Meet M.L. Finnell | Filmmaker (Director/Writer/Producer)

We had the good fortune of connecting with M.L. Finnell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi M.L., what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I am a creative. Creatives must create. I have also balanced other work obligations over the last 30 years.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
“My Creative work spans a lifetime of visual art, live performance of music as a singer, theater (both professionally as an Actor and as a playwright) and a s a Director and Producer. My latest effort as a Filmmaker is my documentary film ‘Being Satori Circus – Performance Documentary In Five Acts’.

I think what sets me apart form others in this documentary, is my viewpoint of taking my viewers on the journey of the undiscovered island of my subject through focused interviews, live performance clips, archival photos of my subject and by exploring several different aspects created in layers to tell a visual story. I’m very excited about getting my film out to a wider audience and I’m hoping to get some type of distribution of my film to achieve this.

My journey as a filmmaker came about by being a theater practitioner and craftsman in acting and directing. I then ventured into writing and producing my own work. I also worked on two documentary films which for various production reasons remain unfinished. these mostly had to do with unreliable subjects or funding to complete the work at hand. I learned a lot on the collaborative effort and how personalities can achieve needed goals or sabotage worthy efforts. In all this “learning experiences” took several years of my own imposed apprenticeship. I’m glad I had the opportunities, but would not take that path again.

My academic discipline in the arts and especially theatre led me after many years as a rock and roll performer in various bands in Detroit, to eventually complete my University training and education at the advanced age of 28. I was part of the Professional Actors Training Program at West Virginia University (Morgantown, WV), which prepared me well for the full scholarship award for graduate school at Wayne State University (then Hilberry Repertory Theater) Where, as an Actor I performed in 17 of the 21 live plays over three years there. It was always a challenge and I feel gave me a unique experience that I still draw from today.

I mostly have always overcome challenges by facing them head on. That is my working class upbringing from a large midwestern family in Michigan. Being the youngest of three brothers, I learned that I had to carve my own way. I have always been a visionist and an “idea” person. I often feel I could have a had a career in advertising as a copywriter and concept person, had I known that was a way to make a living.

I’ve learned that one must have a vision and move into that vision. As the late great mythologist and professor of comparative religions Joseph Campbell has said follow your bliss and doors will open where you did not even know there were doors for you to travel through …and where those doors only exist for you. Also, don’t believe or buy into what you can’t do. That is a creative killer. My story continues. I believe in the concept of progressive realization and continuous process improvement, and making my creative visions come alive. I have been blessed with a creative wife and partner Tina Gloss- Finnell and many friends and colleagues who believe in me and either have worked with me or continue to do so. There is an energy to forward movement. My “brand” if there is one, is always in the moment. “

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve always maintained that if someone was visiting the Detroit area for the first time. …and I had unlimited resources, We could tour all the run down industrial sites and poverty within a 50 mile radius and it may confirm all the cliches and worst impressions of this area.

But, because the greater Detroit area is so large in area, and filled with so much rich history and interesting places, I could (and would) take them to a myriad of places – in any season- and they would think it is one of the most interesting and cool places in America.
Today it is winter so I would start in Ferndale where I have lived for 12 years after returning from Los Angeles for 12 years. As a mixologist myself we would go to The Oakland for a cocktail or two, then have dinner at Frame. Perhaps before, I would take them to The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) voted the finest art museum in the United States to my favorite room -The Industry Frescoes by Diego Rivera … it is the only place this stunning art icon exists in the world. Within thirty minutes is Windsor the midwestern gateway to Canada, and season depending, I’d show them Point Pelee Provincial Park, one of the largest migratory birding destinations on earth. The music and arts scene is still vibrant and some exploration here would be something to check out. We here in the Detroit area can easily become accustomed and perhaps forget all that we have to offer, so some rediscovery always has to be explored.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My Wife a fellow Producer and Talent, and Russ Taylor (aka: ‘Satori Circus’)

Website: https://www.facebook.com/BeingSatoriCircusDocumentaryFilm/ https://www.instagram.com/beingsatoricircusdocumentary/ https://www.youtube.com/@beingsatoricircus https://twitter.com/BeingSatoriDoc https://linktr.ee/beingsatoricircusdoc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingsatoricircusdocumentary

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeingSatoriCircusDocumentaryFilm

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@beingsatoricircus

Other: The above is information on my latest film ‘Being Satori Circus’ More info: https://linktr.ee/beingsatoricircusdoc

Image Credits
Brett J. Lawrence