Former Clarkstonite Jerod ‘Judd? Fish’s star is rising in Hollywood. It would rise faster if not for the writer’s strike, though.
“It’s going pretty slow,” said Fish, 24, in a phone interview from his home in Los Angeles, Calif. “The strike has stopped most of the work.”
But he keeps busy working on Internet and DVD projects, including the web series “Roommates” and the movie “X-Fighter.”
The strike also gives him a chance to work on his play, “The Me Me Me Show,” based on his impressions of Los Angeles elitists in the entertainment community, who consider everything between New York and L.A. to be “flyover country,” he said.
“It’s hard to trust L.A. people,” he said. “It’s a different culture. They don’t make good friends. Michigan kids, I’d trust with anything.”
His goals in entertainment include bridging the cultural gap between that culture and mainstream America, while avoiding frivolity, materialism, and intolerance, he said.
Roles so far include a villain in an episode of “Las Vegas,” ill-fated musician in “Cold Case,” and World War II Marine in the movie “Flag of our Fathers.”
“That was a big job,” Fish said.
“The interesting thing is (Director Clint Eastwood) had the same focus with 2,000 people or with 12. He connects with each individual ? it’s so amazing.”
At meal times, the entire cast and crew shared one long table, he said.
“He’s real down to earth ? no star drama,” he said.
He filmed scenes with Lindsay Lohan in the movie “I Know who Killed Me,” but they ended up on the cutting room floor, he said.
“(Lohan) is a nice girl, but a little unfocused,” he said.
Fish moved to California six years ago, after growing up in Clarkston, Indiana, and Germany ? his father Bill Fish’s job with General Motors required frequent moves.
“I was an open slate,” he said. “It was extreme culture shock.”
He lived in Clarkston only a few years, attending Sashabaw Middle School, and Clarkston junior and senior high schools. He and his family moved to Frankfurt, Germany, in 1998, when he was a 10th grader.
But his Clarkston years were key to his development as an actor. As a new student in Clarkston, acting gave him a chance to make friends, said his mother, Jamie Fish, from the family’s home in Independence Township.
“I read in the paper about Clarkston Village Player’s auditions for ‘On Golden Pond,'” she said. “I said, ‘let’s go try out.'”
Judd got the part, she said.
“He was thrilled,” she said. “We’d go every day, and one day I mentioned I was good with a paint brush, and they put me to work ? I’m still there.”
Judd also acted with CVP’s Summer Youth Theater, Pontiac Theater, Lakeland Players, and Rising Stars, and performed in the play “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” at Sashabaw.
“I loved it ? it kept me going,” Judd said.
After graduating high school as valedictorian in Frankfurt, he applied to University of Michigan, University of California-Los Angeles, and New York University.
“They had integrated film and theater departments,” he said. “I wanted to branch out into film and television.”
He earned a degree with a dual emphasis in acting and directing at UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television.
Clarkston is still an important part of his life. His roommate, Heidi Steen, is also a former Clarkston resident. She works as an attorney for the Department of Defense.
Other former Clarkstonites in the area include Kristin Fonseca, Ryan Chism, Chad Nini, Tamy Ingrid, and Kevin Stalker.
“We’re a little group of Clarkston grads,” he said. “We keep each other grounded.”
His parents and sister, Liberty Fish, still live in the area. Liberty manages the local Ruby Tuesday on Sashabaw.
“I flew in for Thanksgiving ? went to Mr. B’s. Clarkston Union, the regular things with friends,” Judd said. “When I come home, I still work on the lawn. I keep it real.”
Things he learned from his years in Michigan and Indiana ? don’t be envious, be helpful, keep a down-to-earth attitude ? will help him succeed in Hollywood, he said.
“If you’re up for a big project, you can’t put all your hopes and dreams on it ? it might not work out,” he said. “You have to be realistic.”
“He auditions all the time,” Jamie said. “I have confidence in his abilities. He’s smart, dedicated, very passionate. He’s working hard at his craft.”
To see some of Judd’s latest work, check www.myspace.com/roommates.