Today we’d like to introduce you to Nevin Millan.
Hi Nevin, 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 was born and raised in an international household, with immigrant parents of Croatian, Indian, and mixed heritage, in the heartland of America, St. Louis, Missouri. My first dabble in the entertainment industry was at the age of 4 when I began playing the violin and piano. I made my stage debut as ‘Donald Duck’ in a grade school play a few years later, and the seeds of my dreams and aspirations were planted. My passion for music, performance, and writing grew at the John Burroughs High School in St. Louis, where I sang in the choir and learned to play the guitar and drums, starting a rock band shortly thereafter.
At the University of Miami in Florida, where I earned a bachelor‘s degree in engineering as well as two master‘s degrees, including an MBA. I extracurricularly continued and developed artistic pursuits in music and acting. This is when my love for theatre, Shakespeare, historical pieces and stage performing blossomed and I began to professionally hone my craft as an actor. I also began writing for an online magazine that I co-founded, a novel business concept back in the early aughts.
After a six-month sojourn in Paris, where I spent much time in a myriad of museums appreciating masterpieces of art and experiencing the diverse cultures Europe has to offer, I moved to Los Angeles and began my two-year Meisner acting training at the Baron Brown Studio in Santa Monica. I followed that with a summer of vocal, classical, and Shakespeare training with Patsy Rodenburg (formerly from the RSC). In addition, I trained in stage combat, sword fighting, spears, knives, and firearms with several stunt trainers and groups. This skill set has come into play for many of the action-heavy characters I’ve had the privilege to portray. I truly embrace the physicality that comes with certain action roles and enjoy performing many of my own stunts and fight scenes. I also have a growing passion for horseback riding since having learned to ride bareback for a film about Indigenous cultures.
I often portray characters of various cultural diversities. I’ve got what some call an “ethnically ambiguous” appearance, so I can meld into quite a few different looks. I speak some French and rudimentary Spanish, as well as some basic Croatian, so that language ability comes into play a lot. I’ve played characters in countless different accents and even several foreign languages, including Ancient Egyptian, Latin, Georgian, French, Italian, Spanish, and Iroquois.
I currently live in Los Angeles with my daughter Amalya and son Kaspyan. I’m a devoted single father to my kids, coach their little league teams, and cultivate curiosity and knowledge in them. We’ve always got some kind of science or art project we’re working on or adventures together. Day to day, I work as an actor, producer, writer, and filmmaker, as well as a story and creative consultant, among other pursuits. I’ve also delved into sustainability consulting. I’ve even developed my own brand called “Sustainable Parent.” I want to encourage people to live in harmony with the earth as much as we can in this modern world.
In the industry, I have credits in network television shows, as well as feature films and stage productions and I continue to audition for roles in films, episodic, and stage productions worldwide. I’m currently developing my own film & tv projects, writing screenplays, stage plays, and other literary projects like a novel, a book of poetry, and a collection of short stories.
I’m also an animal rights activist and follow a vegan, plant-based diet and lifestyle, twelve years and counting. I’m an avid outdoorsman and enjoy hiking and camping all over the world, as well as traveling to new countries and immersing into their cultures. I’ve hiked to the top of the Rocky Mountains and the bottom of the Grand Canyon, as well as Yosemite’s Half Dome, Zion’s Angel’s Landing, Mt. Whitney, and more. I have my eyes set on Mt. Kilimanjaro and the Himalayas, hoping to tackle those soon.
I’m an active member of the international high IQ society, Mensa. I attend regular roundtable meetings and discussions and have spoken as a keynote speaker at several events on behalf of Mensa, including three times at Comic-Con.
I’m a storyteller at heart, in pursuit of knowledge to share with humanity through intense passion, perseverance, and a deep love of the arts.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Life is not a straight path, so there have been many ups and downs. One of them being the diversity issue in the entertainment industry. I’ve been a proponent of inclusivity for decades now. I’ve written articles for publications like the Huffington Post about it. I’m so glad the conversation is now being taken seriously and there are more opportunities becoming available in media for people of diverse backgrounds, but it’s been a journey to get here. Learning to come to terms with my identity and where I fit in as a mixed-ethnicity person has been a parallel journey to that. I’ve researched family history and where I come from, and it’s helped a lot with my own self-discovery and confidence. I even created a non-profit called “Cultural Cornucopia” with the intention of supporting ethnically diverse, unproduced, playwrights. We kicked it off during the height of the pandemic. We’re still getting it off the ground and hope to hold our first workshops in the next year or so. If we’re going to get more representation out there, it has to start with the pen and paper – we’ve got to write our stories!
Other struggles have been major life events. When each of my parents passed away (mom in 2010, dad in 2013), it was a shock to the system. I had to drop everything and leave back to St. Louis for many months to deal with the aftermath. There was a lot of grieving and second guessing a career in entertainment and media. I knew I couldn’t go back as if nothing happened. I had to get my head screwed on straight and figure out who I was now without the guidance of a parent. And as the eldest child of my family, I was thrust into the role of patriarch in my 30s, and I wasn’t really ready for that. On the coattails of that, my 1st child was born. I’m still not over my parents never meeting their grandkids, don’t think I ever will be. It was a lot of LIFE in just a few years. So, I took a step back to recalibrate. Needless to say, I lost a lot of momentum, and the industry is not conducive to prolonged absences. I went from auditioning for leads in major studio films like Conan the Barbarian and shows like Heroes to smaller co-star roles and short films when I came back into it. It was humbling for sure, but in the end I’m there to serve a story and bring a character to life, however that happens. I love being on set and stage, grateful for every project.
The most recent struggles have certainly been the pandemic and then the strikes that were devastating for this industry. (Please note, I supported the strikes and believe they were necessary, but it was and still is tough out there). But that’s mostly universal for everyone. I had just booked the lead in a film and had two shows I was pitching about to sell just as the lockdowns went into place in 2020. That all fell away. So, I’m rebuilding and keeping the dream alive, as many of us are. In addition, balancing home life with kids, single co-parenting, and a career is a challenge. Shooting self-tape auditions late at night after the kids go down to sleep is a pretty regular ritual. Right now, I’m writing these answers with my six-year-old hanging from my leg, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
It’s all about mindset. I’ve done a lot of work on shifting those negative thoughts, not absorbing naysayers and other negative energies that can pull you down. And it’s important to not let yourself spiral in shame and guilt and get wrapped up in self-judgment and judgment of others. Stay focused, breathe, meditate, turn to nature, go on a jog, whatever it takes to snap out of that spiral and then keep going. I just ran a half-marathon recently for the first time. I almost quit so many times but kept on going through the pain and doubt, and I found the whole experience very cathartic. A metaphor for life and goal achievement. One really does have to be delusionally optimistic in this industry sometimes in order to persevere and that’s OK. Maybe that should be a T-shirt, ha!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Primarily I would call myself a Storyteller. I wear that hat as an actor, a writer, and a producer/filmmaker. I’ve been acting on stage, film, and TV for 20 years now, and through those years, I’ve brought many of my own projects to fruition as well as amazing independent and studio projects. From plays I’ve written for the stage to short films that I’ve produced to pilots and feature scripts I’ve written, there’s been a lot that I’m proud of. Each project, no matter its journey, is a victory! Genres I work in tend to be drama, action/adventure, fantasy, and even the occasional rom-com, but my favorites are sci-fi and historical. Needless to say, there’s a lot of irons in the fire at any given moment! I’d love to get a film or episodic series made that I’ve written and will star in. I’ve got a trove of projects in development that I’m pitching around, so fingers crossed. While most of them are narrative projects, a few of them are unscripted reality genre. Of those, the ones I’m most excited about are related to sports/fitness, and the others are about vegan/plant-based diets.
Another form of performance I’ve enjoyed is voice-over. When I was a kid, I’d do all sorts of crazy voices. Friends were convinced that I was going to be a cartoon voice actor. And while I haven’t landed that juicy animation voice gig just yet, I’ve had the honor of doing a lot of voices in some cool VR projects, commercials, and films. Changing my voices into different voice characterizations is such a fun way to explore character and story, I love it. But I’ve also loved narrating books on tape and documentaries. I’m a total nerd for documentaries, especially ones about nature, science, space, and animals. I’d love to voice more of those!
I’m also a musician. It’s the art form I was drawn to first. I started playing violin at the age of 3, then picked up piano around age 6, then singing and guitar around 10, and finally drums around the age of 14. I’ve played in rock bands, recorded a few songs here and there. But once I got bit by the storyteller bug, I realized that I didn’t want to make my passion and love for music a “business” pursuit. Meaning, I still play guitar and sing every day, music plays a big part in a lot of my writing and the characters I play, but I chose to keep that first artistic love close the heart and not mired by trying to make a living from it. I’ve uploaded some cover songs to YouTube and socials, and I’ll continue doing that just for fun. Maybe one day I’ll record a full solo album and put it out there just as a bucket list artistic exploration, so the door is still open there. And I do jam with other musicians from time to time, so you never know. But filmmaking, writing, acting, and consulting are my main day-to-day pursuits.
Before the strikes, I got into commercial producing quite a bit, and that ramped up just after the pandemic and during the strikes when the industry was in chaos. Even though I produced commercials prior, these were at a much higher scale, full campaigns that I oversaw from ideation through production, post, and delivery for major brands. And I also directed a series of educational videos too, which was really fun. I hope to do more of that work as well, in between narrative gigs. In addition to that, I’m developing my own brand called “Sustainable Parent,” a platform that aims to inform and inspire people to raise families in a more eco-friendly, sustainable manner. And not only sustainable for the earth but for themselves too. It will soon launch on socials, YouTube, a podcast, and an e-book. There’s another YouTube channel project I’m working on with some partners that will feature the stories of unique artists, but we’re a bit aways from launching.
In terms of writing not related to film, TV, or stage, I’ve got a novel in the works as well as a book of poetry. I’ve quietly written poetry since I was a teenager as a secret passion that nobody knew about. However, in 2020, I entered a poetry competition on a whim and, to my utter surprise, won the thing! After some nudges from industry folks, I’m working towards a book that’s a collection of poetry. It’s coming together bit by bit. And finally, I’m working on a collection of short stories about the partition of India/Pakistan that I’m super stoked about. A major world event that I believe is under-represented in every form of media. An event that my father and his family lived through but never talked about. It’s a lot of research, but I’ve got a few of the stories done, with a few more to go.
I think the through-line in my projects is that I want my work to inspire people the way movies inspired me, to educate about cultures and unique stories, and to illuminate lesser-known parts of the human experience. Media has been very much ruled by a rather myopic perspective for so long, it’s time for some new voices and stories to be heard. Through sharing stories, we learn more about each other, and that is the path to empathy, understanding, and healing. And hopefully one day, peace and more love, God knows we need it.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I’ve had the privilege in recent years to do quite a bit of keynote speaking. Notably, a three-time panelist at San Diego Comic-Con for a group called Mensa that I’m a member of. Our panels have covered topics like science fiction, education, and superheroes. I also spoke at a Mensa annual gathering about storytelling. The topic delved into the idea that researching and knowing your own family genealogical story can make one a better storyteller. A lot of us, especially in the US with a lot of immigrant stories, many of which got lost along the way, don’t have a sense of where we come from. So, those roots can be lost. My conjecture is that by learning about and researching our history, we can develop a deeper knowledge of self and heal generationally inherited trauma, which undoubtedly leads to a more rounded person and a more effective storyteller. Write what you know, they say, right? I’m really looking forward to speaking on more stages and sharing knowledge that I’ve gained over the years. I’d love to do a TED talk!
Another aspect of who I am is my commitment to nature conservation. From animals to ecosystems, there’s so much pollution and damage to the earth going on right now, and I’m doing what I can to get the message out and practice what I preach. I follow a plant-based/vegan diet and lifestyle; my kids and I love exploring nature and support the national parks. We go to animal sanctuaries and volunteer, donate, environmental cleanups. It’s a lot of effort, but in the end, I think it’s worth it. We have to get future generations on board, it’s their future we’re protecting. It would be fun to be part of a Nat Geo team as a host and/or producer and capture nature-related content and documentaries. Perhaps that’s a future outlet to explore!
Contact Info:
- Management (for inquiries and bookings): anthony@shushuent.com
- Website: https://nevinmillan.com
- Instagram: @nevinmillan ; @sustainableparent ; @culturalcornucopia
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/nevinmillan
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/NevinMillan
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/nevinmillan
- Other: https://sustainableparent.eco ; https://culturalcornucopia.org/
