Mike Carlsen Gets Real About His LAFF Film ’11:55,’ ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,’ and New York vs. LA

Sandra Miska

Dozens of films debuted earlier this month at the Los Angeles Film Festival and one of the standouts was “11:55,” a drama about US Marine Nelson Sanchez (Victor Almanzar) who returns home to New York to discover that the brother of a local drug dealer he killed, Nicky Quinn (Mike Carlsen), is on his way to take his long-awaited revenge.

“11:55,” which is currently being shopped to distributors, allows Carlsen to show off his serious side. While in Los Angeles for the movie world premiere, the NYC-based Carlsen spoke with us about the film in which his character hops on a bus against the wishes of his pregnant wife (Julia Stiles) to take care of some unsavory business. He also talked about his role on “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and why he won’t be moving to the West Coast anytime soon.

How did you become connected with “11:55” directors Ari Issler and Ben Snyder?

Ben’s a member of the Labyrinth Theater Company. I did a play with one of the members and Ben came to see it. That was probably about four years ago, and he asked me to audition for this film. I read it and I loved the part and I guess the history [of the characters].

Your character is pretty dark and conflicted. How did you get into the right frame of mind to play this role?

For me, it’s mostly about just really thinking about motivation and where somebody’s coming from and just trying to put myself into that particular space when I’m on camera. I’m not really a method type of guy. I don’t really do much. On set, I’ll do maybe a little emotional preparation before I know we’re about to shoot the scene. Yeah, you know, you get all your information from the script and then you try to just build somebody that feels real and live in those sort of given circumstances.

Can you talk about your scene with Julia Stiles? It was kind of humorous but also really intense. What was it like working with her?

Great. She’s so great to work with. She gave me so much the whole day. We shot that stuff in one day and she was totally game and up for it. Actually, we shot all that stuff on the first day of shooting for the whole movie. They were really happy with it. Ben and Ari felt like it kind of set the tone for the film. I’m happy that they felt that way. I’m really proud of that scene. I think it really works because we’re in the same place but we’re on two completely different levels but still really talking and listening to each other and trying to figure out this relationship they’re building in the midst of this conflict that’s going on.

She’s wonderful. I actually had to remind her because obviously it’s been quite a life since then, but we went to camp together when we were 12 years old. Once I reminded her of that we had a pretty fast shorthand after that. We had a really, really great day of shooting and she’s become a good friend and I think she’s so talented. I think she’s so great in the film. I’m so glad she was able to do it.

Are you a native of New York?

I am, yeah. I grew up in Brooklyn, in Flatbush, Brooklyn and then we moved up to Westchester when I was about 11 or 12. I tried being an actor in L.A. but I realized that I’m a New Yorker and if I’m going to be an actor I want to be an actor in New York so that’s kind of where I chose to be and I’m glad it’s working out. I get to work with these great people like Ben and Ari and all these great actors. As we were saying last night after the film [at the world premiere of “11:55”], it was really a kind of communal experience. We were in Newburgh for this set period always around each other. I think we created something really special. I guess we’ll see what people think. I love the film and I think it’s pretty great.

Did you know anyone like Nicky or Nelson growing up in New York?

Well, certainly in Flatbush where I grew up there were definitely a lot of different groups and gangs and factions and stuff like that. So, yeah, I think I had a fairly good understanding of that way of life . . . . For me . . . it was all on the page for me. I didn’t really need to think back to anything or create anything. When you have stuff, like in the scene with Julia about the GED . . . you start to really understand that there are certain people who live their life with words and there are certain people who live their life with actions because they can barely find the words or don’t know how to express themselves that way. I read it and I had this idea and I had this way that I felt Nicky kind of moved and spoke and I’m really happy that Ben and Ari and I agreed on that because we were just kind of on the same page from day one and it felt really great . . . .

I’m a big fan of your role on “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” Can you tell me how you got involved in that series?

I was on “30 Rock” as pretty much the same kind of character and then they asked me to come in for “Kimmy,” and it was a construction worker and I read it and was like, this is pretty much the same guy. I played it as the same guy and I got the job again even though they didn’t remember me from “30 Rock.” And then, I guess they realized that people were starting to like my character. People were starting to enjoy Titus and [me] together in the first season, so they built it up in the second season. I couldn’t be happier. It’s literally the best job I ever had, with geniuses. “30 Rock” is my favorite sitcom of all time. To work with these people is pretty fantastic and when I got to set I felt really comfortable. When you understand the certain type of humor and you understand exactly what people are working toward, on this movie as well, it’s very important for everybody to be on the same page, and everybody is. [“Kimmy” co-creator] Tina [Fey] knows exactly what she wants. She’s an amazing boss. She’ll tell you what she wants. She doesn’t step on your toes. She lets you do your job. It’s just a great, great group of people to be around and I’m so happy.

When Titus and I were talking during the season, the most important thing for us was to really present a relationship of two people who just care about each other and really kind of understand each other on a fairly deep level and it’s not about anything else; and I think we really accomplished that. I’m really proud of the way people are kind of gravitating toward this couple because it’s important . . . these representations on TV are really important and the fact that we’re putting a very positive spin on a relationship, I think it’s so great because there aren’t a lot of positive things on television anymore. When you can just sit down and smile and laugh for a half an hour, I think that there’s good with people and how they feel and it makes me feel good.

You’ve played a construction worker twice. Do you have any experience in construction or is it just typecasting?

It’s funny, when I got to set the second time, [“30 Rock” and “Kimmy” producer] Robert [Carlock] said that I was the best heckling construction worker that he’s ever seen and I said, “Robert, I’m happy to be a construction worker as long as you need me.” For that guy, I’ll do anything because he’s a genius. He’s basically . . . he’s the real showrunner over there at “Kimmy.” He’s there every day with us and really kind of guiding us. Tina’s there, too, but Robert’s there every single day guiding us and showing us how to really make the show the best it can be.

So you have no experience in construction? Is it just a coincidence?

No, but I’m a New Yorker. I walk by it every day.

Do you guys do a lot of improv on the show?

No, actually. There’s no improv. It’s all in the script. They’re very specific with their jokes. They know exactly what they’re doing. That’s the great thing. You don’t even need to try to be funny. You just say the words and they’re funny. That’s it. With good writing, you really don’t need to do very much. You just need to come to work prepared and say the words.

Are you looking forward to season three?

I can’t wait. We start in October. I’m very excited. I can’t wait to explore that relationship some more. Now that we’ve established this relationship, there’s so many different ways to go; so many little things between all the characters that can happen. I’m really, really excited to kind of dive back into that world. Even just watching it, I miss it. I miss going to work every day.

Do you have any other projects coming up?

Yeah, there’s a pretty famous writer named Eric Bogosian. He’s a playwright and a monologuist and he has a website called 100monologues.com where he’s gotten some pretty great actors to do his one hundred most famous monologues from his shows over a 20-year span; pretty much between ‘80 and ‘00. He asked me to do a monologue and that will be out at the end of [June], I believe.

I just had two films come out; this film and this other film called “Lost Cat Corona.” I think it’s supposed to come out in [July]. Yeah, I’m just waiting. If you know anyone who needs an actor, tell them I’m available.

Would you ever be willing to come back and do a job in Los Angeles? Or are you too firmly rooted in New York?

I love L.A. It’s nice to be in L.A. with a job . . . . Why am I sitting around my apartment all day? You can’t do that in New York. At least in New York, I can go and take a walk. You can’t really walk anywhere here. I’m a big walker and it’s like, where am I going to go?

“11:55” debuted June 5 at the Los Angeles Film Festival. “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” season two is currently available to stream on Netflix.