My uncle Mike Bertain has always been the older brother I never had. The kind that’s tough as nails and makes everything feel like an adventure, because it was. He built muscle cars for fun, played guitar better than those guys in a band, he grinned at things nobody else would, and every dog seemed to fall in love with him. He lived life like a rambunctious teenager because he could, and the road just rolled out behind him.
When I was just a lil pipsqueak he gave me that confidence to be bold. He taught me so many invaluable nuggets you don’t get from your parents or teachers... like how to deal with bullies at school, how to get through a long mass after a late night, how to catch pesky squirrels invading your campsite, how to impress girls who think they’re out of your league, how to curse like a pro while keeping it classy... and how to be dangerous enough to get into trouble and clever enough to get out.
He played the lead in my first “real” film when I was 17. Despite the story being a strange mishmash of gangster movies and production operating on a learn-as-you-go basis, Mike drove down from Sacramento for countless weekends until we finished it over a year later. It was an absolute blast for both of us and it really gave me a jumpstart in filmmaking which I’ll never forget.
This morning after a years-long battle with a brain tumor, Mike left us on his own terms. He was a total champ til the end, and I got the last fistbump to prove it 🤛💪 Thank you for being unapologetically yourself. Thank you for always being available to play. And thanks for setting the cool uncle bar super fucking high, man 😏😉 Just know that wherever you’re going I’m probably going there too. So all I’m saying is you better have stairway to heaven down pat by the time I see you okay, no excuses🤘🙏🏻 ~ Michael “Dammit” Bertain
Such an overwhelmingly positive, productive #sundance2020 big ups to those who came with, you convinced me to go this year y’all know who you are, much love ;) its officially confirmed, gon be a big badass year 🙏🏻💙🤘🏻 #friends #happy
Here’s to the film that was never supposed to happen. Thank heavens it did. Everyone who made this possible you know who you are. Dedicated Grigory and all whistleblowers. Your courage in the face of extreme adversity is something we should all be wise to model ourselves after.
Especially now.
