How I Booked The Menu 

It was fun watching you work! I was the tall guy that opened the door to let you into the restaurant. :-)

I gotta say , this man's humility towards the situation and making the best out of it offers one of the best gifts of learning as an actor.

This video was not self-indulgent in the least. Sharing your experience, with such candor and humility, is such a wonderful and helpful story for us all to hear. You were amazing in this role, and my heart filled with joy when I saw you onscreen. Also, your opening mentioning Brooke never gets old. :)

Your part in the movie was very well acted.

Matt, I thought you were great in The Menu! So natural and real 🙌

that's great man, congrats on getting cast in the menu. I took classes with Sam in the early/mid 90's

Matt, since you and Brooke are household names in my family, over the holidays, I suggested to my husband that we go see The Menu because, one, you would be in it and, two, because we had both heard it was a good one to see. Halfway into the movie, I whispered, maybe he's one of the cooks in the background, and I began to search for you. Then, BAM, there you are. You were mesmerizing, an arc in the movie. Later, I told the hubs that I wanted to be that good of an actor, own my role, my character. I thought about all the actor anxieties you must have had to stifle. Yet, you were nothing but Coast Guard Dale. Nerves of steel. We are so happy for you. Lastly, I want to thank you for this video because I was going to request private coaching to hear about the entire process. Thanks for being so candid, thorough, and genuine in this video. See you guys in improv. I am ready to get back to work!

I didn't know you were in the film, and when you came on screen, I said, "Hey, that's Matt! I know him!" Great film and great tips, as always! Thanks!

I think the director was right. You were perfect for the role you got! It was a great scene and memorable!! Thank you for showing the steps it took! I appreciate your channel. Wish you tons more success in 2023!, 🙏🤩🎥👏👏

I literally yelped in the theatre when I saw you! I was so inspired watching your story from audition to set. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!

I've been waiting for this one!!!

Yup - not indulgent at all and EXTREMELY insightful! Hearing how your story unfolded and changed along the way, as well as visuals to support, is very helpful. Thanks!

that role was so good in my eyes because it was this beacon of hope followed swiftly by this huge punch to the gut and new sense of hopelessness. it was short but you felt it

Thanks for sharing. I enjoy learning about other people's audition/booking experiences. And, I LOVED you in The Menu...great job!

I've had a similar experience. I recently booked a multi-episode costar, including a couple substantial scenes with two series leads, from an audition that was a single line. I honestly have no idea how or why I get cast a lot of the time. But when it happens I try to make the most of it I can.

Good job, brotha.

Awesome. Thank you for sharing your process

I loved that! Thank you! So talented!

I screaaammedddd 😂

Matt. I just looked at your IMDB and realized you're an ME and a soccer (real football) kinda guy. There's hope for me! Love your videos. Thank you so much for them.

Matt, I'm so glad you did this video. Wow, gave me a stronger appreciation for the process and what YOU went through AND enjoyed it. Thank you for your candor. Also, you already know how I felt when seeing you in the theater. I was with my Mark and SCREAMED outloud only to hear some snickering, as I shouted "GO MATT". I am so very proud of you. And you and Brooke have been so instrumental when I re-entered the industry back in 2011. Thank you thank you thank you. xo

Yes at first I was like I saw him somewhere. Glad u make this video.

take the win and the highs ... I know this. Once again, I feel less 'alone' in this industry. Thanks Matt

Whoot whoot! Congrats on such a cool booking! Can't wait to see you when I watch The Menu!

Congratulations Matt! Thanks for sharing your process and experience! Keep up the great work.

Well stated Matt!! I remember when I heard (from Brooke) that you booked it...was sooo happy (and a tiny bit jealous) for you, as I knew this was a big deal project. Also, gotta say this was an impactful video for me in another important way: namely "major booking, followed by prolonged drought". In the summer of 2020, I booked a recurring Guest Star on a major, commercially successful TV show. Biggest booking of my 20 year career! Bigtime $$, lots of long, dialogue heavy scenes. l I thought: "my time's finally come." I then proceeded to go 18 months(!!) before my next booking. Went from top o the world to the abyss in terms of how I felt about myself as an actor. So upon hearing you experienced a similar situation subsequent to your MENU gig, has given me much needed perspective. Being well prepared & taking joy in the process is all one can do during periods of prolonged drought. Thanks again to you and Brooke for your most awesome taping service.

Congratulations!!! Wow! Cool!!!

Nice, just finished the movie right before watching your video. I was like "Oh I know that guy"! Thanks for talking about your experience!

Lol!! I remember when I went to see it in theaters, I was like OH I know him. Well, I know him through RU-vid. 😂 Then like a day later, I watched a movie on Netflix and I was like this lady looks familiar. I went to IMDb and it was your wife. You guys are killing it!

So good!!! Thank you for sharing. We need to remind ourselves of our wins. Congrats!

What a joy to watch this video. Matt you always give and we always learn so much from you! Thank you!!😊

I was driving home from acting class and saw the notification of this video on my cellphone and say: YES! Couldn't wait to get home and turn on my laptop! I mentioned it your last video but I have to elaborate more in this treat. When I saw the movie and you appear on screen I felt such a joy and so proud of you, specially after watching the video where you explained how to deal with seasons where you don't book anything for months. You deserved that and you NAILED that scene, and is so special because you share it with so many stars, I can imagine how overwhelming that was. Anyways, I just want to congratulate you Matthew, amazing performance. I am base in CA but if I ever move to Atlanta I will definitely visit your studio for my auditions.

Great work on the film! I was SO excited to see you on screen!!! Congratulations. Thank you for this video!

Thank you for this video! Loved to see into your experience.

Great video! Thanks for sharing your experience during all the steps of the process. It was very interesting.

Matt, great video! Thank you for sharing this. You did such a great job in this film! ✌🏻😎✌🏻

You are so inspiring and yet so humble ! Congratulations! :)

Love this - CONGRATS! and great reality check.

First off I loved seeing you in the movie and second off I loved seeing this video about your process! What you consider self indulgent I consider very helpful and inspiring. Super impressed with your tech bro call back as well!! And I really appreciate your vulnerability and sharing about the drought that followed. I had a great 2021, 2022 I think was one of my worst years yet. The nature of the business is like weather in Georgia. You never know what’s coming next.

Thanks for this Matt. Forwarded to all of my students ... again.

Congrats on that awesome booking

Matt - this is such a brilliant and accurate case study in adaptability, courage under pressure, sticking to your authenticity, and finding and celebrating the joy in every step of the process. Your story of the ups and downs of this situation makes my heart swell. Overcoming the fear of being on a set with this phenomenal and renowned cast and earning your place in that cast, using your "instrument" to not freak out but focus on learning to draw your weapon with your off hand, continuing to breath and take in the joy as you navigated the ups and downs is educational for we fellow actors but even more important is inspirational. Thank you for sharing. PS: The Menu was mentioned in my last week's Groundlings class by our instructor. He shared that he and his family were looking for something to watch and found The Menu. They weren't aware of the film before they found it but he stated the entire family was blown away by the story, the production value, and the cast. And I got to YES AND...and tell him and the rest of the class that I "know" the guy who played Dale the Coast Guard Guy and sing some of your (and Brooke's) praises re. acting, improv, self-taping, and the like. Thought you might appreciate knowing that. 🙂

This is fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing. Your acting in all these clips is so real and natural while also being full and specific. I can see your years of hard work on display in your craft. And I was just asked to self tape for a couple co-star roles on the same show I already sent in a tape for a recurring role for. I was thinking, is this a good or a bad thing? Thanks for helping me to see why it's a great thing.

OMG, I watched The Menu the other day and I IMMEDIATELY recognized you and was like "Oh wait, that's Matthew!" Had to do an IMDB search to be sure haha Also, completely agree with the pessimistic mind-set when you get a "down-grade" on a role. Had that happen this past November and I was pretty bummed out when I got cast for a smaller role than I initially auditioned. But a win is a win and it was another opportunity to do what I love!

As a lefty, I've dealt with the exact same thing. :) Great story and congrats, Matt! Loved seeing you in this.

you did a good job with your character because I deeply disliked him!😖😂 very cool seeing vids like this!

Yes a reader is almost essential when receiving sides HOWEVER you completely avoided the question of how you were booked. WHAT WEBSITE DID YOU USE??? Did you have an agent?? How long did it take for a callback??? You said a lot without saying nothing at all

Please help me with acting sir thank answer l am a girl living in somalia 🇸🇴 🙏 😭😭😭