interview | artemas

full look. Dolce & Gabbana
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shirt. Paul Smith
turtleneck. Dolce & Gabbana
trousers. Helmut Lang
shoes. ASOS

Selton Mello has been on Brazilian screens since he was a child. He first appeared on television at the age of eight and over the years has established himself as an actor, director, and creative force in Brazilian culture. His career is marked by incredible versatility, from comedy to drama, from mainstream hits to arthouse projects, and by an emotional depth that brings every character to life.

Now, after more than four decades in the spotlight, Mello is entering a new chapter. With international projects like ‘Anaconda’, he is reaching audiences beyond Brazil, driven by the same curiosity, creativity, and playful imagination that have guided him since childhood.

Speaking to Schön!, Mello reflects on the joys and challenges of acting and directing, the dreams he has realised along the way, and Mini Selton, the little boy who still accompanies him on every creative journey.

shirt. Lacoste
trousers. Saint Laurent
opposite
full look. Dolce & Gabbana

You started acting at a very young age and grew up in front of the camera. How did beginning so early shape your relationship with acting?

I have been an actor since I was a child, and in Brazil, people literally watched me grow up. They saw me on television from the time I was about eight years old. Starting so young was a gift because I learned very early what this craft really is. The most beautiful thing about acting is that it opens a world of imagination. I learned that as a child, and I never allowed that little boy to leave me. I always walk with mini Selton, who reminds me why I do this. It is about having fun, about playing, about using creativity.

Can you tell us about your early years and how you first got into television and acting?

My parents were not related to the arts at all. My father worked in a bank, and my mother was a housewife. So it was my idea to go into television. I literally asked my mother to take me there and said, “Mum, I want to go on television. I want to sing on television.” I started singing on small programs, then commercials, soap operas, and later films. Even as a boy, I felt I knew my path. I was very introverted and more into imagination than adventure. I loved playing guitar, watching films, and reading books. That little boy did what he always dreamed of.

So, it was the fantasy world that drew you in?

Yeah, exactly. I wanted to leave reality for a while and experience something different. It was beautiful.

Your new movie ‘Anaconda’ tells the story of friends coming together to realise a dream that once felt out of reach. What does fulfilling this dream mean to you today, both personally and for Brazilian actors who share similar ambitions?

I always dreamed of making films, but a Hollywood film, a movie with Jack Black, felt very distant, almost impossible. This film is amazing because it is crazy, funny, and full of adventure and action, but at the same time it has a lot of heart. It is about friends trying to make a film in order to realise a dream, and somehow, through this project, I am realising a dream too. Not only for myself, but for my generation and for Brazilian actors who share the same dream. They can look at it and think, my God, Selton did it, so it is possible to dream big. That is a beautiful feeling. Mini Selton is very happy right now.

What were the first films you saw at the cinema that made a strong impression on you as a child?

I think some of the first films I ever watched in a movie theatre were E.T. and Superman with Christopher Reeve, who was such an amazing actor. I remember going to the cinema and feeling that experience so strongly. At that time, I never thought I would become a film actor myself.

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turtleneck. Dolce & Gabbana

What makes ‘Anaconda’ different from your previous work, and what does this international exposure mean for you?

Before, all my films were mostly in Brazil. Now, this one is huge and will be seen everywhere on the planet. That’s very exciting. It means that a lot of people will know me from this film, and if they like me, they’ll go on to discover my other work, like I’m Still Here. I’ve always tried to keep a balance in my career, moving between big blockbusters and independent arthouse films, and I like jumping between different worlds. That’s what I’ve always done in Brazil, and now I hope to bring the same sense of balance to an international audience.

But how do you decide whether a role is right for you?

I think it’s always a mix. Sometimes it is the director I admire, sometimes the actors I want to work with, and of course, it has to be a great character. I had this combo with ‘Anaconda’. Tom Gormican is a very talented guy, and I will be eternally grateful to him, the casting directors, and the producers who gave me this opportunity. I’ve done almost forty films in Brazil, including as director, writer, and producer, but I’ve never experienced anything like this, being known worldwide. It’s crazy.

How did you get involved in the project, and what drew you to the script and your character?

This film came to me right after the huge success of I’m Still Here. In the middle of that moment, this project appeared. They said it was a Brazilian character and that they had seen I’m Still Here. We did a Zoom conversation, read a few scenes, and then they said, “It’s you.” It was October last year, and they were going to start shooting in early December. Everything happened so fast, but I was so excited to work with these legends, Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Thandiwe Newton, and Steve Zahn, and with such an amazing character. It felt like a gift from the universe, a chance to show my possibilities, especially knowing how much support I have from people in Brazil.

Your character Santiago, is key to the story. What makes him stand out to you?

This is exactly the kind of character I love, full of layers. He’s a bit eccentric, a little crazy, and sometimes awkward in a funny way. At the same time, he is very serious about his friendship with his snake, Heitor, who has been his friend since he was a baby. He cares deeply about this bond, which is both crazy and heartwarming. The character feels so real and so unreal at the same time, and he is incredibly charismatic.

Santiago has a close bond with a snake, yet you never actually worked with a real snake on set. What was it like acting under those circumstances, and how did it feel seeing the finished film?
Yes, it’s a film about snakes, and I didn’t see a single snake on set. It was all CGI, which was incredible and completely new to me. I grew up watching these huge films, and we don’t really have this kind of production in Brazil, with that scale and budget. As a director, it was fascinating to see how they managed such a big project.

And when I watched the finished film, it was super cool. I watched it like a regular audience, and I thought, Oh my God, look, we actually have a snake here. It was amazing. The work they did is incredible, super well done. And it’s not just that. It’s also how well they handled the mix of genres. That’s so hard to succeed at, but Tom did a fantastic job putting all the pieces together.

jacket. Burberry
shirt. Paul Smith
trousers. Ralph Lauren
shoes. ASOS
socks. Uniqlo
opposite
full look. Dolce & Gabbana

How does your experience as a director influence the way you act? Are there differences in how you approach a role?

When I’m acting, I bring my experience as a director with me, and that changes the way I work. I know the challenges a director faces and how they have to think about hundreds of things at the same time. So I try to avoid silly questions and focus on the right ones. I aim to be the best partner I can be because I understand what it takes to manage a set.

For example, on ‘Anaconda’, Tom wanted a very serious approach for the character, and I just delivered what he asked for. In the middle of all the craziness with the snakes and the chaos, we filmed scenes like the snake funeral, which is surreal and almost unreal. I also drew on real emotions, like the loss of a friend or a part of my family, which made the scenes both funny and touching. It was a great decision by Tom to give me that direction, and I trusted him completely. I just focused on delivering it.

And how did you become a director?

I’ve been an actor since I was a kid, but in my thirties, I started asking myself what else? I wanted new challenges and to expand my horizons. I began directing with a short film, and it opened a whole new world for me. Suddenly, I was thinking about thirty characters at once: the tone, the editing, the music, and the pace. That’s when I felt truly happy, using my imagination like the boy I used to be.

Since then, I’ve directed feature films, including The Clown, which was a huge success in Brazil and internationally, and the Brazilian version of In Treatment. Recently, I finished La Perra, my first Spanish-language film, and now with ‘Anaconda’, a Hollywood English-language film. Working in different languages and cultures, facing the challenge of expressing myself in new ways, and seeing the world from new perspectives is what drives me. It’s all about exploring, expanding, and finding out what else I can do.

You are celebrating forty years of your career this year. What does this moment mean to you personally?

I released a book, a kind of biography, to mark these forty years in the arts and to honour my mother. I lost my mother two years ago to Alzheimer’s. Anyone reading this who has a family member with Alzheimer’s will understand what I mean. This disease is about memory loss. So, as I celebrate forty years of my career, I am also celebrating her and the memories we shared and feeling grateful that I can still remember and tell our story.

Your next film, ‘Bury Your Dead’, seems very different from Anaconda. Can you tell us more about it and your role in the film?

‘Bury Your Dead’ is a very unique film and hard to define. It’s apocalyptic, it’s horror, but it’s also an arthouse movie, a great mix of genres. I play the lead, Edgar Wilson, a man who collects dead animals from the road and carries a devil inside him. He is a crazy, deep character, and it was an intense experience to bring him to life. The film will be released in the US in January. I’m very excited that after ‘Anaconda’, people will get to see this completely different and unusual film. It’s new, and new is always great.

Do you feel that with every movie you do, you discover something new about yourself?

Yes, absolutely. It’s always a beautiful experience. I feel like it’s a two-way street. When you give something to a character, you learn from them, but at the same time, they leave something with you. I’m not a father. I don’t have kids, but I have a lot of characters, and they are like my children. I take care of them, and they stay with me forever. They walk with me.

Acting is a wonderful craft because it allows you to live many lives. In Brazil, we have a saying that a cat has seven lives, and as an actor, I feel we can live even more. It’s fascinating to explore all these different lives and perspectives.

Imagine you could tell a story about yourself. How would you shape the character?

He would be a dreamer, because even as a little boy, he dreamed big. Mini Selton is focused and persistent, and he always reminds me to dream. He keeps me connected to imagination and creativity and has guided me through every choice in my career.

shirt. Paul Smith
turtleneck. Dolce & Gabbana
trousers. Helmut Lang
shoes. ASOS

photography. JJ Geiger
fashion. Su Tonani + Patricia Zuffa
talent. Selton Mello
grooming. Caroline Hernandez
production. Cassidy Cocke
fashion assistant. Jaden Burnett
interview. Alexandra Schmidt

leather jacket. AVVENN
shirt + tie. Calvin Klein
shorts. Jaded London
loafers. Jacquemus

Like a compass finding true north, Charlie Bushnell has been meticulously carving out his own path — one guided by instinct, curiosity, and a deep respect for the craft. From staging makeshift productions in his family’s living room and donning Tweedle Dum’s striped sleeves in middle school, to stepping fully into the shadows as Greek demigod Luke Castellan in ‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians’, Bushnell’s journey has been anything but accidental.

Raised in a creatively charged household, surrounded by music, storytelling, and performance, Bushnell didn’t rush toward the spotlight — he found it on his own terms. What began as playful imagination slowly sharpened into purpose, sparked by watching young actors his own age command the screen. Now, as one of the emotional anchors of Disney+’s epic reimagining, Bushnell brings nuance, physicality, and quiet intensity to a character living in moral grey space.

In conversation with Schön!, he reflects on growing up on set, the power of ensemble work, and why finding stillness — both on and off screen — has become essential to his evolution as an actor.

So you started acting quite young. What drew you to acting?

When I was a little kid, my family always said that I was going to be the actor in the family. My brother and I put on these really crazy shows where we would wear our parents’ clothes or put underwear on our heads, run around the house and play these crazy characters. We would entertain our families the whole night. I would make movies with my toys when I was a kid. I had an iPad or something, and I would just film and create these crazy, big battle scenes with my Legos. I think it was in the cards for me.

The school I went to – elementary through middle school – doing a play was actually part of the curriculum. I would say up until seventh grade, I just wanted to be a very small character. I’d be guard number two and have three lines, and I’d be good with that. I always did enjoy those plays; I thought they were a lot of fun.

It was when I watched Stranger Things for the first time, I was thirteen or fourteen – I watched it a year later than everyone else. Because all the kids were sort of around my age, they were all so good, such talented actors, something just clicked for me in that moment. I realised, “oh, wait, I can do that too. I want to try that.” So I told my parents, and next thing I knew I was in acting classes.

blazer. Sivan
sweater. TAAKK
opposite
coat. SMFK
t-shirt + bandana. Ludovic de Saint Sernin
jeans. Jaded London
boots. COS
belt. Y/Project

What plays were you in?

Oh man, I think seventh grade was ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, I played Lysander, which was really fun. Eighth grade was ‘Alice in Wonderland’, a musical, so we had to sing quite a bit. I was Tweedle Dum, and another good friend of mine was Tweedle Dee. We had a musical number just the two of us, and it was terrible. I had a massive voice crack on stage in front of the whole school, but I was also in eighth grade.

So, coming into that time when it was happening all the time, anyway.

Oh yeah, every other sentence, I was having voice cracks at that point. I think my brother also got it on film. It’s somewhere there. Unfortunately.

You also grew up in a creative household, your dad’s a musician, you’re uncles an actor. Did that make you more inclined into going into a creative career yourself?

Definitely. Something I appreciate about my parents – my whole family is very creative and into the arts. But they never forced me to do anything I didn’t want to do. My dad, when he was a kid, was sort of forced into music. He ended up loving it, so it all worked out, but I think there were times when he had teachers that he really hated and whatnot, so he wanted us to find it ourselves. They never pushed me into it, but I was surrounded by music, creativity, and the arts my whole life, so I’m sure that influenced me in many ways.

At the end of the day, I decided I wanted to become an actor and found that path on my own. I have to give it to my parents; they have sacrificed so much for me. All the times they would drive me all across town to auditions, or come with me to set, and sacrifice so much of their own lives just to be there and support me on my journey. I’m super grateful for that.

That’s super sweet. I hear you also play football, tennis, and the guitar, too. Do these outlets play into your acting at all? Are there any lessons that manifest themselves?

Absolutely. Sports were definitely my first love growing up. I also have a very athletic family. My grandpa on my mom’s side is Costa Rican, so he’s been playing soccer from the moment he could walk, basically. Soccer was my main sport growing up, I did about seven years, and I was on a travel team, it was so much fun. It’s so great for kids to play sports and be on a team when they’re young, because you have to learn to work with others. It really is a team effort, and it’s the same in acting. You’re an ensemble, you’re part of a cast — it’s not just you.

That’s something I was thinking about the other day – the people I work with, or my friends – I love seeing them succeed because if they succeed, we all succeed. It’s such an amazing feeling, and we’re all so supportive; we really root for each other. I think learning how to work with others and be a part of a team and ask for help when you need it, that’s the main thing.

leather jacket. VIBRATE
leather tanktop. Ludovic de Saint Sernin
trousers. COS
opposite
leather jacket. AVVENN
shirt + tie. Calvin Klein
shorts. Jaded London

Interestingly, group sports have played into working with a full cast and team.

It really is a team effort. I have to give it to the people working behind the scenes, because at the end of the day, it’s the final product. You only see the actors on screen, but really, we’re such a minuscule part of it all. The ‘Percy’ crew, they’re the hardest working group of people I’ve ever met. They’re working crazy, long hours every day, and they always show up in good spirits, working at the top of their game. They’re truly the unsung heroes of not only our show, but the industry as a whole; they’re the ones that really bring it to life. So shout out to the crew.

Speaking of ‘Percy Jackson’, tell me a little bit about your role and what you’ve enjoyed most about playing Luke.

Luke is an amazing character. There are so many layers to Luke, which have been really fun to peel back, particularly in season two and as we head into season three. In season one, he was the older brother and mentor figure to Percy at Camp Half-Blood, and really one of the first people to take Percy in.

Of course, there’s a big twist: we find out that [Luke] is the Lightning Thief, the traitor. I like that change — in the book, he tries to take Percy out of the woods and kill him, but in the show, he tries to recruit [Percy] in that moment because Luke, at the end of the day, is doing this for the demigods. He’s trying to create a better world for everyone, in which they can all live harmoniously with the monsters — he doesn’t even use that word — and not be under the control of the gods anymore.

It was really fun to play this darker version of Luke, but also explore the revolutionary that he is. It’s more technical, it was very physical for me — apart from the actual stunts and fight scenes — I had to play two different versions of Luke. I played the current Luke, and then the flashback version when he’s fourteen on the run with Thalia and Annabeth. I tried to stand up straight and powerful, and to find the stillness in current Luke, like he holds the power and he’s working from a more logical point of view. Whereas young Luke is definitely more agitated, emotional and impulsive. You can see that in their physicality and movements.

Luke truly is just trying to make the world a better place, but he still exists in a grey moral area where he’s portrayed as the villain. What parts of him did you find easiest to connect to, and the most challenging?

You said it best, Luke is working from a morally grey area, even though his intentions are in good faith. At the end of the day, the Gods are not good people or parents. So, he truly believes what he’s doing is right and what’s best for everyone. That being said, he’ll do whatever it takes to make this dream of The Golden Age come to life, and that includes hurting people, even those closest to him.

Luke’s not a saint — he does some pretty villainous and unforgivable things. I think that was the challenge. I really had to step into his shoes and understand where he’s coming from. Our acting coach, Andrew, says that we share a nervous system with our characters. I’ve also been playing Luke for such a long time now, and I feel connected to him in a lot of ways.

coat. SMFK
t-shirt + bandana. Ludovic de Saint Sernin
opposite
sweater + trousers. TAAKK
boots. Maison Margiela

Were you into Greek mythology before ‘Percy Jackson’?

I’m not a Greek mythology encyclopedia; I couldn’t tell you every little thing about it, but of course. I learned a little bit about Greek mythology in school. I even took a philosophy class in my senior year where we went over all the ancient Greek philosophers. I always found that stuff so interesting.

With ‘Percy Jackson’, because we exist in that world, we have to know about various myths and creatures, what they are, and their back stories. I was thinking about Medusa the other day; her backstory is so sad. She’s made out to be this monster, but really, once again, she’s just a victim of the gods. You can also just learn so many lessons from the Greek myths; I feel like they mirror many human experiences.

And what’s it like when the cameras aren’t rolling? The ‘Percy Jackson’ cast is fairly young, and you’ll seem like quite a close-knit bunch.

Exactly how you guys see us on camera is exactly how we are in real life, too, but even more so. On camera — even when you’re just doing interviews — it feels like you’re playing a little bit of a character of yourself in a way. But we truly are a family at this point. I feel like people say that, but we actually mean it. Especially on this tour, I feel like we grew even closer, which I didn’t even think was possible — they are some of my best friends in the world. We spent almost three weeks seeing each other every day and didn’t get tired of each other once. I’m honestly excited to get back to Vancouver soon and get back to filming with everyone.

I heard some pranks were happening on set. Were you a victim of any, and what kind of role did you take on with the group?

To be honest, when we’re filming, we’re all really professional. Even though this cast is full of pranksters and we’re always making each other laugh, we also realise that we’re there to do a job. Every little second on set is accounted for. Especially with the kids, they can only work a certain number of hours. When you’re working on a show, especially like Percy Jackson, where there are so many moving parts that you have to take into account, there’s not that much time to get everything done. And so, we’re all very prepared and ready to go when we’re on set.

I can’t recall that I was a part of too many pranks during season two. Honestly, I was very locked in. Luke’s energy was just so different from mine that I had to stay in it, and everyone really respected that and respected my space. I really appreciate them for that. But off set, we’re always messing around. Leah is probably one of the biggest pranksters. I’ve learned some funny pranks that she’s done, particularly on Walker and Aryan over the years. That’s a boring answer, but the thing is, we all just love acting and the process. We’re still having an amazing time on set, and then we save all the goofy stuff for when we wrap for the day or hang out on the weekends.

You also recently did some voice work on ‘In The Know’. What was that like?

It was amazing. Oh man, I’m so sad we didn’t get to do another season. It was so much fun getting to work with Mike Judge and Zach Woods – everyone was incredible. Zach, I’m such a huge fan of his. I remember seeing him in ‘The Office’, which is one of my favourites, and I thought he was so hilarious, so getting to work with him was a dream come true. Mike Judge, who created all these incredible, iconic shows — he’s amazing. He’s quite a reserved guy, super nice, super kind. But as soon as we start rolling, he’s able to put so much energy into the characters he plays in an instant. Seeing that was really cool.

What was so fun about that show is we really got to improvise a lot. The whole day, we do a couple of runs where we follow the script, but then they were so open, being like, ‘Let’s stick to the layout of the scene, but play around and say whatever you feel.’ Every take would turn out different. Zach is the king of improv — you would think he wrote these out in advance because they were just so perfectly timed and funny. But no, he’s just that talented.

It’s just cool to do something in the animation world. It’s different from live-action, and you really have to use your imagination a lot more because you don’t have the set, wardrobe, or hair and makeup to rely on to bring the world to life. On the other hand, that can also be nice, because you don’t have to worry about any of the external stuff, and you’re fully present as the character, not worrying about how your hair looks.

Are there any other projects you’re looking forward to, any genres you’d like to do next? What’s next for Charlie Bushnell?

I have this other animated show that I’ve been working on. I couldn’t give you an exact date, but it’s been a lot of fun to work on and has also been a dream of mine. I feel like I’ve really hit the jackpot with everything I’ve gotten to work on so far in my career, and also all the people I’ve gotten to meet, work with, and call my friends and family. At this point, I’m just so grateful. ‘Percy Jackson’ has been the greatest gift of my life, and I really hope we get to continue on that path for as long as we can.

I’d also love to jump into the world of film. I think it’d be cool to do something totally like a slice of life, maybe an indie film. I just rewatched ‘Past Lives’ the other day, and you follow these characters, not really that much happens, but you’re still so invested. It’d be cool to do something like that next. We’ll see. I know I have definitely a few months of filming for Percy coming up in the new year.

leather jacket. VIBRATE
leather tanktop. Ludovic de Saint Sernin
trousers. COS

Season two of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is streaming now on Disney+.

photography. Mekhi Turner
fashion. Peiwen Wang
talent. Charlie Bushnell
grooming. Michelle Harvey @ Opus Beauty using Charlotte Tilbury + Oribe
production. Clara La Rosa
production assistant. Cassidy Cocke
location. Vision Studio LA
interview. Rhea Lobo

graphic t-shirt. The Society Archive
watch. Rolex

Melvin Gregg’s face once lived in six-second bursts—quick jokes, exaggerated expressions, instant laughter. Rising to fame during Vine’s golden era, he became one of the platform’s most recognizable creators. Today, his performances unfold more slowly and with greater emotional depth. From Snowfall to The Paper, Gregg has shifted toward characters defined by vulnerability, uncertainty, and quiet tension. His career now exists in the space between viral visibility and long-form storytelling, tracing not just a change in medium, but an ongoing search for identity beyond first impressions.

graphic t- shirt + trousers. The Society Archive
opposite
knit cape. Giorgio Armani
underwear. The Society Archive
necklace. Talent’s Own
watch. Rolex

You transitioned from making millions of people laugh on social media on Vine to carrying deep pain in front of the camera. In this journey between two extreme sides, what was the sharpest conflict between the version people expected from you and your true self?

What was the biggest difference between the version people expected and my true self? I think people often expect me to be exactly how they first encountered me. But like most people, I have many different sides depending on the moment, the person I am speaking to, and what is happening in my life.

Throughout my career, I have been able to tap into different sides of myself, but people tend to hold on to that first impression. If they discovered me online, they expect me to be very outgoing and energetic. That platform was centred on comedy, and with only six seconds, you had to be big and animated. In real life, I am not really like that. I am much more relaxed and low-key.

If someone meets me through Snowfall, I am playing a gangster, but I am not a gangster in real life. And now in The Paper, my character is a people pleaser. He is optimistic, enthusiastic, carefree, and awkward. I am not really like that most of the time. Maybe around certain people, but generally, I am more cynical than enthusiastic.

I am optimistic in my own way, but I am definitely not a people pleaser. I think all of my characters contain parts of me, but they also distort certain traits. It is a mix of truth and exaggeration. I actually miss the Vine era sometimes. TikTok is great too, but Vine was all about six or seven seconds. It felt more playful and spontaneous. It was definitely a moment.

trousers. Levis Baggy Capri
underwear. Calvin Klein
beanie. The Society Archive
necklace. Talent’s Own
opposite
hoodie. Eckhaus Latta
shirt. Aubero
jeans. The Row
shoes. Timberlands
watch. Rolex

How did you reframe your career from going viral to leaving a lasting mark? What was the most frightening aspect of that transformation for you?

The thing about going viral is that you get a lot of attention, but not all attention is equal. People care for a few days, then something else goes viral, and they move on. It is very short-lived. You might reach more people, but the content itself is brief, so the impact does not last.

You do not go viral just once. You have to keep doing it constantly to stay relevant. That can be exciting, but it is also exhausting. In more traditional formats like television or film, you may not go viral, but the people who do watch your work carry it with them much longer.

When someone sits down to watch a film for an hour and a half, they get to know the character. They go on a journey. That experience stays with them. There are movies we watched as kids that still affect us today. A viral video usually does not have that kind of lasting effect. You may reach fewer people, but the attention you receive is deeper and more meaningful.

button up. Aubero
t-shirt. Barneys @ The Society Archive
opposite
blazer. Emporio Armani x Our Legacy
t-shirt. Barneys @ The Society Archive
trousers. Giorgio Armani
shoes. Birkenstock Boston Clog
belt. Talent’s Own

In productions like Not Perfect, Strangers, and The Way Back, we often hear an inner monologue shaping your characters. How do you construct those inner voices, and how close are they to your own?

I always try to find parallels between the character and things I can relate to in my own life. That might be something I am experiencing now or something I went through in the past. That connection helps me understand and justify the character. Once I understand who the character is, what they want, and how they see the world, I can exist in that space and let the environment affect me naturally.

In Not Perfect Strangers, a large part of my character’s story did not make the final cut. He resented social media because his wife wanted attention from people online more than from him. She was chasing validation from strangers, and he kept questioning what really mattered. Was it the attention of people you will never meet, or the attention of the person right in front of you? That idea connects directly to my own experience. Coming from social media, I sometimes felt like I was performing for people I did not know instead of focusing on the people closest to me. That parallel helped me live truthfully inside the character.

In The Paper, my character is in love but not receiving attention. He starts spiralling, trying to figure out how to get it. Should he play hard to get, or should he be honest and vulnerable? That is something most people have experienced, and it is something I have lived through myself. I try to find those shared emotional truths and let them guide the performance.

shirt. The Society Archive
trousers. Nili Lotan
watch. Jaeger La Couture

During your Vine days, was comedy a kind of protective shield? Looking back now, were there emotions you thought you were hiding that still came through on camera?

I would not say it was a shield. It was more about what worked best on that platform. Vine was built around shareability, and comedy is the most shareable form of content. People tell jokes all the time. You do not usually walk around sharing traumatic stories. Comedy simply worked, so that is what most of us leaned into. I do not think I was hiding much emotionally.

shirt. The Society Archive
trousers. Nili Lotan
watch. Jaeger La Couture
belt. Giorgio Armani
opposite
t-shirt. Barneys @ The Society Archive
trousers. Giorgio Armani
belt. Talent’s Own

How do you challenge dominant portrayals of Black masculinity as strong, stoic, and unbreakable when choosing roles? Do you actively look for vulnerability in a character?

I look for characters I can bring humility to. Black men are often portrayed as a single type or trope. If I can break that down and add more layers, then maybe audiences can walk away with a deeper understanding of masculinity, and specifically Black masculinity. With The Paper, I get to play someone who is not the traditionally cool or hyper-masculine guy. That feels important. Being Black and being a man is not a monolith. We come in many forms, personalities, and emotional registers. Exploring that range on screen feels necessary.

blazer. Emporio Armani x Our Legacy
button up. Aubero
t-shirt. Barneys @ The Society Archive
trousers. Giorgio Armani
belt. Talent’s Own
opposite
shirt + necklace. Talent’s Own
beanie. The Society Archive

If your career were a basketball game, where do you see yourself right now? Are you still playing offence, or are you beginning to direct the game?

I feel like a player who understands the game deeply. When I retire, I will probably coach. Right now, I am coming off the bench. I have strong games, but I am not a starter yet. I am not the star of the team. I have not yet been given the opportunity to fully take control and show everything I can do. At this point, I have mostly been a role player, but I believe I have the potential to be a key player on any team.

Is social media still a big part of your life today? Who is Melvin Gregg when the camera is not rolling? Are there habits or rituals we do not get to see?

I am still figuring out how social media fits into my life now. The perception around it has changed a lot. In the early days, it was not taken seriously because it was new. Now people understand its value, the reach, the numbers, the influence. I am trying to find a balance where I can benefit from having an audience without getting distracted by chasing virality. Sometimes productions want someone with a large following, but that is not really who I am anymore. It would not be genuine to my goals.

I try to create content based on my real interests rather than trends. Most of my life is not online. I am very intentional about what I share. If I post my family, it is because I hope it encourages people to spend time with theirs. If I post myself building something, I hope it inspires someone to put their phone down and create something themselves. If it does not serve that purpose, I usually do not post it.

graphic t-shirt. The Society Archive
watch. Rolex
opposite
shirt. Giorgio Armani @ The Society Archive
trousers. THE SOCIETY ARCHIVE
underwear. Calvin Klein
necklace. Talent’s Own

You have spoken about your desire to write and tell your own stories. Is there a character or scene that has lived in your mind for years but has not yet been brought to life?

There are too many to count. When I was doing social media, I created new ideas every day for four years. When I stopped posting, the ideas did not stop. I just stopped sharing them publicly. I have written several scripts that I want to bring to life one day. The challenge is getting them made, especially in today’s industry. I have scripts I want to produce, ideas that are not even on paper yet, and projects I have already filmed that I am waiting to complete and release. The creativity never stops. Right now, it is just about navigating the process.

Are you currently writing? Are these scripts, or do you work in other forms as well?

Mostly scripts. I have written television shows and films across different genres. I am also working on a short film series right now. I have completed the first two and I am working on the third. I am always creating. It just takes longer to bring things into the world than it did with social media. Hopefully, when they do arrive, they resonate more deeply.

graphic t- shirt + trousers. The Society Archive

photography. Torian Lewin
fashion. Izaake Zuckerman
talent. Melvin Gregg
grooming. Lynda Esparza
fashion assistant. Cole Norton
interview. Alper Kurtel
special thanks. The Refinery Hotel, New York