Hello Internet.
If you have read my blogs recently I have been interviewing prominent people to the network of "Drakoloid". This week I decided to interview a new comer to the network Mike Barkhoff who stars in the new Drakoloid sitcom "Men Of The House" which premiered this past Friday. There are many questions that were answered throughout this interview and will give you some more information on Mike himself.
Mike Barkhoff plays Tyler on the new show "Men of the House" which he is the co-star to European actor Harry Scott. This show is fun, vibrant and well written I will detail my thoughts further in my "Men Of The House" premiere review.
He also is Marty Vox the father of The Vox family on the new Drakoloid animated series "The Vox's" which premiered in August. We discuss the show, his thoughts on fatherhood and what the future really looks like in comparison to Drakoloid's vision of it.
For those who don’t know what Live Free is, it is an online production channel that was founded by Mike Barkhoff and created multiple web-series that had co-productions and currently with Drakoloid Adult Zone the new Drakoloid Adult channel that launched in October.
Q1: You are the newest edition to Drakoloid how is your experience so far with the channel?
Drakoloid has been great to me, as more than even just a business associate. He's given me advice on how to better suit my time by suggesting how I divvy up the fractions that are spent writing and the fractions that are spent filming. He's allowed me to feel like I am my own and is extremely understanding when mistakes happen, which is an understanding that a lot of people in this type of industry don't really have. I have just recently started working with Drake and I hope that I get the chance to for a long time to follow. It's like all the stars aligned, meeting Ron and now Drakoloid. I think a lot of times I feel like I'm far inferior than I should be, doing what I do at the age I do it, but meeting them and having this be the outcome so far has really just left me feeling much happier about what I've done and what I can do. There's nothing but admiration and respect for Drakoloid and his brand.
Q2: On your channel “Live Free” you create content for the past couple years? When did you start and how did everything happen for you?
I started making short films in 2013 when I was just 13. We branded them under BadgerTv0 at first, then Barking Vans from 2016 to 2019. Live Free occurred in 2019 and was a result of me and my fifty-fifty collaborate from the Barking Vans days not always agreeing on tissues of that company. So it was born out of that pursuit for a specific project or person that he was unsure of. So Live Free is the main distributor, but Barking Vans is the production company when ny collaborate, Jarrod Van Hauen, and I work together.
In terms of how we've been lucky enough to accomplish what we have, that's purely just finding a good circle to include yourself in. We owe it all to amazing people who were gracious enough to be actors when asked and willing to fill in for whatever we've ever needed them to. It's just finding the people who see your vision for what it is and wish to see it come to fruition, just like you do. We have a lot to owe to a lot of people, and we're really trying to make that happen - help them see success how they wish to see it.
Q3: What programming software did you use to help develop your shows?
We've been using iMovie for a number of years, but we've also played with DaVinci Resolve. Something we wanted to do in 2021 that, due to personal reasons has yet to happen, is make a computer and employ a better editing software. We're hoping that can happen in 2022. We really want to update our editing. It's an overdue thing and has actually made me at times be looking at my document filled with scripts and choose more insignificant ones due to the lack of advance.
Q3: Did you take any classes in media prior to launching your channel?
I took several high school courses covering filmmaking, editing for both films and audio, capturing audio, and then after High School I was offered a free class on Lighting and took it. I honestly never considered going to college for filmmaking more than a couple days here and there. It just seems like we're training filmmakers to copy and paste each other. There's definitely some aspects that require being taught (capturing audio, lighting, etc) but a lot of that is also taught from expierence and practice, and I think those two things should be the namesakes of learning filmmaking. I'm actually working on building a website that hopefully helps out filmmakers who feel the way I do on this matter! It'll launch shortly, hopefully.
Q4: Who we’re your inspirations growing up to create in film?
As a kid I was heavily inspired by The Wizard Of Oz and action films. I was an only child and my parents actually found out that putting a movie on was enough to distract me, movies were my toys! It kind of faded, as those things do when you're going through school and constantly studying everything around you. Then, in 2011, I started watching Breaking Bad. And that show, even today, just strikes a creative bone in me. It's perfect all around the corners and makes me feel like we have every potential for great films and series, as if they've never died. A part of me, to that note, feels remorse for so much that is produced anymore. Martin Scorsese's films have helped me feel energized often, too. So Martin Scorsese and Vince Gilligan really make me tap into my younger self's mind and feel like anything and everything is possible and will happen. They are kind of the beating heart to my drive and passion.
Q6: Did you know throughout school that you were planning to be in the entertainment industry creating and acting in shows?
Whenever a teacher asked what I wanted to be, my response was a director. I found myself doubting it as I came closer to the finish line, however. It's honestly one of those things where just in these last two years I've gotten comfortable saying "It's not Hollywood, but I love doing it, so I'm happy to do it, even if only to this degree".
Q7: How old were you when you started acting?
I started acting when I was 14, but acting was the last thing I ever wanted to do. I just needed an actor and couldn't find anyone. I'm really happy that happened, though, because being a writer and an actor makes completing projects so much easier. As an actor and a writer, I know exactly what my vision was in the words and I can convey it easier.
Q8: Did you ever attend acting classes or did any theatre prior to Live Free?
I was the light operator for a musical in high school, but I never acted in one. I did, however, study the actors on stage for that musical and learned some cues from them.
Q9: Living Free is your newest series along with Men of the House? It airs on Drakoloid Adult Zone. What was the inspiration behind this series exactly?
I was heavily inspired by Donald Glover's Atlanta, but I had wanted to do something that explored the grey line between fiction and non-fiction for years prior. It came in many forms, so Living Free was something that I really felt concise with. It felt like it was a really good window to be looking through for everyone I work with on a regular basis. There's so many earlier conceptions that were far different, I'm glad I waited this project out and that this was the outcome.
Q10: Has Living Free been picked up for a second season?
It was! And it's all filmed and edited and scheduled! I actually started writing it a long time ago, before Season 1 was fully edited. It wasn't confirmed then, and neither is a third season now, but a lot of the early writing for Season 2 morphed into a Season 3. Season 2 is 10 episodes and will come out in 2022!
Q11: A show I personally enjoy is “Chapters” I am always engaged with whats going on. Was this show supposed to be short films or is it just short abstract films rather than a series?
Season 1, which Drakoloid is currently airing on Adult Zone, was meant on an episodic basis. So a lot of that is throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks. The second and third seasons follow a bit more of themes, but I do want it to it's abstract short film moments, which is why a fourth season is taking a bit to craft. It's taking some time to breathe to be its own entity which is it's important to me for that series.
Q12: How do you come up with the script for Chapters?
We had a lot of ideas for short films that we just kinda work on grouping together - sometimes elements are adapted but massively changed in this show or this film, but Chapters is a great series to fully commit to what I may have written at 15 and never gotten around to doing.
I try to make it so it's a blending of original content and old, that's also important to me. What I wrote at 15 is a different me. So I need to do something now whenever I'm working on a new season.
Q13: How did you start working with Drakoloid? Did you watch any of the shows on the network prior to joining?
I was looking for recruitments on a script basis, and I found Ron Gomes online. He mentioned Drakoloid early on, but I was so busy and shy I didn't turn to Drakoloid until I needed help finding actors for Living Free. I had no idea of his shows until I met Ron, and I've just recently started watching them. When I talked to Drake initially, I also suggested he add his works to IMDb and have been helping him with adding his series there.
Q14: What is “Men of the House” about?
Men Of The House is essentially a Drake and Josh molded comedy, focusing on the youths of the house, with that element of Full House still active. Two adolescent males, an older brother to the girl there, and my character - the older brother's friend - are placed in charge of the house and have to learn how to adult by this means that are unprecedented.
Q15: What is your character Tyler like and do you relate to him in anyway?
Tyler is very much a pompous and ignorant fellow. His comedy is definitely my comedy. When Drakoloid was viewing my works, he actually said that I would fit the character perfectly from an acting sense. And I had no issue getting into character for him. His delivery was very free flow and flexible. He is a fool, and I love playing the fool.
Q16: Where do you film your parts for the show?
I hope my boss doesn't read this! Because I've filmed some at work and some at home. I also intentionally made my scenes kind of rushed to capture that vibrancy of this being a first season, so that even, something as small as my role and filming tropes, even can catapult and make an improvement, if we are lucky to get a second season!
Q17: Are there any upcoming episodes you are particularly excited about that you can share with us?
I wrote Episodes 4 and 5. They might air out of order but I'm excited for that audience to see my writing. All of the remaining episodes for this season are very funny and have great messages, so I'm honestly excited for the season as a whole to air.
Q18: What is your relationship like with Men of the House co-stars Harry Scott and Talin Babbili? Do you guys all get along (or will you tell us if you don’t get along lol)
I haven't even talked to Talin yet, honestly! I've been meaning to, but I've just been so busy. Harry and I get along though, very well. We talk from time to time and he is a very smart and funny person who I see going very, very far. I feel out of place at times, working with someone of his cut. He is a talent. Also, a fun fact, the actress who portrays Martha is my girlfriend in real life! Drake needed an actress and I suggested her and he was in on it. It was only her second role following our adaptation of Ron Gomes' Limbo.
Q19: You also star in the Drakoloid Animated series “The Vox’s” what is it like being in that show and do you like voice acting?
This is my first time voice acting, but I'm enjoying it so far. It's much easier than actually tackling a show or film! That show can be difficult at times due to the future setting, so sometimes pronouncing certain things stump me, but I am very grateful for being given this opportunity. It is a very fun new effort I can try out!
Q20: Marty Vox is the father which is the character you play. Do you hope to have kids someday and do you hope they are like Blaze and Galatea?
I would love to have kids, but first I'd like to balance out a film career, and if things aren't as high voltage as I'm hoping, I'd at least like to get my message out to the world before my voice gets hoarse. If they were like Blaze and Galatea, I'd be happy, but also exhausted! Ultimately, I want my kids to be my kids, whoever they resemble. I'll gladly deal with exhaustion!
Q21: Do you think The Vox’s represents what you think 3021 will actually be like? What do you think of that show's universe?
Unfortunately I think 3021 will be a lot darker, but the technology is unforeseeable, so it is certainly possible! I think Drake has a very creative vision for that show and he has done great at really hammering the nail on the head there. His animation style is so unique and untouched. It's fabricated in such a precise and unique artistic vision and if 3021 looked like that I think the world would be joyous and Drake could be coined the next Nostradamus!
Q22: Is there any upcoming Vox’s episodes that Marty plays a big role in or ones your excited about?
I honestly do not get scripts too far in advance for Vox's, so if I told you I'd be telling you about the upcoming one or two episodes and spoiling some elements of the fun. Just like House, I'm really excited for the season to come to fruition. And I'm even more excited because I haven't a slight clue what the episodes beyond the last script I received will include!
Q23: How was it like working with Drake Vegas and just Drakoloid in general?
Drake is a very genuine human, and that bleeds into him as a creator - writer, director, producer… So I've had no issues with them and don't forsee ever having any. He's very understanding and very true to his word. He's not afraid to ask for help and he's even less afraid to pitch in when he himself is asked for help. I have nothing but respect and admiration for him and the content empire he has crafted and will continue to build.
Q24: People are comparing you to Nick Merchant who was one of the male main leads in many Drakoloid shows like High Schooled and Bad Influences because you are the most driven actor they had and plus you're a writer, director, producer and creator. Do you like being called the new “King of Drakoloid”?
I feel really grateful to even be considered that, especially because I've just went into Drakoloid trying to be a supportive friend and make a good and prosperous and meaningful connection in the industry. I honestly didn't realize the potential to have a term coined for me, but I'm really happy that has happened. I feel for the first time, possibly ever, like I've struck gold and made meaningful connections across viewers who aren't people I know well and see on a regular basis. It's made me really feel like soaking it in and rewiring some of my efforts.
Q25: One decision you thought was best for any of your shows? and one you regret?
I'm overly self critical, so I have a lot of regrets! I do however really like how Chapters had that spacer between Seasons 1 and 2, a year and so off. It really made Season 2 a much more fresh perspective and made me realize how special of a show it could be if it were done right. That's why I'm most likely going to recreate that between this third and fourth season unless I have a creative spark that I can't shy from. One of my biggest regrets is releasing so much content from Horror Fest's second season before October. I feel like it really made the milk arrive spoiled.
Q26: Are there any other upcoming shows or projects your working on?
We are always working on trying to get some new stuff done! One that I hope to debut in 2022 is Clown Act, that's kind of a branching off of Living Free in some regards, but I wrote it a long time ago and am going through the stories trying to craft it some more. It's a very weird comedy that owns that title and lives up to that title. We also have a sketch show arriving next year as well as our first kids aimed project, a new web series entitled Inanimate. Chapters. is taking some time off, but that doesn't mean we are!
Q27: Do you think Men of the House and The Vox’s will last a full series like ARTic or be a one season show like Viral Jenneration?
I know with Men Of The House we all really want it to continue, but I think that's up to numbers and opinions. Drake has seemed very optimistic working on it the entire time. As for Vox's, I know Drake has to put a lot of effort into animations. I really hope both get a chance to continue on because they have both tapped into such a unique vein, but really all we can do is wait. I can see them both living a long time, but it's ultimately more based on viewers than creators and the budding relationship on that front.
