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| The Berrics. Department 8: Milo Ventimiglia
SB: Where did you grow up?
MV: grew up in Orange County, city of Orange.
SB: How did acting enter into your life? Was it something you always wanted to do? Were there other things that interested you as well?
MV: I did a lot of theater when I was a kid and then when it was time for college I based where I wanted to go around where the entertainment industry was centered. It was definitely what pulled me the most as a career. At one point thought I was going to be a doctor or a fighter pilot in the military, but acting just pulled at me the most.
SB: About ten years ago my agent use to always tell me that I needed to meet you. It never happened. A few years later I ran into you at the airport. I believe you were waiting for your girlfriend. You introduced yourself and we talked for a few minutes. I remember walking to baggage claim and telling Juliette how sick I thought you were because you were wearing a TOY MACHINE shirt. You remember that?
MV: Yeah man, I remember that. Back when you could wait at the gate for people. I saw you walk out and didn’t know if I should say anything, but then thought “**** it”. Remember you saying something about the shirt I was wearing. Think I was freakin out a little too. I mean, I’d watched you in videos forever and knew we had a common link with our agent, but still, when you meet someone you have a respect for you just don’t know how you're gonna react. Think I was trying to hold it together.
SB: You asked me the other day whose parts were the best in the Lakai video. I told you Eric, Mike Carroll, Rick Howard, Marc Johnson and Guy Mariano were my favorites and you actually seemed really happy to hear that. Is it good to know these guys are still killing it after all these years and amongst so much competition?
MV: Of course man. Those are our contemporaries, the guys we knew coming up that were killing it years ago. And I know those guys all put YOU on their list of pro’s that they look at and think “I like what he’s doin”
SB: Two years ago I was in between places, I was just getting ready to leave for Canada for the next four months to shoot the good life, you let Patrick Fugit and I stay with you. You let us eat your food and lounge around all day. The three of us were sitting in your living room when you told us of the new pilot you were about to shoot. It was called HEROES. If my memory serves me correctly you had offers for other projects. Projects that sounded pretty good, but you rolled the dice on this one. Knowing how cruel the television business can be, what was it that made you do that? Why did HEROES win out? It seemed the most interesting but we all know what that means sometimes; the least likely to be picked up.
MV: I'm a fan of the underdog. Heroes did have a lot of promise to me cause it centered on these great characters, their ordinary lives and the extraordinary circumstances that surround them. Sure there was the flying and teleporting and rapid healing, but what I always went back to was the characters. And Heroes was the only one that had that of the other projects I was looking at. Everything else seemed to have one angle to hang onto, but if that angle ever dulled out the show would not work. Yeah, I still haven’t given you and Pat the bill for your stay at hotel Ventimiglia.
SB: With acting comes fame and you've been on this steady rise on the fame train since I've known you. Now, with HEROES, I see billboards of your face 30 ft high all over town, but you still make time to return all my calls, text messages, emails and come out to the Berrics and do this. You are absolutely one of the most grounded and generous people I know. How is that?
MV: Register any and all complaints with my parents. They are the kind of people you want to learn from, how they live their lives and raised my sisters and I, well, you, my close friends see what happened, its all them, Pete and Carol.
SB: Do you think some young actor's feel like if they've made it into the tabloids that they've made it?
MV: Oh yeah, there’s people in my industry that are famous for being famous. Go onto IMDB and you see personal appearances vs actual work.
SB: Is there a responsibility an actor has to make sure he steers clear of the tabloids or is it a double-edged sword? Do some industry figures try to heighten your profile by heightening your presence in the tabloids? Do you think it ultimately hurts than helps?
MV: You can avoid it as much as possible, but it’s gonna catch up to you. I think some people chase celebrity, not only in my business but in others. To some people you can have all the money in the world, but without being known, you might be a nobody. Celebrity is nothing I’ve ever sought out. As long as I was known in the community of decision makers in town, I’m happy. I try to stay focused on the work I’m doing and not get wrapped up in how people view me. Especially people that don’t know me.
SB: You've been to the Berrics a few times and have even come out with me in the streets when I was filming for SKATE MORE. I think many people would be surprised to know that you actually filmed a Super-8 clip of me for the video. There's a lot more to you than just being an actor. In fact, I'd say it's the least interesting thing about you and I mean that in a good way. You're an artist in many fields. Let's talk photography first.
MV: Yeah, acting is the day job, but the other things I do are when I get to really play. Like Photography. Had always been into it, but got more into it a few years back. Been shooting on a Horizon 202 panoramic camera for a bit, been through 2 cameras I’ve worked em so hard. I tell my friends all I ever want to do is take pretty pictures.
SB: Let's talk directing. You've always had a passion for directing?
MV: Directing kinda falls into photography of sorts. Moving pictures. I just think there are so many interesting things you can do with a camera to tell a story. Have you ever seen the photo book that Kubrick did?
SB: Yes, I did.
MV: Amazing, right? Snapping away pictures and telling stories. He ended up doing the same with a movie camera. And then there is the collaboration with the other artists on set, actors, crew, writers.....
SB: I saw something you directed recently, it was really great. Can you tell the Berrics a little about it?
MV: It was called ITS A MALL WORLD. I directed, my company produced it along with American Eagle Outfitters.
SB: You wear truly more than one hat in the arts then?
MV: I never thought of my career as only one thing. I like acting, producing, and directing the same. I think there is an art and business to all of them. When I’m just finishing up acting gig, I start to get in the mood to direct.... it's really a cycle that I try to balance as best I can.
SB: Do you think being an actor better helps you with your directing?
MV: It definitely helps with the acting. Understanding how to perform a scene and be in synch with the camera, definitely helps. Some actors just wander and step out of their light, or out of their shot and are kinda oblivious. Working behind the camera keeps my acting aware, almost more present of the the entire process. I've always had an appreciation for directors, but doing it myself has given me the understanding of when a director or actor I'm working with is being difficult.
SB: Who are some of your favorite filmmakers?
MV: Hardest question ever. I’m a fan of Michael Mann, Tony Scott, Oliver Stone. I’m a pretty easy audience. I like movies. As a director I try to do service to the material though and create something that is my own. Inspired by good directors, but don’t want to be a bad rip off of anyone.
SB: Tell us about Divide Pictures. What it's about. It's goals. Etc.
MV: Divide Pictures is my production company, and basically I sit around with one of my best friends and laugh all day......and play production company. We’re still young, still growing, but think there is a new kind of young producer in town that is so ready to work with good people and share those relationships. It’s nice to be in that community.
SB: With the writer's strike we may only see half a season of Heroes. Was this anticipated? Will there be a cool cliffhanger or some closure in the last episode or will it just be a sudden airing of re-runs and a bunch of people wondering what the hell happened? Or can you even answer that question?
MV: Yeah, we only got so far in production before we ran out of stuff to shoot. The producers were aware of the strike and how it might effect our season, so we do have a “season finale”. A “just in case we don’t come back to work", and that’s episode 11.
SB: Pathology is coming out in February, correct? We will definitely do something on it then, but why don't you tell us a little about it now so it's officially on the Berric's radar.
MV: It’a a movie about forensic pathologists that get a god complex and begin to kill people, looking for that perfect murder. Basically sex, drugs, and murder.
SB: That sounds like our kind of movie! Thanks a ton, Milo. We're big fans. Last words?
MV: Steve Berra is the coolest. __________________ -Kelly |