Los Angeles-based actor Will Ropp is a breath of fresh air in the acting industry. Most known for his role as “Nick” in “The Fallout”, Will embodies his character's desire for activism and change. As a University of Michigan graduate with a BFA in Theater, Will puts all he’s mastered into his craft and it shows! Additionally, his advocacy for Colon Cancer and dedication to educating those about the exponentially increasing cases in youth, makes it further crucial for his story to be heard. Be sure to keep an eye out for Will's upcoming projects, such as his period piece film called “The Greatest Beer Run Ever” with Zac Efron, Russell Crowe, and Bill Murray! Jejune is excited for “The Greatest Beer Run Ever” to hit the big screens! But until then, please enjoy this interview with Will Ropp. If you are interested in Will’s acting, hobbies, and cancer advocacy please continue reading the interview below!

Where are you based?
I'm currently based in Los Angeles, CA — specifically in West Hollywood.

When did you realize acting was the career for you?
After I did a production of Les Miserables my freshmen year of high school was when I decided I wanted to pursue acting. It was definitely the largest scale production I had ever done and showed me how powerful storytelling could be. I also loved the community and camaraderie that came along with rehearsals, performances, and classes. I started doing theatre more often throughout my high school career and ultimately decided to attend a college acting program at The University of Michigan.

What's your favorite and least favorite thing about the industry?
My favorite part of the industry is actually getting to do the work! Being on set and traveling to different parts of the world, surrounded by talented artists in their own fields. Making a film is a team effort, and I love helping the cause in any way I can. My least favorite part is probably the rejection — it's a necessary evil, though. Not every job is going to go your way, and sometimes it takes a few no's to lead to the right yes.

You studied at the University of Michigan (UMICH) with a BFA in Theater, do you feel like UMICH prepared you for the industry?
Yes, I do! The BFA program at Michigan is super rigorous and prepares you for both a career on stage and in front of the camera. The performance training is top notch, the professors are brilliant, and their productions are amazing. Your senior year before you graduate, you get a "senior showcase" where you perform in front of industry professionals; agents, managers, producers, etc. This way, when you move to a city of your choosing, you have the necessary connections to make headway in the business.

What were the emotions when you landed your breakout role as Kenny Dawes in "The Way Back"? What was the first thing you thought?
It was pretty crazy, the final callback was actually a basketball scrimmage, and I remember Ben Affleck was sitting in the bleachers with all the Warner Brothers execs. Gavin O'Connor, the director, came up to me at the end of the session and told me I had the role — normally, it takes a few days to hear back from any sort of audition, so this was an unusual process. I freaked out and started to call all my family and friends. I stopped to get gas and actually left my wallet on the roof of my car, and drove off…. A Good Samaritan later returned it via Facebook….

What are some of your Musical Theater credits? What was your most transformative role?
My favorite and most transformative role was during my time at the University of Michigan. I played Melchior in Spring Awakening. It was the first time I had ever led a musical theatre production, so it was really educational. Being on stage that much takes so much endurance I didn't realize you needed to have! It was also super vocally tiring, so I had to maintain my vocal health!

Now for your current role in "The Fallout", for those unfamiliar, what is "The Fallout" about, and which character do you play?
"The Fallout" is a coming-of-age drama that revolves around a traumatic event at a high school. A group of young kids learn how to cope with the tragedy in their own different ways. I play "Nick," the lead character's best friend, "Vada." Nick becomes an advocate for change on a national level, ultimately causing a rift in his friendship with Vada.

Do you like your character? Do you see a bit of yourself in Nick?
I loved my character. I admire his tenacity and desire for change. He believes in his ability to affect society. The story is so relevant to the current events we see in our news cycle, and it's obvious we could all use more Nicks. I'm not sure if I saw much of myself in him before I took the role, but after playing him, I've felt a bigger gravitation towards activism in general.

Besides acting, what are some unexpected talents or hobbies of yours?
I love sports, and I'm obsessed with most of them. The main sport I follow is NFL and College football; my teams are the Jacksonville Jaguars and The Michigan Wolverines. Other than that, I love to travel. I'm trying to combine those two hobbies and see the Jaguars play in London this October at Wembley Stadium. I am also getting into cooking. I love BBQ — I have a smoker at my house that my brother and I are always trying to use. It's a ton of fun.

In March, you participated in an LA Marathon to advocate and raise funds for Colon Cancer. Why is this an interest, and what motivates you to amazingly bring awareness to this disease?
I lost my mom to colon cancer in 2007, so t's always been a cause that is near and dear to my heart. The LA Marathon was the perfect opportunity to raise awareness to a disease that affects far too many people. I advocate for early testing and screenings, especially if your family has a medical history involving the GI.

What is your role as a partner with Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C)?
SU2C is an incredible organization that does so much amazing research in the cancer world. They've partnered with so many influential actors, musicians, athletes, etc., that I felt honored to help in my own small way by raising funds on their behalf. There are so many charities out there these days, and I think it's important to choose ones that are transparent with their financials and ethics, both of which SU2C does excellently.

How can those who wish to advocate as you do get involved with the cause?
I'd say, firstly, it's important to find a cause that you really deeply care about on a personal level. Once you've found that, the internet is an incredible resource to find other like-minded people that are working in this issue's sphere. Connect with them, attend a rally, create a fundraiser, and do anything within your means to help the cause. Every little bit helps; there are no gestures too small.

What do you want more people to know about colon cancer?
It can happen to anyone at any age! It's commonly seen as an elderly disease, but research is showing that cases in younger people are exponentially increasing. Whether this is due to diet or genetics, we're unsure, but it's important for young people to get screened if they experience any of colon cancer's symptoms frequently.

Are there more marathons in your future?
Honestly, I hope there are. It was such a rewarding experience; I'd love to run another. I think my next will probably be in a different city. It's an amazing way to see the city in a different light. Training for it was a pretty intense ordeal, so I'm not looking forward to that, but it's all part of the process.

Any future projects that you are working on that you can share with Jejune?
I have a film coming out soon called "The Greatest Beer Run Ever," with Zac Efron, Russell Crowe, and Bill Murray. It's a really cool Vietnam-era film that I'm super excited about. Hopefully, you'll be able to check it out soon!

The world seems crazy these days. What do you do to stay positive and sane?
I go on long runs, I try to eat healthy, drink a lot of water, and get a lot of sleep. Most things are out of your control, but these things aren't!

What is your motto in life?
Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

To keep up with Will please follow him on the platforms below:
Instagram: @willropp
Twitter: @willropp

Will Ropp - A Desire For Change