The UMSL campus is full of creative students who express themselves in many ways. One of the easiest ways for students to express themselves is through fashion and style. Being located in the Midwest, it’s easy to come across a sea of people roughly dressed the same. But for students like Jack Cooper, standing out from the crowd comes naturally. Beyond his style and fashion sense, Cooper is a communications major, a host and intern of UMSL Radio and an aspiring actor.
Q: Who or what inspired you to begin acting?
A: My best friend Johnathan Arneson, who I went to school with in sixth grade. He applied to NYU film school at one point, and they required you to make a short film for that. And he asked me on a whim if I wanted to be in it.
It was like a five-minute mobster film. I was in it, and that was the first time I did like professional-looking acting. I got a lot of positive feedback from friends and family, and I actually really liked doing that. I’ve done acting stuff before, but it was more like just to laugh at or like funny things.
But that was the first time I was like, if I really wanted to, I could try and make a career out of this.
Q: UMSL is not necessarily a place where acting is a huge program; how has your experience been on campus when you have that interest?
A: Pretty all right. I know it’s not the traditional kind of acting that happens on stage or on screen … from what I’m aware of, UMSL cut their filmmaking program … It was one of the many class cuts. However, I am making do with what I can. There are a couple of classes that allow you to do stuff like that. I’m taking a couple of video classes, and those allow you to kind of make your own project, and I’m allowed to do acting in those as well. For instance, if it’s like a commercial project, I can do it there.
Q: Outside of UMSL, how do you engage in the acting and arts world?
A: There’s a website called STL Auditions, and I try and use that. It rarely works just because of how small that community is in St. Louis and I was part of a Webster film back in the spring of last year, but I think that was pretty much it. I’ve been an extra in a few films as well.
Q: What are some suggestions or words of encouragement to other students like you who are interested in acting?
A: Definitely, just stay on it. It’s really easy to get discouraged. I know people say that about pretty much every field on earth, but with acting in this area specifically, it’s just something that’s gonna take trial and effort to do.
Q: What made you want to join UMSL Radio?
A: I was sitting out in the student center with two of my friends after class, and I was listening to one of the radio shows. I can’t remember which one, but listening to it, I was like, “Dude, that would be really cool.” My advisor told me that I needed an internship to graduate. I wondered if that [UMSL Radio] would count as one. After getting an answer, I got in.
Q: Who or what influences your style when you’re doing the radio?
A: I suppose I take bits and pieces of everything. I did a project in my high school for the variety show, where we did a mock [version] of The Eric Andre Show. And I’ve tried to input that character just because that character is a lot more social and extroverted than me in reality. I’m very introverted. I remember that my first show was kind of a train wreck. I’m still coming into it. I try and just listen to other people’s radio stations, professional and nonprofessional, and I kind of take bits and pieces of that.
Q: What type of topics do you focus on or what do you like to discuss on the radio?
A: I try and stay within what I am able to talk about and have experience [in]. And I like to talk a lot about upcoming movies and just movie stuff in general. I’m also trying to talk more about music releases. Even though my music taste is vastly different from the top 100 pop hits, or I just talk about what interests me, and if it works, it works.
Q: What is a current media release that inspires you right now? What do you think is iconic?
A: As far as the music goes, I have mixed feelings about The Weeknd’s newest album. I think the first half of it is peak. I also am a huge fan of a movie called “Lisa Frankenstein.” It was a very indie film. My girlfriend personally loved it. I thought it was really great. And that’s been a huge modern aesthetic influence recently.
When it comes to music, Cooper also states, “I have a real issue: I keep listening to 80s music. It’s my main thing that I like listening to. I also like music that’s very inspired by it. I like a lot of synthwave music that came out in the early 2000s.”
Q: How long did it take you to develop your sense of style and carry yourself with confidence?
A: A couple years. A couple of years to find the fashion and then a couple years to find the confidence for the fashion. I grew up in rural Illinois. I didn’t have a whole lot of influences until college. I was always inspired by movie wardrobes. I feel like every person who tries to dress nicer has that one phase. Like, I was wearing skinny Levi’s jeans for a while because I really thought I could do it. I could not do it.
Q: Who or what influenced your style?
A: For the past five years, a lot of my style has been very influenced by Stranger Things. Specifically Steve Harrington.
Q: What is your goal for the future? What kind of projects do you see yourself working on?
A: I’d like to find a job that’s somewhat related to my field. I know there’s a couple of opportunities in this area. Just getting my foot in the door in the future is something I’d like to do. If that means being like a production assistant, that’s totally fine. I’m really trying to build my portfolio with this radio station just so I have something to show employers.
Cooper began acting in high school and currently assists his best friend, Johnathan Arneson, with an anthology series. The series is called “Tales From the Suburbs,” which Cooper describes as a “horror, liminal spaces style project.” He worked with Arneson on storyboarding and writing for that project. The series’ first installment, titled “The Solicitor,” is available to watch on YouTube. Cooper has more projects in post-production. To keep a close eye on Cooper’s work and to support a local creative, follow Cooper’s Instagram.
