North Union man enjoying acting career that includes “Dunkirk”
A North Union Township native is enjoying an acting career that includes work in the World War II drama “Dunkirk,” which received eight nominations for the 90th Academy Awards, including best picture.
“What I was doing was minute, but it was unlike any experience I ever had before,” said Jan-Michael Rosner, who portrayed a British soldier. “To be part of a Christopher Nolan film and see his vision and how he directed us, I can put my hands together and praise it. Whether I achieve any success, it’s an experience I’ll always remember.”
Rosner lives in Glendale, California, with his wife, Krysta, an Arizona native who works for a mortgage company. He is the youngest of three sons of Richard and Twillet Rosner.
A 2002 graduate of Laurel Highlands High School, Rosner and his brother Wesley had the distinction of earning perfect attendance in their 13 years of school.
As youths, the Rosner brothers, including older brother Richard, enjoyed making home videos and had a DJ business. Rosner also performed in LH shows, including “Peter Pan” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”
“It propelled me into thinking I could make this hobby a career,” Rosner said.
After graduation, Rosner worked locally while taking acting and singing classes before moving to California in 2004 at age 20. He joined his brother Wesley who was moving there from Mississippi.
“I did the James Dean Approach. I pride myself on going old school, not knowing what was going to happen but taking the risk,” Rosner said.
Like many actors, Rosner has done his share of waiting tables and background work in television and films.
“A lot of people don’t like to do it. I enjoy it. I take it as a class,” Rosner said of observing directors and other actors at work. ”I take anything I can get my hands on. The main thing is networking.”
Rosner has done background work in television series that included “Malcolm in the Middle,” “The O.C.,” “Hannah Montana,” “Seventh Heaven” and “Glee.”
“There’s so much work out there. People don’t realize,” said Rosner. “It makes you feel comfortable being there and interacting with the actors. I’m talking with Jane Lynch on ‘Glee’ and Billy Ray Cyrus on ‘Hannah Montana.”’
In fact, Rosner said he’s had pleasant encounters with almost all actors on shows he’s worked.
“They are sweet and humble. They’re not mean to anyone whether you’re a character or a background,” Rosner said. ”You have a short amount of time to make a show or a movie so everybody works together.”
Rosner earned his Screen Actors Guild card for a 2011 appearance on the television series “Parks and Recreation” when he played a student involved in a model United Nations. Rosner, who represented Algeria, did a scene with Chris Pratt, who played Andy on the show and is now an A-List actor.
“At that time, I was close to my 30s and playing another 14 year old,” Rosner laughed. “My role with Christ Pratt was to interact. It was all improv. It was nerve-wracking but at the same time, it was awesome.”
Rosner said the scene was cut in length but the laughs are there, noting the men’s two countries were in negotiations when Andy trades his country’s army for five of Rosner’s country’s lions because an army of lions is better than an army of humans.
Rosner noted of Pratt, “He’s one of the nicest guys. We had about 40 minutes to practice. He made you feel comfortable. We had a lot of laughs. We walked outside together. It was two days before the Emmys and the show was up for a couple. He was recently married and I’m married. We were talking about our wives.”
Actors can be kind and generous to other actors even when they’re not on set.
Rosner said he had a great experience when approaching Gary Oldman, who recently won several awards and is up for an Oscar as best actor for his work in “Darkest Hour.”
“He’s one of my top three favorite actors of all time,” said Rosner. “I just saw him at the mall. I was gutsy. I told him I was a big fan and asked for acting advice. He stood there eight to 10 minutes talking to me.”
2017 saw the release of two films for Rosner, including “The Heist,” a short that is a parody of other heist films and received great reviews as well as “Dunkirk,” which earned critical praise and a number of film awards and nominations. The movie is up for eight Academy Awards.
Rosner said he answered an online casting call in 2016 for “Dunkirk,” not knowing what the film was because the movie was under a fake name for privacy. In fact, Rosner was not even allowed to take his cellphone to the set.
Filming had already been done in Europe and this was work before post-production. Rosner worked five days on sets at Warner Brothers and Universal.
“They said it was 1940s, World War II. I got called to do it. I got a haircut, wardrobe and clothes all the way down to the underwear and socks,” Rosner said.
Rosner was sent to the biggest sound stage at Warner Brothers where the T-Rex scene in the original “Jurassic Park” was filmed. He noticed the hull of a ship and tanks of water and then saw a man he recognized as Nolan, one of his favorite directors.
Rosner portrayed a British soldier in scenes with singer Harry Styles, who was doing his first movie. Not expecting to see him, Rosner didn’t recognize Styles but enjoyed talking to him.
”He’s a very nice guy,” said Rosner. “This was his first acting role and he’s a humble person.”The crew put prosthetics on Rosner’s nose and cheek. He was covered with oil and sprayed with sun block to make it look like he was sweating. The scenes were intense with Rosner saying, “They got some really authentic performances out of Harry and all of us.”
Rosner was very impressed with Nolan, saying, “He was up to his chest in water with us.’
Always wanting to appear in a Nolan film, Rosner said, “I’m not one of the major characters but I didn’t care. Being part of the whole process is fine with me.”
And Rosner had praise for “Dunkirk,” saying, “It keeps you on the edge of your seat. Your heart races. My heart pounds every time I see it.”
These days Rosner keeps busy “pounding the pavement and training.”
He maintains a positive outlook.
Rosner said, “If I go back and think about the different jobs I’ve had and the people I’ve met and worked with, it’s a blessed experience. I just want to be a working actor. I love the craft. I’m happy about it. What matters to me is the work and having somebody enjoy it. That’s my main objective.”