Meet Michael Mitchell | Action Actor & Physiologist

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

Hi Michael, what do you want your legacy to be?
I want my legacy to be that no matter what you want to be or decide to do that you can be and do exactly that. Of course this ideology is within reason and the natural restrictions of what humans are capable of but otherwise, it is possible to achieve what another human achieves. I want people no matter the age to know that their environment doesn’t have to mold them. There are so many underprivileged and impoverished communities which has many minority groups. Within these communities, these people don’t get to see and experience what the privileged and affluent communities are able to most of the time. This issue is why there is such a difference in education, wealth, and quality of life. If I am able to be a role model for at least some, then maybe some of their lives can change for the better.

I want people to remember that I am not perfect, but I try to be better each day. In doing that, people can learn to love themselves and don’t worry so much about failure, but be more concerned about progress. Any step forward is further than the previous position. I also want them to remember that I decided to be different because the stereotypical version of me would have just been way too mundane. People could then say, if he could do it then I could do it, and pursue whatever they wanted to pursue outside of their expected norm.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets me apart from others is that there aren’t many Black males who are big into acting and doing martial arts roles. I’ve had several nicknames growing up like Bruce Leeroy, Ninja, Samurai Black, etc. I grew up watching those Chinese martial arts movies, dubbed and subbed, and began to train and imitate them. I trained for about 30 years now to become efficient in fighting, acrobatics, stunts, and flipping. I flow differently, I have my own particular style and when I put everything together, its like my own art form. There is power, grace, and fluidity that I believe is different than most of what is seen and shown on television.

What I am most proud of is having this goal since I was a child and actually realizing it. At least, I’ve experienced performing in commercials and the next step is the big screen. I got to this particular point by training very hard, booking jobs, creating content, joining the union, getting an agent, constant submissions, and most of all, being lucky to get picked. This definitely was not easy for me. I incurred injuries that prevented me from progressing and working, I received so many no’s, missed opportunities, and projects falling through. I overcome challenges by just continuing to try. I believe when you give up then you lose out on yourself. I don’t believe people are truly themselves unless they are doing what they really were made to do. It’s like they are fabrications of themselves or apparitions. I just want to be the real me. That doesn’t mean you can’t do other things and take a break from your goal, but as long as you come back to it when you can then that’s great.

The lessons I’ve learned along the way are, don’t ever give up on yourself, don’t believe you aren’t good enough, the right job will come along, don’t compare yourself to others, and don’t try to be like anyone else. Real recognizes real, so for people who are real, they will know who you are, stick by you, and also give you the opportunities you deserve.

I want people to know that I started from the bottom and if I can make it then anyone can because everyone has a special quality about them. Just because you haven’t seen it doesn’t mean there wont be a demand for it eventually. You just have to be ready when your turn comes.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take my friend to Big Bear first. That drive is beautiful and the landscape up there is definitely one of the prettiest I’ve seen. To eat, I would take him/her to Black Bear Diner. Day 2, we would go to Angeles Crest Mountains for a scenic drive through the forest and then go to Red Lobster afterwards. Day 3, we would go to Vasquez Rocks for some rock climbing and then go to the Crab Shack for dinner. Day 4, we would go to Eaton Canyon for a hiking day and then for food, we would go to the Havana restaurant for some Cuban Food. Day 5, we would go to Santa Monica and Venice beach for some beach workouts and fun. We would then eat at the local eateries in the vicinity. Day 6, would be our training day. We would go to Skyzone, Joining All Movement, and maybe we would sneak in a light hike for a cooldown afterwards near Tarzana. For dinner, we would get Pizzaman. Finally, Day 7, would be our chill day. We would go to a car meet in Azusa, do a group drive up to the Bridge of Nowhere and back to the city. For food, we would go to Alhambra for some authentic Chinese food at a place called Shanghai Yau Fat restaurant.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My girlfriend Saleema Cruz deserves the majority of this recognition because she has been the backbone and support of my goal. Having a true loved one who supports you is invaluable. Doing something solo or with a partner is like night and day in my experience. I’ve done a lot of things on my own, so having the support of my significant other for these years has kept me afloat and mentally stable. Nowadays it seems prevalent that couples separate when times get tough or compromise turns into sacrifice. However, she has and seems like she always will be a “Ride or Die”.

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