Matthew Stephen Herrick, protagonista della nuova serie televisiva "DTLA", fotografato in esclusiva per lepilloledistefano da Richard Gerst

Let’s start from yourself and from your story. Tell us about where you grew up. What was the path that led you to choose to become an actor? Being an actor is something you’ve always wanted to do?
I grew up in a small suburb outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I was one of eight kids – 6 boys and 2 girls. A Roman Catholic upbringing with 12 years of private Catholic school. I lived in a very small town where everyone basically knew everyone else. Throughout school I was always involved in talent shows and plays. I never really thought of acting as something you could pursue as a career. It was just something I enjoyed being a part of as a kid. It was in 7^th grade I auditioned for the annual Passion Play that our school put on. I remember going through the entire process – auditioned and the following day we were told which part we had gotten. We had rehearsals a few times a week for a few months before the two night show. I remember when the spotlight hit me and that surge of excitement and adrenaline I felt that clicked something inside me. I knew it was something I wanted to pursue. My parents kind of laughed it off when I told them that after high school was finished I would be moving to Los Angeles to become an actor. I don’t think they really thought I was actually going to do just that. Fast forward to graduation and my 17 year old self in Santa Monica looking for a place to live.  The promise I made to my parents was I would go to school and also explore other options. The entertainment industry isn’t the easiest thing to break into. I guess at the end of the day I realized that the only thing that made me truly happy and excited about what I was doing was performing. The failures, the doors that close, and the ones that open, it excited me. In a weird way I enjoy that aspect of it all because you never know what can happen.
Which memories you have of your life in front of the camera and on a set? The role that until now you have preferred?
I remember a lot of not knowing what the hell I was doing. I was kind of blindly thrown into the mix and knew from the start it’s either sink or swim. You just need to figure it out, pay attention and learn as you progress forward. The first real acting job I got was when I had booked a music video for an artist by the name of Samantha Jade. She was shooting a music video for the movie “Step Up”. I was supposed to be just an extra and that’s all I had really planned on to get a feel of what it’s like being on a real set. I had shown up early and they confused me for one of the back up dancers and after I had explained to them I was just an extra, one of the producers brought me over to the Director for a different part. It was the role of the store clerk, where I was supposed to interact and flirt with the girl dancers. He ended up replacing the guy who had auditioned for the part and decided that instead I would get it. They rushed me off to wardrobe and hair and makeup. I had no idea what the hell was going on but just rolled with it. I just remember all the big lights, the production trailers, and all the people working around this music artist. As a child I grew up watching all the gangster movies – “Scarface”, “The Godfather”, “Clockwork Orange” and things of that nature. My dad traveled a lot for work and my mom would stay home with the kids. I remember I would always crawl in bed with her on Sundays to watch movies. These movies always excited me. Probably not the most suitable films for a kid my age but nonetheless that’s what we watched. I remember that very vividly and I became fascinated with those types of characters. The complexity of who these people were – with all their faults and the underlying internal struggle. I guess I always am attracted to the ‘bad guy’ in stories because they have so much more going on than what we see on the surface.
After the tv series “Queer as folk” and “LWord”, “DTLA” is the first series with LGBT themes that people is really talking about a lot. Explain to me why did this happen? What is affecting people with this work?
I think people got excited about the show because it put gay characters back in the spotlight and as the main focus. Here in the US the LGBT community is fighting for equality and acceptance. It’s become a civil rights movement in many aspects. “DTLA” focuses on people first and foremost – their struggles, triumphs, trials and tribulations. Gay becomes something that is secondary. Sexuality doesn’t define who you are as an individual. “DTLA” is a voice for the LGBT community. It says we are living our lives no different than anybody else. I think the relateability of the show will allow people, gay or straight to find a piece of themselves in one of these characters.
Tell us about “DTLA” in general. For example: tell us about your character? What attracted you to this role? What parts of yourself we can find in this character?
“DTLA” is about 7 friends living in downtown Los Angeles of different racial and sexual orientations. It centers around my character ‘Bryan’ and ‘Lenny’ (played by Darryl Stephens) and how the demise of their relationship effects that group of friends. There’s a lot of different types of people that come in and out of these characters lives which inadvertently influences situations and these people individually in many different ways. It’s a story about addictions, fidelity, love, friendship and how life’s decisions has a cause and effect – good or bad. My character Bryan on the surface is a free spirited stoner type but the reality of his situation is that he’s falling apart. He’s out of work, which takes a toll on his self worth and creates a lot of insecurities. He’s struggling to find himself. I find a lot of myself in Bryan. The self doubt, the shame and embarrassment in your failures.  There’s times I think everyone has felt this. Afraid to turn to the ones you love because of fear of how they will perceive you afterwards.

If I’m not wrong the series has a distribution in Canada, but it’s reaching agreements for a distribution even in the United States. Which do you think will be the future of the series?
Yes, OutTv Canada has picked up the series and they are in negotiations with several countries to air the series throughout the world, including the UK, Germany and France. Here in the U.S. my producers will be announcing the network that will be airing the series later this month. Several companies have made offers and are looking to premiere “DTLA” this summer or fall 2012. It’s very exciting.
Can I ask how were the relationships on the set? Working on a set like that could you become with the workmates a kind of small family? Have you become friends with some of them?
We all walked into this show as strangers there to do a job and ended up walking out as a family. The people in this cast have now become life-long friends. We just all kind of clicked. We struggled together, worked long hours, took it from this little dream of what it could be to what it is today. Some of us have been attached to this project for almost two years. I wake up looking forward to being on set. We laugh our asses off. We support each other. Larry Kennar, the creator of the series, really gave us all a huge opportunity with this show. He allowed us to work collaboratively and develop our characters and explore different directions to take them in the show. I’m extremely grateful to Larry for everything he has done. He gave me an opportunity to work on a project I am so proud of and excited to share with the world.
Tell us about something about working with Richard Gerst? And how do you feel being a model compared to being an actor, which are the main differences in these two different kind of sets?
I’ve known Richard for a few years now. We originally collaborated on a Matador shoot when I was in NYC. It is still my favorite photo ever. What I like about Richard is just simply how easy he is to work with. It’s always a relaxed environment. I love that Richard lets you do your own thing in the shoot and will call out direction when needed. There are no restrictions. He always gets inspired while we are working, which creates something we never anticipated in the final product.  He is a perfectionist like I am. His work speaks for itself. My first passion has always been acting. Modeling was more accidental for me. In acting you get to continually develop characters and stories whereas modeling you create a very confined moment in time. They are both beautiful ways of expressing yourself but at the end of the day my heart is in performing on screen.
Considering that you’re a figure know and followed by the web, which relationship you have with the internet?
Nothing really changed for me in that aspect. I still do the same old thing and carry on as normal. I do however know that I should always stay away from reading anything about myself. I just need to focus on the work and my career.
Considering that my blog is mainly about style, can I ask you what is your relationship with fashion? Which are your favorite designers and what’s in your closet?
Growing up my mom was really into style and fashion. If you look through photos of me when I was younger, I was always wearing some crazy well put together outfit, even as a 3 year old. We were in suspenders, bow ties, saddle shoes and so on. My mom was very into the European style of dressing. As an adult I’ve become pretty basic. I’ve always been a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy. Less is more in my opinion. I like clean lines and earthy tones. I do love jackets. I have this one leather bomber jacket I got in Lucca, Italy when I was there a few years ago that I wear all the time. Zara has awesome coats that have this military-esque quality to them that I love. I can throw on a T-shirt, a pair of nice jeans and shoes with one of those funky jackets and it completely changes the look and feel of what I’m wearing. I love Tom Ford. The colors and the tailored clothing. It conveys this sense of strength and masculinity. Never trying too hard but always defined within the brand.
Can you tell us something about your plans for the future?
To be honest, I am not really sure what will happen in my future. I guess time will define itself as I move forward in my career. I’m just enjoying these moments right now and all it has to offer. Hopefully this is just opening more doors for me to progress as an actor.

Questo il link al trailer ufficiale della serie / This is the link to the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-jc9ly8-vA

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