Interview with Michael Brown
Michael Brown, thank you for this interview. My readers might not know much about you.Your career is impressive. Can you tell us a story on how you got your start in entertainment, and what got you into producing?
First let me thank you for taking the time for an interview, I am very flattered that you think my story may be of interest to your readers. In my younger years, I did some theater work, but quickly discovered that it would not provide a very stable income or lifestyle for a wife and family that I also wanted to have, so I pursued the law and became a lawyer, graduating from Pepperdine Law School in Malibu. After practicing for many years, raising my kids, and divorcing after 20+ years of marriage, I found myself with more time on my hands. One of my clients, was a well-known radio DJ, who I was casually speaking to one day and he mentioned he was shooting a movie. So, I asked all the typical questions, how did you get into it, do you have an agent, is hard, and how do I get into it. Not really thinking I would make a second career out of it, I went ahead and signed up for some on-line casting services and using my “professional lawyer” picture began submitting for various roles and within 3 days I was cast as a Newscaster in a project. Since then, I have done a whole host of different project – feature films, TV, stand-in, student films, shorts, etc. While the acting is fun and enjoyable, I saw myself becoming more fascinated by how the project was produced, promoted and released. This led me to fund a production for a low budget movie that should be released next month entitled “DumbFellas” which is a comedy that crosses “GoodFellas” with “Dumb & Dumber.” Once I learned what was involved in production, I created my production company “Acting Legally Productions” to produce low budget movies. I chose low budget because you can maintain a certain amount of financial and creative control as a producer, that the larger budget films will not permit.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8279018/
Do you have a story you wish everyone knew? Could you share it with us? I’m not sure everyone would want to know it, but the variety of things I’ve done in my life have all contributed to making me better at what I do. I have sold women’s shoes, worked at McDonald’s, I was on the college fencing team, I have travelled to five continents in one year, was introduced to royalty at the Inns of Court in London, and I was a live-in nanny for the son of a screen writer and producer, etc. As a result, I can draw from a vast variety of experience to help me in my work – bottom line, to be able to act, you need to identify with your character, and the more different things you do, the more experiences you’ll be able to draw from as opposed to trying to understand it.
Can you talk about your project currently in preproduction 2022 DumbFellas (post-production)
and which platform or television channel will show it? As I mentioned, DumbFellas is a Mafia/comedy set in the present day that follows two inept Mafiosos as they hit the road to take revenge for the “hit” on their colleagues and the hysterical situations they go through as they try to become “made-men.” This was a fun project as I play Carmine the consigliere, who accompanies them on the road to keep an “eye” on them and keep them out of trouble. It will be first released on DVD/Blue Ray and then be available on various streaming services that our distributor is currently negotiating with. Of course, it will be release first in the US, then release worldwide. (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14611764/?ref_=nm_knf_i1)
Can you talk about any current movie being released American Bigfoot?
This movie is one I produced with Bad Amigo Pictures (who also helped produce DumbFellas). It is a comedy about what happens when a TV producer and his crew set out to find Big Foot in the forest and get a story that will put their TV station on top. It has a great cast, and very funny. As “Silent Bob” says in the preview, “It’s so ridiculous and raunchy, it would make Jay and Silent Bob proud.” (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12598462/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_6)
What can you tell us about which project you had the most fun on and a story about that project?
Having been more active in DumbFellas, made it certainly the more enjoyable for me, but also more work.
Can you tell us who or what inspires you as an entertainer?
Whoa, that could be a lengthy list. If you are talking of all time – I am really impressed with Gregory Peck’s career and of the more modern actors, probably Al Pacino.
Can you tell a story about your other work or what is next?
I have two other movies currently in production, one is a horror movie entitled “Bring Me A Skin To Go Dancing In” (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21275446/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_2) which is being filmed in LA and England and the second is a Sci-Fi movie entitled “Another Plan From Outer Space 2: The Doomed” which is being filmed in Utah and here in LA (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21053278/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_1). Both have excellent scripts, and I was able to get a small part in each – which is always fun.
Who are some people in entertainment that you have worked with?
Too many to mention, but I was working with Jerry Seinfeld and Amy Schumer in an upcoming Netflix special as well as with John C. Riley on his HBO series “Winning Time.” I also worked briefly with J.K. Simmons on his series “Counterpart” and John Bernthal and Josh Lucas in “Ford vs. Ferrari.”
Dreams: what are your dreams? Meaning who or what project would you hope to work with or be a part of in the future?
I probably have the same dreams as anyone else in this industry, to work with a bigger budget, a bigger crew, and the great actors, like Pacino. My whole purpose in this industry is to tell a good story so the viewer at the end will say, “I’m glad I watched that, it was worth the time.” I currently have three scripts I am currently developing including one for a TV series, but in this industry, to go from script to project is not an easy task.
Mr. Brown, the classic question: what charity do you work with and can you provide a link to it so others can see too please.
Time is difficult for me, but the charities I do support focus on three areas – feeding the hungry, helping those in prison, and finding a cure for autism – which my son has. There are many organizations that work in this area, I would prefer not to mention the ones I support or work with. I do not want to show favouritism among them – they all do good work.
What advice would you give aspiring actors/actresses? –
Do what you can to hone your craft, take the smaller jobs, you will meet the right people, you get a good reputation, and it will start to pay off. Just do not take any rejection personally and if it is your passion do not give up.
A final question. What question do you wish I had asked? And what would the answer be? (Laughing)
What, now I have to be a reporter as well. I guess the only question I would have asked would be “What do you do in your spare time?” – I mean a career is important and you should love what you do, but it should not be an entire life. You need to have other interests, friendships, and family. So many put things on hold until they “make it” and before you know it, the time flies by and you may never be at that place where you considered you have made it (most of us do not). Invest in relationships as well as your career.
https://www.minds.com/Talon123/blog/interviews-with-an-infamous-clinton-r-siegle-1140340962022912000
Michael Wayne Brown is an American born actor, event, and radio host. He has over 10 years acting experience in theater, television, and feature films. Michael is well known for playing attorneys, police detectives, politicians, professors/teachers, priests/ministers, and fathers. He performs equally well in comedy and drama. He also has written several scripts and produced multiple movies through his production company, Acting Legally Productions. In addition, Michael is a licensed attorney admitted to practice in the State of California.