FHU Alum Begins Acting Career in New York City

Former Freed-Hardeman University student Jason Liles has already achieved a degree of success in his pursuit of an acting career in New York City. The actor has done voice over work for a popular video game and worked in “Men in Black III.”

His acting career, however, began at Freed-Hardeman. He took his first theater classes at FHU and later landed roles in several Freed-Hardeman productions, including Macbeth and Terra Nova. He claims that without Freed-Hardeman, he “wouldn’t even have an acting career.” He adds, “Dr. Cliff Thompson (FHU’s director of theatre) encouraged and pushed me to get more involved.” Thompson had this to say of Liles: “Jason has the talent and charisma to have a very successful performing career. That he was inspired to be an actor during his time here at FHU makes me especially proud.”

Liles moved to New York City in 2009 to study at the New York Film Academy in Manhattan, graduating in May of 2010. “New York Film Academy was an incredible experience…it definitely helped me build on the foundation that was created by FHU,” he says. Not only did Liles learn valuable information about the business, but he also gained many friendships while studying at NYFA. Liles says, “My acting friends are some of the greatest and most supportive people I’ve ever met, and they keep me going through the hard times that often come in the career.”

Since then, he has done voice over work in the video game “L.A. Noire,” appeared on an episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and done stand-in work on “Royal Pains.” “L.A. Noire,” which focuses on crime in 1940’s Los Angeles, received positive reviews from critics and became the United States’ best-selling video game during May 2011. “L.A. Noire” was a particularly great experience for him, Liles said, because he got to work with his brother Jordan, who works for Rockstar Games. Liles said he “ended up reading for an American gangster and screaming all of these different things one might scream in a life or death gun fight…but in 1947.” He adds that it is “such an honor to be a part of a revolutionary game from one of the most successful and well respected gaming companies.”

Liles’ role as an alien in the upcoming “Men In Black III,” put him in the company of such stars as Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, and Emma Thompson. The highly-anticipated science-fiction film is set to release in May 2012. While filming, Liles got the opportunity to work on scenes in the MIB Headquarters and Coney Island. Liles states, “I went in for several wardrobe and prosthetics fittings, ended up being in scenes with nearly the entire cast, and worked for several weeks spread out over six months.” He says of the experience, “It’s all been a blessing beyond anything I thought could ever happen.”

Liles is staying busy and feeling optimistic about his future. He is currently working on a short film about a boy born into silence; Liles plays the lead and does the narration. He has also done voice over work for a cartoon and just finished filming a music video for Rammstein, a widely known German band. “I’m so thankful to God for all the success that he’s given me in such a short time in my career,” Liles states. “I always try to give Him the glory…and I have no doubt that more blessings are on the horizon.”