Doug Jones Brought ‘Love’ to Fargo

By Brianna Brickweg
Contributing Writer

Doug Jones came to town for the Fargo Film Festival, and while he was here, there was love.

Jones, an actor famous for roles revolving heavily around make-up such as Abe Sapien in “Hellboy” and Fauno and “Pale Man” in “Pan’s Labyrinth,” came to Fargo for the premiere of two of his films, “The Butterfly Circus” and “Absentia.”

Audience members spent the evening with Doug Jones on Thursday, March 3 for the screening of his two films and a talk-back and Q&A session.

Jones is famous for his work in movies where he is a physical actor or where he works in make-up and becomes a fantasy character. Jones got his start in college at Ball State University as a mime and started in Los Angeles doing commercials where his work was very physical. However, Jones believes all acting should be physical.

“When an actor takes on any role, you take on a character from head to toe, whether he’s wearing a T-shirt and jeans or a full-on monster suit where you’re on all fours,” Jones said. “Facial expression, gestures, posturing, it all helps communicate; it’s not just the words you’re using. I find that a lot of actors forget that their whole body needs to be involved in any character they play.”

Jones did not come to Fargo with the air of a “Hollywood star” – every person Jones encountered got a hug. He stood in front of the stage after his talk-back giving hugs, signing autographs, taking pictures and showing the people of Fargo-Moorhead that he is a genuinely nice guy.

“Being a ‘Hollywood actor’ person, people assume that I’m supposed to be stuck up or something or that I’m full of myself and that fact that I’m not I guess makes [people wonder] ‘What’s wrong with you? Why are you so nice?’” Jones said.

Jones is a regular face at film festivals. Much of the work he has done recently has been with independent films and he loves to get to the festivals where they premiere when he can. Jones is also not a stranger to Fargo. He was here more than 10 years ago to speak at a youth event at a local church. Jones speaks at many church events because he is a Christian.

“Being a Christian who works in ‘The Hollywood Land,’ that gets me a lot of invitations to speak, [and] it gives me a platform to speak from,” Jones said. “When you’re in TV or films people tend to listen to you, unfortunately. We give the platform to many people because they are celebrities, so unfortunately I’ve been given that same platform and unfortunately I use it.”

Jones didn’t need the Fargo Film Festival staffers to twist his arm for him to agree to come here – Jones is a big fan of this area of the country and believes it contains the nicest people in the nation.

“I completely understand the “North Dakota/Minnesota nice idea.” I get that because I’ve visited this region of the country many times before, and it’s got the nicest people in the world,” Jones said. “In the United States of America, these are the two nicest states. Honestly.”

Jones was given the opportunity to meet many young filmmakers and talk with them about their work. He was invited to, and attended, the student film screenings. Meeting students is one thing Jones loves about film festivals.

“What I love about film festivals in general is meeting young filmmakers and this specific festival is very tied into the [MSUM] film department. Those kids are very involved,” Jones said. “A lot of these kids here that I’ve been meeting, not only are they the nicest in the world here, but also I’m meeting a lot of creative young kids [and] it’s just exciting to pat them on the back and be a part of their process.”

Between appearing at film festivals and speaking at churches and schools, Jones is heavily involved with inspiring youth. Jones and his wife, whom he affectionately calls “Mrs. Laurie” and with whom he has no children of his own, have what they call “puppies” – young people the Jones’ have taken under their wing and mentor based on an organic connection made between them and the young person.

“When we both became ok with that notion [not raising a child from birth], it was almost like supernaturally twenty-somethings started showing up at our house,” Jones said. “Especially out in Los Angeles, a lot of people come here from somewhere else in the country and a lot of these young people are either leaving a family behind that they love and miss or they’re leaving behind a family that they hate and don’t miss. And in either case, having a mom and dad figure to land on or with in L.A. has been a very comforting thing for them…I love them all dearly.” The “puppies” will have dinner dates with Jones and Mrs. Laurie, but Jones also likes to meet with them one-on-one so they can talk about life issues, dreams, relationship issues and anything they need to talk about.

“It’s not conventional for us but it’s turned out to be a real lovely blessing,” Jones said.

Jones has many different projects in the works right now: his movie “My Name Is Jerry” has recently been released and is available for instant viewing on Netflix;  “Gainsbourg,” a French film based on Serge Gainsbourg that features Jones as Gainsbourg’s alter ego, will be released in the United States in the fall. He will be featured in a web series with Felicia Day called “Dragon Age: Redemption,” based on the video game “Dragon Age,” which will be released in July; he will be the subject in a photo book about mimes called “Mime Very Own Book,” which he worked on with Eric Curtis, Scott Perry and Adam Mock and which will be released in December. And he is also featured in a film called “The Candy Shop,” a 30-minute short film that addresses the issue of child sex trafficking in the United States as a part of a non-profit organization called Street Grace in Atlanta. Jones is passionate about Street Grace’s cause and hopes to be their spokesperson when they go national.

Jones is a passionate person who hopes to instill that passion in the youth he encounters. He wants young people to know that, especially if they want to get into an artistic career where making money can be difficult, the best thing to do is go out and do it.

“When you go into a movie theater or turn on your TV and there’s something on that screen, that means it can be done,” Jones said. “And that would really apply to any profession – if you want to be a nurse and you see one in a hospital,that means it can be done. So someone’s out there doing it and why wouldn’t that be you?”

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