Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeremy Gauna.
Hi Jeremy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Life for me like many has always been a rollercoaster of not knowing what kind of hardships are going to hit and or how hard they will be when they do. My parents were 19 & 20 when they had me. They split when I was 7 or 8. We struggled growing up (but never knew it) and well as I got older, it taught me how to appreciate the littlest of things. We never went without. My mother always worked multiple jobs to provide for us and would still come home to fix us a hot plate. My dad kept me plenty busy with enough work to keep me out of trouble. For me, I just knew sports was the answer. I was certain that I was going to go pro and make all the money playing basketball and all was going to be well off. Little did I know that because of my uncoachable FIGHT EVERYBODY mentality, I wouldn’t even make it to a D1 junior college. I learned very quickly that I wasn’t the best and I had to figure out a way to change my life and start being somebody that people wanted to vouch for because up until that point, the opposition just wasn’t working. I learned that the rewards for putting good out into the universe are way more what I crave than the opposition. Ever since I made that change, my life has been amazing.
For me, acting was something I never considered until I had 1 conversation with a man named Zahn McClarnon(A Native Legend in the acting world). I was doing background work for a TV show called “Queen of the South”. At the time, I was working for TDMN (The Dallas Morning News) handling marketing and advertisement as my “real job”. Anyway, while doing bg work, I was privileged to sit next to Zahn during lunch and have some great c0nvos about acting and life in general. The next thing I know, they offered me a minor speaking part and I accepted. Let’s just say, that minor part led to me getting an agent and in acting classes, and well now…I am fortunate enough to say almost 4 yrs. later acting and modeling is now my full-time job. I have been so blessed to work with some big names, Sam Worthington, Machine Gun Kelly, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Sam Elliott, Alice Braga, and Zahn McClarnon to name a few. When I am not acting or modeling, I am working on the production side of things behind the camera for a TV show called The Chosen (Shoutout to my Chosen family). Never would have thought that my life would have taken me down this pathway but here we are and I am so grateful. I always so that if it all ended today and I never got to do another photoshoot to act in another movie… well, I’d be at peace knowing that I have already accomplished what I have and at least I can say I have made it this far. People from where I am from who grew up like I did don’t get that opportunity so for me this means the world and I am humbled by it all.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road in no way has been easy at all. Acting is so tuff, as an aspiring actor there can and will be times with a lot of downtimes. In those times it’s hard enough to survive financially but what makes it even harder is unknowing of when work could pick back up. Getting auditions is a great thing but nothing is ever guaranteed and there are thousands and thousands of people who are going for that same role as well. There are multiple struggles that would lead most to give up and most do. I wouldn’t suggest quitting a full-time job and jumping into this industry cause while at times pay is good, it’s not always consistent enough and although it only takes 1 big break, most actors and actresses can spend years and years in the industry without ever catching a big break. Being patient is key in this industry and I guess that is where the saying, “HURRY UP AND WAIT” comes from.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Being an actor has been absolutely amazing. I have had the privilege of working with Sam Worthington and Colson (MGK) Baker in the movie called, “The Last Son”. I was very fortunate to work with Alice Braga and Zahn McClarnon on Queen of the South. Other movies include Buckskin, The Harbinger, and Washington’s Armor. I am signed to The Dragonfly Modelling Agency. I have been published in Malvie Magazine (French). I am also the cover of a romance novel called, “The Choctaw Sun”. When I am not modeling and acting. I work on a tv show, The Chose. I handle locations and my job requires multiple duties. I am responsible for putting up signs to direct people. I clean up the set and am responsible for taking out the trash and making sure the cast has tents and chairs. I am pretty much utility and help any department when needed. This show has been an incredible blessing to be a part of and I am grateful.
What sets me apart from most is my ability to make friends with everybody on set. There isn’t a person from top to bottom who I don’t try to talk to. I am very fortunate to be able to make others feel involved and important no matter who they are. I like making building people up and leaving them feeling good about themselves. I always try to make 1 person smile a day.
I am very blessed to have been able to create my very own clothing company and logo that I now officially have trademarked. My brand is called “Indigi_ish”. I will mainly be focusing on shirts and sweaters and eventually work my way to other promotional items. I am still in the beginning stages but I am proud to have something that represents more than just me. The message behind Indigi_ish is that YOU BELONG. The term indigenous mean you are native to a specific land or area and I just want everybody to feel that wherever they call home they know they belong. There will be lots more to come in the near future.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
SOCIAL: IG: Choctawnativejp
Facebook: Native Jeremy G
Tik Tok: Choctawndnjp
YouTube: Choctawndnjp
Soundcloud: Tantoakajp
LMT TALENT:
Please reach out to my agent Linda McAlister – Owner / Lead Agent (LA & TX)-Linda@lmtalent.com
For Film: Please reach out to Becky Turner – Becky@lmtalent.com
For Commercial/Print: Please reach out to Molly McAlister – Molly@lmtalent.com
For VO work: Reach over to Patrick McAlister – Patrick@lmtalent.com
Modelling Agency: The Dragonfly Agency
DALLAS AGENCY DIRECTOR – Loren@thedragonflyagency.com
Development/Submissions – Assistant@thedragonflyagency.com
Manager:
Hines and Hunt – (818) 557-7516
Contact Info:
- Website: jeremygauna.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/choctawnativejp/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NativeJeremyG/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/choctawndnjp/
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/tantoakajp
Image Credits
Alex Gaspar
Felipe Castruita
Tucker Ray
Jeb Loftin
Anneliszt Lozano
