Photo Credit: Ryan West
We had the awesome opportunity to speak with Michael Nardelli about a new anthology he stars in. It offers thrills, chills, and more! Check out the interview below.
Hi, Michael! Thank you for granting the interview. Congrats on your new series “Dark/Web”. What is the show about?
DARK/WEB is a hybrid anthology series about the dangers of our modern, totally connected world. It’s similar to shows like THE TWILIGHT ZONE or BLACK MIRROR in that it has an anthology component focusing on very specific technological horrors we’re facing today (many of the anthology segments are inspired by real-life occurrences on the actual dark web). It’s different from those shows though and hopefully feels fresh in that there’s a serialized narrative that connects all the individual parts together. You can watch one episode and feel fulfilled and have your fix, but if you watch the entire series you see that everything’s connected in much the same way we ourselves are all connected these days thanks to the world wide web.
What made you want to create the series?
I’ve always loved sci-fi/horror anthology shows like TWILIGHT ZONE and THE OUTER LIMITS; you can really take a single real-life issue and sort of dissect it in a fun, mysterious way. Our Netflix movie CIRCLE was very much in that realm. So, I wanted to work with a lot of our CIRCLE peeps because it was such a great experience, and I had these images in my mind of an anthology show that was more than the sum of its parts. That could really have a payoff if you kept watching, versus just being “one and done.” When I started sharing these ideas with Mario Miscione and my brother Tim Nardelli (who both worked on CIRCLE as well), we decided the real-life dark web was a fertile ground to place this narrative.
Who do you play in the series?
I play James Woodsley. When we meet him, he’s a bit down on his luck teaching at his old high school. His mom is ill. We wanted to have characters you don’t typically see in sci-fi/horror/thrillers. James is a pretty simple guy who grew up with dreams that his life would be so much more by this point in time. A lot of the main characters are in their 30s, dealing with this new world of iPhones and vlogs and total access and connection. They’re kids who grew up thinking they’d change the world and now, in their 30s, are dealing with the realities.
What was the biggest challenge in making the series?
Making our days on what was actually a pretty complex script. Lots of actors, locations, etc. on a very tight budget and schedule. For me, post-production was the most grueling. We were dealing with thousands of effects shots and so many graphic assets. We have a lot of fake apps on the show. You write that thinking it’s easy, then you realize someone has to design that interface. Someone has to composite it in. Someone has to QC that and make sure it looks as good as it possibly can on our budget and schedule. Dealing with that much VFX was an enormous learning curve.
The subject matter of the series is exciting. The DARK WEB is one of the most talked about topics on the Internet. People are constantly warned of the dangers of their private information on the DARK WEB. We live in a scary time. How does the current production bring something new to the story?
A lot of our stories are inspired by real-life dark web occurrences. It was bizarre because when we started filming, a lot of people in the cast and crew weren’t sure what the dark web was. Filming stretched on for a while and by the time we finished some of the stuff we shot was actually happening or being talked about on the news. We get pretty specifically into the dangers of the dark web, currently, but also what those dangers could evolve into not too far from now.
The series recently premiered at the 2019 SCAD aTVfest. When and where can fans check out the series next?
We’re hoping to put something together for COMIC CON this summer. So stay tuned! Some festivals have also started reaching out about programming the show. We pretty much just finished our very grueling post-production schedule, so the next step on all our minds is where and when to get this out to those who are excited to see it.
You have an extensive acting resume. What has been your favorite role to play so far?
I actually really loved playing James in DARK/WEB. He’s a bit of a goofy, silly person by nature, but the circumstances of where he’s at in his life are forcing him to think about things like mortality, loss, and loyalty. There were a lot of colors to show for him, and it was fun evolving him over the course of the eight episodes we see him in.
You act, write, direct and produce. Which is your favorite?
Acting is my favorite, for certain. If I could do it every day, I would. That’s not always realistic though, and writing is probably my second favorite way of creative expression. Writing is just a very freeing thing for me; I love to sit at my favorite coffee shop and just let the creative juices flow. Directing, especially my episode on DARK/WEB, was this really fun “all-hands-on-deck” kind of frenetic experience. Producing, for me, is my least favorite. I do it because I’m passionate about storytelling, and getting certain stories made and made in the way I think they should be. It can be painful, but it’s very rewarding.
What is your dream project?
As an actor, I’ve been aching to do something physical for a long time. I love stunts and physicality, pushing myself to the limit. To play a spy, or hero of some sorts, would be a dream come true.
In addition, you are passionate about several charities including PATH Organization and Autism Speaks. Tell us about your involvement.
Every year I’m kind of trying to develop my involvement deeper into altruism, philanthropy; giving back to those in need since I’ve been lucky in a lot of ways. The fact that anyone is homeless breaks my heart. It just shouldn’t be the case. When I see a homeless person, I just think “that was someone’s little baby” and it makes me so sad and wants to help however I can. With PATH, a couple of times a year I get my friends together and we help a homeless family move into their new home. PATH finds the space, and it’s up to us to furnish it and supply it with all the items that give a new home dignity, so it’s not just this blank space. We give them a fresh start in life. PATH is a great place to help out. AUTISM SPEAKS is a very similar thing. I have a friend whose brother is on the spectrum and every year we get out there and raise a ton of money for the walk here in Los Angeles. If anyone is curious or has the ability to donate, my personal page for AUTISM SPEAKS is here:
http://act.autismspeaks.org/site/TR/Walk/SouthernCalifornia.
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