described the cast as talented and supportive and emphasized how much actors can learn by working together and supporting one another during rehearsals and production.
Understanding Your Character
One interesting part of the conversation involved how actors prepare when they aren’t given the entire screenplay.
Jeff explained that on some projects, actors receive only the pages or “sides” relevant to their scenes.
That means an actor may not know everything that happens in the story.
Rather than seeing this as necessarily negative, Jeff appreciates the opportunity to experience the finished movie more like an audience member.
But there is one thing he does need: enough information to understand his character’s motivation.
Jeff shared an example from The Slasher Nurse, where he needed additional information about the character he was playing.
Once he understood the character’s mindset, he was better able to approach the role.
Understanding motivation, Jeff and Alan agreed, is critical to knowing how a character should behave in a scene.
Jeff’s First Leading Role
Jeff’s first leading role is in a horror project called The Sabilla Six, directed by Shannon Atkins.
The film explores the dangers of online dating.
Jeff plays Charlie, a farmer living in a small town where people tend to know one another’s business.
At the time of the interview, the film was in post-production, with Jeff hoping it would be released the following year.
For an actor building a career, moving from background work and smaller speaking roles into a leading role represents another important step.
Other Independent Film Projects
Jeff has worked on several other independent productions.
Among the projects he discussed were The Slasher Nurse, Blood and Breakfast, Devious Intent and Anna Key.
He described Anna Key, directed by Matt Anderson, as an especially meaningful project because it gave him one of his first substantial speaking opportunities.
He also discussed Devious Intent, written and directed by Mark Byrne, in which he plays a bartender.
At the time of the interview, Jeff had also recently been approached about potentially taking the lead role in an upcoming short film.
The project was still being written, so he could not provide many details, but the premise had caught his attention.
Networking Is Essential
One of the strongest themes of the conversation was networking.
Jeff described networking as “huge” in the acting industry.
For him, networking isn’t simply about handing out business cards or asking people for jobs.
It’s about meeting people, talking with them, learning about their work, and allowing them to learn about you.
Sometimes those relationships lead directly to opportunities.
Jeff gave an example of being contacted for a project because a filmmaker felt that he had the right look for a role.
Other opportunities have come because people remembered working with him positively.
That is one of the most important lessons from Jeff’s experience: your reputation on one production can influence opportunities on another.
Show Up, Be Ready, and Be on Time
Jeff shared advice he received from Matt Burns that has stuck with him:
Showing up, being prepared and being on time are fundamental.
According to Jeff, directors frequently identify lateness, failure to show up, and ego as problems they encounter with actors.
His approach is straightforward: leave the ego at home, be professional and be prepared.
Being someone people enjoy working with can have lasting effects.
Jeff has received calls from people who had worked with him previously and invited him onto new projects.
That is networking in action.
Film Festivals and Screenings Are Networking Opportunities
Jeff and Alan also discussed the importance of attending screenings, film festivals, Comic-Cons and other industry events.
These gatherings provide opportunities to meet filmmakers, actors, producers, and other creative professionals.
Jeff described meeting actress Mel Heflin at a Comic-Con associated with the Devious Intent premiere.
The two talked at the event and continued talking at the after-party.
The larger lesson is that networking doesn’t always have to begin with a business transaction.
Sometimes it starts with a conversation.
Preparing for a Large Dialogue-Heavy Project
Jeff also revealed that he had an upcoming project scheduled to film in Washington, DC.
Because the project had not yet been publicly announced, he couldn’t discuss the title, director, or role.
He could say that the project involved significant dialogue, five scenes and three locations.
To prepare, Jeff was using index cards as flashcards to help him learn his lines.
He had prepared approximately 35 cards for the five scenes.
His preparation demonstrates another important part of acting: once an opportunity arrives, preparation becomes just as important as getting the opportunity in the first place.
Advice for Aspiring Actors
What advice does Jeff give people who want to get into acting?
His first suggestion is to get involved.
He recommends attending Comic-Cons and talking with people because these events can bring together directors, producers, wardrobe professionals, and others involved in the entertainment industry.
Jeff also recommends educating yourself about the business.
One resource he specifically mentioned is Jenna Fischer’s book The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide.
When Jeff started acting, he didn’t know many of the industry’s terms.
He didn’t know what a headshot was or what abbreviations such as PA and AD meant.
Learning those basics helped him understand conversations on set and become more comfortable in the professional environment.
His advice is simple: prepare yourself as much as possible.
Research.
Talk to people.
Learn from experienced actors.
And pass that knowledge along to people who are coming up behind you.
Paying It Forward
The idea of helping others came up repeatedly during the conversation.
Jeff is willing to share what he has learned with people who are starting out.
Jeff connected this with advice he had received from his own mother: “pay it forward.”
For people entering the creative industries, that can be particularly valuable.
The entertainment industry can be difficult to navigate, especially when you’re starting from scratch.
Someone who has already learned the terminology, expectations, and professional norms can help shorten the learning curve for someone else.
What’s Next for Jeff Kotowicz?
Jeff’s acting career continues to develop through a combination of independent films, regional productions, and larger television opportunities.
His path so far includes background work, speaking roles, leading roles, independent features, short films, and a national streaming series.
The common thread throughout his story is relationships.
A Comic-Con connection led to his first film.
Professional relationships led to casting opportunities.
A manager helped connect him with projects.
Networking led to additional work.
And positive experiences on set led people to contact him about future opportunities.
For actors building their careers, Jeff’s experience offers a practical reminder: keep learning, keep showing up, keep meeting people, and be someone others want to work with.
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This conversation with Jeff Kotowicz is part of the Support Our #creatives Podcast, hosted by Alan Greenstein.
The podcast highlights creatives and creators and gives them an opportunity to discuss their work, experiences, and journeys.
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About Jeff Kotowicz
Jeff Kotowicz is an actor who has worked across independent film and television productions, primarily in the DMV region. His credits discussed during the interview include Mayor of Kingstown, Legacy of Darkness, The Slasher Nurse, Blood and Breakfast, Devious Intent, Anna Key, and his upcoming leading role in The Sabilla Six.
About Support Our #creatives
Support Our #creatives is a platform founded by Alan Greenstein to help level the playing field for underrepresented artists and creators so they have opportunities to get their work created, distributed, and seen.
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