Joshua Mikel – Stuber

By starrymag | July 12, 2019

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) I worked on “The Righteous Gemstones” up in Charleston, SC. It’s the new Danny McBride project on HBO that I think should be really freaking funny. It premieres on August 18^th. I have a couple episodes on that show. I show up toward the end of the season. It’s going to be one of the weirder, more fun things I’ve ever been a part of. Then, I start work on a film called Greenland, which stars Gerard Butler and is a catastrophe thriller. I also just finished working on a feature my buddy Bryce [Milburn] wrote tentatively called 133 Peachtree. It’s a thriller that is all set in a bathroom. It should be crazy! I’m excited about that one. I think it might be pretty good. It’s one of the more fun projects I’ve been able to work on recently.

Q) What made you want to be a part of the film Stuber?

A) Where I’m at in my career, it’s a lot less about what you want to be a part of and more about what comes your way. [laughs] Thankfully, this is certainly something I would want to be a part of if I had my druthers. So, I’m fortunate to have gotten on it. It’s produced by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, who I worked with on Game Night. Then, they went on to bring another film back, which is Stuber. Just to have the opportunity to work with Dave Bautista and Kumail [Nanjiani] was reason enough to want to work on the film. It’s a cool scene. One of the cooler action sequences I’ve had in my career. I’m really stoked to see how people respond to it.

Q) Talk about working with Dave and Kumail.

A) I have a relatively small part in the film, but we were there for about a week getting the thing knocked out. It was wild seeing Kumail…Their chemistry in this film I think has already been getting lauds for a buddy-cop kind of throwback feel. But Kumail is nervous and out of his element – what he has going in the film – versus Dave’s dry, on top of it, no bullshit cop. It was hilarious to witness in our bit and both really lovely people. I was a fan of theirs. I had been watching “Silicon Valley” for a while. My buddy Martin [Starr] works on that show. I really enjoyed his work on that show and then to see him in The Big Sick – I was a big fan of that one. To see him blossom as an artist and be offered these larger parts that I think he’s completely deserving of. And Dave! Dave is really committed to the craft. I think he’s very eager to learn and is excited to be working on real material outside of his wrestling life.

Q) What were some of your most memorable moments from filming?

A) It’s tough to talk about. The setting for the scene that I’m in is particularly awesome. And I think you can kind of see it in the trailer. There is an action sequence that takes place in an active veterinary clinic. It’s pretty cool. It’s fun. There were a lot of animals on set.

Q) What do you think it is about Stuber that will make it a fast comedic fan favorite film?

A) Like what I was talking about before, the chemistry those two guys have (from what I experienced) is hilarious. They are both hilarious dudes in their own right, but throw them together in this high-stakes action comedy was a pretty smart move on the team’s part. And I really trust that if you’re a fan of Game Night (the stuff that John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein have pieced together before) I think it will be up your alley. Then, the cast they assembled, too. From what I hear, the action is incredible. I was able to see some of that stuff. It’s really, really cool stuff.

Q) You have been a part of a number of great projects. What have been some of your personal favorites?

A) Some of the first stuff that comes to mind was I was fortunate to land a bit in I, Tonya. I really liked that film. I had worked with Craig Gillespie before in a film he shot for Disney called Million Dollar Arm. But to have just a small part of that piece…Game Night is certainly a career favorite because of the cast that was assembled there and the sleeper that it was. I think people are still discovering that movie because it came out a week before Black Panther hit theaters. It came out and was very well revered and I think that it kind of got mixed in the Black Panther It kind of got lost a little bit, but I’m so excited to be a part of that movie and how well directed it is. To have a chance to work with Jason Bateman, who I’ve gone back and had a bit in his new show “The Outsider” for HBO (it’s based on a Stephen King book). There are people I’ve wanted to work with for a long time like Jason Bateman. To get the opportunity to work with him and for him in Game Night and then to do it again with “The Outsider,” I’m hoping to land another John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein project in the future. But another one that comes to mind is “Rectify.” When I first moved to town, I knew Rectify was happening and how well revered it was. Then, I started watching. My stuff is minimal there, but I really, really wanted to be a part of that show. Ray McKinnon, being a Georgia boy and choosing to shoot it there and the methodical slow drama that it was, I think the folks who saw it and continue to see it are impressed by it. It’s not a big flashy TV drama. It took its time and is one of the cooler experiences I’ve had as an actor. Then, of course, “The Walking Dead.” The show brought so much attention to filming in Georgia. It was sort of a rite of passage, especially for an actor in my particular look. I just kind of hoped that at some point I’d be a right fit. After reading for it about fifteen times over (I think I started reading it around early Season 3) I finally landed the part I did in Season 7. It was something I do feel I’m very proud of because I don’t know if they intended to keep my character around for as long as I was around. I certainly didn’t believe I would have a two-season run on that show. I thought maybe I’d get an episode or two or if possible recurring. I’m particularly proud of the work there and the life that it has given me beyond the show.

Q) On “The Walking Dead” you played a character that fans loved to hate? What challenged you the most about portraying Jared?

A) I think the hardest thing was considering the elements. When you hop on that show there is not a lot that is given to you. I got the sides for the scenes I was going to be in, but I didn’t really know the world that we were living in. I knew what had gotten us there, all the way up to Season 6, but when we started working on Season 7 we’d get just the bit we were a part of. Considering how long we’d been out in the apocalypse and my particular character had survived and answering those questions for myself was challenging. They are a well-oiled machine down there. I think the biggest fear was stepping in and costing people time and money. But I was fortunate on my first episode to have Greg Nicotero (one the EP’s and also directs a lot and handles the FX makeup and stuff like that) direct the episode. So, I kind of felt that if he was giving me direction it was direction that I could carry into the rest of the season and my character. So, that was a really fortunate thing. Sometimes you end up on set with a director who just got called in to be a one and done. They may point you in one direction and someone new shows up for the next episode and they may point you elsewhere. But it was pretty clear what my character’s role was in the universe from day one.

Q) What was it like filming that final scene with Lennie James?

A) It was wild. Like I said, I didn’t expect to stick around more than two or three episodes. Considering how many people I pissed off or how many characters I talked shit two over my eleven-episode run, it started becoming very clear that my death would need to come at the hands of Morgan, one way or another – whether it happened on screen or off screen. For it to be handled in such a big way and for them to give me such a great sendoff, it was a dream. You don’t want to die on that show, but if you do you want it to be a good one. I’m very fortunate that I got a pretty cool death. We shot that over two days, which at the front half of the scene and then this horde of walkers enters and shit hits the fan. So, we shot the second half and the day was getting long. My death was coming up and they applied this prosthetic to my face. We were in overtime so they started shedding off crew members. By the time we shot my stuff it was really late. I was already kind of hyper-emotional from what I thought would be my last day on set. So, emotion was easy to come by because it was a death not only for my character, but for me since I was leaving the show (or at least I thought). It was amazing to be there with Lennie, who we started the journey with in episode 702. For it to be in his hands and these badass walkers, getting my face bit off…They rushed me into a behind-the-scenes interview immediately after. I’m like sobbing because it was an emotional thing to know how fortunate I was to have a sendoff like that. Then, after having this big emotional goodbye to everybody on set, two weeks later they called me in and had me back for haunting Morgan’s waking life. I got to come back and embarrassingly say hello and goodbye to everybody again.

Q) What did you personally take away from your time working on the series?

A) It has changed the trajectory of my career. It is one of those things…It’s not an “I’ve been found” moment or a big break, but it’s certainly a break. Things of the other side of “The Walking Dead” have been easier. Whether people have seen it or not, they do respect the show and the life it’s had. There is plenty of pride I can take in that going into a room. Whether or not (like I said) people have seen it, it feels wonderful having that on your resume. Then, as a Georgia local to have gotten something like that, for it to have lasted as long as it did and to have the time on the show that I did I’m particularly proud of that. I think it’s a business where your confidence waxes and wanes. It is something that will be keystone to what I perceive about myself. It’s like, “Well, I had a two-season run on a show and it was one of the biggest shows going at the time.” That’s a gift. They gave me a gift.

Q) Was there any advice Lennie offered you while you were filming?

A) Lennie has been grinding for a long time. I talked to him about Snatch. It was one of my favorite films growing up. I think I saw it right out of high school or my senior year or something. Just to recognize that it didn’t all happen at once for these folks…

Q) You are a part of social media. Do you enjoy the instant fan feedback you receive to the work you do?

A) I do! So much of it is “The Walking Dead” based. So, I’m currently in a spot where folks are recognizing that I’m no longer a part of “The Walking Dead” world. It’s nice to have those “Walking Dead” fans follow me to what I’m doing next. Everybody is so supportive. People during the show would talk about how much they hated Jared, but it wasn’t how much they hated Josh. So, that was fortunate. It was cool to watch though during my death scene. I was following Twitter as I was waiting backstage at “Talking Dead.” Just seeing everybody’s reaction live as that thing was happening and everyone celebrating the death of your character is equal parts sad and lovely. [laughs]

Q) What advice would you offer up and coming actor and actresses?

A) It’s so tough. It’s so idiosyncratic how folks make a career in this industry. I know it was great for me to get formal training at FSU. If folks have it in within their means to get formal training, that’s certainly something I recommend. I’d say do as much as you can as far as student films and get together a reel. I was fortunate to have Florida State film school down there and was able to kind of sharpen my teeth while working on student films, making mistakes alongside young filmmakers with not a ton of pressure on them. Then, it’s tough. I think a lot of folks can get stuck in the comparison game of what maybe someone their age is doing or someone at their agency is doing. But it’s best to keep a perspective on things. I talk about it as “artistic life.” How long have you been practicing your craft? I guess I’ve been operating since 2001. So, I guess as an actor I’m kind of eighteen years old, but in film/TV I’ve been working ten years. So, I’m a ten-year-old. I’m starting to get my feet under me. I’m like forming legit sentences and having real thoughts. You look at someone like Jason Bateman who has pieced together such an amazing career. For him to be a child actor, survive that and come out the other side…He’s been operating in the business for so long so it’s unfair for maybe someone his same age to compare themselves to somebody like him. It’s always good to keep a good perspective on how long other folks have been working on their craft and how seriously they’ve been taking it. Be honest with yourself about how seriously you’ve taken it and the study you’ve done and the work you’ve put into it.

Q) Are you looking forward to some new out-of-the-box roles?

A) Yeah, I would love to. Or maybe just little bit more nuanced villain. This feature I just wrapped, I’m not just cut and dry wicked. I’m excited about stuff that maybe I could try different parts of my craft. I had to be honest with myself last year and say, “You can’t just keep playing Jared from ‘The Walking Dead’ in everything.” So, now when I get those villain roles, I do try to take them in a different direction. I have a sense of what casting directors are looking for sometimes and I know they would probably be okay with me doing “Jared from ‘The Walking Dead’” in the next thing (if I’m playing a shithead character). I’m trying to make changes in my auditions and present something that isn’t that but still honest.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and the work you do?

A) Obviously, thanks. I’m trying to simultaneously make a living for myself and also now it’s getting to the point where I want to choose cool projects. So, it’s awesome to be spotted and for folks to reach out and appreciate the work. I think we can get caught up thinking, “Oh, I’m doing this for the craft and the art,” but it’s lovely when people respond to the work that you’re doing. I’ve played a lot of terrible dudes. So, for people to be kind to me and be excited about the stuff I’m working on (whether it’s a quick little scene in something or it’s an independent feature) it’s exciting. It’s lovely to be supported.