Canadian born actor Andrew Jackson has enjoyed a long and exciting career, appearing in theatre, film, TV, commercial voice and animation roles since 1987. He has played varied roles in shows like Merlin’s Apprentice, Sea Wolf, Smallville, Charmed, The Highlander, Earth: Final Conflict, Criminal Minds, and as Dr Stephen Hamill on ABC’s All My Children, to name a few.
Andrew is also a talented writer, casting director, can perform over 65 different character voices and accents, plays both the trumpet and piano, and has even composed his own music. Recently he added spokesperson for Polar Bears International to his extensive and impressive resume. His passion for the cause is contagious and we asked him to explain more about the organization, their work and what everyone can do to help save these majestic creatures.
You’ve had a long and successful career in movies, television, the theatre, animation voiceovers and playing video game characters. Would you say you have a favorite, or which roles stand out to you when you look back on your career?
When I reflect on my career the shows and roles that have made the strongest impression on me are as follows:
A) - “KING”- T.V. series, episode ‘T-Bone’ role of ‘T-Bone’
I played the role of an ex-enforcer biker with a fragile and powerful emotional life. I loved bringing vulnerability, light and humanity to an otherwise volatile and potentially life threatening character.
B) -“SEA WOLF”- mini-series, role of ‘Johnson’
I had the extraordinary challenge of filming on an 1800’s schooner. The producer and director made the insane choice of shooting most of the scenes at sea in the Atlantic.
The unpredictable and ever-changing elements gave us all a gritty personal understanding of the characters brutal life at sea. Near death moments in a dory with rising waves and cameras watching was unforgettable. It will remain forever etched in my soul.
C) - “Cyrano De Bergerac”- stage production, Citadel Theatre, role of ‘Christian’
I had the honour of working opposite the Tony Award Winning Brent Carver and being directed by the renowned Robin Phillips. The laughter, tears and nightly standing ovations spoke volumes.
D) – “Deadly Betrayal”- TV Feature, starring opposite Nicolette Sheridan
I played a multi-layered character whose disturbing inner world is gradually revealed as the film’s story unfolds. It was like peeling back the layers of an onion.
E) - “My Father’s An Actor”- Short Film- role of the ‘Dad’
Being granted the opportunity to parody the life of an obsessed actor was both fitting and enjoyable.
I won the Best Actor Award at the Cabbagetown Short Film and Video Festival for my performance in the film.
F) - “The Last Don II”- mini-series- role- ‘Dirk Von Shelberg’
My parody role as the Germanic action movie star ‘Dirk’ brought levity to the mini-series.
G) – “Merlin’s Apprentice”- mini-series- role of ‘Master Burton’
The director David Wu was charming. He granted me the opportunity to step into a Middle Ages fantasy world, a much sought after dream of mine.
H) – “Breach of Faith: Family of Cops II”- role of “Boris”
I played a Russian mafia gangster and worked opposite the long time film star Charles Bronson. I am proud of my performance.
I) - “Wind at My Back”- TV series – two roles
I had a series lead in the 5th season as a wealthy Gatsbyesque grifter named ‘Vanaver Mainwairing’. In second season I guest starred as ‘The Dynamite Kid’, a boxer turned wrestler in the heart warming episode, “The Dynamite Kid”.
J) - “Scared Silent”- I played opposite the talented Penelope Anne Miller as a church- going, Sheriff’s Deputy serial rapist. The darker shades of the role were disturbing but it was great to play a character inspired by real events.
K) - “Charmed”- TV series- episode ‘That 70’s Episode’, role of Nicholas
I appear as a gentle grandfatherly character that morphs into a younger evil warlock hell bent on stealing the witch’s powers.
L) - “All My Children” Soap Opera- contract role as ‘Dr Stephen Hamill’
I was very green at the time. I refer to the experience as my training wheel period in front of the camera. I was both fascinated and overwhelmed by the dilemma of being a soap star.
M) - “Criminal Minds”- The original pilot for the series. Guest Star- ‘Tim Vogul’
The character was vile and repugnant but it was great to meet the stars of the show.
N) - “Breakout Kings” –TV series, episode- ‘Steaks’
I had a recent cameo role as an ex-con who is threatened and ultimately branded by his past prison cell mate. It was a challenging and exhausting night of filming. The director Phil Abraham was terrific.
What first attracted you to working with Polar Bears International?
I have a great passion for nature and wildlife with a keen interest in polar bears. They are an exceptional and magnificent creature. I can’t imagine a world without them. It’s the younger generation who will inherit our past mistakes. They will soon be the care-takers of this precious planet. It is their imagination and determination to find solutions for sustainability on earth that will pave the way for future generations. PBI focuses on knowledge, education and stewardship. Their unbridled passion is driven by a firm understanding of the Polar bears situation and is based on years of science and field study research. They are 100% committed to saving the bears and their habitat.
There is a lot of information coming out right now about Canada since on November 10, 2011 the government declared the Polar Bear a species of special concern under the Species at Risk Act.
I am currently investigating and learning about this issue. I think the Canadian government should have classified the Canadian polar bears as threatened. Designating the bears as animals of ‘special concern’ fails to qualify the broader situation. The issue is more complicated than one might expect. There are 19 sub populations of Polar Bear species throughout the world and 13 of those sub species live in Canada. If you examine each sub species and their current situation, some of these populations would be classified as endangered i.e. the Hudson Bay polar bears.
I understand various schools across the U.S. and Canada are getting involved in the Polar Bear project. Can you explain their involvement?
It’s pretty exciting. We have nearly 40 teams enrolled this year. You can see the list with their names and projects at: www.polarbearsinternational.org/programs/project-polar-bear/teams
In 2010 there was a team from New Jersey called the Vampire Energy Slayers. They focused on getting people to unplug their computers and appliances when not in use. These electronic devises still soak up “vampire energy” even when they’re turned off. If you are interested in this groups study or info check out the following: www.polarbearsinternational.org/programs/project-polar-bear/teams/vampire-energy-slayers
The thing I like about Project Polar Bear is that it’s a way for small groups of teens to collectively make a big difference. The contest challenges teams of students in the U.S. and Canada to develop community projects that reduce the carbon dioxide load in the atmosphere.
Over the past three years, contest participants have reduced CO2 by nearly 200 million pounds. What’s more, their efforts have had a ripple effect, inspiring long-term change in communities through ongoing projects.
PBI teams up with zoos, aquariums, science centers, and other like-minded partners. Each team can be based in either the U.S. or Canada and consists of 3 teens 14–17 years of age and includes an adult mentor to take part in the challenge.
The contest focuses on key conservation behaviors - those that can really make a difference. And many of these behaviors can save you money! The contest categories include:
-
SAVING ENERGY
Reduce fossil fuel consumption on a medium to large scale within your community.
This means at a level that involves more than your own home. Medium scale could be your school. Large scale could be your whole town! For example, you could:
Install a solar or wind-power generator.
Decrease CO2 emissions from transportation with No Idle Zones, reduced bus schedule.
Conduct energy audits—and help people, schools, or businesses save energy and money.
Start a policy for a community-wide ride your bike to work or school day.
2. ZERO WASTE
Bring about an innovative change to an existing policy, process, or product that results in a reduction of CO2 emissions or reduced use of resources.
This category is wide open. You could:
Inspire a school-district-wide policy that encourages trash-free cafeterias by recycling or composting all waste.
Figure out where recycling is not taking place in your community—and make it happen.
Create a whole new meaning and understanding of what waste is.
3. CLOSE THE LOOP
Most of us recycle, but this only helps if people buy goods made from recycled materials. In this category, we're challenging you to close that loop.
This category is ideal for the shoppers and artists among you. You may wonder: what does this have to do with CO2? By re-using plastic, paper, glass and even clothing items, we reduce the demand for oil, wood, and other resources—and decrease our impact on polar bear habitat. Here are some suggestions:
Get your friends together and start a group that makes usable, fun stuff from old stuff—and then sell it at school or yard sales.
Do whatever it is teenagers do to make it cool to buy recycled stuff.
Convince local stores to stock merchandise made from recycled materials.
Create a project that encourages people to buy products made from recycled materials. Maybe you could make a list of products made from recycled materials—and then create a website for all of your friends and family to use as a resource.
4. REFORESTATION
By increasing our natural carbon-grabbers—those nice green things called plants and trees—communities around the world can help decrease CO2 levels.
This category is for those groups with a green thumb. Possible projects include:
Tree planting campaigns
Saving existing trees by removing invasive species
Preventing deforestation in the Tropics.
Do you feel the charity is making an impact?
I love working with PBI. It’s the only nonprofit organization focused solely on the worldwide conservation of the polar bear and its arctic habitat. They work closely with the world’s leading polar bear scientists and collaborate with a number of organizations, agencies, and businesses in the interest of the bears.
The greatest threat to polar bears is the loss of their sea ice habitat due to global warming. PBI’s research shows that it’s not too late to take action on this issue. We can save polar bears and the Arctic if we manage to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That’s why much of PBI’s work focuses on building momentum for action on climate change through actions by individuals, businesses and groups that work within the local community—and Project Polar Bear contest is part of that effort.
Effecting change on a global conservation issue such as climate change requires an up-welling of support from individuals so that communities, businesses and government get on board and make the changes needed to mitigate CO2, instead of waiting to adapt to the changes that will result.
PBI is serious about evaluating their efforts, even though it’s a challenge to see the impact an individual program makes on reducing CO2, which is the only real measure of success. Project Polar Bear is a solid example of progress. Each competing team must report on how many pounds of CO2 their project reduces. Then it takes those successes and multiplies the effort by partnering with organizations and sponsors to build on the effort thus enabling the polar bears and the arctic ecosystem to exist for future generations.
Please explain the urgency of the situation for the polar bears.
Scientists project that two-thirds of the world’s polar bears could disappear by mid-century, followed by possible worldwide extinction by the end of the 21st century. This dire situation is due to a dramatic retreat of the arctic sea ice, the habitat polar bears need for catching their prey. These sea ice losses are fueled by a build-up of greenhouse gases caused by human activities.
The sobering predictions are based, however, on a scenario in which no action is taken. Research by our chief scientist Dr. Steven C. Amstrup, published with a team of scientists in Nature, shows that hope remains for polar bears and the arctic ecosystem if present levels of greenhouse gases are significantly reduced.
Indeed, polar bears might persist across most of their current range with significant mitigation of the rise in GHGs. There is much uncertainty about the future range of polar bears, and even with the mitigation tested in the study; there will be substantial population reductions. BUT, if we greatly reduce GHGs, the polar bear will persist at far greater levels than if we don’t. And those actions will benefit the rest of life on Earth.
It must be very rewarding knowing that because of your high profile you can make a difference and bring attention to causes in need of help. What are some things you suggest the everyday person does for your charity or any other charity they are interested in?
I am honored to be a part of PBI. If you believe in something get involved, pass on the information and inspire others to take action. It’s really that simple. The power of any individual to implement change requires thought, inspiration, action and commitment.
The efforts that teens put into the Project Polar Bear are really the same efforts that every individual should be taking. Even for people who don’t share the same passion for polar bears they certainly should be concerned for the future of all life on this planet.
Anyone of any age should feel free to make changes in their local community that save energy, reduce trash production, reforest or save forests, shop with an understanding of the true carbon cost, and make other lifestyle changes that reduce your carbon footprint. You can also visit the PBI website to learn more about the issue and make a difference.
The polar bears still need your help, right now. Here are some specific ideas:
Become educated about the topic. Spend some time on PBI’s website, and particularly watch the videos about climate change and about polar bears in a warming world. Get your school involved in our Tundra Connections broadcasts (also archived), or follow the bears on the Polar Bear Cam. Truly understand the science so you can tell others.
Invite others to join you. Go ahead and get a group of friends together and do a conservation action. The most impactful are those that save energy in our homes or are about transportation. Minor changes make a big difference.
Do a fundraiser for PBI. PBI is a not-for-profit, solely focused on being a champion for polar bears. They work to provide educational resources, support research and promote stewardship. Instead of getting birthday gifts this year, why not adopt a polar bear and have your friends make a donation to PBI? These little gifts of financial support do make a difference.
Stay in touch. PBI wants to hear about your successes and share them with the world. This will motivate and inspire others to do the same. Contact PBI through info@polarbearsinternational.org and join their Face book page!
Do you get depressed when you hear about some of the predictions for the Polar Bears habitat and future or does it just make you even more determined in your endeavors?
I feel a great sense of urgency, but I am not depressed. In fact, I feel optimistic. By combining a message of hope and action with carefully crafted, proven programs, PBI has inspired individuals, business leaders—indeed, whole communities—to join them in addressing climate change. We just need to get everyone on board and moving forward. I believe we can change the tides for future generations.
Any plans on combining your work with the charity and acting, for instance doing a documentary to bring further attention to the cause?
My imagination is whirling with possibilities. I will do all I can to further the cause by utilizing my own creative skills and experience. I’ve begun writing a children’s book about a boy and his relationship to the polar bear world. Hopefully it will inspire children and parents alike. A responsible documentary that explores the polar bear situation as it relates to the planet could prove to be timely, informative and inspirational. It is such a powerful and complex issue. The preservation of this planet and its wondrous creatures should be our greatest objective.
Learn more about Andrew Jackson at his website http://wanstrom.com/andrew-jackson/ and on his IMDB page at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0413263/
Comments