Earlier this year, Jeremy Gladen played the supporting role of Tommy Braun in the thriller film, “I See You,” filmed in his stomping grounds of Cleveland, Ohio and starring Academy Award-winning actress, Helen Hunt.

 

For the past month, he’s been in Bridgeport, playing the male lead role in the JC Films production of “A Promise to Astrid.” Gladen, 33, portrays Mike Tourville, who in real life had the privilege of knowing the title character in his hometown of Chicopee, Mass.  and thereafter wrote the book on which the movie is based.

 

Gladen, who has appeared in various short films and feature films – many of the thriller/horror genre – said he found out about “A Promise to Astrid” through the magic of social media.

 

“I’m in a Facebook group, run by a friend of mine who posts auditions,” Gladen said. “I saw it and emailed a head shot and resume and Jason (Campbell, JC Films co-owner, producer and writer) replied back, asking for a reel.”

 

Gladen directed Campbell to his Web site and Campbell thereafter ran his findings by Tourville and others to see if they thought he was a good fit. The following day, Gladen received an offer for the part.

 

“This is different than anything I’ve ever done; not just in terms of being one of the lead roles, but also the subject matter – being family-oriented, uplifting – that sort of thing,” he said. “I love it. It’s great work.”

 

After reading the script, Gladen said he took an immediate liking to Astrid’s pay-it-forward character.

 

“It’s influential through time – the endless giving back,” he said.

 

Just days after wrapping "A Promise for Astrid," Gladen is on the set filming "The Coroner's Assistant," the misadventures of a medical student as he unintentionally becomes entangled in the dark underworld of London's cadaver business. Gladen plays Thomas, who he describes as an enigmatic, morose and brooding gravedigger. The project, filmed in the Cleveland area, will likely be released on a streaming platform. 

 

Originally from the Cleveland area, Gladen lived for nine years in LA.

 

“I did some cool stuff out there, including a feature film called ‘Whitman,’ based on Walt Whitman’s ‘Leaves of Grass,’ which was turned into a narrative,” he said. “I played a ghost, so I got to walk with Whitman throughout the whole thing – Civil War-time, guns firing – it was cool.”

 

Gladen also served as post-production assistant for “Interstellar,” a 2014 sci-film starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn and Michael Caine and distributed by Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures.

 

"I got to do a lot of cool things with realy cool people," he said. "My favorite part was going to Warner Brothers and Paramount with the film dailies - actual film reels - for the exec screenings. I'm humbled by the experience."

 

At the University of Akron, Gladen studied theatre/movement for actors and completed various other modern dance/acting/movement technique training.

 

In addition to projects mentioned, Gladen has also appeared and been involved with various theater and dance appearances and student films. See his full repertoire his International Movie Database page HERE. 

 

He again lives in the Cleveland area, where there have been some great film projects happening. He is single, but has family in the area, including several nieces and nephews. Gladen hopes to be involved with future projects of JC Films.

 

Read more about "A Promise to Astrid" and other projects of JC Films HERE.