We were lucky to catch up with Michael Pierce recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Michael, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
You know, being an actor really forced me to develop both confidence and self-esteem — not in a superficial way, but in a complete survival way. You dont really have a choice except to build your confidence. You walk into audition rooms where you have to sell yourself over and over again, and put yourself out there. I would get rejected nearly a hundred percent of the time. When I was first starting out, that really messed with my sense of worth, but audition after audition over time it built resilience and self-trust.
Over time what I realized, and trust me a lightbulb didn’t go off one day. It took many years for this to come to a realization, but what I started to realize is that confidence isn’t about ego, it’s about just showing up and doing the work. Every acting coach I have ever had or have now always talks about showing up and doing the work, you just have to be OK with whatever happens. You learn that someone else’s “no” isnt going to define your worth. It might define whether or not you get the job, but it doesn’t define your worth.
So I guess that’s where my self-esteem really comes from. Just sticking with it, staying in the game and trusting who I am and knowing that even when all this stuff doesn’t go my way, I stick it out and I hold my head up high and I just keep trudging through it and move forward.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
You know, I’ve spent most of my life telling stories in one way or another, in my youth it was through acting or magic or dance or puppetry — and now as an actor, and a writer, and now a producer it is about connection for me. In life I tend to be drawn to and write about people who are flawed, or complicated, and a little rough around the edges. I think that comes from where I grew up — lower middle class, parents who struggled with alcohol — it wasn’t an easy start, but it did provide me with a deep sense of empathy in life and an appreciation for real people. I didn’t grow up privileged – That is probably why I am such a good hearted person. And that’s what I try to (hopefully) bring into every character I play or write: natural truth. My brand, if I had to describe it, is grounded, maybe a bit edgy. If you ever saw the short form comedy series I wrote and starred in on YouTube, ”A Barman’s Aperitif”, edgy characters flow in and out of each episode.
So, I’ve been creating more of my own projects. I love exploring that space between dark and funny — the kind of performances where you’re laughing one minute and suddenly hit with something unexpected or honest the next. When I have serious roles I audition for I can always find the humor in the dark moment. That’s probably why my short film “Memento” — the black-and-white modern-day noir comedy I wrote and produced a few years ago— means so much to me. It has that tone. I’ve written a follow-up that builds on the same world, adding new characters and expanding that modern-noir universe. I recently filmed a short horror film, “The Demon Car of Proctor Valley Road”, that I did not write, it is a horror however there are fundamental bits of comedy because we know that laughter serves as a release for fear. I want trying to intentionally be funny but there are moments of humor. You can also find this film on YouTube.
And I’ve also started creating more personal content — like Michael’s Storytime, which is a series of personal stories from my own life. Sometimes they’re hilarious, sometimes they’re raw, but they’re always real. It’s my way of showing that there’s humor even in the tough stuff in life. Alot of it focuses on when I was younger and first starting out in this business.
Another project that really means a lot is a documentary following a friend’s journey with breast cancer, and it started from a simple mammogram that changed everything. It’s a story about her strength and grace and how people find light in the middle of fear. Working on that project has been humbling and incredibly personal.
I have been intrigued by the vertical mini series that are being developed. I like that they are filmed like a feature film before they are edited and chopped up into one or two minute episodes, they remind me of my days when I was first starting out in Soap Operas. Fiming is fast. I have been cast in a few recently.
I’m also developing some other projects – a personal documentary short about my life growing up in a lower middle class world surrounded by alcoholism – it’s harshly truthful and also I like walking that line.
Outside of acting, I have a whole other side of my life working in FINANCE & AR/AP, HR/PAYROLL for a sub contractor in construction. It sounds like the total opposite of Hollywood, but honestly, it keeps me grounded. It’s taught me how to manage chaos — all skills that come in handy when you’re producing your own work.
At the end of the day, everything I do — whether it’s acting, writing, producing, or being with my dog Mango (who honestly steals the spotlight most of the time) — it all comes down to the same thing: connection. I want people to see what I do and maybe it will make them have some sort of reaction or feel something. Either laugh, feel something cringy or maybe relate.
Confidence, for me, didn’t come from any success — it came from showing up, over and over again, even after a hundred rejections. I just kept going. I am just trying to stay ahead of the game. Or at least stay on track.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
If I look back in life and what we just discussed I think the three most qualities that have been the most impactful in my life has been resilience, adaptability and authenticity.
Resilience is everything and has to be in both acting and business. In life and virtually everything you do, whether it is face-to-face or on social media, you’re constantly facing rejection, and setbacks, and so many moments of uncertainty — you know, I discussed all the “No’s” -but you learn to take each “no” as redirection, not rejection. One of the great things about being able to audition for a casting director is they hopefully give you a redirect. And that’s a good thing. It doesn’t mean it’s bad it’s generally good. It means they like you and they want to see you do something a little different so to get a redirect is great . So in life, you just learn to take the no as a redirect. It may not be no permanently, it just may be no for right now. I have realized that the people who make it are the ones who simply keep showing up, even when it’s uncomfortable. That’s the one good thing about social media. I can scroll Instagram and on a daily basis and find some reel from some actor that I follow who would be considered a famous working actor who has the same stories of auditioning hundreds and hundreds of times and never getting a break until they finally got their first break. They stayed resilient.
Adaptability has also been key. Whether I’m working my financial role during the day and then coming home to a dramatic audition at night, or learning to navigate the changing landscape of how stories are told — from TV to film to vertical series — staying flexible keeps you relevant. The industry as Producer Patrick Caligiuri would say is ever evolving, and so are people, so being able to learn new skills keeps you ahead of the curve.
And finally, authenticity. As an actor, and as a person, I’ve learned that being unapologetically yourself is your superpower. It’s easy to get caught up trying to be what you think people want, you know when a casting director sends you the breakdown for an audition. it says what the character breakdown is and what the audition is, but that’s not really what they want to see, they want your interpretation of the character, because they don’t need 5000 auditions of what is described in the breakdown, so your authentic truth will connect— both on camera and off. The more honest you are with who you are, the more your work will come to life.
My advice for people early in their journey is literally a regurgitation of everything I’ve been talking about – embrace the long game. And don’t be afraid to fail — failing is where you will grow – there is no such thing as perfectionism.
Keep your integrity, surround yourself with good people, and ask questions.
Confidence wont come from instant success — it will come from hard work and determination and perseverance and literally surviving that time you thought you wouldn’t.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
I’ve had a few key people in my life who’ve really shaped different parts of who I am — personally and professionally.
Norma Basgall was my high school theater teacher, and she was really the first person who helped me find my confidence. She saw something in me before I even saw it in myself, and she pushed me to take creative risks as well as personal risks and to believe that I belonged on a stage. That foundation stayed with me long after high school. We still talk once a month.
As an adult, Chris Keith, my personal trainer, became another important influence. He didn’t just help me physically — he helped me rebuild confidence from a different place, during a time in my life when things were not that great. He taught me how to take care of myself, not just for appearances, but for balance and mental strength. And he’s also been a great example of how to maintain healthy food habits and boundaries, which was something I’ve had to learn over time.
Art Bowen is one of my closest friends — who’s like a mentor and confidant. He’s someone I go to for perspective and wisdom. There’s a grounding energy about him that helps me see things clearly.
And then there’s Corey Parker, my acting coach, who keeps me rooted in truth. He constantly reminds me that the work isn’t about performing — it’s about connecting and listening. His guidance has deepened my craft, but also my sense of self. I really take everything he says to heart, because he has this rare way of speaking to both the artist and the person at the same time.
Each of them has helped me in different but equally meaningful ways — confidence, discipline, wisdom, and emotional honesty. Those four things have really been the backbone of my journey in life.
But I cannot say anything about my success without thanking my Manager Tonja Rene’ at Citizen Skull Management or my Agents Luli Batista and Tracey Michaels at Sovereign Talent.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.michaeljosephpierce.com/
- Instagram: michaelpiercesd
- Other: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3019537/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
Image Credits
Chris Jon
