George Janko on No Escape & How Logan Paul Changed His Life

What's up?

Hi. How are you?

Good. How are you?

I'm doing good. I just made myself a coffee for the first time. I'm not first time. For the first time? This year has been my first time. My girlfriend got me into it. Um, and I I've maybe made like five my whole life. I'm about to try it out. See how I did it one second. Let's see. Let's see if you like it. Is it good? Uh, this is quite terrible. I did it wrong. Uh, Don't make that not not again. It's it's not how my girlfriend does it but I I could I'll do it next time. I'll try to do it better.

So that was a quarantine activity you picked up making your own coffee?

I I I don't know. I I was drinking like I got I started like getting tired realistically. Once I hit this age, I was like alright, I can't be I'm not 16 anymore. Right. And so I uh my girlfriend says, why don't you drink coffee? And I was like, no, no. I'm not gonna do that. And then one day I didn't sleep like zero hours and so I drank it and I was like Superman. And I was like, alright. Coffee it is. Coffee's the new lifestyle. It is. I asked my doctor, he said it's quite healthy actually. I didn't even know it was like good for you.

Oh, dang. Okay. Well, just get better at making it. Then you'll be over. Yeah. This is your first time on Young Hollywood, right? That we've done anything with you. This is Young Hollywood.

Oh, yeah. This is Sorry, I've been I've been doing a few like press things and um I saw Young Hollywood. Young Hollywood is I think is the only one I I knew of.

Oh, good. Good. Well, it's your debut too, right? So, welcome. Welcome. You made it. You made it. You're here.

I appreciate you interviewing me.

Well, we're excited to talk to you about 'No Escape.' Are you what was it like because you you have a huge social media presence, vlogging like your YouTube videos but now you

I have few followers.

Yeah, you have a few. Come on, mail. Yeah. Now now you're like full-blown acting. What is that like what was the transition like from, you know, your like vlog social content to, you know, in a movie?

Uh, it was crazy. So I I was uh in I I fell into social media. My buddy pushed me into it. Uh, his name's Logan Paul. A lot of people know who this guy is. He has like a couple hundred followers. We know him. Uh, yeah. And uh he sat me down and he he looked me in the eyes because I was pursuing music. He looked me in the eyes, he's like, bro, like, I love you. You're my best friend. And then he like got serious and we got like face-to-face. He's like, you suck at music. He goes, but you're a phenomenal actor. And I was like, hey, man, I have good music. And he's like, you have good music but it's not like it's not whoa. He goes but he goes, there's just something about you as a person. He goes that is just so much greater. He goes, I know you're gonna be big one day. I just want to help you get faster. And so, uh he goes, why don't you start doing these uh, skits online? And all the like it was like overnight. He like took me from here and put me here and just introduced me to the most influential people in the world. And he's like, this is my buddy. He's so talented. And then everybody just started becoming my friend and I started writing stuff. And so I I got excited and I was like, yo, like, I think I could I could do this whole acting thing and I went to auditions and um, not auditions. I went to go get an agent and manager and nobody wanted to work with me because I didn't have anything under my belt. And Logan looked at me and he goes, listen, man, uh if they don't believe you show them. Keep posting your stuff. Keep directing your stuff. It's so true. Yeah. And so I did that. 100,000 views went to a million views. A million views went to 30 million views and then so on and so forth. And it it got to the point where it was like, hey, you're that guy from Vine. And then there's like, hey, you're George. And then there's like, oh my God, you're George Janko. And then it just every sun every time I stepped out, I was like, oh, man. This is like a thing. This is happening. And I got an I got a uh agent and I'll never forget it. It was for a Nickelodeon show. And he sent it to me. He like last seconded it to me. He goes, hey, man, uh, could you be there in 15 minutes? I was like, yeah, I'll get an Uber. I'll read it and then I'll go book it. And he goes, no, that's not how it works. He's like, you got to go and audition and then that then if they like you they'll bring you back. And I go, well, what if I like talk to him and he like likes me as a person? And he goes, dude, that's not how it works. He's like, just go into the room and uh audition and if they like you, That's not how it works, though. Yeah. So, I went in there and I was like, screw it, dude. Like, I like there's no rulebook to Hollywood. So, I went in there and I charmed them up the way I would like be myself. And then I auditioned and in the room, they're like, you know what? You're hired. Are you are you available on like so and so. So, I called him. I go, hey, I booked it. He goes, dude, I told you that's not how it works. I go, no. He booked me. He's emailing you right now. And he got the email. He goes, dude, what the hell is going on? What did you do? And so we we framed it. It's in my bedroom. It was my first audition that I booked. And it was for a Nickelodeon show. Yeah. I I watched Nickelodeon growing up. So then I told him I was like, let's do Disney. And then my first Disney audition, I booked it. And so like we knocked out the two things that I wanted. Uh, it it was it was cool because I got the my dreams out of the way. But then when I wanted to really break my way into it, I had this like hurdle which, you know, if you want something you're going to have to work for it. And I believe that God God really has my back in this cuz I I do feel like I'm a great person and I do love everybody. And so, I do everything that I can and I give God everything I can. The one trouble that I had was the taste of social media four or five years ago wasn't good. Right. Now, it's good. Now, everybody wants to be a social media star. We have A-list actors doing stuff with us. And it's crazy cuz the thing that the people that I'm working with just this past month, I can't I can't talk about it but you'll see about it. It it was just a dream. And I can't believe I got to work with them and it it was really cool. But five years ago, I would go into the auditioning room and they wouldn't even look up. They would just be like, okay. And they wouldn't they didn't give a shit. Not because of me as a person is because social media stars uh are so self-made that the people that were like, oh, I'm a social media star. I'm going to become an actor came with this I'm the shit mentality in Hollywood and it it left a bad taste in these people's mouth because they would puff out their chest but then their performance was terrible. Yeah. And so when I walked in there, not only did I have to prove to them that I'm a good person and I'm not I'm not like a I'm not I'm not an asshole. I actually I told them I was like, listen, like, I'll work for it. Like, like, give me the script and if if I need a coach, I'll do it. If if this is what you need me to do, I I got it. I'll work hard for it. And I think that's what separated me from a lot of social media stars because I came in with a humble mentality.

Yeah. And you knew what it was like to work hard because building a social media presence isn't easy.

It's not. It's not. Uh, and just for anything like regardless of how successful you are in a certain area, when you migrate to something else, you you have to show respect to people that have been there. When I did the movie, I audit Well, first I didn't even want to do the movie by the way.

You didn't want to do it? You didn't know what the movie was like the script and everything.

I did not want to do the movie. No, I knew nothing about it. The one thing that I will say is I'm very hard-headed in my ways of uh picking and choosing because a lot of people overdo things. And and and the the the craft is just watered down. I I like I like when people hear the name George Janko, they know the quality is going to be good. Uh, so, he's like, yo, we got this horror and I go, nah. And they're like, no, I swear. I'm like, nah. Uh-uh. I'm not running around butt naked while a guy's chasing me with a knife. Not doing it. Right. And my agent goes, listen, bro. I read this script. It's amazing. He goes, don't be a dickhead. Just go read it. And I go, I'm like, okay, send it over. I'm dyslexic. If I read two pages and I don't like it, I'm not reading anymore. Right. I read two pages. I read 10 pages.

Then you read the whole thing.

I read the whole thing. And that's what I've told every interviewer but I like you're having like some nice chemistry here. I'm gonna tell you the honest truth. I put down after five pages cuz I started reading. I called my assistant.

I laid down and had her read it while I was laying in bed. So, people think I actually read it but I hate reading. So I had her read it to me. And I was like at the edge of my bed and I was like, oh my God, this is so good. I go, this is so good. So I called my agent and I go, do whatever it takes. They brought down in the room. The casting director, Brittany, loved me. I loved her.

And you auditioned for Dash, right?

Immediately after. I auditioned for Dash. They already had everybody. I auditioned for Dash and um Will was like, nah. And my agent goes, listen, bro. Like, I I get it. At the end of the day, you're a social media star. You've never done a movie. This is his baby. He goes, would you feel any different? And I go, I I I totally understand. Yeah. This he wrote this. He's gonna direct it. He likes me as a person but he doesn't know. Like, he's never seen George Janko on set on anything. Like, he's never seen me in a movie. So, why would he put all of his money down? So, I never got a call uh back after the second audition. And then I saw in the breakdowns they put the role back up. And I called my agent. I was like, yeah, it was but listen, like, I I have to be humble. I have to understand my my situation. And I said, let me talk to Will. And he goes, okay. So, he calls Will. He goes, Will, could you just have a one-on-one sit down with him? And Will is just a stand-up amazing person. And he goes, yeah, I'll meet with him. Regardless of hiring me or not hiring me but because he's such a good man, he's like, I'll hear what he has to say. He looks at me and he goes, okay. Come to the uh to the table read tonight. Because they had everybody. But Dash cuz Dash is such a strong character like he has to be funny. And he has to be able to be scared. And on top of that, he has to he has to like, dude, the the cast is such a talented cast. And then they have the social media guy. They don't have no idea what's going on. So, I walked to the table read and I'm I'm not like scared. I'm just like, okay, like, just this is so much is weighing on this. One, I'm I'm with these kids that are absolutely phenomenal in their craft. And they have a lot to show for it. And then you have me where I've done like skits online and stuff. So, they know who I am but they they don't give a shit. They they know they're like, okay, you're doing your thing and.

Right. They They do. Yeah. Imagine being at a table read where everybody's the cast and they're like, uh

Everybody's booked a part. Everybody's booked. And then they get to me they go, Dash, maybe. So I go, oh my God. Yeah. Yes, yes. Yes, yes, yes. It was so it was so nervous because they were coming in. They were addressing sizes because we're just getting the ball rolling. And when they get to me, they go, don't get to him just yet. And I was like, oh my God. Yeah, that's like, damn it. So, I was like, I was like, okay, you know what? I'm just gonna I'm gonna try my best. I'm gonna do. And by the way, it's so funny because everybody at the table reads like just reading like a normal actor that don't have to overact because they already got their role. They don't they don't, yeah. They're good. And I'm over here just like just like really giving it my all. Because I don't have it. And so, finally I'm driving home and my and my agent calls me and he goes, hey, is Dash there? And I go, wait, what? He goes, yeah, he is. And I go, oh my God, I booked it. And so, I was like, I I go home and I was like, I'm gonna go rehearse. Uh, I'm gonna do this. I'm gonna do that. And uh, I I get to set. And mind you, I'm still doing my social media stuff. And I'm on set and I find out it's um Will's birthday. The director.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

And so, I go, I got to be me. And and and low key, I was like, they they can't replace me this this last minute. You know what I mean? Like, I already shot one day. They're not gonna reshoot that day. Uh, I go, okay. So, I bring a magician to set. So, I go, hey, listen, when when he yells cut, it's his birthday. Run up to him and do magic tricks. So, He's like, gosh, darn it. Why did he why did he hire him? He was so funny. I I I I just I I thank you so much. I'm literally glad everything that is happening to you is happening to you. I appreciate it. Thank you so much.