Pursuing an education and postponing entrance to the workforce is something that many individuals are okay with given the demonstrated benefit of getting a college degree. Michael Coleman, however, is not one of them. Instead of struggling with years of secondary education, he traded his academic endeavors for a passionate job in the entertainment industry. Namely, Michael Coleman is a critically acclaimed actor, director, and producer. To better showcase his skills, he also owns a filmmaking business called “Rebel West Pictures” that is utilized for seeking undiscovered talent and creating unique projects. 


What is your job title?


Well, I have quite a few titles that vary depending on the project that I am working on. In some cases, I am the lead actor. Then again, there are situations where I perform the roles of a director and a producer. Thus, a good way to summarize it would be to label me as an actor, director, and a producer. 


How long have you been in business?


It has been about a decade at this point. I came in as a very young professional who really had no idea what to expect from the entertainment field. After a few months of learning the basics, I started getting familiar with how everything works. The next thing you know, I was polishing my resume and building an impressive portfolio so that I can take it to filmmakers who may select me for more lucrative projects. 


Are there any unique challenges in your industry?


Definitely. Being an aspiring actor is one of the hardest positions in the world. This is because there are millions of similar individuals who would like to achieve the same objective. Thus, the competition is incredibly fierce and ruthless. Not to mention that one has to be incredibly talented to break the barriers to entry and get an opportunity to compete with those counterparts. 


Do you have any particular challenges that you personally address?


I used to struggle with certain projects that I did not believe would fit my style of acting and directing. These include some video games and cartoon shows where I was doing a lot of narrative work. In my opinion, this seemed like a clear-cut downgrade due to the fact that I was not getting much on-screen exposure. Soon afterward, however, I realized that even narrations can help propel one’s career on to the next level. So, I started looking at this challenge as an opportunity to prove that I have a versatile set of skills that is incredibly adjustable. 


Is your industry growing, shrinking or remaining the same?


It is definitely growing. We are practically surrounded by streaming services that are on the brink of taking over the entire world. And rightly so. Just consider, for instance, the inception of Netflix as one of the most monumental moments in entertainment history. Now, people are turning to this provider to satisfy the vast majority of their television needs. Expectedly, this is costing many cable stations a hefty portion of their revenues while actors such as myself get to enjoy the privileges of having various platforms where we can get roles. 


Have you ever been to Miami?


Yes. In fact, I just visited Miami last month and spent two weeks there. 


Did you visit any particular locations including restaurants?


I was somewhat limited on time as it was a business trip, so I did not have the freedom to go to every restaurant and local attraction that I was curious about. Nevertheless, some of the notable ones that I visited include La Mar by Gaston Acurio, Joe’s Stone Crab, and Blue Collar. 


Would you come back?


Most definitely. Miami is one of my favorite destinations and I think that I could easily live there. The weather is nice, the local residents are welcoming, and the markets are booming. The only question is why would anyone not want to live here?


Where do you see yourself or your business in 5 years?


I anticipate my career to continue growing and I think that another five years is enough for me to get another film role or continuous appearance on a television show. More importantly, however, I intend on pursuing the growth of my art school as much as possible and we may end up expanding in the near future to accommodate the increased number of applicants.