In the glitzy realm of Hollywood, one woman undeniably stands out as an Actress, Producer, Director, and Screenwriter. She has carved her path to stardom against the typical industry norm. Michelle Renee Arthur’s journey from the heartland to the pulsating beat of the entertainment capital has not only set her apart from her peers but has enriched the lives of others.
The magic she brings to the silver screen comes from chapters in her life most have not experienced. In this exclusive interview, Michelle shares her inspirational story about her transition into the world of acting and filmmaking and the creative process behind her five award-winning films: three features FATE’S SHADOW: THE WHOLE STORY, RINGS OF THE UNPROMISED, and THE WISTERIA MANOR, then the animated short V & F, and short film version of FATE’S SHADOW.
In the City of Angels where cinematic hopes are often cultivated at an early age, Michelle was born in Indianapolis far from the bright searchlights projecting into Southern California skies. Other than what she watched on television or at theatres, she had no exposure to the inner workings of the business as do nepotism babies.
When Michelle was about 6 years old, however, her paternal grandmother, Cordia Arthur, yelled out the name of her late nephew when she saw him tap dancing in a classic film. That turned Michelle’s head and the family connection ignited her spark for performing arts.
Her second cousin, Todd Miller, danced in THE WEST POINT STORY with James Cagney, Doris Day, and alongside many iconic names, such as Judy Garland in the 6-time Oscar-nominated version of A STAR IS BORN and Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse in SILK STOCKINGS. His acting role as “Hank” was in the 5-time Emmy-nominated TV series PRIVATE SECRETARY. Seeing Todd on TV; yet never meeting him, inspired Michelle.
Rather than rushing into the land of “camera, lights, action” as soon as possible, she opted for a different route, one that would eventually prove invaluable for her own acting career. For a high school graduation gift, her family flew her to Orange County to visit her uncle, a Columnist for the LA TIMES. Although seeing the golden state was an eye-opening trip, she made the choice to follow in his footsteps and secure a 4-year college degree in journalism at Indiana University in Bloomington.
“Had I simply stayed in Los Angeles,” Michelle explained, “I would have stepped into film sooner, certainly. Studios are shooting everywhere you turn. Opting for magazine publishing with a steady paycheck in New York City after graduation, I was surrounded by literary types who were placing articles about the biz in their glossy pages. With editorial, advertising, working with art departments for graphic design requests and photos, proofreading copy, modeling, and sales development, it’s relatively seamless to writing screenplays, developing casts & crews, creating scenarios, meticulously studying timecodes with Sound and Film Editors. The creative process pulls from the same training I had at two college internships. The only difference is I’m moving in more dimensions and, while fascinating, it’s extremely challenging!”
She worked for several magazine titles, including COSMOPOLITAN, THE NEW YORKER, V & VMAN, and ANGELENO.
Michelle said, “Magazines and movies have a lot in common actually. Silent stories on colorful pages are flipped whereas scripts move frames with audio and it all comes alive! You’re laying the same foundations though. You’re collaborating with other creatives to say something significant to entertain or educate audiences. It has to be done to appeal to the most market share and secure support of clients or investors.”
She continued, “In both you are side-by-side with incredible talents to tell tales with staying power. Once produced, pages and footage outlive all of us. Some women have children. I’ve made glossies or clips in shows and full films. Naturally children have children to continue a family’s legacy. Suppose I was a part of others’ Film/TV projects, and five of my own, to leave that kind of legacy.”
After moving to LA after NYC, it was an unexpected moment that marked Michelle’s official entry into Hollywood. On the way to an advertising meeting she had to walk through a commercial shoot. On that set she had a casual encounter with a Background Artist headed to the TV show FAMILY LAW the next day. He invited her to check it out.
When she arrived to set the Assistant Director welcomed her too. Although her name wasn’t on the call sheet, he put her through the Wardrobe, and Hair and Makeup departments and into that show. That led to a string of background gigs which eventually converted to speaking parts in productions such as DEADLY SINS, DARK HOURS: TYPEE, MEM 39, CRAZY LUCKY, and more. Networking from those, plus acting classes at James Franco’s Studio 4, gave her the confidence to attempt her own. Equipped with a thorough understanding of storytelling and new connections, Michelle’s steps into filmmaking was an organic progression.
Her latest project, RINGS OF THE UNPROMISED, was conceived as a way to enlighten young people about the realities of relationships. Through her personal experiences and keen observations, the film promises a unique perspective on the complexities of modern romance. More than expected cinema, it provides powerful messages. Michelle’s deep-rooted belief that true happiness comes from within, not solely from a partner, serves as a poignant theme throughout it. Her desire to highlight the significance of gifting jewelry, the importance of poetry, and the ageless nature of pure love further underscores her dedication to the art of sharing the news.
“Not in my 20s anymore,” Michelle expressed, “I had experiences to pull from that younger actors oftentimes do not simply because they haven’t lived them yet. That’s the “Meisner Technique” which I learned at S4.
Creating one feature film is no small feat. For it to be recognized in the festival circuit is another. All of Michelle’s films have been honored as winners in various categories in their festival races. Bringing RINGS OF THE UNPROMISED to the stage meant jumping just as many hurdles as her sister films but she also had unforeseen casting and scheduling conflicts. Those tribulations only forced her to learn the art of frugality. “As I watch the credit roll now of that one,” she stated, “I realize it was all meant to be. Divine intervention has been my favorite helper!”
With a concise 69-minute runtime, Michelle has crafted a cinematic carpet ride that defies ordinary boundaries in RINGS OF THE UNPROMISED. The film’s format is set to captivate viewers from the opening sequence to the final punch line, offering a fresh take on partnering that pulls on our heart strings.
Only one festival’s results remain pending for RINGS OF THE UNPROMISED as we take this publication to press. So far it has brought in a phenomenal 56 wins in total, narrowly passing FATE’S SHADOW: THE WHOLE STORY which scored 54 wins. THE WISTERIA MANOR, V & F, and her first film, the short FATE’S SHADOW, also achieved astronomical numbers. As she heads into the distribution ring, she is poised to share these gems around the globe outside of the festival circuit.
The journey, from the Midwest to Legacy Builder on the golden shores, serves as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring artists everywhere and for audiences who will grow from the stories she has told or performed in others’ works. Her ability to blend life experiences with her creative pursuits is a testament to her devotion to her craft. As RINGS OF THE UNPROMISED continues to make waves, Michelle Renee Arthur’s name shines brightly in the constellation of Hollywood stars, and her legacy promises to be as enduring as the films she creates.
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