Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael P Gardner.
Michael P, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It all started in 2011 when I was let go from my regular 9-to-5 job for some things that just were not true. Although I was upset, I took it as an opportunity to find something better. See, in my world, when one door closes, another one opens. I thought to myself; maybe it was just the universe telling me that I should be doing something else. A couple of days later I received an email from a girl that I had met once a few years earlier. She had put my name and email address on her extras casting list. The email was an invitation to be an extra in a movie in Dallas. I thought well since I’m unemployed, I might as well go. So I went and worked on the movie as an extra. I had a great time on set for a couple of days and I fell in love with the process of movie making. One of the lead actors commented in a brief conversation that he “liked my look.” I didn’t know what that meant! He asked how long I had been acting? I looked at my watch and replied well I’m just getting started today. I won’t mention his name, but he was extremely inspiring and complementary. The gears in my head started to slowly turn. The thought of being an actor? Nah, not me.
A couple of weeks later I got an email for another background role for a film called I Am Gabriel, being shot by local Dallas filmmaker Mike Norris and starring Dean Cain and John Schneider. This was getting exciting. Little did I know at the time, working on this next film, would change my life forever. I met so many great people on that film and I am still friends with many of them today. However, one actress would unknowingly play a role in changing my life forever. Actress Jenn Gotzon (Frost Nixon) was in the cast and had flown in from Los Angeles. There was just something about her that was extremely spiritual. On set, we became friends, and she spent a fair amount of time visiting with everyone between takes. To make a long story longer, Jenn and I had a conversation about the game of golf. We mutually agreed that on a day off we would head to the golf course for lessons. Jenn would be getting a golf lesson from me and I would be getting an acting lesson from her.
Since I have played for many years, I promised I would teach her to golf if she promised to teach me how to be a ‘big Hollywood star’! We laughed about that and hit the links a few days later, let just say that Jenn is an inspirational individual, and she had helped me to see that everything I had done in my career up to that point was in preparation to be an actor. Those gears that had started rolling in my head earlier were now rolling faster and gaining momentum. Suddenly, within the span of a couple of hours on the golf course with Jenn, my world would be flying upside down and stuck on full throttle. See, the catalyst to all this is the fact that Jenn took the time to be nice to someone (me) she had never met, and inspired me to reach for the stars. Since Jenn and I met that day in July. 2011, my life has been a whirlwind, I have met some amazing people and am making strides in this industry that I never dreamed of. You see, I never dreamed of being an actor.
Up to that point in my life, the thought never entered my mind. However, I was ready for a change and looking for that open door. I spoke of earlier. I was ready to commit fully to something that really jived me, no matter what. I had been working and paying bills all my life and there I was at age 45, unemployed and didn’t have much to show for my decades of work. I just wanted to spend the rest of my days on earth doing something I love. Apparently, I was falling in love with being an actor and within the span of one afternoon, I knew that I would be an actor for the rest of my life. Jenn had commented during our round of golf that I had no idea how much of a better deal I was getting in this lesson for lesson trade. We laughed some more and frankly, I still have not realized how much of a better deal I got that day, nor will I ever I suppose. I am pretty sure her golf swing is probably getting better if she has been practicing at all, but to me, it can’t be anywhere near equal to the spiritual and life-changing epiphany that had presented itself to me that day.
I got some headshots and started auditioning for local short films and student films. One role led to another and I started working on local TV shows as background. Every minute I spent on set, I was learning, soaking up everything I could about the process. TV shows like Dallas (TNT) and Salem (WGNA) became my acting school. I went to acting classes and still do, but it was working on network TV shows that really got me fired up. It also taught me the ins and outs of a TV production set. Fast forward to today, fall of 2018. I have over 45 IMDb credits and a dozen or so co-star credits on network TV shows. I am represented by The Linda McAlister Talent Agency.
I got to where I am by working on as many projects as possible, paying or not, in the beginning. Nowadays I can be more particular about what I work on. Also, giving back to the industry by volunteering my time to non-profits like Endeavor Cinema and the new Funky Town Festival Foundation. We serve all types of artists from our ever-growing North Texas community. From the visual artist, musicians, filmmakers to designers. I firmly believe that part of a successful career includes giving back to the industry that pays my bills. Ever since the beginning, I have done my best to always be paying it forward, Just like Jenn did for me. I love to mentor and help others get to where I am and beyond.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have been some struggles financially. As actors, we don’t make much when starting a career. There were auditions in Austin, where I had to use my piggy bank change to cover the gas there and back. But, at the time, that hardly seemed too high a price to pay for the happiness I was experiencing while chasing a passion. Basically, any of the struggles I had along the way were pretty easy to swallow because I was on top of the moon doing what I love. A funny story. Once, several actors from Dallas traveled to Shreveport Louisiana to work on the TV show Salem. We were all so broke, we had eight people pitch in on one double room at the local low budget inn, and one even slept in the bathtub. Nobody seemed to complain much. We were all happy to be there. We were making memories none of us realized at the time, would be with us for the rest of our lives. My roommate Michelle and I would drive from our place in Waxahachie Texas at 3 AM to report to Shreveport, at 6 AM for call time. We would work all day, and then jump back in the car and drive back home. Although these were struggles, they were also some of the greatest memories.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Michael P Gardner story. Tell us more about the business.
Well, my experiences in the acting field so far have included roles on Network TV series, short films and feature-length films, local and national commercials and one summer doing live musical theater, playing uncle fester in the Addams family musical. My brand of character is definitely a police officer, a person of authority and or bad guy/killer. I played a cop on ABC’s American Crime. That was a verifying moment for me as an actor. I had auditioned for Academy Award winner John Ridley (producer and director) and he said YES! The day of my first scene on the show, while changing in my trailer, I realized I had made it. That was IT for me. The big show. A Co-starring role on a network TV show with actors like Timothy Hutton and Felicity Huffman! Since then my momentum seems to continue, but to me, from this point forward, I am just thankful for every day.
What sets me apart from others is my level of commitment to the work, my never say die attitude, and stunning good looks. LOL OK, you could probably change that last one to something like, lightning fast improv skills from a lifetime of experiences on which to draw from. I have learned to take what I have, own it, and have developed it into an engaging character on screen. I think that’s the big secret not many people get. We have to take what the universe gives us, and OWN IT!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I believe I’ve been making my own luck since I was a kid. To me, luck is being prepared by putting in the work, then expecting to be in the right time and the right place. I don’t know if you would call it luck, but I generally like to visualize and see my future and imagine it. Nothing I have accomplished in this industry came as a surprise. It’s all been part of my plan all along. I’ve been making concentrated strides to always be taking it up to the next level. I wait for nothing or no one. This industry is full of people with excuses. It’s full of people waiting for some reason, to pull the trigger and chase their dreams, but they never really have. You have to just keep plowing forward and your day will come. Luck comes from hard work, a positive mindset and never giving up.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.LMTalent.com
- Phone: 940 393 9213
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelpgardner/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grapevineactor
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/babewrangler
- Other: https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/mikegardner
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
