Young Adult TV Show

I met Matt Melnicoff while filming my 2009 DC 48 Hour Film Project with Ishu.  He aptly helped as a writer and crew member.  As I was finalizing the character descriptions for Young Adult, I remembered Matt and really wanted him to play the part of Murphy.  It’s always scary to put a first-time actor into a lead role, but fortunately for me, Matt’s a rockstar.  He answered a few questions for me.

Promotional shot as 'Murphy'

1) What was your favorite part about acting on-camera for the first time?

It was a pretty bizarre feeling, but it was a lot of fun. At the start of each take there is a little moment of focus and adrenaline that I could really see how actors/actresses get addicted to. When you have a good take, it is an awesome feeling.

2) Was anything on set not what you expected?

I was actually surprised at how many people it takes behind the scenes to pull something like this off. It is a quite a planning and logistics feat. Also, I was happy with how well we ate!

Ishu, Matt, and Nick on Matt's first shoot day

3) Do you have a favorite moment to share?

I think the first day of shooting when we were in front of the National Zoo was pretty awesome. It was my first time ever acting and I got to do it guerrilla-style on a crowded public street…trial by fire! The last day in Clarendon was pretty fun too…everyone freezing their butts of while we ate Wendy’s burgers on the sidewalk. Also, this probably doesn’t qualify as a moment, but I had a great time getting to know an entirely new group of really great people.

Chowing down on some Wendy's

4) How much are you like the character you play?

I think Murphy and I would get along really well. We are both pretty laid back and have a similar sense of humor. Plus, we like hanging out with friends and enjoying some beers. If it came to politics, I think Murphy has much stronger convictions than I do.

5) What’s one of the biggest ‘acting tips’ you learned?

To try and understand the mindset of your character and become that person. Don’t fall into the trap of playing the character as you would act, play it as your character would. For me I got lucky because playing Murphy wasn’t too much of a stretch.

Matt, J. W., Lisa, and Ishu at the YA Party