Published: September 20, 2008 4:53 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
JC Interview Exclusive: Matt Riddlehoover
Matt
Riddlehover
Matt Riddlehoover has worn many hats including film director, screenwriter, editor, actor and producer. The versatile entertainer, who is heavily influenced by the works of Woody Allen, recently took some time from a hectic schedule to answers some questions. I hope everyone enjoys the outcome.
Isaac: It is a pleasure to have you featured in our online magazine Matt. Let's talk about your upbringing. Where is your hometown and at what age did you decide that you wanted to go into showbiz?
Matt: I was born in Bermuda, but grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. I was always a ham. Always interested in entertaining and telling stories. If I'd had it my way, I would've been making movies when I was five.
Isaac: You have served as a film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, and producer. Of these various roles, which one do you prefer doing and why?
Matt: I get really passionate about writing. Editing, too. They're really the two most important storytelling elements, I think. I love acting, though. It's so freeing. I like to play make believe.
Isaac: You have quite an impressive resume. How important is it for you to stay busy and why?
Matt: I just have to keep busy! (laughs) Otherwise, I don't know what I'd be doing. I don't know how to do anything else - and sometimes that terrifies me.
Isaac: MySpace has helped you in many ways. Name some of the benefits that you have received from having a profile on that site?
Matt: I can't believe a couple of years ago I hadn't even heard of the damn thing! I was at dinner with Matthew Ryan and he and some of the other guys from Stray Don't Sleep were talking about their MySpace pages - accepting friends, denying friends and so forth. So I went home and logged on to find out what the hell they were talking about. And then I won a user's choice award just days after signing up for my account. It kind of propelled me and my first feature To a Tee into the stratosphere. It's funny how MySpace makes it all seem so effortless.
Isaac: How important is it for you to be able to reach out to your fans? And why?
Matt: Very important. Fans have been instrumental in determining my path. MySpace: case in point.
Isaac: I read in your bio that you are heavily influenced by Woody Allen. He has created many masterpieces. What have been some of your favorites and why?
Matt: I love his late 80s stuff: Another Woman, September, Hannah and Her Sisters. In the past decade, I really enjoyed Anything Else and Match Point... more recently, Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Oh and, duh, then there's Annie Hall. He's incredible and so prolific. Love him!
Isaac: If you had the opportunity to work side by side with Wood Allen, describe the type of project you would want to do with him?
Matt: (laughs) It'd be Woody's first stroll down gay lane! I'd act for him, of course, and be the typical Woody girl, but a guy. A flighty, moody, adulterous struggling actor. Well, I guess that's what I played in To a Tee. But under Woody's fine direction, I'd do it all with a brilliant stutter and a lit cigarette. (sighs, laughs) What a dream!
Isaac: Let's talk about one of your newer projects, Watch Out. It is basically about a man who falls in love with himself. Elaborate a tad more about this project and where folks can go to see it.
Matt: It's outrageous. It's based on the novel by Joseph Suglia. I play Jonathan Barrows and he's certainly a piece of work. And yes, he falls in love with himself, literally! The film travels around the globe this fall as part of the Stop Turning Me On world tour which kicks off at Raindance in London. So, Watch Out!
Isaac: Filmmaker Magazine contacted you recently to write a piece about MySpace. What type of feedback have you been receiving since writing this article?
Matt: Positive feedback, I suppose... I'm still running in this little marathon.
Isaac: Which one of your movie parts have you enjoyed playing the most and why?
Matt: Jonathan Barrows, by far. Making Watch Out was an insanely good time. Steve Balderson knows how to host one hell of a party.
Isaac: What is the one thing that you fear about being in showbiz?
Matt: I dunno. Good question.
Isaac: How do you handle rejection especially concerning parts that you had worked hard to get and did not?
Matt: I'll let you know as soon as it happens. (laughs) The lead in Watch Out is the only part I've ever gone after and I didn't really even have to audition. Sometimes things just line up at the right time and happen.
