Meet Michael Grepp | Actor/Talent & Development Coach at The Talent Spot

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Grepp and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
That anyone can be an actor, and that this industry is truly for everyone.

We get new and aspiring actors that email us and wonder if they are too young, too old, or don’t have the right look. Many different reasons for why they think they can’t be an actor, and there is no reason to ever disqualify anyone. Because the thing is, the only thing that is required of someone to be an actor, is to be themself. People of all ages and backgrounds appear in film and television, because we want to see and hear everyone’s story. And that’s one of so many reasons why there is a place in this industry for everyone. When we think of actors we tend to focus on stars, but look at the cast of Stranger Things. They’re normal kids and adults. I’ve met David Harbour (Sheriff Hopper on Stranger Things) and besides him being pretty tall, he’s a regular guy. You wouldn’t recognize any of the cast out on the street, besides maybe Millie Bobby Brown. They all come across as pretty relatable everyday people. And the reason they are there is because they all just know how to be themselves in the context of their characters. That’s the key. That’s acting.

When it comes to The Talent Spot, yes, we do tend to work with younger talent, but one of the main reasons is that kids tend to be more curious than adults. They are less likely to have their minds made up about their future, and more open to new or interesting careers like acting. The irony though is adults have just as much potential as younger actors because they bring more life experience to their work. There is a reason you tend to see actors in their 20’s and sometimes even early 30’s playing high school or college students, and it’s really due to their life experience. Professionalism too, that isn’t to say younger actors can’t be professional, but sometimes they just haven’t learned those skills yet.

The only area that’s a challenge with older actors is when they lean on their life experiences too much and look at a script from the point of view thinking they already know what’s happening. Once you have made your mind up about something, it’s a lot harder to unlearn it. When we work with younger talent they tend to be more open minded, which makes them naturally easier to work with. For our older performers, they need to forget the roles we all play in our day-to-day lives. The roles they have learned at home or work, and unpack all that emotional armor they have accumulated over the years. But I’ll say it again, this is an industry where there really is a place for everyone. And that’s one of so many reasons why I think it’s so exciting.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Being born in the mid 80’s and growing up in a small suburb outside Cleveland, having a career in entertainment seemed like a million miles away. I don’t even know if I could say that it seemed impossible, because growing up, I couldn’t even conceive the idea of it. I didn’t come from money and neither of my parents know anything about the entertainment industry. Both my parents are from Indiana, my dad grew up in a middle class household and my mom in a working class home. I think they did a great job raising me and helping my sisters and I get an education. But building a career in entertainment was something I had to figure out on my own. And in an ever evolving industry, it’s something I’m still figuring out today.

I take pride in never accepting failure as an option. You only fail when you give up, when you stop learning, when you accept defeat. Anyone who is successful in this industry is successful because they eventually found a way that works for them. I originally moved to LA with the hopes of continuing my career as a rock musician and an actor. But when it came to music I eventually realized I would have more success making music for film and TV. This has resulted in me leaning on my classical training in music, and scoring works for TV and film. My mom and dad would be proud that I was finally able to put my cello lessons and orchestra experience to good use!

And when I began to realize how unpredictable work in film and television was, one of my closest friends Michael Goroff and I founded an animation studio called Loserville Animation. And if it wasn’t for the writers and actors strike we would be pitching a pilot right now. And while he isn’t directly involved with The Talent Spot, he is another person who has been a huge part of my life in entertainment both professionally and personally. And I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. He and I have pretty lofty dreams, and even further to go, but that’s for another interview.

Working with him reminds me how this is an industry where you need to learn how to create opportunity for yourself. Yes, there are always going to be exciting opportunities in film and TV to audition for, and to hopefully act in. But when I began working with Michael Goroff, it made me realize I would much rather be in control of my destiny. The more you can empower yourself, the easier it is to empower others. We used to only star in our content, however over the last 4 years he and I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing actors. And when it comes to empowerment and helping people see their potential, it’s something we do here at The Talent Spot as well. We work to empower people to believe in themselves, and give them opportunities very few people get in this industry. I know how hard this industry can be, and we want to make things easier for the talent we work with.

I don’t want to say my acting career or work with The Talent Spot makes me a success story yet, because I feel like I have barely scratched the surface of how far I can help take things. But I want to remind people that there is a way to pursue your dreams, its just in the approach. You also need to be adaptable. I never envisioned myself as an actor growing up, nor did I think I would be scoring films, or have a room in my apartment surrounded by Moog synthesizers and pro audio gear. But I tried to lean on skills I learned growing up, and find a way to have fun doing it. You could say I fell into acting, but it was only because I saw an opportunity, pivoted a few times, and made it work with some help along the way.

There’s no reason that can’t be more of us. The internet, social media, and our daily interconnectedness means there is so much potential for anyone to follow their dreams. You just need a plan. And when it comes to acting and the entertainment industry, we really help our talent walk through that plan and see the finish line.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Everyone needs to visit Griffith Park Observatory first. A ton of famous films have shot their, it’s iconic, and it gives you these sweeping views of the entire city. On a clear day you can see the coast, there is no better place to start your trip.

From there, just hop on the metro station at Hollywood and Western and take it all the way to Pershing Square and visit Grand Central Market in Downtown LA. There will be something for everyone food wise. And right around the corner you have another famous building that has been featured in many movies, The Bradbury. There’s also Angel’s Flight, The Last Bookstore, and many more hidden gems. People rarely make it downtown when they visit LA, it’s absolutely worth the quick ride on our subway here. There is much more to do than the walk-of-fame, personally I would avoid that area altogether. The TCL Chinese Theatre and the celebrity footprints and hands is pretty cool though, and if you take the metro to the Hollywood and Highland station it is very accessible.

To reconnect with nature, Mt. Wilson Observatory is another hidden gem, that has historical significance and truly the best views southern California has to offer. It was originally built as a research facility in the early 1900’s and is where Hubble discovered the universe was expanding. They even have his old chair there! The views up there are incredible, and your eye-line will have you at the same elevation as planes. You will not be disappointed.

And lastly, The Comedy Store and The Hollywood Improv. These are two of the most famous comedy clubs in the country, with the iconic Hollywood Improv pioneering the “exposed brick” motif we so often associate with standup. I used to work at The Hollywood Improv years ago, running sound in the main room and working the door, so I may be a little biased. And if you dine in the main restaurant and notice the red walls and ceilings, I PAINTED THOSE!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Well you know what they say, it takes a village. And Los Angeles is our very, very large village!

There are so many people that have helped myself and the rest of our team at The Talent Spot get to where we are today. But it really starts with Annabell Escutia, our staff, and then trickles down to all of the agents and managers that we work with. Our industry partners are amazing, we want to first give a shout out to Milton Perea at AEFH. He is an invaluable resource who has helped a lot of our talent take that next step forward, along with Mara Santino at Luber Roklin Entertainment, Mark Smith at The Savage Agency, Tanya Kleckner at HRI Talent, Ashley Wilkinson at Beck Talent, Joshua Revives at Dream Talent, and all of the other agents and managers that we have had the opportunity to connect talent with.

We have been working with many of our industry partners for years. The workshops and showcases that they attend, and the talent of ours that they have gone on to sign, it really means a lot to us. And it means a lot to our performers too. This industry is all about relationships and who you know. And we are really proud to be able to work with some really special agents and managers, and give our talent the opportunity to meet and work with some really special movers-and-shakers in this business. Our industry partners have made and discovered stars, and we are so thankful to have the opportunity to work with them, and we know our performers are thrilled whenever they get to connect with them.

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