Phillip Jordan

Actor | Technology Enthusiast | Vegan FRANK on The Bright Sessions, VAN on Jane The Virgin. Click HERE to view my reels.

[thebrightsessions]

10 YEARS OF THE BRIGHT SESSIONS

The Bright Sessions first premiered in November 2015. To celebrate a decade since the show came out, we’ll be revisiting each season with livestream discussions and Q&As with members of the cast and crew. Specific dates are yet to be determined, but the rough schedule is as follows:

April - Season 1

May - Season 2

June - Season 3

July - Season 4

August - Season 5

September - Season 6

October - Season 7

Listen along to each season in your own time and join us for the livestreams. Each month there will also be a special surprise - new merch, blooper reels, and more! Subscribe now to Atypical’s YouTube channel!

To keep up to date with current dates and other announcements, sign up for our newsletter here: atypicalartists.co/10years

[thelaurenshippen]

what was the casting process like for the bright sessions? :O

initially, there was hardly any process to speak of! every cast member in the original run of TBS (seasons 1-4) were people I met in acting class or friends of friends. here's the breakdown -

Julia Morizawa - met in an acting class at BGB Studio Briggon Snow - BGB Anna Lore - met in improv 101 at UCB Charlie Ian - BGB Andrew Nowak - BGB Alex Gallner - friend of Briggon's Ian McQuown - friend of Anna's Alex Marshall-Brown - friend of Anna's and Ian's Phillip Jordan - BGB Alanna Fox - BGB Reyn Beeler - part of the ars paradoxica cast! aka friend of Mischa's

as you can see, that weekly class at BGB Studio in North Hollywood was the place for TBS casting lol - there were so many great actors that moved through that Sunday night class, but all of us were in class with each other at one point or another, and having that experience of acting together really helped I think.

when I started the show, I knew I wanted to act in it and I wanted to write a role for Anna, my best friend. but I actually didn't know Julia or Briggon that well - I just admired their acting and took a swing in asking them. that worked so well that then it was like....okay, well BGB is my actor pool now (I remember vividly the moment that Charlie was doing a scene in class and Julia and I looked at each other and had a silent conversation of "oh THERE'S our Damien").

season 5 (the bright sides - the bonus episodes) was similar. Michael Felix (who plays Austin) was someone we found through auditions, but everyone else was an actor either I knew or the writer of the episode knew, including folks from other podcasts! then, for seasons 6 and 7, the spin-offs, we just did a very traditional casting process, including in person auditions for season 6 (we recorded season 7 in 2020).

[thelaurenshippen]

I struggle with how much being online is useful or good anymore, if it ever was. I want my art to speak for itself and, increasingly, I’m allowing that to be the extent of my presence online. I think it’s important to take action in the real world in whatever way I can and, on here, I think my role is to provide a place for feelings. I’m going to keep doing that. I’m going to keep doing it in my queer body that has a uterus, because that’s all I can do. I’m going to keep loving my community and making space for other voices as much as I can.

Atypical’s shows are made by queer people, by women, by trans artists, by Black artists, by neurodivergent artists, by disabled artists. I don’t really have the luxury of funding other artists’ works at the moment, so I try to show my support to communities I’m not a part of in other ways—through listening to their work, through mentorship, through calling out the shows I think are great.

so tell me what audio fiction has made you feel something recently. tell me what’s brought you joy, what’s made you cry, what’s made you feel less alone. and I’ll keep trying to do all those things for you too.

[phillipjordan]

#whatyallthink So, my sister @marq_of_all_trades keeps trying to say I look like #MichaelEaly. So she sends this picture reply to my story from the other day. So what do y'all think : Michael Ealy or Michael Nah, B!? • • #youdecide #whatyallthinkwednesdays #instapoll #instastory #wejustbothlightskinned https://www.instagram.com/p/CAI1d-uJ83M/?igshid=9qg9aszxv0s2

[phillipjordan]

#waybackwednesday when actors could hashtag #bookedandblessed and #onset on gratuitous #selfies of themselves. 😂 (P. S. I love pastel colours! They make my skin tone 🍾! P.P.S. we could also hashtag #freshfade then too!😂) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_2_bBsJb4g/?igshid=yiedrqd7itq

[phillipjordan]

On this birthday, I'd like to reflect on the previous 365 days. I could pontificate on missed goals, forced relationships (read that again not failed but FORCED), disappointments, jobs I didn't book, etc. But what I'd rather do is show gratitude and highlight some of the amazing things, like attending @bada_online last summer and meeting other amazing actors and being a part of an amazing alumi like @noreevictoria. Or my every Sunday Framily @veganexchangela brunch with @janiellemtaylor @kaorinikstudios @chestergregory @lorenoden (and @rdtripthret whenever he in town and not being ashy 😂). Or achieving fitness goals with @harut_tovmas & @saizfitness. Or my group chats with @deneloganselkin & @mykeeselkin. And even that time I took @valariepettiford Fosse class (and I ain't no dancer like that😂). There are so many I could name! Anywho, these pics are from when we could "OUTSIDE" and on this hiking path is "MINE" tagged on a rock. It is a reminder that the most important relationship that I have is with MYSELF. So on this day I'm gonna treat MINE-SELF to an abundance of Fat Girl Snacks to celebrate me. 💜💜 https://www.instagram.com/p/B_c_okdp0MG/?igshid=1twqw49s6yg9b

[thebrightsessions]

Entertainment Spotlight: Philip Jordan

Actor Phillip Jordan voices Frank on ​The Bright Sessions​. He played Van on the 3rd season of ​Jane the Virgin​, and has made guest appearances on numerous TV shows including ​9-1-1​, ​Life In Pieces​, M​ asters of Sex​, ​Parks & Recreation​ and the reboot of ​The Gilmore Girls​. He also starred in the webseries ​Toymakers​, which was featured on ​Funny or Die's​ "Best of the Web." He has appeared in multiple national commercials and print & digital campaigns for brands such as Toyota, Verizon, Principal Financial, U.S. Cellular, Miller Lite & vitaminwater. He's currently working on the digital horror series, ​Geisting​. Phillip is also a vegan who loves technology and natural healing. We got the chance to ask Philip some questions about The Bright Sessions, what he geeks out about, and more. Check it out:

You wake up tomorrow as Frank Sawyer. What do you do first?

That’s an interesting question. Given the state of the world today, I don't think I could handle Frank's level of empathic ability! Fundamentally, if I were to wake up tomorrow as Frank Sawyer the first thing I would do is to find out why I can't leave the house. Then I would order take-out and watch ​Contagion​.

What type of scripts and characters are you drawn to?

I love both comedy and drama. For comedies, I'm drawn to characters who are dysfunctional yet funny like Bonnie Plunkett portrayed by Allison Janey on ​Mom​. Also, Allison Janney is a genius. For drama, I love a wide range of characters. Similar to the role of Frank, I love characters that are written with a rich history and have depth. One of my favourite's being Annalise Keating, masterfully potrayed by Viola Davis on ​How To Get Away With Murder​.

What’s the funniest photo that you have on your phone?

I like to play around with the filters on Snapchat. And sometimes I'll go through my photos and find random pictures that I took. This, by far, is one of the funniest photos I recently found on my phone.

How much room for improvisation is there while recording Bright Sessions episodes? Any favorite improvised moments from the relistens?

The way Lauren wrote Frank 's character, there was no need for improvisation. I love improv, but like any other tool, you have to know when and when not to use it. Lauren's words didn't need any extra tools.

What do you geek out about?

I geek out about Vegan food (my favourite food trucks are Lettuce Feast, The Donuttery & Maneating Plant, which I have almost every Sunday at The Vegan Exchange) & most things technology (IoT devices, phones, fitness tech, EV tech, etc.)

Can you share your favorite piece of fan art?

This is so hard! It's like being told to pick your favourite child. So here are a few I picked for very different reasons:

This one by doodlydear captures the pure rawness of Frank's pain and guilt. It is a great representation of the unseen baggage that he carries and the heaviness of it.

This particular piece by thefigureinthecorner, I am obsessed with the color palette! Also, there is something about the way the eyes are drawn the convey both sadness and hope simultaneously. Moreover, anyone who envisions Frank in a pastel turtleneck is a keeper!

Lastly, is this piece by violetpensive. There is something Hanna Barbara about this artwork, but futuristic. My first thoughts when I saw it was how it reminded me of Scooby Doo & Mystery, Inc. It gave me a sense of nostalgia.

Thanks for taking the time, Philip! Give Frank a relisten right here:

[phillipjordan]

Honored. 🙏🏽💜

[phillipjordan]

Happy National Ice Cream Day! <#vegan style of course, which means no cow pus and no bubble guts! Yay!> (at Yoga-urt)

[phillipjordan]

#tbt to the time when @tasha4realsmith & #VinceVaughn was enamored by my words and/or #natural curl pattern. 😂 (Shout out to @valabronharrell for keeping the hair moist and full of juices & berries & riboflavins!) #CouplesRetreat #Movie #Premiere #2009 #throwbackthursday #whentheeastisinthehouse (at Los Angeles, California)

[phillipjordan]

Let me tell y'all how @iamjennleticia just made me cry. She shared this message with me about us meeting for the 1st time in person a couple of weeks ago after she helped me out over the phone MONTHS ago. This is a reminder that #KINDNESS is #contagious. That love & gratitude can turn anyone's day around. And on a more personal level, I've had a trying couple of days where someone intentionally played with my emotions and tried to play me for a sucka (I'm from The Chi AND a #Taurus, so you know it ain't work tho LOL). And this message was a #reminder from the Creator that my #heart and #intentions are pure and that my kind of INTENTIONAL love will NEVER be right for the wrong person. So remember that no matter what you do, do it with #love and #gratitude and #appreciation, while expecting nothing in return. And know that the Uni-Verse will always provide. And lastly, thank you Jenn. You are a #light and a #gift in this world. The world needs more people like you who aren't afraid to be open & vulnerable. I am eternally grateful for this message. I am eternally grateful for our paths crossing. The Uni-Verse makes no mistakes. #Thankful #ButGod #Faith #UniversalLaw #MetaPhysics #spirit #guides #ancestralmagic #healings #alwaysontime

[phillipjordan]

@nativesonnow + @reformedschool #mashup. • • • Now you know I had to support @emilwilbekin and his #pride capsule collection at @bloomingdales. And you know I had to rock my #JamesBaldwin pin by #ReformedSchool to bring the #NativeSon full-circle. 💜🙌🏽 • • • #saturday #saturdayvibes #supportafriendsaturday #lovewins🌈 #beard #beardgang (at Los Angeles, California)

[phillipjordan]

To my brother from another mother. My twin. My "let's be ratchet adjacent and dutty whine" partner in crime. My "get me together and hold me accountable, while uplifting me and also reminding me that I am enough" Teddy Ruxpin-like friend-to-the-end. You are the true definition of brotherhood. And I thank the Uni-Verse for blessing me with a bonus brother this lifetime. And may this next rEvolution around the Sun exceed all your dreams and desires. These heauxs ain't ready for what's in store for you. And always know that as your hype man I will be screaming "Haitian!" and "Pon de River!" 😂😂 Happy birthday @iamjamesjolly 🍰🎁🎂🎈🎉

[phillipjordan]

"In the midst of change we often discover wings we never knew we had." ~EKATERINA WALTER (at House of Intuition)

[phillipjordan]

Distraction within a distraction. We need to bring back the #YouGoodMan movement. "According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, African-Americans are 20 percent more likely to have serious mental health problems than the general population. The pattern is more troubling for Black men because the factors that cause or exacerbate mental illness are often found in higher numbers among males in our community than they are in the general population." I've seen a lot of black brothers shying away from talking about this when speaking on this distraction. We NEED TO talk about black mental health in our homes, communities AND churches. THIS is the real issue. Defending speaking points does nothing to move the conversation about THE REAL issue forward. #blackmentalhealth #erasethestigma #dontbedistracted #flintstilldoesnthavecleanwater #facebookisstillsellingyourprivacy #victimsofsexualassualtstillseekjustice #policearestillkillingunarmedblackpeople (at Los Angeles, California)

[phillipjordan]

#oldheadshotday UPDATE : My sister may be a stalker as she found all these old headshots in her photo box. 😂 Get into all these lewks! 😲 (at Chicago, Illinois)

[phillipjordan]

#oldheadshotday since the actual ones are in storage, here are 2 that I turned into 4x6s that I keep on my media cabinet. My first L.A. headshots, Circa 2003. 📸 : @gatesygram PS yes those are dreadlocks (at Los Angeles, California)

[phillipjordan]

I've been researching the #BigBerkey for a while and FINALLY got one. I went from buying cases of bottled water to jugs of bottled water and now to this! Reducing waste is a process but we can all find ways to do so. Next up, I wanna get these amazing Alkalizing stones to naturally make Alkaline water. (at Los Angeles, California)