Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Lawson.
Hi Michael, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
“Myyyy story….is exactly the same as yours… just one chapter behind.”
☝️That’s an incredibly obscure movie reference which is my story in a nutshell. I’ve had different interests come and go throughout my childhood and adulthood, but movies were there from the start and stayed all the way….and I don’t see them going anywhere. As I’ve gotten older and managed to get onto sets of every different size, getting to see the other side and how the process comes together has honestly only made me fall even more in love with them. Getting to see everything that goes into it is the coolest damn thing in the world to me.
But my life outside of movies is pretty simple: redhead, born and raised in Texas, lifelong glutton for punishment (commonly referred to as a Cowboys fan), and a sense of humor so dry it makes Arizona seem like the Amazon rainforest by comparison… that’s about it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This is something of a double-edged sword. My needs were always met growing up and even throughout my life. My parents loved me and did their best raising me, which is all anybody could ask for in my opinion. The proverbial potholes have always been internal and admittedly self-inflicted in some cases. I feel like I’m something of an acquired taste from top to bottom, meaning that the more time people spend around me, the more I grow on them (in most cases, can’t please everyone), but I’ve never been great at first impressions, which are everything in life and in whatever business someone chooses. This has resulted in being written off in more ways than one, ignored, and caused a lot of self-doubt that maybe there’s just not that much about me that’s worth sharing with the world.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Like most struggling artists, I have a day job to supplement the grind. I love every aspect of the creative process but prefer to be in front of the camera. People don’t have to watch me very long before they learn that I specialize in dry humor and unexpected vulnerability. Anytime I’m able to convey one of both of these, I consider it a win. Festival selections and re-hires are usually just icing on the cake.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
The only thing I could say for networking is that there is no shortcut or quick fix. You just do it. Every opportunity to network, no matter how big or small needs to be taken advantage of to build “relationship capital.” You could endear yourself to someone that could result in you being cast in something 6 years down the road for all you know. For a mentor, I would say to be picky. Know exactly what you want to do and find someone who will help make that happen.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @michaeltlaw92
- Facebook: Michael Lawson
