A Rising Star

Wesley Miles is a Macomb Community College student who has always wanted to become a movie star. Although he had little training he was determined to make it. He auditioned for a role in a small play and for the first time he was acting on a professional level.

Miles's role was young Scrooge in Warren Community Center's play A Christmas Carol. He said that the play was one of the best acting experiences he has ever had.

"I learned a lot," said Miles.

Miles said his director was responsible for the play's success. The director, Greg Trzaskoma, who is also a professional actor and professor at Macomb, acted as a bartender in Gran Torino. Miles said Trzaskoma's acting experience and coaching helped.

"Getting proper directions from a professional was a refreshing change from the mediocre teaching of a someone who never acted before," Miles said about Trzaskoma's directing.

Miles said actors generally look out for one another. This unwritten rule as Miles put it has resulted in him landing another role in an upcoming play based on the movie Footloose. Sadly because of scheduling conflicts Miles had to turn down the role.

Miles does believe that the film industry coming to Michigan could result in a break that he is looking for.

"I think that being an extra you can make connections on scene," said Miles, "you're not an actor but you could break in."

Although being an extra isn't the most glamorous thing, Miles thinks that local actors could benefit from the film industries move to Michigan. He believes that because of the experience local actors have, it gives them a slight advantage over those who do not have any acting experience.

Miles does not know if he will make it big but he said that his dream role would be to play the Riddler in a Batman movie.

Miles got his start in a high school play and has never looked back. He tried to become an EMT at Baker College but realized that the theatre was his home and transferred to Macomb Community College to complete his general education courses.

He says that he is planning to transfer to Oakland University to get his Bachelors Degree in the fall and then get his masters at Wayne State University.