Check Out Matthew Santia’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Santia.

Hi Matthew, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself. 
I always knew I wanted to make films in some capacity. Knew for as long as I can remember. I use to write, direct, act in, and produce commercials and PSAs for my high school speech class. I think that was when I really realized that that was, in fact, something I would be pursuing for the rest of my life. I went out to Los Angeles when I was 16 to audition for the UCLA Theater Program. Unfortunately, I didn’t get into the school, but there was something about the audition and filmmaking process that really intrigued me, and it became an obsession unlike anything I have ever experienced. I went to Wayne state for a year and transferred to the University of Southern California in 2003 (George Lucas and Robert Zemekis alma mater). I moved to Los Angeles at 20, which was probably too young for me looking back. I lived out there for eight years, but I didn’t push myself as hard as I should have fell into a few bad habits, and eventually had to move back to Michigan in 2010. I thought my career was over, and that was my ‘all hope is lost moment,” I think. I started waiting tables and went back to get my master’s degree at Full Sail University for Screenwriting. I decided to give the Michigan Film scene a try. I just made myself available to help on sets in any capacity, but things really took off for me when I met a local producer and actress named Tennille Taraszkiewicz. I was contracted to write a feature-length screenplay called Raising Dad (about her struggles of helping take care of her Father-in-Law with dementia). This was a pivotal moment for me because she loved what I did and decided to move forward with another project called If I Can’t Have You, which would become my directorial debut. I had met a lot of producers and whatnot in LA and even in Michigan, and I’ve never come across somebody with the kind of tenacity and drive than her. After I.I.C.H.Y., I went on to co-write and direct a project called Chasing the Ghost in 2022 and a television series called The Agency (currently in post-production), both with Tennille. This summer, I will be directing a musical called Gigs, written by the incredibly talented Melinda Bryce. My point in all of this is to say the way I got to where I am was making myself available to help on other projects and networking with people. You never know who’s watching you do the little jobs, and oftentimes, that’s the way you get promoted to the bigger ones. Both IICHY and Chasing the Ghost are currently on Tubi. The Agency does not have distribution yet, but we will be pitching it to companies in the spring and summer. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Haha…I’m not sure it could’ve been any rougher. I had a pretty bad prescription pill addiction that derailed me for many years. After a couple times in treatment, a stint in a homeless shelter and an ultimately successful course of Vivitrol I have been opiate free for over 10 years. That being said, I squandered a lot of opportunities to further my career, especially in LA, because I was in various stages of addiction. Also, I struggled severely with confidence issues. I never believed I was capable of doing all the things in the film I am doing now because, frankly, I didn’t think I was good enough. For all the artists out there, I’m sure you can relate. I eventually got over that by continuing to work and get paid for my creative abilities. It started with small jobs, which eventually led to bigger ones. But to be honest, I still struggle with that at times, but it’s fewer and further between now. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a writer, director, and actor, in that order. I think writing will always be my calling card, and it’s what has led me into my directing career. I really enjoy deconstructing genres. When I write a film, I usually will watch other benchmarks in the genre and attempt to subvert it as much as I can. I can honestly say that I can’t pick just one project I’m most proud of because they all have a different narrative behind them, and they all are responsible for getting me to where I am now. Not to mention, each one is a completely different learning experience for me, which has led to more and more growth from me as a filmmaker. I think what sets me apart the most is my unabashed (and sometimes I think foolish, haha) dedication to film and television as a whole. I feel like I am incredibly persistent and have never given up, as much as I probably should’ve, looking back at least. I haven’t met a whole lot of people that can say the same thing. 

What were you like growing up?
Persistent. Persistent. Persistent. I was obsessive about film. I would drive my parents crazy, begging them to take me out to LA to take acting classes and whatnot. I tended to find a different thing to obsess over and would grasp onto it with everything in my being, and let me tell you, it was exhausting for them and everybody around me, but it was probably most exhausting for me. The things I loved the most was film, tennis, and rollercoasters. I actually wanted to be a rollercoaster engineer when I was young, but then I discovered that math was an integral part of that process, and sadly, I was terrible at it. I actually still love those three things, though. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: matthewsantia
• Facebook: Matthew Santia