Mitchell Berg
Mitchell Berg, an up-and-coming child-actor, is best known for his work on the Nickelodeon show Side Hustle in the role of Fisher, the youngest member of Presley’s family. Berg is also known for his role on the popular Nickelodeon series Henry Danger and Danger Force as the evil Lil’ Dynomite.
T-shirt: The Internet
Pants: Gap
How old were you when you knew you wanted to work in the performing arts, and what inspired that decision?
I was eight years old when I went to a summer camp, where we did a one-week production of Matilda: The Musical. Soon after one of the coaches, Chase Thomas, invited me to be on a team and soon I was getting to do shows with really talented kids. After about six months, I found myself shifting away from other activities I had been doing and spending more time training in acting, singing, and dancing. Chase and my other coaches really encouraged me to keep reaching for higher goals and I’m so grateful for that experience.
What are some of the biggest sacrifices and challenges you have had to overcome working as a child-actor?
I would say the biggest sacrifice I had to make is time. It hardly seems like a sacrifice though, because I enjoy every minute of being on set and I still have plenty of time to be a kid. The hardest part is that I miss my friends and the social scene at school. I need to be away from my siblings and my dog a lot during the weeks when I am on set. I do my best to find ways to be with everyone in my free time. My siblings and I connect on virtual platforms almost every day and I am thankful that my sister always spams our text string with dog pictures.
Who are some of your role models in the entertainment industry?
There is a plethora of awesome people I look up to. I’ve been lucky to have a lot of talented people willing to coach and mentor me. Right now, my biggest role models are the Side Hustle showrunners Dave Malkoff, John Beck, Ron Hart, as well as the amazing directors. They have created great television shows for years and they are as kind as they are talented. They are always coming up with great ideas and they know how to refine them.
You also had a large passion for dance and musical theatre in the past. What made you decide to switch to film-acting?
I was training at the Broadway Artists Alliance in New York City at one of their summer intensives. In the end, a group of agents and casting directors came to check out the talent. That’s where I met my agent, David Doan from CESD Talent Agency. He encouraged me to get into film acting and he lined me up with some awesome auditions!
You also had a large passion for dance and musical theatre in the past. What made you decide to switch to film-acting?
I was training at the Broadway Artists Alliance in New York City at one of their summer intensives. In the end, a group of agents and casting directors came to check out the talent. That’s where I met my agent, David Doan from CESD Talent Agency. He encouraged me to get into film acting and he lined me up with some awesome auditions.
Would you ever consider switching back to musical theatre or pursuing a career on Broadway?
Of course! I enjoy acting, singing, and dancing. I love any opportunity to continue growing as an actor. The very first role I auditioned for was for the national tour of a major musical. I was fortunate to make it pretty far in that process, and it was the start of me realizing I could do theatre acting professionally. I’d love to see that through one day.
You’ve been said to have “grown up” watching Nickelodeon shows. How does it feel to be a star in multiple of their current series?
It has been a dream come true. I’ve always enjoyed watching buddy comedies and superhero series, where kids are the focus. Now, I get to be in one and bring laughter to kids. It is an absolute honor that Nickelodeon trusts me to do that!
You were recently featured on Nickelodeon's Celebrity Game Show “Unfiltered” as a panelist. What was this experience like?
It was SO cool because Jay Pharoah, the host, is incredibly funny. I got to be on the panel with my co-star, Jayden Bartels and Darci Lynne Farmer. It was shot remotely, so I got to film the show from my living room using a green screen. This process was great except for one mishap, where my dog ate my earpiece the night before. Fortunately, there was a spare hiding in one of the kits they sent.
What plans are you looking forward to the future?
I am ecstatic that Nickelodeon just announced Season 2 of Side Hustle! That’s my main gig for the near future. I love playing “Fisher” and I can’t wait to shoot the second season with my cast members and crew. I’m eager to see all the crazy ideas our writers came up with.
Do you have a favorite type of role that you’ve played, as someone who has played both a villain character on “Henry Danger” and as a boy-genius on “Side Hustle?”
It’s hard to pick a favorite as I truly love playing “Fisher” and “Lil Dynomite.”! I’ve had the opportunity to play a lot of roles with various personalities and background stories. I’ve realized that I just love the challenge of embracing a new character and bringing that person to life.
What is your Social?
My handle is @themitchellberg on Instagram, Tik Tok, Twitter, and Facebook. I look forward to connecting with everyone there! You can also follow @NickSideHustle and @HenryDangerForce on Instagram. Also make sure to watch Side Hustle, Saturdays on Nick at 8pm ET/PT.
CREW CREDITS:
Creative Director: Claudia Greene | Mayhem Entertainment PR
Photographer: Sergio Garcia
Talent: Mitchell Berg
Stylist: Coded Agency
Tearsheets: Daniel López, Junior Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview: Julia Gastone, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
