Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Plotzke.
Hi Jennifer, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have known since a very young age what my ultimate goals were and have always let those be the North Star and the driving force in my decisions. Knowing that I wanted to be an actor, I started performing in theatre as a teenager both in school and in local productions. I made it my main focus in college, attending Illinois State University Theatre School and earning a Bachelor of Arts in Acting. While I loved training and performing in theatre, I knew that ultimately my passion was for the screen, so I headed to New York in pursuit of a career in film and television. Looking for a point of entry, I began acting in independent films in order to build credits, gain experience and grow my network. As I was working in this capacity, I sort of fell into producing, as many people do in independent film. It’s the nature of the beast: working with a limited budget but wanting to make great art requires wearing multiple hats. So I began producing as well as acting and learning as much about film production as I possibly could. I found that it gave me a great respect and understanding for the demands of each job and a deep admiration for everyone working in this industry. At every level. I continued on the path of both acting and producing and since then have founded a production company, Poor Monster Productions, which now has eight films in development. I have also had roles on multiple network television shows, independent series and in a host of films, ranging from lead roles to supporting roles, both large and small budgets. Proud to say that today I am an award winning actress and producer.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road is never easy, in this or any industry, but I wouldn’t want the easy road anyway. I love a challenge and I’d rather earn something than have it handed to me. I have always been a roll-up-my-sleeves kind of gal. This industry is tricky because it requires attention to and focus in both the creative side and the business side simultaneously. So you’re kind of always driving in multiple lanes with lots of plates spinning. It can be frustrating and difficult, especially as an artist. Artists naturally just want to create. Not everyone wants to be bothered by also having to run a business, self promote and essentially be their own CEO. I am lucky in that I do enjoy both sides of it, so it’s a good balance for me. However, it took many years to find that stride. Living in a city like New York, LA or other industry hotspots means working a lot to make ends meet. For years I waited tables and tended bar and took on freelance work in order to survive. That in turn limits your available time to actually pursue what you’re there to pursue. So it’s a system seemingly in opposition with itself and it took me many years to finally get to a point where I could leave the survival job behind. Additionally, this industry is in a constant state of evolution and finding ways to adapt and learn is essential to survival. You have to be able to ride the waves and be ready to evolve with it. Otherwise, it can be a very hard road.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
In terms of my acting work, I generally play strong, leading women but I also love to dive into character roles that are a bit more outside the box. I can play a wide range of roles in multiple genres: blue collar, white collar, hero, villain, comedy and drama. I think that my versatility is my strong suit.
As a producer, I am drawn to stories that champion resilience, second act heroes and women that refuse to be sidelined. I am also committed to shining a spotlight on unfamiliar actors and giving the world a chance to be introduced to fresh faces.
What’s next?
I am looking forward to a big year. I am hopeful that several of my projects in development will be moved into production. I have been laying groundwork on several fronts that are proving that to be possible and will allow me to expand my production company and incorporate more people. I also have several upcoming film roles slated for production throughout the year and am excited to dive into those as well. There is so much new production happening in New York and New Jersey so the future is looking very promising. I’m looking forward to what’s on the horizon. I truly believe that a rising tide floats all boats and I’m thrilled to see so much work becoming available, not just for me but for everyone!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jenniferplotzke.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennplotzke
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenniferplotzke
- Other: https://www.poormonsterproductions.com
