Life & Work with Mike Kimmel

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Kimmel.

Hi Mike, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m a longtime actor, writer, and teacher with a thirty-plus year career in television, film, and commercials in Los Angeles, New York, and many emerging markets throughout the country. I’ve written ten books for actors (of all ages) and try my best to simplify and demystify the acting and auditioning process to help newcomers find an effective starting point in the performing arts.

I draw upon my own experiences and those of close friends and associates on professional film sets and stage venues to help actors develop practical, reliable skills they can use and depend upon to build long-term careers.

I teach a weekly online acting class that focuses on practical, proven techniques to break down scripts, discover beats and subtext, and create strong, memorable characters and choices for our auditions.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I grew up in the Bronx, a pretty rough area of New York, and my family didn’t know anyone in the entertainment industry. I knew from a very early age that I wanted to make my way out to Hollywood, work on TV and films, and write books and scripts. I knew exactly what I wanted to do, but had to figure out the “how.” Somehow, I knew intuitively that with enough study and practice, I would be able to learn the ropes, book roles, and build a respectable career.

Through working on hundreds of projects (and going out on thousands of auditions), I feel that I developed a set of skills that are reliable and repeatable. Not everyone can be a star, but everyone can train diligently, develop their skills, book legitimate roles, and build their resumes. I love helping actors find a good starting point in the industry, develop their talents, and learn to overcome obstacles and press forward. Sometimes it involves learning to get out of our own way––and there are specific techniques to accomplish that too.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’ve been fortunate enough to work regularly in television, film, and commercials for more than thirty years. I started out in the theater in New York and worked regularly as a sketch comedy player on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno for eleven years after I finally made the move out west. I also had the great pleasure to be personally cast by Francis Ford Coppola and work with him on an innovative new technology blending film and theater in Oklahoma City in 2015. That project was definitely a career highlight. Mr. Coppola was kind enough to include me in a book he wrote on this creative process the following year.

Whenever you have the opportunity to work alongside great creative people like Francis Ford Coppola and Jay Leno, you can’t help but grow as an artist. I learned a great deal from them and was also struck by how calm, even-tempered, gracious, and well-mannered they both were––even when things on set weren’t going well or when there were glitches or delays with props, wardrobe, technology, or scheduling. I try my best to pass along some of what I’ve learned from them (and others I’ve worked with) in my books and teaching.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I think it’s important for actors and writers to take small, concrete, measurable steps daily to study, build their credits, and gain practical experience in the entertainment industry. Through the years, I’ve seen so many talented actors and writers quit the business out of frustration over the many intangible elements that are always out of our control.

There’s an old saying: “Don’t be overwhelmed. Just be whelmed.” Focus on the things you have control over and figure out how you can contribute to the industry in a way that’s not already being handled. This is an important skill set, as it trains artists to become problem-solvers. We all have gifts and talents and it’s our responsibility to find ways to cultivate them and use them for the betterment of our chosen profession and the world. I’m a firm believer that we don’t have the right to keep our gifts and talents from the world. Keep going. Someone out there needs what you have to offer. We had an old saying back in the Bronx: “Keep throwing your hat in the ring. Eventually, someone’s going to need a hat.”

Pricing:

• Weekly Acting Class @ $200/month
• Private Audition Coaching @ $50/hour

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mikekimmelauthor.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikekimmelauthor/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikekimmelauthor
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikeKimmelActor
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/mikekimmelauthor/_created/