Photography Sergio Garcia @isergiogarcia
Model Mitchell Berg @themitchellberg
Creative Direction Mayhem Entertainment Public Relations @mayhementertainmentpr
Styling Coded Agency @codedagency
Agency Claudia Greene @Mayhem Entertainment PR
1. You are an advocate for reusable bottles and the well-being of the environment. How has your environmentalist lifestyle influenced those around you and on set?
I don’t know that I’ve influenced many people—yet!—but there are so many reasons to stop using plastic water bottles, or at least reduce our use as best as we can. Plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose, so when millions and millions of bottles end up in landfills that is a huge issue, especially because all those bottles release carbon dioxide into the air. All that is heating up our planet too quickly. And when those bottles end up in the ocean, marine life gets destroyed and plastic ends up in our food sources. There are a lot of things about climate change that are caused by things kids can’t control, but this is one thing we can influence. If we stop using them and ask our parents to stop buying them and putting them in our lunches, we can make a huge, collective dent.
2. What are some roles that you would like to do as you further your acting career?Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years? Do you want to look into other career fields behind the camera?
In 5-10 years, I’d like to continue acting and go to college. I want to keep learning and absorbing all I can about acting, and I definitely will explore directing and producing too. I love trying new things and being creative, so I look forward to discovering whatever might lie ahead.
3. What inspires you and why? How has this inspiration influenced your daily life and career?
I’m really inspired by nature. Nature always helps me renew my energy and resolve any negative thoughts that come. Experiencing the ocean or a forest or canyon reminds me that the world is so much bigger than what I am experiencing at the moment. There is a whole world out there that reminds us life goes on. It makes me feel small and powerful at the same time. It helps me see that acting isn’t just about me. Instead, it is an art that benefits all who get to experience what we are creating on a set.
4. What are your passions and hobbies?
I love hiking, fishing, camping, surfing, kayaking…anything that gets me outdoors or in the water. I also really enjoy cooking and playing guitar. I’m always moving and doing stuff. I like to try new things all the time.
5. What has been your favorite memory so far in your young acting career?
There are a lot of great memories, but one of my favorites is when Nickelodeon called and offered me the part of “Lil’ Dynomite” on Nickelodeon’s Henry Danger. It was so exciting because it was my first ever role, and on an awesome show and incredible network. Stepping into the Man Cave set on a show where the actors and crew had such an amazing bond, just as they were wrapping up a show that ran five seasons, was an absolute gift. That led to more acting opportunities, and I’m so grateful for that.
6. What is it about working for Nickelodeon that you like the most? How has your experience being featured in several Nickelodeon shows been vs what you initially anticipated?
I got that first small part of “Lil’ Dynomite” on Henry Danger, and now I get to play the character on Danger Force once in a while, too. I also get to play “Fisher” as a series regular on Side Hustle. It’s all just so exciting! I had no idea when I booked that first role that it would lead to all this. Nickelodeon is a great place to work because it is a network specifically created for kids. So, we get to do crazy stuff that kids only dream about in a lot of our scenes. The best part about working at Nick is that I am able to do what I love and still hang out with other kids because the set is full of them. Plus, we get slimed sometimes!
7. What advice would you give to young actors, who aspire to follow your footsteps and be on a show like Side Hustle?
My best advice is to work hard and stay positive. It’s really important to train and put in the work because you’ll learn so much that you can put into your auditions and roles. Not just about acting technique but taking feedback and being patient—which is a lot of the job. But no matter how hard you work, there will be times you won’t get the audition or role you want. In those times, my advice is to stay positive. Keep believing that your work will pay off, and that your time is coming.
8. We know you love working in comedy, what do you love most about acting in comedy and what does it mean to you as an actor?
Comedic acting is a challenge, and I like a good challenge. Getting a laugh from the audience is about finding the right expressions at just the right time. To do that, you need to know your lines and understand your role in the scene, as well as other actors’ roles. At least for me, that builds the confidence I need to settle into the scene and make good choices about how to react to everything. I’m really fortunate that on Side Hustle the writers give me awesome new material to experiment with week after week.
9. Where and when did you discover your love of acting and performing?
When I was 9 years old, my parents put me in a summer camp for musical theatre at The Center Stage Studio in Aliso Viejo, California. I was in several different camps that summer trying all sorts of things, from sports to cooking to engineering. Going in, I thought it was going to be my least favorite of the camps, but I ended up loving it and I signed up for some of the studio’s regular classes. Eventually I was spending almost all my spare time in the studio focused on acting, singing, and dancing. I liked team sports, but I loved performing more. The more shows I did, the more I wanted to get better at it.
10. Do you enjoy connecting with fans through social media? Where can we keep up with you and your environmental projects?
Yes! Please keep up with me on Instagram, Tik Tok, Twitter, and Facebook. My handle is @themitchellberg on all of these platforms, and I love connecting with fans there whenever I can!
11. Do you think you have found your purpose in life? If so, how do you know? If not, what do you think your purpose may be?
Right now, it does feel pretty great to have the opportunity to entertain people, particularly in these crazy times. I love doing this, and I will work hard to keep it going. I’m also just 14, so I try to keep things in perspective. I have my whole life to explore my purpose. I look forward to growing in my understanding of what I can contribute to the world, and my parents are always reminding me that it can change over time. Right now I put everything into where I am, and who knows where tomorrow will bring me.