Michael Coleman
He played in James Douglas‘ Dollar Baby The Doctor’s Case as John Watson.
SKSM: Could you start with telling me a little bit about yourself? Who are you and what do you do?
Michael Coleman: Who am I? Is a great question and a wonderful place to start. I love this questions, because truthfully I still don’t know yet. I am just this guy who loves his wife and two daughters more than anything in the world, loves to tell stories, and loves to share his ability to teach others how to tell stories. I believe that art has two functions in this world, and hopefully it doesn’t sound too vain to refer to my work as art. LOL Art is meant to educate or to entertain and in some rare cases is meant to educate or to entertain and in some rare cases it manages to do both. cases it manages to do both. I believe there are incredible rewards to being a professional actor but it also comes with incredible responsibility. We have an opportunity to represent how our moment in time sees and feels about yesterday, today, and tomorrow. So I guess if I were to summarize who am I and what do I do? I guess I am just this guy is trying to make the world a better place for his wife, his daughters, his friends and family, and for everybody who comes after him through his art.
SKSM: When did you know you wanted to become an actor?
Michael Coleman: I knew I wanted to be an actor from a very young age. I have always love the opportunity to make people feel something which I will get something with greater depth in there eyes through performance and stories. When I was four or five years old are used to entertain my friends in school with funny voices and role-playing my favorite actors and characters of the day. Maybe the first question you asked was so hard for me because I simply have forgotten to grow up yet? I think one of the more common tests for everybody who is considering a life as a professional actor is as follows— If you can imagine your life where you were doing anything else in the world other than acting you should probably consider doing that, if that causes great pain and all you want to do is be an actor more than anything in the world, then you should make that your path. What’s funny about this career as a post to many others is it you can start at any age. You were never too young and you’re never too old. I really love that about this craft and profession. I also think acting is incredibly therapeutic and its level of self assessment and examination of human behaviour creates an opportunity for us to find a better version of ourselves. So whether you do community theater, Church place, or star a major motion pictures it’s all the same to me.
SKSM: How did you become involved in The doctor’s case Dollar Baby film?
Michael Coleman: I got involved with this particular production after a couple of drinks out of fan convention with a dear friend of mine. He was telling me all about this incredible project he wanted to work on, based on a short story by Stephen King, and when he asked if I’d be interested in participating it took less than have a second to shout yes. James and I were together in a stage production many years ago and I have always been incredibly fond ends in off of both his work and that of his wife. They are storytellers’ storytellers. These are the kind of people that other Artists) want to be associated with, and collaborate with, and make wonderful productions with for all their days. I have been a fan of this project from the second I heard about it and I would’ve been just as big of a fan if I simply got to watch it. To actually be involved in this project is incredibly humbling and one of my favourite experiences of all time.
SKSM: What do you think it is about the story that attracts people so much?
Michael Coleman: I think one of the things, and I believe there are many, that attract so many people to the stories is that they are a part of our collective childhood. There have been many books, television shows, and movies starring these loveable characters And almost everybody in the world knows some version of these stories. One could argue they are just as popular as a Fairytale we all grew up with and attach to our childhood. I also believe there is something incredibly endearing about the relationship between Holmes and Watson. The innocence of Watson and his ability to bring out the most human version of Holmes that could possibly exist is always a wonderful part of these stories. I also believe Holmes brings out the best in Watson. The dynamic of this relationship is incredibly diverse. Sometimes they appear to be like parent and child, other times like best friends, and other times like soulmates. One of the things JP and I discovered in the early stages of developing our versions of the characters is the strong parallels between Batman and Robin. I think that these characters can mean so many different things to so many different people is part of what makes them so attractive.
SKSM: Did you have to audition for the part or was it written directly for you?
Michael Coleman: I was fortunate enough to be offered the role but no it wasn’t written specifically for me either. This is the kind of character iPhone plan for most of my career. The Barney Rubble’s, the best friend, innocent who is paired with someone who is somewhat of an antihero. It is my sincerest hope that this project isn’t a one off and that we all reconnect & tell more stories as these wonderful characters.
SKSM: You worked with James Douglas on this film, how was that?
Michael Coleman: I have always known James to be an incredible and dedicated artist. When I read the first draft of the screenplay, it was brilliant and still surprise me in spite of my knowing what a detailed and skilled artist he is and always will be. His attention to detail is second to none and his ability to truly sculpt a complete story with unique voices and a wonderful thematic premise is a gift to be a part of here.
SKSM: Was there any funny or special moment when they made the movie that you would like to tell me about?
Michael Coleman: We had countless funny and special moments on set, too many in fact to name. This was one of those unique experiences where I truly loved working with every single person in the casting crew in many of them have become like family.
SKSM: Do you still have any contact with the crew/cast from that time? If so with who?
Michael Coleman: I am still in constant communication with almost everybody from this project and I always smile whenever I see them in one of my message feeds I am still in constant communication with almost everybody from this project and I always smile whenever I see them in one of my message feeds. If someone were to tell me that the only projects I would ever do again for the rest of my career would involve working with these people, and these people alone, I would be a very happy actor.
SKSM: What are you working on nowadays?
Michael Coleman: I have several projects in the works right now and I am always excited for what comes tomorrow, proud of what we did yesterday, and trying desperately to smell the roses of today and appreciate living in the now. I wrote, co-directed, and starred in a fun feature film that is currently doing festivals as well. It is called Thirty-Seventeen. It is about a bunch of 37-year-olds to have so much fun at their 20 year reunion that they all decide to go back and do one more months of high school. I really hope people like this project as well as this was another really wonderful experience with an incredibly talented cast and crew. I am also developing an animated series with one of my friends from the television show Once Upon a Time, Sean Maguire, and his cousin based on a book she wrote. We are developing this with Arcana Studios and everyone is excited to see where this project is going. Both Sean and I have young children around the same age and it is incredibly cool to be a part of a project for our kids.
SKSM: Are you a fan of Stephen King’s work?
Michael Coleman: I have always been a fan is Stephen King. He’s a master storyteller. His attention to detail and his ability to create suspense at the level he does it’s mind blowing. I am one of the few people involved in this project that has never worked directly with Mr. King before and I truly hope I have an opportunity to meet him in person someday and talk about stories and storytelling.
SKSM: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Is there anything you want to say to the fans that read this interview?
Michael Coleman: I want to thank you for your incredible questions, everyone who took the time to read this interview, and everyone who has supported me in my career over these past several decades. I am humbled and honoured to call this my craft and my profession. I sincerely hope everyone enjoys this film as much as we enjoyed making it.
SKSM: Do you like to add anything else?
Michael Coleman: I am at @1michaelcoleman on Twitter and I always love an opportunity to chat with anybody who wants to talk about stories were shared interests. Whether I am in the project or not, he will likely find I am always ready to lend an ear and engage with the lovely people to share my passions.
