Actor Matt Dallas (“Kyle XY”) chatted about starring in the new indie movie “Shoulder Dance,” which was written and directed by Jay Arnold.
Dallas is known for playing the title role in the ’00s ABC family series “Kyle XY.”
‘Shoulder Dance’ film
Aside from Dallas, the film stars Rick Cosnett (“The Flash”), Taylor Frey (“It Chapter Two”), Samuel Larsen (“Glee”), Maggie Geha (“Gotham”), and Blake Cooper Griffin. “All of these actors were great, and that was a big blessing for us,” Dallas acknowledged.
“Working with Jay Arnold was awesome too,” he admitted. “Also, shooting in Tuscany is not a bad place to spend a work day.”
The synopsis is: Best friends Ira (Matt Dallas) and Roger (Rick Cosnett) haven’t seen each other in 24 years. When Roger arrives unexpectedly for the weekend, long suppressed desires dangerously resurface.
As the boundaries of friendship, love, and sex collide, the strength of Ira’s long-term relationship with Josh is tested as never before in the romantic drama “Shoulder Dance.”
“The film was great,” he exclaimed. “It was a nice re-introduction to the industry. I had taken some time off to focus on establishing our family unit. We built a farmstead style but I was getting anxious to work again. When the opportunity to work on ‘Shoulder Dance’ came up, it felt like a great one since I really connected to Ira, my character.”
“Ira is more of a adult role, who is questioning his life choices and everything that has led him to where he is today. There are a lot of themes in this movie that I could relate to, and I felt I could bring this new adult and more mature voice, and a new sense of Matt Dallas to this character.”
The digital age
On being an actor in the digital age, he said, “This is something I think about every day… I try to be better at social media, and I try to care more. It’s just different right now.”
“When I first came up in the early ’00s, it wasn’t what it is now. You could focus on your craft and being an actor, but now, as an artist (an actor, singer, musician or anything) you have to build a social media presence in order to brand yourself. It is definitely a new element. You need to get right with the perspective in your head.”
“I try to use it as a way to share the things that I love and my passions. It’s different but I guess it’s an exciting time,” he added.
AI on the future of the entertainment industry
He shared his thoughts on AI on the future of the entertainment industry. “That is such a hot topic right now. With the strike, it’s hard. Once the technology exists, it is hard going back. I think it’s a slippery slope and it can be very dangerous, especially for artists.”
“Art is human,” he underscored. “We should not be making movies that were written by a computer or artificial intelligence. It has to be a human experience, and that’s the same with acting. You can’t just take a face or a digital image of my body and then put me in a movie, and call that a real experience.”
“As a consumer, what we connect to is the human experience, and we can relate to what that person is going through. That is what makes art so compelling, intriguing, and wonderful. It’s a scary time. We should be connecting over a human experience.”
Balancing family life with a career
On balancing his family life with a career, Dallas said, “It’s all about trying to find the right balance. For everyone is different. We formed a bond and have taken the time to build that foundation.”
“As I go back to work, it has been hard. I missed my son’s first baseball game, so that was really hard. In the end, I try to remind myself that part of being a parent is providing for your family. You do your best but it’s tricky to balance it,” he said.
Adam Huss
Dallas complimented actor Adam Huss (“General Hospital”) for his talent and kindness. “Adam Huss is so talented and such a sweet guy… he is just so great,” Dallas said.
Advice for young and aspiring actors
For young and aspiring actors, Dallas said, “Work hard, never give up, and to continue to stay true to who you are. Just create, create, and create… no matter what that means to you. Just be in the practice of creating, and never stop learning.”
If he were to write, direct, and produce his own short, he revealed that it would deal with themes such as “being true to yourself” and “kindness and leading with love.”
Dallas’ favorite mottos are “to be kind” and “to lead with love.”
Success
On his definition of the word success, Dallas said, “To live a life where I am living my passions, and I am also surrounded by people that I love, such as my family and friends. Also, to live my passion every day and to create.”
Closing thoughts on ‘Shoulder Dance’
Dallas concluded about “Shoulder Dance,” “This is a movie that I think a lot of people will relate to, and find laughter and heart in. I think it will take people on a really fun journey, and I think they will enjoy it.”
To learn more about actor Matt Dallas, follow him on Instagram and check out his IMDb page.
