Damir Pavlovskyi chatted with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos about starring in “Against the Wall,” and working with Luke Charles Stafford.
How was your experience in “Against the Wall”?
My experience was amazing! I got to meet some really talented actors, make new friends, and learn new things. I had so much fun being part of the movie!
One of the most interesting new experiences for me was wearing colored contact lenses. Since I naturally have brown eyes, I had to wear contacts for my character. At first, I was actually scared to put them in! But after a while, I got so used to them that I didn’t even want to take them out anymore!
It was something completely new for me, and that’s one of the things I love about acting — every project gives you a chance to experience something different.
What was it like working with Luke Charles Stafford?
It was really interesting to be on set with Luke Charles Stafford. We first met while filming the movie, where I actually played the younger version of his character. However, during the movie shoot, we didn’t have much time to spend together, so I didn’t really get the chance to discover what an interesting person he is.
But when we filmed the music video for “Against the Wall,” everything was different! I had the opportunity to spend more time talking with Luke, and what surprised me even more was getting to meet his real father.
What inspired me the most was finding out that Luke actually plays all the musical instruments featured in the music video himself! I think that’s incredible. It made me admire him even more, and he’s definitely someone I want to look up to as an example of what a talented and hardworking person can achieve.
How did it feel to be a part of the premiere in Culver City (and the launch of Dream United Studios)?
It was an amazing experience, and I’m really happy I got to attend a premiere like this at an age when I could truly understand and appreciate everything happening around me.
Of course, I’ve attended premieres before, but this was the first one on such a big scale where I actually felt a little like a VIP! Walking the red carpet, taking photos, giving interviews, and being part of such an exciting event made me feel really special.
I also loved the atmosphere, the private area, and, of course, the burgers!
Being there for the premiere of “Against the Wall” and the launch of Dream United Studios made the whole experience even more memorable. It’s definitely a day I’ll remember for a long time!
What is your advice for young actors?
My advice to young actors is to always do their best and never give up! I know young actors work really, really hard, and even when you’re just starting out, there’s a lot to learn and go through.
I’ve already worked on 54 film projects, and I know how much effort acting takes.
But I think my most important advice is to start small. Don’t be afraid to take unpaid roles or participate in student films. Get involved in theater, practice your acting skills, and most importantly, never stop submitting auditions!
Every project, even the smallest one, gives you experience and helps you grow.
Keep working, keep learning, and keep believing in yourself. If you truly love acting and don’t give up, I believe you’ll find your way!
What do your plans for the future include?
One of my biggest dreams is to star in a major feature film!
I’ve actually been part of a big movie before, but I was only five years old at the time, and I didn’t really know much about acting yet. Now I feel like my skills have improved, and I would absolutely love to challenge myself with an interesting, bigger role.
I really love the entire filmmaking process. Being on set is one of my favorite places to be!
Sometimes, the hardest part for me is actually waiting while the crew sets up the lights and cameras. I get so excited that I just want to jump straight into the scene and start acting!
But of course, I understand that filmmaking is a team effort and that all those preparations are necessary to create something great. So I try to be patient… even though sometimes it’s really hard!
What would you say to your fans?
I don’t really think I have a huge number of fans yet. Right now, I think most of the people following my work are my friends, family, and people who know me.
Maybe some of them are fans of the actors I’ve worked with in vertical films — especially the well-known actors whose younger versions I’ve played, or those who played my parents on screen.
But I believe that the more years I spend in the industry, the more people will get to know my work.
What I really want to say is that I truly appreciate everyone’s attention and support. I always try to respond to comments and questions with kindness and respect.
And I think something very important is that without fans, without the people who watch our movies and support our work, this profession wouldn’t really exist in the same way.
So thank you to everyone who watches, supports, and believes in us!
What does success mean to you?
To me, success means being able to say, “I did it!”
It means looking back at everything I’ve accomplished, all the movies I’ve been part of, and knowing that I tried my very best.
I don’t think success is only about being famous or winning awards. It’s also about how much you’ve learned, how hard you’ve worked, and how far you’ve come from where you started.
For me, real success would be reaching a point where I can look back at my journey and say, “I gave it everything I had. I did everything I could, and I’m proud of myself.”
And even then, I think I’d still want to learn something new and take on another challenge!
What’s the one thing you want them to get out of “Against the Wall”?
I really hope that the main message Luke wanted to share through “Against the Wall” touches as many hearts as possible.
He put so much of himself into this project. From the original idea to the way everything was brought to life, you could feel how much love, care, and emotion went into every detail.
It honestly felt like he was creating something as precious to him as his own child. He worked on this project with so much passion and dedication, and I think the result is truly special.
I hope people don’t just watch the movie, but actually feel the emotions behind it and take something meaningful away from the story.
I’m incredibly proud to have been a part of this project!
To learn more about Damir Pavlovskyi, follow him on Instagram.
Read More: Rave review of “Against the Wall.”
