Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michael Finn. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Michael thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

My knowledge and learning comes from many sources, but my successes and biggest moments of growth came from taking risks and believing in myself. I started acting at a young age, and followed that passion through college where I took a few courses in directing theatre. There was a student run theatre company at my school as well, and after graduating, I decided to roll the dice and try directing a fill length production. I started with “The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket” and immediately faced challenges of casting, communication, and conducting myself at a level I had never been on before. This production really started a new chapter of my life. It showed me that my ideas and passions were valid, and it taught me how to express my vision and work with others to create a work that took my concept, incorporated other artists thoughts and ideas, and elevated it to a new height. This show showed me what teamwork and collaboration was really all about. From there I went on to direct multiple shows, including a few works of Shakespeare, and eventually decided to pick up a camera and try making films instead of only directing stage plays. It was a slow process, and most of my obstacles were just fears of failure, impostor syndrome, and a lack of self-confidence. I was stubborn and felt I needed to work on my own again to learn, rather than surrounding myself with people who knew more than me and learning from those who were willing to teach. Eventually, I got wise to my own self-sabotage and started working with people who knew the craft and I asked as many questions as I could. I still constantly try to work with new people, watch YouTube videos, and read about lighting, cinematography, and anything else that can help make me a better filmmaker.

Michael, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I got into the film and theatre industry back in high school. I was a musician and wanted to find more ways to spend time with my friends and a lot of them were doing theatre. I eventually joined in and was hooked immediately. I then went to college for acting, and continue to study with different teachers and methods, but I have also grown into a full on creator, writing, shooting, editing, directing, and producing. I still act (with multiple projects coming up), but my passion has grown exponentially as a story-teller, and I love the aspect of bringing together a full project from page to screen. I’ve recently wrapped on multiple feature films and a TV series, have a few short films in pre-production, one in post-productions, and a couple feature concepts starting to be put on paper. I also dabble in photography in my spare time, shooting a lot of wildlife and landscape and currently expanding into product photography. I think the most important thing to be through all of it is that I show my heart in all my projects. For me, it’s all about giving back. When I was young, movies and theatre were an escape, a way to step out of my own life and problems for a couple of hours. It was a way to travel, to live in a world that wasn’t mine, a way to experience things outside of my own life. What I didn’t realize then, was it was also a way to gain new perspective and work on myself and my own thoughts, troubles, and insecurities. It was a way to see a bigger picture and to touch corners of the globe that I couldn’t afford to travel to. Now, as I discover more and more of my voice and I look at what is important to me and possibly to others, I try to use my art to give back those experiences; to teach, to travel, to learn, to grow, to start a conversation, and to help. I think art can move the world, and if I am lucky enough to touch one individual, to reach someone on a deeply emotional level, to help even one person through any trouble or issue or to even allow them a moment to breathe, then I have lived a full life.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think being a creative person can lead to easily being misunderstood or misjudged. As a creative, I spend a lot of my time studying, learning, and practicing my crafts in order to get better and be prepared when opportunity comes. I know when I first decided I wanted to be an actor and eventual director, a lot of people would either mock me or bully me saying to get a real job or stop being a “lazy artist”. I don’t think many people realize how much hard work, sacrifice, and money people have to put into their crafts in order to even reach a modicum of success. There are countless hours in the classroom, money spent on headshots, marketing material, classes, workshops, gear, rentals, locations, etc etc etc. Not to mention the time spent writing, editing, pitching, scouting, and networking amongst other things. Many creatives don’t fit into a societal norm, and but are often pressured to do so, either by family or friends, or both. It’s not malicious, generally they want what they think is best for someone like myself, but often don’t realize that what is best is pursuing our dreams and passions. I spend a lot of my time fielding questions like “when are you gonna settle down?”, “when is your big break?”, or “why don’t you do something that supports you financially?”, but what really brings me joy is being in the world of film and theatre in any aspect, knowing that I am being part of a creative process. That happiness is something that money cannot buy. I have sacrificed a steady paycheck and even relationships in order to continually grow in my career and go after what is important to me. It’s not always easy or glamorous, but it’s where I am most fulfilled, and if that means not fitting in, I’m okay with that.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

For me, building my reputation all came down to honesty. First and foremost, I had to be honest with myself. I had to really understand what I was capable of, what my strengths and weaknesses were, and where I needed to improve. Armed with that knowledge, I could be honest with the people I was working for and working with. If there was something I didn’t know or understand, I wasn’t afraid to ask questions about it rather than pretend I knew it all. This didn’t happen overnight, but it is the most important part about who I am as an artist. After that comes hard work, clear communication, and positive attitude. I give my all to any project I am a part of, and if I have an issue or a concern, I do my best to clearly express it to the right people or person so that it can be addressed and handled quickly and efficiently. As far as staying positive, it isn’t always easy on set. Long days and stressful environments make it easy to get caught up in the chaos of it all, but positivity is contagious. A smile, a greeting at the start of the day, a simple “how can I help?”; these things go a long way. At the end of it all, we are all working to create something as a team, and staying calm, peaceful and positive allows for easier days and moments of clarity to work through problems that arise quickly and smoothly rather than fueled by frustration. I think these traits are what helped me build my reputation and are the reasons why people enjoy having me on set.

Contact Info:

• Website: mfmichaelfinn.com
• Instagram: @therealmichaelfinnn
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/mfmichaelfinn
• Twitter: @realmichaelfinn
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLD9SAOoI8T8aiPz55G0L-A
• Other: imdb.me/michaelfinn