Max Ehrich chatted about his new movie “Southern Gospel,” which will be released on UPtv on April 9.
“Southern Gospel” was directed and written by Jeffrey A. Smith. In this film, a rock star is given a second chance to become a preacher, but his desire to share a message of forgiveness is tested at every turn.
“Everything has been great. I am super blessed,” Ehrich said about his life right now.
‘Southern Gospel’
“I am super stoked,” he said about the movie. “The broadcast premiere will be this Sunday on UPtv and then it will go to streaming. It has been a really cool ride. I am very excited for people to see it.”
“This project, ‘Southern Gospel,’ has been a career-defining moment for me,” he said. “The movie had so much depth and the character required a lot of myself. This was always a goal of mine, to be in a place where I could carry a film. It has an underlying story of redemption, and there was a lot of passion and love put into this film.”
On working with writer/director Jeffrey A. Smith, Ehrich said, “Honestly, working with Jeffrey was really amazing. Jeffrey is also an incredible musician as well, and he taught me all of the guitar parts in the movie. He was super hands-on in teaching me the guitar and it was just incredible. It’s a story that is very dear to his heart. He was very passionate and informative to really help me discover my character, which was amazing.”
He also praised his “Southern Gospel” co-star Gary Weeks. “Gary is incredible, and he is such a nice guy,” he said.
“I want the viewers to know that I gave every fiber of my being to this film,” he said. “When I watch it, I don’t recognize myself in it, and I wanted to get lost in the character and really commit to it. I worked very hard on it. This role allowed me to go to uncomfortable places within myself, emotionally.”
The digital age
On being an actor and artist in the digital age, now with streaming and technology being so prevalent, Ehrich said, “I think it’s a blessing. It is able to reach more people, and that is so great especially for people that can’t make it to the movies for a number of reasons.”
Daily motivations
Regarding his daily motivations, he said, “I am motivated by a lot of things. I am one of those people that wants to outdo himself, in a sense. Now, that I have starred in a feature film, I am onto the next, and I want to better myself in any capacity. I want to make my family proud and myself proud of my journey, and the growth.”
‘The Young and The Restless’
An alum of “The Young and The Restless,” he opened up about the four Daytime Emmy nominations he received for playing the role of Fenmore Baldwin. “That was pretty surreal,” he admitted. “I remember being over the moon for those Emmy nominations. That role was really intense; I had no idea that shows like ‘The Young and The Restless’ require so much discipline. Most people are not aware that soap operas are probably are the hardest job in acting, especially doing a scene in one take.”
“Having ‘The Young and The Restless’ as one of the first steady jobs as a young actor, really put me in a good position because I developed discipline and a muscle to explore emotions and to handle intense dialogue.”
“I remember shooting two to three episodes a day, and having 60 pages of dialogue,” he recalled. “In primetime shows, you shoot a few pages of day, and that seemed like a piece of cake when I moved over to ‘Under the Dome.’ I really realized how different the worlds are.”
Eric and Sainty Nelsen
Ehrich had great words about Emmy and Tony award winners and real-life couple Eric Nelsen and Sainty Nelsen. “Eric and Sainty are amazing people,” he said. “I’ve known Eric for a really long time, we went to high school together. Eric is a really nice guy and it is really cool to see good people doing well. He has been super supportive, and they are both genuinely kind-hearted people.”
Stage of his life
On the title of the current chapter of his life, Ehrich said, “Focus.” “I feel very focused, I know what I want, and I know how to get there… I am just taking it day by day. Every thought matters,” he said.
New music for Ehrich
Ehrich also shared that he has new music in the works, and that will be released later on in the year.
Favorite motto to live by
Regarding his favorite motto to live by is, he responded, “This too shall pass.” “It is really important to cherish each moment, nothing is promised. Take a step back and really be present and be grateful,” he said.
Success
On his definition of the word success, Ehrich said, “For me, success can be when I am living to my fullest potential in every aspect of my life. I am really all about balance. Success is in my work, and also having healthy relationships with family, friends, and potential lovers. To have all those intertwined is a success.”
To learn more about Max Ehrich, follow him on Instagram and check out his IMDb page.
