Interview with Actor, Michael Logo

Full transcript of Interview with Actor, Michael Logo.

0:04KT: New Zealand-born, Australian-raised Samoan actor Michael Logo offers an intriguing body of work, centering humor and the realness from stage to screen. You may recognize him from Colin from Accounts, Swift Street, and the web series Buried. The Casting Guild of Australia come together to identify a group of extraordinary actors they believe had the potential to break out on a world stage. The CGA Rising Stars. And we have the opportunity to chat with one of this year's recipients. Michael, thank you so much. And welcome to the For Your Reference Podcast.

0:42Michael: Same here, same here. Thanks for having me.

0:47KT: I'm, I'm so excited, even just like researching leading up to this chat today, like we're going to get to the greatest hits, obviously I want to hear a bit of the B side, like the come up and all of that sort of thing, but, um, I just want to start off by saying congratulations for being named, um, a CGA Rising Star. And I'd love to hear, I guess in the career that you've had, like, what does that mean for you? In this moment now.

1:14Michael: Uh, well, thanks. Thanks for the interview. So maybe selling a professional

1:20KT: ads. I didn't mean to pick you up. I'll go anywhere. I'll just, I'll just, I'll just pop out.

1:25Michael: Stop it. Stop it. Keep going. Uh, to be honest, it means a lot, you know, especially, especially in this industry, you know, you don't get a lot of feedback, like you don't get a lot like You know, people don't tell you you're doing good or like negative or positive, but so like being named as One of the ten, it's like, it's a real honor and it makes you feel like, you know, you're doing the right thing, you know

2:06KT: Yeah. Because at the end of the day, it's the arts and it's storytelling, so it's for people and it's for connecting. And it's like, do you hear me? Do you feel me? We're going to be all

2:18Michael: right. Yeah.

2:22KT: Yeah. Well, um, Colin from Accounts. What else is that gal? She's having the moment at the moment, um, awards galore, including the 2023, um, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. Um, you play Brett on the show. Um, how, how has that all been going? Is it like tapping into a new audience? Um, like, what's the experience in working in, I guess, a show that is so well known and also well loved as well?

2:57Michael: Yeah. Oh, man. The, uh, everyone's, like, everyone's received it, like, so well. Uh, I remember, uh, like, season one, working on it, I'm like, yo, this is gonna be massive. And everyone's like, oh yeah, it's probably, probably. I'm like, everyone's like, yeah, nah, it's probably not. I'm like, oh, okay, nah, nah, it's gonna be massive, it's gonna be massive. And then it hit the screens, and then I was like, oh, true. And then it was like, oh, true. I was like, bro, it just blew up. Yeah. I feel like season two has been doing good, good things as well, so I'm like, yeah.

3:41Michael: And like, going to the award show, just straight up the AACTAs, like, just, the AACTAs was such a trip.

3:50KT: I didn't realize Colin was the dog when we first started watching it.

3:56Michael: I remember reading the script when we first got it, I was like, Who's Colin? Colin, you from where?

4:01KT: Yeah. When I, um, when I was researching there was a written interview um, that you had and you talked about the research that you did for like, craft beer and learning that sort of stuff. Yeah. Have you been able to incorporate that into the show now?

4:22Michael: Like, there's probably one or two lines where I like, I, I shave my expertise because when we rocked up to the, to the brewery, I was like, Oh yeah, this is my show, my time to shine. Uh huh. I was like, yeah, this is the, this is where it filters and it turns to rough and rough and blah, blah, blah. And I was like, Oh yeah, this is where it distills and blah, blah, blah. And, and, and, um, and Patty, the like, the creator, one of the creators of Straight, was like, Oh yeah, that's, that's cool. I'm like, what do you mean that's cool? I'm going to be abroad, I'm researching. You're just like, you're really,

5:05KT: you're putting all that research into those two lines, you know, you're putting your foot in

5:09Michael: there. Like, you know, when it comes to me, you know, it doesn't matter one line, two lines, a hundred lines. Research, man.

5:20KT: But you're that guy though, like when you show up on the screen, like you know you're in for a good time, but you find a way to ground it as well. It's not just like, I'm here to make you laugh. Like I'm also a, like grounded in this world as well. How did you feel in being able to, cause we can have a fakakata, like we can have a good laugh as well. How do you make it like, hey, I'm more than one dimension? How do you put that into your performance?

5:45Michael: It's partly like Patty and Harry's writing, they like, they, they put their foot in it, you know? But like, you just, I just like to, my wife always makes fun of me when I say, like, I like to breathe life into the words and that, and you just, yeah, it's just at the 101, like, um, given circumstances and that, so I just, yeah, I don't know. You just, you just put yourself in a situation that, and you just do it.

6:24KT: And how, how is it working in an ensemble? Different, uh, years of experience, different types of experience in the industry. How is it coming together to work on an ensemble?

6:36Michael: Uh, it's different from theater. Yeah. Like working in an ensemble with theater. But it's like, yeah, it's real cool. Like, especially on Colin's. Everyone, we're just like fans, you know. I remember, uh, me and my wife, uh, we just had a baby.

6:59KT: Congratulations.

7:01Michael: Thanks. But like, as soon as everyone found out, everyone's just like, what's your address? What's your address? Like, what do you mean what's our address? And it just started flooding us with presents. We're all like, ayyyy! And it was like, whenever, when we see each other, it's just like, it's just like family reunions and that. Crack up.

7:23KT: That's how it should be, like it should feel like family, like coming together and it's more than just creating something and then watching it get released, right?

7:34Michael: Yeah. I'm really grateful for them and like working on the, on Colin's with them and like this being one of my like first big jobs, so I feel like they've really taken care of me and that.

7:50KT: Is it, is it trippy? Like, I remember there was like a Samoan actor in Mr. Robot. Like every time I see it, like Islander in Hollywood or like New Zealand as well, but like Australia, I'm just like, Oh, like that, like, I'm like, Oh, people, they're here. Were you conscious of that? Of, I guess, not necessarily having a responsibility, but realizing that other Islanders are going to like, Like, Oh, look, we're, we've got representation, we're on the screen or is it more just focusing on the character and the world?

8:26Michael: Yeah. Oh, I was focused on the character of the world, but when I, when it was coming out, I was like, man, I don't want to look goofy. You know? Yeah. I don't want to be like another stupid Islander that everyone's laughing at, you know? Cause like, I was really, I was really conscious of that. Especially when we watched it, I was like fuck, did I let the people down? But like, uh, everyone's received it really well. And like, I was like, man, to be honest, it's one of those things where it's good to see us on the screen.

9:10Michael: Regardless of what we're doing, which is like, which is pretty, pretty messed up.

9:16KT: It's a low bar. Yeah.

9:18Michael: Yeah. But like, you know, it's, it's the process, you know, and like, that's all you gotta do. But I don't know. I feel like Colin's is, it's nice. Cause like, you don't really expect to see our people represented in like those kinds of TV shows.

9:39KT: Uh huh.

9:40Michael: So it's like, yeah, it's nice to have like flavor in that.

9:44KT: Yeah. It was like Barbie gets to do all the different jobs. Why can't we?

9:49Michael: Yeah.

9:49KT: Why can't the Islander Barbie and Ken? Cause I'm, I'm in IT as well. So it's like, where did, where did she come along? Like, what do you know what I mean? So it's really cool to like see us represented in different, you know, And we're also in the 2020s as well. And like you talk about, which, you know, I don't know if we have time to get real, real, real, but yeah, hit us up on the DMs, friends and lovers, but, um, it's the 2020s now. And we don't want to like, cause cause I was like, Oh, you're all good. Cause you never know if we're going to be like caricatures or we're just going to be that security guard. Um, like there's so much more for us and we demand so much more for us. And I'm so glad that. The production of Colin from Accounts allows you to explore different dimensions,

10:37Michael: um,

10:38KT: as well. I want to talk quickly about the Buried, uh, web series. So you play a sensitive police officer who wish he worked in the arts and has a PhD in feminist theory. So, uh, those are some very interesting clips. Um, those aren't the sort of clips that will get cancelled on podcast. Yeah,

10:57Michael: yeah, yeah.

10:59KT: Um, and it's just so real because you try to pursue the creative arts, but then it's like, bill's got to get paid, baby's got to be fed. Um, you know. Yeah. And you got to hold down your own as well. So were there any sort of interesting jobs you had while trying to make this acting thing work?

11:18Michael: Uh, I'm pretty boring. So like, no, really. I had, I've worked at Woolworths, I've worked at McDonald's, uh, but like in rough areas, so like I remember working at Macca's, uh, just one night, someone got ran over. I rushed outside and I had to, like, help him breathe. So the ambulance got there, and then, at one point, I got ran over by, like, a dirt bike.

11:55KT: Wow.

11:57Michael: Yeah, because, like, it was, it was Broadie. It was a Broadie. So, like, We were escorting these teenagers out and like it just got heated and like someone who knew them must've been on a dirt bike behind us. I was just escorting them and all I hear is bang and I hit and I fall and I get back up and I look back and like I just got hit by a motorbike. And my guy's like, he's trying to start his metaphyseal, and I put him in there, and he's like, man, you can't do a metaphyseal, get the hell out of here, and I just hit him with that. I

12:40KT: think you need to put that to pen and paper, that's, that's a whole stage of action there.

12:45Michael: Andrew, Andrew. Like

12:48KT: Rough Riders. Yeah.

12:52Michael: Good stuff, you know. Crack up.

12:55KT: I think that's also, um, that's one of the things that I appreciate as well, of like, being able to channel Um, you know, the struggle and like stuff that we, um, you know, like things that like, I guess it depends on what your experiences are in life, but like you laugh through it. Sometimes that's how you get through, um, the tough stuff in life and, you know, being able to tell stories is something that is so inherently. And, you know, that's a way that we can bring ourselves, um, into it as well. I read on your bio that you were a facilitator, um, in the arts as well for teens in Naarm, in Melbourne.

13:36KT: Do you mind speaking a little bit?

13:40Michael: Yeah, so I work for Western Edge and we, um, we go around, we have, uh, youth theatre programs and we also work in schools to help, um, like, help them put on production at the year. But our youth, uh, our youth theatre programs is how I came up. So I found out about them in 2015, 2016. I came through the theater production, like the youth theater production avenue. Uh, and then I, they liked what I did and I started working for them and yeah, we just help kids tell their stories. And like, and we help kids through theater as well, tell their stories, as well as finding themselves in, In like the big theater shows, like, um, like your Shakespeare's, your Greeks, and like

14:48KT: What you know about Othello? What you know about the Hamlets? What you know about? You know about the Macbeths, right?

14:59Michael: Montague? Capulet? But yeah, cause like, there's heavy themes in that, and especially Like in the areas that we grew up in, you know, like we deal with those, those issues today, you know, like

15:16KT: Say it again for the people in the back, Michael.

15:19Michael: How is it? How is it? For the people in the back? No, uh, yeah. It's just like, like, especially in the hood, you know, I hate to say the hood, but like the hood that most of us grew up in, we deal with these issues every day. It's And like, the kids don't, don't really like, you give a kid a, a theatre, like, you, you just like, you tell a kid to do drama and they're like, wow, that's, that's gay. I don't want to do that. But when they actually get into it, you know, and like, start giving it a go, they're like, man, um, actually this is like, It's actually helping something, you know, because it helps you express yourself. And then you start seeing yourself in these things that you thought were like foreign and white and shit.

16:10Michael: So like,

16:11KT: sometimes white.

16:13Michael: Yeah, most of them white. But that's, um,

16:15KT: like, honestly, that's how we get free in many ways. That's how we get free and being able to channel. Yeah. Who we are, what our experiences are, being able to learn and unlearn, um, a lot of stuff, like how much is culture and how much is obligation as well. And that's, that's something that's so beautiful. And I'm glad we would be able to. You know, tap into that and I, we don't have a lot of time, but I want to see, you can go as deep or as, or as real as you want with this, but, you know, navigating very white spaces, but also being able to pursue and tap into the arts. And then we also have, you know, the inherent cultural sort of storytelling that we have in the Moana.

17:07KT: As well. Did it ever feel like they were oil and water? Did it ever feel like it was hard to put them together or was it easy to just tap into these are the story, these are the voices, and this is what I want to tell.

17:22Michael: Oh, the struggle is real, you know, and like, it's funny cause like when you're starting up, it seems so like impossible and like everything's fighting against you on Where I am now, I'm starting to feel like it's easier to, to, to tell my story in it. And like, tell the, tell the stories with other people. And like, it seems like there's a light at the end of the tunnel, you know. But, like you're, I feel like you're always pushing against something. And like, you know. Especially these spaces and how like foreign it is for them to have someone like us in them. You're always having to have these conversations and that. So I'm like, you just gotta, you just gotta stay strong, you know? And like have a strong sense of yourself and keep your, keep your people about, keep your people around you and close.

18:36Michael: Cause like, It's easy to get lost out here, straight up.

18:42KT: It's easy to get lost and catch these, uh, bike tracks.

18:45Michael: 100.

18:47KT: But I think that, yeah, and I guess just wrapping up, it becomes a conversation of trying to create art through a business, right? Yeah. Um, and you, you find your people, um, you find your joy, you find your center, um, and, and, you know, and people will find the realness. Yeah, everywhere we are. So, um, I wanna say Ma Alto, um, ot. My partner is Kenyan, so I will say Asante. Um, thank you so much for the today. Like it's been so great. I feel like we could've, we could've had monologues and like full on stage productions continue. I feel like

19:24Michael: you got some stories too, man.

19:26KT: Oh,

19:28Michael: same.

19:28KT: I wish we had the time, but thank you so much. Is there anything else you wanna. You wanna p you wanna shout out? You wanna shout out the whole family? Like? Yeah. Is there you wanna, uh,

19:38Michael: shout out my, my wife and my son? Mm-hmm, uh, shout out everyone in Youth Justice in Cherry Creek and that because I work in youth right now.

19:49KT: Oh, nice. Yeah,

19:51Michael: like, shout out Cherry Creek. Shout out to guys. When they're behaving. Go watch Colin's. Colin from Accounts. Uh, on Binge. Yeah. That's it.

20:11KT: So much, Michael. Take care.

20:13Michael: Thank you. Thank you. This is so fun. Oh, good.