South Jersey’s Rising Star Nolan Ward Appears In First National Commercial on CNN
Photo of Nolan Ward courtesy of James and April Ward
BY MONIQUE HOWARD | AC JosepH Media
CLAYTON – Like most children, Nolan Ward was captivated by the characters he watched on Disney TV shows, and the spark of creativity resonated with him.
“I wanted to be on the screen with them, ” he recalls excitedly. “And that’s how it all started. I’ve been acting with a whole bunch of people, and I got on screen.”
With the guidance of his parents, Nolan’s pursuits eventually led to him securing a role in his first national commercial. Although unable to provide details as the commercial has not yet officially aired, he is very much looking forward to the release.
“It was really fun, and I got to meet a famous person,” he exclaims. “I can’t say who though.”
Despite having a son who is an emerging talent in the industry, April and James Ward don’t have a background in entertainment or any connections. They both have careers based in broadcast news and own a production company called Creative Content OnDemand.
His parents helped prepare him for film roles by creating YouTube videos.
“Just getting him comfortable in front of the camera and creating an audience was the first step,” James Ward said.
Creating a platform on social media would be the catalyst to jump-start Nolan’s acting career. By doing so he caught the attention of a talent agent intern.
“We created an Instagram page, and they noticed Nolan’s photo,” April Ward explains.
From that point on, Nolan was enrolled in online acting classes due to the pandemic.
“And from there he found out that acting was not just an easy thing,” James Ward admits. “He looked on TV and said, ‘Oh that’s not so hard.’ But he realized I have to reach a certain depth and make people believe that I am whoever they’re calling me to be as a character whether it’s emotions or expressing without words.”
Taking acting classes and participating in school plays helped contribute to Nolan’s growth as a young actor. One of the surprises his parents encountered along their son’s acting journey was self-tapes and self-records which are audition videos for on-screen roles and audio recordings for animation or commercial voice-over work.
As an actor Nolan is required to submit numerous recordings to agencies under strict deadlines. However, having parents who own a production company provides a unique advantage and simplifies the process.
Yet at the end of the day, his parents want to ensure that their son is having fun, being a kid, and feeling free of the pressures associated with his profession.
“If he’s not having fun anymore and he tells us, ‘Hey, I’m ready to let this go, we’re there,” April Ward said.
At such a young age, Nolan has achieved many impressive milestones. He featured as a supporting character named Mason Adams in Arlyn Entertainment’s “ElemenTory.”
Released in 2024 the thriller movie’s plot involves a group of young children who are kidnapped from school and their parents’ desperate search to find them. “ElemenTory” can be viewed on Amazon Prime and Apple +.
Being on “Sesame Street” was another highlight for him.
“I got to count blocks with another actor,” Nolan remembers fondly. “I got to talk to Elmo and I’ve always loved Elmo.
His parents hope the national commercial will lead to more opportunities for him. With a supportive family and a growing acting resume, Nolan’s future looks very bright.
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