Trying to keep up with Jack Tracy
12 Feb 2019. Photo of Jack by Joey Sbarro Photography

At 36, Jack Tracy is a one-man entertainment division. In the past few years, he recorded a CD of dance music called Older; he directed a feature film called Snowflake; and he is about to release the third season of his popular web series History, in which he stars, writes, produces and directs.

“I was working at a major law firm and I needed to explore other options. It wasn’t the career that I wanted. I took a screenwriting class and thought I can do this. I was going through a break-up at the time and I thought, I should get all this down on paper now, while it is raw and honest. I took a year off from the job, finished the scripts, and then it was like, Let’s see if I can make this.”

I saw the first season of History at a web film festival. It was considerably better than the rest of the stuff. I recall in particular a scene where, after the break-up, the character of Jamie played by Tracy completely fucking falls apart. It was so real. It floored me. It was like the clips they play at the Oscars just before announcing a winner, it was that good. That must have been some break-up.

“For season three we’ve upgraded everything,” he tells me. “The characters are forced to confront complex issues such as gender roles, toxic masculinity, rejection and loyalty. In the end, we learn what love is for each individual, and whether the baggage from their past can ever be overcome.” Season 3 will also feature flashbacks to the 1980s and 1990s to reveal Jamie's formative childhood moments: his father's business failures, his mother's depression, being caught with gay porn, coming out to his sister and his obsession with his weight and appearance.  

And if all that isn’t enough, there’s Tracy’s music endeavours. “I always loved music. I was the first kid hired in the first music department at the first Circuit City in our town and every week I spent my whole paycheque on CDs,” he admits. He recently started doing live shows. “I did Jersey City Pride. I walked out on stage and it was an out of body experience. I remember thinking, 'The rest of my life has to be spent doing this.'” 

Then Tracy outlined all the other stuff he’s working on - a scripted podcast about a diverse group of people who come together during a shooting at a gay nightclub; a comedy about his dog; a ‘sci fi Dr. Who kind of thing;' new music for a second album due out this summer; and the wider distribution of Snowflake, which is currently doing the festival circuit. And on top of all this, Tracy still has his corporate day job, just four blocks from his Manhattan apartment. Even though he is busier than three personal assistants to Mariah Carey, he needs the money. Why? Because everything he does is self-financed. Now that’s commitment.