Jonathen ‘Pantera’ Wallace

The Journey to Connecting Deeply

Jonathen’s artistic training includes studying at the Stella Adler Academy of Acting & Theatre and exploring Lucid Body work with Kennedy Brown. These experiences deepened his understanding of imagination, circumstances, physical expression and the relationship between an actor’s inner life and outward behavior.

As an actor, Jonathen continued searching for ways to move beyond understanding a character intellectually. He wanted to discover how an actor could enter the character’s world, experience the character’s relationships and respond truthfully from within the circumstances.

That exploration became the foundation of the Connecting Deeply Method.

The method is designed to help actors move beyond demonstrating a character and begin experiencing life from the character’s point of view. It uses imagination, physical exploration, emotional connection and relationships to create a character who feels complete rather than constructed.

A Lifetime of Movement

Jonathen began training in martial arts at the age of four and began teaching at fourteen. His background includes Shaolin Kempo, Capoeira and multiple striking and movement disciplines. He holds a first-degree black belt in Shaolin Kempo and the title of Contra-Mestre in Capoeira.

His experience as a martial artist, instructor and stunt coordinator has given him a detailed understanding of the body as an instrument of expression. Every person carries their history through posture, rhythm, breath, tension, movement and their relationship to space.

This understanding plays an important role in his character work. Physical exploration is not used to create an artificial collection of gestures. It is used to discover how the character experiences and moves through the world.

Experience Behind the Work

Jonathen has worked as an actor, fight choreographer and stunt coordinator across independent films and projects connected to institutions including USC, AFI and UCLA. His experience working with actors, directors and filmmakers has allowed him to see the demands performers face both in training and on set.

Whether preparing a complete role, working through a scene or developing an actor’s overall process, Jonathen approaches each performer as an individual. The purpose is not to force every actor into one rigid system. It is to help each actor discover the tools that allow them to work with greater depth, presence and freedom.

Becoming

Jonathen is the author of Becoming: How to Connect to Character Deeply, a practical guide created to help actors develop a more complete relationship with their characters.

The book brings together the principles, questions and exercises at the center of his approach. It encourages actors to explore not only what a character wants, but how the character experiences their body, environment, relationships, memories and circumstances.

The book and the training are two expressions of the same work: helping actors prepare deeply enough that they no longer have to force the performance.

“The depth of your art lies in the power of your imagination.”

The Purpose of Connecting Deeply

Connecting Deeply was created as a space where actors can explore, take risks and strengthen their relationship with the craft.

The goal is not to teach actors how to appear emotional or demonstrate what they believe a character should look like. The goal is to help them build a connection strong enough for truthful thoughts, emotions and behavior to emerge naturally.

An audience should not feel that they are watching an actor show them a character. They should feel that they are meeting someone real.

Prepare deeply. Remain present. Connect truthfully.