Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt O’Neill.
Hi Matt, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Well, like with all of us, it’s a very long story. I’ll summarize much of it. I can trace it back to when the daycare babysitter called my mom, freaked out because she didn’t realize I was recreating George Washington chopping down the cherry tree when I was whacking a tree with a stick or when I was crawling around the yard with my ear to the ground mimicking the way robins listen for earthworms. Or when I would put together entire “shows” using household appliances while portraying multiple characters, or my love for my view master, etc. Typical kid stuff, though my infatuation took it to another level.
Or how, in my early grade school years, I saw a touring stage production of Peter Pan, complete with wire work, met the actors afterward, and was awed by how their costumes and makeup created such an illusion on stage yet looked so different up close.
Or finding an escape with movies from the reality of some things in my childhood while being raised by a single mother who had her struggles and doing my best for my younger brother. Being a natural empath, I absorb everything around me and take on far more than I should. I have to say, my mother is an incredibly strong human being. How she raised two wild boys on her own is beyond my imagination. We sure as hell weren’t easy on her! She was dealt a seriously crappy hand, but she did it. She raised two successful entrepreneurs. Two survivors. We’re who we are, in large part, because of her and what she went through.
I always felt like an alien in my family and life to the point that I was convinced I might be one, especially after hearing a story of when my mother and father saw a “UFO” around the time of my conception. Considering they were both stationed in the military around that time, it’s all more logical now. But, damn, how I connected with E.T. and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. HA! I’m still drawn to anything outer space, alien, or sci-fi. Eventually, in high school, I found the stage. That’s where I found my home and my people.
So many of us artists have similar backgrounds. We’re kindred spirits who are magnetically drawn to one another. We subconsciously recognize that in each other.
Fast forward to dropping out of music school because it wasn’t what I wanted, and I was already starting to work in theatre as an actor. I truly desired to work in film & tv even though I didn’t know anything or anyone in that world whatsoever. But I had a goal to be an actor and filmmaker in Hollywood.
I live by the motto, “Leap, and the net will appear.” So that’s what I did. I leaped and moved to LA in 2006 with no industry connections or contacts, no job, and barely 2 months’ worth of cash. Just a buddy who had recently moved there who offered space for an air mattress on the kitchen floor of his studio apartment in Pico/Union, near MacArthur Park. And thus, my journey truly began. I put the peddle to the floor and never looked back.
Back in Pittsburgh, I had been working as a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach, so I immediately applied at gyms all around Hollywood & WeHo, getting hired at Gold’s Gym Hollywood and then Crunch Fitness Sunset shortly thereafter. I worked 15-17 hours a day, 7 days a week. I found a place to live and kept grinding, working, auditioning, networking, and meeting people. If I wasn’t working with a client, I was on the breakdowns, in class, reading every play, book, or script I could get my hands on, and doing local theater and improv shows. I started writing a lot of sketches, shorts, and spec commercial scripts, which led to writing features. By default, I started handling the scheduling and booking of shows for my sketch team. With the friends that I was making, we started shooting no-budget shorts and spec spots to submit to contests and festivals.
I’m very self-motivated. I’ve always been a doer, a workhorse. I’m not one to wait for anything. I make it happen, or I make it myself. That’s always been my mentality. In every job I’ve ever had, I’ve ended up in some supervisory or management position. It’s my nature as a natural problem solver, critical thinker, and go-getter. I always go back to a saying my mother taught me, “If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me.” I’ve lived by that. Sometimes to a fault.
I just kept at it, refusing to take “no” for an answer. It helps that I’m an eternal optimist and dreamer. I was able to grind up enough work in indie films, TV, and theatre that I eventually quit personal training and supported myself, on a very tight budget, as an actor. That held for a few years, but as the industry ebbs and flows, I hit a downturn right around the time streaming first began impacting the industry. I had, on paper, what looked like a good year. I had done 5 or 6 indie films, a handful of TV episodes, and a few plays, but I was broke. The indie films and plays barely paid more than a stipend, the TV episodes were each one-day jobs, and I had become single early that year, so my living expenses compounded very quickly. I ended up having to sell my TV to my landlord to cover my rent for one month. It could’ve been discouraging, and it sure as hell felt awful. but it laser-focused me even more. I knew that I needed to evolve to keep up with the changes in the industry.
I got a job as a barista at The Hudson Theatre in Hollywood and helped to run the theatre spaces there as a survival job between acting gigs like so many others have done. I knew that I had done it once and I could do it again. I knew that I could outwork anyone, but this time, I would find a way to work smarter and harder than ever before.
Fortunately, I had a natural skill set to be a producer, and I was fascinated by it. I loved the idea of building a project from the ground up. Putting the puzzle together from ideation to completion. So, whenever I was on set when I wasn’t in a scene, I’d watch, ask questions, and learn as much as possible about every crew position. When the time was right and the opportunity presented itself, I’d talk to the producers, ask them questions, and ask if I could shadow them to learn more. I read every article, book, and website, and I absorbed as much information as humanly possible. I loved every single second of it. I taught myself the Movie Magic Budgeting and Scheduling software, how to break down a script from the production perspective vs the performance perspective, and how to build relationships with vendors and crew networks. I took set & office PA work, assistant jobs, and location rep jobs and learned the basics of every crew position so I’d have an understanding of what every person needs in their departments. I was setting myself up for the long term.
I’m a big believer in momentum. As the old saying goes, “A rolling stone gathers no moss.” Especially in this business. It’s so challenging, and if you catch a wave, you ride that wave for all it’s worth. When you fall, you get back on that board, paddle back out, and catch the next wave. Each wave is different than the last, but there are similarities that you learn from. From doing, from experience. What’s important is that you never stop.
That’s really what has led me on the path that I’m on now as a working producer. I’ve been fortunate to find great people and great projects and continue building my career. I adore what I do. I love this business and this town so much. It’s my passion, my life, and my dream come true.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Of course, I’ve hit bumps along the way, that’s part of the process. I’ve met great people, but I’ve also met some terrible people. I’ve been burned, lied to, taken advantage of, and even offered a few sell your sole “opportunities” over the years. I never gave in. Never compromise yourself or your morals for any perceived opportunity or faux advancement. I promise you, it’s never worth it, and it will never get you where you want to go. Just the illusion of it. What matters most is that you stay true to who you are. It might feel like it’ll take slightly longer, or you’ll have to work harder, but that’s what builds true, long-lasting success. And you can sleep at night. This town is small, and your reputation is currency. Know and respect your values.
Someone else once told me that “LA is a giant self-cleaning oven. Only the most stubborn stains stick around.” I believe LA is a soothsayer. It doesn’t judge. It exposes the truth, whatever its nature may be, and brings out people’s true colors. Trust your instincts; we have them for a reason.
You learn from every experience, positive or negative. Cherish those lessons, learn from them, and keep moving forward. Always remember where you came from, but never look back. Remember, the hero never looks back at the explosion.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I was an actor for over 20+ years, and I’m a working producer. I mostly work in independent feature films and TV, though I’ve also produced commercials, music videos, live theatre, etc.
I’m fortunate that every feature I’ve produced has secured worldwide distribution, including several with theatrical releases. I’m proud of many accomplishments and the successes that I’ve been part of, though this is a collaborative art form. It takes so many incredible people doing excellent work for any project to be successful. The key is surrounding yourself with great, smart, talented people who are better at what they do than you ever could be.
A perfect example of that is the continued success of one of my recent movies, The Last Stop In Yuma County. Wonderful people across the board, tremendously talented, and some of the best humans I’ve had the luxury of knowing and getting to play with. This project felt like summer camp and reminded me of why I originally got into this business. Francis (writer/director) is uber-talented, as is everyone on the team. Just stellar, folks.
What sets me apart….? My work ethic. I’ll outwork anyone. I grew up in a very blue-collar, working-class neighborhood in the City of Pittsburgh. That’s the way it is in that town. You want something; you work for it. You want more than you have or more out of life; you work even harder. There’s no complaining, no easier path, you go to work, regardless of how you feel. That’s been instilled in me from the day I was born. I’ve also been told that I have great vision, creativity, business acumen, and professionalism. I think that comes from unquenchable curiosity, a love of learning, and a love of people. A great idea can come from anywhere. Listen and learn. I think the most important factor is kindness. Treat everyone with kindness. You don’t know their story any more than they know yours. Treat everyone the way you want and expect to be treated. A little kindness goes a very long way.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I inadvertently covered a lot of this during our conversation. However, another bit of advice I’d like to add is, yes, it’s essential to be confident and know your value and what you bring to the table, but it’s equally important to stay humble. Humility and, again, kindness leave an indelible impression. A pat on the back is only about 12 inches from a kick in the ass. That’s another saying that has always stuck with me from childhood.
And, just be you. Be proud of who you are. Don’t try to be anyone else; don’t try to blend in. There is only one you in the universe. Your uniqueness is what makes you stand out. And that’s what we look for in this business.
Thank you for reaching out. I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me. Cheers!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattoneill_official/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattoneillofficial/, https://www.facebook.com/mattoneillactor
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/matt-o-neill-68a4a19
Image Credits
The two PGA backdrop photos (no photo credit available)
The rest (photographs by Gabe Torres)
