Inspirational People

INTRODUCING RISING YOUNG ACTOR - FROM THE USA -

ZALMAN MIGIROV

1 Please tell us a little bit about your background:

A: My name is Zalman Migirov. I’m twenty three years old. I was born on September 6, 1990 in New York City. I was born at Mount Sinai Hospital. My family is from Russia. We are Jewish. I lost my hearing at age two. I was very sick. I had some kind of hearing infection. I wore hearing aids at age three. I couldn’t talk well. I went to speech therapy for fifteen years. I learned how to talk well and pronounce words correctly. I am doing much better and my speech has improved. In 2004, I graduated P.S. 204 then graduated Bay Academy I.S. 98 in 2006 and graduated Murry Bergtraum High School for Business Careers in 2011. I went to training school for Automotive at The School of Cooperative Technical Education and graduated on January 2013. To tell you the truth, I’ve always wanted to be an actor. That was my actual career. It was hard to find a good acting school. I went to B.I.H. Studios and graduated in October 2013. Being an actor has always been my real dream and I finally made it. I will continue to work hard and make it to Hollywood and show myself to the world as a professional actor. I always had this fantasy of winning MTV Movie Awards, The Oscars and Daytime Emmys. My fantasy will one day become reality.

2 You are an actor. Have you always wanted to be an entertainer or did you aspire to be something else when you were growing up?

A: Yes, I am an actor. I’ve always wanted to perform in front of the world on TV and in films. I used to love dancing. When I was in elementary school and junior high, my classmates and I had this amazing Russian dance teacher who came every twice a week for an hour to do a talent show and performance in front of the audience. Her name is Irina L. I forget her last name but it started with a letter L. She was so amazing! It was sad that the Board of Directors cancelled and had to let her go because they thought music wasn’t important and it was a waste of time. We fought to win her back, but we all lost. I’ve always loved to dance to one of Michael Jackson’s song, ‘Billie Jeans’. I used to be good at it, but now I forget it all. Ha Ha! So yes I loved dancing. I love acting more. I have this celebrity who I inspired to so much and who is my true inspiration. I grew up watching him when he was a wrestler and wrestled for Vince McMahon. His name is Dwayne Johnson. You know him as The Rock. He’s a big time movie star and the whole world loves him. He’s the main reason why I want to be an actor and I am today because of him. One day when I get a chance to meet him and I know I will, I will thank him and much more stuff I want to say to him. I used to act out like him back in 2002 for the very first time and I still do. Ha! I used to cut my t-shirt into cut sleeves and use my TV remote control as a microphone and acted out and performed as The Rock. I have it on video tape at home. Ha Ha! Maybe one day, I’ll show it at ‘Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon’. If that ever happens. There so much to say about it, someday I’ll tell this story on TV like on talk show or something.

3 Is anyone else in your family and/or relatives in entertainment?

A: No. No one in my family is in entertainment. I’m the only one. I will make my family proud.

4 Are you professionally trained as an actor?

A: Well, I am an actor yes, but professionally - not really because I have no experience yet. I just started my career less than a year ago and it will take time. I’m young and I have lots ahead of me. I will make it there and will be a good Hard of Hearing Professional Actor.

5 What have you appeared in?

A: Nowhere yet - but I will someday make it on TV and in films. You can bet on it.

6 Have you worked alongside any well-known names?

A: No I haven’t, but I’ve always dreamed of working with my idol, the man I aspire to. Dwayne Johnson. Hopefully someday I get to work with one of my favourite of all time. I’ve met Paul Walker before he passed away. I told him I’ve always wanted to star in the 'Fast & Furious', because it's one of my favourite movies and I love cars. He said maybe someday to film a movie with him in the future. I’ve met a couple of actors from the show I watch ‘General Hospital’. I even have pictures of them with me. Their names are Steve Burton(Former Jason Morgan), Bradford Anderson(Former Damien Spinelli) and Brandon Barach (Former Johnny Zacarrah). I told Steve that I’ve always wanted to join 'General Hospital' and play a bad guy. The character I wanted to play was the long lost son of Franco. James Franco influenced me to love that bad guy character Franco when he was in 'General Hospital' before Roger Howarth took over as Franco in 2013. Who knows, maybe someday that could happen. Maybe not. Anything is possible.

7 Are you professionally managed or do you represent yourself?

A: I represent myself. It's hard to find a good and honest agent nowadays. I'd rather wait until I make it to Hollywood.

8 Who and/or what are your inspirations?

A: I’ve mentioned it before. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is one of my inspirations and one of my favorites of all time. I am also inspired by Tyrese Gibson. He posted those amazing videos almost every single day on his facebook page to his fans about motivations, how to work hard in life and knowing that G-D always on your side and helping you achieve what you want in life. I watched those videos a lot and still do. Tyrese also the man who keeps me up. He pushes me to work hard and get where I want in life. Tyrese is a great man. He knows what he is doing and what he is saying to us. That's why he is also my inspiration.

9 What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

A: I go to the gym and work out. I watch sports also. Sometimes I act out in my room, trying to build up my skills and do some impressions on celebrities. I also do acting studies.

10 Have you ever been a victim of bullying?

A: Yes I have been a victim of bullying a long time ago. I’m sure everyone is experienced with it. I want to say to every kids out there: “Don’t be afraid of anything. Stand up for yourself. Talk to someone if they are beating you up or stealing something from you. Walk away and don’t look back. I know people will laugh at you, but it will give you lots of courage knowing that you stood up to them. Don’t be afraid. Stay strong.”

11 Whether you have been bullied or not, do you feel that the governments and schools w/w are doing enough to try to combat this problem?

A: Well, governments nowadays are not really helping kids and adults. We all get bullied every day. Sometimes we have to fight it and stand up for ourselves. It takes lots of guts to do it. I know I did and after that I was never bullied again for a long time.

12 On a personal level, what would you like to do to help in the fight against bullying?

A: Well, I will join one of those fundraisers or support groups they have. Like 'Be-A-Star' that WWE helps kids out and to stop the bullying. I will join and help kids out and support them in any way and make their lives and future better. It would be an honor to do it.

13 What advice would you give to someone who is going through this nightmare at the moment?

A: I will talk to them. I will tell them like I said before: “Don’t be afraid of anything. Stand up for yourself. Talk to someone if they are beating you up or stealing something from you. Walk away and don’t look back. I know people will laugh at you, but it will give you lots of courage knowing that you stood up to them. Don’t be afraid. Stay strong.”

14 What is on your work agenda for the rest of 2014?

A: I am expecting to film a major film this summer with my friends. We will show it next year on National Film Festival. We want to be in Hollywood and make our dreams to come true as actors and actresses.

15 Do you have a special message you would like to share with the world?

A: Yes I do. I want to say that I know there aren't a lot of deaf/hard of hearing actors and actresses. I want to show the world that we can do everything that hearing people can do. For example, there's a show on ABC Family called ‘Switched at Birth’. It shows the world that deaf and hearing can blend in and be together in one place. A couple of things that might be different are that we have hearing problems and we speak different language by using sign language - but that's it. We are all human. We’re no different from others. We’re all proud of who we are and what we have in life. We can achieve anything. All we have to do is fight for it, grab any opportunity you see and never let it go. Once you let go, it will be hard to get it back after everything you worked hard for. I was this close to losing my acting career, but someone I knew who was famous told me this: “If you lose this opportunity, you will have to start all over again. Keep fighting for it and you will get it. Never give up.” I’m telling you guys out there, any careers you choose as an actor/actress, firefighter, doctor, engineer, wrestler - if this is what you truly want and believe it in your heart, go for it. Don’t let anyone stop you. Make it happen and work hard for it. Nothing in life is easy. The only thing that will make your life much easier if you work for it and you stay on it. Good luck with everything!