Life & Work with Malcolm Van Sant of Rancho Palos Verdes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Malcolm Van Sant.

Hi Malcolm, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Well, I fell in love with movies from a young age. I was a latchkey kid, so movies were there for me a lot. Not only to hold my attention, but also to bring me into worlds vastly different from mine. Larger-than-life movies, like Terminator 2 and Pirates of the Caribbean, are not only some of my earliest memories but also made me feel like I was part of something bigger, I guess. I didn’t realize it then, but this heightened imagination for protagonists cemented an aspiration to become a leading man myself. And somewhere, as I grew up, I decided to pursue that.

During my community college years, I started background acting, and loved every second, which led to teaching myself “acting” from YouTube videos. I guess the universe liked this because, soon after, I found my first gig, acting in NYC — in front of the camera, this time! The buzz of those four weeks on set helped me choose UCLA as my transfer university, where I delved even deeper into the inner workings of the industry, and my career aspirations further cemented.

And, now, I find myself here today! As press rolls out for “In The Eyes of Flies”, I have been able to participate in some amazing things along the way. From attending my first “press” events, to wearing beautifully crafted clothing and promoting it, and even having an LA magazine know who I am and being interested in my story! So I’d say, in my own way, I’m definitely making upward progress.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Honestly, it’s been fairly smooth so far. Many projects found their way to me, so I feel that the universe has been looking out for me. From FPS’ film club productions at UCLA, to dipping a toe into network television, and even independent films, it’s been thanks to the people behind them remembering my name, my face, or my aspirations — sometimes, only after a single encounter.

In this industry, being in the right place at the right time is something many aspiring artists can attest to. For instance, while supporting my roommate’s girlfriend, who co-hosted a UCLA event, I met Christian Alan, the director of several projects I’ve acted in. We shared many interests and quickly connected. If not for sharing his directing goals, or that chance encounter, playing a jockey swimmer in “In The Eyes of Flies” would never have happened.

However, where I have experienced struggle is overcoming self-doubt. Specifically, fear of being seen as mediocre, or worse, untalented, by the people close to me, my friends and family. Being our own worst critic is a universal struggle, both in- and outside- of the industry. Yet, in due time, I know I’ll be able to look back at my performances, not as shortcomings, but as a starting place and see how far I have come.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As an actor, I am early in my career, yet I believe I specialize in surrounding myself with others who have like-minded aspirations, values, and work ethic; so, in that sense, I would hope nothing sets me apart. If I am known for anything, it’s probably acting alongside Emily Roman, in an episode of “People’s Court”, where we played exes, and her character sues me in small claims court. This was a great and, so far, most notable experience, because not only did my character win, but that season was also nominated for a 2024 Daytime Emmy, so that’s a nice claim to fame.

In fact, Emily and I share the screen again, in our upcoming short film, “In The Eyes of Flies”, and it’s always nice to form a recurring working relationship with people you get along with. It’s being a part of projects, like “In The Eyes of Flies”, which shine a light on consequences of treating others poorly due to their differences, that I am most proud of. After all, movies were a north star for me, during hard and confusing times, and all I want in pursuit of this journey is to positively impact others the same way.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Movies have indelibly made me who I am today, and I would not have experienced the great opportunities without them, so I would say, holistically, cinema makes me happy. That not only applies to watching my favorite films and discovering new ones, but also being in front and behind the camera in making the movie-magic happen. Being on set has built me a camaraderie that I hope lasts a lifetime, and that level of collaboration is one of my favorite pastimes.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malcolmvansant/

Image Credits
Maury Phillips, Cinematxart, Monica Schipper, Christian Alan, Elaine Reid