For many students, seventh grade is nothing more than the middle of middle school. But for junior James Matthis it was the start of a career.  

“I started acting because everybody else was doing sports, everybody else was doing music you know,” James said. “I wanted to do something different like something nobody else was doing and I thought acting was different and my way to break out.”

He’s been in commercials for Nerf, Boy Scouts, and the Dallas Police Department but one tends to stand out.

“I would have to say my favorite commercial would have to be Nerf,” James said. “It was this one we did with Dude Perfect. it was in Downtown Dallas and they shut like all the streets down and we shot with Dude Perfect. and we were just like running around and shooting toy guns with Dude Perfect and that just doesn’t happen to people.”

For James, making new friends and traveling is one of his favorite parts about acting.  

“I like to like go out of my comfort zone,” James said. “I used to be really shy so like for me acting is not like public speaking it’s like creativity. I get to meet new people, I get to travel, I get to go to Australia and I get to go to France. I get to go to places i’ve never been.”

For mom, Pam Matthis, James’ acting career is a boost to his confidence and overall character.

“It’s encouraged him to develop his speech and communication skills, his interviewing skills, his life skills,” Pam said. “Many many many opportunities for educational development, academic development, and emotional development. Acting is something that he does, but it’s not who he is, it’s a part of who he is. He’s pretty multifaceted in his activities and we encourage that. He’s been very successful in the profession of acting, but it’s not the only accomplishment he’s achieved.”

Even thoughJames doesn’t want to take up acting as a career, he has some long term goals for his future acting jobs.

“I want to be on a tv show by the end of high school that’s for sure,” James said. “I definitely want to be in a movie I don’t know when but I do want to go to college and I do want to major in law, criminal law specifically. I know I’m going to have to take a break when college starts.”