Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:43 pm Post subject: Life with Michael Seater: Who needs L.A.? - NEW INTERVIEW
Mike recently sat down for an interview with GlobeReview. In the interview, he talks about "18 to Life," and why he wants to stay in Toronto.
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TELEVISION: CANADIAN STAR ON THE RISE Life with Michael Seater: Who needs L.A.?
CATHERINE DAWSON MARCH
August 12, 2008
Maybe, if you're an actor in Canada today, you don't need to head to Los Angeles to boost your career.
Maybe it's possible, especially if you work in television, to stay and still be a star.
Michael Seater thinks so. He has never been to L.A. Not even the airport. The 21-year-old Toronto
native stars in the just-announced CBC-ABC pilot 18 to Life - and he still doesn't have to head south.
The pilot was filmed in Montreal.
18 to Life comes after three years as the titular character on popular tween sitcom Life with Derek, a
Gemini-nominated role on the cult hit ReGenesis, and portraying the ultimate Canadian anti-hero -
a young Conrad Black in the TV biopic.
"With ABC buying 18 to Life, it's American television but you can still be here. It's a really nice door
that's opening, with Flashpoint [CTV/CBS] and The Listener [CTV/NBC]. You can still be here and have
success," Seater said in a recent interview.
Life with Derek has already turned him into a much-loved face in the tween market on both sides of the
border, and in many of the 115 countries it airs in. In person, Seater has a sweet charming way with kids
who inevitably become dumbstruck in his presence.
Life with Derek is one of Family Channel's Top 10 series. Seater's star got a little hotter when Disney, a
well-established creator of careers, asked him to be reporter-at-large during the Disney Channel Games
and chase down megastars like Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers for interviews.
Flying down to Florida in April to take part in the event was the closest he had ever come to looking for
work stateside. "I was supposed to go down to L.A. for the last three pilot seasons, but I always come
up with a viable excuse not to go," he says. "I'm really comfortable here."
Seater already owns a condo along Toronto's waterfront and bought a cottage on tony Lake Muskoka
last spring, a few months after he turned 20. "I also got a car because I had to be able to get there, and
it's on an island so I had to get a boat.
"Why go to L.A? I like what's going on here!"
Seater, the youngest of three siblings, was always a performer, singing so often for Grandma at Sunday
dinner that his parents found him an agent when he was 8. He made a lot of commercials, then ended
up in short film by Andrew Currie (Fido),
From there came the kids' TV shows (The Zack Files, Blake Holsey High, Life with Derek), TV movies
and eventually minor roles in feature films.
"I've worked for eight years straight in Toronto," he says. "My friends are here, my family is here, my
home is here, my cottage is up north, I'm really happy here."
He's chatting amiably this afternoon outside his local Starbucks. To sit at this Harbourfront patio, Seater
sports oversized sunglasses paired with scruffy Vans sneakers, skinny jeans and a zipper necklace.
If the eyewear keeps him from being recognized today, he might not be so lucky in a more heavily trafficked
teen/tween location. Toronto born and raised, Seater says he had to stop riding the subway because he
would feel trapped.
"I'm all for meeting new people, but it can be awkward," he says. "They come up to you and they're like,
'Hi Michael, how are you?' and you're like, 'Nice to meet you.' And then they just stare. And I'm thinking,
'But you came up to me! It's your responsibility to keep this conversation going.' "
If young admirers are dumbstruck, their mothers are more persistent, he says. However, pesky parents may
stop using their daughters as an excuse to meet him if ABC green-lights 18 to Life for more episodes,
as is expected.
On TV he ages only a year: from 17 in Life with Derek to legal adult on the new show. But it's a big leap for
Seater. Now that Derek has finished (the fourth and final season begins airing on Family in the spring) he has
to find a older fan base.
This new show will help: Portraying a newlywed teenager (with co-star Stacey Farber of Degrassi: The Next
Generation) means playing a more nuanced character that gets thrust into more adult situations. The role, he
says, "is very much where I am in my life right now. I'm getting out of being a kid, but not quite playing adult roles yet."
*raises eyebrows* So, Derek is 17? Ooookay, I seemed to miss that >.>
And he came down to Florida for the disney channel games? Omg, I'm so clueless. I could have been sneaking to whereever it was. All dressed in black and whatnot and then pounce on him. Darn it.
It's good to see that he doesn't need to go to L.A. to be a gigantic star. I think he's a big star already! I really like Michael and his work. I think he does a great job.
...singing to his grandma at dinner? That's sounds like someone I know. >.> Except I did it in a resturaunt in front of a lot of people...every other day. I'm embarrased to think of it now. God, my mother should have gotten me an agent. *sulks*
Okay, back on topic! No talky about me!! Okay, little Mikey singing and performing? I would kill to see that!! I bet he was so adorable.
Hmmmm....owns a condo on Toronto's waterfront, eh? *rubs hands together*
Okay...I'm just kidding....maybe. _________________ Karissa
FFnet: XxKarissaShayexX
YTcom: Inuksh19
Great interview, it's nice to know that he is comfortable being a working actor in Canada and doesn't believe he has to come to L.A. to be a successful actor. _________________
Okay, I know its a little late to post but this was good! I love Micheal Seater and his roles. I actually agree with staying in Canada. the last thing I would want if I ever became an actress would be to go work in LA *laughs* as if I'd ever become an actress *laughs more*. I'm excited that they say Derek will be seventeen when season 4 is over, I like that they age them faster. _________________ http://www.fanfiction.net/~allybooklover6677
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