JM: TeeJay, I have been
fabulous and that is not an exaggeration.
Life is productive and fun.
TJ: So what are you currently working on?
JM: I am currently involved in a number of projects. I’ve just completed the next draft of my new
book, The Elephant and the Rider: Living
an Exceptional Life. It’s been in the
works for nine years and has required a lot of persistence. Should you wonder, the Elephant is the
subconscious mind and the Rider is the conscious mind. The reality is that our conscious mind is
like a small rider atop a 6000 elephant.
We can’t control our subconscious mind but we can learn to influence it.
JM: And, my wife and I
are writing a thriller entitled The Regression.
I will play the lead male role and find a talented woman to play a very
challenging role.
TJ: What made you want to get into acting?
JM: The genesis of my desire
goes back to high school. I was never
very good at athletics and theater was the one place I felt most
comfortable. After failing miserably as
a college math major and chemistry minor, I ended up getting my Master Arts in
Theater with my undergraduate in psychology.
I have always wanted to act and studied with some of the best teachers
in the world.
TJ: Which genre do you prefer: TV, Theater, or Movies? And why?
JM: Now I prefer
movies. There are challenging and you
know when you are going to be finished working.
In my youth I didn’t mind spending weeks rehearsing and traveling in bus
and truck tours of plays but now, my choice is film. And, films are challenging and fun.
TJ: Of all the actors/actresses you have worked with, who was
your favorite?
JM: Erika Slezak on One Life to Live was one of the
kindest actors I have ever worked with.
There are so many it is not fair to single them out. But, there are a few I have spent time with
and a couple who have become friends.
Tom Cruise is another very good man and one of the most driven and
energetic people I have ever me. Clint
Eastwood gave me great acting advice and Anthony Hopkins is one of the most
talented and brilliant and – inspiring people I know.
TJ: f you could work with anyone in TV, Theater, or Film, who
would you choose?
JM: Anthony Hopkins!
TJ: Have you ever been star struck?
JM: Hummmmm. I have met everyone I want to meet.
TJ: Lets switch gears a bit and tell me a little bit about your
Best Selling book. Quantum Leap Thinking: An Owner’s Guide to the Mind.
JM: The book really makes
everything complicated about the mind – simple.
It is an interactive book that inspires people to grow, learn and be
creative. I teach people how to manage
their thinking, lower their stress, visualize, take risks and turn fear into
power. The book has done quite well and,
more importantly, opened doors for me to meet brilliant and talented
individuals like – Anthony Hopkins.
TJ: What do you think about what Author Clive Cussler’s review
of your book? "You've certainly hit the nail on the head. If I had read
Quantum Leap Thinking at the age of 20, I could have saved many, many mistakes
and a helluva lot of wasted effort."
JM: I was always a great
fan of Clive Cussler so, on a whim, I sent him a book. I couldn’t believe it when he sent me a
letter. Then four of his books
(autographed) arrived in the mail. Numerous
phone conversations followed and finally we me.
What a thrill!
TJ: Favorite Acting Exercise?
JM: I don’t have one.
TJ: I am interested in being an actor, but I am in rural Texas,
What advice do you have for me, (I have already hosted an Entertainment TV show
with 500,000 viewers) but no bites since then.
JM: Let’s be
truthful. The acting business is just
plain tough. My advice to you and
everyone is to create your own vehicle, make friends with rejection and DO NOT give
up.
TJ: Beach or Mountains:
JM: Beach.
JM: My wife and I live
and write part of the year at our place in St. Thomas, U. S. Virgin Islands.
TJ: Morning or Evening:
JM: Evening
TJ: Favorite types of movies to watch (drama, comedy etc.)
JM: Thrillers and
mysteries
TJ: Quickfire… what is
your favorite: song, movie, color,
animal, food, sport, number, celebrity,
JM: Half the Battle from
the Broadway show Ben Franklin in Paris, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Purple, Golden
Retriever, Paella, Horse Racing, nine, Anthony Hopkins
TJ: Do you have a hobby?
JM: Honest to God, my
work is my hobby, performing, acting, writing, speaking and peak performance
coaching plus I love camping and fresh water fishing and – scuba diving.
TJ: Do you have an interesting story that should have made it to
a tabloid? About you or someone else?
JM: I don’t think so
other than I found out totally by accident in 1995 that my father adopted
me. I tracked my biological father down,
made a reservation to go visit him and he dropped dead the morning I was
supposed to fly out. Whew!
TJ: All of the films, TV, and plays that you have done in your
Extensive career, which is your favorite?
JM: 'Star Trek: The
Undiscovered Country' because I got to meet and spend time with the entire
original cast.
TJ: What is one interesting fact about you that your fans don’t
already know?
JM: That I turned down
hosting my own national talk show because the producers insisted that I must
have a total incompetent as a co-host.
TJ: Thank you James for doing this off-the-cuff interview, I
wish you much success in your future endeavors, and send me press releases when
you have them and we will post them on TeeJayToday.com!
If you want to learn more about James, his career, or his future endeavors, please visit his websites: If you need to learn more about yourself, want to be a more effective leader, or just need an eye-opening read, you really need to pick up a copy of Jame's Best-Selling Book; "Quantum Leap Thinking"
