Student Lands Starring Role in Sundance Film

Miguel Alvarez-Flatow '14 is rubbing elbows with the Hollywood elite this week following his acting debut in the Sundance film Keep the Lights On. The movie, which Alvarez-Flatow spent four days filming last summer, follows a relationship between two men plagued by drugs and addiction. His character, Igor, helps the two men work through their problems. Alvarez-Flatow (a.k.a. del Toro) spoke with the Collegian about his role, his experiences at the Park City festival and his future in acting.

The interview below was edited for clarity and length.

How did you land this role?

I was going to be an extra in the movie, so I met with the background casting director  and he gave me a page of the script and told me to memorize it and come back in five minutes to do a read. I got a callback and read for one of the most powerful casting directors in New York. Then I had a meeting with the producer, and that was it.

Tell us a little about the filming process.

During filming I was living with my brother in New York, and New York apartments are so tiny, so I was living on an inflatable airbed. But when it was time to film, a driver would come pick me up.  I was living in this air bed and then had my chauffeur picking me up.

I also remember after I shot my first scene, I asked someone if there was a Starbucks nearby and five minutes later there was a drink in my dressing room. It was so weird. I would finish a scene and they would bring a chair and say, ‘‘Sit down,'' and I would say, ‘‘No, you sit down. You've been here for 50 years and I'm 20.'' At first I was embarrassed, but then I was told its just part of being an actor.

Have you ever done anything like this before?

It was really my first experience, although I have done a lot of background — like, I'm an extra in Men in Black III — but this is really the first time I'm getting paid for a role.

What is the Sundance experience like?

I saw the Liberal Arts film that was shot at Kenyon. It's actually a really good movie and Josh Radnor's really good in it, and Elizabeth Olsen is really good, too. The script is really about Kenyon and how wonderful it is. People will be shocked when they see how he brought it all together and shows how beautiful it is. I saw Josh Radnor and I was invited backstage [to meet him], but then he had to go, which was unfortunate.  

At the premiere of Keep the Lights On, they were taking pictures everywhere and it was really exciting. I went to the after party, which was nice, and I met a lot of producers, a lot of directors. There are a lot of opportunities opening up; it all looks promising. I got to meet one director who was having dinner with Ellen Page, so I got to talk to her a little bit; that was pretty cool.

Why did you choose Kenyon?

At first I thought I was going to be an English major, so I was looking for a really good writing program and Kenyon's name popped up everywhere. Then when I got to Kenyon I got involved with the theatre department and the film department, and I really like them. Also, I really wanted to play soccer and I got recruited at Kenyon, so it all kind of came together.

What are your future plans?

I got agent offers from New York and L.A. but they said that they would only sign me if I was living there, so I have to reevaluate what I'm going to do. I don't think I'll drop out, but I might transfer. At the same time, I have such a nice comfortable life here; I have a scholarship; I have so many friends.  Kenyon is such a community.  And I know [Keep the Lights On director] Ira Sachs told me, "If you don't graduate from college, you'll never be in another movie with me."  So I might transfer. I don't know.  I really have no idea right now.

Do you have any advice for fellow students who want to pursue an acting career?    

Be confident. I will say that you need to do your homework: originally I was just going to be an extra in the film, but I looked up the film on IMDb and really got to know it, and I think that helped a lot.