University of Southern Queensland's alumnus - Jake Stormoen
A self-described fantasy geek, US actor and University of Southern Queensland alumnus Jake Stormoen has established himself as a fan favourite in the genre with breakout roles in the Mythica film series and The Outpost.
His path to acting success can be traced back more than a decade to his time at the University of Southern Queensland.
“I actually started here at the University doing an exchange program,” Mr Stormoen said.
“My time at the University of Southern Queensland was the best of my life and absolutely shaped where I went afterwards.
“My lecturers knew me on a personal level and I felt like part of a team rather than lost in a crowd of thousands of students often seen in American classes.”
After graduating from the University of Southern Queensland in 2011 with a Bachelor of Creative Arts, Mr Stormoen returned to the US and moved to Los Angeles to begin his acting career.
Most of his roles have been in fantasy, a natural fit for a lifelong fan.
“I grew up reading countless fantasy books, playing tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons, video games such as EverQuest, and watching any movie or TV series in the genre I could find,” he said.
The roles come with pressure from passionate fans, but Stormoen embraces the challenge.
“I’m very protective of the fantasy genre as a whole and want it taken seriously when needed,” he said.
“I try very hard to make my fandom publicly known so that audience members know they’ve got a guy on the inside of these projects.”
Along with his work in front of the camera, Stormoen has been a director on television and film projects. He also has two businesses that tap into his fantasy expertise.
“I currently have two side businesses: a Dungeons & Dragons dice company called Storm Forged Dice and am preparing to launch a jewellery company called Unearthed Emporium,” he said.
“Both are passionate and creative outlets of mine. I’ve been very fortunate in that I’ve been able to treat them as creative ventures to share my geeky imagination and ideas with the public.”
The actor returned to Australia and the University of Southern Queensland's Toowoomba campus earlier this year to see old friends and pass his expertise on to the next generation of actors.
He led workshops for University of Southern Queensland film and theatre students and high school students interested in the field.
His main advice for potential actors was something he learned at the University and reinforced in his professional life.
“There is no blueprint; there is no one way to do it,” Mr Stormoen said.
“Working hard to find opportunity and recognising it when it comes is such a pivotal part of this entire industry.
“There are so many paths to take, and this was a path I never expected to take, to go across the world, get my education and then move back and somehow make it work.”
University of Southern Queensland Film Lecturer and alumni Simon Van Der Spoel acknowledged the significant impact of people like Mr Stormoen giving back to their university.
“The opportunities for film and theatre students to engage with and learn from professional practitioners in workshops are integral to student learning outcomes,” he said
“Workshops with industry professionals such as Jake have a massive impact on student skills and student experience, giving insight into what it takes to be at a professional level.”
Find out more about a career in film, television and theatre through studying at the University of Southern Queensland.
University of Southern Queensland's alumnus - Jake Stormoen