We’re backstage at the Grammys. I’m Shira Lazar and this is brought to you by Turbo Tax.
I’m right now with Micah Sloat of Paranormal Activity.
The star of the breakout hit.
I still say breakout even though at this point it’s just a hit.
Well it was pretty breakout when it happened. Yes. So I think it can always be a breakout.
Yeah, I know and the story of how you got involved is just so interesting and incredible.
Yeah, it’s pretty wild. I mean they basically just needed
actors to go into a haunted house and get tortured. Yeah, totally normal.
Yeah, so I signed up. It was cool. And it was very grassroots. I mean
it was just in home, you and the director
and the other actors. Very small crew. Exactly.
There were actually three people who created like ninety percent of the movie.
Yeah and now does it still surprise you at all?
This whole thing is like I’m in wonderland right now.
Like I’m at the Grammys, like what’s going on?
What’s going on? I’m down the rabbit hole. I’m still falling. It’s wonderful. I think
I might be in the matrix but it’s okay. Don’t take me out Morpheus.
Are you really going to be in the Matrix next? That will be the sequel.
Oh yeah, Matrix four. The Paranormal Matrix. Yeah it’s like Neo
versus the Demon from Paranormal Activity.
So are you still working with the film and everything? Is it
continuing or it’s done? What do you mean? Paranormal Activity
I mean, there’s a third one coming out this year. Oh yeah you got killed but then.
I did get killed. I got killed twice. [laughter] In two movies.
That’s what a movies about. Yeah, you've just to kill off the main character as many
times as you can get away with.
And so any other movies for you? I have a lot of things in the oven. Yes
But I do want to talk about one thing. I’m working with a charity
called the Wixarika Research Institute. Okay.
And this is actually a real life avatar story. There
is a small group of indigenous people living in the Sierra Madres
in North Western Mexico and they have a secret mountain
where the son was born and there’s a mining company
from Canada that’s going to dig it up and leave. Oh wow.
a huge open pit mine and fill it with cyanide.
And destroy their culture and destroy this ecologically diverse desert and
So you’re raising awareness about it. I’m raising awareness and you guys can go to
wixarika dot org, it’s wixarika dot org,
and sign a petition, make a tax deductible donation to the
legal defense fund. This is really sad. You could
imagine if, are you a religious person?
Well, I mean I’m spiritual. I connect with, I mean still, you don’t want people
to be hurt so I respect that. Exactly, and also I mean if you have a church that your family went to
for generations and you just wake up one day and there’s an open mine and it’s gone.
How did you find out about this? I have a cousin who’s been working with the Indians since like the nineteen seventies. Okay, wow
It’s a really horrible thing. Once again it’s wixarika dot org.
Go check it out and learn some more. I know being here at the Grammys, I know you’re a musician.
You’re in a singing chorus? Yes, I am in the Westminster Chorus.
Who knew? [laughter] Who knew?
So do you want to sing a little tune? I can’t. I sing barbershop, you need four guys.
Barbershop? Yeah, yeah, we just came out, You’re just a hardcore singer.
Well you said it not me. I like it.
We just came out with a new album. You can get it at Westminster Chorus dot org
and we’re the Choir of the World for 2009 and
the current International Barber Society Champions. There you go. Those are still around?
Yeah, oh yeah And how many guys are in this barbershop choir?
I thought barbershop was dead and then I found out about this thing and now I’m in one and it’s fantastic.
It’s a lot of fun. If you like singing, if you like to sing off check out barbershop.
And a lot of people do. Yeah. Do you have that one person that’s guided you through your career?
Someone you go to for advice. There’s a little man in my head.
[laughter] No. It’s called multiple personalities.
No I. Schizophrenia? [laughter]
Shhhh… Don’t tell. I won’t get any more work.
I don’t really have a mentor or anything like that. I’m just kind of winging it.
You’re your own mentor. Yeah, I try.
Very cool. Micah, I look forward to everything. Thanks for
giving us a heads up about that charity, very cool.
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