Miguel Matos is a Brooklyn New York City born and raised actor. Miguel recently completed a feature film as a co-star, executive produced by world champion boxing legend Manny Pacquiao. The film ‘Zeus’ is scheduled for release in August worldwide in theaters and streaming platforms. The film centers around the COVID-19 pandemic, where a boxing champion loses his mother to the disease. Having pain and anger in his heart he blamed the disease on Asians and challenged a fight with a Filipino who went viral for knocking out a racist man who was discriminating against an elderly Filipino man. The viral sensational man known as Zeus then seeks to get boxing training lessons from a famous neighborhood boxing trainer Coach Green (played by Miguel). Coach Green takes Zeus through the streets of Los Angeles to test his fighting skills against notorious street gangsters. If Zeus survives the streets he will then find him worthy enough to train. The film without it being released is slated for parts II, III, IV, and V. Soon after completing Zeus Miguel was contacted by a management team for representation.
What led you to acting?
What led me to acting was when I was watching my then 10-year-old son perform in a project by Director Naim ‘Slick’ Slovan on ‘Stanhope’. He asked me if I could be an extra as a cop arresting my son’s movie mom? Seeing people get arrested before I thought to myself I can do that. The film went on to win many awards to include the HBO American Black Film Festival in Times Square, New York City at the AMC Theater. A year later I’m at the Validate Yourself Film Festival for another project my son was in and a well dressed gentleman approached me and said ‘you look like the character for my new film’. He asked me if I can put myself on tape and submit it to him? After he sent me the sides I put myself on tape and sent it to him. He immediately hired me. I made the decision to take the art form seriously and I trained with the Deena Levy Theater Studio. I also trained with the 2% Collective Program with Jen Rudolph, Booking Method with Natalie Roy, and Film and TV Audition Techniques with Christine Horn at Book More TV and Film programs. And the training doesn’t stop.
I was reading my email and I received one from a director who said he’s doing a film and having seen my reel he and his team felt that I would be perfect for a role in the film. He gave me a link to all the projects they have done. The link was to Lionsgate Studio. I didn’t think much of it, I enjoy working so I emailed him back and told him to send me the sides. He sent it to me, and I think I read it about 20 times before I realized who it was written by. I emailed him back and asked him if the sides was for an exercise project for actors because it had the name of the writer of an Academy Nominated director on it. He said, “no”, he’s the director and Ryan Coogler wrote the script. I wish I hadn’t emailed him because nervousness kicked in 1000 percent. When I first read it I thought I’d put myself on tape if he calls me he calls me back and thinking nothing of it. But nope, I wanted to give my best performance so I hired Deena and Natalie separately to make sure I covered everything about who I am as an actor as they had seen my potential. I was on a shortlist for the role, but did not get it. However, just to be given the opportunity was an honor.
Describe your method of acting.
I would say it’s more of the Meisner technique. I like to react instinctively to the surrounding environment. So it’s more about the story than me.
You recently completed a feature film, “Zeus” as a co-star which was executive produced by world champion boxing legend Manny Pacquiao. What intrigued you the most about this character?
I play Coach Green in the film and I’ve always wanted to be guided by someone who can steer me in the right direction towards whatever field of choice I got into. However that never materialized, growing up in the rough neighborhood of Bushwick Brooklyn. The city turned its back on Bushwick after the Blackout of 1977 of New York City and the flood of crime, drugs, killings, and shootings took over. Fortunately for me I knew most of the people doing all of them so I was lucky enough not to become a victim. Since I witnessed all of that growing up, I took those experiences and emotions and incorporated into the character.
How did this role challenge you?
When I was cast for the role two weeks after the audition, I was told that I will be flying out to California to film a week later. So I read the script everyday and night until it was time to fly out. I had never been to Los Angeles and I didn’t know how I was going to be received. All I kept thinking to myself was a quote I once read from Humphrey Bogart ‘the only thing you owe the public is a good performance’. I kept playing that in my head throughout the month I stayed there. Then the other part of the challenge was having chemistry with a Filipino actor in a Filipino production. However once I arrived on the set and one of the executive producer Hillary, greeted me with open arms and a hug, all my fears and nervousness went away.
Who would you like to work with?
My inspiration are Denzel Washington and Matthew McConaughey, those are some high-powered artists that when I watch their films I try to imagine what’s going on in their head.
Share your upcoming projects.
I have three independent projects in post-production, Footprints of an Angel, Spectrum and Duke of New York. I was informed that Zeus will be having parts II III, IV, and V!, so looking forward to that.
Miguel Matos is currently signed to Prestige Management Group.
Instagram @migueltv718
Instagram handle for Zeus
https://instagram.com/zeusthefilm?utm_medium=copy_link