MIKE MARINO
Amplified
By A. Bronwyn Sheehan
TIMMAG: I understand that there will be a new
and completely separate film made where you will
be reprising the role of “The Stranger,” titled The
Strange 1. Is there anything you can tell us about
this exciting news?
MIKE MARINO is best known for his role as
“The Stranger” in the film Emerging Past,
a film that won countless awards including
Best Horror Feature at the New York City
International Film Festival. While acting in over
15 films, documentaries and television shows, he
also donned the producer’s cap on three separate
occasions. Marino even made an appearance on
The Late Show with David Letterman. What native
New Yorker can say they’ve never dreamed of doing
that?
However, growing up in Long island, New York,
where he still resides, it wasn’t acting that Mike
Marino was dreaming about. It was his passion for
underground “heavy” music. So much so, that he
has been the lead vocalist for more than one thrash
metal band and a few hardcore punk bands as well.
It wasn’t until Marino’s latest band separated, that
he even considered acting. I had the privilege of
sitting down with this multi-faceted and very talented
jack-of-all-trades to see what makes him tick.
TIMMAG: I’ve had the good fortune to see a couple
of the films you’ve acted in. The character of The
Stranger from Emerging Past stands out to me most
of all. What do you draw from in your mind to create
what we see on the screen?
MM: You find something deep inside yourself and
you somehow drag it out. Everyone has light as well
as darkness; even if it’s a bad childhood memory it’s
in there and its every actor’s job to find that place
and amplify it.
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MM: I’m really anticipating portraying a full-length
feature on “The Stranger.” I know it will be gut
- wrenching for me but I think it’s going to be my
most important role to date. When director Thom
Churchill approached me with the news, we had an
hour-long phone discussion pitching ideas at each
other. I really can’t wait to do it. All I can tell you is
what I’m going to do is already scaring me. If I can
scare myself, I know I can terrify an audience. I went
out drinking alone in NYC the night before I started
shooting. I did some sick things and sealed myself
in a deep and dark state of depression. This role
will be a much longer shoot so I will have to really
prepare this time. It will be BIBLICAL!!!!!
TIMMAG: Are there any other upcoming projects
you have in the works that we can look forward to
seeing?
MM: Yes, I will be working with the great Thom
Churchill again. If all goes well we will begin
shooting Pushing The Limit in late February and
Hallow Pointe (in the tradition of American Werewolf
in London). Hallow Pointe will be produced and
directed by Thomas J. Churchill and co-produced
by Bobby Ray Akers Jr., based on a script by Joe
Knetter. Also, he will be in an action/adventure film
by Maurice Vaughn titled Extinction later this year
(Churchill is not involved in this film.) It looks like a
sheer blockbuster!
TIMMAG: Fun fact ~ Which actor in which role
would have been your dream job to step into their
shoes and why?
MM: Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken in John
Carpenter’s Escape from New York. He is one of my
favorite actors. What I liked about the character so
much is the anti-hero element. It’s one of my favorite
movies and one of my favorite directors of all time.