In this year’s feature film release of Camera, Miguel Gabriel stars as Oscar Kennedy alongside Beau Bridges as Eric Conway, and the film won Best Family Film at the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, as well as being screened at Cannes Film Festival. Further screen roles for Miguel have included playing Lucas in mini-series ME, which he also co-produced, Hector in Series 6 of How to Get Away with Murder, and, as a voice actor, he is best-known for voicing Little Boy in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Speaking with us, Miguel talks about starring as Oscar Kennedy in feature film Camera, what it was like seeing the film win Best Family Film and voicing Little Boy in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Can you tell us about the new feature film Camera and about your character Oscar Kennedy?

My film Camera is about Oscar, who is a mute boy, and he moves into a new town. He encounters substantial hurdles, including bullying, and identifying his role in life. But he then meets a repairman, who is also a photographer, named Eric and they form an unlikely friendship.

Was there anything that drew you to the role of Oscar and how did you prepare for filming?

What drew me to the role of Oscar is his communication struggles, which I can relate to, having faced similar challenges in my own life. As a youth, I had a speech impediment that made verbal communication difficult. Still, I developed alternative methods of expression through facial cues and body language, leading me to pursue acting.

To prepare for the role of Oscar, I engaged in a comprehensive process that includes script analysis, character study, coaching with Aubrey Miller, and leveraging my personal experiences. This includes overcoming a speech impediment through non-verbal communication, which was instrumental in my discovery by a dance acting teacher who identified my potential and set me on this career path.

What was Oscar like to play and how was it getting into character?

Playing Oscar was fun! It challenged my acting abilities and Oscar being mute gave me a chance to show my visual acting with my expressions.

How did you find the experience acting opposite Beau Bridges as Eric Conway and with the rest of the cast?

The experience with Beau Bridges and the rest of the cast was awesome and an honour to work with them. They are so humble, kind, and fun to hang out with and I learned a lot from them in terms of acting.

Do you have any favourite memories from your time on set of Camera that you can tell us about?

There were so many fun memories I had on the set of Camera that there are too many to count. But my favourite memory is just the small moments I had with each of the cast that made it so special to connect with them.

How did you feel finding out Camera was being screened at Cannes Film Festival and won Best Family Film at the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival?

I was filled with joy, excitement, and shock because I couldn’t believe that the film would win an award at the JDIFF. I’m happy that it did because all of us (the cast and crew) worked so hard to make this film amazing.

Why would you recommend watching Camera and who do you think it will appeal to?

I would recommend Camera because it appeals to both adults and children. The film is light-hearted, emotional, and doesn’t have any violence or inappropriate stuff, which is perfect for the whole family.

What was it like voicing Little Boy in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and how was it seeing the completed film for the first time?

Voicing Little Boy in Puss in Boots was a fun experience and seeing it be completed had me in awe.

How different do you find voiceover to on-screen acting and what do you enjoy most about each?

Voice acting differs from live action in that it’s acting through voice, whereas live action is acting through expressions and movement. I enjoy both for their uniqueness.

You played Lucas in the mini-series ME, and were also a co-producer, what was this like to work on?

Working on the mini-series ME was super fun. I made so many fun memories with the cast and crew, the experience was unique and exciting.

What do you remember from filming as Hector in an episode of How to Get Away with Murder – Series 6?

I remember working with the director on the script.

How did you get into acting and was it something you always wanted to do professionally?

When I was younger, I wasn’t aware that you could act, but I learned that when I was in theatre because I used to have a speech impediment when I was little and theatre helped me overcome it. Then one day in an acting theatre class, my teacher noticed my talent and told my mom that I should be an actor.

What are some of your favourite films and TV shows to watch?

My favourite movies are Jurassic Park, La La Land, Oppenheimer, and Psycho. My favourite TV shows are Game of Thrones, Modern Family, and The Queen’s Gambit.

How do you like to spend your time away from acting?

I like to watch movies, read, learn about filmmaking, and hang out with my family and friends.

Do you have any projects coming up that you can share and what are you hoping the next few months bring for you?

You’ll know when it’s on the big screen.

Follow Miguel on:

X

Instagram