Michelle DeFraites. Photo: Ben Miller.

Michelle DeFraites. Photo: Ben Miller.

GALO: Project Almanac was produced by Michael Bay who has produced and directed numerous successful movies, such as the Transformers series and Armageddon. Can you tell us a bit about what it was like working with him?

MD: Michael was great. He was never really physically on set, but he would always call-in and give us feedback. He would always have great feedback and opinions on what would really make the movie better. We would film the scene, [and] then he’d maybe have an idea and be like, “You know, I think we should go back and add this” or “let’s change this in the script and enhance this part or that part.” He has great ideas and he’s really good at what he does. That’s why he’s Michael Bay, you know?

GALO: Each director has their own style, their own perception of things — they bring a certain level of expertise and insight to the set, which has a ricochet effect when it comes to the actors. What would you say has stayed with you the most in terms of lessons from Dean Israelite?

MD: Oh, Dean was amazing to work with, and especially because this is one of his first big directing gigs and it was one of my first big movies. I really connected with him on wanting to make this project as great as he could possibly make it. He really encouraged us to have fun with our lines, to really play around with them and make them our own, and to not necessarily feel like we had to stick to the script word-for-word. And for me, that’s something that I’ve always done. On television, when you do like Disney Channel, for instance, they want you to say the lines exactly how they wrote them, and they don’t want you to steer away from that. So that was something new that I got to play around with, and it really opened me up and let me be a little more creative. And that’s really stuck with me. I really appreciate him letting us do that in the movie.

GALO: In addition to being an actress, you are one of the faces of Neutrogena, which is one of the top — if not the top — skincare brands in America. You share this privilege with other greats like Kerry Washington and Queen Latifah. What is it like being a part of such a highly regarded brand — would you say it gives you a certain level of empowerment in terms of body image and beauty?

MD: Working with Neutrogena was incredible. I actually went to their Oscar viewing party, and so getting to be around the Neutrogena people and being around all the new products, it’s truly a blessing and honor. The products that I was a part of were their mattifying line, which I totally love and I carry around in my purse still to this day. It’s so cool, because of like what you said, there are so many incredible people that have gotten to be the face of Neutrogena — and for me to even be a part of that is, honestly, like the biggest honor thus far in my life. It’s really cool, and I feel like Neutrogena empowers girls and that’s something that I really want to do with my career as I progress. I really just want to be a good role model for girls and I feel like that’s why I loved getting to work with Neutrogena, because it’s kind of the same goal.

GALO: Funny that you mention the Neutrogena Oscar Viewing Party, as when I was on your fashion blog, Street 23, I saw that you went to that. Can you tell us a little bit about what that was like in terms of the attendees, atmosphere? Was there a moment that stood out to you?

MD: For me, it was really fun because I was on the carpet. And right as I got off, one of my favorite beauty vloggers walked up — and so I was starstruck. I ran over to her and I was like, “Oh my gosh! Can I take a picture with you?” She had actually worked with Neutrogena as well recently. So it was really cool having that moment of: I’m with peers who have done the same thing, but I still respect them so much. And then being in a place where we’re watching the Oscars — one of the most inspiring nights for actors — it was just a really cool experience and I was just so happy to be there and be a part of it.

GALO: Being that you have a background in TV and film, what inspired you to start a fashion blog? It seems that in this day and age, a lot of people are finding success in the blogosphere, especially relating to fashion and beauty.

MD: Honestly, fashion is something I’ve always loved, ever since I was young. My mom jokes all the time that even though I was three years old, she would have to pick out different options for me to wear because I was really picky as a young child. She would come in and be the “dress lady” — she would show me my options like a stylist, and I would pick what I wanted to wear and mix and match. I’ve always loved just being different and getting to play around with different textures, patterns and stuff. I had a time in my career when I was really happy with what I was doing acting-wise and I was still in school and busy, but I still felt like I wanted to do something with that fashion aspect. And like you said, I saw a lot of those fashion blogs and I was like, “Wow, I like this! I think what they do is so cool.”

And one of my best friends, who’s a guy, is equally into fashion, so we’re like, “You know what? There isn’t a blog out there that focuses on men and women — it’s either just women or just guys.” So I was like, “Let’s put our heads together and let’s do something together, so that we both have an outlet for this shopping addiction we have.” He’s in the music industry and I’m obviously an actor, and we have our fan bases and they would always tweet us and be like, “What are you wearing? Where did you get that? What can I do — I’m going to this event. What should I wear?” And so we thought this would be a great opportunity to answer their questions and do what we love. That’s kind of where it stems from, and that’s why I’m really happy it’s getting such a great response.

GALO: Would you ever consider a career in fashion?

MD: I want to do like a Gwen Stefani type of thing — where she becomes successful in her main career, but then on the side has her fashion line. If I could have anything in the world that’s what I would love to do — still be an actress, but then on the side either have a fashion line or styling side project or something like that, because I truly do love it.

GALO: I also hear that you are in college pursuing a degree in business. A lot of times when someone finds success in the industry as a teen, they forgo higher education. Why did you find it to be of importance to continue your education, even though you are an established actress? And what do you plan to do with your degree after finishing school — does this have anything to do with your plans for the fashion projects?

MD: Well, I think learning is so important in general. I feel like having a higher education, while it’s not as necessary as it used to be, there’s still some importance to it. I don’t feel like you necessarily have to go to college, but that was something that I wanted to do. I feel like the acting industry is so temperamental, in the sense that you can be extremely successful one year and then you’re not the next year. And so, you kind of need to have a backup plan — and also, I want to know how to handle myself.

As my career was growing, accountants came on and publicists came on — and I wanted to know how to handle myself in the business world. I felt like getting a degree in business administration would help me understand the words they were saying to me, so I could handle my finances and know how to negotiate contracts and just really not let everybody handle my career for me, but have a hand in it as well. You hear so many horror stories — Dixie Chicks being one of them — growing up. You hear how many people have taken advantage of them. I never would want that to happen to me — and it’s always good to just have a backup plan, honestly. That’s kind of why I chose business administration.

GALO: Finally, if you had the chance to travel into the future, what projects would we find you working on?

MD: Oh my goodness, definitely something in the action realm! I love action movies. I’ve grown up watching action movies and that would be like a dream role for me. I just want to be like this bomb-ish Angelina Jolie type of character. Tomb Raider was one of my favorite movies growing up, so hopefully I will get to do something like that in the future.

GALO: Michelle, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me. I wish you much success in the future! 

MD: Thank you!


Video courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

“Project Almanac” comes out on Digital HD on May 26 and Blu-Ray on June 9. For more information about Michelle DeFraites and her endeavors, you can follow her on Twitter @MDeFraites.