So, yes:weird.
Its not so much that I didnt like the script.
It was more that I was intimidated by a lot of things that were going to be happening.
Credit: Marten Tedin
I was just so nervous about the nudity.
My agent and manager were like, Youneedto go in.
I went in, and its been this crazy ride since then.
Marten Tedin
But its not as bad as I thought.
Because your imagination just runs wild.
But finally seeing it with an audience its like, Oh, I get it!'
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Michael, how did you get involved with this crazy film?
And Im thinking, Well, hey, somebody wants me to work!
Because I dont have an agent, I dont have a manager.
I have to find things for myself, and its very difficult.
And if somebodys interested, Im going to go with it.
If you dont have an agent or a manager, how did they even find you?
St. MICHAELS:I had an online thing, Actors Access, its a casting thing.
I submitted on that, and they were one of the ones that replied to it.
But then they actually called me, and so I went in and did this reading.
A year or two later, they were looking for me.
Of course, they couldnt find me theneither.
Id just done a short with a friend, and they foundher.
DE RAZZO:Wow, they really went through some stuff to get you.
St. MICHAELS:Im amazed!
So, you might have missed hundreds of potential acting jobs.
Maybe you got an offer to be inStar Wars!
DE RAZZO:Butnowyou know how to get to them, right?
St. MICHAELS:People are helping me with this.
Because Im impaired, technically.
What was the most memorable day of the shoot?
And then shed have to take it off.
I was screaming and crying for the first day I wore the merkin.
Thats the day I remember most.
Michael, what was it like wearing the I dont know what youd call it, really grease bodysuit?
ST. MICHAELS:It took two people to get me in there.
And then there was the gluing on of my thing.
She had to get a bikini, I had to shave.
I was bleeding and everything else.
DE RAZZO:Movie magic!
I always get like, Oh, its so glamorous, what you do!
When people say [Its] glamorous, its like, I dont know.
And after 14 hours of being on set with the merkin, she had to take it off.
I mean, that wasnt great forher, either.
St. MICHAELS:Hey, it beats working.
DE RAZZO:Exactly.
I get to brunch on Mondays!
The film premiered at this years Sundance Festival.
What was that like?
DE RAZZO:I was just terrified of the reaction people were going to have.
Because people can be a little cruel online.
So, that was one of my biggest concerns.
Which is not to say theres not going to be one or two assholes out there.
But, mostly, the response has been pretty great.
ST. MICHAELS:Jim asked me, Will you do the nudity?
I said, Yeah, it doesnt bother me,Idont have to look at it.
And then, unfortunately, Im sitting in the theater,lookingat it.
Whats your background, Michael?
Looking you up online, I didnt really learn much.
DE RAZZO:Hes been working forever.
St. MICHAELS:Yeah, I have, on-and-off.
I was in a kids television program.
I was an extra inAttack of the Killer Tomatoes.
My acting lessons really came from there.
Because Id never done on-camera work before, had no clue.
Id done a couple of plays.
Im going to be a movie star!
And it only took me 40 years.
[Laughs]
DE RAZZO:Now, everybody wants a piece of Michael St. Michaels.
Is it true you kept one of the Greasy Stranglers prosthetic things?
St. MICHAELS:Yeah.
Its in a hidden part of my apartment, that I never go into unless theres nobody around…
