Playing a grandfather who is the owner of an ailing Californian vineyard in his most recent movie, ‘Love By The Glass’, which was shot by an American production company in Brisbane late last year, local actor Jean-Pierre Yerma (JP), has just returned to the Whitsundays for a well-earned break.
Motivated to start a career in the performing arts when a chance encounter with a filming crew saw him offered a job, JP has been working on everything from commercials to movies since 2006 while also studying and fine-tuning his talents.
Originally from Melbourne, he moved to Sydney and then Noosa where he discovered a love of Queensland, enticing him to move to work on Hayman Island for several years.
He now owns an apartment in Airlie Beach and loves spending time here when he is not on set.
For the past decade JP has been studying his craft, becoming a student at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) in 2014 and learning from some of the best teachers in the country.
Since then, his career has taken off and last year he played the father in a movie called ‘No Harm Done’, which was shot in Sydney.
This movie tackles the complex topic of a father being told his son is gay and, coming from a footballing family where he is the coach, learning how to understand the revelation.
“I often get cast as a father or a caring person, someone who’s struggled in life, experienced trauma and tragedy but not let that get the better of him,” said JP.
“I love telling stories and spreading really good inspirational stuff - stories of hope.”
Both movies will be released this year so keep an eye out for them.
Actor Jean-Pierre Yerma (JP) has just finished filming ‘Love By The Glass’
In the movie he had to grow a beard to become a 70-year-old grandfather