Jesse Kove
Interview: Pankhuri Bhutani
Photographer: Jake Isham
Currently under the spotlight for his contribution in the mega-successful Netflix series ‘Cobra Kai’, Jesse Kove, the son of the legendary Martin Kove has recently been garnering an immense amount of support from around the world (All thanks to his talent!). Pairing alongside his father, Jesse will soon be seen as a guest star in Amazon Prime’s latest project ‘Gravesend’.
Jesse is set to play the role of ‘Eli’ in the mob series alongside his father who will be playing the role of ‘Murray Zorwitz’. The series which is primarily set in Brooklyn is also a nod to 1980s NYC, complete with all the graffiti, stoops, and aesthetics that defined the particular era. But that’s not all, folks! In addition to numerous other projects, the sensational father-son duo also have just wrapped up their upcoming project- a romantic comedy titled “A Taste of Love.”
We recently had an insightful conversation with the wonderful Jesse as we talked about the creative process and preparation behind his roles, his acting journey, what his experience was like working with his father as well as what his fans can expect from him in the future!
Hi there Jesse. Thank you for joining us on ReVamp! How are you doing? How is 2021 treating you so far?
2021 has been an interesting adjustment to the events of the world. But it’s also been a fruitful and creative year for me as well so I am very grateful.
Before delving into your acting journey, I would like to ask you what was it initially that brought you closer to the field of entertainment? Was it a passion that you developed at an early stage of your life or was it anything in particular that made you realize that you should tryout your luck in this field.
I used to make movies with my toy soldiers as a kid and I loved recreating battle scenes. I remember even using my mouth for the sound effects. I’ve always loved creating stories. And then obviously growing up with my dad I learned that this could be something that I could do forever as a job.
You will be portraying the role of “Eli” in the upcoming Amazon Prime series “Gravesend.” Huge congratulations on that! What was it really that made you accept this project and what can you tell us about your character?
One of the exciting things about this show is the time period. It takes place in the eighties, which is a really fun time. Also, the character is a Hasidic Jew who also happens to be in the mob, which I thought was a very interesting character. I like playing characters that are different and have interesting stories. I also got to play alongside my father who plays my uncle who was also a Jewish character. We had a lot of fun diving into these characters to serve the story. And we had a blast filming in Brooklyn too, which is my father’s hometown.
How was the creative process with the show? Did you do any sort of research of your own before delving into this role?
I actually grew up Jewish. I was bar mitzvahed when I was thirteen. And my dad is also Jewish, so I was lucky enough to be able to understand the history of Judaism before coming into this role. So, I guess you could say I lucked out!
What’s your usual acting ritual like? How do you prepare yourself before going in front of the camera?
Sometimes I feel like my routine changes based on what’s required of me. I like to get a full understanding of the world that I’m in. I like to feel the physicality of the character and live in that environment to see how it feels and then put my own twist on certain aspects of the character. Sometimes I like to put a little bit of myself in there and sometimes I like to be completely removed from the character. Sometimes I can be a little method and then sometimes I’m also not method at all. It really depends, again, on what is required. I like to be creative and pull from nothing and also pull emotions from my own personal experiences.
What was your experience like pairing up alongside your father, the sensational Martin Kove for this series. Was it good to have a familiar face around the set?
My dad and I love working together. We’ve both stepped into each other’s projects many times. And we’ve always hoped to be on a series together, which I think we’re one step closer to. We always push each other creatively and require the best from each other. I think because we’re so close we’re able to have really honest communication about how we’re feeling and the art we’re trying to portray.
If given a chance, who would you absolutely love to work and collaborate with in the future?
I would love to work with Christopher Nolan. I’m such a fan of his artistic qualities in the boundaries of cinema — the in-between worlds, the psychology of our minds and space and time. I’m a big fan of that stuff. Maybe if we could tie that into something in the Middle Ages it would be just perfect for me [laughs].
What’s next for you, Jesse? Any upcoming projects that you’d like to tell your fans about?
I am very excited for people to see a romantic comedy I just finished in Dunedin, Florida called “A Taste love” starring Erin Cahill. It’s a wonderful and humble story that I’m looking forward to people seeing. I felt like this character was similar to me as a person and I really enjoyed being in the movie. And the group that created it is such a wonderful group of people. I can’t wait for people’s heartstrings to be pulled when they watch this film.
Lastly, is there any message that you would like to convey to your fans reading this interview right now?
I feel like with everything going on in the world sometimes certain things seem unattainable. But believe me, they are attainable. I’m someone who is constantly pushing myself to reach my goals. You just have to keep pushing forward. You may get bruised along the way, but ultimately you’re going to get what you want.