Actor Robert Michael chatted with Digital Journal’s Markos Papadatos about his documentary “Heartprints in the Snow,” and the comedy “Girl Chill,” as well as being a part of “The Bay.”
“The documentary is ‘Heartprints in the Snow’ and it’s very near and dear to my heart,” he said. “Growing up outside Flint, Michigan, my family had a dogsled team and those dogs were everything to my family. In some ways, they were more like siblings than pets. I wanted to create a documentary that detailed the bonds formed between mushers and their dog teams because that kind of film hasn’t been made – we mainly see the bonds in movies like ‘Call of the Wild’ or ‘8 Below’ but there’s yet to be a documentary solely focused on that element and that’s what ‘Heartprints in the Snow’ does.”
“You can expect heartfelt moments and stories, and a lot of tears! I host the film, Janine Gateland narrates, and my team of producers Diana Maiocco, Jan Nizen, Brian Watson, and Hayden Conner Ashworth were incredible,” he exclaimed.
He also opened up about his 30-minute comedy “Girl Chill.” “It has been quite a journey! It actually started as a one-scene ‘reel’ addition, but upon reflection, I decided to make a series because if I’m going to make something, it’s going to be quality,” he said.
“I turned what would have been a five-minute scene into a fully realized 30-minute comedy series with a diverse cast both racially and through sexual orientation, and I couldn’t be prouder of the result! Girl Chill is a dramedy about the desperate attempts people make to realize their dreams,” he added.
“Amy, played by Janine Gateland, desperately tries to find love in the big city,” he said. “Darren, played by myself, is desperate to just keep his photography business going smoothly. Melody, played by Roz Stanley, is desperate to become a model. The story about the aspiring creative moving to the big city has been done…To death…so I wanted to do something different and take that element up a notch. People do crazy things when they are desperate, and in the case of our show, hilarity ensues! We have some very promising network responses as well! Diana Maiocco, Jan Nizen, and Hayden Conner Ashworth rejoined me from Heartprints in the Snow to create this as well.”
He played the role of Gable in Season 6 of “The Bay.” “The Bay was a dream,” he admitted. “First off, if you’re going to work with highly creative people, Gregori and Kristos are your guys. I have yet to find more humble, professional, caring individuals in this industry. They brought me on for Season 6 as a recurring yet smaller guest star and I can honestly say the experience was amazing. I love playing dark and dirty roles.”
“I normally play the boy next door, sweet/wholesome midwesterner, or most recently LGBT roles as in Sean on the Lifetime series ‘American Princess’ or my time acting on Season 3 of ‘Glow’ for Netflix. It was a nice change of pace. Also, while Season 6 was more of an introduction into my character, the darker elements were there to explore and I look forward to hopefully continuing to explore Gable in future seasons,” he explained.
On being an actor in the digital age, he said, “Honestly, it feels just the same as pre-digital. I’m an actor, I’m grateful for any opportunity to get in front of the camera and show what I’ve got and to be creative. Whether it’s on 35mm film, digital, or cable, it’s all the same to me. I get the opportunity to perform, and so many would love to get to do what I do for a living. I’m just very grateful.”
For young and aspiring actors, he said, “My advice would be to really take the time to know who you are. As a gay male, I spent and wasted so much time trying to become the actor I thought the world wanted me to be. “I CANT act myself or express myself authentically or I won’t get roles.” “I CANT be myself or agents won’t want to hire me.” “I have to morph into the ‘LA’ stereotype.” It’s all, frankly, bullshit. There is only one of you and it’s your originality that makes you bookable.”
He continued, “Take the time to embrace yourself – all your quirks, your ticks, your passions, your emotional responses, and channel that into your work. The industry will thank you for it when you start booking. I may be a gay male, but by embracing all the facets of myself, I can play a variety of characters, gay and straight, truthfully because I’m being truthful with myself.”
Regarding his daily motivations as an actor and artist, he said, “My motivation comes from my desire to perform. I can’t see myself doing anything else, and that alone is motivating because if I don’t perform, I don’t make money! My brain is wired for performance – it’s as simple as that.”
On his definition of success, he remarked, “Success to me is equal to happiness. I’m successful because I’m happy. I have a lot of things, creatively speaking, happening in my life and to me that is success. It’s not about the glitz and the glamour – it’s about being happy with your life and I have the privilege of being able to perform for a living. That’s a huge feat and to me the definition of success.”
For his fans and supporters, he concluded, “Keep on being you, love yourself and others, help others rise to the top, and when risks are scary and you’re too afraid to take a leap of faith with your career, remember how birds learn to fly. They throw themselves at the ground and miss. There is more to be gained from risk than from staying safe.”
To learn more about Robert Michael, follow him on Instagram and check out his IMDb page.
