Character Questions Send these to crazeeferret@hotmail.com ASAP
- Go ahead and introduce yourself.
Hi, I’m Mark Jackson. I’m a financial planner, most of my clients work in entertainment. I live in Los Angeles, near downtown.
2.Tell us where and when were you born.
I was born in the San Fernando Valley, trailing edge of Generation X. All the legends and stereotypes are true, and I can still fake them.
3. How would you describe yourself?
I’m just under 6 feet tall, 200 pounds. Not a gym rat, but I work out.
4. Tell us about where you grew up.
It was a magical time. We had the internet, but it hadn’t taken over our lives yet – social media started about the time I hit high school. I had the classic example of American suburban life.
5. How old are you?
I’m thirty-nine.
6. Did you have a happy childhood? Why/why not?
As I said, it was magical. Two parent household, dad was an accountant, made enough mom could stay home. My younger brother and I had pretty much everything reasonable – dad bought each of us a car when we got our license. I was an Eagle Scout, and did theater, got good grades.
7. Past/ present relationships? How did they affect you?
Most notably a failed marriage. Diane and I were married five years, one day she just vanishes and some lawyer serves me divorce papers. I didn’t know anything was wrong. I can’t even ask her what happened – part of the divorce agreement is no contact. She got our house off Mulholland Drive and alimony every month, but I’d really like to know what went wrong. I tried the dating scene after she left; it didn’t suit me any more.
8. What do you value above all else in life?
There was a time I would have said my marriage. These days, my work.
9. What are you obsessed with?
Doing the right thing by my clients.
10.How do your beliefs make life better for yourself and the people you care about?
Most of my clients are in entertainment. Actors and singers, yes, but talented behind the scenes folk, too – songwriters, editors, special effects people. You hear so many sad stories about how former entertainers lose it all. That doesn’t happen to my clients.
11. Biggest fear?
Somehow screwing up – losing someone’s money.
12. What line will you never cross?
I will never tell someone to put money in a place where I wouldn’t put it myself.
13. What is the best thing that ever happened to you? The worst?
Diane was the best thing, and her leaving was the worst.
14. Most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you?
There was an incident in high school where I asked out a girl that thought she was above me socially. She took it as an insult that I even asked, spent about two weeks taking every opportunity to humiliate me. She even keyed my car, and dad made me pay to have it repainted.
15. Biggest secret?
Not exactly a secret, but I really wanted to be an actor. I gave it up in college when it became plain there were too many better ones. Every few months, someone offers me a small role; if I can fit it in around my daytime business, I accept.
16. What is the one word you would use to define yourself?
Competent. I’m damned good at what I do. People who entrust me with their money don’t need to worry about it.
17. What is your current goal?
Keep growing my business. I’m pretty well off these days. I make more than most of my clients, and the income stream keeps growing. I could retire right now and never worry about money – but the people who come to me for help would have to find someone else.
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