We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Michael Steven-PAUL (Mikey Jay). We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Michael Steven-PAUL below.
Alright, Michael Steven-PAUL thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?
I have always been the type of director and producer to enlighten my actors and teach them about the film industry. I have always done my due diligence to give them much needed teachings and information about the legal and ethical aspects of the film industry but for some reason or another some ran with what i was teaching or instilling within them or some just bumped their heads. Some actors (not all), have this thing that they are owed something or that they’re doing you a favor when in fact they should be happy for the blessing that’s been bestowed upon them. When things don’t work out for whatever reason due to their own volition they have a bad habit of trying to blame the production or the director or even the dog but will never take accountability or responsibility themselves. It’s people like this that continuously spread lies, rumors and rhetoric about me all because they didn’t want to own up to their erratic unprofessional behaviors so when other people here it from them instead of the horses mouth they’ve already mischaracterized and misjudged me because of people who behave like this.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
To the music industry I’m Mikey Jay. Hip-Hop artist, lyricist, songwriter and music producer. The film industry I’m Michael Steven-Paul. Actor, film producer and director. I’ve been blessed over time during my musical journey to be accredited with multiple Grammy nominations, a slew of music awards as well as many honors from many music and film organizations as well as having my likeness placed on over 100 magazine covers. It’s great to have Lived my life as a celebrity but i never got. Or til this day get to enjoy that celebrity status. I really don’t on embellish on my status because i love to live a simple life without all of the hoopla. Beside the only celebrity i know that deserves the celebrity status is Jesus Christ. I got into the industry a long time ago. It wasn’t something. That i was seeking to do. although I have always rapped, producer music and even was a DJ, i never sought the longevity portion of it, but when things started to bubble for me i just ran with the ball. The business part of the industry came with the territory. I couldn’t just be a rapper or a dJ. I had to learn the other side of the business side because at the end of the day. It’s 90 percent business and 10 percent music. A lot of rappers were walking into bad record deals and i was not going to be another statistic so i focused just as much on the legal portion of the game just as much as the rap side. It takes a lot of discipline especially when you’re dealing with many types of people. With many different personalities and ulterior motives. I learned that everyone in the music industry was not my friend so i had to move about a certain type of way. When you’re able to keep your computer when things go array you’ve mastered the art of self discipline. The same thing applies to the film industry as well. Although they’re two separate entities trust and believe me the film industry is just as cruel. You’d be surprised how many people are not cut from your cloth.
I am the founder and CEO of AIGNE Enterprises. AIGNE Enterprises is the parent company to every business that I’ve founded , created and still control. For those people seeking to have a television production shot there’s AIGNE Media Group. For anyone seeking film production (features, shorts, documentaries and commercials there’s AIGNE Film Group and NATiWood Films. If someone is in need of a script and or screenplay there’s A Michael Steven-Paul Film and if someone is seeking music production there’s AIGNE Film Group. I am proud of the work that i put in to get my companies started and give each of them their own identity and years later they’re still making waves.
The only problems i can solve are the ones i didn’t create so many people wanna rap, sing or act but don’t comprehend what they’re walking into and they get taken for a ride and that’s when i have to come in clean up what they’ve messed up on. Even people who felt that they didn’t want to pay me for consultation or for me to produce and shoot their film ended up bumping their heads and back peddling back to me. They knew damn well what i can do. They knew my tale ts and skillset they just tried to corners and that’s when i gotta become Captain Save Em All. With my new joint venture with Dame Dash (Roc-A-Fella) and his new network America Nu Networks the skies the limit. I feel that i have a different type of content that the public is going to respect, love and cherish. I’m also happy that out of 14 film projects I’ve shot 5 of them and Hopeless ROMANTIC will be my first official film out the gate. KEYS & CUFFS, MADAME, HEATHEN, and COLOR BLIND are all going to be released via Dame Dash and America Nu Networks.
I take my brand very serious. I don’t play any games when it comes to my integrity, morals and values. I’m building an empire that will be know for those same core morals and values and integrity. I am a self sufficient and passionate driven man and clients will either love and respect it or be intimidated by that. I’d rather have their love, respect and repeat business. As a writer, director and producer it is my sole responsibility to bring their visions to fruition. My clients are not just people paying for my service. They’re getting a person who is no nonsense, family oriented, spiritual and professional. I will travel to where the job requires and build bridges wherever i go.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
Non creatives will definitely struggle with my process and how i conduct business. I put 10,000% into everything that i do. Whether im on the stage rapping or acting, writing or producing a film i put 10,000% of everything i am into it. My hustle, my grind and my grit are unmatched. I’m not out here to compete with anyone but if i was competitive you can best believe that I’m going for the jugular. Recently i had to change my open door policy to no trespassing. I was allowing too many people access to me and that had to be shut down. They couldn’t separate the cool guy off camera from the man behind the camera and that led to firings of many actors that I’ve worked with. They got too comfortable. Many of them wanted to be the chief instead of the Indian. My film set is my reservation and if you could not accept the role of the Indian then you had to go. And when they’re let go or they just up and quit that’s when they go from once praising you to hating you. Whatever you do, when it comes to producing and directing films STAND YOUR GROUND. You’re going to have great days, good days and bad days and all i can say is no matter how bad the day was always reflect on the great and good ones. I love this journey that i am on. I love filmmaking. I love being a creative. I just don’t love nor like the nonsense from unprofessional people whom cannot take accountability or accept responsibility.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My goal is to become one of the top film companies in the world. I want to be of great notable status as a creative. My mission is to continue to create the best and greatest films that i can create and with GODS guidance and love i know that i will.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: MikeyJayNYC
- Facebook: Mikey Jay (Michael Steven-Paul)
- Linkedin: Michael Steven-Paul
- Twitter: TeamMikeyJay
- Youtube: AIGNE AFG & Mikey Jay TV
Image Credits
Photo Credit Bella Rae Bond for BELLA’ EYE of Bella Bond Media