Molly: All right, so welcome to any other, anythings. Um, let's see. We are here today with Micah, who will be taking over hosting responsibilities. So starting. With Ooh. Um, starting with just a general intro, Micah, welcome. Tell us about yourself, the roles you've held within Grey Box Collective and yeah, any kind of intro you wanna add in
Micah: Cool. Yeah, sounds good. Um, hey, yeah, I'm super happy to be here. I, man, I should have looked this up. I started with Grey Box. I wanna say 2015, is that right? Molly? Might have been a little later.
Molly: I think it's 2017
Micah: okay. That sounds right. Thank goodness. All right, so, uh, obviously I'm not great with numbers, but started off as just a collaborator.
Um, a fellow performer, uh, knew about Grey Box and that's how I got kind of introduced and, um, auditioned with them. And I was lucky enough to be able to be a part of the experience, which was honestly, So fantastic. Um, I believe that project was understanding otherness, um, which was so much fun. Um, and then, uh, subsequent to that, um, continued to perform in other venues in my life and areas in my life.
Uh, pandemic hit and then we did, uh, pause together, um, online, which was. Quite a unique experience. I got to mess around with some video editing, uh, for those projects, um, which was a lot of fun. Something that I didn't know I had a passion for, but I do, which was a lot of, uh, it was exciting to explore further.
Um, but yeah, I, I really have enjoyed, uh, that experience. I do miss, um, some of the actual interactions that you have. You know, actually moving and actually interacting with other, um, you know, artists in a given space, in a shared space. Um, so that's probably what I miss the most. But I'm up in Canada now, so, uh, the terrain's a little bit different.
Um, but I'm still super happy to be a part of the whole process in the endeavor. Um, so yeah.
Molly: Yeah. Very cool. Thank you. Um, we'll circle back to some of the like creative process stuff in a moment. Um, but I was wondering if you'd like to either offer some kind of like warmup or like a resourcing grounding activity that uh, it can be something we've done before in rehearsal or that you just have in rehearsal mm-hmm.
or that you just have in a personal practice as a way to center, um, taking care of ourselves.
Micah: Yeah, sure. Um, man, I feel like the one that's coming to mind right now that I know I was introduced through, uh, through Grey Box Collective, um, was the Rose Bud Thorn. Um, that where we talk about something that's, you know, really good, really exciting.
That's our rose, um, and mine right now. Uh, Oh, what is mine right now? I think I'm getting more and more, uh, back to working fully in the arts again. Um, obviously during the pandemic I had to find other means of, uh, sustainability, just cause all of the live arts got shut down for the most part, minus Grey Box Collective.
So, huge shout out. Um, uh, but yeah, I, I'm slowly making my way back to being able to. Find work in the arts, um, that is able to support me again. So I'm on the cusp of, uh, that kind of tipping back in that direction. Uh, my, I guess that's also a bud I guess if it's something, uh, that I'm looking forward to.
But I, I am, uh, super. Also looking forward to getting a car tomorrow. Me and my partner bought a car and we're picking it up tomorrow, so that's exciting. That's fun, exciting. Um, and then I think my thorn, I started therapy recently. Um, yeah. Um, my thorn has been like, and it's good, but like, just really kind of understanding.
How I, how my brain works really. I have, I'm very introspective and I have a lot of things that I think I know about myself. Um, but sometimes you need a professional opinion, to kind of help you, like kind of grab it. Cause sometimes I get very outlandish and make really grandiose assumptions, uh, and maybe pull things out of proportion, which is really, uh, it's been a really good reentering.
Um, but it's also helped me acknowledge the, the core, um, kind of. Uh, things that I need to kind of focus my energy towards so that I can actually continue to, to, uh, heal. Uh, so yeah, it's been, it's been a lovely but, uh, pain in my side experience , but it's good. It's been good.
Molly: Cool. Wonderful. Thank you for sharing.
Um, so I'm curious with that in mind, um, thinking about. Introspection or like contemplative practices. I feel like that's definitely something that we have to kind of deal with in the work that we create. Um, and I think back to like understanding otherness was, I think during the talk back I was like, I never wanna revisit this any time ever again.
Yet here we are going into season seven.
I'm like, Ooh, it's coming back. Yeah. Um, but thinking about. That contemplative practice in a rehearsal setting or in a creative practice, um, or that energy focus, um, is there, are there things that have, um, kind of mirrored themselves at all or set a foundation in some way or sparked something?
Micah: Sure. I, I think the thematic side of understanding otherness has really just exploded very slowly, but I guess blossomed over the course of the last few years. I think the pandemic in a really interesting way, has shaken up a lot of, especially the arts industry. We see where the gaps are because all we have to do in those moments are to reflect.
Um, so then we kind of see where we, uh, did maybe marginalize unintentionally, sometimes maybe intentionally in other issues or other, um, instances. But, uh, yeah, there's a lot of really, uh, good work and intention, I think presently going into. What it truly means to understand someone else and what it actually means to, uh, to, uh, include them in a way that's not checking a box, but it's actually understanding.
Um, and, and turning that introspection into empathy, I think is the biggest, uh, is the biggest shift that that. Ultimately is sometimes happening, but what we all are, I think is slowly working towards, specifically as artists. Um, and hopefully that trickles into the rest of our society, um, which I think is inevitable over the course of time.
Uh, so yeah, I would say that.
Molly: Yeah, definitely. Definitely. Um, and as you said, like kind of the pandemic is. My therapist would talk about, like, we've all had to stew in our own juices during this time, and that's why so much is coming up for people, um, along with like, you know, the world. Um, but that kind of being, um, combined and thinking of like you were part of understanding otherness, pre pandemic 2017, we, you know, I don't wanna say the good old days by any means.
Yeah. You know, several years ago, and then, um, as you went through like the postcard performance series, that was when like the pandemic was kind of fresh still. Yeah. Um, and then pause was when we kind of thought we were emerging from it, but like we kind of didn't. And now here we go again. And like really, I think, emerging this time.
Um, and so thinking of those very distinct, um, periods of time, How has your, your creative process, like what have been some threads for all of that? Um, or, or has it had to like shift and adjust and adapt for, for all those different times?
Micah: Yeah. Um, interestingly enough, and I think this is, uh, resonating in just about every aspect of my artistic career presently, is, um,
Pre pandemic in our first project together. Um, and in that time in my life, uh, was very much so a, uh, like a performer first, that that made sense where, um, I was, I'm still very much a collaborator in the sense of like, I'm always looking to, uh, help build upon the stories and ideas and, uh, you know, beauties, uh, that other people have kind of started to.
Breathe into fruition. Um, and I, I really do love that experience and I love like taking something that someone started building on top of it, maybe flipping it on its head and saying like, oh, what about if we, you know, do this or. I, I like to work in opposites a lot where I, I see something and I see a given circumstance and I'm like, well, what's the complete reverse of that?
And how would that feel? Or how would that move, how would that, uh, feel? Uh, so yeah, as time has shifted forward, and I think a lot of it, not a lot of it, but a good portion of it, um, ended up being because of, uh, the, the shift in the world Climate , um, I ended up planning myself having to shift away from waiting for someone else to start something, to being a part of the actual seeding.
Um, so I, I typically am. Considered myself someone who would water something and help it grow. Um, whereas lately it's been, uh, I've been constantly planting seeds lately and, um, uh, really kind of even really getting in there and digging up the dirt. That's what happened a lot of the times with these, uh, these last two, the postcard and the pause project where we really did kind of like come.
Uh, with a blank slate and said, all right, let's create something. And I found myself kind of, uh, I don't wanna say thrust into leadership perhaps, but definitely thrust into, uh, uh, Being a catalyst, uh, for these sorts of interactions and, uh, really trying to move the earth a little bit, uh, which was a lot of fun.
Uh, it was, uh, a growing pain, I think for me, which is, and not in a bad way, it's like that good kind of pain where it's like, oh man, like this is a little uncomfortable. It's maybe outside of what I normally do. Um, but I did find, uh, a lot of fulfillment. And even now as I'm continuing to, uh, re-shift my career back into the arts full time, I'm finding that it's a lot of, okay, these ideas, let's plant these seeds and let's actually, like, I find myself doing more of those initial steps of like planting, digging, watering a little bit and kind of really, um, Coming in earlier in the process than what I was used to, uh, which is, yeah, again, just a very, uh, unique experience that I'm, uh, humbled by.
Uh, maybe a little intimidated by sometimes, but overall, it's, it's been, uh, a shift in the creation, uh, timeline, I guess. Like just where I kind of step into the process, which has been, uh, a lot of fun. Mm.
Molly: Very cool. I I love that like, journey and just the moving of the earth and the digging and the planting seeds.
Yeah. Um, I'm, I'm curious cuz you've talked about like you're shifting into the arts full time as well as like shift. So there's a lot of shifting, um, right. Um, the shifting into the arts full time, the shifting into stepping into that creative process earlier on. Was there like a moment that kind of sparked this, or was it just as you're reflecting now you're like, oh, I guess there's like a lot of shift happening.
Micah: Yeah, yeah. I've always been in, uh, I've, my mom calls me out, I'm a people pleaser. Um, and, uh, I think part of, well, not part of that, I think the missing element of the fact that I'm a people pleaser. That really what I like to do is fill in the gaps. I'm not a big, I'm not one to step on anyone's toes or, you know, take over if somebody's already doing a job that, you know, regardless of how I think I could do it or what my thoughts are on it, I, that's, that's why I like to consider myself a collaborator cuz it's not necessarily me changing something that someone else is doing.
It's more so how can I add to this experience? Um, which is why I've been comfortable coming in. A little bit later in the process as an actor, as a mover, as a performer, um, versus a creator or director or something along the like, pre-production side of things, which is where I'm finding myself shifting into now.
Um, It's funny cuz that when I remember when I graduated high school, I was like, dad, I wanna be a director. When I grew up I was like, oh, that's so great. Like, I've never seen you so sure of something. And then I just performed for the next 10 years. Um, which is not a bad thing. It's not a bad thing at all, but like it's funny that that's kind of come back to the forefront of mine where it really is a lot more of that.
And, um, what I've found is, uh, in the postcard series, uh, particularly, Like, obviously I think we're all very generous givers. Um, and, uh, I, I think as performers, our natural inclinations to look for direction, like, who's gonna tell me what to do? Who's gonna tell me where to go? Who's gonna tell me how to move?
Um, and, uh, there's a lot of just, uh, questions, um, versus. One thing, I'm actually working with a Shakespeare company as well right now, and, uh, one of the things that I love that they say in their rehearsal space is, Hey, here's an offer. Um, and I, I really love that language because, um, it's not saying like, you have to do this.
Um, but it's also, it's also very inviting and it's like you can still choose to accept or reject this offer, but this is something that I think could spur us along in a given direction. Um, and I. Through these last two, um, projects that I've done with Grey Collective, I've been able to, uh, give offers.
They've stuck. Um, and it's been really cool to watch those, um, uh, those seeds that were planted, like kind of blossom into these, you know, beautiful big works that we've been able to collaborate on, uh, as a, as a group, as a team, uh, of artists and. Yeah, I, I just, I, I really love that one. It came full circle from back when I was a kid, and then two, like it was, it's nice that the pandemic provided more opportunities for me to, uh, step into that.
Dream, um, in a way that I felt comfortable where it was like, I'm not stepping on anyone's toes. I'm not asking to take this role from someone else or this opportunity from someone else. I'm simply filling a need, um, which has really kind of limited itself to, you know, this snowball effect of, of, uh, different opportunities coming forth.
Yeah,
Molly: Yeah that's, that's wonderful. And like the consensual language Yes. Of like offering in the space and being like, it's like consensual language with non-attachment of like, here's an offering and like, take it or leave it. I'm cool with it. Mm-hmm. I'm settled. Um, yeah. Cool. All right, so you had talked about like filling in gaps and adding to an experience and the offerings and I feel like.
That's where you started to shift into like the editing role for the films with first the postcard that you did with, um, the postcard, the four of them that you and Sarah and Adam did. Yeah. Um, and then stepped into that role again. Um, I'm curious. I cuz I think it just kind of like popped up like, oh, Micah's is gonna edit, and I was like, okay.
Um, Where, where did like the inclination or the impulse come from? Um, and then you said like, as you got into it, like you really enjoyed it. So what is it about all of that having shifted from the stage in live performance for a decade and now being like, I'm gonna go into, I don't know, iMovie, premiere, whatever.
Yeah. And start to like muck around with stuff.
Micah: Hmm. I've always really enjoyed the art of film. I, I really enjoy movies. I love going to, I worked at a movie theater for like two, three years back when I was in university. And, um, I, uh, also took a year of film classes, film school. Um, so I really loved screenwriting in particular from that experience.
Um, and I have like a little bit of commercial experience here and there both in front and behind screen. The work environment itself is not my favorite. I think post production like editing might be something I'm willing to explore now that I've explored it a little bit here. Um, I think . So I think that's why I volunteered.
I had had this Adobe subscription for Premiere, for God knows how long and just wasn't using it. So I was like, I can do this. Let me try. So I did. Um, and I think once I kind of got into it, the one thing that really, uh, I really found Joy in, uh, specifically was just like, I'm always a big fan for like scores in movies, in film and tv.
And I think it's totally underrated. And, um, I just loved that the, the music and, and the words were kind of in the foreground and like, we're kind of editing to that. So that's how I personally kind of, uh, like, uh, let, let the. Collaboration kind of directs how it was being cut or edited or shared, um, which I just found very exciting.
Um, I was just very into that. Cause I'm a sucker for music. Music is my intro into the arts. My dad was a musician and my mom danced. And, uh, yeah, so like I, I've always had, that's, that's like where everything's rooted for me. Um, so this just felt like a really cool, nice way to kind of, Merged, literally all those worlds together from like the words, I love so much to movement, to music, to just the visual art of film.
Um, I just thought it was a nice way to kind of bridge that gap. So, yeah, I, I think that's what I got for you. Yeah.
Molly: Wonderful. Very cool. Um, cause you also keep talking about collaboration and thinking of editing post production. It's a pretty solo job except for like that back and forth. Um, so is there something in there about finding balance between like your solo creativity time and collaborative creativity time or Yeah.
I feel like thoughts are coming, so I'm just gonna let you do your thing. Yeah.
Micah: I think one thing as far as balance is concerned cuz I am a sucker, for balance, um, I, I. One of the things that I really wanted to make sure that was happening, especially with the first and second project that I was working on for the collective, was making sure that everyone, like the story was shared between all of the performers is really something.
And I think, I think, uh, when it comes to editing and how it kind of plays into the collaborative process, even though it's a solo experience, I do feel as. Yes. You as an editor in that instance are finding the balance of, okay, when does the music kind of take over? And that even comes to how we cut it or how we, how long the shot lingers, or whatever the case may be.
Or when are we really focused on what's happening on the screen or, you know, and that will play into like the number of effects that we would put laid over. Like if we don't wanna lose an image or a moment. And if that's something that we really want to capture or hold onto in this segment of the, of the, of the shoot, then let's hold onto that.
So I think it was a lot of fun finding that balance of like not only screen time between each, each, uh, collaborator, but also just like making sure that the story that we are trying to tell is clear. Um, and that, that, I think, because that's actually something that I really enjoyed is like sending it back to the group and being like, Hey, what am I missing?
Or like, what are we feeling like, you know, usually, again with such gracious performers as we naturally are, everybody's always like, oh no, this is great. It's great. It's lovely. It. Great minimum feedback. Mm-hmm. . But for those moments where they were like, oh, what if we tried this or that, like, that's what really like sparked or excited me where um, you know, you would get the feedback and you'd be able to be like, oh yes, that's something I haven't thought of.
Cause that's the other half of it. Um, where you send a pass to someone. You see what their thoughts and their initial feelings are. You're actually really great at this, where you have a really keen eye of like, I remember sending you some, some edits of, uh, you know, a pass that we took at, you know, one or two of the segments.
And you're like, Hey, what about this? Or Can we get a little more of that? Or maybe the audio is like, overpowering or not enough in the words. Um, is just little things like that that again, help really tell a clear story. And I think that's the collaborative. And it feels like a pretty, like, it's a cool responsibility, um, to kind of be, be in that instance.
It's really just you gluing everything together that's already been like, kind of laid out. Um, which is, yeah, it's a lot of fun. Is cool.
Molly: Yeah. Um, thinking of it on like my end of things, like, I was always like so excited when a link would come through like, oh, there's a new upload. Like have to like wait patiently as like it's processing on Vimeo or whatever.
But there's something about that back and forth from, from like when we're not the ones doing the editing mm-hmm. , where it's like, oh, what? Like there's this excitement and it's kind of like a surprise, which you normally don't get in the devising process. Yeah. At least not in like, Someone's going to work on something and bringing it back to the group.
Um, yeah, that first pass of the pause prologue, like I still, like, I think I watched it probably a dozen times straight through. It was just like for a first pass, like I was totally happy if it had just like moved forward from there. It was wonderful. That's awesome. And it's interesting that you brought up saying, You'd send it out and be like, Hey, what's missing from this?
When also you say that is very much your approach of like filling in the gaps. Yeah. Yeah. So just
Micah: the echoes. Yeah. Yeah. That's cool. I do love that.
Molly: Yeah. Yeah. Um, you also talked about balance, um, which is one of my favorite things too. Um, And so kind of zooming out from, no pun intended, being on Zoom, um, zooming out from the creative process to kind of, uh, the bigger picture of, as you mentioned, shifting your life where you do get to be that like full-time artist again.
Um, and finding that balance. Um, What, what has been like something that's really served you in finding that balance and also returning to full time as, as an artist, a working artist? Hmm. Yeah.
Micah: Honestly, I think the biggest service that artists can give themselves because, I mean, any, any, at the end of the day when you're working, you're sustaining income.
Like it's a necessary, it's a necessary thing. And then sometimes, um, not always, but sometimes in the thick of the day to day, we kind of kind of get tunnel vision a little bit and kind of lose sight of like, Why we love art to begin with. Why did we pursue this as a lifetime career? Like, why are we here, blah, blah, blah.
Um, but what I've really found that helps recenter me and kind of like bring that balance back, ironically, is more art, but art that I'm not particularly doing. It's like the consumption of it is really what kind of mm-hmm. , reenters and refocuses me like. I was fortunate enough to be in New York City, um, a few weeks ago or a couple weeks back, and I caught a couple little Broadway shows just cause I was like, you know, just stuff like that or like even going to see, um, I saw a dance show not too long ago.
Um, that, and it's just instances of that where again, you. Allow yourself to kind of broaden your scope of like what else is out there, like what other stories are being told. And, um, I know that for me, like passion inspires passion and I say that a ton. Um, and I know that that's my fuel, um, especially artistically.
Um, and I think the balance of that is that if we are again, pouring out, giving, um, our art to the world and we don't ever allow ourselves to be poured back. Eventually just science things are gonna, it's gonna run out. And it's, it's not to say that you can't, there's not things that, from your life outside of other artists that you could draw, like to each, um, their own.
There's, there's a plethora of different ways that we can kind of, uh, source this joy and this inspiration and these creative juices. But yeah, for me in particular, like I really enjoy watching. Other artists like Engage in this, uh, together. Um, and just me being an observer of the experience is, is, is really what helps balance me out, I think.
Molly: Nice, nice. Uh, and your phrasing of allowing ourselves to be poured into. Like that receiving of, you said passion inspires passion, but like being on the receiving end of that passion. Like that's, yeah. That's gorgeous. Cause I think we do have a tendency to, I'm saying this is like the royal we whatever, um, like what is it to actually accept what's coming towards us and receive it fully?
Mm-hmm. . Yeah. Yeah. Um, yeah. Yeah. Wonderful. So as we're nearing the end of this episode, um, is, let's see, I kinda have like two things left that I, I'd be curious about. One is my standard question of any other, anything that you would care to share at this time. Um, and my other question or thought that I'd love a response to is, So now you're shifting from interviewee to interviewer.
Um, and so is there anything that you'd care to share as you transition from one, one side of, well, one side of the mic to the other, or whatever metaphor makes sense there? Yeah,
Micah: yeah. Um, so yeah, as far as Any Other Anythings, I don't know why this came to mind, but I was like, has anyone, have you traveled lately?
Have you gone? I traveled anywhere lately.
Molly: I, oh, so I was supposed to, and this has been one of my shifts, I guess, and maybe it's my rose and thorn kind of thing too, of, I was supposed to go to Paris this summer and then I was also supposed to go to Atlanta, Georgia this fall. Um, both were like work professional things.
Mm-hmm. and. I was like, I don't want to, like, I don't want to go to Paris to work. Mm-hmm. , I don't want to go to the East coast to work. Yeah. Um, so I actually canceled both of those trips. Um, and they were also trips that were scheduled before Covid, so I'd been like waiting for a while. Yeah. Um, But it, like, it didn't feel right.
I wanna travel for pleasure. I wanna be able to like, eat my way through Paris. I don't wanna have to worry about getting to a conference on time. Yeah. Um, so I haven't traveled since May, 2021 and I have plans to travel next month, going back home, um, and seeing some, um, very good friends in dc. I love that.
What about you?
Micah: That's so funny. You said you've been to New York recently? I was, yes, but that was for work, so I . Yeah. I mean, I tried to make a mess out of it, but it was still work and I definitely do feel that. Um, I, I think it only came to mind cuz again, just the idea of just things that do pour into me.
I do enjoy traveling and I was like, man, one of the other things that's not really art related, it's just, I don't know, I just get like, it's a gut feeling I guess, but like sometimes I visit a place and I'm just like, Oh yeah, this just feels right and like, yeah, New York, the first time I went there was definitely that for me.
Like Montreal's another place where I met my fiancé, that was another place for me. Mm-hmm. . When I went to Europe, um, I visited a bunch of different cities, including Paris and Amsterdam, but the one that surprised me was Brussels, and I was like this little city in Belgium. Just like stole my heart and I want, I feel like it's such an underrated spot and I was like, this is, this is, there's something special here.
So I was just curious if there were any gut feeling places for you. Yeah, yeah.
Molly: Very cool. Um, that reminds me of, oh, is some trauma thing I was listening to of course. Um, but they were talking about like how, like, you know, nervous systems and DNA getting passed down through generations. But if you. Maybe it was something about like other past lives or something, I don't know.
But something about like, if you feel that in a, if like, you know that space or like you feel like it's home, there's a chance that somewhere in your lineage, someone was there. Mm-hmm. . Yeah. And like it's, it's being held within you.
Micah: That's interesting. I love that.
Molly: Yeah. . Yeah.
Micah: Um, Yeah. Yeah. That's great. No, I, I absolutely adore that.
That's such a cool, like, thing to kind of like ponder on and consider and wonder, um mm-hmm. . Yeah. And as far as taking over the interviewer position, I figured my first pass that it would just be to ask you a question. So I think I got .
No, I'm super excited to, to be stepping into this. Um, I am, I love people probably as much as people love pets.
So like I, I am a hundred percent super empty, just like getting to understand, getting to know. Um, I'm always looking for something new and that's the interesting thing. I can just look at the person next to me and there's something, their whole life experience is just so different, which is so interesting to me because it.
We're all living on the same planet. Some of us live in the same little city, same little neighborhood even. But then our experiences, even me versus my siblings, we all turn out so differently. And that's just such a unique thing to me. And I feel like I could hold a conversation with any of them at any given point in time.
And just like our perception on like how we were raised or how we experienced the world is just so drastically different that I'm like, if I can find that much like of a. Unique like encounter between me and my brother, like what's the interaction between me and you? You know, so like it's, I'm, I'm very excited, uh, to be a part of this experience.
Um, and uh, yeah, happy to start the journey. Yeah.
Molly: Wonderful. Um, I'm also very excited, um, to have you take over to interview, um, partially cuz I feel. I, I have history with everyone. Mm-hmm. . And so like, um, I, I hold a lot of those stories, but I, I think it's really interesting what happens when, um, you all come into contact and you don't know everyone's story within Grey Box Collective.
Not that we know everyone's story, period. Yes. Um, but yeah, I'm really excited to hear the conversations that come up and. Yeah, we'll see what season two brings. Awesome. Thank you so much for your time and energy of this interview, um, and kicking off season two and now taking it over for, for the rest of the season.
Um, looking forward to it.
Micah: It'll be a good time. Thank you. Cool.
Molly: Thank you.