Pop Culturalist Chats with Michael Johnston

With 2016 coming to an end, it’s the perfect time to reflect. What a year it’s been for television and film. If we had to choose one of the breakout stars we’ve seen, it has to be Michael Johnston. The gifted young actor is turning heads with his performance in the coming-of-age film, Slash.

It’s his first feature film as a leading man–and we’re sure it won’t be his last. When he’s not killing it on the big screen, he can be seen on the hit MTV show, Teen Wolf. Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to chat with Michael about the film, what’s next for his character on Teen Wolf, and much more.

Slash Questions

PC: How did you get involved with the project?
Michael: Well, I got the opportunity like any other audition. I read for it and really liked the script. It was very different. It was actually months and months later that I learned I got the part.

PC: You’ve said in a previous interview that the script changed quite a bit from when you first read it to when you auditioned. Can you talk about those changes?
Michael: The essence of it stayed the same. The script went through lots of changes, but it was just little changes in dialogue. I mean, not much really changed in the story.

PC: Did it affect how you prepared?
Michael: No. I think it pretty much stayed the same. I would say both the times I read it, you know, from reading it and getting to the set, it was really cool because when we got into filming we really got to add our own kind of things. It was a big collaborative effort. We all got to try out some stuff, see what works, and what didn’t work. I was really able to relate to the character because, just like my character, I was going through a lot of firsts. You know, it was my first lead in a movie, and it was the first time I’d ever been to a convention.

PC: Slash is a really unique coming-of-age story, and it doesn’t hold anything back. Were you nervous about taking on the role?
Michael: I definitely was. I was definitely a little bit nervous about it. Slash is not a typical coming-of-age movie. Something we’ve been saying is it’s a coming-of-age movie for people who didn’t get a coming-of-age movie. I liked the story. It was very honest, and it was a good story. A lot of the things I had to do in the movie–and that I had to talk about–took a little bit of getting used to. Yeah, I think the movie dares to go to a place that’s very ambitious. I liked it. I was definitely a little bit iffy at first, but when I got there and we started shooting it, it was great. So I’m happy with how it turned out.

Photo Credit: Boxcar Films

PC: The film’s made it through the film festival circuit; you’ve done a panel at San Diego Comic-Con; it’s been released. What’s been the most rewarding experience being a part of this project?
Michael: The most rewarding thing…well, probably that the movie is just being pretty well received. The budget was very small. And, to think we shot it very fast! It was my first lead in a film, and I learned a lot about how films work. We don’t film things in order so I had to really make sure I was on top of where my character was in the story. One of the first scenes we shot was at the end of the movie, so, you know, it was a challenge for me as an actor. Seeing how it turned out, I think it all flows and all works really well. People like the movie, and I had a lot of people at these conventions and Q&As come up to me and say how they were able to relate to the movie in some way. Maybe they’re going through something similar, or they have gone through it before…and, people come up and thank me. Actually, that’s probably the most rewarding thing. I’m thrilled that people like it, and I’m getting some good reviews and recognition. It played at so many festivals. So, yeah, I’m just really happy about that.

PC: Do you have a favorite fan interaction?
Michael: Yeah, the movie screened at a festival in Portland, and we did a Q&A. A young woman came up to me, and she told me how she feels like my character. She said, “You represented a sexually-confused teenager who’s into fan fiction so well. I’m going through the same thing”. And, she gave me a hug, and she was crying. I was like, wow, I can’t believe I was able to… that the character and the work…that I connected with someone like that. That was probably my favorite experience: when someone came up to me crying, and like, “Oh, my gosh, you made me feel like it was okay to be who I am”. The theme of the movie is just that it’s okay to embrace sexual ambiguity, and you don’t need a label.

PC: What are some of the similarities and differences you shared with Neil?
Michael: Oh, that’s a good question. I mentioned before that I was able to really connect with Neil because I was going through a lot of firsts, just like he was. You know, it was my first time going to a convention. It’s funny because we actually went to a real convention, and we were all dressed up in costume. It was the first time I’d ever done it, too. So what you see on the screen is really genuine because a lot of it is real.

I think we’re really similar in that we’re small fish in a big pond. I’ve never written fan fiction, but I knew what it was because there’s a lot of fan fiction for some of the video games that I’ve done and TV shows that I’m on. There’s a lot of fan fiction of me. But I would say, in general, I’m not too similar to Neil. I mean, I’m not into the things he was into. I connected with Neil because I felt the same way that he did. I had only been out in LA for a year and a half when I did this movie and like I said earlier, just like how many of these experiences were so new to Neil, a lot of the experiences I was going through throughout the movie were new to me.

PC: What would you say was the biggest lesson you learned/challenge you faced while being a leading role in a feature film?
Michael: Probably what I mentioned before about how we shot scenes out of order. So the difference between a movie and a TV show is that you’re probably not going to experience a huge change in the story or in the character from the beginning of an episode to the end of an episode. But when you’re doing a movie–especially an indie movie–there’s not a lot of time to reshoot a lot, so it’s really important to know, to be aware of just character development and where my character is. Like, we will shoot one scene that’s at the end of the movie, when I’ve already gone through all the new experiences and learned from them as a character, and then the next scene is me before I’ve gone to Comic-Con, and before I posted my erotic writing online. It’s a lot of responsibility to be the lead in a movie in that way, and it was a challenge. I loved it, and it only made me more excited to do it again.

PC: That’s great. You and Hannah have like really great chemistry on screen. How did you go about building that relationship and friendship?
Michael: Hannah and I never did a chemistry read together when we were auditioning. They just paired us together. The day that we both left LA for Austin, we were in a shuttle together. I got in the car first, and I was so excited to meet Hannah. I’d seen her tape. We pulled up to her house. She walked up, and I stuck out my hand to give her a handshake. She was like, “Nope, no handshake”, and she gave me a big hug. Then, she said, “We’re going to get really close”. Like right off the bat we really hit it off. Every day after filming, we’d be in each other’s hotel rooms early in the morning talking about scenes we were going to do and, you know, practicing and working together. We were just both so excited to be able to tell such a cool story. It’s such a unique story. We hit it off right away, and, I mean, we just had the best time.

PC: Did you have a favorite on-or off-set moment?
Michael: You know, it was so long ago–the filming of the movie–that it all kind of blends together. All I can say is that we always just had a great time with each other. Working with Missi Pyle and Michael Ian Black was really fun. They’re both, you know, really incredibly talented, and they’re both really funny, but neither of them got to play a really funny role in the movie. They’re pretty much straight characters. They weren’t funny in the movie, but off-camera they were hilarious—cracking jokes. It was such a great time. Actually, in some of the downloadable content on iTunes, there are videos of them. It’s just so fun. So, I really remember a lot of that stuff. Just hanging out with those guys.

PC: What do you hope fans take away from seeing this film?
Michael: That you don’t need a label, and everyone has their own unique story. It’s okay to be who you are and not know your place. And, there’s no rush. It seems like there’s this pressure to fit in or to be something, but it’s really okay to not know where you fit in. It’s normal to be unsure of things in your life. A lot of people are going through that. It’s something that’s not really talked about. I feel like anyone can watch the movie and find something to relate to.

Photo Credit: MTV

PC: With the film coming out tomorrow and Teen Wolf in its last season, what’s next for you?
Michael: We’re still shooting Teen Wolf right now. We’re shooting probably until the end of February. After that, I don’t know. It’s all up in the air. I would love to do another indie film like Slash. But right now, you know, I’m just shooting that, and I’ll just see what happens.

PC: Anything you can tease about what’s to come on Teen Wolf?
Michael: Yeah, so Teen Wolf’s airing right now. I’m fighting these ghost riders. Well, really, we’re just trying not to die. These ghost riders are attacking everybody, and they’ve stolen one of the fan favorites on the show—Stiles. I guess my character, Corey, on the show, is becoming more and more important. So, at the end of season 6A, my character’s really stepping up and becoming a big part of the show. He’s important to the group, and I’m so excited about that. You know I went from a season of barely being in the show to now being in every episode. That’s so cool. My character has trouble fitting in and finding his place. So, you can expect to see a lot more from me in the show as it continues to air.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Michael: Broad City

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Michael: Superbad

PC: Favorite musical or play?
Michael: Book of Mormon

PC: Favorite social platform?
Michael: I’m not big on social media. Oh man, this is going to bite me in the butt later. I would say probably Twitter. It’s my news source.

PC: Hidden talent?
Michael: Maybe just that I do character voices. Like I can do an old-lady voice.

Make sure to follow Michael on Twitter and Instagram. And, check out Slash in theaters now and on iTunes.

Photo Credit: Jeff Lorch