Meet Paul Matte

We were lucky to catch up with Paul Matte recently and have shared our conversation below.

Paul, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?

I’m a very optimistic person and as an artist I find that it comes from my ability to trust my gut. Navigating the entertainment business can be difficult; but not if you truly listen to yourself and accept the challenges that feel the most fulfilling to you. If I find myself climbing someone else’s mountain, it doesn’t take me long to snap out of it and get back to my own mission having learned my lesson. This process has led me to trust myself deeply and I know that the work I’m doing is going to be of good quality because I’m doing it for the right reasons. When you’re certain you’re on the right path you put your best foot forward without any mental blocks.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I got my humble start in the film industry while living in Scotland of all places. I’d take any job I was offered just to be on set, which included driving a massive camera van through the countryside on overnight shifts, COVID marshalling (a role I was abysmal in) and running (which basically means grabbing coffee for whoever asks). At the start there was no contract too small for me because once I caught a glimpse of a film set there was no stopping me getting to its core.

Something new started to happen after those desperate first few months. I found purpose. Some people might think that’s cheesy, but I don’t care. I worked five weeks on a feature film called Tehran jumping from a PA role to armourer’s assistant. In the span of just about a month I gravitated to the actors, stunt performers and just general badasses gathered from all around the world that came to where I lived to make a movie. I still have close friends in my life from that movie I helped make across the ocean. It was on that film that I got to act for the first time, in two short but high-octane scenes. My full-time job is now acting and I figure it ain’t that hard when somebody points an M16 at your face and drags you to the floor on your first day – all in good fun of course. It’s been a hard road to get good at the craft, but everyone starts somewhere.

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?

Along the way you learn a lot about yourself. I never knew how much of an iron will I had until I found something that I wanted as much as I want an acting career. Everything else is worth giving up to me now, but not this. I’ve held onto this job through so many changes in my life that I’m positive I’ll be doing it for the rest of my days.

I also have a genuine fascination for the skills that people have in my world. How’d that actor get to that emotional high-point? How did she get the fake blood to spray out like that? Who did this producer talk to in order to get such a perfect location to film? Maybe I’m an annoying pest for asking. But I want answers! Every set I’ve worked on, I find a way to piece together how people work to make the world of movies less of a mystery to me. Acting is not as isolated an art from as you might think and I don’t want to be the actor who is mystified when the camera team has to move to a new set-up – I like to see it all coming.

I have fun. I love doing this work. When I tap in I embrace my inner child and get my hands dirty and that to me is a huge strength. I really think that people can see the love for what I do when I’m working and I share that with as many people as I can.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I navigate my industry with my gut and my passion. If something ignites that passion, I sink my teeth in. As an actor, the biggest opportunity you can get is finding the directors and the writers with the strongest vision of what they’re making. As enjoyable as it is to wander through a short film with whimsy and explore a character, it feels even more satisfying to tackle and deliver on something that your director has specifically asked for. Bring your own spin on what you’re doing. But I love being the piece that fits in their puzzle.

I’m a writer, and work as a peer-reviewer and consultant when I’m not in front of the camera. If you have something, send it to me! We can connect on social media, even if it’s just to geek out over our favourite movies and shows. @paul_matte on Instagram.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @paul_matte

Image Credits

Image one and two: Calyssa Lorraine

Image three: Enrico Ferri

Image four: Struan Candlish