Blazer by RTA
Tank by Dries Van Noten
Drawstring Trousers by Dries Van Noten
Timepiece by ROLEX
Shoes by Bottega Veneta

Jimmy Tatro stars in the upcoming Searchlight film, ‘Theater Camp,” which premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and won “Best Ensemble.” It opens in theaters on July 14th. Additionally, he is in Legendary’s “The Machine,” which Screen Gems released on May 26th. On television, he was nominated for a Critic’s Choice Award for “Best Actor” for his role in the “American Vandal” and stars in ABC’s “Home Economics,” opposite Topher Grace, which wrapped its third season. Additionally, he is the creator and star of the television series, “The Real Bros of Simi Valley.”

**Left:**
Blazer by Canali
Silk Tank by LOEWE
Shorts by LOEWE
Socks by Yohji Yamamoto
Shoes by Ann Demeulemeester
**Right:**
Coat by CELINE
Knit by RTA

What inspired you to start the YouTube channel, “Life According To Jimmy?”
The first week of freshman year, a kid in my dorms told me his friend was making a living off of YouTube videos. It was 2010 so I didn't know that was a thing but it immediately felt like the perfect opportunity. I had already been making comedy sketches for fun so it just felt like the ideal creative outlet presented itself at the perfect moment.

You started your YouTube channel, “Life According To Jimmy,” in 2011. Tell us about this channel and how the content has evolved over time.
I started the channel when I was a freshman at the University of Arizona, so early on it was mostly college themed, comedy sketches. That was the environment I was living in, so I was writing what I knew. After about a year of that, the videos started to become whatever Christian Pierce (my writing partner) and I were coming up with or inspired by in that moment. The sketches could be anything; a parody of a reality show, a sitcom that's having trouble filming because an audience member is laughing too hard, an NFL star who is sabotaging games to win his fantasy football league. The possibilities were endless and we made more than 300 of them. It was an important time for Christian and me creatively. Wearing all of the hats in these mini productions in order to release a video every week while constantly trying to improve the quality of what we were making taught me more about filmmaking than I would have ever learned in school.

**Left:**
Coat by CELINE
Sleeveless Knit by RTA
Trousers by LOEWE
Shoes by Bottega Veneta
**Right:**
Zip Cardigan by Raf Simons

How did you get into acting and what attracted you to it?
I wouldn't say I was really attracted to acting. I've always loved creating things and making people laugh so comedy sketches were a natural progression from the random little videos I made with my friends as a kid. Acting was never the goal, it was more of just a necessary component to the videos I wanted to make and in doing so, I realized the acting part was fun.

What was your first acting experience?
My first movie was “Grown Ups 2.” Going from my early days on YouTube shooting with a flip camera to an Adam Sandler movie was inspiring and mind-blowing experience. I left that set like "ok so that is what I need to be doing" and was immediately more motivated to elevate all aspects of our production quality.

What is your favorite role that you have played?
Dylan Maxwell in “American Vandal.”

You recently starred in the Sony film, “The Machine” with comedian Bert Kreischer, who was the inspiration behind this film. What was it like working with him?
It was a blast to say the least. He's the best. He really makes it his priority to ensure everyone is having a good time and on top of that, we shot the whole movie in Serbia, which was a unique experience that I'm really grateful for.

Tell us about your recent film, “The Machine,” which is inspired by a true-story about stand-up routine.
It's a fun action-comedy movie, based on the time Bert spent studying abroad in Russia during college. He ended up befriending some Russian gangsters and robbing his classmates on the train so the movie takes on the question of 'what would happen if one of those people that he robbed on that train 20 years ago, turned out to be an extremely powerful mafia boss, who sees Bert's stand-up special admitting to robbing him and sets out to get what he took?" I love the way they took it from a stand up to a movie, I think it was a very creative way to go about it.

What was it like playing the lead role of ‘Bert Kreischer’ in “The Machine?”
I felt honored that he wanted me to play him in such an iconic story.

**Left:**
Zip Cardigan by Raf Simons
Jeans by LOEWE
Right:
Shirt by LOEWE
Sweatshirt by CELINE

Two films in which you both play lead roles are coming out or came out this summer. How did you balance both projects?
Funny enough, the two movies were actually shot a whole year apart. They just coincidentally both came out within two months of each other.

Tell us about your upcoming movie, “Theatre Camp,” and your character Troy.
It's a mockumentary about a rundown theater camp in upstate New York, whose beloved owner (played by Amy Sedaris) falls into a coma and the fate of the camp falls into the hands of her clueless, crypto vlogging son Troy. My character is forced to try to understand these wildly eccentric theater camp counselors and campers while struggling to keep the camp from going out of business. It's a funny and heartwarming film with an insanely talented cast of kids who actually put on an incredible final musical at the end.

What was it like working with the cast of “Theatre Camp?”
It couldn't have been more fun. They were already all best friends, and I was the new guy coming in, but it didn't take long to feel like I was part of the family. I'm just so happy for them and that they were able to bring this story to life that they've worked so hard on for so long.

Sleeveless Knit by JIL SANDER
Jeans by The Frankie Shop
Diamond Bracelet by AZATURE

What advice would you give a person who wants to start acting or creating content on social media?
Don't do it because you want to be famous. Make things you want to see, not what you think other people want to see.

What is your dream role?
I really want to do an action movie, like Chris Pratt in “Guardians of the Galaxy” or Ryan Reynolds in “Deadpool;” they seem like they would be a blast.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
Ideally writing and directing, something I'm super passionate about.

Social Media.
Instagram: @jimmy

CREW CREDITS:
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz + @mikeruiz.one
Photographer: Michelle Genevieve Gonzales
Fashion Stylist: Douglas VanLaningham
Talent: Jimmy Tatro
Groomer: Christine Nelli
Assistant Photographer: Bryan Martinez
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Mariana Apostolatos, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine