Fire Country’s Jordan Calloway on Jake’s future after shocking job rejection
Jordan Calloway was booked and working on the latest episode of Fire countrymaking him pull double duty as an actor and director.
During the Friday, November 7 episode of the hit CBS series, Jake (Calloway) was in the running to become Cal Fire Battalion Chief, but that required proving he could lead the team. Jake ran into some problems with Bode (Max Thieriot), who was still mourning his father’s death and a near relapse.
Jake’s best efforts weren’t enough, and eventually Manny (Kevin Alejandro) scored his job. Calloway, meanwhile, had a lot more fun off-screen directing a television episode for the first time ever. The actor, 35, spoke exclusively to We weekly on balancing the surprising developments in Jake’s story with his job as a director:
This is such an important episode for Jake. Did that make it easier or harder to make this your directorial debut?
I’d be lying if I said it was a piece of cake. What made it easy was my crew and my cast. Honestly, it was so much fun and so much fun. I was definitely tired at times, but it wasn’t hard or difficult at all. Everyone was so friendly and supportive. I just dove into the story for all my characters, for all my actors.
What did you learn from this first time?
The one thing I learned is that it is so good to trust and lean on your team. Having sports helped a lot because as a team captain you know the different players you can count on to go a step further in certain times.
Have you asked your costars for their individual advice? What was the best tip you received?
The best advice I got on set was, “Tell your story and don’t be afraid to put your stamp on it. That’s the tone of the show, but also tell your story. Go in and do it. But do it the way you see it and don’t rush it.”
That was really helpful because I remember at one point being so worried and consumed with time. I was on camera and we had the shot taken, and they asked, “Are you ready to go?” I thought, “I think I’m ready.” But Quincy [Paglaro]our A-cameraman, he said, “Are you sure? This is a shot you really wanted, and I think you should go through with it.” That’s what I mean by my team supporting me.
Have you always wanted to direct?
Originally, I never thought about directing. It was my parents who said, “You’re going to be a good director.” I didn’t think so. I went to film production school and minored in screenwriting. I thought I was just going to write and then maybe become a showrunner.
But eventually I got into this. I wanted to get back into directing when I did a show before that called Black Lightning. Then the opportunity just came up with Fire Country because the other show ended before I could actually go in.
I guess this has piqued your interest in doing this more. Are you hoping to do more Fire Country episodes?
It’s just another vehicle as a creative and as a storyteller to just tell a story. I hope they call me back. I hope the audience enjoys it. I hope they feel the emotion I’m trying to convey through the characters. I hope my actors feel like I have fully told their story, as it should be.
Fire Country does a lot of work to make their cast look almost unrecognizable on the show. The CBS series, which premiered in 2022, follows inmate Bode (Max Thieriot) as he gets the chance to shorten his prison sentence by volunteering for the California Conservation Camp Program. Bode is assigned to his hometown where […]
While you’re thriving behind the scenes, Jake is going through it. It feels like he can never catch a break, so talk to me about how this new development with Manny taking over affects Jake. Is he really leaving?
Jake, he’s a big softie. He has a lot of heart, and that’s one of the things that makes Jake who he is. With everything he’s been through, there may be a reason he has to leave, and we shouldn’t be sad about that. We have to embrace that, and it has been a pleasure.
By the way, I’m kidding you. I’m fine and he’ll be here. He’ll work through it, he’ll get his act together.
I was really afraid he would leave!
He’ll be fine. Because you see him take on humility at the end of the episode and he realizes that we have to come together for this new problem. This new problem is a saving grace for the trio because while they are all dealing with these different things in their own ways, this is something that unites the three of them to tackle it together.
What can you tease about the note and its meaning?
We’re going to find out. I’m not going to spoil anything, but I think this new problem is a big nuclear bomb that’s about to rock the entire family. Knowing Vince and how much he loved Sharon, I don’t see it. But that’s just my opinion.
This all has to do with Vince and Gabriela’s departure. What was it like for you to come back to set and Billy and Stephanie aren’t there?
It was a huge blow to lose them. It’s a change in dynamics. But at the same time we wish them well and miss them. I just enjoy meeting new artists who have their own dedication to the craft and just show up and just crush it.
Is it difficult to play a character who is the voice of reason when the show follows Bode, who is almost always against Jake?
It gets frustrating at times – obviously – but these two have such a bond that goes back to diapers. I know this guy will be who he is, but I know his heart and his intentions, so I’ll be there to always pick him up.
Fire Country has undergone several surprising cast changes (and demotions) ahead of Season 4, but which characters are returning to the show? The CBS series, which premiered in 2022, follows inmate Bode (Max Thieriot) as he tries to shorten his prison sentence by volunteering for the California Conservation Camp Program. After being assigned […]
What else can you tease about Jake’s journey?
Now that he’s no longer going to be the BC, he’s past that crossroads of heartbreak. He is also learning and he will come to a point where he learns something new within himself. He realizes that there are areas in his life that he has not taken care of and that they are individuals he has not helped.
We are not only talking about people who have become victims, for example, but we are also talking about things that he has to take care of in his own camp. He got that out of the realization that he had missed the point with his best friend. Jake is the type to go back into his head, do some research and solve it.
Have you had any specific requests for him?
One request is to let me go to Sheriff Country. Maybe we want to see Jake get a little dark. Maybe he falls into something he needs to be saved from. I’m a big fan of telling true stories that first responders deal with.
I have some friends who are first responders, and one of the things I’d like to talk about is the mental struggles and the issues that these first responders face, from things they’ve seen and how important their core circle is.
