John Jacobsen is a writer, director and teacher who works in Seattle and Los Angeles. He is a former Vice President of the ACT Theatre, one of the country’s leading regional theatres, where he still serves as a Trustee, and current President and co-founder of TheFilmSchool. He is the host and producer of the national cable TV show, The Artist Toolbox. He has been involved in the film, theatre and television industry for over 30 years and teaches acting, directing and writing all around the world.

He directed the feature film, Around the Fire (starring Tara Reid and Devon Sawa), produced in part by The Shooting Gallery (Sling Blade), which premiered at The Seattle International Film Festival and was nominated for The Best Independent Filmmaker’s Award, and which won the Giffoni Film Festival in Italy. John has also produced several features, including the Columbia/Tri-Star picture Nervous Ticks starring Bill Pullman and Peter Boyle. His other production credits include the HBO movie of the week, Danger of Love, John Frankenheimer's 52 Pick Up with Roy Scheider and Ann Margaret, and The Assassin with Charles Bronson. Several short films he produced won awards including the Aspen Film Festival and the gold, silver, and bronze awards at the Houston international Film Festival and featured talent such as Sandra Bullock and Sally Kirkland.

He has directed over twenty stage productions regionally and in New York, working with such talents as Eli Wallach, Scott Bakula, Marcia Gay Harden, Yeardley Smith, and Jill Eikenberry. He has directed commercials, documentaries and corporate videos, and worked as an assistant on Broadway to the legendary director, Hal Prince. He directed and produced the Tribute to Katherine Dunham on CBS's Emmy Award-winning Kennedy Center Honors and worked with the Academy Award-winning documentary maker, Charles Guggenheim. He managed the Motion Picture and Television Department at UCLA Extension, and he still teaches writing, directing and acting at numerous schools around the country. He was a Directing Fellow at the American Film Institute (AFI) and has sold several screenplays.