WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU DID SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME? FOR MICHAEL CIMINO, ACTING BECAME A VESSEL FOR EXPLORING UNKNOWN REALMS AND LEARNING NEW SKILLS. THOUGH IN HIS DAY-TO-DAY LIFE THE ACTOR ADMITS TO BEING A CREATURE OF HABIT, HE LOVES THE THRILL OF TRYING NEW THINGS UNDER THE GUISE OF HIS PROFESSION – FROM SPENDING THE SUMMER IN BUDAPEST TO FILM THE HORROR UNTIL DAWN, TO LEARNING HOW TO PLAY BASS FOR CATHERINE HARDWICKE'S UPCOMING FEATURE HIGHLIGHTING THE REALITY OF HOMELESSNESS, STREET SMART. IN THE LATEST BTB DIGITAL COVER STORY, CIMINO TAKES US THROUGH CYCLING AROUND THE HUNGARIAN CAPITAL, DRIVING VINTAGE CARS IN THE NEW SERIES MOTORHEADS, AND PLANNING HIS FIRST TRIP TO DISCOVER HIS ROOTS IN PUERTO RICO.

Left Top and pants **Luar**, sash **Xander Zhou**
Right Top **Denzil Patrick**, pants **Wooyoungmi**

Hi Michael! I wanted to start by asking you about Until Dawn. The film looks incredibly scary. Do you enjoy being frightened while you're watching movies?

Honestly, I do! Since I was a kid, I have always liked scary movies and haunted houses. I loved The Conjuring series and Alien vs. Predator. I always gravitated towards these types of movies.

What do you enjoy about this feeling of being scared?

I think that the fun thing about going to the movies and seeing a horror film is the camaraderie of it. You know, you go with a bunch of friends, everyone's screaming, everyone's yelling, and that's something that brings people together, in a weird way. It feels like a very communal experience.

Left Coat, top and pants **Rosh**, hat **Heather Huey**, shoes **Luar**, jewellery talent’s own
Right Sweater, shorts and boots **Dior Men**, shirt **Abodi**, hat **Heather Huey**

I read that you guys shot the film in Budapest. How did you like the city?

I love Budapest, man. It's so beautiful, there's so much good food, and the architecture is incredible. I loved riding my bike around with my friends. Production got us all bicycles, so we would go on them all over the city.

The tagline of the film says, "Get ready for some unhinged fun." What's the most unhinged thing you've had to do as your character?

I don't want to ruin it for people, but there's a scene that takes place in a bathroom, and it's actually really outrageous. It comes at you out of nowhere.

Left Top and pants **Palomo Spain**, hat **Abodi**
Right Top **Egonlab**, shorts **Luar**, shoes **Xander Zhou**

I saw that up next, you will also be starring in a racing-centric series, Motorheads. What drew you to this story?

Motorheads is a show about that feeling when you first drive a car and the first time you fall in love. I've been into cars my whole life, so to be able to be in a project that is a representation of that passion is really exciting. And I can't wait to hopefully pass on this passion to other people.

Was there a car you were particularly excited about driving in the show as a car fan?

I mean, there were so many great cars in the show. The main one is gorgeous – it's this big yellow Dodge Challenger from the 1970s. It's so cool to just be sitting in a car like that, it's a time capsule!

In your personal life, are you more into vintage cars or the latest models?

I'm more into vintage cars. I have a small collection, that's what I spend all my money on. [Laughs] I like how quirky they are. I think it's really fun to sit in a car, drive around, and imagine what life was like at the time when it was produced.

Left Full look **Walter Van Beirendonck**, gloves stylist’s own
Right Top **Miu Miu**, crown **Heather Huey**

You said that the show is about the emotions that come with doing something for the very first time. What was the last time you did something for the first time? And how did it go?

That's a great question! I feel like I'm constantly in the stage of firsts, to be honest. And I feel like in this industry, being adaptable and trying new things is really important. I did my first bass lesson a couple of months ago, and I signed my first distro [distribution] deal recently, which is both exciting and scary. There's been a lot of firsts.

Do you enjoy that feeling of uncertainty that comes with doing something new?

I feel like I tend to lean towards being a creature of comfort. I'm such a creature of habit, I love to do the same things over and over again, I like having a routine. But I think that doing new stuff has been really good for me, it allowed me to keep growing and keep learning new skills. It's good to push yourself out of your comfort zone.

What's on your bucket list? Something you want to try but haven't got the courage yet for it?

Oh dude, I want to skydive for sure. [Laughs] Also, I'm planning to go to Puerto Rico for the first time at some point this year. I've never been, and I really want to learn Spanish and try to connect more with my culture. I've been learning Spanish a bit, and that's been really hard. I have so many friends who speak the language, so I'm trying to speak to them, but it is scary to converse with people. My friends are so accepting, though – they teach me and they don't make fun of me. [Laughs]

Left Coat and shorts **Mugler**, brooch **Abodi**, shoes **Luar**
Right Top and pants **Palomo Spain**, hat **Abodi**

You're also in Catherine Hardwicke's new movie, Street Smart, which tells the story of young homeless adults in Venice Beach. What is the take that this feature showcases on the subject of homelessness?

It's a story about these kids who are artists and who are the victims of unfortunate circumstances. Which is how most homeless people end up in this situation. In our instance, a lot of these kids grew up in group homes; they didn't have parents or families, so they couldn't support themselves and figure it out – they weren't taught how to. For me, the film has a very humble, grounded and hopeful take on this subject. It depicts [honestly] the reality of this situation, which is important, especially in a time like now, where there seems to be a lack of understanding towards people in these kinds of positions.

Yes, we're hit with so many demonising takes, and there seems to be a lack of understanding that any of us can end up in that situation.

And the way Catherine is telling the story is not exploitative – we're not taking advantage of them, we're just highlighting what they're going through. Also, Cat is a Venice Beach chick. And so a lot of the stories in the film are inspired by real experiences that she was told about while being around that area. It's a very special film.

Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Jack Waterlot

Fashion by Willyum Beck

EIC Michael Marson

Production by GTS prod

Grooming by Clay Nielsen at Tracey Mattingly agency