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An Interview with Michael Sciabarrasi, Star of A Grim Becoming

by Mike Haberfelner

April 2014

Films starring Michael Sciabarrasi on (re)Search my Trash

 

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Your upcoming movie A Grim Becoming - in a few words, what is it about, and what can you tell us about your character?

 

A Grim Becoming is a dark comedy about a young handsome succesful executive that accidentally sees a grim reaper taking a soul. If you see a reaper take a soul you have to become a reaper. The film is about the comic lenghts he goes to to retain his humanity and not become a reaper.

 

Your character Magoo is actually Death himself - now how do you even prepare for a role like this, and what do you draw upon to bring such a character to life?

 

Adam Steigert [Adam R. Steigert interview - click here] wrote the role of Magoo for me. Im' a character actor and a role of this size (a co-starring role) was humbling and challenging, definitely the role of a lifetime for me, I considered MAGOO (DEATH) for months, thinking about what he would be like and decided he was dry, sad, Shakespearean in tone, never swore (he doesn't have to, he is death) and has a bizarre sense of humor, grizzly voice and a deep dark laugh. He is a jerk that toys with the executive and everyone else around him. I hope the way I played him that you will fear him, hate him, sympathize with him and like him.

 

How did the project come into being, and how did you end up being an executive producer on A Grim Becoming? And to turn the question right on its head, how did you hook up with DefTone Pictures Studios in the first place?

 

Adam sent me the script, I read it, loved it and was very happy to be an executive producer on the film. I was also the first assistant director, casting director and got to direct several of the scenes personally. How I joined Deftone is an amazing story. My friend Mark Mendola (who has directed several movies with Deftone) told me that Deftone was auditioning for a movie called Ombis: Alien Invasion. I audition and won the role of Mayor Logan, and was also cast as Luke in Black Guy on a Rampage. Adam liked the characters that I created and when an opening for an executive producer for Ombis opened, I became one. A few months later and I'm a co-owner of the company along with Christopher Burns Jr., Janeen Avery and of course Adam.We work very well as a team with each bringing a different slant to the company and projects. We are very much a family unit and really love each and respect each other.

 

What can you tell us about your director Adam R. Steigert [Adam R. Steigert interview - click here], and what was your collaboration like?

 

Adam is a brilliant director, an actors director and lets an actor have free reign, but if the actor has a question or is veering from Adam's vision, he is kind and forthcoming with wonderful advise and direction. He is a brilliant and gifted young man that never ceases to amaze me.

 

What can you tell us about A Grim Becoming's brand of humour, how easy was it to adapt to it, and since we're at it, what can you tell us about your own sense of humour?

 

A Grim Becoming's humor was a combination of loose script following and ad-libbing as well as some rehearsed humor. I think watching the crew with their hands covering their mouths on set to not ruin a shot says alot about how funny this film will be. As to my own sense of humor, I was the class clown and always in trouble because of my sense of humor...

 

Do talk about the actual shoot and the on-set atmosphere for a bit!

 

We ran the set professionally, we had so much fun doing it and there was great joy but above all hard work. We brought in some serious talent from Los Angeles , New York, Canada.... Time is money and we ran the set like it was a job site and not a playground. (But it was alot of fun.)

 

Any future projects beyond A Grim Becoming you'd like to talk about?

 

As an actor I'm playing The graverobber William Hare in Frankenstein's Patchwork Monster, directed by Emil Novak, and a few other projects this year, and our next project is going to be T.H.E.M. The Horriffic Evil Monsters (a SAG project). This will be an awesome venture for all of us at Deftone and our beautiful area of Western New York and the awesome talent that lives here as well!

 

What got you into acting in the first place, and what can you tell us about your training as an actor?

 

I was very active in music and acting in school and studied acting at Studio Arena Theater in the 1970s. I appeared in plays, and eventually won the lead in a small film entitled The Johnno Story. I was hooked! I was 15 and it was shot over 2 consecutive summers. I ventured into music for the next 38 years of my life before joining Adam and the gang, and I've done alot of projects recently including television and film.

 

Do talk about your filmwork prior to A Grim Becoming for a bit!

 

My IMDb includes Dembela, Ombis, Mostly Dead, Holland Road, along with many other films and projects.

 

Besides being an actor, you're also an accomplished musician, right? So what can you tell us about that aspect of your career?

 

I play about 8 instruments, but piano and voice were always my favorite, I was clasically trained and was a Pianoman well before Billy Joel wrote the awesome song. I love acting and playing and writing music equally.

 

How would you describe yourself as an actor, and some of your techniques to bring your characters to life?

 

I am a character actor. I draw on my lifes experiences, both the happy and sad, and translate it to my current character. I create an entire life around the character I'm portraying and always try to respond accordingly. Definitely Method all the way.

 

Actors (or indeed actresses) who inspire you?

 

There are so many amazing talents in film and on stage and I can say that I'm inspired by young people devoting themselves to the craft of acting and these young people inspire me the most.

 

Your favourite movies?

 

I'm old school, It's a Wonderful  Life, Going My Way, Ninotchka, The Exorcist, The Godfather, Jaws, all wonderful films.

 

... and of course, films you really deplore?

 

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USA  amazon.com

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I deplore no films. They were all made with passion and hopes and dreams. Who am I to hurt someone's feelings? So many people talk about making a film and never do. God bless the filmmaker that makes a bad one, at least he realized his dream.

 

Your/your movie's website, Facebook, whatever else?

 

www.deftonepicturesstudios.com, Michael Sciabarrasi on IMDb, Ombis and A Grim Becoming Facebook pages are a good start.

 

Anything else you are dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?

 

The only thing I'd like to add is the joy of meeting new people and new talents that filmmaking has brought into my life. The tenet that I use in my life and my business are simple: Build people up, always address the strengths and not the weaknesses. Help as many people as you can. Always ask a favor, but never for yourself. This has served me well. 

Thanks for the interview!

 

Thanks for the interview!

 

© by Mike Haberfelner


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Thanks for watching !!!



 

 

In times of uncertainty of a possible zombie outbreak, a woman has to decide between two men - only one of them's one of the undead.

 

There's No Such Thing as Zombies
starring
Luana Ribeira, Rudy Barrow and Rami Hilmi
special appearances by
Debra Lamb and Lynn Lowry

 

directed by
Eddie Bammeke

written by
Michael Haberfelner

produced by
Michael Haberfelner, Luana Ribeira and Eddie Bammeke

 

now streaming at

Amazon

Amazon UK

Vimeo

 

 

 

Robots and rats,
demons and potholes,
cuddly toys and
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love and death and everything in between,
Tales to Chill
Your Bones to

is all of that.

 

Tales to Chill
Your Bones to
-
a collection of short stories and mini-plays
ranging from the horrific to the darkly humourous,
from the post-apocalyptic
to the weirdly romantic,
tales that will give you a chill and maybe a chuckle, all thought up by
the twisted mind of
screenwriter and film reviewer
Michael Haberfelner.

 

Tales to Chill
Your Bones to

the new anthology by
Michael Haberfelner

 

Out now from
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