Michael Tolbert
An interview with Newberry Made featured artist and filmmaker Michael Tolbert.
Why did you first start making films?
From an early age I knew that I was a storyteller. I also knew the medium I wanted to tell stories was through film; both in front and behind the camera. What has always attracted me to filmmaking and to telling stories is the hope that by telling the right story I’m able to really connect with others by sharing experiences and perspectives that might not come natural to us and with those stories will make people a little more empathetic.
How do you describe your work?
The best way to describe my work would be educational and more importantly personal. I absolutely love threading interesting facts about South Carolina into my work especially with the fictional pieces that I’ve created. I also love sharing stories about real people and places in the Carolinas. But it wasn’t until I produced, Diagnosis, which chronicles my journey battling leukemia that I fully comprehended the power of storytelling. Obviously, the subject of the series is emotionally heavy at times. I felt exposed and vulnerable, but the series is also highly educational and is easily digestible for somebody who has either been impacted by leukemia or wants to learn about it.
What are your films about?
More recently the films that I’ve produced have been about exploring intersections of travel and health. Leading up to 2018, I was hyper focused on an acting career and then the universe pulled the rug out from under me. I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and all of the aspirations I had shifted. The way I processed that really traumatic landscape was by documenting it. When I started sharing videos to Youtube, I realized that it was providing a space for others facing their own cancer battle whether they were diagnosed or someone they held close to their heart had received a diagnosis. Words can’t even begin to describe the overwhelming sense of gratitude it brings when someone reaches out to connect after a diagnosis. Those bonds have been like no other.
That said, it’s magical inhabiting other bodies and other beings, so I’m always on the lookout for a great script with an excellent story, diverse characters, and elements that push me out of my comfort zone. One of my favorite roles, in fact the last role I played before my diagnosis, was a police officer by the name of Jeremy Conners in the film, What Matters. Jeremy could have easily been a one note, one dimensional character, however, I got to layer him up. At times he was funny and awkward yet aggressive and impulsive. Did I mention he was also the film’s antagonist? Which only added to why the role was phenomenal for me as an actor. It’s also a blast playing the bad guy.
What inspires you to tell stories?
As cliché as it might sound, I’m inspired and more importantly motivated to tell stories by the people and places around me. I have found that my family, friends, and let’s be honest, South Carolina, has provided some of the best stories to tell.
With so much content online, how do you differentiate yourself?
Interestingly enough I have found that what differentiates the content I create are the themes I choose to showcase. It’s surprisingly difficult to find videos made by folks battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in their mid to late 20s. It’s also surprisingly difficult to find content about real people and places here in South Carolina that aren’t just highlight reels, commercials that showcase specific landmarks, or stereotypical portrayals.
If you could work with any Director, who would it be and why?
If I could work with any Director, who and why? Wow. No pressure. I would have to say, Luca Guadagnino. As a lover of cinema, it’s clear he has a great sense of responsibility with the stories he tells and how he goes about telling them. He really knows how to convey empathy to his audience by taking the viewer on a rollercoaster of emotions. You feel loved, you feel completely seen, and at times you feel like your heart has been ripped out. A lot of that also has to do with his choice of music, the way a scene is shot, and the color palettes he chooses for the film. Add that with the fact that he’s an Italian filmmaker who prefers to set his films in Italy. I mean hello, dream job.
What is your favorite genre? What is your favorite film?
Hands down my favorite genre of film would have to be horror. At least to work in. I have found that horror movie sets bring the best creatives. We’re all free to be weird, take risks and have fun, which provides a sense of freedom in the work.
How does living in Newberry affect your work?
Growing up and living here in Newberry County has been such a gift. Especially when it comes to my work and the stories I choose to tell. I’ve been very fortunate to film the feature length movie, Alienography, right in downtown Newberry. I’ve shot a few shorts around the county, and hope to do more work here in the future. Before being diagnosed with leukemia in 2018, I was initially attached in a supporting role and associate producer for the, The Farmhand, which was locally shot. Obviously, I had to bow out of the project, but I stayed close with the crew, cast, and project and it turned out beautifully. I point that out because Newberry is a gem, and artists alike are recognizing those attributes.
Where can people see your work?
People can find my work at michaelktolbert.com. It’s a repository for the content I’ve created over the years. There’s even a tab that says, “New? Start here.” That directs visitors to a collection of shorts that are scattered around the interwebs. There’s also links to Operation Adventure and Diagnosis: The Series, which can also be found at youtube.com/operationadventure and Operation Adventure.org.
Is there anything you’d like to add?
I’d love to quote Hilarie Burton Morgan, “When you find a community that nurtures you and your family, it isn’t enough to just live in it, you must also nurture and protect that place, and all the people who give you respite, solace, joy, and just enough hell to keep life interesting.” Those words speak so much truth to why I love our community here in Newberry. The work that is being done by all of us is important and is necessary. Thank you all for doing your part in bringing our community together.
