A finalist for The Sundance Institute’s Episodic Lab, Jared has created numerous films, pilots, web series, documentaries, political ads, and PSAs. His credits include the multiple award-winning film “Distance” (writer/director/producer) – recognized by The Micheaux Film Festival with the coveted “Outstanding Cinematography Award – in which Jared worked with acclaimed cinematographer M.I. Littin-Menz (“Resistance,” “The Vast of Night,” “Hands of Stone”) and actors Kiana Madani (“The Pirates of Somalia”) and Alex Skinner (“Never Have I Ever,” “Silicon Valley”). Jared’s other credits include “Target” (actor/writer/director/producer), “Harmony” (actor/writer/director/producer), “Cumpleanera” (actor/writer/director), “Marriage” (actor/writer/director), “1.20.17” (actor/writer/director), “Office Party” (actor/writer/producer), and “Hurry Up and Wait” (actor/writer/producer). Jared is also the star of the award-winning documentary, “Jared and Nate: A Love Story,” and he produced an original docuseries about civic engagement, healthcare, racial justice, and voting rights in Georgia. Among his various acting roles, Jared has appeared opposite Tom Sizemore and Bai Ling in “Better Criminal” and ID Network’s “Murder Book.”
Jared worked for President Barack Obama on both of his presidential campaigns and served in The White House during the Obama Administration. He founded a nationally recognized nonprofit organization, Civic Legal Corps, which was personally endorsed by Warren Buffett’s son, Peter; U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor; and Harvard Law School Dean Martha Minow. Jared has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support various social causes and campaigns, and he appeared in Hillary Clinton’s historic presidential campaign commercials (“Getting Started,” “Equal”). Jared has been profiled by dozens of media outlets around the world, including The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, BBC News, The Guardian, The Times of London, TIME, MSNBC, CBS, NBC, and ABC News.
Jared co-produced and was a featured speaker at the launch of Storytellers United, a salon series inspiring inclusivity and sensitivity in entertainment, and he founded We Won’t Go Back, a civic engagement platform featured in The Advocate, Out Magazine, and Mic. With his husband, Nate, Jared is the co-author of “So, You Want To Get (Gay) Married: Stuff You Need To Know Before Saying ‘I Do,'” which garnered numerous mentions in national media. Jared has also worked to develop programs that empower at-risk youth in Southern California and provide more sustainable food choices for children and families.
Trained at The Second City Chicago and The Howard Fine Acting Studio, Jared is an accomplished public speaker who has advocated on behalf of President Barack Obama and Secretary Hillary Clinton. He earned a law degree from Northeastern University School of Law, a graduate degree from Tufts University, and an undergraduate degree with highest honors from North Carolina State University. Jared has earned numerous awards, including the Presidential Award for Citizenship and Public Service at Tufts University, the prestigious General Hugh Shelton Leadership Award of Excellence, and the Caldwell Fellowship at North Carolina State University.
Jared is proud to call Long Beach, CA, home with husband, Nate, and adopted dogs, Oliver and Dolly. In 2018, Jared was a candidate for Long Beach City Council and was personally endorsed by actor/producer Kal Penn.
Director Statement
I am very proud to present EXPECTING, an intimate and profound exploration of gender identity, self-discovery, and oppressive cultural norms. As a LGBTQ+ writer/director, I created EXPECTING from my lived experience of coming out and accepting my own identity, in addition to the journey of a close friend who recently transitioned as a transgender individual.
EXPECTING explores the many external and internal pressures that dictate one’s behavior, appearance, identity, and most private moments. Masculinity can be particularly confining and confounding, and Taylor Armstrong’s difficult journey in EXPECTING speaks to the traumatic experiences that many people who are born as biological men often have.
Throughout my career, I have been proud to work with leaders like President Barack Obama, to build relationships with Oscar-winning and Oscar-nominated talent, and to partner with inclusive executives at Netflix, Lionsgate, WarnerMedia, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and many other leading institutions across Hollywood. With our terrific cast and crew led by award-winning actors Jack Settipane (LAST CALL with John Malkovich) and Kiana Madani (THE PIRATES OF SOMALIA opposite Al Pacino and Evan Peters), I’m confident that EXPECTING will reach a wide audience and profoundly impact everyone who watches it.
On behalf of our extraordinary creative team, thank you for considering EXPECTING.
LGBTQ+ Toronto Film Festival 