Chris Grosso – The Indie Spiritualist – Ep. 112 – The Gift of Light with Michael Berryman

Actor Michael Berryman joins Chris Grosso for a conversation around the gift of light, the masks we all wear, and how the horror genre connects to social consciousness.

Actor Michael Berryman joins Chris Grosso for a conversation around the gift of light, the masks we all wear, and how the horror genre connects to social consciousness.

Veteran actor and horror/sci-fi genre icon Michael Berryman is a native of Los Angeles, California. He was born prematurely with Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia, a rare condition leaving him with no sweat glands, hair, fingernails, or teeth. Michael has appeared in films such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Hills Have Eyes, and Weird Science. Learn more about Michael and his filmography here.

The Gift of Light

Chris and Michael explore how Michael is able to embody life in such a spirited fashion, and how he brings that element to his work as an actor. Michael talks about the gift of connecting to the light in life, and why deception and manipulation aren’t high on his list.

“What is the gift? The gift, to me, is always light. It’s the reveal. Light will allow you to see and not stumble, perhaps.” – Michael Berryman

Chris Grosso and Preston Fassel discuss the power of storytelling on The Indie Spiritualist Podcast – Ep. 97
The Safety of Masks (26:35)

Chris and Michael discuss the idea that we’re all hiding behind the safety of some kind of mask. Chris asks Michael what advice he would give to young people right now. Michael talks about the sliding scale of our available choices in life, and reminisces about the time he spent with Brandon Lee.

“So many of the masks we wear are unnecessary because we’re afraid of letting others see our raw, vulnerable selves.” – Chris Grosso

Socially Conscious Horror (55:28)

What is Michael’s perspective on the horror film genre? He and Chris discuss how horror can actually be a very socially conscious genre. Michael talks about stepping into the light, and how too many people currently reside in the shades of gray between light and dark.

“If light illuminates an environment, and you have contrast, you also have the shades of gray.” – Michael Berryman

Actor Michael Berryman joins Chris Grosso for a conversation around the gift of light, the masks we all wear, and how the horror genre connects to social consciousness.

     

Images via Micheal Berryman Official and IMDB