We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Michael Finn. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Michael below.
Michael, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Ahhh Imposter Syndrome, one of the most interesting issues and also one of the most debilitating if unrecognized. I can’t say that I have actually overcome imposter syndrome, but I do have ways that I work with it or around it. First off, I think there are simple steps one can take to try to move beyond it. For example, I have personal, specific affirmations that I use to ground myself. Repeating these a few times a day, whether it’s out-loud or to one’s self, helps remind me of where I’m headed, what I’m capable of, and who I am. Also, meditation helps as does accepting jobs that might feel too big or above you and just jumping in and doing the work. These don’t necessarily allow me to fully overcome imposter syndrome, but they are steps in the direction that I want to grow in and allow me to do the jobs I may not feel I deserve or am capable of. Each time I can do the work, it chips away at the impostor syndrome and helps build my confidence and belief in myself.
I remember reading an article not too long ago where even Gary Oldman, Delroy Lindo, Riz Ahmed, Steven Yeun, and George Clooney spoke about having imposter syndrome and it being a constant battle. I think Oldman’s response really helped me understand. He said (in response to a comment by Ahmed): “This impostor syndrome, it’s a good thing to have. I’m a little older than you, and I’ve been doing it longer, and I still have it. It’s the old story that performers have, or anyone in the arts, where you’re always waiting for that tap on the shoulder — where someone’s going to find you out and say, ‘We know who you really are.’ You’re always striving just to get better. I think it would be a sad day for any of us to maybe look up at the screen and think, ‘My God, I’m wonderful in this. My work is done.’” That really helps keep things in perspective for me, and helps me use it as a tool rather than an excuse.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
When people ask what I do in film and theatre, I usually respond with what I don’t do. I love all aspects of filmmaking and production, and have worked as an actor, director, writer, producer, editor, key grip, gaffer, cinematographer, camera operator, 1st AC, sound recorder, and even sfx make-up artist. I have tried to narrow my focus to the acting, directing and producing lanes as of lately as that’s where I find the most joy. I have been lucky enough to book multiple roles in feature films and Television shows, star in a national theatre tour, act in a handful of commercials, and work on well over 100 short films, a handful of features, as well as a few TV series in both the G&E and camera departments. On top of that, I have been able to direct over 30 of my own short films. I am currently writing and brainstorming a few feature scripts and collaborating with other amazing artists to create quality films and productions. I have also just wrapped as lead in a feature film with more projects lined up ahead, but my passion has grown exponentially as a story-teller, and I love the aspect of bringing together a full project from page to screen.
I also dabble in photography in my spare time, shooting a lot of wildlife and landscape and currently expanding into product photography. For me, photography is a different way to tell a story or capture a moment in time that would have otherwise been lost to the ether. It allows me to still continue to evoke emotion from others in a new and different way. I love the focus and patience that it takes to create the perfect frame, find the perfect shot. Whether it’s waiting for the sun to set to capture it at just the right moment on the horizon, quietly tracking an animal in their natural habitat, or finding the the right props and feel for a product, photography is a lesson in peacefulness for me, and the moments surrounding the shot are just as important as the shot itself. I am currently going through my backlog of photos in the hopes of launching my own online store for prints and commercial work.
I truly believe that, as an artist, it’s all about giving back. It’s important that I share my heart in all my projects and that I speak honestly on the topics that fuel and inspire me. Nothing in this industry is guaranteed, and I am extremely grateful that I get to be a part of it. I try to always bring positivity and energy to all projects that I am involved in, no matter the capacity or challenges. When I was young, movies, theatre, art, creating; they were a means of escape, of travel, a chance to experience things outside of my reality and a way to step out of my own life and problems for a couple of hours. What I didn’t realize then, was that this allowed me to gain new perspectives and work on myself and my own thoughts, troubles, and insecurities. It allowed me to see a bigger picture and to touch corners of the globe that I couldn’t afford to travel to, and gave breadth and expansiveness to the size of my dreams. Now, as I discover more and more of my voice and I look at what is important to me and possibly to others, and I use my art to give back those experiences, allowing myself and the viewer room to grow and evolve. I whole-heartedly believe that art can move the world, and if I am lucky to truly reach someone on a deeply emotional level, to help even one person through any trouble or issue, or to even allow them a moment to breathe, then I have used my art well and can smile knowing I had an impact.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Three qualities that I think were extremely impactful were patience, listening, and asking questions. We live in a world that has so much accessibility at our fingertips, with smartphones and crowdsourcing, etc, that it’s easy to think we have all the knowledge we need right in our pockets. But no amount of google searching or YouTube viewing will beat hands on experience. It takes time to build your intelligence, and YouTube and the like are great resources, but it’s so important to learn from people who have been doing the work. They can teach you tricks you might never discover online, and if you ask questions and actually listen to what they have to offer, you will start to develop your own skillsets and a system that is personal and efficient. It’s a fast paced world and sometimes we just need to slow down, get out of our own ways, and let others teach. When I was starting out, it was overwhelming and daunting at times. I was lucky to meet some amazing people along the way who were themselves patient and allowed me to ask a LOT of questions. The good ones will always take the time to teach and share their knowledge. So if you’re new to this journey, or even a seasoned vet who might just be a little frustrated or tired, remember to pause for a moment, take a breath, slow down, and know you’re not alone. Ask for help, guidance, someone to read your script, watch your edit. Ask for feedback, advice, support, and let yourself really listen and receive it. This will help you grow quickly and strengthen the base you have to work from.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
This is a very tricky question and I really think it depends on each individuals path and goals. Personally, I invest effort to become more well rounded in the filmmaking world, but it’s somewhat self-serving as my main goals are acting, directing, and producing. By putting myself into different departments and learning at least a small amount of what’s involved and how they work, it actually frees me up as a creator. All the knowledge allows me to communicate with each department more clearly and efficiently, to understand the lingo and what is truly needed, and to foster a more comfortable, creative environment for everyone to excel in. It saves on time and allows everyone to focus more on what the job needs rather than losing time trying to understand one another. On the flip side, if someone really only wants to work in one department or solely focus on one style of art or creativity, it may be worth your time to go in on all your strengths. While I feel having some knowledge about the areas of weakness only help enhance the strengths you have, that may not be the path for everyone. Each individual works in different ways, and it’s important to do what works best for you. Just remember to be polite, understanding, and communicative and I think you’ll be alright.
Contact Info:
- Website: mfmichaelfinn.com
- Instagram: @therealmichaelfinn
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/mfmichaelfinn
- Twitter: @realmichaelfinn
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@therealmichaelfinn
- Other: imdb.me/michaelfinn@aka_finn for photography
