You’ve worked  on some pretty cool sets.  The Avengers, Ant-Man , Guardians of the Galaxy and Spider-Man: Homecoming,  to name a few. I  always clap when I see your name in the credits. I imagine getting the call to work on the Avengers movies was pretty cool.  How did you react ?

 Well, I was excited to hear I’d be working on Infinity War and End Game. It was a huge blessing and surreal at times because before I ever started in the film industry my “Fitspo” or the film that drove me into fitness, was the first Thor ,so there were moments on set where I’d catch myself and I’d be like…wow, what a God dot to dot –so my mom calls them– moment! Needless to say I was stoked. I believe it was my 6th and 7th Marvel film, when I got the call. I was just a small cog though. A part of the family, yes, but just a small cog in a giant machine! I love everyone there as we spent years together.

Did you guys all form a friendship over that time period? Do you still stay in touch?

Oh, yes! It really becomes even beyond friendship to family level because you spend all your time with these people! Aaaah, I miss many of them and I miss my time there.

What was your favorite set to work on and why?

My favorite set was Guardians 2. We spent almost every day indoors, but we just had fun! I met a lifelong brother ,Clay Chamberlin, there and James Gunn is awesome to work for! A genius! I also met my brother Dave Bautista on that film and I cannot credit any and all success I’ve had without my boss and brother, Lars Winther, who is in all honesty why I keep getting asked back to set! Anyone can do what I do but I’ve been blessed to have people like Lars who believe in me!

Funniest moment on set?

Sooooooo many! I’ll tell you this, it’s hard to keep a straight face when you are in front of a camera setting up shots and you are surrounded by your friends who say things to try and make you laugh and mess up! (laughs) Really there are too many to remember! And a lot I have to keep private, but yes, we have fun and there’s a lot of laughing sometimes.

Have you ever gotten starstruck working so closely with the main actors? If so, who and what happened?

Strangely enough over the years you build up a defense to that and you no longer get shocked or feel nervous around anyone. I did meet Schwarzenegger early on in my career, and of course, then I was very star struck and very green and had no idea about set etiquette, and so I walked right up to him, put my hand on his shoulder and told him what a huge fan of his that I am. (laughs) He was so gracious and cool about it! Also I met Oprah early on and she was so sweet and awesome! This was at Tyler Perry Studios.

I know health, fitness and inspiration are very important to you.  You have been very public about being an overweight child and having very unhealthy eating habits throughout your life.  Was there one day you just woke up and decided to change your lifestyle or was it gradual?

As a boy, I thought people were either shredded or they were fat, and I thought that was fat and there was nothing I could do about it. Internet was in its infancy with dial up, so there was no googling what to do for me to figure it out! We were still amazed that we could look up video game cheat codes for game boy! (laughs)  So back in 2011, I was having a rough go at life as almost all of us do at some point, and I decided to go watch the movie Thor, and I just became obsessed with the film and in turn it made me want to learn everything about getting in shape. I went and got supplements, most of which were unhealthy, and bought magazines and books and became like a mad scientist! I made getting jacked my obsession and along the way I figured our how to do that in a healthy way, Thank God!

What was harder, changing your diet or becoming more active?

Well, the workout was fun for me, like I fell in love instantly! Changing what I ate was hard because we all love food! Me especially! I’m a fat kid inside!

What  pushed you through to stay on track with both?

Through the years, as I figured out that more and more people seemed to be following my journey, it grew a fear in me– and that fear is hearing one small sentence, “Jared, what happened?!” Like I don’t ever want to be out of shape again. Ever! And that’s what drives me.

On social media I have followed you a couple of years or longer, and I watched you go from being awed from taking the DDPY classes to working your way up and becoming an instructor.  You put a lot of drive into something when you are determined—any advice for others on being able to incorporate that mindset?

Thank you! The mindset is simple. You have to have a vision. Without a vision we all perish! That’s in the Bible. Once you have that vision that goal, then write it down! Habakkuk 2:2-3~“Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.” Have a vision! Hold on to it! When things get hard, it will keep you going!!!

On social media, you often give diet, fitness and inspirational tips, and answer questions right away when people ask. You obviously like to get people unstuck. How does it feel to hear back from people you have helped ?

 I do want to help people! And it’s such a good feeling and to be honest such a rarity for people to get unstuck! Many people ask questions about how to get in shape, or “I wanna eat what you eat” and so on, but not many follow! A lot of times, as we all know, people are looking for a magic cure for burning fat- but there isn’t any that last! It’s hard work. But yes, I do try to help people. I’ve just become more and more careful on whom I share my knowledge with. I want to give what I know to those who would use it.

You are very open about being a Christian and being active in your church, which is pretty brave in the industry. What made you decide to be open about this?

This one is simple for me too. God has given me everything that I have. Through all the stupid decisions and dumb mistakes that I have made through my life HE still blesses me. I am scared to death of not giving Him credit! I serve a just and gracious Lord, but I’m not gonna ever put myself in a position where I don’t FIRST give Him credit! I’m an average dude! God did everything for me and still does. I wanna share Him with the world! The closer I draw to Him, the more peace I have. I want then to know that same peace that passes all understanding.

And last , I have to ask – how did you get the nickname “Blazerface”?

(Laughs) That was in Guardians 2. I was a stand in for many characters, one including “Taserface”, and  I used to wear this brown blazer a lot. So they started calling me “Blazerface”.  I  put it up on Facebook, and all this time later people still ask! ( laughs) I honestly have forgotten to take that down.