We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maximilian Schulze a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Maximilian , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I think the whole question of “what is my purpose” and finding “this purpose” for oneself is something that’s constantly pushed onto young people by our society today. It comes from everywhere: the content on Instagram, friends or the constant questions from grandparents about what you’re going to do after graduation, whether you’ll go to university, or if you have a plan. It’s these things that pressure us and make us think we have to figure it all out by the time we turn 25. And so we repeatedly ask ourselves, “What’s my purpose?”
Personally, I started to feel like people often overthink this question because of all the external factors we’re exposed to. Maybe it’s even misunderstood. I’ve been struggling with finding my purpose for a long time, and don’t get me wrong, I haven’t fully figured it out yet at 22. There are days where I obsess over it again. But something has helped me. Something that brought things into a different perspective for me. It keeps me present, instead of worrying so much.
Rather than figuring out one’s purpose, which almost sounds like a higher life goal one needs to live up to, I’d like to rephrase the question: “What fulfills you?” “What gives you purpose?”
To me, the answer was acting.
After graduating high school, I was confronted with that typical question, “What now?” Being from Wolfsburg, a town in Germany which hosts the biggest Volkswagen plant, most of my peers went into mechanical, engineering, or sales directions. Ninety percent of the people in town are somehow connected or affiliated with VW, just like my dad. He’s been with the company for almost 30 years, and we moved around a lot because of it. Early on, I realized that my “purpose” was definitely not at VW. There was nothing about cars, machines, engines, or offices that excited me. Zero percent.
However, there was something that made me feel alive. A passion that I had almost forgotten, but somehow rediscovered at the right time, in my final year of high school. And that was acting. I started acting when I was seven years old, in first grade. Back then, my entire school, from year 1-6 (it was a middle school), participated in a musical production. It was a biographical musical about the famous composer Joseph Haydn. Each year would show a certain part of his life, with us in the 1st grade depicting his early childhood. I had a very small role, basically a boy who at the end says, “We have to go home now, it’s getting late.” Not exciting, really. And back then, I probably couldn’t care less.
One day, the kid who played the lead role of Joseph Haydn wasn’t in class during a rehearsal, so the teacher asked me to jump in. So I did, and I don’t know exactly what it was, but it was so much fun. It brought me joy, and I actually liked it. I had to sing a song, and I guess I went all in. By the end, the teacher made the change. I permanently secured that role. That was my first major booking, haha. From that day on, I participated in drama class every school year, in every country my family and I moved to. And it was during that entire time, I realized, “Hey, this is fun. I like this. I think I am really talented in this.” I looked forward to drama class. Fast forward to year 10 in high school. The curriculum didn’t offer drama class, so I didn’t get to take it. Same in years 11 and 12. Three years without acting. Also, I never considered doing “acting professionally.” I mean, comments from my aunt like “you should be an actor” put short five-second dreams in my head, but I never took it seriously. It was also during a time when teenagers develop other interests than drama class. Parties, soccer, and being “cool” were the things that I started to be concerned with.
Then I almost “rediscovered” this passion I had for it, if you will, in my final year. Once again, my school was participating in a musical production. It was “The Fiddler on the Roof,” and I got to be Lazar Wolf. Also, it was during a time when I started to watch more and more movies, but when I say “watch movies,” I mean specifically good cinema, and paying close attention to actors and what they were doing. It was during the COVID lockdown when I got more into that, and really began to play with the idea, “could I be an actor?” Then we performed the musical in a big theater in our hometown and after my rational German dad told me, “Hey, I think you should do this, this is really your thing”… I felt the necessary pat on the back that made me consider the move. But more specifically, I remember thinking to myself… “what is it really, that I want to do? Like genuinely, what I would love to do, what I’d have fun with, and live for?” And I knew the answer. And more than that… I knew that if I wouldn’t try it, I would beat myself over it for the rest of my life. I would never know what could have been and I’d live with the question “what if you just followed your heart?” Because if you try, you might win. But if you don’t, you’ve already lost.
So I moved out to LA at 20 years of age, and attended the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. I gave myself over to acting completely and committed to it fully in a two-year degree program. And I would say, I as a person, have changed a lot. I learned a lot, gained completely new insights, and grew. And I’m facing challenges constantly, feeling this pressure I talked about in my introduction. But I also know how to bring myself back into the present moment.
So to circle back to the initial question. Rather than asking “what’s my purpose”, ask yourself “what gives me purpose?”, “what fulfills me?”. By that, you create a link to your heart. To your inner self. And you’ll feel what resonates within you. And it might very well give you a small or big hint of what it is that you want to live for. But, and this is a big “but”, don’t force it. Rather, explore it. Be honest with yourself. It took me a while to figure it out but once I did, I followed my heart. And don’t worry, I say it can change. Because we as people change constantly. We develop new skills, new interests, we learn every day. We expand. But by really touching on your inner self and exploring what it is that activates you, I am sure it will at least guide you in a direction, if not resulting in you finding what you really want to do. Once you feel it, be brave enough to follow it.
And one last thing that I’d like to say… A few weeks back, for the first time in my life, I did a palm reading session. It was a gift to me by my girlfriend’s dad, who is very spiritually oriented, and he met this palm reader in Thailand in a monastery. This person did not know me. Has never spoken to me before and I know that my girlfriend’s dad has not spoken to him about me. He read my palm and categorized my hand into the element of fire. I asked him what it meant, and he went on to explain: The element of fire has people usually wanting to fulfill a service to the world. I asked him for examples, not knowing that I would be shocked by his answer. He said, they want to give the world something greater. Something that they leave behind. And in my case, also taking in certain other elements in my palm, I want to shine. I want to shine, like on a stage, and I want to inspire people. Communicate a message to them… I don’t think I need to elaborate more. It immediately struck me and fully resonated within me. I had goosebumps. “Shining on a stage”!? “Communicating a message”?!… If this doesn’t sound like the art of storytelling, I don’t know what else does..
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I consider myself a storyteller, though the precise term would be “Actor.” I am also a Writer.
I was born in Slovakia, where I spent the first ten years of my childhood. My mother is Slovak, and my father was German. They met while he was working there. Subsequently, we lived in Germany, Belgium, and even moved to China for four years. After returning to Germany, where I graduated from high school, I moved to LA by myself to pursue acting.
I was admitted to the AOS degree program at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and graduated with my degree in acting in July 2023. Lee Strasberg, one of the pioneers of acting and the creator of “Method Acting,”, introduced this approach to the US from Moscow. He developed what we recognize today as Method Acting. Later, Strasberg taught at the Actors Studio, working with some of the greats like Elia Kazan, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Marilyn Monroe, and many others.
By exploring this technique, I discovered new aspects of myself, as Lee’s Method requires one to utilize inner resources from ones past to personalize and deeply identify with the character.
What I love most about this acting technique, is the deep understanding one developes for the psyche of a human being and their motivations. Why does someone do what he does? Where does this behavior come from? I love to approach every character differently—understanding their background, motivations, fears, inner wounds, and dreams. Yet, my way of connecting to them will mostly remain the same. I immerse myself in each role, personalize their circumstances with mine, and delve deep to uncover their secrets and authentic nuances. I thrive on exploring the intricacies of human emotions and understanding them, fueled by a passion for storytelling.
It’s just one of those things that excite me—it’s how I “come alive.”
Recently, I wrapped up a supporting role in a WWII feature film. Additionally, I received a short film I worked on in November 2023 that truly fulfilled me artistically. The exploration of the character’s inner life was particularly complex. The short film, titled ‘Das Sichere Haus’ (‘The Safe House’), is set to be submitted to festivals. It revolves around three members of the radical socialist group RAF hiding in a safe house in Germany in 1977. Tensions escalate when a potential traitor in the room is discovered. I found it very Tarantino-esque, as it unfolded as one extensive scene in a single room.
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?
1. Take care of yourself and your talent, treating it like your best friend. Cherish and remember your moments of success, especially when facing setbacks. Not everything will go perfectly right from the start. Everyone, particularly those just beginning a new venture or at the start of their journey, will encounter challenges and setbacks. Success rarely follows a straight path; it comes with its ups and downs. It’s during those downs where self-preservation and self-care are crucial. Instead of being hard on yourself, remember all that you’ve achieved and the things that have worked out. Keep track of these accomplishments and revisit them. It’s easy to forget our wins, something I struggled with early in my journey in the challenging world of show business. I face rejections and hear “No” every day, so much so that I sometimes overlook the fact that I moved to a different country by myself and entered one of the toughest industries. The rejections can overshadow the auditions I was called back for and the roles I secured.
As far as self-preservation goes, I think everyone should have an activity that allows them to clear their mind. Let go of all your thoughts for a while. For me, this means going to the gym, running, or riding my longboard. These moments are crucial for clearing your thoughts and maintaining balance with whatever you’re pursuing.
Lastly, I’ve established a morning routine that keeps me grounded and grateful, which also contributes to my self-preservation. After waking up, before doing anything else, I take a 15-minute walk through my neighborhood to enjoy the morning sunlight. Then, I meditate for about 10-15 minutes. I started this practice last year and was surprised by how powerful a tool it can be for the mind, keeping you present. I finish with a cold shower or a cold plunge if possible, which has great effects on both body and mind. At the end of the day, whatever helps you take care of your mind and nurture your talents is the right thing to do.
2. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. In fact, go ahead and make them! Making mistakes is one of the best and quickest ways to grow. We often learn more from our own mistakes and experiences than from any book. When I started acting school, trying and failing became our method of learning. We were exposed to an art form where the artist must play notes on their own instrument—ourselves, our bodies, our souls, and our consciousness. Exploring my internal elements and observing how they affect my character choices and ultimately my performance showed me that trial and error are essential companions in this journey.
3. Don’t be afraid to jump. By that, I mean don’t hesitate to embark on a new journey. Embrace new directions, take risks, and pursue fresh ideas. One quote that resonated with me before I moved to Los Angeles and truly motivated me was, “Don’t be afraid to jump. When it feels scary to jump, that’s exactly when you jump; otherwise, you’ll end up staying in the same place your entire life.” Humans are explorers by nature. Go and explore! Whether it’s new places, opportunities, ideas, or journeys—be brave! Trying something new is the coolest thing one can do. Since when is it not cool to attempt something that no one else has achieved? Take the jump!
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Storytelling is a collaborative effort involving multiple creatives. Crafting a story that truly engages and resonates with the audience, whether through film or a play, is an art form in itself. I always strive to work with those who share a passion for storytelling and cinema, just as I do.
I always hope to work with material that allows me to delve deep into a character’s soul and really gives me the opportunity to show him from different sides. A director who appreciates my interpretation while giving me space to play and discover, ultimately steering it to align with the overall story. And ideally, co-actors with whom I can truly connect and engage in moment-to-moment work—those who keep me alive, engaged, and inspired.
I also hope to collaborate with creatives behind the scenes, like the Director of Photography who crafts empowering shots that enhance the storytelling, or the art department that creates costumes and sets which really help us actors get that first layer of the character. What type of shoes does he wear? What’s around in his apartment? Small details that give you and idea who this person really is.
These are the types of professionals I look forward to working with at all times. So, if there are any passionate storytellers out there, please feel free to reach out to me. I cannot emphasize enough how much I love this work and how collaborating and crafting a story fulfills my purpose 🙂
Contact Info:
- Email: schulze.maxx@googlemail.com
- Website: https://msha.ke/maximilianschulze.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/max.sml_?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
Toma Kostygina
